The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Eighteen

A week went by in the blink of an eye.  She was training hard with Supreme Deity.  Yueshen would treat her bloody palms every day after her sessions.  Not only that, but more charms were given to her.  A hugging boy and girl, a wolf, and a Tree of Life.  The boy and girl hugging was easy to figure out, it was her adoptive brother.  And he shot her point-blank in the chest.  She knew what was coming before the gun ever appeared, it still ripped her entire world apart.  That was her gu. 

The wolf made less sense until Supreme Deity told her she'd traveled in time and become the Princess of a Mongolian tribe.  Her tribe, the wolf.  The Khan, her brothers, the elders, her maid, a guard.  Then came the Tree of Life, so many faces surrounded her in her dream.  She, apparently, married a prince and became a Princess Consort.  There was an Emperor, a Noble Consort, many, many princes, and servants at her manor she considered family.  They were all attached to the Tree of Life.  It was overwhelming.  Teacher would be giving her two more charms today.  What was in store for her tonight?

She was walking along a path in the edible herbs garden when the Moon Goddess appeared, "Come, child, I have a surprise!"

She grabbed Mingzhu by her arm and took off towards the practice field, "Wait!"  But it was too late.

Zhurong was standing in the center of the field, waiting impatiently, "There you two are, what took you so long Yueshen?"

"I couldn't find the little dear." she quipped.

Mingzhu stood between the two with a questioning look, "Okay, what am I doing here?"

"We have a surprise for you!  Look!"  Yueshen turned her hand over and a dagger appeared, a beautiful heavenly dagger.  The handle was a bright silver-white moon rock about six inches in length, with a nine-inch titanium blade embedded with moonlight.

Mingzhu was in awe, it was incredible.  And obviously made especially by the Moon Goddess.  "It's beautiful, Yueshen.  Very beautiful."

"It's yours.  I know you have the Justice Sword and all, but having a backup blade is never a bad thing.  This one may not be all-powerful, but it does have the power of moonlight.  That will dispel any demonic magic it touches.  And Zhurong is here to show you a few close combat techniques or whatever." She rolled her eyes.

"You're giving me the dagger?  Are you serious?" Mingzhu couldn't believe it.  A heavenly dagger was a godly weapon, it was specially designed and made by a god using their innate godhood talent.  It was a precious heavenly weapon.

"Yes, of course, I'm serious.  I'm also serious about your Shige," she whispered to Mingzhu, "he's insistent that you must learn close combat skills.  Give him some face, will ya?"

This Moon Goddess was getting pretty close to her Shige.  "Okay, Shige, show me whatcha got!"

Mingzhu worked on close combat skills with Zhurong until after dark, then went dragging back to her sleeping quarters.  There were two charms sitting on her vanity.  A peach blossom petal and a baby boy.  She put them on her bracelet and crawled into bed.  The dreams came rapidly and hit her hard.  She watched herself save a prince and fall in love with him in the wilderness.  She cooked for him and gardened with him.  They even fished and fought side by side.  She married the prince and went to the palace with him.  They cooperated to help his brother take the throne.  She cooked for the staff of their manor and his family, the royals. They were lovers, best friends, partners.  She was injured and being carried through the rain.  Then she got pregnant, but it didn't seem like a happy occasion.  They locked themselves away in the manor.  Strangely, she never saw the baby boy from the charm.  Only different scenes of her belly growing larger and larger until she had trouble standing.  She awoke confused.  She dressed and teleported to Teacher's study.  As always, he was waiting for her.