Hui Gai: Balken

Hui Gai stared at the shape shifter, wondering if he could really trust anything he said.

After all, they were practically strangers, and what if he had ulterior motives? It was fifty fifty right now, but why should he trust him? Especially when it could be the difference between having a knife stuck in his back for his troubles? Well, metaphorically because his scales were knife proof, but the sentiment was there.

Really, there was only one person he did trust, and right now, he wanted to make his way back to him as soon as possible. Pengyou would be worried by now...

Technically, there was nothing stopping him right now...except his curiosity. And while he was excited to try out his powers here in this place that seemed to welcome him on an entirely new level, and he didn't doubt that teleporting would not be a problem at all, he wondered if he was being overly cautious.

What harm would it do to hear him out? What if he was telling the truth? And he did know?

All this dithering was making him impatient. He had to make a choice, and do it now.

The best thing to do should be to hear him out. And then, he could make an informed decision.

"Alright. Say if I believe you, what do you know?"

"My lord, I would never lie to you. Until I saw you today, I had no loyalty towards anyone, but I will swear it to you now." Lor bent down on one knee.

But Hui Gai didn't want any of that.

"Look here, save it. I've still not decided about you, but for now...I'm going to trust you." His red eyes gleamed brighter.

"You will believe this." Lor said vehemently. "I will show you, I have proof."

"Go ahead." Hui Gai studied his nails nonchalantly.

"Your real name is Diyu WangZi." He looked around as if expecting something.

Hui Gai looked around too.

"What?"

"I think you have to say it. It doesn’t work if I do it." Lor stared back, a stubborn glint in his eyes.

"What, just say Diyu WangZi?"

But the moment those words left his lips, it was as if the whole world shuddered in reverence towards him. The forest visibly sighed, and for a few seconds, there was just pindrop silence. As if this world was making space for him, ready to accommodate his presence.

And the change within Hui Gai was invisible on the outside,  but inside his body, his energy was pulsing at an alarming rate, and he could definitely feel his body growing now. Lor was looking at his horns, and Hui Gai felt self conscious enough to put out his hand and feel them, even the broken one, the one he had been a little bit sensitive about.

And now, when he touched it, it felt whole...as if this land was curing him. He felt powerful, invincible and a different kind of excitement was thrusting through his body.

"Okay, tell me what you know." Even his voice sounded deeper, more commanding.

It was kind of cool...if he stopped to think about it.

"Your father, the real King of the Underworld, or the Nether world as it is also known, was a wonderful leader. His name was YanLou...please forgive me for saying his name to you, his son. But my lord...I do have a question for you, if it is permitted?"

"What is it?" Hui Gai asked openly.

"Did you...were you...why are you alone? Where is your brother?"

Hui Gai couldn't stop the look of pain flash across his features. It was enough for Lor to understand what might have happened to him.

"He's dead." Hui Gai kept it short, but the pain of losing his brother was something that would never go away, sometimes catching him unawares.

He didn't talk about it. He had a brother once, and now he didn't, and that was all there was to say about it. So what if he had turned into a monster, tried to kill his friend, and even tried to kill him too? Blood ties were supposed to be thicker than water, but his brother was beyond saving. Hui Gai could only stop and thank his lucky stars that he had met Wei Ying when he had, otherwise what would he have been like now?

He didn't want to admit it, but another Yao Wang?

He shook off the nasty feeling, like oil on his fingertips. At least by asking about his brother, Lor had some credibility now. But time would tell...

"Your father reigned for a long while, the oldest of all of us. He had won his seat through trials and tribulations, and when all was said and done, he admitted he just wanted to establish a safe place for all us demons to live without fear. Those in charge placed the mantle of responsibility upon him, that he and his world would be safe as long as they stuck to maintaining peace and did not attempt to threaten the heavens with unrest. As long as he did that, control of his gate would lie solely with him, and the Heavens would stay out of his business.

"He made that agreement without consulting any of the other tribes, and while most of us were satisfied with the arrangement, there were those who weren't. You must know, us demons are hardly contented creatures, we thrive with conflict and mischief, delight in trouble." He licked his dry lips.

"Actually, I don't know anything. So far, I have only known three demons, and one of those is dead. Go figure." Hui Gai shrugged, and admitted to himself that this was fascinating. Outwardly, he maintained a stoic face, thinking of the person who could claim a patent on that look.

He smiled wistfully. Who would have thought he would miss his friend's husband too? Like, ever?

"Yao Wang was one of these demons who thought the agreement was a terrible idea, utterly unfair to us demons and he tried to convince your father to renege on the deal, but your father wouldn't have any of it. He entertained him a few times whenever Yao Wang brought it up, but he was becoming tired of such talk."

"If as you say, my father was the real King, how come Yao Wang had access to him?"

"Ah, I forget that you wouldn't know. Yao Wang was his trusted deputy, his Second in Command, leader of his formidable army. As the unrest grew, fuelled by many anxious to pressure the King into attacking the outside world, Yao Wang made his own plans. He began recruiting demons who weren't happy, whole tribes who would readily turn against the rightful King who had earned his seat upon the throne of the Nether world. My tribe too."

Hui Gai looked up sharply at that.

"Explain yourself." He rather liked this new deep voice. It was nice.

"My father and his brother were the leaders of the shape shifters. BianXing JinGang was what we were called. Yao Wang convinced them that life outside of the Black Door was better, more profitable, and right now, everyone on the other side of that door was laughing at us, how easily we were duped into giving up our freedom, and thereby giving up the bounties that we would otherwise take for ourselves.
Discontent grew and became rife. I am ashamed to say that his persuasive skills painted a picture to my family that was hard to ignore...and we sided with him. Even after learning this, I am ready to accept any punishment you would mete out upon me, for I am a traitor." He stopped speaking, waiting.

"Continue." Hui Gai told him.

"Your father trusted Yao Wang, perhaps too much. He believed the fabricated reports and the misinformation that he fed him, until one day, Yao Wang decided he'd had enough. It was time for change. He arranged for a meeting between your father and the rebels. This was a particularly vicious group of demons. The FanPan tribe...you may have heard of them?" Lor looked at him anxiously.

Hui Gai shrugged, shaking his head.

"Well, it doesn't matter now. At that time, when the meeting was about to go ahead, Yao Wang announced that the rebels were coming unarmed, and that they expected your father to do the same, and by not doing that, it would show a breach of trust that they could not forgive. Your father wanted peace above all, and he agreed. But your mother did not trust Yao Wang at all, especially when she heard that. She was privy to all sorts of talk, and all the latest news and gossip reached her through her maids, who were loyal, for she was a kind mistress. She forced your father to wear his best armour under his clothes, that at least if he wasn't allowed any weapons, he would have some protection if things went south.

"The meeting was held in a cave, and your mother sent spies to follow your father. They had strict instructions to pass on information as soon as they knew anything, and they were loyal only to her. Your father entered the cave, but alas, he was not allowed to leave. You and your brother had just been born, and your mother was terrified when she received the news. Yao Wang had instructed the rebels to poison your father, but they were savages at heart, and Yao Wang had already informed them about his armour, so they...so they...they-" He didn't want to continue.

Hui Gai watched as drops of moisture fell upon the ground in front of him. He felt strangely detached, as if this had happened to someone else, not him.

"What did they do to him?" He asked, feeling as if he were floating inside a bubble that for now protected him.

"They...they beheaded him. It was...beyond cruel." Lor couldn't speak, choked up as he was.

Hui Gai was silent.

Whoever he was, the man, King, whatever he was called, he had only wanted peace. It was a terrible way to go...for anyone.

There was no point trying to sort out his own feelings about this, and for the first time, he understood how Li XiWang felt about her biological parents. A connection couldn't be denied, but at the same time, it was impossible to force. Essentially the parents in both cases were strangers to their children, but that would not stop anyone from being hurt.

"Please continue." He told Lor.

The shape shifter fought for control, and then did as he was told.

"When your mother found out about your father, she knew he had been betrayed and realised that she had to get you out of the Nether world. She entrusted you and your brother to her chief lady in waiting, and decided to meet Yao Wang face to face. To buy you and your brother time, because Yao Wang would not show mercy to babes, not if he was willing to kill someone who had been like a father to him."

"I have a question."

Lor bowed.

"How do you know so much? From what you're telling me, it seems that you know details that would otherwise not be known unless you were close to what happened. Tell me the truth, who are you?" Hui Gai could feel his hackles rise.

"Please just wait. Only until I finish. Then you can do whatever you like to me. I will accept."

Hui Gai nodded.

"I was one of the ladies in waiting, at least I pretended to be, whenever I had to report to your mother. You see, I had tried to convince my father to remain loyal to the rightful King, but they wouldn't believe me. I had no choice but to follow my heart. I saw...I saw what happened to your father...and your mother."

Hui Gai wouldn't let himself feel bad for Lor just yet...but a small part of him felt bad for him. To have to watch people you loved be killed, in front of you, and not be able to do anything about it...

"What happened when Yao Wang came back?" Hui Gai asked instead.

But now, he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear the answer.

"I got to the Palace just before he did. But I think she already knew. I could see it...in her face. And I didn't have to spell it out either. My coming there only confirmed it for her. She decided to wait inside the throne room for Yao Wang to come. She was a good fighter, but really no match for the Captain of the Guard. It was...it was a short fight. Before he got there, she asked me, if I ever got the chance, to tell you and your brother about your family. She hoped you would come back, that the land would call you home."

"What happened to your family?" Hui Gai asked, feeling sorry for Lor.

"What do you think? The same fate as your father. Yao Wang was scared of us, and the fact that we could infiltrate any organisation meant we were a threat he had to eliminate, in spite of our loyalty to his cause. The moment he came into power, he began making things up about all the tribes he was scared of, blaming them for treason. My family was one of many tragedies."

Hui Gai was still processing, when Lor kneeled in front of him.

"What will you do with me, my Lord?"