Ying Yue stood silently as she watched the portal close before her. Once the portal closed, Ying Yue turned her gaze back to the old woman. The old woman breaks into a smile seeing as Ying Yue kept her end of the deal.
"Why didn't you jump in too Ying Yue? Knowing you, you could've."
"We had a deal, and I keep my promises."
"Heh, this is probably why the holy tree likes you."
"What is this holy tree anyways? I see it, but what does it mean to you?"
"This tree was here when our ancestors landed here a little over five hundred years ago, it was nothing, but a small tree. After the death of the emperor, our queen mother fell into despair and passed away five years after his death. She loved coming to this waterfall when she was alive. It is just a belief of course; no one knows for sure, but it's said her soul rests here now, hence why no one could see the tree anymore after her passing."
"So....like the emperor's mother?"
"That's right."
"Is this the holy grounds to the dragon clan then?"
"Correct, not just anyone can come here. We believe that the soul returns to this place. Only the pure hearts can see the tree, or you can also see it in the afterlife. It is said that after death, your soul will wander back here. After being purified by her, only then can you move into the heavens for reincarnation."
"I see.... I had no idea. The tree itself is beautiful. It even smells nice."
"Smell? Ying Yue, tell me. What does it smell like."
"Fresh sweet honey, the leaf also feels very soft, almost like silk. The tree and its bark are pure white and not rough."
The old woman started tearing up. Ying Yue, and the generals could all only stare at the priest. The generals were shocked. They had never seen the old woman cry in all the years they've been with her.
"I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong?"
"Not at all Ying Yue. You have only confirmed that what my ancestors said in the past is true. The queen mother loved the scent of honey, and she was said to be the most beautiful woman back then. The tree is really our mother dragon. Come along now, it's your turn to fulfill your promise."
"Old woman, how do I go about finding the soul of the dragon emperor?"
"That's for you to find out Ying Yue. Just close your eyes and listen."
Unsure of what the old woman wanted, Ying Yue followed as instructed, keeping her eyes closed and trying to listen for anything unusual. All of a sudden, Ying Yue see's a beautiful woman, dressed in white with golden hair and jade eyes. The woman was smiling at her and pointing in a direction. With her eyes still closed, Ying Yue kept walking slowly towards the direction and eventually hit her head on something. Slowly opening her eyes she realized she was back at the tree.
"The tree? Seriously?"
"What happened Ying Yue?"
Everyone walked closer to Ying Yue, but still keeping their distance. The old priest walks up and asks Ying Yue again.
"What did you see?"
"I... I saw a beautiful woman; she was pointing to something. I don't know, I followed it and it led me to the tree."
"Well, check the tree then, what are you waiting for?"
"Alright....alright I will, just relax."
Unsure of what to expect Ying Yue feels the tree. Trying to find anything odd, but nothing was clicking. Meanwhile everyone stood nearby and could only see Ying Yue touching thin air. Zi Tai was chucking at the scene, before getting slapped on the back of his head again by Tao Chen. As Ying Yue was about to give up, she decided to close her eyes this time. Thinking that maybe she needs to focus more. All of a sudden she felt something bite her finger.
"Ah! What the heck?"
Removing her hand quickly away from the tree and opening her eyes, Ying Yue checks her right index finger, but there was nothing.
"Ying Yue! What's wrong?!"
"Something bit me. It felt scaley too. Hold on, let me try again."
Ying Yue closes her eyes again and slowly reaches back into the same location, and felt the bite once again. Sucking in the pain, Ying Yue decides to grab it. Slowly opening her eyes, Ying Yue realizes that her arm was inside the tree. Ying Yue had somehow managed to open the core of the tree. Slowly pulling out what was inside the tree, Ying Yue realized it was a small red and black dragon serpent, just about the size of her palm. Everyone gasped in shock when they saw the dragon. The old woman drops her cane and leaps into the air. Yelling out words of happiness.
"You did it Ying Yue! You did girl! I can't believe it!"
"What?! This little thing is the soul of the dragon emperor?"
"Yes! Now, Ying Yue, do you see how his tail and half of his body is turning black? That's the spell that woman placed on him, it was slowly killing him. If it weren't for the tree's protection, he would've perished years ago. We cannot touch him, but if it's in your hands you can help purify it."
The moment the old woman said that, Ying Yue watched in amazement as the dragon's scales slowly turned red. Everyone was in shock, all the generals got on their knees and hailed Ying Yue as the savior of their clan.
"All hail our savior!"
"Ah...stop it everyone you're embarrassing me. Hey old woman, when are we leaving?"
"I'm working on it. I will be creating a portal back to the royal dragon palace. The dragon emperors body rests there. You will have to send his soul back into his body once we are there,"
"Ah, alright.... I guess if you say so."
Resting beside the golden tree, with the emperor's soul still in her hands. Ying Yue was tired. It's been a long day, and she has yet to get any proper rest. Taking a closer look at the small dragon, Ying Yue couldn't help, but find it cute.
"Hm…. I wonder. Were you the one calling out to me?"
The dragon only stared at Ying Yue, looking confused at what she was saying.
"Ah, of course. You're just a dragon soul, you're not going to know what I'm saying."
Smacking herself on the forehead with her left palm. Ying Yue sat quietly, watching the dragons scale change completely to red. Before long the old priest had the portal ready.
"Come alone Ying Yue, it's time to head back."
Forcing her exhausted self to get up, Ying Yue walks right into the portal after the old woman. Followed by all the generals. She was now inside the palace. It was different from the human palace she thought. Everything was only gold or red inside the palace, and dragon emblems filled the pillars in the building.
Still following the old priest, they made their way down to a secret door that led into a dimly lit room. The room was covered in the dragon clans writing. Ying Yue thought to herself, that this must be the spell casted on the room to preserve the body of the emperor. At the end of the room was a glass coffin, As Ying got closer and closer to the coffin, the little dragon in her palm got warmer and warmer. Ying Yue was now three feet away, staring at the body of the dragon emperor from a distance. Seeing who it was, Ying Yue fell to the floor. Her knees went weak and she couldn't stop her jaw from dropping.
"Thud"
"Hm? What was that?"
The old priest turned around and noticed it was Ying Yue. Ying Yue went pale. She looked like she was going to pass out at any minute now.
"What's the matter Ying Yue?!"
"....."
Ying Yue couldn't stop shaking, unable to say anything to the priest. The priest quickly gestured for Zi Tai and Tao Chen to help Ying Yue stand up. Forcing herself to stand up, Ying Yue slowly walks right next to the coffin. She didn't even know why, but tear started rolling down her cheeks on their own.
"I... I know this man....old priest."
"What? That's not possible Ying Yue. Are you sure?"
"From my dreams...yes i'm sure."
Before Ying Yue, laid the beautiful red-haired man from her dreams. With his arms down on his side. Dressed in black clothing with gold embroidery. A beautiful face, with a high bridge nose, a chiseled jaw, full lips and broad shoulders. Looking as if he was only sleeping. He was the most beautiful man Ying Yue had ever seen. Quietly muttering to herself.
"Oh my god.... what if he wakes up and realizes I'm the offspring of that woman and friend that betrayed him? Won't he kill me?"
Meanwhile, the old priest started chanting some ancient language to remove the glass protection on the dragon emperor. Before long the glass coffin cover melted off; like ice. The priest gestured for Ying Yue to come closer to the dragon emperors body and complete the ceremony.
"Ying Yue, come. Place the dragon on the heart of the dragon emperor."
"Are you sure this will work? I mean, we can always do this tomorrow right? It's been a long day and I would really like to get some rest. Or you know, can you promise me he won't kill me off once he's awake?"
"What are you talking about Ying Yue? Just trust me on this."
"Ugh....alright."
Feeling reluctant Ying Yue slowly drops the red dragon onto the chest of the sleeping emperor. Before long everyone watched as the red dragon coiled up and melted into the skin of the sleeping dragon emperor.
"Uh...why isn't anything happening old priest?"
"Be patience, he will awaken soon. I can feel it."
Twenty minutes had gone by now, and he was still showing no signs of waking up. Ying Yue decided she was going to take a nap in the corner of the room. With her back against the wall and being so exhausted, she dozed off instantly. Ten minutes into Ying Yue sleeping the dragon emperor slowly opened his eyes. Soon the sky went red, and with a golden ray of light shooting from the sky into the body of the emperor. The head priest ushered for all the generals to come and show their respect. With a smile on all their faces, they welcomed back their emperor.
"Welcome back, your majesty!"
Slowly rising from the coffin, the emperor stretches his arms and legs before getting out of the coffin. Slowly turning his gaze to the old priest. In a deep voice, the dragon emperor asks the priest for details.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Your majesty, it has been well over five hundred years."
"Five hundred years?! Hah, I see...that means Biyu is no longer of this world. Speak, who are you?"
"Your Majesty, we are the children of all your past generals and priest. My ancestor was the priest during your time. She was the one who casted the spell to preserve your body, after your soul had been sealed away."
Tilting his head to see who was behind Zi Tai and the other generals. With his widened eyes, he sees the sleeping Ying Yue in the corner of the room. Pointing to the corner, with his deep voice he asks the priest.
"Who is that behind you?"
"Ah, that is the human girl that helped us release your soul, your majesty. She is a descendant of princess Biyu. I ask that you please spare her."
"Spare her? Ha Ha!"
Chucking to himself, the dragon emperor walks to the sleeping Ying Yue in the corner, slowly crouching over, he stares at Ying Yue's sleeping face. Breaking into a small smile, he gently takes hold of Ying Yues shoulder and gently rests her on his chest. Carrying her up in a princess carry. The priest stared in shock, she quickly glances at Zi Tai for him to do something. Zi Tai quickly kneels in front of the dragon emperor and offers to carry Ying Yue.
"Your majesty! Please let us do that, you just woke up and need to rest!"
"No, you're not allowed to touch her. She's as light as a feather to me. Head priest was it? Go prepare my sleeping quarters."
"As you wish, your majesty."
"Now move out of my way. I have an audience waiting for me outside."
The priest and Zi Tai quickly moved out of the emperor's way. The dragon emperor slowly walked, as to not wake up Ying Yue. Making his way outside the palace, every dragon clan citizen and soldier were on the floor. With the sky bright red, the dragon race knew their ruler had returned. Glancing at his people, and feeling the wind in his face. The smell of fresh air made the dragon emperor ecstatic. Turning his gaze back to his people, with Ying Yue still asleep in his arms.
"I am Jianyu, your emperor! I apologize for being away for so long, but I am back for good now. Fear not my people, soon we will take back what is ours!"
There was an uproar of cheers. Citizens of the dragon clan celebrated and could be seen leaping around in happiness. With the noises so loud, Ying Yue couldn't sleep anymore. Using her right hand, she rubs her eyes. Slowly opening her eyes, she realized she was in the arms of the great dragon emperor. Unsure if she was dreaming or not, Ying Yue glanced around her and realized she was in the presence of thousands of people. With the emperor still holding onto Ying Yue, a little boy from the crowd spoke out.
"Your majesty, why are you carrying that human?"
"Heh, she will be my future wife and your future empress."
The emperor was smiling from ear to ear while announcing that Ying Yue will become his future wife. Just as shocked as everyone around her. Ying Yue couldn't help, but yell.
"What?!"