Lord Hēi'àn insisted on traveling with them through the Empire of Cardena. It had been decided that they would not leave the Empire just yet. After all, Lady Gardenia had bought an exquisite dress for the ball. The Lucia Kingdom would fall by her hand, and it would be done during the Spring Ball. It seemed the only one to die in the fire was the ninth prince, a tragedy but not so tragic as to cancel all festivities.
After all, the Spring Ball was when the Crown Prince of Lucia would choose his future Crown Princess. The Queen would spare no expense, and neither would Lady Gardenia. The entourage stopped outside a splendid manor belonging to Lord Hēi'àn. It seemed he had manors located throughout the four realms and two Empires.
The massive doors opened, and servants poured out, who, without being told, began to unload the luggage and carry it inside.
"Were they expecting us?" asked San Wol as she dismounted her mare.
Lord Hēi'àn fanned himself with a crimson fan resembling a plum blossom branch. "I may have sent word of our arrival."
"Lord Hēi'àn, tell me the truth. Is this really your manor?" San Wol wondered if it was bad that she wanted to keep speaking with him.
Jia er snorted as he walked Gardenia into the manor, "You two don't even bother hiding it, do you?"
"Hiding what, your Highness," San Wol chased after Jia er and Gardenia while Lord Hēi'àn trailed behind them.
The manor was about to become lively, thought Hēi'àn. The fox spirit pranced about the place as if she owned it. Lord Hēi'àn could not believe his old friend had returned. She looked just as she did when she first appeared in the world and took the Heavens by storm.
"It's nice to see they couldn't destroy you, Húlí," Lord Hēi'àn scoped the little fox into his arms and headed for the Divine Hot Spring. "I think you have better use for this place than I do."
"Xiao Huli!" Gardenia found them just as Lord Hēi'àn placed the little fox in the water. She rushed forward, but it was too late; Xiao Huli had already been submerged.
Gardenia was about to strike Lord Hēi'àn when a golden light emitted from the pool. Jia er and San Wol found them just as Xiao Huli exited the pool. No longer in her fox form, she looked around fifteen years old.
"Keep using the Divine Spring, and you will return to your old self in no time," said Lord Hēi'àn as he headed towards his study, leaving the others dumbstruck. Why did one of the eight lords of the Dark Realm possess a Divine Hot Spring?
San Wol chased after Lord Hēi'àn, now more intrigued with the Manor than its owner. What else was hidden, she wondered.
"Lord Hēi'àn, could I ask you something," San Wol stood under a plum blossom tree, waiting for a response.
Lord Hēi'àn folded his fan and opened the doors to his study. "You could, but that doesn't mean I have to answer you."
"What is this place?" San Wol had looked around a bit when they first arrived and found that while the exterior resembled a manor of the Cardena Empire, the interior was structured just like a manor of the Xia Empire.
"This place is neither here nor there," Lord Hēi'àn entered his study without looking back to see if San Wol would follow.
San Wol, of course, let curiosity win and followed, "What kind of magic are you using?"
"It's an array. If anyone comes looking for you, they won't find you unless I want them to, or I die." Lord Hēi'àn said the last part in a tone that made him playful.
As a High Priestess, San Wol had used arrays before, but never one that could transport you from one place to the next by simply crossing a threshold. After some contemplation, she decided she would have Lord Hēi'àn teach her how to create such arrays."
Lord Hēi'àn placed his brush down, looked San Wol in the eyes, and said, "No."
"I haven't asked anything," San Wol was displeased that Lord Hēi'àn had already refused her without hearing her out.
Lord Hēi'àn said, "I do not take in disciples, especially you."
San Wol sent a gust of wind toward Lord Hēi'àn, scattering the documents on his desk. "As if you were so great, " she stormed out of the office, leaving Lord Hēi'àn dumbstruck. What had he done, he wondered? With a wave of his hand, the documents floated neatly onto his desk.
For the following days, whenever Hēi'àn approached San Wol, she gave him the cold shoulder. Not being able to take it anymore, Hēi'àn sought out Jia er. When Hēi'àn recounted the events that led to San Wol's cold demeanor, Jia er burst out laughing, and Gardenia smacked him upside the head.
"Men are truly foolish. No matter how long they live, they hardly pay attention to what they say." Said Gardenia as she set a pot of freshly brewed jasmine tea on the table.
"I'll explain it to him," Jia er patted his wife's hand. Perhaps I should go check on Xiao Huli's progress."
After some contemplation, Gardenia set out, but not before smacking Hēi'àn upside the head once more.
"Hēi'àn, how old are you?" asked Jia er as he poured two cups of tea.
"I'm over around eight hundred years or so," Hēi'àn didn't understand what his age had to do with his current predicament.
"You're telling me you are older than me," Jia er tapped his chest, "and do not understand how women think. Not good, not good," he waged a finger.
Lord Hēi'àn slapped his hand against the table, causing it to split in half, "If you're so wise, why not tell me what I did wrong instead of acting all high and mighty."
Only the tea cup in Jia er's hand remained, "It's very simple," said Jia er as he cleaned the mess up with a snap of his fingers, "You told her she wasn't good enough the moment you said, especially you."