Narcissus: One Phoenix, Two Souls

[Selfcest! A short writing exercise, about 4,000 Chinese characters. Completed on 10/20]

Xiao Ye was the only true phoenix in the world. By chance, he became a disciple of the Dawn Sect.

He always thought he was living out a story of a kind master and a filial disciple.

Until the year 300 of Tianyuan, when his master died and the Dawn Sect was destroyed.

Only then did Xiao Ye learn that it had all been a lie.

Then what was real?

It was true that in the year 200 of Tianyuan, the Demon Lord Jiu Yexue appeared out of nowhere. It was true that in the year 250, fifty sects across the land were destroyed. It was true that in the year 300, the Demon Lord slaughtered everyone in Chaoyang City, his master's soul was extinguished, and Xiao Ye died through nirvana.

Except that his death was false, caused by the true phoenix's flames turning on him.

After waking from his false death, Xiao Ye met his master in the early years of Tianyuan.

At that time, the Demon Lord Jiu Yexue had yet to appear, and the Dawn Sect was peaceful.

A sudden voice told Xiao Ye that all of this was fake.

He was the real Demon Lord.

Xiao Ye broke down, shattered the Yanyao Realm, and tried to die together with himself.

The Demon Lord Jiu Yexue said with concern, "You'll die if you do that. I can't bear to let you die. A hundred years ago, I could put up with your taking my love and abandoning me, but a hundred years later, I can't bear the thought of us perishing together."

Xiao Ye threatened him. "Don't forget, you are me, and I am you."

The Demon Lord Jiu Yexue said, "I'll tear out my soul and die, so you can remain pure and untainted."

Xiao Ye relented. "I'm the one who should die. You'd better stay alive. Besides, I remember everything now. I haven't deserved to call myself pure in a hundred years."

The Demon Lord Jiu Yexue asked expectantly, "And then?"

Xiao Ye answered with a carefree smile, "So let all the love and hate before this fade away. From now on, I'll only be the true phoenix."

Only then did the Demon Lord Jiu Yexue realize that Xiao Ye had become a stranger.

He chose to let him go.

By a twist of fate, the true phoenix's flames reached their full power.

Xiao Ye went mad from cultivation.

The Demon Lord Jiu Yexue was born from him once more.

He was the Demon Lord Jiu Yexue.

Premise: Turn from evil, break free of shackles, and be reborn