"You dare! Refer to Master's Big Brother as a fat bunny!?" snorted Shensheng.
Before Ling Fan could respond, her vision distorted and she found her head smacking against glass. She heard voices about her and her stomach stiffened as a really bad feeling chilled her bones.
"Look look, it's a newcomer. Ask if they know a way out," said a voice.
Ling Fan turned and to her horror, she found she was surrounded by flies.
Master she didn't?
"Disciple, let's see how you learn respect. Be a fly for an hour."
"Master! Ling Fan was wrong! Ling Fan was wrong!"
"Eh! She knows the pig! Inform Big Brother!"
"Big Brother, a newcomer has arrived."
"You interrupt my rest for this?"
"Big Brother, the newcomer knows the pig!"
This!
Zoom!
A large bulky fly buzzed over.
Stopping just above Ling Fan, it asked, "Are you the newcomer?"
"You could say that," grudgingly said Ling Fan.
"Haaa! Haaa! Brothers, we may finally have a way out."
"Who are you people?"
"Do-Do you know that pig?"
Grumbling, Ling Fan said, "She's my Master!"
Everyone hissed.
"That's her Master!?"
"How Cruel!"
"A Master turns their own disciple into a fly?"
The big fly asked, "If the pig is your Master, are you able to communicate with it? "
Ling Fan grumbled some more.
What was wrong with that Divine Pig she called Master?
"Probably, Master will release me in an hour's time."
This?
"Save US!!"
"Who are you people?"
The big fly retreated a bit and lowered itself before Ling Fan's eyes.
"This one is Vice Captain Ma Lei, If you can free us, we are willing to fulfill any conditions. Some of us are City Guards, Restaurant workers and food stall owners.
Ling Fan groaned. "A few days ago, were you defending the prison?"
"How did you know?"
"If I surmise correctly, you others found the pig stealing your food and tried to stop my Master?"
"Mhm!"
"How is it you will be released in an hour? We all assumed it was temporarily. But some of our brothers started to naturally die off? Many of us only have days to live?"
"To her, she's punishing her disciple. This Young Miss surmises she simply forgot you others."
This?
"No! Am I really going to die as a fly?"
"Young Miss? Who Who Are you?"
Ling Fan peered off into the distance. Her wings folded quite like when an expert clasps their hand behind their back.
"Ling Clan's number one beauty Ling Hua."
"Even now, one can see how your charisma brightens the whole sky."
"Honorable Miss, if you save me, this one will serve you for life."
"Your beauty blinds my soul!"
Suddenly, Ling Fan hacked. Why did she suddenly feel an urge to eat flesh.
Somewhere in the back, someone whispered, "You know she's a flesh fly, right?"
Ling Fan shuddered.
I'm-I'm a flesh fly?
"By the Divinities, your right! Poor, poor woman."
"Humph! Aren't you a yellow dung fly yourself?"
"I'll kill you!!"
"You all shut up!" roared Vice Captain Ma. "Miss, don't listen to them. In the end, aren't we all just flies? We must band together and support each other in this dark hour."
Ling Fan sighed. "You all don't have to meet my condition. That's too cruel. Once free, I will ask my Master to release you."
"Miss Ling, you truly are magnanimous and righteous. This one will owe you a favor for life!"
"I too!"
"We all as well!"
Vice Captain Ma said, "Miss Ling, should you need any assistance from 7th Company, this Ma shall personally attend to you!"
"Everyone relax, shortly my Master will arrive to free me."
Five hours later, Ling Fan heard Junjie snort from the next room.
"Little Junjie why'd you intervene in Progenitor's sweet dreaming. Just now, Progenitor was drinking an ocean of Sweet Joe. Eh! Disciple's been a fly for almost six hours. Little Junjie, good good job!"
Ling Fan heard the patter of feet and Shensheng trotted in. "Humph! Little Girl, by now you should know not to call Master's Big Brother a fatty. Release!!"
Ling Fan's vision distorted and to great relief she patted all about her dainty body in pure joy.
Hands twitching, Ling Fan controlled her urge not to drop kick the Divine Pig. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "Master, in the jar...Who are those people?"
"What people? Jar? Eh.."
Hours later, many people cried in happiness. One-by-one they had woken up either in the Temple or at their prospective homes finally free from the shackles of being a fly.
In the Temple, Vice Captain Ma knelt for a statute. Beside him, were several of his brothers who had woken up beside him.
"This day forward, this Ma Lei swears allegiance to Ling Hua. In the shadows of night, we will be her eyes. We will be her swords...We shall be the Army of Flies."
The next morning, Ling Fan was happily drinking a cup of joe. Just now, Qin Rong came over with it. Apparently, she had spent a bit of time looking about, clearly hoping to glimpse Ling Hua.
Ling Fan sighed blissfully. Was this not how humans were supposed to enjoy life? Wasn't the sunlight shining brighter this morning.
Meanwhile, in a hidden house, Ling Fan's simple act of kindness gave birth to a new secret society. Secretly, the members were meeting and planning how they would organize and expand their forces. Many years later, she was destined to meet Vice Captain Ma again and the Army of Flies.
Ling Fan was happily enjoying life when Shensheng pattered in with Junjie. Ling Fan's face blackened.
The pair were dressed formally. Zhu Shensheng, wore a head band with a flower and her multi-colored robes. Junjie wore his acorn helmet and was sporting his lime-green cape.
Ling Fan groaned inwardly.
Please don't ask me to take you about the city. This Young Miss can't afford being seen with you two.
"Disciple, there you are. Hurry and get dressed. Master needs to introduce you two to her Big Brother."
Ling Fan shuddered. Indeed she would a have to traipse about with the pair.
"Master, who is your Big Brother?"
"Big Brother? Why he is The Divine Rabbit, King of the Cosmos."
"Godkiller is the Divine Rabbit!"
"No all you humans are fools! The other day, Big Brother descended. Those Di Clan people immediately angered him and he unleashed his wrath. Humph! Big Brother cut them up real well. You both remember, he's one of the strongest Kings of the Cosmos."*1
Ling Fan hissed. Now there was two divine beings here!? Rubbing her glabella, she felt a headache coming like no other.
"Sigh....Master has probably lost out. It seems, Big Brother has eyes on Little Genius."
"What does Master mean?"
Junjie snorted.
"What's it mean when a rabbit sleeps with a human? Junjie clear your dirty mind and don't ask such questions. Perhaps you time is coming near?"
Snorting, Shensheng sniffed and probed at Junjie.
"It's as Progenitor thought, no less than 17 days."
"Master, his time is near?"
Shensheng said, "Junjie's trial of puberty, it's almost upon us."
Ling Fan trembled as her face distorted into disgust. "This! Brother Zhao needs fulfill his obligation to us, right now."
"Indeed...Put on your Pink Armor. Big Brother should think more highly of you if you wear that."
Ling Fan's face brightened. If Zhao Ding could see her dressed as such?
"Mhm! Disciple will go put it on right now!"
Wearing a silvery head band, Ling Fan's black hair draped over her pearl white cloak. Embroidered on the cloak was a silvery majestic phoenix. Together with the Pink Armor and her twin butterfly swords, Ling Fan looked like a miniature battle goddess.
As Ling Fan stepped out of the manor with Shensheng and Junjie. Silence abruptly cut off any conversation. Ling Fan of course noticed the many twitching faces.
The day had started off so beautifully, now she was caught dead walking with two clowns. Shaking her head, she motioned to the servants who understood her immediately.
"Lord Junjie, your handsome looks defy imagination."
Twing! Twing!
A Zither twanged out. "Lord, your bard has written a new song. Third Heaven's Handsome God....is the name." A romantic but heroic tune filled the air."
Qin Rong came up. Using all her strength not too look at the two beasts, she asked, "Little Fierce, where are you headed?"
"We're off to visit Brother Zhao. How about escorting us?"
"Understood, in fact I know a secret route. It's quite scenic. Sister is sure you and your pets will enjoy it quite well"
Ling Fan nodded with understanding. Wasn't this the proverbial long way, so as to ensure not being seen? Reluctantly, she said, "This Young Miss has yet to fully tour the Zhao Clan. We're bound to see many interesting things."
Two hours later, Qin Rong finally had brought them over to Tian Cai's courtyard.
"Sister Qin, has Zhao Clan's estate always been so large?"
"Recently, Little Brother has been buying the neighboring manors."
Ling Fan's eyebrows curled in surprise. "Has he made an offer to Grandfather?"
"It's not that. Due to Senior Ling's past interactions with Old Master, our Zhao Clan has in fact offered to buy the Ling Clan manor several times. Senior Ling has always refused to sell."
Ling Fan sighed.
I wonder what Brother Zhao's Grandmother looked like to have stolen Grandfather heart so?
Gray Shadow appeared. "Sister Qin, Young Miss you're here." Suddenly her eyes dilated as she saw Shensheng and Junjie. "And...And you brought over your pets. How-How nice."
Qin Rong grimaced with closed eyes.
Don't blame me for bringing them over. I'm just escorting.
Eyes twitching, Gray Shadow chuckled. "Sister Qin, it's been so long since we've seen each other. How about after I inform Little Brother of their arrival...we catch up on things?"
Suddenly, Tian Cai appeared. On his dainty shoulders and wrapped around his neck was a fat bunny. Indeed it was exactly like Ling Wenyan had described.
Shensheng snorted excitedly, "You two quickly hurry. We must go greet Big Brother."
The trio hurried over to Tian Cai.
"Big Brother, Sister has come to visit!" snorted Shensheng.
With a squeak, the Divine Rabbit licked Tian Cai's ear.
"Dada!"
Ling Fan jolted. Did that rabbit just call Brother Zhao daddy?