A tall peerlessly handsome man wearing an elegant white brocade robe embroidered with gold thread stands a short distance away from the stream. A pair of otherworldy amythest colored eyes are fixed on XiXi as she slips on the flowing dress. His volatile heart pounds in his chest with desire, wanting to rush over and pull his long lost love into his embrace.
I have waited too long to feel your heart beating next to mine once again...But, my beautiful Xiaolian might not remember me right away, I need to have patience.
Watching his love wantonly dance he was in a trance...seeing her in person again was beyond what he could have imagined. Her supple naked body flying unrestrained in the air while she was singing a strange melody was intoxicating.
His eyes are filled with flames of desire, her sweeet voice is as enchanting as in my dreams. He takes a deep breath inhaling the unique red lotus fragrance that is hers alone. After all these desolate years you have returned to me...
Wang Li Jie gazes at XiXi, memories flooding his mind, you are finally back... I will never let my brother harm you again. When Feng Tian puts that red lotus bracelet on you will have some protection.
His purple phoenix eyes narrow at the thought of another man witnessing her beguiling dance by the stream.
The sight of her bare body was burned into his mind as she danced, it was a bewitching sight. Xiaolian, you are too naive and careless, not sensing danger around you!
I will send two of my best shadow guards to watch over you along with Yun Tai and Feng Tian. He scoffs, thinking about Yun Tai's protective array, I wonder why they call him God of War, if this is the best he can do.
I will overlay the area with an undetectable god array formation that is impenetrable, allowing Yun Tai and his selected people to enter only, so he doesn't become suspicious. I can never let anyone take you away from me again.
If I could whisk you away right now I would, but my preparations are not completed.
Wang Li Jie has a look of disgust gazing at the pink dress with the mountain lilies embroidered on it. he waves his hand, only lotuses suit you my love, and the white lilies change into white lotuses.
XiXi is smoothing out the dress when she looks at the embroidery and shakes her head, I must still be muddled from the water wall hitting my head. I could have sworn this dress was embroidered with lilies. She picks the remaining blossoms out of her hair and flings them into the air.
She chuckles to herself, that was fun dancing momentarily forgetting all my problems. Hmm..I think when I landed I pulled a muscle though in my leg. She lifts her dress and stretches out her leg.
Wang Li Jie decides he will carry her back to the ramshackle hut. I would like to kill you right now Feng Tian for leaving Xiaolian in such conditions, but I need you.
He waves his hand , XiXi faints as he arrives at her side, his strong arms catching her delicate body and pulling her tightly into his embrace. His usually cold and ruthless expression softens, his eyes full of affection looking down at the face he has imagined a thousand times since she disappeared.
He enters the hut then places her on the bed and sits next to her and using his palms gently massages the muscles in her lower leg. Just touching her leg he is overwhelmed, finally I can caress your soft skin again. He brushes her tangled hair off her face and his deep purple eyes seem to swallow her whole.
Wang Li Jie takes a strand of her silky flaxen hair in his hand and softly whispers "Xiaolian, you are my only love. Throughout all this time, I never gave up hope that you would return to me."
His eyes turn dark continuing in a melancholic tone, "I prevented that evil bastard from dispersing your soul, but I couldn't stop his overflowing rage. Xiaolian, I have grown stronger, I will destroy him now that you have returned. It just isn't the time yet. I have waited almost a millennium to see your smile again, I can be patient awhile longer for you to sit beside me as my only Empress."
Wang Li Jie indulges in one more look at the sleeping girl and leaves waving his palm to awaken her as he departs.
He flies over Siyu and Zhen and sneers, two useless beasts. He waves his hand to pull them out from the deep sleep he induced when he came down through the clouds.
XiXi sits up and has the feeling she recognizes a fragrance lingering by the bed, the scent of ambergris. It smells so familiar but it's not what Feng Tian smells like and the last time Yun Tai was here, he just plain smelled bad. Huh.. well ..
I should think about the state of my mind right now. I don't remember coming back from the stream and laying down, am I having some sort of memory loss? Where are those two beasts that followed me there?
XiXi feels disoriented and stands up to walk outside to look around for the beasts. My leg was strained too and now I feel fine walking on it. This place is too strange. I can't wait to finish all this nonsense and go back home. I miss Mom.. Qing Jun..my friends...
Siyu and Zhen wake up and stare at each other, each rubbing their heads. How long did I sleep they are both thinking, I don't hear the girl in the stream!
They both rush out from behind the bush to look, XiXi is nowhere around. As they are frantically running up to the hut they see XiXi outside looking in their direction.
"There you two are, did you see anyone else around here? Oh..." she laughs, They are beasts they can't talk.. haha.
Simultaneously wiping the sweat off their foreheads with their paws, the two beasts wander over to her side and are relieved she looks fine.
XiXi's stomach rumbles and she scrunches her eyebrows together. 'I'm hungry. Yun Tai isn't back yet and only the gods know where Feng Tian ran off too. Let's go find some food!"
Siyu and Zhen helplessly look at each other and start walking into the woods. She follows them looking for any berries or fruit. Remembering the Fairy's Death berries she is leery to pick any strange berries, but thinks it is beautiful walking through the woods.
"Hey guys, where are some berries I can eat?"
Zhen reluctantly lifts his furry paw pointing to beyond the Bending Birch tree to the vine of grapes. He sighs, my precious grapes, but the little beauty is tiny, how many can she eat?
Siyu glances at XiXi, I could get her some small animal to cook, but would she know what to do with it?
Seeing the vine laden with juicy looking purple grapes XiXi licks her lips. She kneels down then hugs the little beast to her chest, "You are amazing!"
Zhen trips over his paws, please remove your soft breasts from my face! His furry cheeks turning red, this king is a man under this furry exterior! . I want to cry, I haven't been this close to a woman in.. I miss my harem even that cold bitch, the Noble Consort.
The three walk past the towering tree towards the grapevine. When XiXi gets closer to the glistening purple grapes ,she picks up her dress and runs through the brush. She races towards the delicious looking fruit with Zhen, whose little legs are struggling to keep up.
Siyu saunters behind watching them compete and his face twitches. Ridiculous!
Xixi hurriedly picks a handful of grapes from the top of the grapevine realizing Zhen, even if he stood on his hind legs couldn't reach them. Meanwhile, Zhen is busy below her, stuffing grapes into his little furry pouch, while popping three into his mouth.
Siyu wanders off a ways looking for a small beast he could roast later when he transforms into a man. He returns with a small plump wild pig in his mouth, he drops it when he looks over by the Bending Birch.
XiXi is leaning up against the tree. Zhen is laying comfortably next to her with his head in her lap. As XiXi rubs his furry head he hums in satisfaction. I might make the little girl a concubine when I am King again, she is so soft and sweet...of course I will need to get Feng Tian out of the picture.
They are rubbing their stomachs and both have grape stained faces. Zhen and XiXi have their eyes closed lost in their own thoughts.
Siyu swipes his huge paw knocking Zhen out of her lap, startling both of them.
Pointing a delicate white finger stained purple at his golden eyes, XiXi admonishes him. "Siyu! Be more gentle with Zhen!"
She checks on Zhen and wipes his face with a grape leaf. "You are much bigger and could harm him." She affectionately pats Siyu on his head while speaking softly to him like a small child. "You might not realize your own strength. Be careful of smaller creatures, okay?
She picks up Zhen and rubs his fur while teasing tone, "You little rascal putting your head in my lap."
Zhen is curled up comfortably in XiXi's arms smiling looking at Siyu with an impish grin. When he notices Siyu's eyes narrow dangerously he quickly averts his eyes. Best not to annoy the big fellow.
Siyu shakes his red mane gazing at the girl with her lips stained purple. Where is Feng Tian or Yun Tai? I can't babysit this silly woman much longer,
Yun Tai arrives as she is pointing her tiny finger in Siyu's face, She is wearing a flowing pink dress embroidered with white lotuses with the little beast in her arms. Why are her lips purple? And why is she pointing that little finger in a giant beast's face?Feng Tian really needs to get back here and see to this impetuous girl.
XiXi doesn't know that both her lips and cheeks have been dyed purple. "Yun Tai, did you see Feng Tian? Do you know where he is?" She is starting to get perturbed he would just leave her here without even a note.
Yun Tai doesn't interact with women and is conflicted, wondering if he give her his handkerchief. With the curious look on her face, accentuated by the purple stains on her face she looks quite funny.
Yun Tai is dressed in all black, his hair is pulled up with an obsidian colored hairpin and a red feather. She is intimidated by his cold and aloof appearance. When he doesn't answer she decides it would be better not to interact with him anyway. She shivers, is that hairpin made from some sort of bone?
She sets Zhen on the ground and walks towards the hut. Zhen scurries by her side while Yun Tai and Siyu look at each other.
Yun Tai sees the wild pig on the ground, "Good Siyu, I can cook that for dinner if Tian isn't back. Should I just take her back to the bamboo house? I would have to use my qinggong and carry her, I'm not sure I should. Feng Tian might get upset me holding his girl.
Siyu picks up the wild pig in his teeth, I was planning on eating it for my dinner..hmph..that girl has got to go.
XiXi turns around and sees them still standing in the same place.
"..."
XiXi bends down picks some wildflowers as they walk along, putting them to her nose to smell. Leisurely singing a song she continues to ignore Yun Tai.
Yun Tai is a few steps behind her as they approach the hut. Her voice is soft and melodic tune is almost putting him in a trance.
His heart is inexplicably thumping and painful memories resurface in his mind
He suddenly blurts out in a sharp tone. "Miss Zhang, do you mind not singing!"