Ying Yue groans in pain as she rubs the back of her neck where Bai Chun knocked her out. Rubbing her eyes, Ying Yue glances around the dimly lit room. Of all places, Ying Yue had to wake up to a cold and dreary room.
"Where am I?"
Ying Yue continues to try and break from the prison, but it was futile. Ying Yue knew there had to be some kind of spell placed onto the wooden bars. Otherwise, she could've easily broken through with her strengthen. After trying for twenty minutes, Ying Yue finally gives up and stares out a small window that was feet's above Ying Yue. Her once white outfit was now dirty; even her sword was confiscated.
"No, I can't just lay here and wait for death. Jianyu and everyone is probably looking for me."
Ying Yue screams and screams until someone finally got annoyed and came down to silence her.
"Hey! Someone! Let me out! I know you're there! Hey! You stupid monkey face old man! Let me out!"
"Slam!"
All of a sudden Ying Yue hears a loud slam. The sounds of someone walking was getting closer and closer.
Ying Yue watches as a beautiful golden-haired woman walks in. She was definitely well endowed in many departments. Ying Yue had never seen a woman wear such revealing clothing as well. Her dress was ripped nearly all the way up; revealing a good portion of her legs. Not to mention she left the top of her bosom open.
"Who....who are you?"
"The names Song Qiu. It's a pleasure to meet you; empress."
"Hey! That's my sword. Give it back!"
"You're kidding right? Ha Ha! It's mine now."
"You can't even draw it, so why keep it?"
"It's pretty to look at and looks great tied to my waist."
Ying Yue watches as Song Qiu continue to wipe dirt away from the sword scabbard. The thought of someone else touching her sword, made Ying Yue annoyed.
"Ah...let me guess, you work for Bai Chun?"
"Oh, I don't just work for him. I am much more than just a colleague."
"Well isn't that nice. Now let me out of these chains!"
"Why should I? Ha Ha!"
Ying Yue watches as the woman fling around the keys in her hands. Ying Yue knew she just needed to somehow get a hold of them. If talking wasn't going to work, Ying Yue figured insulting was the next step.
"Hey ugly!"
"Ugly?! Are you blind?! I'm the most beautiful woman in the kingdom of Xinjing!"
"Xinjing? Ahhhhh...now I see. Explains why Jianyu couldn't find Bai Chun's base. It's because you guys are hiding out here."
The woman quickly covers her mouth as she was not supposed to have mentioned anything to Ying Yue about their whereabouts. Ying Yue watches as the woman start to panic. Seeing her chance, Ying Yue sits up and walks closer to the wooden bars that separated her from Song Qiu. With only inches away, Ying Yue whispers to Song Qiu.
"Hey ugly."
"Stop calling me that! My name's Song Qiu!"
In a furry the woman moves close enough to bars that was separating them. As Song Qiu got closer, Ying Yue grabs hold of dress collar and pulls her in. Ying Yue used so much force, she knocked out Song Qui by just slamming her face onto the wooden bars.
"Well, that was easier than I thought."
Ying Yue grabs hold of the keys from Song Qiu's unconscious body. After playing around with the keys, Ying Yue was able to unlock the prison lock. Before leaving she made sure to grab her sword and lock Song Qiu inside the prison.
"Let's see how you like it."
After locking the unconscious Song Qiu inside the prison. Ying Yue makes a run for the door. Slowly propping the door open, Ying Yue glances around to make sure no one was around. Seeing as the coast was clear, Ying Yue makes a run for it. Without even knowing where she was, all she knew was she needed to keep running.
"This place is so big...it's got to be the royal palace of Xinjing."
Ying Yue continues to run towards anything that looked like a way out. After running around for thirty minutes with no luck, Ying Yue decides to try something else. Finally making her way to a dead end, Ying Yue spots a large tree in the corner of the dead end.
"Looks like I have no choice, but to climb my way out of here."
Steadily and slowly, Ying Yue finally makes it to the top of the tree. Off into the distance Ying Yue could see everything. It was nearly dark now, so this was her chance to escape unnoticed. With a deep sigh, Ying Yue attempts to jump from the tree onto the other side of the gates.
"Well, here goes nothing."
As she jumps off, while midair; a mysterious man in a long dark cloak catches and her helps her land on the other side of the gates. Catching Ying Yue off guard, she quickly pushes the man away once they landed.
"Who are you?!"
"That's no way to treat someone who just helped you."
"I didn't ask for your help."
"Wow, how cold. That's not way to talk to your savior woman."
The man removes his cloak and smiles at Ying Yue. Ying Yue thought the voice was familiar, but she didn't think it was going to really be him. Quickly reaching to her waist, Ying Yue pulls out her sword from its scabbard.
"Hong Chen! How are you here?!"
"That's no way to greet an old friend, Ying Yue. Why don't you put that sword away and we can talk."
Hong Chen motions for Ying Yue to follow him into town. The kingdom of Xinjing was smaller, but had probably just as much people as the dragon kingdom. Although reluctant, Ying Yue continues to follow Hong Chen as he may know something she doesn't.
Hong Chen leads Ying Yue into a large tea shop. Once they got inside the shop, Hong Chen quickly greets the owner before requesting a private table in a small room. Ying Yue stops in her tracks and looks up to Hong Chen.
"Why should I follow you? Who knows what you could have planned."
"Ha Ha! Don't worry, it's just a room with a table for privacy. I'm sure you have plenty of questions."
The owner leads Hong Chen and Ying Yue into a room down the hall. It really was just a small room with a table and some chairs. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ying Yue seats herself across from Hong Chen.
"Order whatever you want. It's on me today."
"Don't tell me you plan to use this to gain my favor in the future?"
"Ha Ha! I have no such intentions. Just to let you know, I only saw you by coincidence."
Hong Chen orders food for the two of them before motioning for the owner to leave them. With a serious look on his face now, Hong Chen turns his attention back to Ying Yue.
"I'll say it again. I only saw you by chance. I had no idea you were in Xinjing."
"You expect me to believe that?!"
"Believe what you want then. I'm telling the truth.."
"Tell me Hong Chen, how are you even here in the first place?"
"Heh, I'll tell you something then. There is a mountain in the lands of Xinjing that is connected to the human world. It's connected to a small cave to the west of where the nomad tribe resides in the human world. I discovered it by accident when I was twelve."
"What? How is that possible? Travelling between worlds can only be done through portals!"
"Who knows, I do know that's it's truly fate for us to meet like this again though."
Hong Chen leans in and grabs hold of Ying Yue's hand, only to have it slapped away.
"Relax woman! I barely touched you!"
"Try it again and I'll cut off your fingers off next time. If you have nothing else to say, I'm leaving."
"If you're going to leave, at least eat something first."
Ying Yue walks to the door before turning around one last time.
"Hong Chen...why are you so fixated on me? I'm sure you have your own harem of beautiful woman already."
"Indeed, I do but none are like you. You're the only one who would dare to bare your fangs at me. You even fought me head on during our last meeting."
"Like a mad god in heat, you really do wag your tail at anything Hong Chen."
"Ha Ha! This is why you're the empress!"
"What did you just call me?"
"Empress, what else? Is that not who you are now? Rumors have been spreading all over the kingdome lately about how the dragon empress is inside the kingdom of Xinjing right now. I bet that's why you were running from the palace."
"And what if I was? Do you plan to send me back there?"
"Hah, no way. I don't owe those people anything. If you want to leave then go, I won't stop you. But takes this, you'll need it."
Hong Chen throws a sack of money and a cloak to Ying Yue.
"Take it as an apology for that scar I gave you."
"Ha, very well. I hope our paths never cross again after this. Goodbye Hong Chen."
"Hmmm.....I'm sure we'll meet again empress."
Ying Yue puts on the cloak and exits the room. Making her way downstairs, Ying Yue exits the tea shop.