Shang Xuan's mental stability was far different compared to his condition prior to stepping onto the plane. When the youth staggered down from the boarding rail and onto the solid ground of Brest Bretagne Airport, his countenance was pale as a sheet of pristine, snow white paper.
"Ah Xuan, this way."
The young girl besides him gently latched onto his arm, guiding his nonresponsive body towards a secluded region of the boarding area. Sitting down and resting the base of her chin against the cold metallic surface of the travelling suitcase standing before her feet, Na-er cast an inquisitive glance towards the youth besides her.
…planes were that traumatizing?
Securitizing the shell-shocked expression refusing to depart from his countenance, Na-er ultimately released a rueful sigh as she relaxed her body to lean onto the suitcase. Her long hair sprawled across her back as she stared into the youth's madly twitching eyes, a myriad of thoughts sweeping through her mind in silence.
The reality was that planes weren't trauma-inducing for the Flame Ancestor. The opposite was in fact, true.
Compared to the scenery he had witnessed as an ambient spirit interlacing himself into the deepest crevices of a mortal world, physically riding a plane was a different experience. The faint vibration undulating below his seat during the early phases of takeoff, as well as the slightly euphoric sensation as he realized that he was flying without having to invest any effort whatsoever – couldn't be compared with the dull overlay heavily intoxicated with a hazy smokescreen.
It was just that… other than him, Na-er, the essential flight crew as well as those goddamned beautification employees, there was nobody else on the plane!
A commercial plane that could host at least a hundred or so passengers with ease – and there was less than twenty occupants total!
"…who else could it be but them?"
Shang Xuan darkly muttered as he jolted his body awake from its shivering, startling the dozing young girl besides him. The youth ran his fingers through Na-er's exquisite hair, prodding the vestiges of sleep from her body with his fingertip.
When she had registered their tickets fourteen – no, at least twenty hours ago, the website had displayed that there were only a few tickets remaining for the plane that they had boarded.
Due to the low number of tickets, Na-er had suggested disguising herself to reduce the number of seats required, but Shang Xuan had refused at a moment's notice.
However, it had turned out to be completely worthless; after all, who else but his beloved, absolutely loyal and faithfully considerate subordinates could pull off such a feat like this?
Relegating a hundred passengers' flights to either a different airline system or removing their ticket completely without triggering a single backlash, be it social or political, Shang Xuan could think of none other than the three Fire Spirits huddled in some obscure corner of the mortal world. Other than their massive influence that dug at the core of modern society, none other could execute such a swift, clean, and deadly strike.
…however, to think that…
"Ah Xuan, looks like they're staring at you…"
Na-er muttered with a wry smile as she tugged at Shang Xuan's hand with her small fingers, dragging the youth from getting lost in his thoughts. The young girl dragged along the smaller of the two suitcases as they departed from Brest Bretagne Airport, exposing themselves to the authentic western world strife with modernization and social change.
Granted, many heads were turned in the direction of the two youths, but the focus of attention was not onto the exquisitely delicate and doll-like Na-er, but the formerly recluse youth who was forcefully dragged from his haven of silence.
Darkened azure irises with fair skin, unmatched by even those of pure European descent. Combined with the low fade hairstyle accompanied by the medium texture cut and the slightly enigmatic smile tugging at the corner of his lips, the youth created a rather dashing sight.
…and when he was dressed in a clothes of black fabric, and a Harrington jacket on top of it all…
Didn't he look just like a handsome and dashing Chinese-American actor or celebrity?
Sighs of appreciation ensued, and the youth's enhanced hearing managed to accurately capture the quiet snapping of smartphone cameras discreetly taking their photograph. Several of the interested passerby even took several fleeting steps in their general direction, a pining expression on their countenance.
…a pity that those lovestruck expressions immediately withered upon spotting the flawless figure of the young girl besides him.
Nonetheless, the continual stares were beginning to sorely irritate Shang Xuan. As they stepped past the massive sliding doors that lead them from the airport and into the historical and culture-infused atmosphere of Brest, the youth heaved an enormous sigh of relief.
"Na-er, did you tell Ah Hu and the others to spring such a trap me?"
Shang Xuan reached out to pinch at the young girl's cheek with his fingers, retracting his hand after having accomplished his objective of witnessing a displeased pout. The youth fended off Na-er's flustered and angered swipes of her open palm with his hands, before directing an earnest glance of persuasion.
The young girl couldn't help but pout even more fiercely upon failing to scratch at the perfect countenance looming above her.
"Ah Hu didn't let me know about that incident, but he did say to open the suitcase after reaching the hotel," Na-er whispered, her lips pursed in a displeased line.
"But, Ah Xuan, you're response was too overboard, don't you think? I mean, your appearance improved so much more after the treatment!"
The reply of the young girl left Shang Xuan completely speechless; did she care about his appearance more than his feelings?
I mean, Xi Ran's countenance and figure was indeed drastically subpar compared to his previous appearance, but to directly attack his emotions like that…
What a cruel lass!
The youth sighed in his heart as he reached out to stroke the young girl's head with his thumb, adopting a sincere expression on his countenance. As Na-er seemed to enjoy the method of appeasement, Shang Xuan began the second stage of his 'persuasion plan.'
"It's not like I was too satisfied about Xi Ran's appearance before the transformation, ah," the youth crooned in a soft voice.
"However, every time those… those women touched me, it reminded me of that bra –"
At that moment, an unforgettable and utterly humiliating memory hammered into the depths of the Flame Ancestor's soul, and his voice was wrenched from his throat without mercy. Shang Xuan's eyes bulged in their sockets as he fought for breath, hastily searching for the will to recover his voice.
"That brat… oh, that brat?"
Na-er was quick on the uptake after witnessing the abnormal changes on the youth's countenance. The young girl quickly extricated a handkerchief from her pockets to dab away at the cold sweat dripping down Shang Xuan's brow, her brows etched into a light frown.
"If I remember correctly, that brat is the Jade Emperor's daughter, isn't she?"
Veins immediately popped on Shang Xuan's neck and forehead, glaring in the epitome of their fury and unrighteous wrath.
"Yu Lian, was it… indeed, she was a pesky lass," the young girl continued her actions as she murmured to herself.
"Just because she was captivated in one look, she dared to proclaim that statement to the entire Three Realms…"
Pop!
Deep breath, take a deep breath!
Shang Xuan roared in his heart as he forced his body to suck down large volumes of air to calm itself down. Feeling the rush of anger and humiliation gradually evaporate from his system as the scarlet overlap of his vision receded at a visible pace, the youth's lips twitched in grievance.
"That lass was indeed impertinent and arrogant."
There were actually an exceedingly wide variety of words to describe the act that had completely shattered the trace of self-esteem belonging to the Flame Ancestor, but those could never be uttered in the public. Thus, he took deep breaths and stared at the pale-grey walls of concrete, limestone, and stucco until the urges dissipated on their own.
Otherwise, Shang Xuan was certain that there would be a crusade of warriors seeking the pitifully defiled maiden's vindication.
-
In the wide streets of Brest, France, a pair of youths slowly made their way across the city. They toured around with an aimless intention, their eyes exploring their surroundings with a trace of interest flickering within.
"Ah Xuan, I want this, this one!"
"My dear Young Miss, we won't be able to afford the return ticket if you were to buy that."
"That doesn't matter!" the young girl fervently responded with an energetic motion.
"I checked before we departed; the reward of the mission is sufficient to buy ten of these with no problem! Moreover, we could always seize some funds from Xi Ran whenever we want!"
Thus, Na-er successfully paraded herself out of the shop with a beige Fendi luxury bag slung around her shoulder, a beaming smile on her countenance. Trailing behind as he gawked at the receipt grasped in his hand, Shang Xuan continued to stare towards the young girl who was skipping as she strolled through the streets.
Indeed, he had checked the Heaven and Earth organization's mission board before verifying the purchase. The reward of the protection mission could cover a hundred of Fendi Beige luxury bags with ease, much less a single one.
…but why did he feel so irked at the thought of Na-er exhorting money from Ah Xi?