Jianyu and Ying Yue stared at the five figures before them. Slowly walking out of the dark and into the light, Ying Yue realizes it was the five generals. Zi Tai walked out first and glares over to Ying Yue and Jianyu.
"Your majesty, what do you think you're doing? If you wanted to come out for an outing, you need an escort."
"Ying Yue and I are fine. It's a simple date, having you guys tag along would've ruined it."
"With all due respect your highness, this is not the time for a date. Something urgent has come up. We need to return to the palace."
With a serious look on Zi Tai's face, Ying Yue knew he was not joking. Ying Yue squeezes Jianyu's right hand. Assuring him it was okay for them to return to the palace and calling it a night.
"Sigh, alright. We'll head back shortly. Did you all come on your horses?"
"Yes sir."
"Bring them to the back of that shop, I'll be creating a portal to take us back to the palace grounds."
Jianyu pointed at the sword shop they were just in. Soon, all the generals left to go gather their horses nearby. With Ying Yue still holding onto Jianyu's hand; Jianyu leads Ying Yue to the back of the sword shop. Silently chanting away; a portal soon opened.
"Ying Yue, are you sure you're okay with us going back to the palace already?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I had plenty of fun already, and even got a free sword out of it. Besides, Zi Tai looked worried, I'm sure something urgent has happened."
After waiting around for a few minutes, the generals all finally came back with their horses. Jianyu slowly entered the portal; taking Ying Yue with him. Soon everyone followed and before Ying Yue knew it, she was standing at the entrance of the palace. Zi Tai motions for a maid nearby to take Ying Yue back to her quarters as they need time alone with the emperor. As Ying Yue was turning to leave, Jianyu motions for Ying Yue to stay.
"As my future empress, she needs to know what's going on within the country."
Zi Tai frowns and glances back at the other generals. Unable to comply with what Jianyu wanted, Zi Tai questions Jianyu's decision.
"Your majesty, she is still consider an outsider even if you were to make her your empress. We can't trust her yet."
"Zi Tai! Are you really going to question my decision?"
Realizing he may have angered the dragon emperor, Zi Tai and the other generals quickly fell to their knees. With their sweaty hands clasped together, Zi Tai quickly spoke out to calm the irritated Jianyu.
"No, your majesty, I am by no means questioning your decision. Please, pardon me for overstepping my boundaries."
"There will be no next time."
Jianyu grabs hold of Ying Yue's right hand and drags her along with him to the throne room. While being dragged along Ying Yue wondered what couldn't possibly wait until the morning. It was in the middle of the night already, yet as Ying Yue and Jianyu entered the throne room, all the ministers, and aids were all in the room waiting. Jianyu whispers to Ying Yue as they reached the throne room.
"No matter what happens, stand next to me and don't let anyone look down on you."
Slightly nodding in agreement, Jianyu finally let's go of Ying Yue's hand. Seating himself on the throne, with Ying Yue standing next to him. After glancing around, Ying Yue notices the prime minister glaring at her. Quickly turning her gaze away, Ying Yue brushes it off. Jianyu finally breaks the silence and calls out the prime minister.
"What's the purpose of tonight's emergency meeting?"
The prime minister came forward and greeted Jianyu, before clearing his throat to speak.
"Ahem, your majesty. There have been recent reports of the dark dragon tribe making a move."
"What?! Haven't they been silent till now?!"
"That is indeed true, but I believe it may have to do with your sudden resurrection. The leader of the dark dragon tribe, Bai Chun is refusing to let anyone join the dragon kingdom. Those who try to, are killed. He's also been killing off our border patrols lately."
"How many has he killed already?"
"We are estimating about twenty people, your majesty. He killed another two people tonight. This cannot continue to go on, we need to capture Bai Chun as soon as possible. He is the greatest threat to our kingdom right now."
"I understand where you are coming from, but he isn't someone we can easily kill. The dark dragon clan has been practicing the dark arts for centuries. Someone of Bai Chun's caliber won't be easy to kill. Are you sure it's there doing?"
"Your majesty, Bai Chun has a habit of engraving messages on the bodies of the people he kills. This time he engraved."
"I will take what is precious to you."
"That bastard! Is he challenging me now?!"
"I'm not sure your majesty. Please calm yourself."
"Alright! Enough! I will figure something out in the morning with the generals, everyone is dismissed!"
The moment Jianyu dismissed everyone, he turns to Ying Yue and grabs hold of her hand and drags her with him. Slowly making their way back to his residence; Ying Yue couldn't help, but worry seeing Jianyu's face twisting with anger. After walking for ten minutes, Ying Yue was back inside Jianyu's sleeping quarters. Finally calming down, Jianyu lets go of Ying Yue's hand. Ying Yue couldn't understand why this was happening and who Bai Chun was.
"Jianyu, please tell me who Bai Chun is."
Jianyu seats himself onto his small brown table, with golden engravings. He gestures for Ying Yue to take the seat in front of him. Ying Yue slowly pulls out the chair and seats herself directly from Jianyu. With nothing, but silence in the room now, Jianyu turns his gaze to Ying Yue.
"When I was a child, my father told me he had a younger brother that died. His name was Bai Chun. He was born with a weak body, and could not walk. He would always stay hidden in his room, but for some reason on a random summer day on his twentieth birthday he was found walking around the palace. No one could believe it. Everyone called it god's mercy and a miracle, but my father knew it was too good to be true."
"What? How is that possible? It can't be the same person. He should've been dead centuries ago then."
"True, he should be dead but he's not. Bai Chun had been studying an ancient dark curse. It was a curse that can enable one to overcome any illness and make one strong. Little did he know that the curse came at a price. Overtime his body started decaying, and he was aging faster than the rate of a normal person. To avoid dying, he started studying how to exchange bodies and souls."
"You're saying he was planning to remove his soul and enter another person's body making it his own?"
"Using dark arts are a taboo in the dragon clan. When my grandfather who was the dragon emperor at the time found out, he banished my uncle. With him he took his faction of people with him. Apparently not everyone agreed back then that my father should become the next emperor."
"What else happened?"
"Well, when my father encountered him again, he had a different face and body. Bai Chun had succeeded in exchanging bodies, but his first curse never left him. For the past five hundred years he's had to keep switching his body. It's almost impossible to catch him now as he can switch his body. Despite everything, we did learn something about the dark art he was using. Every time he switched into a new body; it will take him twenty years to be able to do it again. It's a long ceremony too, and drains a lot out of you."
"How do you know all this?"
"The temple keeps records of curses, and how to get rid of them. I always went there when I could growing up."
"Is there a way to kill him for good?"
"I am not sure; we will have to visit the temple tomorrow. We can have your sword checked there as well. Until further notice you'll be staying with me in my residence, as it's the safest place right now."
"What? Stay here? I don't think that's appropriate Jianyu."
"There's a high chance Bai Chun is after you since you're my one weakness."
Blushing from the idea of having to share rooms again, Ying Yue knew she had to find a way to get out of it. Turning her gaze downwards and fidgeting her thumbs, Ying Yue tries to convince Jianyu that it's not a good idea.
"Eh, but still. It's not good in the public eye. We are not married yet, and I'm not so weak! You know me the best out of everyone!"
Jianyu thinks it over for a good few minutes before caving in. Jianyu decided he was not going to force Ying Yue. Grabbing hold of Ying Yue's right hand from across the table, Jianyu placed a jade bracelet onto Ying Yue's hand. Glancing back to Ying Yue, Jianyu locks eyes with Ying Yue.
"This bracelet is infused with some of my spirit essence. It will help you in case of an emergency. I will feel better knowing you are wearing this. Make sure to never take it off."
"Spirit essence? What is that?"
"Just think of it as a chanted bracelet. I casted a spell on it."
Glancing at the beautiful jade bracelet, Ying Yue could see small golden engravings on it. Unable to make out what it was saying, Ying Yue gave up. Without a moment to lose, Jianyu gestures to Ying Yue that it's time to call it a night.
"It has gotten late; you must be tired from everything today. I will walk you back to your residence."
"Oh, now that you mention it. It is dark out, but with the moon shining so bright it's almost hard to tell."
"Let us be off, before it gets too late. That is, unless you want to spend the night here after all."
"What? This is not the time for jokes Jianyu!"
Ying Yue blushed from hearing Jianyu's remarks. She couldn't help, but feel embarrassed. Slamming her hands onto the table, Ying Yue stands up and makes her way to the bedroom door. As she was about to open the door, Jianyu grabbed hold of Ying Yue's right hand and leads her out of his sleeping quarters while chucking to himself. Rather than fighting off Jianyu's hand now, Ying Yue was surprised at how comfortable she has gotten. After stepping out of the bedroom Jianyu stopped walking.
"Jianyu? Why'd you stop moving?"
"The moon is beautiful tonight, so why don't we get a closer look? Put your hands around me Ying Yue."
Without thinking much, Ying Yue did as instructed. Catching her off guard, Jianyu swept Ying Yue off the ground. Carrying her in a princess carry, Jianyu leaped from building to building. Ying Yue had never felt a sensation like it before. She felt like she was floating every time Jianyu jumped.
"How....what? We're going to fall!"
"Ha Ha we'll be fine, trust me."
Ying Yue was clenching onto Jianyu for her life. Meanwhile, Jianyu couldn't help but find the scared Ying Yue rather adorable. Finally making it to Ying Yue's residence, Jianyu slowly lets Ying Yue down. With the moon shining on them, Ying Yue couldn't help but noticed how soft Jianyu's gaze was.
"Thank you for bringing me back."
"Hm? Aren't you forgetting something?"
Jianyu points to his lips, and with his left hand placed on his waist he stares at Ying Yue, hoping for something. Grinning from ear to ear he chuckles at the bright red Ying Yue. No matter how many times Jianyu's has done this to her, she couldn't bring herself to get used to it.
"No, you're not getting anything."
"What? How mean, after all I did too."
Ying Yue watched as Jianyu turned his back and slouched his shoulders in disappointment. Breaking into a smile, Ying Yue quickly walks and grabs hold of Jianyu's right arm. Pulling him closer to her lips, and on her tiptoes, Ying Yue placed a light kiss onto Jianyu's cheek.
"Goodnight Jianyu."
Without waiting for his reaction, Ying Yue runs to her bedroom doors and quickly closes her doors. Trying to hide her blushing face and beating heart. In that moment, all Ying Yue could here was Jianyu screaming in satisfaction.
"Yes!"