Two figures sat side by side, their legs dangling on a open ledge overlooking the ice valleys beneath. In the distance, lights twinkled in thousands of residential homes, almost like a reflection of the blanket of stars above.
Shao Fei leaned back on her hands and spoke casually, "What would you say if I tell you, I may be getting married?"
"You said what?!" Wu Huan screamed, so shocked his bunny ears almost popped out.
"A marriage with the Bird Clan," Shao Fei calmly explained again, patiently tucking in the bunny demon's ears.
"Wu Zihan, the crown prince of the Bird Clan? That Wu Zihan?!"
"The one and only."
"Fei, do you know who he is? Do you know how many thousands chase after him across the Five Clans?" The more he spoke, the more he freaked out, his voice booming louder with each line. "Wait a second, do you even know what kind of image you have in the public eye?!"
Shao Fei casually shrugged as if she was not the main subject at hand. "Is that something I should know?"
Wu Huan fell back on his back with a hopeless sigh. Heavens help. "Everyone thinks you're out there playing in the battlefields. You're ranked as the worst of all the princesses, lazing and indulging in yourself. If you're not fighting to your death, you're either at the finest restaurants or in the best brothels. They'll skin you alive just walking next to the purest and most sought after royal in the land. Forget marriage, don't even think about entering the bridal chamber!"
"At least I know where the best places in the kingdom are," Shao Fei cracked up despite the grim atmosphere. After a moment, she reflected, "Foolish, right? I'm trying so hard to solve a dilemma for those who think I'm trash."
"Such is the way of the world..." After being away for four years, this was the news she returned to. Wu Huan cried out for her in his heart. The ones she so dearly tried to protect would be the first ones to tear her apart.
The sadness in him turned into anger and Wu Huan sat up abruptly. The more casual she was, the more riled up he was. "They think a good looking man can tempt you? If that's the truth, I won't even be Wu Huan!"
"Maybe I'm not that upright. If a handsome one offers himself to me, I might just really accept."
"Oh please, who can top the three of Fox Tavern across the kingdom, and yet, you have them spying for you! If not for keeping up faces, would they get to go on stage and perform for you? You'd rather they train and worker harder."
Shao Fei burst out laughing genuinely. "Don't just expose me like that. You're my best friend, you're supposed to help cover for me."
"I've been doing that all these years," Wu Huan proudly stated. He threw a snowball into the air. Cautiously, he asked, "What about Xie Yuan? What are you going to do about him?"
Shao Fei wrapped her arms around her knees. The lights in the distance became a blur and mixed with the valleys below. Xie Yuan, the one person she's allowed to enter her heart. "I...I don't know, Wu Huan. I feel lost right now, I don't know which path to take."
"Give yourself time, Fei. Don't forget to give yourself some grace." Wu Huan took out a large bag from his sleeves. The seriousness that lasted briefly dissipated and on his face was a full grin as if he's got some kind of treasures, "I almost forgot, check out the goodies I got my hands on today. I am not returning back to Sanhe City emptyhanded."
Book after book spilled out onto the ground. Shao Fei gave a brief glance, almost feeling her eyes had been soiled by the mere sight of the book titles scattered in front of her.
The Prince's Beloved, Beautiful, and Glamorous Consort.
A Marvelous Marriage With the Notoriously Crazy General.
Ninety Nine Ways To Make You Mine.
"These are what the mortals read?" Shao Fei's eyes started rolling. "Get these things away from me."
"Don't you know how hard it was to grab these books? They're the hottest titles in the Mortal Realm lately," Wu Huan gave a delightful smile.
The more disgusted she was, the more excited he became. He quickly opened a random book, "The prince stepped down the carriage and all hell went loose. Women ran down the blocks to crowd around him and even the men followed to take a look. His beauty was so overwhelming, he was more beautiful than the flowers by the roadside."
"I was still mesmerized when someone suddenly pushed me from behind. I stumbled forward into the prince's arms. Up close, he was even better looking than the gods. I forgot to breathe, my vision blurred and I could not find my voice. The embrace lasted like a moment's breath before he pushed my body to the ground and stated coldly, 'Get your dirty claws off.'"
"The Cold, Handsome, And Perfect Prince's Twisted Love," Shao Fei's mouth almost twisted reading the title.
"Aiya, but we haven't gotten to the best part! Let me see... 'The prince sat across the table, took out a scroll, and threw it at me. All at once, the words on the paper slapped across my face. The dashing crown prince wanted to sign a contract marriage with me, a mere commoner. He leaned back, his lips curving into a smirk. 'You like me, don't you? How about marrying me?'"
"'No,' I replied without hesitation. Turning my back to leave, I heard the prince whispered to himself, 'Interesting.'" Wu Huan paused and glanced over knowingly just to watch his friend's reaction.
Shao Fei shivered, feeling chills creeping up both her arms. She wasn't even cold in the ice palace, but now she felt ill. "Every male lead seems to love the word interesting as if there's no better word out there."
Wu Huan snorted. "That's interesting, princess."
She snatched the book from her friend's hands. Before he could protest, she turned the page and continued smoothly, "'I did not want to marry the prince, but what could I do? My parents happened to be in debt and he just happened to be our creditor! I picked up the brush and hesitantly signed my name. It couldn't be helped, I'd have to be his princess consort from now on...'"
She turned to the last page, wanting to end the story as soon as possible, "At last, I understood. The prince was mean to me because he liked me. He was wealthy, powerful, and unbearably handsome. No one had rejected him before. Thus, to get my attention, he was aggressive and forceful. In the end, I forgave him despite all the wrongs he's done, and we lived in the palace for years to come.'"
"Princess, I see you're enjoying yourself!" Wu Huan excitedly ran over to grab the hottest new book of the month. "The Second Male Lead Gets The Girl, No More Sadness... Or Does He?"
Who came up with these titles? These so called titles were sentences! Shao Fei forced on a smile. "I guess you can say, they sure have their own twists on love..."
Wu Huan proudly stood straight. "I knew you would like it! I specifically chose according to your personal preferences, princess."
She choked. Since when did she have these weird preferences? "So thoughtful of you, my horribly precious friend. I will gratefully use them as firewood as soon as my mother gets off my back about the bird."
Wu Huan ignored the murderous glint in the princess' eyes. On the inside, he was swimming in an endless pool of laughter.
Suddenly, there was a spark of light, then a paper bird appeared. Wu Huan immediately recognized what it was. He groaned internally. They had all day with Shao Fei while he only had a few moments! "Princess, those beauties of yours are not bad, already informed about the latest royal rumor."
"Of course, my team only consists of the best."
Wu Huan sat up straight, his eyes gleaming full of hope, "I'm a part of your team, right?"
"Of course," Shao Fei poked his forehead. "You are the lead of my team, my left hand."
Wu Huan nodded approvingly. Wait, left hand? "Then Ha Jin..."
"...Is my right hand," Shao Fei stood up, finishing the sentence for him.
Hmph, Wu Huan puckered his lips in annoyance. "Why am I your left hand and he's your right hand?"
"I fight with my right hand and write with my left hand. Ha Jin follows me to war and you are my advisor on writing my life story. He is the strength behind me when I'm in battle and you are the rock holding me upright." Shao Fei fixed Wu Huan's lips into a smile. "There, don't be jealous anymore. I treasure you both equally, just in different ways."
"Fine," Wu Huan brightened, instantly satisfied with her explanation. Never had he been happier to be someone's left hand. "You should go now, they're probably going crazy. I don't think they can bear the thought of you marrying a bird."
"Now, I have to go comfort these anxious ones..." Shao Fei took out a jade brush from her left ear. With a few strokes in the air, a portal appeared. With a single step through, she was gone.
Soon, a dashing figure sauntered into Fox Tavern before opening hours and was welcomed directly upstairs to where three individuals paced anxiously around the room.
Qin Yuanchao, adorned in a soft pink garment, had teary eyes when he ran to her side. "Princess, tell me those rumors are not true. You're not marrying Wu Zihan, are you?"
"Right, princess, please tell us so we can be at ease. We could not drink or eat for the whole day, worried about your wellbeing," Fang Wu, dressed in light blue, also rushed over with anxiety and worry.
"Here, have a drink and take a breath," Li Shenxing brought over her favorite tea. "Princess, how are you coping with all these? Would a performance ease your mind?"
Shao Fei calmly sat down, the others following suit. She looked from one person to another. "If you're really concerned for me, you should work hard on learning what the other clans' are up to."
"..." Of course, that's what the boss wanted. Li Shenxing was the most sensible of the three and reacted the fastest. "There's been movements from several clans northward, potentially coming up here."
"Yes, one was the Flower Clan and the other was..."
"The Night Clan," Qin Yuanchao and Fang Wu said simultaneously.
"And the reasons?"
"We've yet to find out," Li Shenxing replied.
Shao Fei pondered on the news, then dismissed the three, all hesitantly made their way out, pausing almost every step. Strolling over to the balcony railings, her hair fluttered back with the wind's caress. She held out her hand and from within, a dandelion manifested. Long eyelashes fluttered close as she blew the white, almost silver seeds into the air and far into the distance.
Spread across her eyes were the lights of hundreds of thousands of demons who wished and longed for peace and prosperity to flourish over the Dark Realm once again. Shao Fei was neither the one they placed hopes on nor the one they waited for. However, her lone figure stood in front facing the waves.
Once the waves came rushing in, she'd vanish into the threatening waters and emerge riding on top. For that was how she'd survived until now, and the only way she knew of.
Shao Fei flipped around, thinking she'd try to catch a few hours of sleep before sunrise. Except, there was no place she felt safe in. Her red dress fluttered as she flew out on a familiar sword into nowhere, disappearing among the icy mountains.