After My Archenemy Crawled Out of the Grave

- The myriad paths are withering, the Demon Abyss has opened, and the fortunes of every race hang by a thread. Yet though the Heavenly Dao is damaged, its lingering blessings remain. That year, seven once-in-a-millennium talents appeared, two of them from the Yao race. To Su Qi, nine things out of ten in life went his way. The rest all had to do with Yi Yun. Ever since birth, they had been compared to each other. Such people either admired one another or couldn't stand the sight of each other. Unfortunately, they were the latter: sworn enemies. There was no room for both of them. At their coming-of-age ceremony, they sought an omen of fortune and misfortune. The tortoiseshell cracked, revealing two entirely different fate patterns. One bore the destiny of a Yao King, a ruler destined to bring prosperity to his people. The other had a tragically short life, destined to die and vanish from the world. When the prophecy came to pass, the entire hall fell silent. The secrets of Heaven remained hidden. Both patterns had the same origin and color, so no one could tell who would live and who would die. Su Qi laughed first. "Well, that's great. I'll book the suona band for you in advance and make sure you get a grand funeral." Yi Yun replied, "What a coincidence. I've got spirit fruit and offerings ready. Just don't expect to enjoy them from the underworld." "All talk." "Likewise." They glared at each other, snorted in unison, then turned and went their separate ways. Fate is hard to read, and life and death impossible to predict. Su Yi failed to overcome his tribulation. His soul was annihilated. Snow fell on the tombstone, and the whole world was draped in white. The freshly packed earth was damp with moisture. Fermented wine and fine fruit were laid out in a crowded row, making the place seem all the lonelier by contrast. Yi Yun stood before the grave with his hands behind his back. He wanted to mock Su Yi, but when the words reached his lips, he lost interest. That fellow had loved a lively crowd in life. If he knew how deserted his home after death was, he would surely make a fuss. In honor of all the years they'd spent as rivals, Yi Yun invited the opera troupe Su Yi had loved most to come sing and play once a month, just to bring the place some life. When Su Yi awakened his ancient bloodline, condensed his divine soul, reforged his Yao body, and climbed out of his grave, he rubbed his hands together, eager to show off to his sworn enemy. He poked his head out and found himself face-to-face with a whole troupe of musicians and singers. The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant. *The blurb has been revised, but the central premise is unchanged. I wrote the original version many years ago and wasn't satisfied when I reread it, so I've reworked it. Theme: To be added later