I fall down and land with the same bright flash of light but this time, there isn't anyone around. I look around and smile when I see the familiar market in the Heavenly Realm. I turn around and begin walking towards the palace with a large smile.
It's been a week but I'm hoping he'll be as happy to see me as I am to see him! As I walk closer to the palace I slowly realize something is wrong. Why are the streets so quiet? I look around in confusion but nothing looks wrong... just empty.
Was there an event or something today? I shrug my shoulders and continue walking but as I walk up to the palace my jaw hits the ground in shock. The entire palace was gone! Everything was destroyed and burnt! Even the gates to the palace lay broken and burnt on the ground...
What the hell happened!? I walk closer to the destroyed palace but someone suddenly says "Are you insane!? You shouldn't walk in there!" I turn around and see a middle-aged man collecting stones that had fallen.
I frown and ask "Why? What happened here?" The man frowns before saying "You must be from another city... the second oldest son, Prince Bai Lei, snapped and killed the King! He destroyed the entire palace and every living soul in there before walking away like he was strolling through a garden!"
My eyes grow in shock as the man shakes his head and says "Just as well... the King was a horrible monster... just like his eldest son! They're nothing but monsters! But you shouldn't be here... you should leave as soon as possible. Bandits have been terrorizing the city since the palace has been destroyed!"
I nod at the man but when he turns to walk away I quickly call out to him and ask "Do you know where the Prince went?" The man stops and turns to me while shaking his head. "No one had the guts to approach him after seeing him destroy the entire palace... he was terrifying! He left heading North... that's all I know!"
He then turns around and takes off running, leaving me stumped. I look back to the pile that was once a grand palace and frown. What happened... but more importantly, where has he gone!? How am I supposed to find him now?
I rub the back of my neck and look to the North. I guess I can head North and see if I can find any news on him... I sigh and start walking North but only after a few steps, I'm stopped by three big men. "Well well well... look what we have here. You are quite the beauty aren't you?" The man in the middle says with a knowing smile as his eyes rake up and down my body.
I frown at the man and say "Excuse me..." I try to walk around them but they intentionally block my path. Their smiles grow as the other man says "She really is a beauty... a rare gem! Everything from her eyes to her hair... say, are you even human?"
My frown grows as I become more and more nervous. Are these the bandits that guy told me about? "What am I if I'm not human! Move out of my way! You're being rude!" The three men laugh as the one in the middle says "I'm afraid you'll have to come with us beauty..."
I instantly turn around to run but another man is right behind me! He grabs me and even though I fight with everything I have, I'm no match for the three of them. They tie me up with a rope then throw me over their shoulder as they laugh in triumph.
I grit my teeth as I say "I swear, if you don't release me, I will make each and every one of you regret touching me!" The four men laugh as they say "Don't worry sweatheart, you'll have a chance to make each and every one of us regret touching you."
The meaning behind his words has me shivering in fear as I look down at the glass vial hanging around my neck. I didn't think I'd have to use it so soon... I just need them to untie my hands... The men bring me back to a large Inn and dump me on the floor next to five other women shaking in fear.
"Oh wow... you guys found a true beauty! Let me see her!" Another man says walking closer. I shimmy away from him, causing all the men in the Inn to burst into laughter. "She's a cute and mild little bunny." The man says with a creepy smile.
I grit my teeth and try to think of a plan. Could I really just snap my vial and leave all these women to these horrible men? I look behind me to see several young and pretty women huddled together with tears of fear in their eyes. Where are the police when you need them!?
Suddenly, all the men step back as they all turn to the stairs leading up to the second floor "Boss! We found the prettiest women in the city!" I look over to see an extremely attractive guy walking down the stairs with a cold look on his face.
He looks over to us but when his eyes land on me he pauses. "It looks like you found a rare gem in this crappy town..." He says walking over to a chair in front of us and sitting down. I swallow hard as my mind races with ideas but I can't seem to work past my growing panic!