The Chef's Immortal

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was early spring before she was able to run well.  And Mingzhu decided it was time to make a plan.  They had yet to hear from Jialong or Longma regarding the god of war's whereabouts, so it was time to explore.  She planted an herb and vegetable garden before she left, hopeful it would flourish regardless of her presence.  Fortunately, Supreme Deity also included seeds in his Herbal Pouch, lots and lots of seeds.  They would head to Hai Steppe first and spend the summer searching the hills.  The Steppe reminded Mingzhu of Yinxiang and Hongdun, the son she never met.  Though her grief was almost palpable, she forced herself to remember the good times.

Mingzhu found a ravine and set up camp, once again building a kitchen and erecting a small yurt.  She made their home there.  Xiang Yi would run her across the Steppe as fast as he could, searching for any remnants of a god or a dwelling.  The hellhound population was prevalent, but Mingzhu decimated them within the first eight weeks.  She was still a little sore about her first day in the Abyss.  They were able to watch as the wild horses, gazelles, sheep, fox, and even wolves returned to the now demonless Steppe.  It was spectacular.

Mingzhu headed for the dunes.  There were furies in those dunes.  They were hunting for days with no sign of furies when she began to lose hope.  But around a large chunk of sandstone, a fury attacked Xiang Yi, intent on punishing him for breaking his promise of protection with the Ming Dynasty.  Mingzhu was furious.  How dare they attack her mount!  She fought the fury for several hours.  Having difficulty fighting against the wind and sand the fury threw her way.  When all was said and done, Xiang Yi was forced to carry her back to camp.  The furies were fierce.  Never underestimate a woman's wrath.  She decided then and there she would try for no more than one fury a year.  By the time she was healed, it was now the end of summer and time to begin their journey home.  She was determined to return next spring to ensure the hellhounds did not send more mutts.  Mingzhu discussed it with Xiang Yi and they chose to alternate living territories as Longma and Jialong did.  Spring and Summer would be spent on Hai Steppe, while Autumn and Winter would be spent in Xie Mo Forest.

This was how they spent the next four years.  In those four years, she only managed to kill one more fury, but she did befriend some trolls.  She assured them that as long as they didn't cause chaos or killing on the Steppe, or in Redwood Forest where they lived, she would let them be.  The trolls didn't necessarily help anyone, but they didn't hurt anyone either.  After all, she was not a mindless killer bent on destruction.  At the end of the four years, she headed for the Bamboo Forest to search for Jue yuan.  He was a blue-furred man-sized monkey who abducted women.  Longma informed her that the monkey went to the Mortal Realm and caused havoc.  It was time to go see this Jue yuan.  It took eleven days to make her first trip to the Bamboo Forest.  And she was surprised to find it desolate with only a few scattered Panda perched in trees, gnawing on bamboo.  She searched the entire Bamboo Forest, twice, and there was no Jue yuan in sight.  This was worrying.  He may have gone back to the Mortal Realm.

Mingzhu and Xiang Yi packed it all in and made the two-and-a-half-week trek back home as quickly as possible.  They missed the forest.  But, upon arrival, Xiang Yi immediately started to growl.  Mingzhu called forth her sword and looked into the camp.  A man in a light green hanfu was making tea and cooking.  As he heard Xiang Yi's growl, he drew his own sword and turned.

"Yinxiang," Mingzhu whispers, jerking desperately at the strap across her thighs.  She jumped down, started forward, but immediately stopped.  Finally noticing his Sword.  A Divine Broadsword, shiny silver with two crossed battle axes on the hilt.  Confused, she stayed frozen just in front of Xiang Yi.

"What are you doing here?  This isn't the place for a new Junior Immortal."  He seemed to be scolding her, she scoffed.

"My princess is a goddess, god of war!!"  At this point, Xiang Yi knew something was amiss.