The female warrior's dark glare daring the serpentine god to make the first move amidst the fog laden marshlands encompassing her village. The water god began to sway methodically from side to side in search of an opening. However, in spite the giant serpent's mesmerizing movements, the tip of the soldier's spear remained fixed steadfastly on its intended target. Both caught in this embittered stand-off for a time, it was inevitably Shui Long that was to give into the irksome impulses of his own immeasurable frustration.
Impatience, being the primary factor contributing to the belief that his natural reflexes would prove themselves to be more superior than his opponent's dexterity, Shui Long lunged impulsively forward. Descending rapidly with open mouth and fangs extended towards the warrior that stood in his way, the water god's jaw snapped closed on only cold air. Aggravated that his target had managed to evade him, by diving down onto the ground. She rolled over agilely on the frozen mud, before springing back onto her feet only a fraction of a meter away from him.
Recoiling as he felt the consequences of his brashness, delivered in the form of a spear jabbing into his side. Shui Long's long body lashed around to violently rid itself of the threat. Succeeding in detaching the pointed tip of the weapon from his flesh, the water god now felt his blood meet with the frigid air of the marshland. However, this did nothing to temper the vexation that boiled within him as he watched the woman stagger backwards on the frozen ground. The warrior, losing her footing on the slippery battlefield after the aggressive reaction to her attack. Shui Long was left with no mercy, with which he might have otherwise allowed the woman, as he swiftly closed in.
Twisting his long body around her skin and armor with a vindictive hostility. There was a brutal cracking sent through the surrounding mist as the spear that she held splintered and broke apart in the warrior's hands. Still, the water god's unrelenting grip continued to constrict around her until the woman struggled to obtain even a gasp of the murky air. Confident that the soldier's fate was sealed, Shui Long loomed over her. Inching closer to the warrior that writhed in his coils with his monstrous fangs, the god did not notice the end of the broken spear that still remained in her quivering hand.
Seeing only the vague glint of the blade as it swung through the air in one last adamant act of retaliation against him. Shui Long did not have the chance to avoid the wrath of its sharpened metal, before it tore across his cheek and hit sharply upon his left eye. The remnant of the weapon, carving a clean line across the water god's face. Shui Long fought through the blood and crippling pain of the wound to ensure that the valiant warrior finally fell still in his grasp.
Releasing the soldier, who now hung limply over the unforgiving coils that bound her. Shui Long was not permitted even a moment to collect his thoughts or suffer from his injuries in silence, when Xi Yang arrived. His younger brother and the troops that accompanied him, gazing upon the scene for the first time. They could not disguise the look of admiration and horror, which fell over their tired and worn faces as they regarded the carnage in the gradually clearing mist.
The adrenaline and fury, which had fueled their fight, also seeming to depart from the western shores of Xilian Lake along with the prevailing mist. Shui Long was no longer able to ignore his injuries as he took on his human form once again. Xi Yang, stepping towards his brother as a grimace of agony dominated the features of his disfigured face. Shui Long placed the palm of his hand over the bloodied socket of his wounded eye to disguise his misery as he spoke, "Inform the members of the West Lake Clan that it is either surrender or death that awaits them now."
Although initially hesitating to abandon their leader, whilst blood still oozed out from the open wound on his face. Xi Yang, and the surviving soldiers of his army, eventually moved on to carry out the order to secure a definitive surrender from the West Lake Clan and their council. Allowing Shui Long to slither back to his estate in dejected victory under the cover of darkness. His return, devoid of the celebrations of a triumphant homecoming or the long anticipated joyous reunion with his lover. The god only knew humility as he slunk quietly through the passages of his estate and into his chambers.
Shui Long's armor removed with the assistance of Shan Yu and wounds saw to by the same bearded physician that he had called upon in the past. The two men diligently cleaning, wrapping and even stitched together the multiple injuries, which had been incurred due to his hast and brazenness. However, with regrettably little else to be done for his injuries, now that the golden lilies of the laid dormant within the cold waters of the pond. Shui Long was forced to rely on his own depleted power in order to recover.
Retreating into the solitude of his victory, the water god banished himself from the eyes of his staff and most assuredly from his bride in the days to come. Fearing that battle had made the monster behind the beautiful exterior he had once hidden behind all too apparent, the damaged god placed himself under strict confinement. a strict confinement was placed upon the damaged god. Suffering from his wounds and self-pity for many days, Shui Long's former self was nearly unrecognizable through the debilitating misery that had manifested within the room. When, someone finally came to extract the water god from his prolonged wallowing.
"Let me in." said Jing Li's calm but commanding voice from beyond the door. The sound of her presence instilling a complicated knot of excitement and dread inside Shui Long's stomach. He was left with no other choice, but to brace himself for the inevitable entry of his bride. The guards', naturally proving themselves to be ineffective against Jing Li's will, even opening the thick wooden double doors for her to pass.
Reminded of the day that they had performed the ceremony as he watched her expressive blue irises search the darkness for any sign of life in the darkened room. Shui Long's overwhelming urge to go to his bride was once again impeded by the possibility of being rejected by her. Frozen by this lack of conviction and fear, the god remained unmoving in the bed. Hoping to perhaps disappear into the obscurity of the room in order to hide the horrendous appearance of his scars from her. The god heard her call out softly into the darkness.
"Shui Long?" she said, feeling her way around the edges of the unilluminated chamber, "I know that you don't want to see anyone-" Her plea impeded by the edge a large silk rug as it caught her foot. Jing Li recovered from the minor pitfalls of navigating this object, before adding, "I will leave if you ask it of me." The sadness in her voice, telling of the loneliness that she had suffered in his absence. Shui Long knew that he should respond. Yet, could not bring himself ask her to abandon him to grapple with despair once more.
Releasing a sigh from the pile of plush pillows that surrounded him, Shui Long responded, "I cannot count the number of times that I have longed to hear your voice since I left you last." The anguish conveyed by the tenor of his speech, merely hinting at the longing that he had endured. The water god felt Jing Li's serene presence draw closer to him as he continued, "It was the thought of you that sustains me through all of those endless nights."
Following the trail of Shui Long's desolate voice, until she bumped into the solid frame of the bed. Jing Li's delicate palm searched for the god amidst the plentiful coverings as he continued to speak.
"I would often imagine the expression that would appear on my bride's lovely face upon my return." Shui Long said, grasping the hand that reached out for him in the darkness. His fingers curling around soft palm that was offered to him. The water god gazed into the sorrowful eyes of his bride as he spoke a lamentably observation, "However, I fear that to behold you now might just break my heart."
The feeble barriers of her pale eyelids unable to restrain her tears, Shui Long felt a droplet of water fall onto his already aching chest. A crease forming between Jing Li's eyes as she flopped down weakly onto the bed beside him. The god saw her bottom lip begin to quiver, whilst she gave her reply, "My only fear was losing you." Their palms still pressed together; Jing Li held his hand more firmly now as she sobbed onto Shui Long's chest.
The liquid forming little pools on his skin, where the robe did not cover. The strings of water god's rigid heart shook with the unsettling sound of her tears as he forced himself to speak again.
"I would not blame you, should you find me repulsive now." Shui Long said, unable to disguise his own self-loathing. However, this remark, only made the wrinkle between Jing Li's eyebrows more profound as her watery round eyes looked back at him.
The bright blue spheres close enough now to distinguish every fault of the god's face. There was still some assurance of love to be found within them as Jing Li replied with a warm embrace. Her tremoring lips settling on his like the soft wings of a butterfly, Shui Long wrapped his other arm around Jing Li's waist. Her dainty footwear falling with a faint thud onto the plush fibers of the carpet below, as she was pulled deeper into the god's embrace. Shui Long returned her shy kiss with all of the ardor of a man starved of love.
The passion of their reunion soured by a wave of agony that served as a malicious reminder of his shortcomings. Shui Long was unable to suppress the hiss of pain that was to reluctantly escape from his lips. The noticeable vent of agony, motiving Jing Li to separate from the god. However, prevented from moving very far by the arm that held her, she hovered anxiously awaiting a word from him. The grimace of pain gradually dissipating from his features.
Shui Long responded to the concern that had reappeared in his bride's eyes by guiding her face closer with his fingers. Her lips once again in their rightful place, the water god savored their softness and the fresh floral scent of perfume that wafted towards him as they kissed. Elated by the warmth of his bride's tender skin as it pressed into the mounds and rigids of his own depleted form. Shui Long emitted a diminished groan.
The heat of their long-awaited embrace, stirring a hunger deep within his core. The evidence of his desire rose to brush against the thigh that Jing Li had placed between his legs. Its presence inspiring a subtle twitch from his bride, she paused, of a moment. Until, at last deciding to slide a coy hand beneath his robe. Feeling the slight hint of a question lingering on the end of Jing Li uncertain fingertips as they skimmed cautiously over the cuts and bruises on his skin.
An aroused sigh was emitted from the water god's fine lips, once her slender fingers had finally curled around the girth of his engorged member. Encouraged by the small moans of affirmation that were excited by her provocative movements. Jing Li continued to stoke the flames of his desire, whilst repositioning herself on the bed.
Jing Li's legs now parted on either side of his hips. Shui Long saw the vivid pools of her eyes return his longing, before noticing her pelvis press closer to him. Her shy digits replaced by the humid caress of the lips tucked between her smooth thighs. The water god admired the blue gateways into her soul, glistening in the darkness as they began to move back and forth.
His bride's gentle sighs, changing to more fervent gasps as she rubbed against him with every undulation that passion demanded from her sublime form. The water god was finally made to feel whole again as their figures melded together. Blissfully tangled together into a messy and imperfect configuration on the bed. Shui Long subsided into the hypnotic sway of Jing Li's hips, where he could at last be free from the torment of his loses.