"TIANJIN SLOW DOWN, IT IS HARDER TO FIGHT IF YOU SEPARATE," Tianxiang shouted in frustration after his speeding brother on his flying sword.
"Dad, don't bother. Uncle won't listen. Lianfeng went down with Wugang and the third prince," Cangtian said. "Lianfeng is his only son."
"A large concentration of ling qi attracts all these mo beasts. That's why the training arena limits levels. How many times need I warn all of you to stop using the training grounds as a basis to settle your vendettas with an audience? Do you know how many defensive spells WERE BROKEN TODAY?" Tianxiang growled furiously at his son.
"They just wanted to see what was going on through the formation...," Cangtian backed away a little.
"200 hundred over individuals casting the spells , to watch the battle of two high-level practitioners. IDIOTS."
Tianxiang sighed and looked towards the great dragon. It was moving too fast.
Even Tianjin won't be able to reach his son's position in time, judging from the recognisable two energy formations from the vessels above the forest clearing.
No way those vessels could hold off this gargantuan beast. There was too much mo qi inside this one.
The faraway figure of Tianjin stopped and reversed at full speed towards another clearing.
"GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN...," Tianjin yelled. "OR LAND NOW..."
Without hesitation, Tianxiang dragged his son towards a nearby forest, with everybody following. As soon as they landed, the ground started rocking.
Rocks were tumbling down from the mountain as some started the force-field shield spell. Everyone went to glance from the safety of their spots.
Strange blackish purplish wisps were now swirling from the last known position of Lianfeng, Wugang, and Ji Feng.
Some were covering their mouths as the other elders gasped.
No one knew what those were.
With one great lunge, the enormous beast smashed against the barrier of the wisps. A sharp shrill screech, not a roar, echoed from the dragon's mouth.
Then horror was on everyone's faces.
Before they realized, a blinding bright yellowish light burst forth, sending massive shock waves into the vicinity.
***
A glowing dimension surrounded us around.
Both unconscious, Wugang and Lianfeng laid around, almost lifeless.
Last I remembered was focusing that energy point on my finger to form the magical force-field. The gargantuan titan of a dragon was about to smash through it.
Was the force-field still holding?
"Sorry, I came late."
That was the recognizable voice of Zaixing. "Got held up in celestial business. The usual calling cards of you know, death, destruction and disasters."
There he was.
Shape-shifted into a different human form - one of an elderly white haired man. The disastrous brackish aura was rapidly circulating around him, condemning any green sliver of grass alive nearby to a yellowish death.
Calamity himself strolling in like it was a normal day. For him. Not me or any of us. Probably just got back from creating havoc or chaos elsewhere.
"Are they..." I glanced at Wugang and Lianfeng.
"Nope, they are not in any danger and still alive. I just made those two mortal witnesses sleep. At least, we avoid creating a mass disaster around here."
Zaixing has a great sense of humour. Did I mention that?
The Deity of Calamity avoided a mass disaster. An absolute paradox. I don't know if I should laugh or cry. With him, fortune for someone meant an affliction of catastrophic consequences on others.
The old man grew younger and younger as he approached. The features changed. The bulbous red nose sharpened. The smiling squinty small eyes grew bigger, with thick lashes growing slowly into perfect curls. Soon a young man in his early 20s appeared before me.
Silvery hair, reddish eyes like mine, and OF COURSE, better looking than Ji Feng. And then Ji Feng's memories triggered. That's a well known crazy distant cousin in one of the noble houses. He disappeared when Ji Feng was 10, and no one ever found him. Or his corpse.
Madder than the mad hatter, this cousin made a name for himself, streaking naked through the capital before resisting his guards. And not to mention screaming out anywhere that he met deities. Good looks ran in the noble relatives' blood, and this one bore some resemblance to me.
Although absolutely insane, he had no shortage of marriage proposals from crazy women. Like how death cults on Earth gain a following despite their awful looking leaders.
"Well, royals leave me with a fine selection of choices...hi cousin, I am your resurrected crazy old cousin, Ji Yingwen."
"Great cousin no. 2, since Wugang is also my maternal cousin. And how are you going to explain this? Ran into me by coincidence, by the grace of the heavens?" I rolled my eyes at him.
"Nah, I already thought of a wonderful story. They will believe anything here. Although the mortals are going to awake...," he paused.
Then a look at me. A smile. The very smile I wish to hack off with xuan qi. Deliberately adding to an effect, he whistled innocently with a mischievous grin.
I don't even want to know.
His hand gracefully pulled out a fan.
One swift downward movement, the wooden fan with a black tassel held by a golden skull bead, opened fully like a lotus blooming.
With a wave, the dimension vanished, leaving us in the clearing with a sea of fallen trees and dead forest animals scattered around. Especially birds which looked like they were half roasted in mid flight. A bit of singed feathers and scotched roast chicken smell. Was that me or him? Couldn't be me. I chose a shield like force-field.
"About that force-field... though..."
*Don't tell Zaixing about me* That echo inside resonated.
"It isn't you?" I feigned ignorance and asked.
"No." he narrowed his eyes at me. "But we will talk about this later. Good thing you look like a mess. Helloooo... incoming."
The elders, followed by Cangtian and the older disciples, had landed near us.
Most pairs of eyes were on us. Looking with great awe.
What the hell did Zaixing do to elicit such adoring looks?
Only Tianjin's eyes were stuck on his son as he ran towards Lianfeng quickly. A few went to assist the unconscious Wugang.
"He is fine," Zaixing said. "They are all fine. Just a couple days of rest and recuperation."
Tianxiang and the rest greeted him with a bow. "thank you for your assistance, O Great Immortal."
O Great Immortal, who is the Deity of Calamity with the 'Midas' touch of disasters, was now fanning himself with such tranquil placidity that it made my stomach churned violently.
Perhaps they are addressing him as such, assuming that these powers were possibly only belonging to that of an immortal or a deity.
"May we know how..."
"Oh, it was a coincidence that I spotted my dear cousin here in trouble by the grace of the heavens..."
Wait, isn't he repeating my sarcastic remark before? Zaixing had no 'good story'.
"Ah...how do we address you, O Great Immortal?
Clearly, Zaixing was not used to an adoring audience of living, breathing people.
This b**tard usually ends up unleashing disasters to wipe out any possible mortal fan base. Although, he was worshipped on Earth, not because of benevolence or the acquisition of love from the people.
The mortals on Earth found it easier to kiss his arse, out of fear, and holding on to hope that he doesn't come an inch closer to them. Or rather, leaves them alone.
His arm grabbed my shoulder firmly, like we were best buddies. No hope of an inch away from him. My legs wobbled again as he held me up tightly.
"Oh, I am Ji Yingwen, Ji Feng's cousin. Ascended fairly recently. Has been a while since I have seen him...all grown up now, a man now."
With that, a condescending pat landed on my head. A head spinning migraine ensued. He forgot to add Duke of Yuanji, which was his title. A few gasps.
Yup, Yingwen was (in)famous throughout the Kingdom for his insanity.
I feigned the most crooked smile ever, struggling not to succumb to a faint from the agonising head splitting pain.
"I was wondering... would it be possible to stay near my cousin so that we can catch up? Or maybe in his room. Just for a week or two before I ascend back to the celestial planes again?"
My life is a mess.
Too bad, this world has no YouTube or Spotify - some of Halsey's Gasoline lyrics would fit my feeling like a glove - '... You can't wake up, this is not a dream...'.
F**k, I miss Earth.
Clear Dragon Pond is probably going to be renamed the Muddy Dragon Pit.