Hu Li stare at this version of Sheng Qin. She ask quietly and calmly.
"Who are you?"
"I am Sheng Qin, you knows that."
"I am sure that you are just part of Sheng Qin. Who are you really, i don't know."
"Yes i am him and he is me. I am doing what he wants most. He loved you beyond himself. He ask for the gods to protect you when he is cursed."
"Cursed?"
"Yes, he is cursed by his wife, the princess. She love him but he never return that love. His love is only you and she resents you. To keep him by her side. She made herself a monster and he have to guard her for eternal. When the first Sheng Qin die, her son brings him back to life in an unnatural way. He is now guarding her to prevent her from coming out to the surface to create havoc to that world they live in. While his descendants are living in a natural life, they each carry a part of him. They each have a secret hope that they will meet you again and stay with you till the end of their life. However this is not the best solution. I become the best solution and waited for along time alone in the void. When you arrive at the void. I know i have to wait for you at the stone bridges."
Hu Li feels sad how his life turn out. He now maybe in a dark place where is no light and happiness for him. Since he cannot see well it probably worst for him.
"Hu Li, no matter what is happen now, he have no regrets meeting you. He now stays in a place that he live with his memories of you. Where you safe him and he learn that there is a person out there who like him for who he is even with his disability and treated the old folks who are living with him with kindness."
"So now, what are you planing to do..."
"Keep you here. Don't you want a peaceful life? Isn't this what you wanted? With Sheng Qin?"
"That was what i wanted in the past. Now i have someone to take care of so i cannot stay here for long."
This man smile and look at her.
"Then you have to look for the exit yourself but i don't think you can find it."
Hu Li watch the days change from day to night. Everything in the house is at the same spot. She look around to find the any oddity. Since she doesn't sleep at all, she wonder the streets at night. Even the night is eerie and sort of foggy, she is not afraid and walk alone. Sheng Qin allow her to do whatever she wants. He believe she will give up one day. Thus every time she walk home, she will find him in the study room writing his scrolls or books. This Sheng win who doesn't sleep, watch the moon every night by siting at the vanity table that belongs to Hu Li. Strangely, he remain frozen and doesn't blink when the moon is up.
Hu Li spend her days watching Sheng Qin. He always smiles and look at her occasionally. Most of the time, he take initial to hold her hand while talking about other things. Hu Li is not listening to anything he is saying but she is looking at him. The strangeness that he is showing is that sometimes he froze for awhile. Whenever he try to get intimate with her, she see there is a strange sense of coldness from him. Thus she always get away from him.
After many moons pass, Hu Li is walking alone in the city. She return home to see Sheng Qin staring at the moon. He turn his head slowly to see her. He smile in a strange way.
"You are home."
"Why are you siting out here?"
"The moon is beautiful. So i am out here."
"The moon is always beautiful."
They stand outside the courtyard in silence to look at the moon.
"When are you going to end this?"
"End? There is no ending. Remaining here is to keep you safe."
"Safe? I am not safe with you here."
He slowly turn his head and look at her.
"This world you create, it will becomes a bubble soon. It is best that you let it go. Go back to where you are needed or created. Return to complete Sheng Qin.You are slowly being destroy inside."
Sheng Qin's eyes are water with tears. He walk slowly to her. He reach out and hold her hand. He talks softy
"I never have other intention but to have you to myself. Even if i am destroy in the end. My only regret is that we are never together in anywhere. Even here, you are never with me."
Hu Li suddenly realise what he said was correct. They are never together. It is a regret in her life too. She start to cry and the tears drip down instead of floating up.
"Hu Li i love you. I never never ever forget you. Even i become dust i want to be the dust on your feet. Please believe me."
"I ... I love Sheng Qin too."
It seems like this is what Sheng Qin wants to hear. Slowly the surroundings change. They disappear by fading slowly away. The void is returning. Sheng Qin with his tears is slowly fading away like snow flakes.
"I will return to find you again. Just you.."
He is gone and the void returns. Hu Li stands alone in the darkness. Her tears which is dripping down her cheeks become red crystals. Her eyes are with turning red. She close her eyes and float along the void. A pair of gentle hands wrap her in his arms.
Back in the ice cave, she is still asleep. Di Jun bring that part of her that is floating in the void back into her own body. The ice on her face is slowly melting off. He see the crystals on her face. The original crystal that is at the center of her forehead had grew bigger and glitter. The color have change into a very translucent jade in a strange symbol.