Even at night, the Heavenly Realm’s towering jade gates could be seen.

So close.

All they needed to do was to blow the entrance away and hop into that Pool of the Mortal Realm. Then, they would be free!

With his heart racing, the young man tightened his hold on his lover’s hand. Despite their billowing robes, the couple glided over the enormous jade courtyard. With a wave of his hand, the young man’s figure glowed immaculately, like the moon in darkness. He summoned a gust of icy wind, thrashing the gates apart with ease.

Like booming thunder, a voice yelled out, “Drong Li!”

Drong Li turned around, with long silver hair floating in the air. Soon, the icy wind and red leaves whirled around the couple. Men approached from where the gates once stood.

Immediately, all the hanging lanterns lit up. In a massive courtyard of ribbons and lanterns, hundreds of armored soldiers were already there, with spears in hand.

“And…Gōng Nu.” Across from the couple, an older man stood at the top of the white stairs, with the tail of his grand robe afloat. “We welcome your attendance, Moon God. But I don’t appreciate you taking my daughter-in-law, Sun Goddess, without my son’s permiss–”

“I’ll never marry Prince Zhi Ping!”

Brandishing a sword, the young woman stood by Drong Li’s side. Her eyes burned fervently, like sun and fire mixed altogether. Around her neck, a silver crescent necklace hung, twinkling in the moonlight.

“Because my heart,” the young woman continued, “belongs to another!”

Soon, her bun unraveled itself, unveiling a waterfall of gold hair. Flames traced her all-red robe. Mist glazed her irises as red maple leaves fluttered from overhead.

“Gōng Nu.” Drong Li glanced over at her. His wintry eyes softened. “Go.”

“I won’t go without you.” Meeting his gaze, Gōng Nu mustered a rueful smile. A warm tear slipped down her cheek. “If we must, we’ll die here together.”

Drong Li smiled back.

“You fools!” the Heavenly Emperor yelled. With a flick of his broad sleeve, he unleashed the might of his soldiers. “Capture Gōng Nu alive!” He then smiled at the maids, who awaited with a lavish overcoat and jewelry. “The groom’s waiting for his bride, after all!”

The soldiers screamed out a battle cry, flying over to start the fray. Night-blue and sunset-red danced together in rhythmic slashes of blades. Red painted the torsos of those nearby. Icy winds sliced through the crowd, wiping out rows of soldiers. The couple’s strong, perfectly coordinated teamwork pushed back some soldiers, despite their spears and sweat.

“Marry me, Gōng Nu!” a different voice called.

Gōng Nu’s brows raised. Soon, her sword was knocked down and kicked away by a soldier. Her eyes widened. Soldiers approached her but then froze in their tracks.

From the crowd, a young man, also dressed in red, emerged. His eyes shone with eagerness.

“Surprised to see me?” he asked, walking toward her. “You shouldn’t be, my wife.”

“She’s not your wife, Prince Zhi Ping!” Drong Li snapped, standing in front of his lover. His sword was, however, pointed downward. “Just let us go, and stop this.”

With a heated face, the prince’s pace did not falter. Instead, he shook his index finger at his rival and sped up. “No, you should stop this! If it wasn’t for you, Gōng Nu wouldn’t be suffering like she is now!”

He raised his other arm, revealing a sinister glint.

“What’s the groom doing here?!” asked the Heavenly Emperor, from the top of the stairs. He turned to the nearby soldiers. “Take him away!”

Suddenly, the floor trembled. Screams followed. Soldiers scrambled over to the bottom of the white stairs, crowding the area. Clouds of dust gathered before settling down. Curious, the Heavenly Emperor rushed down the steps. Before him lay the prince, with scarlet rivers running down his wedding attire.

“Prince Zhi Ping!” cried one of the maids. “My gods! He sent him across the courtyard!”

Then, Gōng Nu shouted something.

“Drong Li!” The Heavenly Emperor looked and saw her holding up Drong Li. “What’s wrong with that bastard?”

“Run!” Drong Li gasped out. Blood spilled to the floor, staining the perfection of the Jade Lotus Palace. He managed a bittersweet smile toward Gōng Nu. “Hurry! We have to make the jump!”

At once, the Heavenly Emperor snapped out of his daze. But his blood boiled with immense hatred.

“They’re fleeing toward the Pool of the Mortal Realm!” The Heavenly Emperor yelled out with all his strength. “KILL THEM! KILL THEM!”

All his soldiers sped toward the fleeing culprits. But soon, the Heavenly Emperor felt a sharp tug on his sleeve.

“Father, no!” With red-rimmed eyes, his son croaked out, “Please, don’t kill them. It was I who raised my sword first. It was me who put Eighteen-Hells poison on…”

The Heavenly Emperor’s eyes widened.

***

In a flash, the Heavenly Emperor left his son to the servants. He flew and landed behind the army. Rage still stormed inside his heart. Thus, the god stayed quiet to observe.

Indeed, the world had gone into madness. All this for love.

Drong Li leaned against Gōng Nu, the young woman who stole the heart of Prince Zhi Ping. It was not her fault, of course. She was perfect.

She had powers that were too good to not benefit the Heavenly Realm if they could be held in the reins of the royal family. How the stars paled in comparison to the gold spiritual aura that pulsated from her. Not even Tiān Hé could outshine her beauty.

“Hold me,” Gōng Nu whispered, pointing the sword toward their enemies. “Drong Li, hold me tight. Please, don’t let me go!”

The young man did so as they backed toward the swirling pool of light. Waves roared, cascading into the Mortal Realm below.

Another warm teardrop came down Gōng Nu’s chin. A breeze caressed her cheek as she glanced down at her beloved. Within the next breath, her eyes grew red.

“Now!” shouted the soldiers. “Let’s rush her!”

As the men torpedoed their way forward, Gōng Nu’s figure grew incredibly bright, like the sun. A gust of red maple leaves floated around her and Drong Li, swirling faster and faster. Then, she released a shockwave of fire that struck many soldiers down. Whether it was from the ferocious burns or leaf-shaped darts, they keeled over and spat out blood.

Gōng Nu turned, feeling her lover’s weight shifting from her. Her heart dropped.

A surviving soldier had grabbed the unconscious Drong Li. His sword’s sharp edge pressed against the young man’s throat. Even as the soldier trembled, his face dripped with bloody scars, sweat, and determination.

“Let him go!” Gōng Nu cried out, striking fire into the soldier’s chest.

He dropped Drong Li into the Pool of the Mortal Realm. In a blink of an eye, Drong Li fell into the raging, glowing water.

An excruciating pain struck Gōng Nu. She looked back over her shoulder, finding that a hand had seized her long hair. More soldiers sped toward her. Among them, one carried a pair of jade handcuffs, gleaning brighter than the night itself.

The men gathered between the exhausted Gōng Nu and the brilliant, glowing pool. Hence, they blocked her escape. Her love. Her life.

“Drong Li…” Gōng Nu whispered. She was dragged away by one wrist, stumbling. Closer and closer to the restraints, awaiting her doom. “I’m sorry…”

Hopefully, we’ll meet again in the next life.

Gōng Nu smiled one last time. With nothing left to lose, she flipped her free hand over and completed a hand seal. Blood dripped from the corner of her lips.

“No! She’s going to—” Before the soldier could finish, a red leaf spun right into his throat. He crumpled to the ground.

Another shockwave of fire washed across the field. Men dropped to the ground, with many groaning weakly. The jade handcuffs were shattered beyond recognition. Despite this, Gōng Nu stepped on them.

She glanced toward where Drong Li was last seen and, immediately , a sword of icy blue hue flashed into her right hand. Everyone was so busy clamoring for her they had forgotten the weapon that she had carried on Drong Li’s behalf.

The Heavenly Emperor raced over, with a hand stretched outward. His pupils contracted as he shouted, “No, she can’t!”

As soon as soldiers realized what was happening, a hundred more rushed in with incredible speed.

Gōng Nu held the icy sword of Drong Li against her warm throat. She closed her eyes, and the Three Realms fell silent. A cold, swift cut opened her soft flesh. While she spun around, an ethereal light radiated from her body and her long, golden hair. Red bloomed everywhere.

If Gōng Nu could turn back time, she would return to the Xīng Guāng Bridge, an overpass of stars and moonlight. Drong Li would wait for her there, surrounded by mysterious specks of light. Once his eyes met hers, they grew soft, like melting snow.

“Gōng Nu!” the Heavenly Emperor yelled out.

Gōng Nu’s crescent necklace dropped into the carpet of red maple leaves.

From that day on, the moon never so much as kissed the sun, as it once did.