"Is there something we can do to help? I mean... man-eating people sounds like it'll be bad for everyone involved." I say with an awkward smile. Zhen gives me an equally awkward smile as he says "Not man-eating... women. They eat women."
My lip twitches as I say "Same difference. What if I become stronger? Can I help then?" Zhen loses his smile as he slips into thought. He slowly nods his head as he says "It wouldn't hurt to become stronger. Whether you're able to help or not... it would be good to be able to protect yourself if things do happen."
I frown in discontent. When I think about what Bai Lei's Grandfather did... Bai Lei won't do the same, right? I bit my lip as my mind starts spiraling in horrible directions. This is the worst time to have a vivid imagination...
I shake myself out of my thoughts and quickly turn to Zhen with a look of urgency. "I need to become stronger as fast as I can!" Zhen looks at me with confusion as he says "While it's good that you want to become stronger... it's not good to rush things. Let Bai Lei and his people handle things with the Under Realm. I'm sure they have things in place for this."
I stare at him unconvinced as I quickly close my eyes to cultivate. "Child! You need to eat before you start doing that again. If you mistreat your body, you won't progress no matter how hard you try." I crack an eye open and look at the uneaten food on the table while mumbling "I would have if someone hadn't spit all over it..."
Zhen's eye twitches as he calls for Chyou. After she changed all the plates, we both eat while discussing our plans. For the next two weeks, I've been cultivating nonstop and my strength has slowly grown.
Bai Lei has only been stopping by ever so often as he's been "busy". I keep wanting to talk to him about the Under Realm but any time I bring it up, he runs off and brings something else up. My patience on the matter has ran out...
After cultivating for a few hours, I decided to take a walk around the courtyard. I need to stretch... As I walk around the large courtyard, I pull the white cape-like jacket around me. The temperatures have dropped a lot over the last week and when the wind blows, it cuts right through you.
Zhen says that when I become stronger, I will be less affected by the cold and heat. That was something I was looking forward to! I can't imagine what it's like living without airconditioner in the middle of the summer...
Suddenly, I feel like someone is watching me from behind. I stop and turn to look behind me as the wind wipes my long silver hair back and away from my face. I squint against the cold wind and look around the empty courtyard.
Why do I always feel like I'm being watched these days? I look around the courtyard once more before frowning and turning back around. Someone in solid back quickly lifts his hand and blows a sweet-smelling powder in my face!
When I turned around and saw someone standing right there, I sucked in and jumped out of fright, so the sweet powder went straight into my mouth! I quickly try to spit the powder out as I choke and cough but my world tilts and suddenly goes dark. The last thing I remember is falling to the ground as the man dressed in black grabs me.
~~~~~~~
Zhen stands outside of the meeting hall waiting to speak with Bai Lei. Nova had been feeling like someone has been watching her for the last few weeks. Zhen thought it might have been Bai Lei's men but Nova told him she felt otherwise.
Nova wanted to talk to Bai Lei herself but he's been so busy lately, he only stops by occasionally and when he does, it's only for a short moment. Zhen has even set up and hidden inside the courtyard to see if he can catch anyone but he didn't see or sense anyone.
He has no choice but to wait out here to see Bai Lei. After a few more hours, the officials slowly start leaving the grand room. Zhen grits his teeth in annoyance and walks up to the large doors. The men who started walking out, freeze when they see the attractive man with white hair.
Was he human!?
They heard that his majesty brought back a woman with silver hair... was this the person!???
Was his majesty into men!??
Zhen ignores all the men's looks and walks straight into the room. Bai Lei was about to leave when he caught sight of Zhen's white hair. Bai Lei frowns in concern and quickly walks over to meet Zhen halfway. The men who were once leaving were now watching the two attractive men with wide eyes.
"Zhen, what brings you to my court? Is everything okay?" Bai Lei asks with concern. Zhen looks around and says "Do you have something a little more... private?" Several of the older men standing around suck in and gasp at Zhen's words causing the two attractive men to frown and look at the surrounding men with confusion.
The surrounding men quickly realize their mistake and quickly cough to hide their reactions. Bai Lei narrows his eyes at the men and turns to Zhen saying "Let's head to my office. No one will bother us there." Zhen nods his head and follows behind Bai Lei as the surrounding men begin gossiping.
"It must be true! The King is into men!!"
"Look how kind and courteous he was towards the man with white hair... you can clearly see he's important to his highness!"
"Exactly! He's never like that to others!"
Ren freezes at the door with a look of confusion on his face. He slowly turns around to look at the older men gossiping. Did they... did they really think that his Master was into men!?! A shiver runs down his back as he thinks about what Bai Lei would do once he found out... These men... He's starting to question their intelligence!