The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Seventeen

Mingzhu left the study, pondering all the tidbits she learned about herself.  She was murdered, yet she couldn't remember a single detail.  She assumed the starburst scar on her chest above her heart had something to do with that murder.  She was curious since day one as to where it came from.  She believed she found her answer.  She decided to ask Shige (senior disciple brother) about it when he returned.  She also thought of a few questions she wanted to ask about the god of war.  That bit of new information astonished her.  She was saved, personally, by the mighty god of war.  Who else could say that?  Shige returned later in the day looking haggard hanging on to two small pouches for dear life.  He smiled at Mingzhu.

"Shimei (junior disciple sister), you better be glad I like you!"  He gave her an awkward smile.

"Why is that, Shige?" she laughed at his unsightly appearance and smell.

"Because I just spent two days hiding in Laozi's refinement room searching for his new cultivation pills.  I finally found them this morning!  Here they are," he held up the two pouches, "newly refined and recently stolen!  Shhh, let's not tell anyone that last part!"  He put his index finger over his lips.

Mingzhu started dying laughing, "That's great!  My Shige is a thief!  Is that why you smell so awful?"

"Only for you and Supreme Deity," he winked and used his powers to refresh himself.  Passing her a pouch he said, "Take this today, it's very important and precious.  Do NOT lose it!!"

"Yes, Shige," she took the pouch and hesitated.  Should she ask now?  She sighed, now or never, "Shige, can you tell me about the starburst scar on my chest and about the god of war?  Teacher said he was the one who saved me."

Zhurong was surprised by her question but welcomed the idea of bragging about his senior brother.  "I can't tell you about your scar, you'll have to figure that one out on your own.  But, sure, I can tell you about senior brother.  Let's go to the swing, this may take a while."

They sat on the swing and, as always, her Shige did not disappoint.  The god of fire told her how he'd come to live with Supreme Deity as a young immortal child, and despised his senior brother at first.  The god of war was arrogant, cold, and aloof.  Completely unapproachable.  Then Zhurong discovered something he never could have imagined.  His arrogant senior brother was suffering a three-month lightning punishment on his behalf.  Supreme Deity told the god of fire that this was not the first time.  Any time his junior brother would make a mistake, the god of war would take the blame for him.  Not only this, but if it was ever known that the god of fire was bullied by another god, the god of war went on a rampage.  He would avenge his junior brother and restore his honor every time.  The god of fire regretted his actions but came to love and respect his senior brother after this.

Zhurong went on to tell her about the Demon Wars.  Their senior brother was mighty and powerful even then, a millennium ago.  He stopped the Demons from rising with less than fifty thousand heavenly soldiers at his command.  No one believed he would come back alive, but he won the war.  Not only did he return, but more than half of the accompanying soldiers also returned.  He won many accolades from that war, the god of war was not interested in things such as accolades.  He spent his life maintaining the balance in the Mortal Realm to ensure there was no mass devastation.  And protecting the Heavenly Realm.  Their senior brother was a fearsome warrior.  Mingzhu was impressed.

They sat on the swing discussing the god of war late into the night.  She was enthralled, he sounded incredible.  After finishing their conversation, Mingzhu went to her sleeping quarters, removed the small pouch from her waist sash, and popped the cultivation pill into her mouth.  A warm feeling enveloped her body, relaxing her to the point of exhaustion, she climbed into bed.  When Mingzhu finally slept, she once again dreamt of her mother and the restaurant.  She tried to pay attention to every detail, concentrating.  During the end of her dream of the crash, she heard humming in the silence, familiar humming.  It coaxed her into a deep sleep, she was lulled by the sweet melody.  Such a deep sleep, that she had no idea how much her body changed over those eight hours.