A solitary crimson leaf floating down from the proud maple contained within the private courtyard of the main residence. Its descent was observed quietly by the two noble figures, who sat opposite each other at either ends of the long table. The wooden barrier, reflecting the men's' sour expressions upon its polished surface as both sipped from the respective porcelain vessels that were laid directly in front of them.
The bitter liquor at last provided the gods with enough fortitude to finally tolerate the thought of conversing with one another.
"I suppose, I should thank you for assisting my bride the other night." Shui Long said. The expression of gratitude forced through the water god's clenched teeth as he replaced the cup back on the surface of the table. Lei Gong required the encouragement of another tipple of wine, before he could respond, "It is merely a relief that Jing Li still remains among us." Brushing off Shui Long's strained attempt at civility, both gods raised their cups to ease the awkward pause that occurred next.
The sting of the bitter wine, fortunately enough to ease their tongues, they continued their conversation.
"Although, we both know there was a time not so long ago that you would have preferred otherwise." Shui Long observed. Setting the porcelain container aside with a slight thud as he made this accusation, the water god went on to add, "Or were you not disappointed when your assassin did not succeed in his mission?" Unmoved by this allegation, the thunder god regarded Shui Long stoically as he replied, "I was disappointed when you did not return her to the Mortal Realm as the Celestial Court mandated."
Frustration noted in the deep grumble that resounded in Lei Gong's voice, he added, "Any harm that comes to her is entirely your own fault now, Shui Long." Staring down each other from across the table as they aired these grievances, it was only Shan Yu who was permitted to move between the two gods. The attendant, stepping forward to quietly fill the painted white and blue vessels with a pitcher of clear alcohol when they had been depleted. Neither god acknowledged him as he skirted the long border of the table, nor the liquid in their cups as their tense interaction persisted.
The corners of Shui Long's lips bending into a severe look of discontentment, he answered, "There is nothing left for Jing Li in that realm."
"Yes, you have certainly made sure of that." the thunder god replied, removing the replenished cup from the table again. Lei Gong's admonishing gaze, still visible over the top of the dainty vessel as he sipped moderately at its rim. The thunder god lowered the cup from his stern mouth as he continued, "You have succeeded in isolating your bride from her former life. Yet you seriously believe it when you say that you have every intention of making her happy?"
The criticism succeeded by a pregnant pause; their stillness was framed by the open doors leading out into the courtyard where the leaves of the maple still proceeded to tumble, whilst the water god considered Lei Gong's words. Shui Long knew that he was guilty of causing Jing Li pain and suffering but could do nothing more now than hope to become more deserving of her in the future. However, still unsure whether conviction was enough to realize the change that was required of him. Shui Long gazed down at the illusion of his own refined reflection upon the surface of the table as he admitted, "I do not know if I am truly capable of making Jing Li happy."
The water god's curated brows, pinching together in acknowledgement of his shortcomings. He looked back towards the god who was sitting opposite him as he added, "Even so, she makes me believe that I can be deserving of her, someday." Surprised that the son of the villainous creature he had once known was able to display even this vague amount of vulnerability in front of him, Lei Gong replaced the porcelain cup on the table.
Leaning back in his seat as if to assess Shui Long's sincerity, the thunder god remained in this rigid position for a while, before finally issuing a placid statement. "Love has been the ruin of many good men," Lei Gong said, "so, I had naturally assumed that you would never succumb to this particular affliction, Shui Long." Pressing his lips together as he accepted this insult, Shui Long lifted the small vessel of clear liquid in front of him. Holding the cup between his index finger and his thumb, it was clear that the water god did not feel compelled to explain the impulses of his capricious heart as he sipped at the liquor.
This reaction, prompting an awkward pause to fall over the room once more, Lei Gong finally asked, "I take it that it was not for this matter that you have invited me here today?" The suspicion of the god's tone underlined by his slight annoyance at having been summoned to the water god's estate. Shui Long grudgingly revealed his reason for calling upon the unyielding thunder god. "She can speak." said the water god, replacing his cup on the table, "Ever since the Far Shore apparently."
This announcement, having some visible effects on the thunder god's stony expression. Shui Long watched Lei Gong's thick eyebrows rise knit together into a pronouncedly perturbed fuzzy line on his forehead. Given time to recover from this information, the thunder god eventually began an anxious question, "Has anyone else-" However, unwilling to hear the words being spoken aloud, Shui Long replied, "Unfortunately, there have been many who have already heard her speak."
This fact, provoking the creases in of the men's' brows to intensify. Lei Gong had begun to stroke at his chin as he muttered forebodingly, "This isn't good." The remark, although not made directly to him, confirming Shui Long's apprehension towards the matter. The thunder god did not lower the hand that sat upon his chin as he said, "I take it that she possesses the same power as her father then?" However, uncertain exactly what powers Jing Li had inherited from her father, Shui Long simply answered Lei Gong's query with a grave nod.
Believing that the thunder god would offer up more details, if he were to remain vague about the information that was known to him already. The water god noticed a solemnness permeate the god's stern features as he asked, "Who is Jing Li's father?" The question, eliciting a skeptical glare from the thunder god. There was another moment of silence, whilst Lei Gong considered whether Shui Long was worthy of the knowledge he possessed, before he divulged some of it to him.
"I suppose it's not surprising that you never encountered Zhi Yin." began the thunder god, "He was elusive enough to be thought of as almost a myth by the Celestial Court by the time you held the status that you do today." Inferring from Lei Gong's speech that Jing Li's father was no longer amongst them, Shui Long asked, "What happened to him?" The thunder god, sighing heavily as though burdened by the retelling of these past events, he commenced his tale.
"Before Tian Gong's reign, there was once a time of great upheaval amongst the gods." Lei Gong explained. This time, which the thunder god spoke of, only known to Shui Long through the accounts of archives and tomes. The water god merely listened patiently while Lei Gong recounted history. "The disastrous repercussions of these quarrels, often only evaded by Zhi Yin's fair intervention." the thunder god continued, "These matters eventually lessened to the point where his powers were no longer required."
"However, a god like that cannot just fade from existence?" Shui Long pressed, unable to disguise his impatience as he prompted the thunder god to address the original question.
A somber shadow of a cloud passing over the open courtyard, casting a gloomy light over the room, Lei Gong responded, "In a sense, he did fade from the thoughts and minds of others." Evidently, intending to prolong Shui Long's frustration by dragging out the cryptic explanation, the thunder god took a long sip from his cup before carrying on.
"For a while, he wandered distant lands." Lei Gong said, placing the empty cup in his hand upon the table again, "However, there eventually came a day when Zhi Yin no longer desired to roam aimlessly throughout the realms."
The clouds over the courtyard of the main residence, deepening the dark contours of the thunder god's face, he appeared more grim than usual as he proceeded to tell the ill-fated love story of Zhi Yin.
"Encountering a young woman, tending to her work in the marshy rice paddies, Zhi Yin heard the happy tune that she hummed in her work." Lei Gong recounted, "Drawn in by her song, he would return to the village many times, before finally falling helplessly under her spell." Only recalling Jing Li's mother to be the desolate product of an apparently tragic life, Shui Long struggled to imagine the spirited woman that Lei Gong described to him.
Lei Gong's narrative interrupted briefly as Shan Yu moved forward to replenish their cups once more, he recommenced only after observing that his vessel was filled first.
"Although loved by the woman, the strange man was not accepted by her family." Said the thunder god, "This rejection, leading the couple to flee to seek the sanctuary of another village just beside a vast lake. Where the two were happy for a time." Realizing that the village Lei Gong mentioned was the very place where he had watched Jing Li mature into the woman she was today, Shui Long frowned as he knew there was still more that remained of this unfortunate tale.
The thunder god, taking another sip of the bitter alcohol as though it would make the words flow from his tongue more easily. The god sitting across from him peered into the bottom of the vessel gloomily as he spoke again. "Until a demon appeared." Lei Gong said, "Looming nearer to them in the days before the eve of their daughter's birth. The phantom that fed on the lives of infants, already devastating the surrounding villages; Zhi Yin as a protective husband and proud father went to ward off the demon before it could reach them."
The odd demon of famine and pestilence, passing through the villages surrounding Xilian Lake from time to time. A thin line developed between Shui Long's eyebrows as he attempted to recall the creature, which Lei Gong had alluded to in his story. However, unable to summon an image from the vague memory that might have once existed in his mind the water god asked, "If he possessed the same power as Jing Li, how come he was not able to subdue the creature easily?" The question met with a pronounced scowl from Lei Gong, he answered in the same unchanging tone, "That, I cannot say."
Denied any further explanation of these mysterious past events as their conversation was interrupted by a loud banging from the door of the residence. Shan Yu abandoned the pitcher of wine on a little wooden side table, before exiting to investigate the commotion. The two gods, falling silent once more in the attendant's absence, Shan Yu returned out of breath moments later. The anxious attendant scuttling over to Shui Long's side, he leaned closer to disclose a report discreetly into the god's ear.
"There are dignitaries from the West Lake Clan here seeking an audience with you, Lord Shui Long." he whispered.
This development, providing Lei Gong with the perfect opportunity to excuse himself from the awkward meeting. There were still dark clouds lingering over the courtyard as the thunder god rose from his seat. "It's best that I don't overstay my welcome." he announced, "Don't bother seeing me out." The flat tenor of his booming voice obviously meant as a criticism of the water god's poor manners. Shui Long merely acknowledged the thunder god's departure with a respectful nod, before he too stood from his seat at the table to address whatever fresh disaster awaited him.