The death of a Xiantian, Blade of which Challenge Heaven, Va Lingyun Tua.
It was said that a Shura takes her life, inciting question upon question from both the Public and Government alike.
"A pressing matter will not be left aside" said the Orthodox Alliance leader, Yu Shiyi Hua Fei.
"A death of a Xiantian is a mark, a wrath from Heaven that this age without a True Heavenly Mandate, is a herald for a Dark Years to come"
The Orthodox Alliance urged the Dynasty to discuss who should inherit the Golden Throne left behind by the Tang dynasty.
Or is the Princess of the Tang, Tang Li Miyin and her sister Tang Li Yinpeng capable enough to inherit the seat of power?
Furthermore, the Gu Clan leader—
"Useless news, isn't there anything new besides the death of Va Tua?"
A man said as he downed several servings of dumpling in a busy crossroad where an announcement board was erected.
The man likes the happening of the outside world, a world far more expansive than his own little village.
But this news about the death of a Xiantian has been going around for 4 weeks now that it drowns other news.
Sure, it is surprising at first, but the longer it kept being repeated the less shocking and attention worthy it becomes.
"There is that dispute between the Gu Clan and the Majesty Wu Clan to bring their children back to the Gu Clan possession…"
A chubby man said as he busies himself preparing several more dumplings in his small, makeshift kitchen on a small cart of his, fanning the small grills with his rattan fan.
Both have red eyes, a sign that they are a Fiend, a member of the Demonic Sect.
Yet they are no warriors, merely civilians under the protection of the Demonic Sect.
"Pffft that's old news"
The man said as he snorts, downing several more of his dumplings. Before he knew it, the dumplings he bought had already run out.
"Boss, can you give me 3 more? I pay you back late afternoon"
He said, yet the merchant frowned at his words and even stopped fanning the stove.
"You already owe me for those 5 dumplings, pay it back first"
"Oh, come on boss, just 3 more please~"
"No means no"
"Hahhh, fine let me get my coins bag first"
"Its 5 coppers worth remember, I won't wait for you again if you failed to bring me enough!"
As the chubby man finished his shouting, seeing the man running towards his home he can't help but to fear that he might not pay for his meal again.
But such worry was washed away as a great beauty approaches him.
Two of them to be exact.
"How much for a dumpling?"
"Oh… o-one coppers"
The chubby man said as he stumbles upon his wares and fan, bewitched by the two beauties.
Both have striking red eyes, yet the one who speaks has grey hair while the one next to her is dyed in this beautiful mix of azure and deep blue.
The chubby man averts his eyes upon realizing just how beautiful they are, not wanting to make himself look improper.
After all, he knows his place, an average fat man like him cannot hope to ever has a chance upon such beauty, just seeing them in the first place is good enough for him.
'From the Demonic Sect I reckon, their eyes are redder than some folks here'
"I'll take 6 then, how about you Rin"
The one with the grey hair speaks to the girl next to her, Rin.
"…6"
"But how many does Lixian wanted?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing their discussion, he can't help but overheard. Lixian, there is only one person with that name in the Southern Region.
"A-are you perhaps referring to the Princess herself? Wu Lixian?"
"Hmm? Yeah, what about it?"
The girl said.
At the realization, the chubby man becomes even more nervous as he bowed towards both.
"Ahh I deeply apologize for my transgressions, to dare speak in such a rude tone is unbecoming of me!"
He said as he bowed, as deeply as he could, even burying his head under the dirt.
"You need not pay if such lowly and inferior meal of mine will grace her highness presence, you can take all that you want~"
He said, still bowing, still cowering, still trembling.
"Oh wow, now I understand why she dislike going outside"
"…In that case we only take 25"
"Of course! Take it! Oh, apologies, I forgot to pack them"
Even in tremor he still managed to package the Dumplings inside a banana leaf that he folds neatly, it speaks to his experience.
"Here you go, glory to the Demonic Sect! Glory to the Majesty Wu Clan!"
He said as he bowed once more.
"Thanks boss~"
"Thank you"
Both said as they wave at him, but the man dares not to wave back, it would be rude of him.
Until he was sure that both were already away, he finally ceased his action.
"Huff, how come the princess is here?"
He mumbles; they did not take much of his dumplings which he is grateful for.
"I was so nervous, did I pee my pants?"
No, it was soaked with sweat.
"Phew, this is the last pair I had…"
"Here's what I owe boss… What happens to you?"
The man who gone home to procure his coin bag looks at the chubby man with confusion.
"…I just had a fortunate encounter, come, I give you a dumpling for free"
"Really boss?!! Damn, you're so kind~"
The man looks giddy as he approaches the chubby man stall.
…
"MMM"
The grey-haired girl expresses her happiness and excitement when eating the dumplings with squeaky voice akin to a mouse.
Hence her nickname, Laomei, though her real name is Ji Mei.
"If you keep making that noise more and more people will call you Laomei"
In contrast to the blue haired girl named Rin besides her, she is cool and aloof and is reflected in her way of eating just a small nibble and quietly chewing the dumpling down.
"Nom nom, what does Laomei mean anyway?"
Laomei said as she gulps down one by one of the dumplings, they forgot that they bought this for Wu Lixian.
"…You seriously don't know?"
"Nuh uh, nom, I on know ancient script"
Laomei is still chewing on the 3 dumplings already in her mouth, her bottomless stomach truly knows no bound.
"It means mouse… something, lets just ask Lixian later"
"Mouse!! I thought it was something more dignified!"
Laome— Ji Mei shook Rin shoulders as she expresses her dissatisfaction with the nickname Wu Lixiang gave her, but really, she should know better than to expect good things to ever come out of Lixian mouth.
"Whatever, and stop eating those dumplings"
Yet to Rin's horror, the number of dumplings left can be counted by one hand.
Yet the amount of it in Ji Mei's mouth can be counted by two hands. Greedy rat.
"…Ah you're right! I almost finished eating all of them! Thanks for reminding me~"
"…It's your fault when she gets mad at us…"
"Whyyy, I'm just eating a few, surely she won't be mad from thi—"
And Ji Mei finally realized her own blunder, looking horrified as she looks at what remains from the bountiful dumplings once steaming from the banana leaf.
Yet she still gulps down the last one in her mouth.
"R-Rin… what do I do?"
She is on the verge of crying, yet Rin couldn't care less, it was her fault to begin with.
"I'm not seeing anything…"
"Riiinnnnn"
"Must've been the wind"
Rin said as she closed both of her ears as she fleets away from Ji Mei.
…
"So…"
A woman clad in black robe with her face covered by half of her jet-black hair said, she sits in a domineering pose as she nibbles down a dumpling that has gone cold.
In front of her, both Rin and Ji Mei sit in a dejected position like a child being scolded by their mother.
They are currently inside the 3rd semester dormitory of the Southern Academy, normally they aren't allowed to go in and out but really, who will stop them? Considering they are both friends of Wu Lixian who is currently in front of them.
And Wu Lixian, all things considered, is well behaved and the teacher, mentor and staff take a blind eye just for this action so long as she didn't cause any trouble.
"Not only are you guys late, more than half of my dumplings were eaten"
"I-Its"
Ji Mei was about to accuse Rin of being the perpetrator.
"It's Laomei who eats your dumplings princess"
"Hey!"
"I told you not to call me princess you damn klutz!"
Ji Mei protest was cut short by Wu Lixian suddenly outburst as she plants her right foot up Rin's forehead, to which Rin herself makes a gesture of covering her mouth with both of her hands.
"Hmph, as expected of Laomei, you really can't hold that chubby tummy of yours…"
Wu Lixian switched her attention towards Ji Mei who instantly stiffened at her words, yet despite that, Wu Lixian foot was still planted at Rin's forehead.
"Come here, I'll punish you…"
"Li-Li, forgive mee ughhh"
Ji Mei words were scrambled by the sudden action of Wu Lixian pulling on her nose and dragging it left and right, prompting Ji Mei to make a sound akin to a mouse being tickled.
Or at least, that's what Wu Lixian imagines the noise a mouse being tickled would sound like.
"That's what you get you chubby mouse…"
Wu Lixian continues her 'punishment'
"As for you Rin, this is your punishment…"
She said as she lightly grinds her foot upon Rin's forehead, eliciting protest from her.
"Don't you think my punishment a bit unfair Pri— Boss?"
Rin ask.
"Its your fault for not being able to properly detained Laomei"
"Li-Liii, can you please stop calling me Laomei? Pwetty pweaseeeee"
"No"
"Meaniee ughhh"
Wu Lixian tighten her pinch.
"Now both of you, what mistake did you both make?"
Wu Lixian asks as she crossed both her arms and legs, assuming a domineering pose as she cast her sharp gaze towards both Ji Mei and Rin.
"I'm sowwyy Li-Liii, for eating all your dumplings. Pinky promise I won't do it again next time"
Ji Mei said as she assumed a pretty and cutesy pose, but of course, it didn't work on Wu Lixian and she instead pinched her nose once more.
"I failed to properly inhibits the impulse of the stupid rat besides me and thus I will be responsible and accept my deserved punishment"
Rin said as she bows, causing Wu Lixian to cringe.
"Stop that, I already told you not to do all that courtly bullshit in front of me"
"Apology"
"Forget it, it's also my gift for the both of you…"
Wu Lixian said as she pats both Rin and Ji Mei hair.
"Thank you for being loyal to me…"
Wu Lixian smiles, her domineering aura was gone and is replaced by this tender warmth only felt during a bright day following a fierce rain.
Wu Lixian has been away for her serving of 'Seven Birds Descend Trial' and as always, she lost a lot of influence within the Academy, her previously 'loyal' subordinate went out to find a more convincing master now that their previous one can no longer offers them protection and promised fame.
Yet these two persist, enduring the fierce humiliation and attempted coercion by the opposition to abandon their princess.
All this fierce storm they endure, not out of promised glory and secure future, but purely because they care about Wu Lixian.
To Rin and Ji Mei, Wu Lixian is more than just a 'Princess'.
"…Yes"
Rin said as she smiled.
"Sniff, Li-Liiiii"
Ji Mei cries and hugs Wu Lixian with such force that she tumbles down.
But Wu Lixian isn't mad, rather she welcomes Ji Mei hugs and reciprocate.
To her, both were more than just a 'Subordinate'.
"I'm back you two…"
.
.
.
In the west wing of the Demonic Sect fortress west of Jiangnam.
Pavilion of Six Smells was its name, long ago it was the favorite retreat of Wu Huanghou, now it has become the headquarters for the Heart division created by her.
In this particularly gloomy day, the Pavilion staff and even the general of the fortress hurriedly walk past its corridor towards the front gate, all of them looked tense and pressured, wearing carefully calibrated mask of neutrality to hide their growing anxiety.
For today's guest is none other than the Demon King himself, he is on his monthly visit to Lord of of Bloom Yanchen Akiri.
"Make sure that everything is spotless…"
"We have clean every corner and underside of stone for the last 5 days, if there is anything to be cleaned it's whatever may exist underground"
The general and the pavilion master goes back and forth ensuring that the establishment is as good as new.
Besides that, at the request of the Demon King himself, no preparation was made, not even food or drinks.
"Lord Akiri is awake right?"
"She is, currently reading a book in her bed"
"Good"
A part of the general felt ecstatic that the Demon King came to visit his post, he can brag about meeting his majesty in the flesh to his friends.
But also, a growing anxiety gnaws at his head, Lord Akiri is… adventurous to put it lightly, he is certain that once she can walk once more, she will be found anywhere within the Southern Region.
Her first awakening ever since she fell into a deep coma last year has certainly put his heart at ease, but again, who knows where she might head off to, hearing that she is obediently reading a book in her beds does ease him up a bit.
"The Demon King has arrived"
Declared one of the servants, yet the general could already feel his Blood Worm writhing around lightly, and even then, his Aura can be felt miles away.
Soon, the gate opens, as countless thick red mist rushed into the fort for the figure in the center stand with gravitas and dignity.
""I greet the Demon King!""
All who present said as they bow and gives their sincerest greetings.
"…Li Niun…"
"…Yes, my lord!"
The general hearts trembles, not with fear but with excitement for the Demon King uttered his name, who is so insignificant in front of him.
"How is she?"
"…Apology, I have yet to check of Lord Akiri wellbeing, your lordship may know of her current conditions from the Divine Physician"
Li Niun said, still bowing and keeping his hardest face to hide the growing excitement.
"I see, then I will go over myself. I would not be intent to intrude upon your duty"
"Yes my lord!!"
The Demon King then pass Li Niun form, but he lightly tapped upon his shoulder while uttering a word that could send Li Niun over to the Heaven.
"Keep up your good work"
The Demon King said through his blank white mask.
Oh, how can Li Niun just die and ascend to Heaven right now. Ecsatic feeling rush over his entire form for the one he idolized not only remembered his name but acknowledge his hard work.
"YES MY LORD!!"
He salutes.
The Demon King lightly nodded as he went inside the Pavilion alone.
"…General?"
The pavilion master checks up on Li Niun.
Only to find him pass out while standing, smiles carved into his jaded face.
"D-Doctor! Somebody fetches a doctor! The general pass out!"