Chapter Text
An Qinyang is a simple southern woman with a simple schedule. She wakes up before the sun and feeds the hens. She collects the eggs and she prepares breakfast for her mother and father. After breakfast, she goes into town for choice errands before arriving at the temple to worship.
She kneels before the statue of the two gods holding hands, a saber in the other hand for the one standing in the west and a bow for the one standing in the east. The southern gods Xuan Zhen and Nan Yang.
Generations ago, the two southern generals had a feud that fueled centuries of disdain the southwestern and southeastern regions had for each other. But one day, the two gods found their feud to be pointless, realizing their love for each other stronger than their hate. Although the two were male of yang energy, Nan Yang often called his lover his moon equating him with yin energy. However, Xuan Zhen forbade any depictions of him to be female, any statue as such crumbling to pieces soon after completion. In the south, men loving men was as common as men loving women, so the worshippers found no opposition. The southern region prospered with both gods increasing in followers, and the gods came to represent two halves who were finally united.
An Qinyang clasps her hands together and prays silently. She prays for love, for prosperity and for the safety of her family and land. She kowtows three times before standing up and leaving a couple of fruit from the farm as an offering. She’s about to leave when two figures walk in dressed in cultivator robes, loud and bickering.
“How was it my fault?”
“The beast was right there, Feng Xin. I don’t know what else to say but how did you miss?”
“I think you’ll find its very easy to say that when you have a blade longer than your body but when you’re aiming at close range-”
“Oh please, I’ve seen you aim and shoot true both far and near. You were just running into harm’s way like a moron.”
“As usual, I can never tell whether you’re complimenting me or insulting me.”
There’s a mirthful laugh. “If you’re not sure then it’s safe to go with the latter.”
“Remind me just why I’ve married you?”
“Because you begged me until I said yes.”
The tanner one with a messy bun scoffs. “I hardly begged.”
“Pleaded then.”
“That's the same thing!”
“Sounds nicer though, doesn’t it?”
The tan one grumbles and the paler one with silver hair smiles at him before linking their hands together.
“Come, lets get some rest.” And they walk behind the statues, the tan one grabs an apple from the plate of offerings.
Qinyang is scandalized and is about to follow them to tell them off about respecting the lords of the temple but when she turns behind the statue there is no one there. She looks around in confusion but there is nowhere they could’ve gone. It was almost as if they faded into thin air.
She glances up at the statues of the lords and realizes why the two bickering cultivators looked eerily familiar.
She kneels and prostrates in shock. “My lords, my holy and divine lords. This lowly one thanks you for blessing the temple with your presence today.” And she mutters prayer after prayer under her breath.
Unbeknownst to her, two gods stare at her and sigh in unison.
“She’s a smart one,” Nan Yang says, his distaste for women seems to have faded since he and Jian Lan had made their peace.
Xuan Zhen rolls his eyes, a habit that won’t seem to go away even after a thousand years. “We walk in together, not hiding our forms arguing about our weapons and marriage. Then we disappear behind a statue. She’d have to be an idiot to not realize.”
“You don’t think we’ll get in trouble, do you?”
“I’m sure his highness won’t bat an eye.”
Xuan Zhen turns to his lover, hooking his arms around his neck. “Now, let us rest.”
And whilst he says ‘rest’, what he plans to do is nothing similar to the sort.
“She’s right there,” Nan Yang points out, arms wrapping around his waist.
“Let her worship. And let us worship as well.”
And worship they do.
West and East.
Yin and Yang.
Moon and Sun.
And they’ll worship each other until their names are long forgotten from this world.