[ TALK WITH YOUR BROTHER ] 

The lower area of the heavenly grounds is surprisingly cold, a light mist covering the area despite the bright glow of gold and white seeping through.

There’s already rumors spreading through the Guard of undisciplined trainees running amok through the stables and freeloading in the gardens — though, it’s certain that the sole protagonist of said rumors is the one guffawing wickedly at the bottom of the stairs, orange fur and golden eyes easily standing out even in the dark uniform the yaoguai wears. A hard sniff is heard as the final step is done and the two men stare at each other, unblinking.

[Doc version]

SWK: Yang Jian, you would not believe what the horses just told me about Laozi SWK: It’s wickedly cool SWK: Like, “oh my god i never would’ve guessed”, kind of cool ELS: Hm. SWK: Seriously! SWK: You should definitely not go and check the stables, by the way, I think someone left one of the stalls open and one of the horses got out in the middle of the epic quest of: “Where’s the Bimawen?” ELS: You don’t say. SWK: I do say! Overly saying it, actually, I’m saying it right now SWK: Point is, the dude’s crafting some sort of “immortality pill” and keeping it all to himself in his lab and I’m thinking of making him extra sweet tarts tomorrow to try and get him to share some SWK: Okay, well, Imma try to get Jiejie to teach me to bake tarts and then I can sweeten him up SWK: All that skilled planning will get me closer to expanding my immortal lifespan by ten so I can gloat to those guards about who’s actually the strongest in training SWK: Hah! Even my old master knew that I was the strongest— ELS: Yes, who was that again? SWK: Hm? ELS: Your master. Who was he? SWK: What master? ELS: The master you just spoke of. SWK: I’ve only had one master and that’s you, bro

There’s a pause in the very-important-must-read-dialogue to remind the reader than if you’re unaware of the motions, Erlang Shen, the Jade Emperor’s nephew and renown God of Justice, is regretting his decision in coming down to try and negotiate with his brother about leaving behind trickery for the sake of his migraine-induced rage bursts. The Ivory Lady says it’s bad for his age.

SWK: Can I be honest? ELS: I don’t think you were born or designed to be honest. But by all means, go right ahead. SWK: I’m thinking about the clouds that form around here ELS: … ELS: Clouds? SWK: ‘Cause you have all the nice neat lil’ shapes back on the mortal realm that are fun to crash into! They fill up with water vapor and turn into shapes and you can try and guess what kind of shape they turn into like a very normal kind of game a fifty-year-old demon like me would play ELS: Clearly. SWK: But the clouds here never change! Not once! They don’t even disappear — is it like a time thing? That’s the exact same cloud I saw yesterday when I was chasing down Xiaotian ELS: Why were you chasing my dog? SWK: And that is the same cloud I saw when I broke into the Emperor’s closet and put on one of his fancy gowns to play ‘Emperor For the Day’ until someone noticed and ended up getting kicked out for ‘ruining the Jade Emperor’s regalia’ ELS: That was you?  SWK: Not the point ELS: Stop chasing Xiaotian. SWK: I don’t think you’re focusing enough on the clouds and their freaky patterns and stupid ideas of never changing once when I turn way to ask for it ELS: Did you also dye his fur? SWK: Actually he just ran straight into my study desk and got ink all over himself ELS: Where did you get the colored ink? SWK: You can make it by mixing flower petals or leaves together to change its color ELS: Oh. SWK: Smart huh? ELS: I have found the one daily thing you’ve done to impress me. Congratulations.  ELS: You’re grounded. SWK: No, I’m not ELS: You are. SWK: You always say I’m grounded but then you turn around and let me stay with the horses before training SWK: Come on Yang Jian it’s nothin’! Besides it’s just you and me, now, you can drop the ‘almighty justice god’ routine ELS: It’s not a routine! 

ELS: Come on, Shi Hou. You’re the smartest trainee I have— SWK: Ever had ELS: You trained with me for like, what? A couple of weeks? It’s incredible how quickly you picked up on everything. You should be using that brain of yours for something other than cheap pranks, brother. ELS: You won’t be taken seriously if you don’t act serious. SWK: Says the gege who helped me prank your sworn brothers SWK: Didn’t know chickens could be so violent ELS: Of course they’re violent. The smaller they are the more violence is stored inside them. ELS: You’d know that if you learned about the— SWK: Yeah, I got it SWK: But can you blame me? Fifteen days of being here after finding out Heaven was lying to me? I could’ve gone back to Azure and told them about how stupid the whole ‘Taking Back Heaven’ plan is to try something else ELS: And you believe Azure would listen? SWK: Of course he would! SWK: You listen to me ELS: Because we’re brothers. SWK: He said he was my brother. How’s that any different? ELS: I, personally, don’t have any delusions of grandeur when it comes to wanting to overthrow the most powerful royal line out there. ELS: But I am willing to teach you how to control that magic of yours and learn to— SWK: Blast things! ELS: Heal, little brother. It will come in handy when you’re out in the battlefield all alone. You may be all powerful but your body’s still growing. Changing. You may even encounter stronger yaoguai on your adventures when you finally leave my temple. SWK: Really? You think someone is capable of hurting me? ELS: Apart from me? Yes. SWK: Psh, sure. You beat me, what? Three times? I still won the other fights. ELS: Yes, and I kept training to counter you. We’re tied.  ELS: Now, go wash up. We’re traveling East tomorrow to meet with an old friend of mine. You’d do best to learn proper decorum before meeting him. SWK: If he’s anything like your right-hand then I’ll probably be able to manage ELS: Wukong… SWK: Yeah, yeah SWK: Bah, you worry too much Erlang. I’ll be right with you first thing in the morning ELS: I’ll believe you.  ELS: Don’t be late!

There’s a bright flash of light, the same orange and yellows that seep from the sunset. It grows brighter and brighter and gray eyes stare up at the bird that circles around the god before diving towards the temple. There’s a few seconds before Erlang hears a loud cackle of laughter, amused and delighted, and he can’t help the small smile that spreads on his face.

He sighs and stares up at the sky, watching it change into night. 

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