[Palace of Supreme Dragon Glory]
(Taiyi Hall)
"The Prince of Su!" announced the eunuch.
"Greetings, Your Majesty", said the Jinhui, bowing. "Rise, sit," responded Zhi'an, making a gesture for him to stand up and sit down next to him. "Thank you, Your Majesty", said Jinhui as he raised and walked to sit down.
"I heard you made quite the spectacle upon your arrival, dear great-grandfather", said the emperor sarcastically as he poured Jinhui some tea. "Your Majesty, forgive me, it wasn't my intention," explained Jinhui as he slightly bowed. "It's alright, it seemed quite necessary", said Zhi'an in a reassuring tone as he gave the small cup of tea to him.
As they continued to drink tea and chat, something strange was occurring elsewhere in the capital.
[Outskirts of the Lower Ring]
On the eastern side of the lower ring, near the great forest, a farmer was plowing his field when he suddenly heard a strange sound echoing out of the forest.
"What's that?" he asked himself as he was holding his plowing stick. Farming with him was his grandson, "Grandfather is something wrong?" asked the boy as he noticed his grandfather seemed disturbed by something. "No, son, let's head back to the house", he instructed as he took the boy's hand and walked back to the house. As they were walking back, the trees in the forest started to make a cracking sound as if something was forcing its way through the trees, and the ground started to tremble beneath them. Suddenly, a massive creature burst through the thick forest front, letting out a massive cry.
"What is that, grandfather?" asked the boy, a frightened voice shaking. "Run!" shouted the old man, grabbing the child by the arm and dragging him as they ran. At the moment, the creature took notice of them and started to charge toward them, breaking through the fields of corn. They ran into their farmhouse where his wife was busy making food, "We have to get out of here", said he to his wife, confused and frightened. She was in haste, but it was too late. The creature was alright close outside, "Hide!" shouted he, and they hid as the creature was trying to sniff them out.
"Gran, what is that thing?" asked his wife, terrified and shaking, holding on to their grandson, who was also afraid and shaking. "I don't know, but it's not going to give up", said the old man as he peeked out to see if the creature was still there. When he finally heard some silence outside, he went out to look and was followed by his wife, "Stay here," said she to the boy silently, "We will be back". "Don't go, I am scared", said the boy silently to himself as they went.
As they were looking around, there seemed to be nothing, and they calmed down, but silence said everything. Suddenly, the creature burst through the roof, falling in front of them as they looked at each other, and the old man shook his head, indicating to her not to look in their grandson's direction. She started to tear up, and the creature growled, and they hugged each other and looked at the creature towering above them. The grandson peeked through a hole from the hidden chamber behind the chimney, seeing his grandparents hugging and accepting their faith. At that moment, the old man looked at the hidden chamber and saw him, and the creature devoured them both, tearing them apart, right before the boy's eyes.
He turned away, leaning against the hall of the chamber, and covered his mouth as he started to cry, not letting out any sound, "Father will come, he will save us", he said silently in a cracked voice full of crying.
At that moment, the boy, crying in silence, felt a change, a slight warmth and calmness. The creature growling in fear felt it too and rushed out, but as it burst through the door of the farmhouse, in front of him stood a figure, an old man with grey hair, stroking his slightly long beard with his right hand. "How come you are here, you are not supposed to be here", said the figure as he looked surprised, and suddenly sensed the little boy inside with the dead bodies. "Now that's very bad", said he softly and with a calm and joking voice.
The creature gave out a cry, into the air, as if it was giving a signal, "That won't do", said the figure, and with his left hand, he swung his Fúchén (Horsetail Whisk) and sent out a slash of energy that split the creature in half, disintegrating into the air. He then entered the house and looked around. He sensed the boy and glanced at the chimney. "Interesting," he said, and used his palm to send a slight wave of inner force, opening the door to the hidden chamber. The little boy inside had passed out from the trauma. "What a shame," he said to himself, and he picked up the boy, heading outside to where a group of soldiers had just arrived.
As he walked out, they noticed him and recognized him, "Greetings, State Preceptor", said the soldiers as they bowed.
"No need for that, check the surrounding area", he instructed, and the soldiers did so. He looked at the boy in his arms and flashed away.
[White God Palace]
(Starlight Pavilion)
In his personal bedchambers, Arceus was starting to regain consciousness, "Father!" shouted Shangyu as he realized what was happening, "How is this possible? Father is not supposed to regain consciousness so quickly", said Shangyu to himself as he checked Arceus' pulse.
"Elder Brother, is everything alright?" asked Qingyu, his younger sister, who had a concerned look on her face. "It will be fine," he said, reassuring her in a calm but rushing voice. She looked at him, relieved but also knowing that he said that only to comfort her, "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked softly. "No, you're a fighter, not a healer, but you can get me that bowl of water and cloth", he said gently as he smiled at her.
As he wiped off Arceus' face and arms, the emperor had a very special guest arriving.
[Palace of Supreme Dragon Glory]
(Taiyi Hall)
"That is what happened, you made the right decision, for both of them", said Jinhui, reassuring.
"The State Preceptor has arrived!" announced a eunuch, loudly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty", said the state preceptor, bowing. "There is no need for formalities", said Zhi'an, quickly standing up, showing respect to the old man.
"Long time no see, State Preceptor, Xuan Taiyu", said Jinhui, with a soft smile, "Prince of Su", greeted the State preceptor, slightly bowing and rising again.
[Crown Prince Palace]
(Ever-rising Hall)
"Are you okay?" asked Xi Yuan as she sat next to a waking Zhinu. "Yes," he responded as she helped him sit up straight. "Forgive me, I didn't mean for you to see me like that", he said, embarrassed and shy. "No, it is fine, it's good that I was here, and I am happy that I was here by your side", said she as she smiled at him. He looked at her, only feeling warmth radiating from her smile, and he suddenly felt calm and smiled back at her.
As they looked at each other, someone entered the room and their eyes drifted away quickly, "Cousin you are awake", shouted Xueying as she entered his room, but she noticed they were looking rather shy and uncomfortable, "I am I disturbing something?", asked she as she slowly stepped back, "No!", responded Xi Yuan loudly and quickly, and rushed out shyly.
As she rushed out, Zhinu looked on and smiled happily, and looked at Xueying, "Really, you couldn't have come at a worse time", scolded he her with an annoyed face, and she softly smiled.
As they were sitting in the room, elsewhere in the Monster Realm, something started to stir.