Tarzhan x Babylord

@Tarzhan Having heard enough of Zhengguo's delusional claims, Yibo decided that he wouldn't humor any of it anymore. He made quick work of slashing up the rest of the Pestilence God's body, knowing very well that he had some audience members looking on at them from the main hall. Zhengguo's screams and cries did little to pierce Yibo's heart. They would never amount to anything that he felt for Zhan. Sheathing his sword once the skinned deity lay dead at his feet, Yibo kicked some dirt over Zhengguo's unmoving body and hurled his sword away. He wouldn't need it. Turning and walking away from the Main Hall, he renounced his position as the God of War, swearing off his ties with this forsaken kingdom forever, and retired to the human realm where he could wait for Zhan to come back to him one day as his love had promised.

@Babylord "Yibo, PLEASE!!!" Zhengguo wailed. It was so unfair! Xiao Zhan was nothing, but Zhengguo had sacrificed so much for Yibo. "I know you're angry but won't you give me a chance? I love you!! No one's ever going to love you as much as I do, so can't you accept me? I mean it!" He shrieked when he was cut, the wound gaping and stinging, refusing to stitch itself back together. Oh, despite how angry Yibo was, he was a sight to behold. He was truly a god of war. "He deserved it! Xiao Zhan deserved it for thinking he could be equals with a god!"

@Tarzhan "Who says I'm loving? And forgiving?" Yibo asked with his teeth gritted together, all signs of softness gone from his face and voice, "And what gives you the right to decide on what /I/ do with my champion?" he asked, kicking Zhengguo's chest to send him flying backwards before pointing the sword at the lesser's throat again to prevent him from getting up. "You're the one who caused me misery, so I will make sure you pay it back a hundred times, a thousand times. And even then, it'll never be enough." With that, Yibo swung his sword, letting the tip of his blade drag across Zhengguo's skin, enough to cut and bleed, but not enough to kill. "And don't you dare call me by my name, scum."

@Babylord Zhengguo squealed when he was knocked down. This wasn't supposed to be how it went! Yibo was supposed to kiss him, and he'd had his happily ever after. "None!" he squeaked, holding up both his hands in a plea for mercy. "Sure, it was me who killed him, but everyone agrees! Everyone agreed that it was the right thing to do! You can't just blame me for it! Yibo, I know you're more forgiving and loving than that. I'm the one who freed you from your mortal burden, anyway!"

@Tarzhan Outside, Yibo summoned his sword, though he had no need to unsheathe it just yet. His entire world had darkened because he lost Zhan, so he could not appreciate the scenery as much as Zhengguo did. His mind was only set on one target. How the Pestilence God even became a god, Yibo was genuinely curious, but his calculated anger consumed the majority of his attention, and as soon as Zhengguo stilled in front of him, Yibo used his sheath to knock Zhengguo onto his knees. He then drew his blade at positioned it at Zhengguo's sickly pale neck. "Tell me," Yibo said coldly, "How many slashes do you think you deserve to make up for Ah Zhan's death?"

@Babylord Zhengguo brightened up immediately when Yibo seemed to accept. Perhaps he would be shown a kiss. He hurried after the older, ignoring the pitying looks he received from the other deities. What did they know! They weren't the ones who were about to receive a kiss from the almighty god of war. Outside, the sky was a beautiful hue of orange as it mimicked the mortal realm's sunset. It was the perfect setting for the first of their many kisses. As he stood before Yibo, Zhengguo closed his eyes and puckered his lips, expecting.

@Tarzhan Seeing the hole that Zhengguo's unflattering body left in the marble walls didn't really make Yibo feel any better, though he supposed it was one way to start on getting revenge for Zhan. He looked down in disdain, his eyes narrowed into slits as Zhengguo groveled at his feet like a dog. This type of obedience - Yibo had no need for it, especially not from someone without a conscience like Zhengguo. Shaking Zhengguo off of him, Yibo inhaled deeply as he said in an uninterested tone, "You're quite stupid, so come outside. I'll show you instead of telling you." Without waiting for an answer, he stalked out of the main hall first. Since they weren't allowed to bring weapons in front of the Jade Emperor, Yibo had to go outside so he could teach Zhengguo a lesson.

@Babylord Oh no! What had Zhengguo done to upset his love? Although the blow knocked the wind out of him, he scampered up, eager to fix his mistake. He ran toward Yibo again, falling to his knees and clutching at Yibo's robes. "Oh, sweet Yibo! Why are you still so angry? You've always moved on after a day in the past. Tell me what I can do, and I'll do it! I would hate for you to still be angry on our wedding day!"

@Tarzhan "His Majesty's?" Yibo asked, laughing as if this were a jovial matter. He waited until Zhengguo got closer to him, then outreaching his arms as if he were ready to reciprocate the other's feelings just because of a measly word that the Jade Emperor gave. Once Zhengguo was within reach, Yibo gave a hard shove with all his might, sending the lesser god flying straight into the marble walls of the main hall. The smile fell off his face, and a glare took its place. If Zhengguo looked hard enough, he might even see the blue flames igniting in Yibo's eyes right now. "Pathetic," he deadpanned, dusting his sleeves off from where Zhengguo had touched him earlier.

@Babylord "Ridiculous," Zhengguo said. He supposed Yibo hadn't gotten over his previous lover just yet, although it had been days already. Instead of raising a fist or a weapon, he advanced toward Yibo with open arms. All would be well when they met in the middle and embraced, and Yibo would realize the one he needed was here all along. "I've already received His Majesty's blessing on our union. As soon as possible, my love, we can be together. We /should/ be together."

@Tarzhan Yibo couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was coming close to actually vomiting, and the last time he felt this way was when he had Yuning in his stomach. He had never paid Zhengguo any mind when they were at the Heavenly Conferences. He figured that the lesser god just wanted some attention from the upper deities, and was brownnosing his way into connections. Now Yibo knew how he should not have ever humored this. "Wed?" he asked again, in disbelief. How stupid was Zhengguo that he couldn't even discern the emotions on Yibo's face right now. "I've only ever wed one man, and that man is Xiao Zhan," he said, closing in on Zhengguo with a rather malicious grin on his face, "So if you want to wed me, you'll have to best me first."

@Babylord Zhengguo moaned aloud when he saw Yibo's /smile/ finally directed at him, despite the disgust of the other deities. "You better watch your words in front of the Emperor, Yibo," he suggest with a sly grin. Oh, how good it felt for Yibo to be his now. "Since I bested your champion in battle, that means you're mine now. And look! Everyone agrees, it was best for Heaven, and our union will be best for Heaven. Come." Zhengguo opened his arms. "We shall be wed soon enough. I know you've been waiting for this moment as well - when you would finally be rid of that clingy, sickly 'champion' of yours."

@Tarzhan Whipping around when he heard a voice talking to him, Yibo's pupils darkened even more when he saw who it was before him. Zhengguo, the pestilence god himself. Stalking up the the lesser deity, Yibo asked in a low, even tone, "We? Who are /you/ to speak to me?" Since the Heavens themselves had just admitted to intentionally killing Zhan, Yibo now knew why he couldn't heal his champion: a deity's cultivation could not heal anything that had been hurt by another deity's weapon. "Broke Heaven's rule? Me?" he scoffed with a nilly smirk on his face, "What rules are there when this damned place is run by a bunch of barbarians like you?"

@Babylord Zhengguo took the opportunity to rush in when Yibo arrived. "It wasn't him!" he shouted, lest the Jade Emperor blame him for passing on guilt. "Yibo, you broke Heaven's rule when you... fraternized with that human. We, as a council," Zhengguo said as the rest of the deities scowled at him from behind when he tried to lay some blame on them, "Decided that Xiao Zhan needed to be eliminated, as well as the unlawful... being you have produced with him. All is in order now, as decreed by the His Highness, the Jade Emperor himself." The Emperor grunted from where he sat, not interested in the fights between the deities. "Well... at least now..." Zhengguo chuckled. "I might have a chance with you."

@Tarzhan The devastation that spanned across the entire open grasslands of the Song borders remained that way for days. Yibo would know, since he watched the sun go up and down the mountains for three days straight while holding Zhan's body in his arms without moving an inch or taking a break. A day in, though Yibo had yet to accept reality, he knew it was improper to let Zhan rest there with his eyes open. As a proper general of his dynasty who had contributed nothing but good merits, Zhan deserved to rest in peace. Yibo spent the three days talking to Zhan's unmoving body, reminiscing about their first meeting when Zhan was but a child himself. Yibo didn't think he'd ever have the perfect champion, but he found it in Zhan. Finally realizing that he had a promise to keep to Zhan, and that his lover deserved a proper burial with his family, Yibo transported Zhan back to the Xiao residence where he regretfully shared the bad news, and then returned home to find Yuning.

Yibo didn't know how he was going to break the terrible news to Yuning at first, but when he got home, he realized that he didn't need to. Their son was dead. Yibo had come home too late, and Yuning's lifeless body lay limp before, just as his father's had. Dropping to his knees once more, Yibo cradled his small child in his hands. Life had been so short for him. Yibo didn't even get to love him properly and raise him with Zhan yet. And it was all over. As he inspected Yuning's wound, Yibo realized that it couldn't have been a Mongol who came in and killed Yuning. Barbaric as they were, they had left the civilians alone for the most part. Bringing his hand over Yuning's wound, Yibo tried to close it with his healing abilities, but the torn skin wouldn't budge. Sitting in silence in his shrine, Yibo pieced together the puzzle of Zhan's sudden death, realizing that no arrow was strong enough to go through Zhan's fortified armor, pierce through his skin, and come out through the back. No man-made arrow, that was.

After burying their child next to his shrine so that Yibo could protect him forever that way, Yibo returned to his celestial form. He wasted no time in storming into the main hall of the Jade Emperor, who always looked as unoccupied as forever. "WHY DID YOU DO IT." he demanded, the fury clearly present in his voice, "HOW DARE YOU."

@Babylord Zhengguo flicked the blood off the edge of his sword, the child's body crashing from where he knelt on the bed to the ground, fresh red blood pouring from the jagged slit across his throat. The damn soldier's child was taken care of, so there was no reason for Yibo to reject his advances now, was there? Satisfied with how easily he had coaxed the child out of his protected bedchambers, Zhengguo returned to his place in Heaven to wait for his Yibo. From far away, he could feel the anguish from Yibo. Well, he was a deity. He was immortal, and no matter how long it took, Zhengguo would wait for Yibo to move on from his soldier, which, from the older's track record, would not take long at all.

@Tarzhan Yibo had to lean in close to catch Zhan's words with each passing moment. His grip on Zhan's hand got tighter, more desperate as if there were some way he could physically restrain Zhan from leaving him. "What?" he asked, holding his breath so he could hear Zhan's last question. "Yes, Ah Zhan," Yibo finally responded after pushing back a series of chortles that prevented him from speaking properly. "You were everything I needed. You were more than enough..." he said, feeling Zhan's hand drop from his cheek. Hearing no response, Yibo sniffled and looked down, seeing that Zhan's chest had stopped moving and his eyes had stopped blinking. "Ah Zhan?" Yibo called out, shaking Zhan's lifeless body lightly as if he were trying to wake him, "Ah Zhan?" he cried out again, his voice significantly higher pitched.

Realizing that Zhan could no longer hear him, and that he was no longer with Yibo was the final straw. Screaming out in agony and blind rage, Yibo hugged the soldier's body in his arms and pressed his cheek to Zhan's bloodied cheek. He sat there and howled into Zhan's ears, though the younger's body never gave any indication of being bothered by Yibo's volume as he once was. Zhan wasn't there to tell Yibo to lower his voice to not disturb the neighbors. Zhan wasn't holding his hand and cradling Yibo close to help him stop crying. Zhan just wasn't there. His fury unleashed a strong bout of spiritual energy that racked the entire battlefield within two thousand lis, effectively killing everyone who participated in this damned battle to be his Zhan's funeral offerings.

@Babylord Everything felt so hazy. Zhan's breaths slowed and slowed, until they were just a rattle from his chest. He hated to see his love cry, but there was nothing else he could do but make an empty promise that he didn't even know if he could fulfil. After all, he was just a mere mortal who died on the battlefield. How many thousands, millions had suffered the same fate. There was just one more thing Zhan wanted to know, and he had to ask before time ran out. "Was I really enough for you?" he asked. Moments after the words left his mouth, Zhan couldn't hang on any longer, no matter how hard he longed to hear Yibo's answer, something to relax him and put him at rest. His hand dropped from Yibo's face, over his chest, and he stilled without another thought, his pupils expanding until none of his irises could be seen at all, the light and life leaving his eyes in an instant. The lone teardrop that he'd been holding back slid down his cheek.

@Tarzhan "But I don't want one day," Yibo pleaded in his childish ways again when Zhan was trying to console him, "I want you to protect me now. I don't want you to leave me. Or Yuning. We both need you." He whimpered as Zhan's thumb d his cheek ever-so-gently. He was beginning to hiccup and chortle from the waves of sorrow that washed over his body, making his nose run and shoulders shake. His voice cracked when Zhan called Yibo his love, heart squeezing painfully as he cried harder than he had ever cried in his entire existence as a deity. Eventually, with Zhan's waning strength and his eyelids looking like they were about to flutter shut, Yibo clutched even tighter to Zhan's hand as he said, "Ah Zhan...you promised me...you have to come back to protect me again," Yibo sobbed, "You've never, never broken your promises before."

@Babylord Zhan didn't want to go either. He tried to tell Yibo, but he wasn't sure if he had the strength to say everything he wanted. He was sure Yibo would know his sentiments, as well. "My lord," he mumbled, putting all his energy into curling his fingers so that Yibo could feel him cup his cheek. "I am but one of many of your champions... but please... watch over Yuning... don't abandon him..." Another cough, this time sending a spray of blood over Yibo's neck. Zhan mouthed an apology, raising his free hand to try and wipe at the unsightly blood. "I love you." His hand was beginning to feel heavy, so he only kept one up, his thumb trembling as he brushed it over Yibo's cheekbone. "I will... see you again one day... so I can keep protecting you. So... don't be sad, my love... please?"

@Tarzhan Yibo was finally starting to shake, losing all the composure that he had tried to maintain while protecting Zhan from anyone else who tried to hurt him. He had lost many champions before, and while it was a pity that such talent had gone to waste, it wasn't the same feelings for Zhan. Even when he was so weak and helpless on the ground, Zhan didn't blame Yibo for not protecting him well enough. Zhan wasn't asking Yibo why he had been forsaken. No, Zhan was asking for forgiveness and repenting. Yibo cupped his lover's cheek, shaking his head as he tried to reassure Zhan, "You did everything and more. You were all I could have ever asked for, all I've ever wanted to hold onto. I don't want you to go." Yibo pleaded, his soft voice returning as tears streamed down his face and obscuring his vision of Zhan, "It's my fault Ah Zhan, everything is my fault. I love you, I should have protected you at all costs." Yibo wailed in agony as he took Zhan's limp hand, pulling it up to cup his own cheek, "I love you so much. Ah Zhan, please don't leave me!"

@Babylord Zhan had experienced Yibo's godly healing powers before, so when he didn't feel his flesh stitch up immediately as he was used to, he knew that it was the end for him. As sad, angry, regretful as he wanted to be, Zhan felt too... tired to feel all of it. Or maybe he just didn't register it. A tear rolled down the side of his face - when had that happened? Everything on the battlefield felt muted, thankfully, so Zhan could focus on his lord. That was all he wanted - to be warm and comforted in his lord's arms right now. "--Bo," he wheezed, not having the energy to say his full name. "My... my lord..." Wait. He can't die. He didn't want Yibo to find another so quickly. He didn't want Yuning to grow up without a father. "'m sorry," he managed. "I couldn't... do enough..." He coughed, his throat irritated when he spoke, and another mouthful of black blood rose up and spilled over his chin and the edge of his plate. In a small voice, barely louder than a mouse's squeak, "Can you forgive me?

@Tarzhan "No! No, don't say anything Ah Zhan!" Yibo ordered in his frenzied state, his hand covering the wound over Zhan's chest as he invested all his energy into restoring it. It was actively draining his spiritual storage, but Yibo could care less at this moment. He only had one goal in mind, and it was to save Zhan. "You're going to be okay!" Yibo insisted, a hardness in his voice that he had never used with Zhan before, "It's my fault! I didn't watch you closely enough. Don't panic, okay Ah Zhan? I'm going to heal you! You'll be fine in no time! You'll be able to climb back up on your horse and finish this battle and come home to me!" Yibo screamed, another ripple effect, sending more waves of soldiers flying indiscriminately. Yibo didn't even know that he had began to weep, every sense going numb as his now-blood-stained hands pressed desperately at Zhan's wound that showed no sign of closing up.

@Babylord Oddly enough, the blow never came from the advancing mongol. Instead, Zhan felt something that burned with the fires of a thousand suns through his chest, tearing apart his flesh, the force of it sending him falling back when he stood. He couldn't help screaming, only wanting to displace the pain, but he found that he had collapsed, mouth gaping in a silent cry. When he tried to scream for help again, something thick and metallic bubbled up his throat, and dark blood spilled past his lips, forcing him to lie back down. What the was happening? It wasn't too long before he heard something comforting and familiar, though. Yibo's voice! It calmed Zhan and his lips moved as he tried to say his lover's name, but no sound came out, either. It wasn't until his gaze followed Yibo's hands that he realized what had happened. The back half of an arrow protruded from his chest. He groaned, though it came out more as a raspy wheeze. He didn't even react when he felt the arrow fidget and slide out of his body, blinking sluggishly and breathing in shallow pants. As much as he hated to admit it, was /devastated/ to admit it, Zhan whispered, "I can't." It was all he could manage after several breaths. "--Bo. Yi... bo..."

@Tarzhan Yibo made quick work of the mess on the battlefield. He had set the Mongols enough li back that Zhan's soldiers would have enough time to recuperate their numbers and rearrange their stance before the next wave came attacking. Hopefully by that time, Zhan would have returned too. Looking at his good handiwork, Yibo smiled smugly to himself. That was, until he looked down at the golden thread and saw it's natural shimmery state starting to waver. His heart sank. That could only have one meaning: Zhan was in danger. Disappearing into thin air, Yibo searched desperately for Zhan, his immortal form soaring through the skies until he came to the clearing where Zhan's golden thread was weakly glowing. Looking down, Yibo almost fell out of the sky in agony at the sight before him. Zhan had fallen, an arrow pierced through his armor and the pointed tip coming out from his back. Yibo cried as he swooped in to protect Zhan, a ripple of large magnitude sending everyone around them flying backwards so that he could protect Zhan in this small encasing. "AH ZHAN!" Yibo cried out, materializing in his human form once more, "STAY STILL!" he hollered, his hand wrapping around the bloodied arrow to pull it out. "Let me get this out," Yibo sputtered, "I'll heal you, you'll be okay." Though he knew it would hurt, Yibo had to forcibly remove the arrow by breaking it in half and pulling one end from Zhan's front and the other from Zhan's back. The entire time, he refused to let his hands stop working, mercilessly attacking anyone with his aura who dared approach Zhan's injured figure. Once the weapon was removed, Yibo waved a hand over Zhan's bleeding wound, willing it to heal. He had enough years of cultivation to heal even the most deadly wounds...so why wasn't Zhan's closing up?

@Babylord As Zhan rode along the route, an uneasy feeling stirred within him. It was unnaturally quiet along the path, and why had they ridden for so long now with no sign of the princess? Zhan’s anxiety intensified. Had they already gotten to her? As he and his men rode into the gorge that the route passed through, he heard a whinny of a horse and a yell from one of his men. Whipping around, Zhan mentally berated himself when he saw horse and man fall, arrows stuck to their collapsing bodies from every direction possibly imagined. How could he have not seen this coming? The princess would’ve never diverted her path through this obvious set-up. He couldn’t even call for the command to retreat before another one of his men fell. A panic arose in him, but Zhan couldn’t even call for Yibo in time before his horse buckled him off, an arrow sticking out from his chest. Zhan flew forward, crying out when he landed on his shoulder. The imposing figure of a mongol seemed to be approaching him, a thick, curved blade in hand accompanied with a menacing grin.

@Tarzhan Yibo was even more reluctant to let Zhan go the closer it came to daybreak. Yibo could see the longing in Zhan's eyes when the champion looked back at him, and Yibo gave a small wave with a soft smile as he blew Zhan a kiss and promised that they would see each other soon. Once Zhan rode away, Yibo went about tending to their son, making sure that Yuning was still tucked under his covers and his face didn't have the slightest sign of worry as he slept. As a toddler, Yuning was really starting to resemble his father. Once he finished tidying up, Yibo also pulled his hair up tightly so that it tugged at his temples. Today was the last battle, and he wanted to look good for Zhan when everything was over. Reminding his attendants to watch after Yuning, Yibo took off in his celestial form, off to oversee Zhan's battle.

He could see Zhan battling arduously against the enemy troops. The opposing soldiers rode their horses as if they were playing on a balance beam, swinging from side to side to throw the Chinese soldiers off guard. Yibo deflected a few blows here and there to minimize some casualties without seeming like he was getting too involved, though his eyes were fixated on the golden thread that connected him to Zhan at all times. Suddenly, the thread thinned, and Yibo could hear Zhan's prayer to him. As much as he wanted to turn and immediately follow Zhan, Yibo knew that the Song would have no chance of winning if both he and Zhan desserted this strip of land. So Yibo decided he would help Zhan wrap up the mess here, and then Yibo would catch up with Zhan to put off the ambush.

@Babylord "I love you," Zhan repeated, kissing Yibo once more before parting. Though his movements were reluctant, Zhan forced himself away, pulling himself up onto his steed in one steady swing. His eyes met Yibo's one more time and he smiled, his gaze filled with love and warmth, before he set off. The battle was long and arduous - there were more enemy troops than Zhan had imagined before, and midway through the battle, he was drawn away from the main event by a group of his soldiers. The 3rd princess was on a route with a premeditated ambush, and Zhan's presence was required immediately. With a few of his best men, Zhan rode hard and fast, praying silently to Yibo along the way, 'My lord, please watch over the men on the main battlefield.'

@Tarzhan "Oh-" Yibo said, his grip around Zhan tightening because they would have to part ways so early in the day, "Okay Ah Zhan..." he squeaked softly in a gentle and docile voice, "I'll wait for you so you'll one more time today." Pulling away just enough to get a better look at his Champion, Yibo tiptoed and pressed a kiss to Zhan's smiling lips. He didn't linger long, and he wanted Zhan to stay focused as always. "I trust you. I love you Ah Zhan," he said, returning the smile for his lover, "Go safely. And come back to me soon."

@Babylord The foreboding feeling returned, and although Yibo was a deity, Zhan forgot that often. He only wanted to protect his wife. "You stay here, my love," Zhan said, though he made no move to peel Yibo's hands off him just yet. He hugged the older to him tightly, then kissed his forehead, his nose, then his lips. "It's dangerous out there. I only need your blessing. That's all I need." A faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes played at the corners of Zhan's lips. "Have a little trust in me, won't you?" Zhan straightened up, bringing Yibo with him. "When you see me again, everything will be okay. I won't ever leave again after."