Feng Tian flies to the top of one of the tall Slippery Elm trees that overlook the vineyard. What kind of beast taunts a half dead old man?
He surveys the area and sees a small tan colored beast munching on some grapes with its feet up on a log, is that a smile on its face?
Well, if the old man wants its skin for that wine I better capture and skin it. I have been in Myriad Cloud City too long and I need to still speak to Sung Wu.
Silently flying down from the tree, he lands directly in front of the small beast with the grape stained face, yes that's obviously the culprit!
Before the little beast can throw a grape at him and scurry away, Feng Tian has it by its furry ears. Dangling in Feng Tian's hand, still clutching a juicy purple grape he uses his other paw to attempt to strike Feng Tian's handsome face.
"Little beast , you will need to be quicker than that", Feng Tian looks at this beast that has stumpy little legs and a big chest with a patch of white on it. Ugly thing!
"Are you puffing out your chest and snarling at me? Better wipe your grape stained face, soften your gaze and beg for mercy!"
At that remark the little beast throws his precious grape and hits Feng Tian squarely in his right eye.
Who do you think you, are talking to this King in that insolent manner! The little beast narrows its amber eyes furiously thinking of how to retaliate.
Feng Tian scowls as he wipes the juice from the grape off his face."You don't want to live an extra moment do you, I thought I might reason with the old hermit for you. But, I see you have an annoying personality."
The sudden realization this boy could skin him in a second, the little beast gulps down the last of the juicy grape and decides to set aside his pride. The little beast changes his expression and looks at Feng Tian with a soulful gaze that for a moment stuns him. Is this beast now hoping to sway me not to skin it?
The little beast makes a sound as if asking for a reprieve. Reaching out with a grape clutched between its furry paws, he offers Feng Tian a grape he stashed in his pouchy stomach. Can't you see I am prostrating myself peasant! Take it before I change my mind!
Feng Tian wonders why he feels this little beast possesses human qualities. He is an amusing little beast. "Since I also love grapes and I don't like randomly killing little creatures, I will take you to the old hermit to see if we can negotiate."
He grabs the beast in one hand and flies to where the old man is asleep. Midair, Feng Tian looks at the beast wiping a bead of sweat from its head and sighing. Feng Tian can't help but laugh at the little beast's comical expression.
Dropping down from the sky in front of the old hermit he kicks his skinny leg, " Wake up old man, I have the little beast"
Half asleep, the hermit glances at Feng Tian and smiles to himself, I knew he couldn't skin that beast, her boy is too soft hearted like she was. His brother Che would have had diced and ready for a skewer the moment he captured it.
"Brat, I said its skin, not the whole damn beast!"
The little beast stares at the old man with his eyes bulging, damn you old fart! If you hadn't captured me and set up an array formation so I couldn't escape I'd be long gone from here.
Feng Tian gazes at the pathetic creature he is holding by the scruff of his neck. "The ugly thing ate some grapes, that shouldn't come with a death sentence"
"It was more for mocking me than enjoying my grapes", The old man scratches his head as he glares at the little beast who is trying to keep a low profile and not hasten his demise.
"Well, I tell you what, I will go fetch that wine but you need to keep that little beast. I mean keep it, not toss it away as soon as you leave my vineyard."
He sends a message to the little beast using telepathy, you know the consequences if you don't listen to me. "Beast, you need to remain with Feng Tian until he returns from his journey, then you may be released.
Do you two understand?"
"..." Feng Tian and the little beast both are shocked at his order.
Feng Tian is getting impatient. "I agree, fine... just hurry up with the wine I have somewhere I need to be!"
He hurriedly puts the wine and beast in a sack, much to the beast's chagrin, looking at the wine he can't drink.
I guess my fate is tied to this Young Master for a time. Let's not start out on the wrong paw... he has a faint smile on his furry face, that boy went to a lot of trouble to obtain that wine
Wait...What journey?
. He stares at the wine jug resting next to his fat stomach. I don't think he would let me live if I drank it , the old hermit didn't mention he couldn't kill me.
He curls up in the sack trying to avoid the bottles as they rattle around. That old Daoist priest always has tricks up his sleeve, he played the boy to take me. I feel this Feng Tian might be my salvation. This King thanks you, Young Master, for being so gullible.
The old hermit's words just hit Feng Tian as he uses his qingong to meet Chen Jue. How did the old monk know I am going on a journey? Never mind, maybe Feng Che told him, he stops by the hermit's vineyard once and awhile.
Feng Tian rushes to meet Chen Jue at the assigned spot.
"Chen Jue, what happened to your clothes?" Feng Tian looks at Chen Jue's scorched clothes and black face.
"Those bastards at the Black Wolf Clan were drunk and lazy. I told them I wanted the stones and they didn't care how much money I had. They didn't even acknowledge I am one of Feng Che's people and not to be ignored immediately screaming, "Get lost!'
Reluctantly, when I kicked one of the men out of his drunken stupor he told me they are no longer in the fire spirit stone business after two more of their members only had charred limbs upon returning from that mountain. They are going to take a loss and start getting lower grade spirit stones at Little Hedgehog Mountain.
So I went to the mountain myself and got the ultra grade fire stones. I really need a raise, Feng Che.
" Here's your gold back", He reaches in a bag then hands the spirit stones and gold to Feng Tian.
Feng Tian impulsively hugs the muscular man, "Chen Jue.. Brother! That was beyond what I would expect from you!"
"Get off me!" He shoves Feng Tian away, but has a smile on his ruggedly handsome face that never cracks.
Chen Jue brushes his robe and charred pieces of fabric fall to the ground. I have never seen Feng Tian interested in a girl. If he wants that old man Sung Wu to make her a bracelet, what are friends for in a pinch.
"Here", Feng Tian shoves the gold to Chen Jue, "This is the payment for the fire spirit stones, you need to accept it or I will tell Che that you failed in you duties."
Chen Jue looks at the spirit stones in Feng Tian's hand and his own tattered robe, exactly how did I fail you are clutching them in your hand!
"Feng Tian this is half a lifetime's wages for me." He shoves the bag back into Feng Tian's chest.
Feng Tian tosses the money back to him as he flies off, "When you get married, take that pretty new wife of yours to the Celestial Couples Inn in the South by the sea !
Chen Jue's face turns red, isn't that the most expensive and beautiful area in four kingdoms.Rumor has it if you go there as a newly wedded couple you will conceive a male child within a year.
He shakes his head thinking of the other tantalizing details of that enchanted spot for couples. I gather way too much information at The Broken Angel.
Feng Tian arrives at the spot where Sung Wu eats meat buns everyday. It is located at the very end of the street of food stalls, you can smell all the different aromas drifting through the air.
Tomorrow I need to bring XiXi here, she would enjoy all the different types of food we have here in the city.
Excited that he has the ultra grade fire spirit stones to trade he rushes to where Sung Wu is devouring his lunch.
He shakes his head thinking of Chen Jue risking being engulfed in flames to retrieve them for him.
He has known him since he was young, Chen Jue is a stone faced man who never shows his emotions, who knew he was so soft hearted. when it comes to love.