QT: Against My Will

Chapter 257

257 [END] 4.78 – Tears Of An Angel – Dangerous Angels – (END)

Rain above, devastation below. The torn hearts in-between the tears did nothing but added dampness to the air. With her departure, the world became cold and empty. Her unresponsiveness was like poison for their souls, suffocating the beautiful angels and her followers with each breath they took. Mourning their way through the city alone, the sound of rain was enough to drown out every other noise, their included.

· · — · ???· — · ·

Stopping war was a noble goal but an untenable option. The world would remain a dangerous place. It was unavoidable.

Tian Shi changed the mindset of the people that war was not the first option to resolve conflict and a proof that it could be stopped with a type of leadership that knew how to manage festering crises before they could escalate.

However, there were just too many people like family Tui that wanted to get rid of her behind the scenes. For a woman, she was gaining too much following and power. The blame put on her was endless. It wouldn’t take long before she would be seen as a threat and an obstacle for those more ambitious. Those, whose view didn’t match hers.

During wars, many people died a painful death, and nobody cared. Her self-immolation was spiritually the same as a fireman rushing into a house to save the lives of burning people. No, she didn’t carry anyone out of the fire personally. But her sacrifice was like a torch that lit the way for what became the peace movement and the eventual end of War across the world for a short period.

People would notice one’s worth only after one’s death.

If Bing Shi departed while keeping the body intact, the soul of the young girl inside wouldn’t be able to withstand the burden of being a target of everyone’s attack and scrutiny if they noticed that the body wasn’t occupied by Tian Shi anymore.

. · · — · ???· — · ·

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Pictures of Tian Shi on flames traveled far and wide together with her message:

– My enemy is not man. The struggle for equality and freedom is not aimed at our emperor but at intolerance, hatred, and discrimination. These are the real enemies of man. Not man himself. Please kill the real enemies of man which are present everywhere, in our very hearts and minds. –

There was nothing more painful than burning oneself. To say something while experiencing this kind of pain was to prove that what she was saying was of utmost importance.

No news in history had generated so much emotion around the world as that one.

Her motivation and vision inspired many. May all learn the deep peace she taught, and may all look honestly at the world; so that such sacrifices would no longer be needed.

In Tian Shi’s honor, in every main square, there would be a high pillar with her statue on top of it. She would be sitting here leisurely. While dangling her legs in the air, she would be looking out for the safety of people from above. (Her legs symbolizing freedom and independence.)

Pressure you are feeling,

cold and withered.

I know it hurts,

I can tell that you are lonely,

the angel proclaims.

.

Get up, take my hand,

I’ll shoulder your pain.

I’ll walk you out of the dark room,

for the last time

for the last time.

.

Get up, take my hand,

I’ll open the sky for you.

I’ll pull you out of the dark abyss,

for the last time,

for the last time.

.

You’re special, planted in my mind.

Love me more, hate me less,

I’ll lend you my shoulder,

until the end of time,

until the end of time.

· · — · ???· — · ·

In ancient times, news and stories were spoken from mouth to mouth, through myths and legends. One of which was a legend about two individuals who, despite loving each other, could never be together because of their different perspectives.

“They are the exact opposite. Why would they love each other?” the little boy under the sheets asked his mother.

When night came, Gu Min would tell a good night story to her child, “Life and Death has been in love for longer than numbers could describe. Life always sends countless gifts to death, while Death keeps them forever.”

“Did Life receive any gifts from Death?” The boy asked.

“No...Death never returns anything.”

“Death is such a terrible man,” the boy felt pity towards Life for not receiving any gifts, “Life is stupid. They don’t suit each other.”

“Who told you that Death is a man? Don’t make fun of Life or Life will gift you to Death when you least expect it.” The young mother pinched her son’s nose as she continued. “Mother thinks they complement each other very much. Do you know why?”

The boy who looked oddly similar to Cheng Young shook his head.

· · — · ???· — · ·

Life asked Death once. “Dear, why do people love me but hate you?”

“Because you are a beautiful lie, and I’m a painful truth.” Death responded while holding hands with Life, “But dear, a lie can’t last forever. People are going to hate you as much as me.”

Life looked down at their interlocked fingers, “Ah, they finally realized that we’re partners in crime.”

“It can’t be helped. Only together, can we become a beautiful truth,” answered Death.

· · — · ???· — · ·

Gu Min stared at the man that appeared in their bedroom. Due to a certain madman, this handsome man would always end up in her care, battered and injured.

She got a second chance to correct her regrets. She lost her sister once, and now it felt like she lost her sister once again. She would do anything to bring her sister back to life, including sacrificing her life. She felt like she was not the one who deserved to live. It was hard to move on.

Edan, whose head was full of responsibilities, always stayed by Gu Min’s side together with Mao An. The last one they would expect help from was Cheng Young. One day, he appeared at their doorstep and decided to accompany them during their travels.

Gu Min wanted to return to her homeland, to visit her parents. After making sure they were living well, she opened a small clinic in Eliaros. Being her sister’s twin sure had its benefits. Instead of being seen as Tian Shi’s shadow, she was treated with utmost respect. She promised herself to make sure that nothing bad would happen to the rest of Tianshies, and she wasn’t the only one. Cheng Young became one of the Eliaro’s most powerful backings.

Family Tui’s drastic actions caused them to close many shops. Because it was Tian Shi who chose her own death, only the head of the family and those that bought her troubles the most were spewed and spitted upon. Any more and it would be a dishonor to Tian Shi’s sacrifice. Though family Tui obtained what they wanted, there was no satisfaction, only silent grieving.

His Majesty Zhao Rong would visit Eliaros occasionally. His impulsive attitude changed to that of a cold man of few words. Every Tianshi that served him survived. Being less fearsome, people started to offer their daughters to Zhao Rong again.

Zhao Rong was probably the only one who still didn’t move on from her sister’s death even after so many years; whenever he saw Gu Min, he would go into a trance for a long while. (Tian Shi told him beforehand that she was leaving, but never in his dream would he expect this type of ‘leaving’. Now, he realized that the only close person that remained by his side was the overlooked female shadow guard, whose life was spared due to Tian Shi’s connections with Ru Quan again.)

Cheng Young reappeared again. He took it as his duty to protect Gu Min. Surprisingly, he accepted her sister’s death very well, considering all the shameless, past pursuits. It was him who helped her to move on.

Besides her, only Hasan, Edan, Cheng Young, and Zhao Rong knew that Ru Quan and Tian Shi were in an intimate relationship, from the very beginning.

After Ru Quan’s sudden disappearance, people started to connect a few things. Nobody knew where Ru Quan went or what happened to her sister’s body. From all the tales and myths, there was one thing they were sure of, and that was their unquestioning love for each other.

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END OF ARC FOUR

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+—- Author’s note —–+

These two sure are the scammers of history ??

We finally finished ARC 4!!! YAY!

I have to give huge credit for the smart people on Quora as that is where I obtained most of my knowledge from.

After a bit of research, I stumbled on this monk Thích Quang Duc that self-immolated like Bing Shi and a journalist Malcolm Brown that documented the whole process. I used a few of his citations in this chapter.

This ARC is in honor of those that sacrificed themselves for the betterment of humanity.

I guess everyone could recognize the Life and Death meme. Just google it out and you’ll find it, I only added a little bit of spice to their conversation.

Now... hurray for ARC 5! *Throws confetti in the air*

Next ARC...

The Sleepless Elite’s Wife.

Doesn’t it sounds like those contemporary novels (similarly to the CEO, Mafia novels), but with a less cringy and more classy name?

It describes Xuan Mu, who after breaking the link with his soulmate, recovered from his insomnia.

Xuan Mu now has a so-called “Sleepless Elite” syndrome. It’s a genetic mutation where people sleep only about 3-4 hours a day without feeling rest deprived. It has no impact on their health. They wake up feeling refreshed, wide awake, and feel great.

The Wife part, of course, it’s Bing Shi.

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