XiXi sits up and frantically screams as she looks around at the strange and unfamiliar surroundings. She and her unconscious father are lying on the ground not far from a sandy white beach. Behind them is a lush green forest and in the distance she can see towering mountains. "Dad...Father..ZHANG YU!.. WAKE UP!" A moment ago they were standing in his study, she has no idea what happened and her heart is racing.
Clutching her skirt she bites her lower lip unable to calm down.Why are we here? Where is this place? She gazes at her disheveled father sprawled next to her. He wearing a long white robe with a crescent moon embroidered on it.
She knits her delicate eyebrows together, Okay, I must be , dreaming... yes, explains this..
As she brushes the dirt from her skirt, XiXi laughs, this is a very realistic dream, I even smell the ocean breeze.
Well, I will just enjoy this island atmosphere until I need to get ready for school. It is really quite beautiful, the sand is white and the water is a shimmering blue color. The sun feels warm on my face. It's just a dream I might as well relax.
She lays down and puts her hands behind her head. Feeling the tropical wind on her face she chuckles looking at the clothes she is wearing. Not beachwear.... but the clothes she was wearing when she got home. Dreams are so weird. XiXi licks her dry lips thinking a tropical drink would be nice right now.
While XiXi is in the midst of her 'dream' , her father begins to stir. Turning his head slightly, he notices his daughter seems to be in a daze. This can't be right! I was working on my spells and armaments when a bright light engulfed me.
The last thing I remember was an indistinct voice warning me I was going to tread too far into another realm. Why did my daughter come with me through the portal? Sweat forms on his forehead as he worries about their situation, Looking at his robes and the strange place, he wonders how he can explain their family's history as Sorcerers to XiXi.
Zhang Yu feigns sleep while he ponders all the implications, maybe I can resolve this before she realizes the situation. I knew I shouldn't have taken this assignment, that man definitely didn't look trustworthy.
The Sorcerer's Society had recently begun to deal with very unsavory characters from the Underground Syndicates. Zhang Yu noticed that although the trafficking of Beast Cores was outlawed there had been a resurgence in black market trading. He got the impression the man who approached him was from a Syndicate, but he had no choice but to accept.
While this father-daughter duo engage in their own thoughts, two Immortals are sitting on a cloud looking down observing them.
"The little beauty is very amusing" Feng Tian quips to his brother. "They have no idea what awaits them on that island" It is filled with dangerous terrain, Mythological Beasts, merciless Beast Hunters, making it difficult for two weak people to survive.
"Shall we have some fun with them?"
He can tell Zhang Yu is at the most a third grade Sorcerer. He mutters, "What was he thinking coming to this danger filled island with that slip of a girl." What does he plan to do here I wonder, he doesn't look like a Beast Hunter, maybe someone employed him. Feng Tian is intrigued, where are they be from, the girl's clothing is unusual.
Feng Tian notices his brother Feng Che scowling and quips,"Brother, I have been bored lately in Myriad Cloud City, I think this could prove to be interesting! You are always busy with the business of the High Council, why don't you come with me to see what they are doing here?"
Feng Che disdainfully raises an eyebrow and flicks the sleeves of the flowing snow white brocade robe he is wearing. "Unlike you Tian, I have better things to do than play around, I only came here today because I haven't seen you in awhile. Father wants to know if you have a woman with whom you would like to enter a marriage contract. Otherwise, he will choose a suitable woman from one of the official's families, or a princess from a neighboring country."
"..."
Below them, Zhang Yu decides he can't prolong explaining any longer.The corner of lip twitchs as he carefully considers what he should say. He takes hold of XiXi's hands and she frowns. " Ahh...ten minutes...I want to sleep a little longer. This dream is so good.."
He purses his thick lips then coughs and nudges her shoulder, "I'm sorry this isn't a dream, XiXi"
She rubs her eyes as she sits up, "Huh?"
"Honey...I said that you aren't dreaming."
Startled by his words XiXi 's deep green eyes flicker with astonishment, that can't be true. It's impossible!
Feng Tian's lips curl up in a faint smile, No wonder the little beauty was acting like a kitten basking in the sun. She thought she was in the dream world. What will they do now?
Scratching his short gray beard, Zhang Yu hesitates, "I don't have time to explain everything to you, but trust me I will get us back home". All I need to do is find the Zehron Dragon and get its Beast Core for that bastard. But how?
He was in the midst of his preparations when he was sucked through the black portal with XiXi. The last thing he remembers is XiXi knocking on the study door to borrow his laptop. He was in his secret room behind a wall of books when he felt his whole body hit with a bolt of lightening.
Left speechless, her long black eyelashes flutter as his implications sink in. No..no... no...it's a dream a..a.. nightmare.
Her eyes widen and she suddenly jumps up. Grabbing her father's sleeve she exclaims "Dad, I need to hear some reasonable words from you. Where is this place and why is my dad, an accountant, dressed in that robe?"
"XiXi, sit back down and give me a minute to gather my thoughts. I also need to check and see what I have in my Dimensional Space."
Zhang Yu begins to sweat profusely, not only is he pitifully unprepared, he has his daughter with him. He sighs looking up to the heavens,the gods are truly unkind.
XiXi thinks about how strange her father is acting. She shakes her head, Dimensional Space? What the hell is that ? This can't be real!
Zhang Yu tries to hide his fear and frustration. "There is much I need to tell you, but for right now just trust me."
XiXi can't help but panic more when she hears strange beastly sounds echoing from the forest. How are we going to return home, I don't even see a boat.
At that moment she sneezes and has a strange feeling someone is laughing at her.
From his perch in the sky, Feng Tian holds his side from uncontrollable laughter. "Priceless! Did you see the confused look on the girl's face when the old fart said Dimensional Space?"
Feng Che, sensing his brother has an unusual interest in this strange girl, narrows his amber eyes. He knows no good follows when Feng Tian wants to relieve his boredom. "What do you intend to do Brother?"
"I must get a closer look at the little beauty, I need some amusement!"
He jumps down without waiting for his brother to respond. Feng Tian lands on the opposite side of the island then strolls to a vacant bamboo house belonging to his friend, Yun Tai.
His phoenix eyes have a mischevous gleam picturing all the expressions on the beautiful girl's face. He is surrounded by beautiful women but they seem too perfect and uninteresting. Wearing that outrageous attire, she must be from a foreign land.
The way she licked her pink lips and tossed her long blond hair while looking up at the sun...so cute. Afterwards, she laid down on the sand like it was the most natural thing to do. She reminded me of a playful kitten.
Feng Tian taps his finger on his chin, I don't want to frighten them by my sudden appearance, so I will disguise myself. He is dressed in an elegant sky blue robe embroidered with a golden crane and his long ink black hair is pulled up in a gold and mutton jade guan. He finds some inconspicuous black clothes left by his warrior friend, Yun Tai. Yes, these clothes should do, I very ordinary now.
Feng Tian considers the situation then feels he should conceal his face with a mask. He chuckles,I am too extraordinarily handsome after all. He is widely known as the most handsome man in Myriad Cloud City, with his unusual dark blue eyes and peerless beauty. Women in the city fawn over him hoping he will give them single look. Staring at himself in a bronze mirror he is quite happy with his transformation ,then sets out to meet the little kitten who has peaked his curiousity.
Across the river Zhang Yu and XiXi are currently attempting to come to grips with the fact they have been transported to a strange land.
Zhang Yu took close to an hour to explain the circumstances to his daughter. But, XiXi was unwilling to believe that her ancestors were famous Sorcerers, that he was a Sorcerer.
She sits on the ground with her hands around her knees, How could this possibly be true? In the modern world, there is no rational explanation for what Dad is saying. Our family has powers..powers? and due to a series of events in the last generation their powers had been lessened so father had to comply.
XiXi mulls over what her father told her and is in shock. According to her father, when her grandfather married her grandmother against the wishes of the elders, a seal was placed on most of his powers.
Grandfather didn't care at the time he loved his ordinary wife and his ordinary life. They lived a simple life, he went to college became a chemist and his wife had a beauty salon. He only occasionally dabbled in magic for fun and a bit of profit.
Grandmother is well know for her beauty creams, people often praise its magical effects. XiXi thinks about how beautiful her grandmother is and how her grandfather dotes on her, so some of her father's story makes sense. But Sorcerers! Too unbelievable!
Zhang Yu had been kept in the dark and grew up thinking his parents were ordinary...very ordinary. They sent him to the local college to become an accountant so he could help with the family's growing cosmetic business. It wasn't until his father was diagnosed with a rare disease did he become aware of his ancestry. The elders relented and told him they would extend his life but he needed to teach Zhang Yu the Sorcerer's Arts and his son needed to complete at least one commitment a month to them. Two nights a week he would accept assignments or work on his skills.
While XiXi listen to the far fetched story she feels she should have been told the truth, not left in the dark. I am his only daughter why is the fact our family is full of Sorcerers only coming to light now?
XiXi purses her lips together and her slender body trembles in anger. A layer of mist covers her green eyes, maybe if I had an inkling of the family history as Sorcerers, I might not feel so helpless now. This is frightening! How are we going to get back home?