Chapter 55: Summoning

She shouted: “I don’t agree! Who said you could do this!”
The War God ignored her—hands didn’t stop—turning divine consciousness into last force—trying to open a gap in the God-Slaying Array.
Tears in the War God’s eyes—regret: “I thought after you fell to demonhood an evil god took your mind. After we slew the evil god I could secretly preserve your consciousness—give you new life.”
After this the War God knew—in this life no transcendence, no mending the wrong—only pay with life.
When her consciousness became dust in the mortal world—she could never again—
let alone see her lover—even standing in sunlight would be luxury.
The War God lifted her head—held tears back—soft farewell: “Goodbye… my only friend in this life.”
“Who agreed to be your friend!”
Hearing that she ignored demon backlash—forced divine power—spent lifespan—to part the array’s chaos for her lover.
Not far—almost cost her life to reach her side.
She gripped her lover’s hand tight: “Yanci, I will never leave you alone! Die together or live together!”
“Sister Milt—you remember everything.”
The War God looked up—calm water eyes at last burned again.
How could she forget—now or a thousand years in the future—her lover’s eyes held endless starlight.
“Yes—I remember all. You lied again.” She scolded light. “That pin wasn’t bought random—you carved it yourself.”
Yanci closed eyes, smiled: “On a night of meteors—I gave it to the one I loved.”
Hearing that she repeated the careless words from first meeting: “Whichever immortal you loved deeply would be fortunate.”
Words from years ago and now overlapped—another lifetime—both blurred eyes.
“But the one I loved wasn’t an immortal—she was a god beyond reach. To stand closer I cultivated day after day—until I could be at her side and guard peace under heaven with her.”
Yanci said grave: “From then on her wish was everything to me.”
The array blocked by divine consciousness—couldn’t kill the gods—struck harder—every blow lethal.
She almost by instinct shielded her lover behind her—would bear bone-eating pain herself.
She heard Yanci’s tearing cry: “Sister Milt!”
Blood at her lips—still smiled light: “It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt at all.”
“You’re lying!”
Yanci had released consciousness—divine power drained—inside the array—no strength to break free—could only watch: “Let me go!”
“I deserve death—forgetting so lightly—taking your kindness as gift owed.” Pain near suffocation—still smiling: “You confessed—stayed a thousand years—always put me first.”
She gripped Yanci’s hand tighter: “Know this? The most precious thing I’ve had in this life.”
Yanci closed eyes—couldn’t hold tears—whispered at her ear: “Sister Milt, I always felt—you’ve become somewhat different.”
“You’re right.” Under Yanci’s stunned gaze she told her origin: “Yanci, I’m not from this age.”
This time she broke heaven’s secret—no order struck back—the words reached her true.
“Sister Milt—what did you say?”
The array surged again—stronger—she shielded Yanci under her again—let countless arrows of divine force pierce her chest.
Badly wounded—god body fading—more blood.
Life almost gone—Yanci’s released consciousness finally worked—tore a gap at the array’s edge.
“Yanci—go. Quick.”
Yanci shook head endless: “No—if one goes, we go together!”
“I come from a thousand years in the future.” Breath thin—gentle eyes on her lover. “I’ll be fine. When I die and fall I return to my age.”
She formed oath gesture—promise grave: “Believe—we will meet again in the future.”
One strike from the gods’ array—consciousness scattered—near death—only then let go—used everything to push Yanci toward the exit.
“You lie! I don’t believe! Stop—you must live!” Yanci urgent. “My fault—I trusted Diting. The array only lets one out—if one—it should be me sending you!”
The torn exit closing—she hurried: “Go now or too late!”
---
“I won’t go.” Yanci had decided—came toward her. “If you choose death—I die with you.”
She didn’t refuse—watched her lover walk to her.
Of course she wanted Yanci to live—in a corner of selfish heart she also wanted her lover to stay for her.
As if that made the true heart purer—brought her closer to her lover.
The exit closed behind them. Center of the array they held tight—deep kiss—endless love in action.
The hollow filled with love—satisfaction she’d never known.
Let this surging love be their last farewell.
Her consciousness scattered to every corner of the array—star-like light.
Yanci reached—touched from those fragments—memory from a thousand years ahead.
“What you said was true.” Yanci dazed. “You crossed from a thousand years ahead—called by my divine power.”
“What?”
Yanci touched her brow—understood the whole affair at once.
Gods could recall past and foresee future—her spirit crossed a thousand years because Yanci’s power called her—to witness Diting’s plot with her own eyes.
A thousand years ahead—they would have countless chances to piece consciousness whole—gather force enough—to drag Diting from the moon’s highest throne.
In the array neither truly escaped.
But the array could kill only one god—both inside—power insufficient—so neither consciousness died utterly.
Her consciousness shattered—scattered all through the mortal world.
Yanci’s power mostly broke the array—what remained drifted to War God Palace—settled on the prettiest jade rabbit.
From then the ordinary rabbit gained spirit—in days immortal power made her a great immortal—forgot all former lives.
The ancient gods’ war ended—but her spirit didn’t return to modern times at once—it drifted to Longevity Hall.
She didn’t know why she must come—but a voice said: you must come here.
Down the corridor—a room at the end—door ajar—someone had entered before her.
When she first came to Longevity Hall—the room at corridor’s end had always been locked.
Pushed open—remembered—guest room she’d prepared for Yanci at Longevity Hall.
After Yanci confessed love they slept in the main hall—this room idle.
Large room—finest fittings. Yanci liked quiet—simple—few things.
Only on the desk—a message crystal forged from divine power.
No dust—placed recent.
Five characters on the seal—Yanci’s hand: To Milt, open personally.
Light touch—the letter full of farewell.
Signature: Your loving wife, Yanci.
Her lover’s last love letter.
The battlefield trip—Yanci had prepared for death long before.
Diting fooled Yanci—thought demon possession took her mind—believed completely.
Even so her lover would defy the world—go to battle alone—under ten gods’ eyes preserve her consciousness.
The plan—after the evil god was slain—her consciousness nourished by Spirit Tide jade pendant—reborn—no more negative emotion backlash.
She remembered years ago asking Yanci: “Does your name mean something?”
Yanci laughed light: “Nothing special—picked at random.”
Reading the farewell—tears fell.
Fine inkstone—ink ground—hesitation—pen never moved—farewell never spoken in life.
When the crystal became consciousness shards and poured into her—the spirit returned to the age a thousand years later.
Brush in hand—unfinished painting before her.
Her spirit had burned long in antiquity—in modern time only a finger snap.
Bai Yanci asked: “Ke-ke, what is it?”
One glance—Bai Yanci seized her wrist, voice heavy: “What happened? Your consciousness…”
“My consciousness what?”
“More complete than before.”
That letter Yanci left.
It held part of her consciousness—waiting for her to open and make her whole.
Bai Yanci had no memory of a thousand years ago. She said: “I just went to antiquity—before the gods fell.”
“A thousand years ago?” Bai Yanci frowned. “You mean—this part of consciousness came from then?”
She nodded.
Bai Yanci’s voice went heavy: “Ke-ke, I need to leave a moment. Back soon. Wait here for me—promise?”