The Rain of Blood.
It was the period during which cultivators were forced to face the fact that they were but human, limited, and mortal. When many of them questioned the very purpose of mortal existence itself. When several thought "perhaps we are not meant to live, after all".
It was the period, fifty years ago, when blood fell heavily from the sky nonstop for fifteen days while Huang Yichen battled the gods in heaven.
As the battle went on in the heavenly realm,war broke out in the mortal realm as well. Demons left the demon realm and swarmed into the mortal realm, and all of humanity came to know the demon king's pets.
Du, the giant snake with a scorpion sting as its tail. TunshiZhe, the doglike carnivore which could never be outran and grew stronger with each person it consumed. Tuzai, a mass of sentient shadow-like tentacles that could slash anything and anyone to ribbons. And Yuan Siyu, the Fallen Dragon, the one who was once known to the three realms as the majestic dragon god.
Junjie sighed, rubbing circles into his throbbing forehead.
At first, when Du suddenly showed up out of nowhere at Lan village,he had not really given it much thought. Then Yuan Siyu woke up from a fifty-year old slumber and proceeded to gather energy,as if she had a task to fulfill.
And now someone,or more likely, certain persons, were trying to create clones of TunshiZhe, which means that the original TunshiZhe was probably in their hands.
Would Tuzai emerge next?
And there was still the possibility of Huang Yichen's return. Strangely enough, all of this seemed targeted at the Pan sect. Du had appeared at Lan village, Yuan Siyu at Haibin town, and TunshiZhe's clone at the venue of the annual field trip. All of these places were within the Pan sect's territory.
Was it all a coincidence? Most likely not.
All these events were connected, this Junjie was sure of, although he could not see the full picture yet.
There was something he knew for certain, though. Dark clouds were gathering, and no one in the mortal realm was safe.
*
*
*
The mask covering the upper half of her face was silver this time, its gleam reminiscent of a full moon. She was on a lemon colored dress with a sash of silvery green and an embroidery of orchids blooming on the diaphanous silver sleeves. Her boots were a darker green, and she had a new hairdo: half of it pulled into two bunches atop her head and the rest left flowing like a waterfall down her back.
She held a lovely green parasol as she strolled through the parched wilderness as if it was her own courtyard. To the naked eye, the barren scenery stretched on for miles. But this was actually nothing more than an illusion. In fact, the end of it was right in front of her.
She reached out with her free hand, and her gloved fingers brushed against an invisible barrier. Ripples spread across its surface, but only for mere seconds, and then it was still again.
"Your majesty".
She waited a while,then the husky voice resounded in her mind.
"You're back,bitch? What the fuck took you so long?".
She sighed like one watching an unreasonable child throw a tantrum.
"It appears your majesty is in no mood to talk. I'll be on my way,then".
"Don't you dare...".
"You cannot punish me, your majesty. I'm too out of reach. Now, can you show a little courtesy to your most valuable ally or do I have to take an early leave today?".
She heard him grumble incoherently, like an unreasonable child indeed, before he replied.
"Fine. Well?".
"Well, what?".
"Don't make me mad, bitch. Well, what happened with your brilliant experiment?".
"Oh, that"she replied nonchalantly"it failed. Woefully".
"You've got some bloody guts saying that to my face".
"Technically, I'm not saying it to your face, since I can't even see it...".
"Do you want the rest of the cure or not, bitch?".
That gave her a pause. She went silent immediately.
"So, what do you have for me?"he asked.
"Crushing the Pan sect is going to be harder than we thought".
"What happened to TunshiZhe's clone?".
"It was slain. By the Saintess of the Silver Blade".
"The same brat? She was the one who killed Du too, wasn't she?".
"She did play a part".
"Eliminate her".
"You think it's that easy?".
"How hard can it be to off one seventeen-year old kid?".
"Harder than you know. Besides, you know she's not the greatest obstacle we have. There's still Pan Junjie, isn't there?".
"Why haven't you gotten rid of that one yet?".
"We have priorities. You know that".
"Fine. What about Huang Yichen?".
"Still asleep".
"And that dragon bitch?".
"Yuan Siyu has been sealed away at the bottom of a sea. She lost a lot of energy during the Rain of Blood, so she is currently not strong enough to break free".
"Can't you break the seal?".
"I cannot. It was Pan Junjie who casted the spell".
"So you basically achieved nothing? Typical of a human. Incompetent".
"It is unfortunate, but this incompetent human is the demon race's only chance at conquering the world. Besides, Yuan Siyu does not owe you for her awakening. Even if you do manage to set her free, you and I know her loyalty lies with Huang Yichen alone".
"Hmph".
"How are things at your end? How is TunshiZhe?".
"Impatient".
"Have you made any more clones?".
"Tons of them".
"Good for you".
"How much progress have you made with breaking this barrier?".
"It's complete".
"Well... what are you waiting for?".
"Relax. I did say it was complete, but the barrier making you demons unable to leave your realm will only be broken as soon as I die".
"..."
"The hell, bitch?".
"Sorry, but it really was the best I could do"she did not sound sorry at all.
"You...".
"At least say 'well done' or something first. Do you think it's easy to break a barrier placed by the Jade Emperor himself? Besides, this way I can ensure that I receive every batch of the cure before I fulfill the final part of my bargain".
"You scheming bitch...".
"Don't sweat it. I keep my promises, don't worry. After all,if only you were half as powerful as Huang Yichen, you would not need the help of a mere human".
"You...!".
"I'll be leaving now, demon king".
She spoke the title like it was an insult. Before he could respond, she had turned her back to the barrier and was already leaving.
*
*
*
The lantern festival was coming up.
The disciples of the Pan sect were not usually permitted to leave the Mist Oasis midterm, but the lantern festival was different.
It was a day when people went into the streets to release floating lanterns into the sky and pray to the Jade Emperor.
During the festival, the number of snack vendors multiplied, with the sellers of exotic delicacies arriving from far and wide.
This was the major reason why Yingyue loved this annual event, in addition to its colorfulness and the excitement.
"A-Chao!"she called, finally spotting him with Haoran near the apple trees where they crouched, making their lanterns.
"A-Yue? Where have you been?".
"Around. Dage asked me to give you this"she said, handing him a small box.
"Dage?".
"Sect leader Pan".
"Oh,"Chao opened the box to reveal a new jade hairpin in the shape of a dragon.
His heart warmed at the sight of it, and he smiled.
"Thank you, A-Yue".
"You should thank Dage instead. Do you know where I can find the seniors?".
"I don't know, sorry".
"They're at the training grounds"Haoran replied.
"Okay, thanks. I'll see you guys later then".
"Aren't you going to make your lantern?"Haoran asked.
"Jiejie is making mine. See you".
She turned and skipped off, but not before looking around at everyone else.
Ling was not here.
Yingyue sighed, making a mental note to visit him at the sick bay after speaking to Pan Yuchen.
*
*
*
The sounds of swords clashing reached her even before the training grounds came into view.
How unfair, she thought. The juniors had been given a lesson free day to make their lanterns, but here the seniors were, still training. She wished she could make her lanterns and Xinyue's instead, but unfortunately she did not know how make lanterns.
Yingyue looked around for Yuchen, but he was not there. With another sigh, she walked to the only person who was sitting apart idle instead of training like everyone else.
In fact,he was lying down on a bed of grass, with his eyes closed and a long blade of grass between his lips.
"Hui-xiong".
Wang Hui opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Why,if it isn't my favorite Shimei. What brings you here?".
"I'm searching for Pan Yuchen. Do you know where he is?".
"He was summoned by his uncle a moment ago, why?".
"Thank you, Hui-xiong. See you later".
Wang Hui watched her skip away, wishing he could come along and watch one of such dramas that always seem to occur whenever she was anywhere near the Jade Dragon.
*
*
*
When Yingyue approached the Sect leader's office,it was with a medium-sized lacquered box. She lifted her fist to knock, but Yuchen's words, barely reaching her through the thick door,stilled her hand.
"... Grandfather believes she could be dangerous".
Pan Junjie's reply was calm. Indulgent, even.
"And what do you believe, Yuchen?".
"What?".
"Do you believe A-Yue could be dangerous?".
Yingyue nearly tripped. What did she do now?!
She waited,ears strained, for his answer. For some reason she could not explain, she badly wanted to hear Pan Yuchen's answer.
"She is annoying. And sometimes quite uncultured. And too much of a talkative".
"But is she dangerous, do you think?".
There was a moment of hesitation.
"No,"he finally replied"I do not".
"Good. I hope you heard that clearly, A-Yue".
This time she really did trip.