Flashback
278 BC
Somewhere in Guangzhou,
Guangdong province,
Qin Dynasty,
A day after the death of Minister Qu Yuan.
A pretty barefooted girl could be seen jogging through the market with a dark purple purse slung over her shoulder. The market seemed busier than usual as everyone seemed eager to find out the juicy motive behind Minister Qu Yuan's death.
Shi grunted in frustration as she gripped the hem of her lilac dress so as to not get soiled in mud as she dodged the hawkers who were parading gossip more than their wares.
"Father would definitely roast me alive if I don't get back before he notices I've sneaked out." she thought as she quickened her pace towards the Pearl River.
On getting to the river's tributaries, she looked around till she was sure she wasn't being followed before diving into the ocean. She had no time to enjoy the coolness of the water because she was already late. She swam for miles under the water, resurfacing at intervals to gulp in air. She took a deep breath before diving deeper to the bottom of the ocean. There was no time to enjoy the coolness of the water, her eyes adjusted to the darkness as she effortlessly slid into a crack in the cliff's bedrock. The crazy corals lit a secret passage which led her upwards, causing her to surface in a cozy underwater cave with a few furniture and a large nest in the middle.
Shi sighed in relief on seeing her five little angels snuggled against one another.
"I'm home!" she announced, completely coming out of the water.
"Mama!" the five dragons squealed, excitedly flying towards her.
"Hey darlings!" she chuckled dropping her purse so she could hug them.
"Oh, you're all getting heavy!" she groaned playfully, causing them to laugh. "So what have you all been up to when I was away?!"
"Mum, Ao Quin bit me!"
"No I didn't!"
"We're hungry!"
"What took you so long?"
"I'm starving!"
"I'm sorry I came late my dears." she said briskly, bringing out five plates from the old cupboard, according to their colors: yellow, red, black, white and azure.
"But you were late." the red dragon piped, as she dished out some food on his plate.
"But I didn't mean to be late. I got a little... distracted."
"You kicked some dirty demon's booty didn't you?" the black dragon grinned.
"Maybe..."
"Whoa!"
"How many times did you slice their throats?"the black dragon asked in glee.
"Did you break their bones?" the white dragon inquired, eagerly.
"I couldn't really tell." she said, tipping out the last remnants in her purse unto its plate. "But I did break a couple of bones for you, sweetie."
"Save some for me next time!" it muttered, in between a mouthful.
Wen Shi beamed in pride as she watched her babies eat to their fill. She then placed the white one on her laps, combing its hair as it couldn't sleep while the others were snoring in the nest.
"Mum?" It called out, breaking the silence.
"Yes, dear?"
"Can we go out with you tomorrow?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"I meant no...not yet!" she said, correcting herself on seeing his chest fallen face and drew him closer to her bossom.
"Outside is too dangerous for you and your brothers to fly freely. Not with those bad hunters still roaming around..."
"Why do they want to catch us? Why do they want to kill us?"
"Because you are special and they don't understand why." she explained, stroking its spine. "Don't worry, darling. When you're in need, I'll protect you..."
"Promise?"
"I promise... Baidi."
***
Back in the church,
Sunday, February 13
10:26 AM.
Mr. Cheng
I stifled a yawn as the reverend continued to drone on about the rewards for giving whole heartedly.
"Will this sermon ever end?" I thought burrowing deeply in my chair and I began to slowly drift into sleepy town. Just then, a soft groan on my left jolts me back to reality.
"Master Long?" I gasped, quite alarmed as he clutched his chest. "Are you okay?"
"Of course he isn't?" berated Young Master Damien who was on his other side. He had been alerted by my gasp as my master's face contorted in pain while Young Master Kai, unperturbed about the crisis on ground busied himself on social media with his tablet due to the ear pods blocking his olfactory system.
"Should I call the doctor?"
"No, I'm fine!" my master croaked.
"Grand Master, are you sensing someone again?" Young Master Damien asked, leaning closer to him and he painfully nodded in afrimation.
"Who is it?"
"Her! I need to see her!" he gasped, trying to stand up.
"No, my lord!" I said, detaining him. "You can't leave you're not well!"
"It's not a mortal thing that ails me, man! Get off me!" he snapped.
"Huh?" I said, taken aback by his anger.
Master has never snapped at me before, this was so unlike him. He hardly frowns even when he's ticked off or offended.
"Great father, you are going to cause a scene!" Damien hissed. "Who is the she you are referring to?"
"I-I felt her Damien... just seconds ago!"
"Who's he referring to Young Master?
"Here, we go again!" Young Master Kai muttered, rolling his eyes as Young Master Damien and I struggled to hold him down.
"Let me go!" he grunted struggling against us "I need to see her!"
"Young masters, who is the 'she' he has been referring to?" I asked trying my best to not make a scene.
"Saying her name will only upset him even more..." Young Master Damien grunted.
"I can feel her again! She's back! She's finally back!" he cried, excitedly bouncing in his chair and that's when I realized who he has been talking about...
Wen Shi!
"Oh no!" I groaned as we again pinned him to his chair again.
We were lucky that so far none of the members of the congregation had noticed us.
"She's here!" he began to whine "I need to see her!"
"Not again!" Young Master Damien muttered, darkly eyeing Young Master Kai who had been chuckling over our fray.
"My lord!" I cooed. "We haven't sensed my gentle mistress soul for over a decade, right?"
"Yes true... that's true." he slowly admitted.
"We also have no proof the brave priestess succeeded in giving her a new body..."
"Your point being?" Young Master Damien prompted, noticing how Grand Master had calmed down.
"My point is: if my lady had been given a body why haven't you sensed her rebirth all these years and why hasn't Mother Nature confirmed it yet?"
The look of gratitude was priceless on young master Damien's face as my words dissolved into my master's heart.
"Yeah... you're probably right." he muttered, awkwardly adjusting himself in his chair.
I was just about to reply when we were interrupted by a deafening roar. Everyone panicked and scampered for support as the hall was vibrated to the core while the young masters and I steadied my lord.
"What was that?"Young Master Kai gasped, after the earthquake subsided.
"That?" Grand Master scoffed, like he was nettled that we deliberately didn't understand what was going on. Master Long then threw our arms off him before turning to gaze at the window.
"That was just Mother Earth announcing her return." he smirked, as his eyes beheld her.
We followed his gaze just in time to catch a glimpse of a large purple reptile hurtling towards the gate.
***
Fast forward,
Still in the church,
Inside the DAWN van,
Omniscient
Nathair cursed as Agent XXV and XLVII carried the disoriented Agent X into the van, followed by some other Agents before Agent VI took the wheel.
"Mission failed!" he muttered, as the other Agents piled into the van. "The masters won't be happy!"
"Bleep that dragon!" Agent X, as Agent XIV applied First Aid on him.
"Why do you need the children?" Dr. Lu mumbled in pain, now wrapped in chains, his face tattooed with bruises.
"None of business, Henry!"
"What happened to the roomie I used to know?"
"Oh, that Nathair? He died a long time ago. Too bad you missed the funeral." he retorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"How do you sleep at night?"
Nathair exhaled in relief when his shrill ringtone interrupted the already awkward silence.
"Talk to me!" he muttered on picking the call.
"Boss, we have a problem..."
He glanced at Dr. Lu before replying "Spill!"
"The other vans aren't working."
"Why?"
"That's the problem. They were fine this morning. It looks like something tampered with the wires." was the reply.
"We'll be there soon to pick you all up."
"Hurry! The Long girl has alerted the peasants in the church and they are chasing us."
"Bleep!" cursed Nathair. "Everyone get to the meeting point. Agent III is in charge till I pick you all up.
With that he roared to the driver who gave a sift drift back as he sped back to the church.
Can you now guess Grand Master Long's connection with Wen Shi?
Do you think Commander Nathair is a good guy or a bad guy?