"Train? Hhahhahaha, Gladly this Young Miss would be happy too. Unfortunately, Father has something to discuss."
Waving a hand, Ling Fan ran off.
Meanwhile several servants ran in. One had a hoe, one carried a bucket of water and the rest had towels and fans. Immediately they surrounded Junjie and pried him from the ground.
Plop!
The servants clamored in happiness.
"Ha! The hoe makes things so much easier! Quickly, you massage his shoulders. You, get his snout into that bucket of water. The rest, this leader wants to see those fans moving like the easterly wind."
Immediately, they started working as well as bombarding Junjie with praise.
"Lord Junjie, even the Patriarch recognizes you as the mightiest of boars."
"This servant just now witnessed your training. Indeed, in our Nine Chaos Heavens you are the rarest of geniuses."
"Lord, this water is the sweetest of waters. It was hauled down the mountain from the purest of springs. In fact, the great Temple Master blessed the water himself. Only holy spring water can be good enough for you."
"I daresay Lord, all the sows in the city are speaking of your strong manly charisma."
The remaining Fierce Fairies stood dumbfounded. Wasn't this the so called VIP treatment. Since when does the ugliest of boars become a VIP?
Shensheng's face blackened.
Wasn't she the VIP of all VIPs!?
In the Ling Clan's main hall, LIng Fan burst through the door in a huff.
Ling Ming caught sight of her and chortled. "Dearest Daughter, you missed Father and came to visit?"
Breathing hard, she was about to speak when she heard the patter of foot steps.
To her horror it was Shensheng.
"This Queen wants to hear what important thing your Father needs to speak of," she grunted.
Still chortling, "You and this pig are inseparable, I remember when you first found her. Who would've thought she would become your most beloved pet."
"Beloved?" snorted Shensheng.
"Father, Ling Fan heard you needed to discuss matters," she said winking furious signals at her Father.
Oblivious, he asked, "Matters? Ah, Father heard you purchased the ugliest of boars as another pet."
Taking a peculiarly long look at Shensheng, he said, "Cough..Cough, Father also heard, you've been dressing your old pet in the most hideous.."
Ling Fan ran forward and jumped into her Father's arms and pretended to cry.
"Father, Daughter just now heard the roars of that foul beast. Scared that it invaded our manor yet again, Ling Fan ran over to warn you."
Ling Ming roared, "It dares enter our Clan Manor...Father will let it know the meaning of death! Fan'er stay here. Father will activate the formations and send Chief Li to protect you."
Placing Ling Fan down, Ling Ming rushed out. Soon, numerous yells and alarms rang throughout the manor.
Ling Fan's eyes dilated.
Whew! If Father had revealed the absurdity of Shensheng's attire, wouldn't they have all died?
Shensheng floated into the air. With a grunt she said, "Are you avoiding training?"
"Ah that, Disciple just remembered she meant to ask Master a question. Thus she used an excuse to confer privately."
"Hahaa! Finally Disciple seeks guidance from this Queen. Earlier, this Queen was happy you sought her protection...these are all duties a Master should naturally perform."
Ling Fan rolled her eyes.
Clearing her throat she said, "While Master was resting, our Wang Sisters discovered a stranger who was targeting them. Later, us Fierce Fairies will lure him to a hidden location and thoroughly interrogate him. Does Master have an opinion?"
Ling Fan bat her eye lashes expectedly.
Shensheng turned to stare off into the distance. Assuming her role as a Master, she emanated the aura of an unfathomable expert.
"You say a person is targeting members of our entourage?"
LIng Fan's eyebrows curled.
Entourage!?
"Humph! Courting death they are. Master commands, annihilate the enemy for their arrogance!"
Ling Fan rubbed her glabella.
They're my bodyguards! Not your entourage!
"Save one so that we can interrogate them thoroughly. The others, bring me their heads," snorted Shensheng.
Gritting her teeth, Ling Fan said, "As Master commands." Cupping her hands in salute, she hurriedly left.
After a few breaths, Ling Fan found herself in a corner of the Manor. Sighing in relief that she somehow avoided training from hell, she patted her chest repeatedly to calm herself. However, at that time a dreamy aroma filled her nose. Her pupils dilated in happy surprise.
Could it be Brother Zhao?*1
Clearing her throat, Ling Fan assumed her 28 year old persona.
"Brother Zhao Ding, is-is that you?"
On the other side of the wall, Tian Cai was brewing coffee. Hearing Ling Fan's voice, he chuckled.
"Sister Ling Hua, us aficionados meet again. How did you like that cup of coffee I sent you the other day."
"You-You are simply a kaffe god. Ling Hua bows in salute."
Tian Cai chortled. "Back in the day, I was known for brewing a mean cup of joe."
"Joe?"
"Ah that, er-er some people in Ninth Heaven call coffee joe," said Tian Cai."
"That's an interesting name. Why don't we call it that from now on? You saying coffee and me saying kaffe just confuses things."
Tian Cai mulled, "Mhm. Thinking about it you are right. Let's call it Joe from now on."
Ling Fan twiddled her fingers, "That's brew smell's real strong."
Tian Cai smacked his thigh. "Sister, would you believe I found an extra stash of coffee! The brew I'm making now is called Super Yang blend...it's super super strong."
Ling Fan gasped, then smiled brightly. "It-It smells divine."
"Shortly, I'll send you some," said Tian Cai without hesitation.
Ling Fan's eyes misted over.
Wasn't Zhao Ding a really nice person?
"Ok, it's ready, I'll go get a servant to send it over, be ready," he said.
"Mhm!!"
Tian Cai found Small Shadow and sent him to the breach with the coffee.
Upon returning, he called, "Sister Ling, it should be there already."
Silence answered him.
"Sister Ling?"
Tian Cai scratched his head.
This Ling Hua is an interesting person. I hope she got the Joe.
Unbeknownst to Tian Cai, Ling Fan had run off to meet the servant herself. Just as she reached the breach, Qin Rong found her.
"Little Sister, there you are. Everyone has been looking for you. Sister Mo helped us find a suitable location. We're ready to plan."
Small Shadow appeared with Ling Fan's cup of joe. "Young Miss, Sister Qin, this beverage is for Ling Hua. There should be a servant arriving to accept this."
Hiding her excitement, Ling Fan said, "Ah Ling Hua, she-she's this Miss's new maid. I'll go ahead and pass it on to her."
"Young Miss, this one thank's you wholeheartedly. In fact, us Shadows are busy preparing to escort Youngest Master to Savant City Prison."
Upon hearing this, Qin Rong stepped forward. "The prison!? Little Brother is actually turning himself in?"
Accepting the cup of joe, Ling Fan trembled, but resisted the temptation to sip.
"Sister Qin, it's not that he's turning himself, he's in fact going to seek the release of Martial King Gu Jin."
Qin Rong hissed, "Has no one told him, he's a wanted criminal?"
Ling Fan's eyes popped out upon hearing this juicy detail. Looking away, she started whistling.
I heard nothing...I know nothing.
Small Shadow shook his head in negative.
Whap!
Qin Rong smacked a fist into her palm.
"Just was is that Bai Guang doing? If something happens to Youngest Master, war could breakout at any moment."
"Matriarch overlooked that fact that she ordered the news silenced years ago. Thus no one has clarified the matter to him. However, Bai Guang and all five of us Shadows will be escorting Youngest Master. At that time, the prison warden will realize Zhao Clan means business."
At this point, Ling Fan asked, "Sister Qin, shouldn't you go with them?"
Small Shadow interjected, "Sister Qin, Young Master orders that you stand down. He will be observing from a distance and intervene if necessary."
"So it's like that...this Qin understands."
Small Shadow, cupped his hands. "Young Miss, thank you for help."
As soon as he disappeared inside the Zhao Clan manor, Ling Fan took a deep sip.
"Che! That's the taste! Strong...real strong!"
Suddenly, Ling Fan's eyes burst with silvery light and an icy aura cracked about her.
She nodded with deep satisfaction. "Good Good Good!"
"Little Sister, wasn't that for Ling Hua? You have such a maid?"
"Ling Hua? Er-er she-she can have the next one. Think of this as me preparing for the mission."
The two started to return to Ling Fan's manor.
"Sister Qin, what's this about Brother Zhao being wanted?" carefully asked Ling Fan.
Qin Rong looked about and then whispered. "Publicly, it's been stated that Youngest Master is under house arrest. However, that's a cover story. In actuality, Zhao Clan killed their way into the prison and broke Youngest Master out. The City Guards and Prison Guards suffered greatly. Humph, our Zhao Clan would've left no one alive if City Lord hadn't intervened. However, in the end he was no match against Matriarch. Thus there was an impasse."
Ling Fan hissed.
How domineering was that?
Her eyes sparkled brightly as she imagined Zhao Wen pummeling the City Lord. If she could only have seen that battle!
Boss of Bosses!
As the two arrived into the courtyard, Mo Lai and the other Fierce Fairies were waiting. Tang Xifeng was sharpening her saber. Elder Bing was oiling her bow. Wang Chuntao was munching on a bao. Wang Chunhua was glaring disapprovingly at her sister. Mo Lai was examining several needle like throwing darts.
Assuming the business like persona of her old self as a Gangster Queen, Ling Fan asked, "Well, how is it?"
Motioning everyone over, Tang Xifeng used a branch to draw out a layout. "Sister Mo, showed us an empty warehouse far from any main avenue. In addition, very few people traverse the area. It very much suits our low profile needs. The building has three exits. Two of them are in the back alley. Sister Mo, you tell about the uniqueness of the warehouse."
Twirling a dart in her fingers, Mo Lai nodded. "The previous owners used to be legendary smugglers who sold all their properties after retiring. There's actually a hidden tunnel, leading to the sewers. Long ago, those same smugglers marked a path out of the City. There can be no better place than this."
Ling Fan's eyes brightened. "If this is such a good place, then let's not lure him directly there. Let's capture him earlier and then use the warehouse as our base. On the path to this, our new hideout, is there a convenient place for an ambush?"
Everyone threw looks at Ling Fan?
Base?
Hideout?
Ambush?
Such words were coming out of the mouth of a 6 year old?
This?
Elder Bing smacked her thigh, "Genius! Too understand strategy as such an early age..Monstrous!"
The other fairies nodded in agreement.
Fierce Leader!
Ling Fan shook her head in contentment at the praise.
Shensheng appeared with Junjie in tow.
"Little Junjie, Progenitor will take you into the sky. Cherish this time as you must familiarize yourself with the ways of the wind. After you return from your trip with Little Genius, you will begin your training in flying. If you don't want to die, then learn the ways of the wind well."
Ling Fan hissed. She imagined Junjie squealing and falling endlessly from the stratosphere. And then splat!
Killer Master!!!
I wonder just how many of her disciples survived her training?
The Divine Pig was about to use her power to take Junjie into the sky, when Mu Huiqing appeared.*2
"Hussy! You thought you could hide from this seat!"
"You wanna know life as a fly for eternity?" snorted Shensheng. Beside her, Junjie eyes narrowed sharply. Grunting, he pawed the ground ready to take action.
"Hussy, this seat is telling you now. Stay away from Zhao Tian Cai!"
Shensheng sauntered on forward.
While backing her way towards, the Zhao Clan, Mu Huizhong said, "Damn Divine Pig, you don't scare me!"
With V-shaped fingers, Mu Huizhong pointed to her eyes yelling "This seat's watching you!" With that, she quickly turned about and rapidly exited into the Zhao Clan manor.
Ling Fan rubbed her glabella.
Mo Lai was the first to break the stunned silence. "This Mo has seen a many a strange people. But that woman's she-she's psycho."
Wang Chunhua covered Mo Lai's mouth, "Shush...you wanna die? That's an Empyrean."
Mo Lai stiffened in shock. Looking about, she noticed everyone was grimly nodding in agreement.
Gritting her teeth, Ling Fan said, "Continue...we have a mission."
Elder Bing gasped in awe.
Genius! Is this level of focus not the mark of a superior leader?
Elder Bing patted Ling Fan's head. "Little one, if Yao Roulan was here, she would be proud."
"Mhm."
Using a branch, Mo Lai etched out two roads. "If you look at these two roads, there's a narrow turn here. There so happens to be a vacant courtyard there. From this position we can launch an ambush."
Qin Rong cracked her neck. "This Qin can quickly make him become intimate with his dreams. We throw him unconscious into a wagon and quietly head to base."
Sheathing her saber, Tang Xifeng asked, "What if he's not alone?"
"Kill them, we only need one. The others may serve as a warning."
Leaning to her sister, Wang Chuntao whispered, "Big Sis, Little Sister is fierce."
"Mhm. You protect her well and make sure no harm befalls her."
"Chuntao understands."
Elder Bing said, "Qin Rong will focus on capturing. Sisters Tang and Wang Chunhua will guard her sides. This Bing will watch from the rooftops. Sister Wang Chuntao will directly protect Young Miss. Everybody understand!?
Mo Lai, cleared her throat, raising her hand. "What about this Mo?"
"You really want to participate, Sister Mo? It could be dangerous." asked Ling Fan.
Mo Lai nodded furiously.
"Then we welcome you into the mission. As you know the road, how about you drive the wagon?"
"Little Junjie, Progenitor will now take you to see the moon. No squirming. No sudden movements. This Queen won't be responsible should you die due to your own recklessness."
Ling Fan was the only one to notice that Shensheng grabbed Junjie with her divine power and disappeared into the void.
Will she take me to see the moon as well? Won't I die in space?
"Zhao Chen, you old bones of a fart, get out here!"
Ling Fan ears twitched. Wasn't that grandfather?
Mo Lai glanced at Ling Fan, "Oh my your household sure is lively."
"Who dare's to slander this King? Ling Wenyan, your back! Are the Divinities blind to still let you live?" said Zhao Chen.
Ling Fan's eyebrows arched....for the first time she saw Elder Bing rub her glabella.
This?
What's going on?
"Aiya! Zhao Chen is that you dressed like that?"
"Humph! This Zhao is telling you to stop coming around at this time."
"Father! Must you!?" asked Ling Ming.
"Junior Ling, can't you do this Old Man a favor and control your father?"
"Zhao Chen, you dare duel with me now!" roared Ling Wenyan!
Ling Fan scooted next to Elder Bing. "What's all this ruckus?"
Elder Bing peered down with one eye, "I can tell you but you must promise me to keep a secret."
Ling Fan nodded in agreement. Elder Bing whispered into her ear, "It's like this...."
Ling Fan's body jolted. "Are you saying Grandfather and Zhao Chen are old love rivals...Grandfather used to chase after Brother's Zhao's Grandmother!?"
Elder Bing nodded.
"Today's her death anniversary and Grandfather causes problems every year?"
Soap Opera!
"Zhao Chen, you you prepare to die. Ming'er stop holding father back."
"Humph! It's you again Little Wenyan, want this seat to melt you into the ground. Just now, this Granny was trying to rest."
"Mother, thank the Divinities you're here. Humph! This King would like to see you act unruly now"
"Ow my ear! Mother why!"
"Aren't you supposed to be kneeling in front of Daughter-in-law's tablet right now? Don't you think she's lonely waiting for you?"
"Senior, this Ling Ming apologizes for making you come out."
"Junior, I better not see your father out here again next year."
"Blue Flame Empyrean, this Ling isn't afraid...."
Whap!
"Father, forgive Son for knocking you out."
Soon after, things quieted down.
Nervous some other strange occurrence might befall them, Ling Fan commanded, "Fierce Fairies roll out!"