Yes, thank you, my daughter." Nuwa Mani said, "Young masters, I have heard of your journeys. But of all places, why have you come to mine? You are no woman." Chisheng Wei stepped before Nuwa Mani and bowed.
"Empress Nuwa, I told them to come here. If you have heard of their journeys then you should know that they are being hunted down by the Ning clan. Have some mercy and let them stay." she said, standing back up. Nuwa Jia pushed through and interrupted. Jinghua was getting annoyed. "Unfair! Untrue! Are you doubting my mother's decisions? How dare you! I knew I should've ended you earlier." She continued, walking back to Jinghua, "And to think you actually belonged to him!" Nuwa Jia pulled on Jinghua's collar to where the two were face to face. And then she whispered, "I could devour you in one piece, Ning Cheng. Just you wait."
"JIA! Enough!" Her mother said. Nuwa Jia giggled and skipped back to her mother. "Yes mother!"
Nuwa Mani continued, "You do realize I could so easily turn you two in. you have come to a place where we do not play nicely with outsiders. We have been deceived, doubted, underestimated, as women. But my clan chooses to stand strong all above others. My clan will not protect you from the Ning disciples, Ning Cheng. Your father's actions, I know, are not right but we are unable to help." Cold sweat ran down Bingwen's back. He didn't want to keep running away for the next two years! There had to be a place for them. A safe place. Right? Or was it all hopeless? Was he going to die young again?
Bingwen felt like giving up, but Chisheng Wei kept pushing through to get answers. "Empress Nuwa, there has to be a place for us to be. Somewhere safe. Please."
Nuwa Mani sighed. Nuwa Daiyu perked up. "I know a place."
Bingwen's hopes went up. Nuwa Daiyu continued, "You can travel to the far west region. It might take at least a day but you'll make it. There, there is a shrine known to a small city. A poor city but it's safe. That city is hidden from the rest of the world." Jinghua panicked.
"You don't mean…Deadnight city?"
Deadnight city was named after the people of the city. It seemed that almost every night, a soul was taken from the city. It was also filled with spirits, ghosts, demons, and all sorts of creatures that resembled humans and hybrids. It was no place for humans.
"Yes…Deadnight city. But it's the only place your clan won't even think of going." Nuwa Daiyu finished. Bingwen didn't want to go. Not another place that could get him killed. But if it meant that they didn't have to keep running away anymore. "That…will be fine, then." said Bingwen. Jinghua immediately turned to him with surprise. "Are you sure? I mean, that place is no place for humans at least."
"I'll be fine. As long as you are there."
Chisheng Wei stepped in, "I will accompany you two in the journey then." Nuwa Daiyu smiled. "Then you must leave quickly. We can provide you with horses for a quicker journey if you prefer." She said,
The three bowed. "Thank you, third lady Nuwa." And they were on their way. Within a day they would be in the west region, Deadnight city.
Back at the Yue temple, Hung Meifeng and Yuming still stayed. Yuming was worried about her brother as always. But something else was also on her mind. She was sitting at the foot of her bed, a pile of cultivation scrolls laid next to her. Hung Meifeng entered the room. "Is everything alright? You look a bit stressed." Yuming perked up and smiled. "No, I'm fine. But…I wanted to actually ask you something. About a couple days ago.." Hung Meifeng's face turned red. She scratched the back of her head and looked away. "Right… that..well.."
"I don't mind..really. but…I just don't understand. Why me? We're both women." A silence was cast upon them for a while. A long silence. Hung Meifeng had a guilty look on her face. "It shouldn't matter, should it? But if you don't like it, I can stop. Yusheng Mei, I.." She paused and sighed. "Yusheng Mei, I really like you. And..I think I want to be more than just your royal guard. I don't understand why I feel this way but I felt I had to be honest with you." Yuming started to cry. Hung Meifeng panicked. "I-I'm sorry, Yusheng Mei!"
"No, no, it isn't you, it's me. I don't mind at all and thank you for telling me. I just need time to understand too." Hung Meifeng felt like it had been too soon.