Rescue Me, My Love

You Rattled the Wrong Cage

Bai Xue sent messages to all of his contacts around the Southern Sea kingdom.  He gathered his Intel and wrote a short report for his father.  He read it over twice to make sure he left nothing out.  He was walking to his father's study when JinDe rounded the corner.  They grinned at each other.  A light knock was answered.  "Enter."  They both bowed.  "Fuqin, I have the report you wanted."  He handed the scroll to his father.  He opened the scroll and read it thoroughly.  He thought for a minute and looked at Bai Xue.  "Are you sure about all of this?"  "Fuqin, I went over every piece of information and included it in that report.  From what I see, the Southern Sea King is weak and wishy washy.  He has tried to marry both of his daughters off for gain and alliances.  They both refused to comply.  The oldest left home and married.  Lui Lie is left there.  She has not sought any relationships and was rather stunned that you invited her to meet Shushu.  She does seem genuine.  Her father is another matter.  He is the one to watch out for.  My mind is telling me that Shushu and you should visit there and soon.  War with the mermaid clan is imminent.  That is all the information I could get." 
     "Bai Xue, you have done excellent work!  I feel better about this already!  Ye Hua was quite taken with her!  Especially when they both ate cake together.  It was a really lovely thing.  I thought she would be disgusted at the way Ye Hua stuffs the cake into his mouth.  He was feeding her and she was feeding him!  A good wife could only love a man who loves cake as much as Ye Hua does!  So for now, the trip for her to come to the nine heavens is on.  Your mother and I, along with the boys will be coming in a week.  Now what can I do for you, JinDe?"  "You, me, the training ground, now!"  JinDe jumped to the training ground to await his father.  He had his new armor on and Bei Bing in his hand.  His father was right behind him, fully decked out in his own armor.  They both raised their swords and attacked.  The battle raged for an hour.  Back and forth, up and down, JinDe was drawing on his power.  He was calling the cold into his blade and he raised his hand to use a spell.  One more swing from Mo Yuan brought JinDe  around.  He cut his father's arm.  The blades clashed and they were face to face, brow to brow, smirk to smirk, hilt to hilt, toe to toe.  Each sword building power.  Mo Yuan smirked, huffed and turned his eyes to gold.  With one shove JinDe hit the ground and Xuan Yuan was at his throat.  "You cut me!  Well played my golden son, well played!"  "Fuqin, teach me the dragon thing.  I can't do that."  "Not today.  We must learn it another day.  How about we spar in front of your troops?  Try not to kill me though.  I would hate to lose face in front of the army I'm probably about to be leading to war!"  "Did I do well really?  Or were you holding back?"  "Yes you did well.  And yes I held back.  You got a taste at the end.  I usually fight a battle with my dragon there.  Do you understand?"  "Fuqin, you are one powerful high god!  I was using all I had!"  "JinDe, once I teach you how to use your dragon, you will be on a par with Ye Hua and I.  Ye Hua still has Father's power inside of him.  If he ever taps that, I will retire, because I will not be worthy to hold the title of God of War anymore.  Do you understand now?  It doesn't matter how much power you have until you are forced by a situation to use every last once of it to win.  I have been in that situation.  I task you to go to the library and read the scrolls there on the demon wars.  That is all I will say.  It was a dark time and I still don't like to talk about it.  I'm very pleased you have done so well.  Now why didn't Bai Xue try his hand?"  "Fuqin, you know he's all into that spy business.  He would rather sneak around than fight!  I could kick his ass!"  "Is that so?  Well try it!" 
     Bai Xue came at JinDe full force.  He would strike and disappear and materialize behind him.  Back and forth they went.  Bai Xue called the cold with his sword.  Snow started falling around them in a heavy downpour.  JinDe was cold but he wasn't beaten yet.  He disappeared and grabbed Bai Xue from behind.  Bai Xue threw him off.  For nearly two hours they fought.  They both had cuts.  They came at each other toe to toe, face to face and nodded.  They dropped their swords and laughed.  Mo Yuan laughed and applauded.  "Well done!  Well done!  There's hope for you two yet!"
     They arrived at the south gate close to Xiwu palace.  They had sent messengers ahead so they were expected.  Jinzi and Baohu wanted to go to the throne room.  Mo Yuan took them with him to see their Shushu.  He was going to walk in calmly and take his seat quietly.  Before he could stop them, Jinzi and Baohu ran to Ye Hua.  Mo Yuan roar like a dragon, "STOP!"  They turned and looked at him in abject terror.  "Bow before your emperor and conduct yourselves as you have been taught or else you will be sent back to Kunlun!  Now!"  They both turned to Ye Hua.  "We greet Tianjun Ye Hua, Donghua Dijun, and honorable members of the court." Ye Hua descended the throne and motioned for them to come.  Mo Yuan planted his face in his hand.  How will they ever learn protocol if they are given free reign to do as they please?  Ye Hua picked them up and sat them on his lap as he sat on his throne.  Baohu decided this was as good a time as any to talk to Dijun.  "Do you love my cousin Feng Jui?"  Dijun looked at the boy who was as bold as brass.  "That's for me to know!"  "Why do you call her Xiao Bai if you don't love her?" "Insolence!"  "I just asked a fair question."  Donghua was silent.  "Are you my friend?"  "I can be."  "Can you read minds?"  "Maybe."  "Fuqin said you could."  "Your Fuqin has a big mouth."  "He's the God of War.  He can say anything and you can't stop him."  "Yes I can."  "Show me then!"  Donghua Dijun blasted Mo Yuan off his chair and turned to look at Baohu.  Baohu flew off Ye Hua and smacked Dijun right on the side of his head.  He put his hands on his hips and frowned.  "Don't hit my Fuqin again!  I'll hurt you!"  "You can't hurt me."  "Yes I can!"  Mo Yuan stood to see just what the heck was going on.  He saw Baohu and Dijun in a stare down.  Baohu was working his little hands when he put a barrier over Dijun.  Dijun made a move to remove it but failed.  He looked at Baohu with a stern look.  "I can break it, but it would destroy this room.  This does not hurt me, it only traps me."   "It will hurt you."  Mo Yuan touched Baohu on his shoulder.  "Would you care to enlighten me as to why you threw that barrier over Dijun!?  Didn't I tell you the next time you pulled something I would punish you?"  "Fuqin, he said he could hurt you.  I said he couldn't but he did.  I got mad because he hurt you, Fuqin!  Me now make him pay!"  "Remove it.  Now!"  "Me not know how yet!"  Mo Yuan read the barrier.  Fox magic!  "Ye Hua, please send for Bai Qian!  And hurry!"  Tian Shu went to get her from their room.  He was back quickly.   Bai Qian was furious.  She scanned the barrier and removed it in one flip of her hand.  "Bai Baohu Zhe!  Come with me now!"  Donghua Dijun got off his seat, grabbed Baohu around the waist and walked out with him.
     Mo Yuan, for once in his long life, thought he might have to fight Dijun.  He followed him to Taichen Palace.  He was not allowed in.  He threatened to erupt his dragon.  He roared so loud the palace shook but the door was not opened.  He was already turning gold when Si Ming came to the door.  "Dijun said don't worry.  He's not going to hurt the boy.  He wants to teach him.  He said he will return him in three days."  "Three days?!?  He's just a baby!  Ok I'll be back but I don't like it!"  Mo Yuan was beside himself.  Only Jinzi was not afraid.  "Fuqin, Jinzi know Baohu be alright.  Baohu did bad thing.  Dijun show him.  Fuqin don't worry.  Jinzi know. "  "Fuqin won't worry.  How about you and I go visit the soldiers.  Ping is already there."  "Me see JinDe?  " Yes you see JinDe."
     Mo Yuan walked into the training grounds with Jinzi walking beside him holding his hand.  Men bowed left and right.  Jinzi looked up at his father in a whole new light.  They arrived at JinDe's tent to find him in a rather heated discussion with one of his generals.  Mo Yuan stopped Jinzi and made a sign for him to be quiet.  "Commander, I believe my father is more than capable of leading this army.  If you think he's weak, I suggest you take him on next time he tours the camp.  He can kick my ass any time he wants.  Yours too.  If we go to war with the mermaids, I assure you my father will be in command."  "That love sick fool couldn't control his own children otherless an army!"  "Insolence! How dare you talk about High God Mo Yuan this way!"  Mo Yuan had heard enough.  He walked through the tent door and JinDe knew he was angry.  "Yes, tell me how I can't control my children.  You dare!"  Mo Yuan jumped them both outside.  He called Xuan Yuan to his hand and attacked.  He cut the man everywhere.  The last place he cut was across his face.  " Tell me again how weak I am!  Tell me again what a love sick fool I am!  Go ahead, tell me!!"  JinDe stood by with a smirk on his face.  Fuqin was mad now.  "He doesn't look too weak to me!  I guess you underestimate your God of War!"  Mo Yuan couched his sword.  The man was thoroughly beaten.  "It's one thing to best me here in this camp, High God, but quite another when we are at war.  If I recall, the last one cost you dearly."  Mo Yuan was seeing red and JinDe saw his eyes turn gold.  Jinzi, not to be outdone, transformed into his fox and promptly bit the man on his arm.  He slung him off and the little fox lay where he fell.  Now JinDe loved Jinzi above all else and took it as an affront to himself for his brother to be hurt.  Before Mo Yuan could stop him, JinDe's eyes turned gold, he drew Bei Bing and froze the man where he stood.  He turned and picked up Jinzi and cuddled him to himself.  He walked into his tent and left the man frozen.  Mo Yuan smirked to himself.  Dragon power!  He was not about to let JinDe fight for him.  "If there is any man here who thinks I'm not worthy to be called the God of War anymore, let him speak now.  If you think I can't lead this army, think again.  Some of you have forgotten just who I am.  Fall on your knees!!  They all bowed.  The one general was still frozen by JinDe's strike.  " You will stay there until you learn your place.  You are hereby relieved of your command."
     JinDe was sitting in his chair with Jinzi in his lap.  "Don't cry now.  That was very brave.  When you are bigger, you will be a very fierce warrior.  I'm very proud of my Xiao huli today!  Now give me a hug!  Next time use that fox freeze on him.  That should do the trick."  "Why Fuqin not get real mad?"  "Oh he was mad and he could have killed that man with a flip of his wrist.  He wanted the man to see his own weakness!  When Fuqin gets real quiet, you know he's really mad!"  "Er ge, can you feel Bai Xue in your heart?"  JinDe looked off into space for a moment.  He smiled.  "Yes, I can feel him.  Can you feel Baohu?"  "Yes.  Baohu wants me.  I can tell."  "Can Fuqin feel Shushu the same way?"  "Yes I can!", Mo Yuan said as he walked into the tent.  "JinDe, I relieved that general of his duties.  Have him imprisoned.  I believe he's a spy.  Call Bai Xue.  He can investigate.  Anyone who sows dissension is here to start trouble in the ranks.  By the way, I saw your dragon come out.  You've been cultivating and working on him, haven't you?"  "Yes, Fuqin, I have.  I know one thing for sure, he's a pesky devil when it comes to females, if you know what I mean."  "I am very well aware of that very situation when your mother walks into a room.  Now Jinzi, what were you saying about Baohu?  Is he calling you?"  "Fuqin, Baohu is calling me.  I want to go now." "Then let's go.  JinDe, release your spell, have that man imprisoned and follow us."  JinDe bowed and went out the door.
     Jinzi was standing outside Taichen Palace knocking on the door.  "Please let Jinzi in!  Jinzi want his Didi, Baohu!"  Mo Yuan was intrigued now.  What was going on in there?  Why won't Dijun let Jinzi in?  "Fuqin, Jinzi want to break door!"  Mo Yuan decided enough was enough!  He was about to go full dragon when the door opened.  Dijun stood there with a smirk on his face.  "Come in, Mo Yuan, before you destroy the nine heavens!"  "Well, you do have my child in here!  He is just a child, Dijun!"  "Yes, he is, but he is one who doesn't know his own power.  He had to learn from someone other then you that he can't run wild!  Now come and let's have tea."  Baohu was sitting still, for once.  He usually never did. 
     "So how did you terrorize my child?  His brother felt his distress."  "I didn't terrorize him.  I made him sit still.  His fox nature is to be naturally curious and active.  Except when he wants to nap.  He is fine.  He had the audacity to challenge me in the throne room.  He needed to learn how to control his temper.  I taught him."  Mo Yuan was still in a snit over it.  "You kidnap my child, cause his mother distress and his brother?  I'm still not convinced it was necessary!"