While Feng Tian sets the stage for a romantic evening with XiXi, she sits on her bed with a giant book on her lap.
The more she reads the ancient book XiXi feels a burning sensation behind her ear where the strange flower design is imprinted on her neck.
She rubs her ear and wonders why it hurts, maybe I got an ear infection from the spring. No, it is more like I got bit by fire ants. The burning sensation stopped when I got off the bed, maybe it was a bite from some insect in the covers.
She sets the book down and lazily walks to the bronze mirror on the table. As she looks at the vague image of herself reflected by the ancient bronze mirror she frowns. I should see if dad has a real mirror.
If he does maybe we could find a way to split it into two, so LingLing can have one, she should be able to look at a decent mirror to see how beautiful she is. This bronze mirror is too primitive.
Little does XiXi know LingLing has a special plate a wizard gave her when he fell in love with her that shows her reflection perfectly. The poor man had no idea she had led him on just to gain some of his prized possessions.
When she left his village deep in the forest, she wiped his mind of her memory with some tricks she had stolen from another poor fellow a few years back.
XiXi puts the mirror down and goes over to the bed and shakes the covers to see if it is infested with some fire ants or whatever the equivalent would be in this strange world.
When she flips the covers, the Book of Zhang ,Volume One, heavily falls to the ground, its pages fluttering.
She picks it up, it is open to a page towards the back. XiXi is curious , even though her father said to be sure to study chapter by chapter in order, not to skip one page.
The yellowed worn page has pictures, an ancient type handwriting that is so strange and archaic she has trouble reading it. This particular page is about transforming into animals? Her green eyes sparkle, how cool is that!
I know Dad said to wait but I always wondered what my cat was thinking.
My cat always looks arrogant and independent, she pictures her cat Starlyn, a very haughty cat indeed. A Shirazi cat with startling blue eyes and long white fur. She would walk through their house as though XiXi and her parents were its servants
The cat had a condescending attitude as if it was thinking, yes, you may pet me, wash your hands first human, my fur is as white as snow, don't dirty it.
XiXi has a mischievous smile, I'm just going to read it there is no harm in that, actually I might write it down so when I return the book I can still study it, it sounds fun.
Reading this page XiXi takes her time, painstakingly copying every picture and word on the worn page.
After she replicates the page she closes the book, I still will need to figure out some of these words I don't recognize.
XiXi studies the first two chapters, many of the pages are lessons in morality and the way of the Dao. Hmmm.. it appears my ancestors practiced it religiously.
Her eyes are tired from reading and she returns the heavy book to her father. It is getting late in the afternoon and she wants to consider what she will cook for LingLing's special feast, but she needs a short nap.
Zhang Yu is making a list of supplies they will need for the journey when she enters his room.
He looks up and takes off his reading glasses, "Did you get very far reading? Do you have any notes or questions for me?"
" No not yet, the first couple chapters were easy to comprehend, my eyes were just getting tired. The bright sun waking me up so early made me feel like I need an afternoon nap, I might close my eyes for awhile.
Dad look behind my ear, does it look like I got bit by something?"
Zhang Yu looks where she is pointing at the red lotus design behind her right ear. It looks the same as always except it appears a brighter on one of the petals.
He isn't sure, thinking maybe he never looked that closely before at the color. He does consider the possibility there is some significance to the darker color.
"No, I didn't notice any bites."
"I'm going to lay down then, gather ingredients for dinner is that all right with you?"
Zhang Yu replies, "Sure, that is plenty to absorb the first day. The way of the Dao is a little difficult to grasp at first and you should contemplate the teachings."
"Okay." I read through that and was able to grasp it easily. While reading it was as though it unlocked part of my brain where the knowledge was already stored as if the way of the Dao is ingrained in me.
I had no trouble comprehending unlike when I tried the spell.
"See you at dinner then Dad."
When she leaves his room and walks down the hall it dawns on her that she hasn't seen Feng Tian. I haven't seen him all day and usually he is underfoot. I wonder where he is?
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, Feng Tian struts down the hall with a sack in his hands.
"What's in the sack Feng Tian?"
" I got a little beast when I was in Myriad Cloud City. I told a friend of mine I would watch it until he returns from the Rajin Mystical Warrior Sect."
Feng Tian kicks the little beast who is struggling to pop out so he can get a good look at the girl. The little beast wants to see if she is as beautiful as her voice.
she is very curious what kind of beast fits in a bag and doesn't try to claw its way out. My cat would be screeching, and clawing that sack. XiXi gets excited, "Can I see it? What kind of beast, it must be small to fit in that sack. What's its name?"
"I need to find a place for him right now, you can see him later." He rushes past her to the outer courtyard. The pesky beast is very ugly looking at him would hurt your beautiful eyes.
After Feng Tian leaves he threatens in a low voice, "Listen little beast, I don't want you bothering the girl! If she gets even a scratch from you I will skewer you for dinner, do you understand?"
Feng Tian has the impression this furry beast understands humans and as he holds him by the loose fur around his neck he growls, "Don't mess around!"
The little beast is almost thrown back into the flowers from the killing intent emanating from Feng Tian.
The little beast rolls his eyes, this King understands, she must be that XiXi the foolish idiot was babbling about. But... from the oppression I just felt from his intense killing intent, this fellow is stronger than he lets people see. I wonder why he hides his strength to appear mild mannered?
This could prove interesting.
Feng Tian continues talking, "I know you won't escape because of that old Daoist priest, Lou Wan. I am going to leave you in this courtyard, you can eat some of the grapes in the back by the far wall.
I don't think Yun Tai will notice. he will be back tomorrow though, just don't overdo! I will be back later with some other food later."
The little beast quivers as he looks at Feng Tian. Yun Tai... the man the soldiers call The Invincible Immortal?
The people call The God of War?
That Yun Tai!
Lou Wan what the hell is going on here?!?
No, I definitely won't overdo, I might only have one grape until you return with some meat buns.
"You need a name too, so she doesn't get suspicious of my "friend" story. What shall I call you." The little beast takes his paw and writes in the dirt, King.
Feng Tian gazes at what the ugly little beast wrote and bursts out laughing, so you do understand!
"But there is no way I am calling you King, you pesky beast...."
He continues to laugh uproariously and while wiping his eyes, he taunts the little beast. "Such an auspicious title, haha...did you name yourself ?"
The little beast is fuming at being laughed at but he understands Feng Tian won't bow to him in this pitiful beast skin.
He takes his paw and wipes away the writing and scratches with his claw, 'Zhen'.
"You certainly are full of yourself, Zhen is what the King calls himself."
Still laughing, Feng Tian starts to walk away, "I don't have the time to deal with you, fine, Zhen it is.
I will be back later, don't get in trouble. There are two spirit beasts that also live here, don't bother them either."
Why does he think I'm going to waste my time bothering that girl or a couple of lowly spirit beasts..