Choices

7 - Indebted

"Fur? Why would you she give you something so precious?"

That cold voice, coming from up above, made Nie Chuyin freeze. Recovering quickly, he bowed down low with an arm crossed over his chest. "Nie Chuyin greets Your Majesty Donghua Dijun."

Dijun floated down to them, all casual movements and careful steps, but carrying a foreboding aura that had Nie Chuyin trembling. From the corner of his eye, the demon lord saw Dijun land to where Fengjiu stood wide-eyed, like a rabbit caught in a trap. The princess took a step back, as if intending to flee; in response, Dijun moved closer and posted himself by her side, making it impossible for her to make any sudden moves without him noticing. 

That territorial move, although subtle, spoke volumes to Nie Chuyin and made his stomach plummet to the ground. Had he inadvertently offended Dijun, by challenging the Qingqiu princess?

"Nie Chuyin. Answer the question."

Dijun's cold gaze was still fixed on him. Fortunately, Nie Chuyin's glib tongue did not fail him even in this precarious situation. "It's just a fair trade between two equals, Your Majesty. It's something Her Highness and I have engaged in before."

His words were logical, but for some reason, their content seemed to raise Dijun's ire. "Explain."

Struggling to keep his voice from trembling, Nie Chuyin related the incident of a millennia ago, when he found Fengjiu in her fox skin roaming the lands outside Dijun's palace. He glossed over the details that would make things worse for him - like the fact that he tried to use her to gain a favor from Qingqiu, which forced her to agree to lend him her nine-tailed fox fur instead. Being punished is a certainty, but he could at least mitigate the severity, couldn't he?

When he was done, an unnerving silence descended upon the mountaintop they were on. Everything fell still, as if the world itself held its breath in anticipation. Nie Chuyin risked a peep at Dijun's face, and almost bit his own tongue off at the icy fury that ignited in those fathomless eyes.

At last Dijun spoke, though there was nothing reassuring at all with his words nor his tone. "As I saw, you won this duel fair and square. But the offer you made is to bring her to Fanyin Valley. Do you have the authority to do that?"

Nie Chuyin paled. Unable to do anything else, he flung himself to the ground and knelt in supplication. "I beg Your Majesty to be lenient."

"Why should I?" Without another word, Dijun flicked his hand and Nie Chuyin dropped to ground, twisting and turning in wordless agony. Before him, Dijun walked to and fro with measured slowness, still in a protective stance before Fengjiu. "But still, you did give me some valuable information. Perhaps for that, I might give you a chance."

The fog of pain lifted, but relief was short-lived. In the distance, a beast roared; the entire mountain shook with its ferocity.

Dijun stood before Nie Chuyin, Fengjiu firmly kept at his back, within the circle of his protection. The princess' expression was a mix of gratitude, horrified awe, and trepidation.