Jin Lu let out a tired sigh, unhappy with herself and the situation. She never considered herself a violent person, but there was something about Long Yin that brought out the worst in her.
"Since you made a contract with the spirit beast, its element has been integrated into your mindspace," Long Yin explained, ignoring Jin Lu's outburst from a moment ago.
Jin Lu flicked Long Yin a look from the corner of her eye, surprised and a touch uneasy that he was being helpful all of a sudden.
'Maybe I should go off on him more often?'
Jin Lu shook the thought out of her head, closing her eyes and concentrating on the tree under her hand. The bark was light brown with white streaks throughout. The full green leaves fluttered lazily with the flow of the surrounding music.
The rhythmic thumbing felt like a heartbeat, quick and hard. It emitted the same vibrations Jin Lu had heard when she had healed the fox-child. The sound had hints of mischief that mixed easily with Jin Lu's own, helping her to relax.
The connection she had formed with the spirit beast became clearer the longer she concentrated, allowing her to feel what it was feeling; nervousness and anticipation.
Jin Lu wasn't sure what he could be anticipating, but the nervousness made her self-conscious. She hadn't made the best first, second, or third impression and regretted letting her uncensored emotions get the better of her.
Jin Lu removed her hand with a sigh, moving over to sit next to the Kitsune.
His eyes peeked over his tail, flicking between her face and Long Yin's. Sensing that the mood had settled, a shudder passed through his body as he relaxed. He flicked his tail at Jin Lu's bare arm, resting it on her lap.
Jin Lu couldn't resist the silky smooth feeling of his fur and started petting it, the simple action helping her calm down further
"I don't have access to your attributes, though, they're interesting. Light and darkness are the hardest to control of the attributes, but the most powerful. With your spirit affinities, though, you should be fine," the spirit beast said with a shrug.
"I'm Huli Hundun, you can call me Hun." Seeing the fox's smile made the last of Jin Lu's stress disappear. She reached out a hand and scratched Hun between his ears.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Hun."
They sat in companionable silence, listening to the gentle music in the air. Looking behind her, Jin Lu didn't see Long Yin anymore. Not sure if she was uncomfortable because he was gone or that he had been there at all, Jin Lu let out a weary sigh.
'Emotions are unfathomable no matter what world you're in.'
Giving Hun one last head pat, Jin Lu stood up and stretched, an idea coming to her. Remembering the formations Bai Feng had shown her, she slowly started moving. Her spiritual body was much easier to control than her borrowed one.
'Makes sense, I suppose. I lived with this body for over thirty years, after all.'
Jin Lu let her thoughts go, relaxing into the fluid motions of her body. The musical notes in the air resonated with her movements, visibly becoming clearer.
The usual mellow melody started to become deeper. Shaper tones mixed with percussion gave it a deeper feeling.
Jin Lu could feel the music trying to push against her, wanting speed and chaos. Sweat broke out as she fought to keep her movements calm and her breathing even.
As she repeated the set, the once free flowing notes started to gradually become organized. Spotty at first, the liquid from the black pool started rising with the notes, creating a grid behind them. The clearer the grid formed, the less the notes fought back, until there was only a slight pressure in the back of Jin Lu's mind.
"Impressive," Hun approved as Jin Lu came to a stop.
She wasn't sure how many sets she had done or how long it had been, but she could feel the difference. Jin Lu's mind and spirit felt calmer, steadier, than they had before.
Smiling happily, Jin Lu scooped Hun up into her arms and concentrated on leaving her mindspace.
Jin Lu was still sitting on Long Yin's lap when she opened her eyes, but the carriage had stopped.
"We're here," Long Yin said next to her ear, making her shiver.
Jin Lu shoved her shoulder up to hide her reaction. Across from her, Hun sat up quickly, moving to the side of the seat to make room for Jin Lu.
Long Yin picked Jin Lu up and placed her in the open seat before opening the carriage door.
Stepping out, Jin Lu saw that they had stopped a few feet from the gate into Kuru City. There weren't as many people as there weren't as many carriages lined up as there had been the first time they had been there. The few Jin Lu could see were merchants, their wares covered with leather tarps or open to the elements.
Hun hopped out just before one of Long Yin's guards shut the carriage door.
"Qin Shun will accompany you when I'm not around," Long Yin stated, waving at the guard.
Dressed in black armor with a black mask covering all but his blue eyes, Qin Shun nodded to Jin Lu. He was shorter than Jin Lu by a few inches and stockier than Long Yin.
Jin Lu didn't mind. After everything that had happened, having someone watch out for her was welcome.
A slight breeze blew past them, and Jin Lu could smell a touch of sea salt coming from Qin Shun.
"I've noticed for a while now, but is it normal for people to smell like their elements?" Jin Lu asked quietly.
A flash of interest could be seen on Long Yin's face.
"You never fail to amuse me," he said with a lift of his lips.
Jin Lu waited for him to say more, but instead, Long Yin took her elbow. He walked her up to the line of people waiting to enter the gate, Qin Shun following a respectable distance behind. The other five guards came up behind Qin Shun with the carriage and spare ponos.
Letting out an annoyed breath, Jin Lu's lips thinned, and she looked around to distract herself. Noticing Hun walking next to her, Jin Lu removed her arm from Long Yin's grip and scooped him up into her arms.
Hun carefully kept his eyes away from Long Yin's displeased glare as he settled into Jin Lu's embrace, enjoying the attention.
It wasn't his fault he was cute and cuddly, while Long Yin was large and overbearing.
Making it to the gate, Long Yin was about to hand the guard their entrance fee when a group of riders charged forward. Yells and curses could be heard from those waiting behind Jin Lu as the first rider pulled up next to Long Yin.
Ignoring the chaos his group had caused, the rider threw a clanking bag at the gate guard.
His looks were rough, with a long, unkempt beard and wild black hair. His black, beady eyes were restless as he looked over the disgruntled crowd.
The rider's gaze rested on Jin Lu, interest plain on his face.
Take a picture, asshole.
…
'When did I become so violent?'
Jin Lu shuffled her feet uncomfortably, shifting slightly behind Long Yin with a thoughtful look on her face. She could blame it on a number of things, but Jin Lu leaned toward Long Yin as the main culprit for her personality shift.
Long Yin stepped casually in front of Jin Lu, his yellow eyes flashing challengingly and a dangerous smirk on his lips.
The rider sneered at Long Yin's actions before urging his mount through the gate after his party.
Without further incident, they entered Kuru City.