Rai Shinah's days fell into a studious routine. Her mothers etiquette lessons started at nine am, till noon. After Ya Ling prepared and fed her lunch while she continued her studies. Then cultivated till dinner; which she enjoyed with her brothers and mother. After washing up she headed straight to bed before sunset; because Shen's training would begin at midnight till about seven am.
After two weeks of nonstop training, Shen had to postpone training for a few days. He was sent to provide assistance and investigate the cause of The Spirit Beast Kingdom's Beast Tide problem. That was currently facing an unusual second beast tide.
Shen sat on one side of the carriage and the Ambassador with his aid on the other side facing Shen.
Shen looked out the window at the Ox spirit beast pulling the carriage... silently hoping for the journey to end.
The Ambassador sat comfortably chatting with Shen unashamedly expressing his admiration for Shen's vigilante battle tactics. He admired Shen greatly, not only as a competent Crowned Prince like himself but also for his strength.
It was simply impossible and unheard of, for one to pass the threshold into Spirit Monarch before the age of One-hundred and twenty, and even then most cultivators never pass the bottleneck of Spirit Monarch successful.
~~
But due to the accident during the Rai Inheritance Assessment ... a trial for youth of Royal decent; who fit set requirements to enter a mysterious realm to gain hidden cultivation techniques, ancient artifacts, unimaginable treasures, and the possibility of being selected for The Crowned Prince position.... by gaining approval of past generations of Rai Rulers in a sacred and mystical location.
Unfortunately for those participating youths an unknown person changed the coordinates of the transporting array for the trial. Sending all the participating decedents to an unknown location ... self detonating afterwards leaving their parents unable to bring their children back. It was a devastating loss for the Royal family losing thirty family members in one swoop.
However two years later, Shen returned leading a small party of five... surprising everyone in The Jade Emerald Kingdom. Upon returning Shen aggressively investigated the cause behind the Inheritance Assessment.
He quickly found the guilty party, Elder BongCha from the Holy Maiden Pavilion. She was at the pinnacle of Spirit Saint power and tried to kill Shen and escape.
Shen was seventeen at the time and nobody believed he could survive even one strike from her.
Unfortunately for her, Shen faced dangerous situations far worse than that every day for the two years he was trapped in that unknown land.
Even the spirit beast we're all Spirit Monarch Level and above. His heart bled for the family he lost or couldn't protect during that time. He poured out his grievances during that battle slowly extracting information before sending Elder BongCha to her death. Reveling his Spirit Monarch Level Red surprising everyone who witnessed the battle.
~~
The Ambassador's excitement caused Shen slight discomfort.
Why couldn't this child shut up?
The Ambassador was the favored Crown Prince of the Spirit Beast Kingdom, and was good friends with General Yun Kozak's son Yun Takeishi.
Takeishi once saved the young ambassador's first sister from a spirit beast attack durning a trial at the academy; leaving a good impression on the prince. Which created a opportunity for friendship between the two kingdoms.
The Crowned Prince of the Spirit Beast Kingdom was only three years older than his Little Shin'er, yet he felt the contrast in maturity was very disappointing.
Oh, how he hoped this kid would shut up soon.
Why can't he be as adorable and quietly-obedient as his Little Shin'er. His thoughts strayed... to that mischievous little glutton and the edges of his mouth couldn't help but turn up into a smile.
That smile blinded his little fanboy ...which set him into overdrive; assuming he'd receive a new big brother in name.
If Shinah was there she'd recognize the chatterbox annoying her First Brother, as her shy and handsome Flowery Big Brother... Jing Xuan!
——
In Shinahs Mindscape
"Little ShiiShii, Little ShiiShii I brought some cookies for you!" Shinah called out playfully running into the little house.
Huh where's Little ShiiShii at?
Shinah runs out towards the lake, her steps faltering when she sees a bare...toned back glistening with sweat belonging to none other than Little ShiiShii.
"Ahem I'm sorry for intruding, I'll just leave these here Little ShiiShii" she places the cloth containing the cookies she especially made for him down to the side and watches him cultivate.
He was flawlessly executing the difficult cultivation method XioaLong left them to study.
Shinah decides to cultivate and sat back to back beside Little Shii and copied his exact position. She silenced her mind and began to feel around for Qi. Widening her pores and meridians to accept the influx of spiritual energy.
As soon as she did that her, like releasing flood gates her body starts retaining all the surrounding Qi in the area, different colored facets of spirit energy are drawn towards them.
Her body starts heating up... an unbearable hot energy brushed her fair skin with a tinge of red.
Her eyes open in excitement, halting the influx of Qi.
"Duhh how could I have forgotten!" She mumbles while unlacing her outer robe and belt. She sits back in the cultivating position besides Little Shiishii, and remembers his insistence towards cultivating together.
~~~
"Your.... ~cough~ I mean Master XiaoLong said he placed an formation on your Mindscape to triple the Qi density in here. We should cultivate together to make use of the Array together. What do you think?"
"Nah, if I cultivate with you then XiaoLong will have nothing to scold me with when he returns. You take care of this place so well I didn't realize it'd be so hard to make a mess."
"Wait you do that all on purpose?"
"Of course! Unfortunately your always one step behind me cleaning up all my hard work. ~sigh~ Where did XiaoLong find you exactly? An when will you tell me your name, it's already our third meeting and I've yet to know your name!" Shinah pulls playfully on his sleeve.
His dark eye brows pull together downwards in a serious expression as he looks down at the round little meat bun attached to his arm. He pulls her hand off gently...Mmm it's soft and squishy more like the paw pad of a Little Kitten.
He hesitates before playfully pinching her nose.
"It's Sabishii... Riku Sabishii, Master XiaoLong created this body with a dragon scale and spiritual energy. And a drop of his dragon essence to retain consciousness."
"Sabishii... ugh that dumb dragon. What a horrible name! That's like cursing you to a life of loneliness. No wonder you refused to tell me your name... from now on I'll call you Little Shii.."
"What.. no you can't just change my name."
"Nonsense of course I can, otherwise shall I call you the Ruler of Loneliness in public? Besides Little ShiiShii is cute ... like you!" She laughs happily, after hearing her joyful laughter he finds his protests unnecessary.
"Okay, Little Kitten but I still think we should follow Master XiaoLong's orders to cultivate together, besides I need the energy to retain this body." He squeezes her palm gently trying to convince her to cultivate.
'Eh Little Kitten really?! Pft ..How original'
"Mm ..feel free to cultivate then, I'm going to look for some good spirit fruuuuitssss!! byeeee." She flees without hesitation.