Rescue Me, My Love

Ruthless Bastard

Since Baohu had the incident with Donghua Dijun, he seemed calmer, but Mo Yuan knew he was seething with anger.  He didn't like it that he was kept under a barrier he couldn't get out of nor did he like being separated from his brother.  Mo Yuan knew his little mind was crafting a revenge but he just didn't know what.  He was going to have to be on his toes for sure.  But for now, he had a demoted general to handle.  When he left his room, he met Bai Xue and Mo JinDe coming to get him.  "Fuqin!"  They both bowed to him.  "I was about to come get you boys.  I believe its time for you to see another side of me!"
     The three of them were silent when they walked into the dungeon.  They walked to the cell where the general was.  Mo Yuan stepped forward.  "So would you like to tell me exactly who you are and who you serve or would you like for me to do it for you?  I can, you know.  Your choice."  The general stood and sneered.  "You can't do anything, War God, or should I say father of worthless children.  Or husband of a worthless fox.  Your dragon is nothing but a love sick idiot who has no power anymore.  Prove me wrong, War God!"  "So you really think that?  Mo JinDe!  Show him how worthless you are!"  JinDe stepped to the prison door and flung it open.  He stepped in the door.  His eyes turned gold.  He flipped his hand and threw the man into the wall and pinned him there.  "How would you like to have your tongue cut out, since you insulted my father?  Or maybe be blinded?  I wonder how long it would take you to find your way back to your home then, hmmm?  He raised his hand to blind him.  "Please, Lord JinDe, don't blind me!  I'll tell you who sent me!  Just don't blind me!"  Mo Yuan stepped in the door.  "I see you don't think my son is so weak now, do you?  I know you're the one who spread the rumors about him.  'The Dragon' does seem rather appropriate don't you think?  I mean, he is gold, just like me, and he is a real man, not some sorry excuse like you.  Or maybe you think Bai Xue is weak because he is white?  Bai Xue!  Come show him how weak you are!"  Bai Xue stepped in front of his father.  His eyes were white and his dragon snarled.  He lowered his face to where he could smell the fear on the man.  He growled right beside his ear.  "Think I'm weak?  Should I break your arm?  Like this?!?"  He took his hand and snapped his arm.  The general screamed.  Mo Yuan healed his arm.  "Now let's address my baby twins.  They are very special.  Ask their brothers here.  Should I call 'the runty foxes' as you called them to come deal with you?  Go get them, Xue Xue.  I need to teach them a lesson anyway!" Bai Xue left and came back leading Baohu and Jinzi.  "Boys, this man here thinks you are runty foxes.  Care to show him?"  Jinzi frowned and looked at Baohu.  Baohu talked in the man's mind.  "We are not runts.  We show you!"  They erupted their tails and worked a spell that threw him to the ground and took his breath away.  He was holding his throat and gasping for air.  Mo Yuan laughed.  "What's wrong?  Foxes got your tongue?  I see you don't think them so weak now.  They are only small children.  That's enough boys.  Let him go."  They let him go.  Jinzi let JinDe pick him up and Bai Xue picked up Baohu.  "Their mother is a nine tailed white fox.  She's also a high goddess.  The only one, to be exact.  Just imagine what they will be when they are grown.  I suggest you start talking.  JinDe doesn't take it kindly when you insult his little brother.  Neither does Xue Xue.  You boys can leave us alone now.  I need to prove a point."  Bai Xue and Mo JinDe didn't move a muscle.  Neither Baohu or Jinzi showed an once of fear.  Baohu spoke to his father.  "We no leave."  Mo Yuan talked back.  "It won't be pretty.  You sure?"  "We no leave!"  He nodded.  "This is your last chance to talk.  I'll break every bone in your body until you talk."  He flipped his hand and broke his leg above his ankle.   He waited a minute and broke his femur on the same leg.  He waited another minute.  He broke both bones in his other leg.  He waited another minute.  He broke his arm.  He screamed.  "Ready to talk?  No?"  He broke his other arm.  Baohu spoke to his mind.  "You weak.  You scream like baby.  Ha ha!"  His eyes cut toward Baohu.  Baohu grinned.  "What kind of children have you raised?  He laughed at me!  A child should have compassion!  He laughed at me!."  Jinzi wiggled in JinDe's arm until he let him down.  "Jinzi feel sorry for man.  You talk bad but you not strong like Fuqin!  Jinzi will heal man."  He healed his arm.  "The man looked at the little boy healing his arm.  For a moment he felt a sadness as he thought of his own family.  The child's touch on his arm was the breaking point.  He sobbed and looked Mo Yuan in the eye.  " I will tell you all, but my son, who is no bigger than this child, will pay.  My family will pay.  My wife and son will pay!"  "I will save them then."  Mo Yuan told him in a quiet voice.  The man nodded.  "I am from the South Sea kingdom.  My lands border the mermaid lands.  They are constantly under attack.  I have spent every last dime I had to keep my lands and my family safe.  The king is weak.  He would do nothing and I had to flee.  The Mermen caught us.  They have my wife and son.  I'm here because of it.  I must report back by tomorrow or my wife and son die.  High God Mo Yuan, I only made those remarks to try to get your attention.  Those little boys are special.  I only hope to see my son again."  Mo Yuan healed him and sat down next to him.  "Are you saying the mermaid clan king has your family?"  "Yes, High God, he does.  I tried to get my king to help me but he wouldn't.  You see, he's my cousin.  He has no male heirs and he resents me.  I have an heir so when they were captured, he wouldn't help me to retrieve my family.  I had to come here.  I had too.  I had heard, mainly through him, that your were a ruthless bastard that cared for nothing or anyone, only how to win a war at any cost."  Mo Yuan hung his head in contemplation.  "I can see where some would think that, but they don't know the real me.  These children here do know the real me.  Every side of me.  They have seen me be brutal and hard, they have seen me cry tears and they have seen me love them and their mother.  I can guarantee you they think no less of me for it.  I will help you.  Do you have an idea exactly where your wife and son are being kept?  I need to set a plan."  "They were being kept in a hall near the palace.  That's all I could find out."  "Good enough.  Are there any spies here that you know of?  I don't want word to get out that you are free."  "Only one.  He is my top aide.  Lord JinDe knows him."  "Fuqin, I'll get him now.  I can return to camp with Jinzi and act like I'm clearing my paperwork so I can spend the day with the boys.  Baohu, would you like to go too?"  He nodded yes.  "Come then, we will go now."  JinDe left holding their hands, one on each side.  Mo Yuan helped the man up.  "What is your name?"  "Lui Zhong Wang."  "Zhong Wang, how would you like to be ruler of the Southern Sea kingdom?"  "High God Mo Yuan, how could that be possible?  What about Lui Lie?  She is a beautiful sweet girl who has been abused by her father.  He's going to use her against Tianjun Ye Hua if he can."  "She's supposed to be here tomorrow for an official visit.  Ye Hua has taken quite a liking to her.  Is she genuine or is it a front?"  "Get her away from her father.  She is stiff and formal around him.  She is really very gentle otherwise.  You will see the real girl if you get rid of him.  Keep him busy in military type meetings, then Tianjun will be able to see the real Lui Lie.  She deserves a better life.  I would like to know she would be taken care of."  "Worry no more.  I will see to it.  I will place you in apartments in Xiwu Palace.  That way no one will see you and you can recuperate.  I hope this will keep you safe.  As soon as possible, I will get your wife and son.  Worry no more!"
     JinDe returned with the aide in less than an hour.  Baohu and Jinzi were skipping behind him.  "Fuqin, Jinzi put a barrier around this scum when he tried to escape.  I put us all under an invisibility barrier so the camp saw nothing."  "Put him right in this cell.  I'll deal with him later.  Now I need to be by Ye Hua when Lui Lie arrives.  Baohu, Jinzi, you boys come with me.  Bai Xue, I want Lui Zhong Wang to be taken to the visitor apartments in Xiwu Palace.  He is to be a quest.  Make sure he has fresh robes and his injuries are tended to.  Lui Zhong Wang, I'll be around to see you as soon as I help Ye Hua settle his guests.  You and I have much to discuss.  JinDe, you're with me."
     Bai Xue locked the cell and left the aide to his own thoughts.  He walked with Lui Zhong Wang to Xiwu Palace.  "I was wrong about a great many things concerning your father, High God Mo Yuan.  He really is all they say he is.  He is a man of honor.  Please forgive me, if you have it in your heart to do so."  "I forgive you for you see, today I saw a side of my father I've never seen.  I have heard my whole life that he was a ruthless, self centered bastard.  I never knew that man until today.  I was speechless, but in a way, I knew he had to do it.  You see, I love my father for all he is.  I love him because he has never disappointed me.  I love him because he has loved me, even when I have done wrong.  His voice is enough, most of the time, to make me know when I have failed miserably.  Fuqin, is working out a plan to save your family even as we speak.  He has a brilliant mind so he will have the details worked out quickly.  For now, please stay confined to your rooms here.  We don't want you to be seen by the South Sea King.  I take my leave.  The maids will bring food and draw a bath for you.  I will send the Medicine King if you need him." "Actually, the little fox healed me.  I'll be fine." Bai Xue bowed.  "I take my leave then.  If you have a need, just send me word."
     Ye Hua was in his room changing robes when Mo Yuan walked in.  "Ah, Da ge, just the person I need.  The black or the blue?"  "The blue.  While you dress, I have some information for you.  It seems the South Sea King bares watching.  JinDe and I caught a spy today who is going to help us.  Before you get suspicious of Lui Lie, don't.  She is innocent in all of this.  Her father has abused her and is using your interest in her to further his own plans.  I have just the plan to stop him.  I'm going to send JinDe and Bai Xue to rescue a woman and her son.  We're about to depose the Southern Sea King."  "Oh really?  Care to explain, my devious Da ge?"  Mo Yuan told him the whole story while he dressed his hair for him.  "So you stay here with me as chaperone while Xue Xue and JinDe do the dirty work.  What could go wrong?"  "Plenty, but I trust them to do the job.  There, your ready.  Do you really like this girl, Didi?"  Ye Hua's face blushed.  "Yes, I like her.  She's very intelligent and she likes cake."  Mo Yuan laughed out loud.  "Cake!  Chang Shan should be sending that box I told him to send tomorrow.  You can feed her that!"  "Da ge, your the best!  Now let's go meet her."
      Ye Hua and Mo Yuan met their guests at the south gate.  Mo Yuan immediately grabbed up the Southern Sea King to arrange a visit to his kingdom.  Ye Hua noticed and took Lui Lie by the arm.  "I want to show you the rooms I have for you and my own garden.  Would you like to see them?"  "Yes I would!  The nine heavens is so lovely!  This is my first time here!"  "Then follow me!"  He took her arm and led her to the Hall of Beautiful Youth.  He took her inside and watched her eyes as she took in every detail and furnishing.  Her eyes were bright as she turned toward him.  "It's very lovely.  Did you pick everything?  It's exactly like I would have wanted it to be!"  "I had the trees planted and the courtyard done too.  This would be your hall.  That is if you would want it to be."  Ye Hua blushed.  She blushed and watched him as she answered him.  "Do you mean you want me to be your wife?  And this would be my hall?"  "Yes, if you wish it."  She hugged his neck and kissed his cheek.  Ye Hua held her close and took a chance.  He kissed her soft lips.  She kissed him back but pushed away.  "Weren't you going to show me your garden?  And maybe your room?"  He held out his arm.  "This way!"  He led her into his hot pool garden.  Bushes and trees with neat ordered flower beds were laid out around a winding stone path.  The path ended at the hot pool.  Jasmine vine was planted around it and gardenia bushes.  "Is that a hot pool?  Do you soak in it?  It's lovely!!  This whole garden is amazing."  "My Da ge designed the pool, but I designed the rest.  Do you really like it?"  "Ye Hua it's beautiful!  Would we spend time here together?"  "We could spend a lot of time here together, after we're married, if you wanted too."  "With candles lit around it?  And wine?  And just you and me?"  "That's what I had in mind."  "You're a hopeless romantic, I see.  I like it.  I think we could get along just fine!"  "I want more than just 'getting along' Lie Lie.  I want us to love each other.  If you can't love me, then I want to know.  I don't want a loveless marriage.  I grew up around Da ge and his wife, Bai Qian.  They are very much in love.  I want a love like that or I won't waste your time or mine.  Can you possibly give me that?"  She looked deep into his eyes.  He was sincere and she wanted to be sincere.  "Ye Hua, I have lived in a home without love my whole life.  I want to know what it feels like to be cared for, to be cherished and loved.  If I could have that from you, then yes, I could and would love you with all my heart, if you will give me a chance."  He touched her face and drew her close to him.  He kissed her again.  The kiss was deepening when he heard someone cough.  Mo Yuan was standing with his back turned to them.  Ye Hua actually thought about murdering his brother right then and there.  "Da ge, I was just telling Lie Lie about the hot pool."  "Ah yes, the hot pool.  I have one in my own garden at Kunlun.  Amazing how good they make you feel!  Isn't that right, black dragon?"  "Yes, indeed, golden dragon."  Mo Yuan laughed as he turned.  "Come, we have things to discuss.  Like a proper date for a wedding!"