Chapter 144 - No One Can Escape Fate

There was a silence and he turned to look at the brunette and Ying Yue saw the look on his brother's face.

"When I returned to him… you knew they were just ghosts, but you never said anything. You just… None of you even told me!"

"Ghosts?" The redhead made a noise of confusion, but the brunette did not react the same.

"Yes. I knew," Han Mo turned to him with dipped brows, "Is it my fault that I wanted to be with him longer, even if he was a ghost? If I told you, the Ghost King would have stopped and I wouldn't have seen him again. Do I not get to be selfish too?!"

"…"

The room was quiet and they heard a slight whimper from the child. Xu Ling held onto his son and shushed him quietly. Ying Yue sat up and stared at his brother with deep seated eyes. He was just so tired.

"Ah Mo… you helped him."

"…"

"Han Mo," Xu Ling narrowed his eyes with a frown, "Had you?"

"I do not know what you are speaking of."

Ying Yue laughed softly, then it raised up to a loud obnoxious laugh that caused everyone to stare at him, before he laughed while crying dry tears. Pressing his palms to his eyes, he stopped laughing suddenly and stared coldly at the teacup.

"You went to him, before I returned. You knew he killed Ah Shen. You fought him, trying to avenge Ah Shen and maybe the others too, but you lost and bartered with him."

Ying Yue stated and his brother stared at him apathetically. A quirk of his brow, he heard his brother hummed.

"You knew he wanted me. He knew you wanted Ah Shen. At the end, you both got what you wanted…"

Han Mo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He pulled out his perfumed gift with the crane pendant. Sitting down, he let out a laugh and tilted his head at the blonde.

"Have you ever played chess with the Ghost King, Ah Yue?"

"Yes."

"Had you ever won?"

Golden eyes looked tiredly at him and his youngest brother shook his head.

"Neither have I," Han Mo whispered and glanced back at his gift, "Your husband knows how to use one's heart for his purpose."

"He wouldn't-"

"Ah Yue. You really are blind when it comes to him. Every single one of us is a pawn in his game," the brunette glanced away, "Saving Lady Nuying's imprisonment leading to the birth of Xu Ling's child. Giving me time with Ah Shen, even as a ghost. Being around you even when you were away from him. Keeping you near so you would never forget him," Han Mo let out a breath as he stared at the ceiling.

"He truly is a king who knows how to command his pawns. Even now, after he showed his hand, you still protect him so loyally."

"Stop. Do not speak about my husband in such ways!" Ying Yue glared at his brother, "You do not know him. He would not play everyone as if it was a game."

The brunette shook his head sighing.

"When we found out of your death, we did not have time to mourn. There were still demons around that needed to be sent back, so elder brother and I fought hard. You remember, don't you Ah Ling?"

"My memories are not as clear as yours, Ah Mo, but I remember fighting endlessly. There were many demons still. Was that when you confronted the Ghost King?"

The redhead narrowed his eyes at Han Mo.

"Yes. I was angry about Ah Yue's death and my heart was broken even further when I arrived at the palace to save Ah Shen, only to see-"

The brunette cut himself off as his hand tightened around the gift of his crush.

"It was a massacre and the Ghost King was just standing in the middle of the courtyard staring at the sky. I took my chance and fought. I wasn't as strong or quick as him, but I was so angry."

Ying Yue saw the defeated look of his brother's face and he turned away from the sadness he saw.

"Yet, he didn't kill me. I was just being played by him and he just stared at me. Then… then he offered me a deal," golden eyes glanced at golden ones, "It was an intricate plan he had weaved for many centuries, long before you were both eloped."

Ying Yue nodded.

The sunlight lighted the room and brought shadows in the corners. All he could hear was his pounding heartbeat at such accusation. Yet, the words of his lover's voice echoed in his mind and he wavered in his resolved. His brother notices this and sighed out a smile with a shake of his head.

"He is smart, handsome, strong. Was that not what you said, Ah Yue?"

The platinum blonde gritted his teeth.

"Lady Nuying was placed to take care of the knight, Ah Shen was given to distract the bishop, Ye Wu was your husband's tower, and you were the queen, Ah Yue. I am sure he had many who were his pawns, his pieces."

Han Mo shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I apologize, brothers. I should have not been selfish. If I spoke up sooner, maybe all of this would not come to fruition."

The brunette laughed and covered his eyes as tears slipped down.

Xu Ling shut his eyes as he thought of what he lost as well. Looking down at the child sleeping with furrowed brows, clutching at his tunic, he thought of Lady Nuying. Exhaling through his nose, he pulled his child closer to him, protecting him.

"No, Ah Mo," the youngest shook his head, "No one can escape fate. The prophecy was to be completed. Jade Emperor made sure of it, even if you told me… I could not say for certain I would leave him."

Han Mo laughed desperately with sorrow.

"How depressing… none of us had gotten a happy ending. I suppose we were never meant to love with what we are."

Ying Yue did not comment because he did not know what to say. What his brother stated was true and yet… they did love, were loved for a period of time.

'Was that not enough?' Ying Yue questioned himself, but his answer came with no hesitation.

'No, never enough.'