Choices

14 - Dangerous Pt 1

A/N: Because, in any universe, a jealous Donghua is a dangerous Donghua (and FJ and XY will forever be the clueless duo).

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Word about the adonis who descended to Fanyin along with demon princess Ji Heng spread within the valley in a matter of hours. The next day after their arrival, curious Biyinaos craned their necks as they passed by the courtyard that the Queen had bestowed upon the pair, eager to catch a glimpse of the famed shifu under whose tutelage the beautiful Xiaojiu is set to join the martial arts' competition.

Second Prince Xiangli Meng was the first to meet the famed Green Demon Lord, when he went to Dijun's residence in hopes of seeing Xiaojiu to check on the progress of her training.

"Pardon me," the Biyinao's Second Prince called to the lone, black-clad immortal clearing the dining table in the middle of courtyard, near the koi pond. "I am looking for Xiaojiu. Is she in her room?"

The black-clothed person turned, and Meng's breath stopped at how striking that face was -- smooth and fair, as delicate as fragile china, rivaling Xiaojiu's with its dainty brows, fine cheekbones and soft features. Truly, wherever Dijun is, so do all the beauties are...

That is, until the other scowled and growled, "who the hell are you?"

Such an exquisite countenance, coupled with a deep, growling voice -- wait, is this beautiful person a man? "Uh, my name's Meng, I'm a friend of Xiaojiu's. I came to see how she's doing?"

The beautiful man(?) looked Meng down and up with distrust, somehow not looking as menacing as he would have been without the apron and the stack of dishes he was balancing on both hands. "She isn't here. Why are you looking for her?"

Meng was a gentleman, but he isn't a pushover, and he was just about to call out the crass attitude when a familiar voice called out from the open doorway to the kitchens, "Demon Lord Yan, how are you doing with the table clearing?"

"Uh, I'm almost done, Ji Heng, I'll be right over." The face that had regarded Meng with so much scorn softened, and the voice that sounded so fierce just a few moments ago became low and pleasing. "No need to worry about washing them, I'll do it as well."

Meng stood there blinking, not quite able to believe his ears, as the man proceeded to pick the rest of the dishes on the table. "Um, you wouldn't happen to be Green Demon Lord Yan Chiwu, Xiaojiu's shifu?"

The demon blinked, then his brows furrowed at the tone of disbelief in Meng's voice. "That would be me. I'm helping Ji Heng with her chores, is there any problem?" He eyed Meng again, and was mollified at the way the prince raised his hands in a universal gesture of peace. Those dark pupils took a calculating glance as they flitted from Meng's head to his toes, as if sizing him up. "You're Xiaojiu's friend? What did you say your name was again?"

"I am Xiangli Meng, Second Prince of the Biyinaos." It didn't seem right to introduce himself so informally to the lord of one of the seven demon clans, so Meng punctuated the introduction with a bow, which surprisingly the other man returned, with as much grace as the plates on his hands would allow. Despite the care by which the bow was executed, however, a few of the plates wobbled, and would have dropped onto the ground if not for Meng's quick reflexes. "Here, let me help you with those."