The next day, Tang Wei found herself in Immortal Lotus's chambers, along with Commander Ling and Advisor Zhan, to report on their mission to escort the Beast Realm envoys. "Commander Ling, Advisor Zhan, please provide your report," Immortal Lotus requested, her voice calm yet authoritative. While no one was harmed, she was certainly alarmed that rogue demons had been able to infiltrate her hallowed Lotus Blossom Monastery's outer grounds.
Commander Ling stepped forward, her posture rigid and professional. Tang Wei stood to the side, poised with her back straight and hands gently clasped together in front of her. "Our mission was a success, Immortal Lotus," she began, her voice steady. "The Beast Realm envoys were safely escorted to the Gardens, and their visit proceeded without incident. However, as you know, while we did not engage in battle directly, there were demons present outside the Monastery gates."
Advisor Zhan nodded in agreement, adding, "I am relieved that we arrived safely. However, we must address the concerning matter of how such a sacred place became tainted by demons."
Immortal Lotus nodded in understanding. "Thank you for your diligent efforts. Tang Wei, you may leave. Your loyalty is commendable. As a token of appreciation, I grant you the night off from your gardening duties and bestow upon you two golden hairpins crafted by Jeweler Wen Zhou from the Great Sky Temple." Tang Wei smiled, bowing low and gracefully, whispering her thanks as she departed Immortal Lotus's chambers.
As day turned into night, the moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the Lotus Blossom Monastery as Tang Wei made her way through the winding corridors. In her chambers, Tang Wei found Lin Yi and Xiao Song waiting for her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. "Tang Wei, you're back!" exclaimed Xiao Song, her eyes wide with anticipation. She immediately guided Tang Wei to her vanity, preparing her for bed. With gentle hands, she removed all of Tang Wei's ornaments and hairpins, running the wooden Lotus comb her master, Immortal Lotus, had gifted her through her hair.
Tang Wei relaxed under Xiao Song's capable hands. Xiao Song wasn't just her maid; she was her best friend. Settling onto the vanity's cushion, Tang Wei's thoughts drifted back to the enigmatic figure who had captured her attention, prompting her to speak. "He was unlike anyone I've ever met," Tang Wei began, her voice soft with wonder. "His presence was shrouded in mystery; his features obscured by shadows. The only discernible trait was his electric blue eyes, captivating yet kind."
"Tang Wei, the way you speak… Anyway, who was he? And why did he approach you?" Tang Wei shook her head, her mind still reeling from the encounter. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "He didn't approach us. It was more like we just had a happenstance collision, but there was something about him—something familiar, yet unknown. I felt like I wanted to walk to him and let my guard down. Almost like I was in a trance."
As they discussed the events of the past few days, Tang Wei couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. It was as if a whisper echoed in the depths of her mind, calling her back to the small grove at the front gates of the Monastery where she had first encountered the shadow stranger.
"What do you think you should do?" Lin Yi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. Tang Wei shook her head, her thoughts consumed by the enigmatic figure. "I'm not sure," she admitted, "I am bound to these grounds, obviously, and I cannot exit the front gates without permission, but I feel drawn to…to somewhere, as if, if I follow the whisper calling to me, that I will end up exactly where our meeting was meant to be." Xiao Song's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Perhaps he's your destiny, Tang Wei, the one you mentioned the other day," she suggested, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
Tang Wei couldn't help but smile at her friend's words, the notion of destiny weighing heavily on her mind. As night fell deeper over the Lotus Blossom Monastery, Tang Wei slipped out of her chambers once more, the whispered call of destiny guiding her steps. After her conversation with her friends, Tang Wei felt that she at least had to…try to tame the calling in her being. While she would directly be breaking the rules of the Monastery, she felt in this instance it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
As she made her way through the moonlit gardens, her heart pounding with anticipation, She could see the front gate on the horizon in the distance. She felt the heavy protection of Immortal Lotus's shields and enchantments, and wondered how she would ever pass through the front gate without detection. When she reached the gates, she hesitated. How could she betray her mentor who trusted her so much? How could Immortal Lotus's most loyal flower spirit betray that trust? As if fighting a fierce battle in her mind, the whispers of song and promise spoke to her again from the very depths of her mind, calling, pulling, directing Tang Wei to where she needed to go.
As if second nature to her, once she surrendered herself to the whispers in her being, Tang Wei fell into a trance like state, her steps on autopilot as she easily slipped through the front gates with a power she didn't realize she was using. Tang Wei found herself standing once again in front of the secluded grove outside her lands, the air heavy with anticipation. And there, among the shadows, she saw him—the shadow stranger, his figure illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight. He appeared to be meditating, his eyes closed. As if sensing her intrusion, however, his eyes opened and their blue opalescence struck her core.
Their eyes met across the distance, her at the entrance of the shadows and him wrapped in them like a blanket. In her trance like state, as she gazed upon the shadowed stranger, Tang Wei knew that their meeting was no mere coincidence. That it was fated. His voice broke her trance, his devilish smirk peaking through the shadows as the moonlight hit his face just right. Tang Wei felt her breath leave her lungs at the sight. He was lethal, gorgeous, handsome, and dangerous all rolled into one tempting whisper that called her to here. "I told you that we would meet again didn't I?"