Before Ying Yue knew it, two days had gone by. They were now getting closer and closer to the capital. Ying Yue knew they were either going to be turned into playthings or killed off. Zhi Ruo sitting nearby couldn't help, but be worried at how Ying Yue was taking it.
"Ying Yue, what's going to happen to us?"
"I don't know Zhi Ruo. I don't know the whole story to what happened five hundred years ago."
"Heh, just tell us now. We're all going to die I bet."
"Well, Yu Wei thinking like that is what's going to get you killed."
With the capital now in sight; the girls couldn't help, but tear up. Entering the city gates, Ying Yue could hear people talking outside the carriage. Peeking through the cracks, Ying Yue was amazed. Everyone truly had golden hair and jade green eyes. Everyone had beautiful clothing on. Not a single one in the crowd was dressed better than the person next to them. This was the dragon kingdom, where equality existed, no famine, no slavery, and no poverty.
Finally reaching the palace grounds; the girls were removed from the carriage. Standing on a wooden stage in front of thousands of dragon civilians sent shivers down Ying Yues spine. Voices of the young and old could be heard from the crowd in front of her.
"Mommy look, they have black hair."
"Look at those girls, they're so dirty."
"How dare the humans intrude onto our land."
"They should be killed and offered to the gods."
Like ringing noises in her head that won't stop, Ying Yue and the rest of the girls stared in shock. They felt like animals, ready to be sold off to the highest bidder. After five minutes of standing around, Zi Tai walks to the front. Everyone in the crowd went silent.
"My good people! These unwelcomed guests intruded onto our land! What do you think we should do with them?"
People in the crowd started shouting out, some asking for Ying Yue and the girls to be put into slavery or killed. Zi Tai smiles and turns to face Ying Yue.
"Looks like I'm selling you ladies off as slaves to my people. We don't have slaves in the dragon kingdom, but seeing as you guys are intruders, we'll make an exception."
Zi Tai drags Zhi Ruo off by her hair, right into the front of the crowd. He started bidding her off, starting with one silver coin. A middle-aged man walks out of the crowd. Glancing over and over at the struggling Zhi Ruo.
"Zi Tai, I'll give you three silver coins for her. She can help warm up my bed."
"What?! That's so cheap. I can't even buy a meal with that!"
"No one else is bidding, take it over leave it man."
"Fine, going once, going twice! Heh, she's all yours man."
Ying Yue watched as Zhi Ruo struggle to break free from Zi Tai's grip. With tear filled eyes, Zhi Ruo turns to Ying Yue and begs for help.
"Help me Ying Yue! I don't want to go with him! Ah!"
Zi Tai drags Zhi Ruo closer to the old man, Ying Yue unable stand it anymore gets up and elbows Zi Tai on his right side. Causing him to crumble down and groan in pain. She quickly grabs Zhi Ruo and seats her with the other noble ladies. Ying Yue had to be ready for Zi Tai to retaliate. Zi Tai groans in pain, furrowing his brows he turns and faces Ying Yue.
"How dare you! Do you want to die that badly?!"
Ying Yue readies herself into position in case Zi Tai attacked. Staring straight at Ying Yue, Zi Tai motions for one of his soldiers to untie Ying Yue and give her, her sword.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"If you can defeat me, I'll let you and friends there go, but if you fail. I'm going to sell you all off. If you refuse, I'll kill you all on the spot."
Ying Yue holds tight onto her sword. Zi Tai was smaller in frame then Hong Chen. If she could hold her ground against Hong Chen, she'll manage against Zi Tai. Zi Tai made the first move, trying to catch Ying Yue off guard as she was lost in thought. Ying Yue was no fool though. She wasn't the general for no reason. With her instincts quickly kicking in, Ying Yue blocks Zi Tai's blow. The crowd watched in amazement as a mere human was actually repelling off their generals moves.
"Oho, you aren't bad for a human. You must have been someone great to the humans. What's your name girlie?"
"Tsk, my name is Ying Yue Yang. I used to be the imperial general."
"You look rather young. Who would've thought you were someone with that position."
Being sleep deprived from the travels and being barely fed had a huge impact on Ying Yues physical strength. Still clashing swords, Ying Yue knew she couldn't afford to lose. Unable to focus from the lack of sleep. Ying Yues head was now spinning from the sudden blood rush, she fell to her knees. Seeing his chance Zi Tai was about to hit Ying Yue until an arrow deflected his sword out of his hands. Looking in shock, Zi Tai turns to see who shot it; it was none other than the dragon clans head priest.
"What is the meaning of this Zi Tai? Have I not told you to control yourself?!"
"My apologies your holiness, but these women needed to be taught a lesson!"
"That's not your decision to make!"
"Slap!"
The old woman wasn't someone to be messed with. She slapped Zi Tai like nothing. Ying Yue slowly looked away as the old and frail women clad in white walked towards her. She had to be more than eighty years old, with her wrinkled skins and hunched back, she had a wooden stick painted in white to help her walk. She was also accompanied by four other people. Two thin beautiful women who looked no more than twenty. They had to be identical twins. Pale, long blonde hair, dark jade eyes, red lips and dressed in a dark colored outfit with white embroidery. There was another man there, he had to have been over the age of thirty, he had a much more homely look, thick skinned and darker, but still carried the trait of blonde hair and jade eyes.
"Look at me child, do not fear me."
Unsure of what the old lady wanted; Ying Yue slowly turns her gaze towards the old woman. With her chapped lips and dry throat, Ying Yue could only stare. The head priest stares into Ying Yues face, with her widen eyes, she grabs Ying Yues chin to get a closer look at her. Ying Yue breaks away from the old woman's grip.
"Please, let us go. We meant no harm by coming here."
"Sure, I can let the others go."
"Really?!"
"I can, but not you. I have something else for you to do. Now, why don't you let me see what you have hidden in your sash?"
Ying Yue had forgotten all about the golden leaf, but how did this old woman know about it? Slowly reaching into her sash, Ying Yue pulled out the golden leaf and placed it on her palm. Everyone went silent. Even Zi Tai stared in awe of the leaf. No one could take their eyes off it. Ying Yue unsure of what to do tries handing it over to the old woman.
"Uh....did you want it?"'
"No! I cannot touch it. No one here can, for it will wilt."
"What does this leaf mean?"
"Come, let me tell you of a story child. We will be returning to my temple."
"I'm not leaving without the others!"
The old woman ushers Zi Tai to release everyone. With everyone untied now; Ying Yue still feeling reluctant, but knew this old woman was their best bet going home. Everyone was now walking silently behind the old woman's white carriage. Zhi Ruo swiftly grabs holds of Ying Yues left arm and whispers to her.
"Thank you, Ying Yue. For saving me."
"Of course, Zhi Ruo. I promised you and your father. I'll find a way to send everyone home."
After walking on the city streets for fifteen minutes, the carriage came to a stop. Ying Yue looks to her right and sees a beautiful white temple with gold and red engravings on the two pillars in front of the building. Ying Yue had never seen anything like it, there were maids around the entrance as well. Watching in awe until the old woman spoke out.
"Have them cleaned up, and have this one come to the main hall when she's cleaned up."
Pointing to Ying Yue, the two maid's nods to the old woman's tasks and takes Ying Yue separately from the other girls.
"Ah! Stop where are you taking me?!"
"Stop struggling, we won't harm them. They will be put in a different part of the building."
The two maids grab onto Ying Yues arms and takes her away. Ying Yue enters a room that room that looked like a room for bathing. Everything was gold inside the bath, even the water had flowers floating on top. It was too elegant that Ying Yue felt uncomfortable. The maids slowly undressed Ying Yue and ushers her to enter the bath.
"So....why am I here?"
The two maids looked at each other and chuckled at Ying Yues question. Even for maids Ying Yue found them pretty, slender, pale, tall with blonde and jade eyes. The taller of the two speaks out to answer Ying Yues question.
"Because you are dirty. When was the last time you bathed? You will be in the presence of the holy one. It only makes sense to have you cleaned up."
Ying Yue finishes washing up, she had never smelled so nice before. Whatever was in the water made her skin soft and her hair smell like sweet honey. The maids had prepared a beautiful dress for Ying Yue to wear. It was a pale yellow, with white daisies on the front and back. Ying Yues hair was braided into two and clipped up. As the lady gestured for Ying Yue to exit the bath, Ying Yue remembered to quickly grab her golden leaf. Quickly digging through her old clothes, Ying Yue stuffs it back into her new sash and ties her sword onto her waist.
The temple grounds were huge. Anyone not from there would've been lost. Making sure to stay close to the maids, Ying Yue glances at the scenes around her before being told to enter a room. Ying Yue slowly walks in and notices the old woman sitting on a chair, sipping on tea waiting for Ying Yue. Ying Yue quietly seats herself across from the old woman.
"Feeling better?"
"Ah.... yes. Thank you very much for the bath."
"Heh, you humans are so weird. Thanking the people that almost killed you."
Ying Yue reaches into her sash and takes out the golden leaf. She places it on top of the golden-brown table that separated her and the old woman. Sipping on tea to clear her throat. Ying Yue glances back at the old woman.
"So....do you have a name? Or what do I call you?"
"I am referred to as the holy one, or holiness. You are probably wondering why you are here. Seeing as you ladies are here. I'm assuming the human world is suffering once more, correct? Heh, Ms. Ying Yue, why don't you tell me more?"
"I don't know much; all I know is that our animals were dying and our crops stopped growing. We haven't seen much rain either. Our priest mentioned that it was the cause of the five-hundred-year-old legend. Well, more like a curse than a legend."
The old woman places her tea down and looks to Ying Yue with hopeful eyes. Unsure of what the old woman wanted; Ying Yue could only stare back.
"You know the story don't you Ying Yue?"
"Only bits and pieces, but I'm getting a feeling that you and I have a different story on this legend."
"Sigh, I can't believe it's been five hundred years since the incident."
"What incident are we talking about here?"
The old priest turns her gaze away and looks out the window nearby. After a moment of silence, the old woman turns her gaze back to Ying Yue. With a sad look on her face she tells Ying Yue of a story.
"Five hundred years ago we took in a human princess. The original plan was to sacrifice the human's girls to appease the soul of our fallen dragon emperor at the time. Who would've thought that the current dragon emperor would fall in love at first sight with the human princess? The human princess knew, and used this to her advantage. She made him agree to send the other noble girls' home, only then would she agree to marry him. You see, once the portal is opened from our side, it remains open until someone closes it. Foolishly in love he believed her, who would've thought that the human princess had fallen in love with an aid of the dragon emperor. On their wedding night, when the dragon emperors guard was down, she drugged him. Using a black magic spell, she learned from her lover, she casted a spell on the dragon emperor. Sealing his soul away, but unable to destroy it. She then jumped through the portal with her dragon lover and returned to the human world. We have done our best to preserve his body for the past five hundred years using magic. He is the last royal bloodline of the dragon clan; we cannot afford to lose him."
After hearing the story, Ying Yue didn't know what to think. Wondering if the soul of the dragon emperor was still angry, or has he forgotten about everything in the five hundred years he had to live through as a wandering soul. Her heart was hurting for his sake. To have someone you love, betray you. Ying Yue knew that feeling all too well. Gritting her teeth and clenching her fist.
"So, you're saying our world is becoming unstable, because we are reaching the time limit? What am I supposed to do?"
"We need you to help us find his soul and return it. Or soon his soul will disappear and your world will suffer."
"Why me though? I don't understand."
"The holy tree chose you, Ying Yue. You will be the one to find his soul and finally break him from his slumber Ying Yue. The dragon emperor, cursed the human woman before falling into his slumber. He cursed her to have only girls and that someday one of her descendent will be the one to free him. He made sure that If she did have any child they would be weak or die early. When a strong one is born, she will be his key out darkness."
"I... I don't understand what you are saying, old priest."
"In your veins, runs the blood of that woman. Did you ever wonder why you have jade colored eyes, but dark hair?"
Ying Yue stood up, with her lips quivering at what she was hearing. Staring at the holy priest in shock.
"Seeing your reaction, looks like you really had no idea."
"You're saying I have dragon blood in me?"
"Of course. I also had a vision the night you fell into our world. The one chosen to break the curse had entered our world. Hence why I sent Zi Tai to come looking for you. You saw the tree on mount Bao-Yu, didn't you?"
"Yes, but how am I the only one able to see the tree and touch it?"
"You have a pure soul and heart. It's the only way to see the tree. It shows itself to you and you can touch it. That means you are pure enough to touch the soul of the dragon emperor without tainting it and return it into his body."
"Well.... where is his soul?"
"Wandering inside Mount Bao-Yu. No one can see it, but you. His soul is unable to leave on its own."
"What do I get in return for helping you? We've been mistreated this whole time, so why should I help you?"
"If you want the others to live and be returned to your world you have no choice."
Reluctant, but she had promises she needed to keep. Ying Yue stares at the old woman and seats herself across from her. After a moment of silence, Ying Yue sighs and agrees,
"Very well, I agree. But you must send the other's home first."
"You have yourself a deal, now you may go back to the other ladies. I will be preparing a portal that will take us back to mount Bao-Yu."
With a smile of satisfaction, the woman looks to Ying Yue and nods. Quickly standing up the old woman ushers her maids outside the door to get prepared for their journey back to the mountains.