The sun shines brightly through the window and XiXi pulls the covers up around her head. She hears some rustling at the door and weakly said "Mom, I don't want to get up yet"
Feng Tian hears her muttering as he walks by the door. is she dreaming? Who is this Mom?
He thinks it would be best not to disturb her, she had a fever when he checked on her during the night. At that time he gave her herbal medicine, half of which got spilled on him, but it was strong so she should be better.
It's good Yun Tai keeps his house stocked with medicinal supplies. No one would believe I am taking care of a sick girl. They would spit out their wine if they pictured saw me.The old man is still unconscious so it looks like I will have some peace for awhile.
Last night it became evident he couldn't let them extract the Dragon Beast Core. The Dragon has been peaceful in his old age and it is about time he got a companion.
Feng Tian still feels guilty about the deception of years ago. I will help them figure out another solution. It is doubtful they could exit that waterfall with their lives if they tried to get it. A Beast Core of that level would only cause havoc in their mundane world. If it was used for a nefarious purpose there might even be a cataclysmic event. I will talk to Zhang Yu to get the full story, he seems to be a misguided but reasonable man.
Feng Tian believes that as soon as he can get them back to their world this chaotic feeling about the girl will disappear.
Feng Che is sitting in the garden at the stone table when Feng Tian comes out to feed two of Yun Tai's Spirit Beasts. Two little furry balls come rolling over to him to eat the red bean buns from his hand. They go crazy for anything sweet, jumping into his chest.
He always laughs that a mighty Rajin Mystical Sect Warrior keeps these two as pets. They are soft and white as snow with two little black beady eyes, their bodies barely the size of a fist.
Looking perturbed, Feng Tian says "What did you come here for brother? It is unlike you to come down to this humble island. Don't you have the High Council meetings this week?"
Feng Che curls up his lip knowing his brother hates all things related to those old fogeys. "That is precisely why I came here...to get you to come back."
"I have been here barely a day what is the rush? You know I like to get away once and awhile and visit the bamboo house. I find the atmosphere relaxing and Yun Tai should return soon. I haven't seen him since he went off to deal with the escaped Demons." It has been at least fifty years he has been fighting that war.I have been looking forward to hearing his stories of the Demonesses who constantly attempt to seduce the cold bastard.
"Tian, Father said it is time for you to settle down and has chosen a wife for you. He is going to announce the engagement at the meeting and insists you to participate in the festivities. Concubine Li will arrange an engagement banquet" Feng Che knows this will elicit get a reaction from his brother.
"Pffft... I have no intention of getting married! Let him force Wei to the nuptial bed!That brother of ours does nothing but chase women all day."
Feng Tian feels his life has taken a turn for the worse after hearing this news.
"That is precisely why father can't get anyone to consider him as a son in law. Even Chang Yong won't place him in his eyes for that pitiful daughter of his second wife!"
"You mean that girl who eats pig meat all day, and whose farts are the major cause of pollution by their mountain? He bursts out laughing, "Wei's reputation certainly must have hit the bottom of a abyss."
"What is that noise from the back of the house?" Feng Che turns around and asks with a look of amusement on his face.
"Che. don't pretend you don't know, it's the father and daughter I met yesterday. That's why you are here right? Give me a minute I will be right back."
Feng Che crossed his legs bumping them on the small table and looks around at the bamboo house. This place would fit in one chamber of our family's palace. The courtyard has unusual flowers but no rockery no stream. Why does Tian like to lounge here by himself? So boring.
If anyone looked at all the brothers, they would have admit Tian is the most outstanding, Che thought to himself. He could be surrounded by all the Heavenly Cloud Sect's most beautiful women and choose several for wives. He picks up a fallen leave from the table and sighs, well, he has waited too long now he must choose according to father's wishes.
Father always has me deliver the bad news but on this occasion I don't mind. He twists the flawless black jade ring on his finger, what does that little mortal look like to enchant my aloof brother?"
Feng Tian rushes to the back of the house just as XiXi walks out the bedroom door looking for a bathroom. She is wearing the long black robe from last night and has a puzzled expression on her face. Her long blonde hair is tangled and she has a glaring red scratch on her cheek from the disastrous episode in the stream yesterday.
XiXi smacks her parched lips, what was that god awful bitter concoction I drank last night.
As XiXi rubs her eyes she runs into something hard in front of her." Ow!" she shrieks, then looks up into Feng Tian's eyes while touching her sore nose. Why does this man have such deep and beautifully shaped eyes.... eyes prettier than any girl I know!
"Sorry." My god his chest is hard as a rock... She blurts out. "I'm looking for the bathroom." Her mind is going click...click..click..trying to remember how she got here.
Feng Tian looks at her disheveled appearance and thinks about his brother in the courtyard. "There's no time for that right now" He says in a commanding tone as he guides her down the hallway. She would need to walk right past Che to get to that place.
He nervously pulls up the collar and tightens the sash around her willow like waist. No...she can't be seen like this... she looks like something a Spirit Cat dragged in from the mountains.
XiXi wrinkles her delicate eyebrows together,What do you mean no time? I need to find one asap. Where are we?
Feng Tian can see the confusion on her face and quickly tries to come up with an answer to her unspoken question.
" Listen, I found this place yesterday and it seems the owners are away. I don't have time to think of a bunch of explanations right now Little Mortal! My brother is trying to get a look at you. "The woman seems to be about your size so put this dress."
He throws her the clothes and a comb. That hair! You would need three maidservants to style it."Try to fix yourself up, go to the hot spring through that door down out past the cherry blossom trees. Then apply this healing lotion to your face" He hurriedly gives XiXi instructions on how to find the hotspring.
"..."
In a blink of an eye, he disappears leaving XiXi standing there with her mouth agape, holding a beautiful long dress Well, a soak in a hot spring sounds awesome and this dress is gorgeous. But, what's with the healing lotion? She feels her face and realizes she must have gotten scratched while trying not to die yesterday.
XiXi walks through the Cherry Blossom trees enthralled by their majestic beauty. She went to a Cherry Blossom Festival with her friends before but these trees are more spectacular.
The wind blows the petals and they seem to magically float in the air. She twirls around trying to catch them and trips over a rock. XiXi is laughing at herself.. Clumsy! Not very graceful at all.
Snap out of it XiXi you need to find some sort of bathroom quickly!
A building right by the hot spring seem to be what she needs so she enters. This is the fanciest bathroom I have ever seen although the actual necessary element seems primitive. Is that jade flooring?
XiXi glances around, fascinated by the elegant appearance of the room, these ancient people really know how to decorate. A few pieces of that jade and Dad would never have to worry about working again. XiXi... no you can't chip it away, you have no tools. She shakes her head and giggles picturing trying to chisel away at the jade.
After she uses the primitive toilet she sighs, Oh my... that felt good I thought I was going to burst. Okay, now let's check out that hot spring. This is like an expensive resort! Lost in her thoughts she totally forgets the upcoming trials of finding that Beast Core. It's one quality her friends admire about XiXi, she lives in the moment.
She sees the steam coming up from the hotspring and slips out of the black robe and sinks into the warm water. This feels so good! My poor body is aching from being tossed about in that water yesterday. How did I manage to get out of there without plummeting down that waterfall? No matter I'm here now luxuriating in this water.
The healing potion sitting on the edge gets knocked towards the hotspring as she stretches her arms. XiXi grabs the porcelain bottle right before it lands in the water. How would I explain that to the arrogant man... well it probably won't hurt to apply it. I don't want to go home with a scar across my face, and have to get cosmetic surgery. She pours some into her palm,this seems easy enough to apply it smells good too, what is the scent... jasmine?
XiXi splashes the water, putting bubbles on her face while laughing. The tingling sensation from the healing lotion feels cool and comfortable. She sighs,"I could stay here all day." XiXi begins to hum a tune from her favorite band then leans her head back on the wall of the hotspring
Dad, what are we going to do? You are a third grade Sorcerer, I don't know how I could help either.
On the other side of the hotspring, a handsome, exhausted warrior listens to the girl talk to herself. His cultivation level allowed him to hear her mutterings since she entered his Cherry Blossom Forest.
Who is this girl, I don't sense any cultivation in her at all and she appears very weak.What was she babbling about anyway, what is a plastic surgeon? His neck hairs bristle in annoyance, she dared use my precious healing lotion on a mere scratch!
Yun Tai seethes in anger, I had to give that old Master ten pelts of Shingon Golden Wolves to have him make that, not to mention it took me half a year to accumulate them. The only time I used it was when I was attacked by a Cyan Demon Snake and its fangs ripped my chest open. I bet that useless Feng Tian brought her here, I will get him to pay tenfold for this!
XiXi continues humming a tune and Yun Tai closes his tired eyes while listening to the soothing sound of her voice. Well, at least she can sing... it's been awhile since I have heard a beautiful voice. I'm exhausted from this last Demon War. Giving into fatigue he drifts off to sleep with his head resting on the edge.
Across the bamboo forest in the main courtyard, the tension berween the two Feng brothers intensifies. Feng Che impatiently crushes the leaf in his hand. "Stop stalling, where is she?"