Choices and Consequences

Xūwú shìjiè - 2(The Unmade World-2)

The lady smiled and beckoned to Bai Qian. "Come and join me Qian Qian." She conjured a table with tea and refreshment and Bai Qian joined her. "You must be wondering who I am and what place is this?." At her nod, the lady continued. "I am Nuwa and you are in Hùndùn and this is Xūwú shìjiè."

"Nuwa?" With her mouth agape, Bai Qian's mind froze, then started processing the information at the rate that she could barely keep up. She couldn't believe it. She must still be dreaming!! She pinched her right arm to wake herself up then closed her eyes hoping that when she opens them again, she'll find herself back in the Peach Tree Grove with Zhe Yan and her family. She opened one eye then the other..her gaze fell on the smiling face of Nuwa. She quickly shut her eyes again then lowered her head.

Bai Qian, still on her knees, scuttled back swiftly then slammed her face into the ground on a full kowtow. She is mortified that she sat there gaping at Heavenly Mother like an idiot. Keeping her head down, she apologised profusely for her mistake. For behaving like an imbecile and not greeting heavenly mother properly as she deserved. Nuwa looked at her with mirth dancing in her. It's been a long time since someone has kowtowed to her and the way Bai Qian slammed her face down must have hurt. She really doesn't care much for the bows.

"Qian Qian, please rise. You don't need to stand in ceremony here. Sit and drink your tea before it gets cold." Bai Qian rose and moved to sit opposite Nuwa. She noticed that the scenery had changed. They are now in the middle of a peach tree grove, sitting in the banks of a lake with water so clear and still that the trees are reflected perfectly in its glassy surface.

"Heavenly Mother, Am I dead? Is this the reason why I am with you here in Hùndùn? Shouldn't my soul have scattered?" She looked at Nuwa expectantly. Her mind still hasn't fully come into terms that she is actually having tea and talking to the Heavenly Mother. Nuwa looked at her from the top of the rim of her teacup. "Your mortal self died hence I was able to bring you here. Technically you are dead until the time of your return to the immortal realm." She put her teacup down and looked at the young immortal sitting in front of her. "Did you know that one of my most trusted friends and lieutenants was your great grandmother Daji? She was one of the first of the ancient tribes. The first of the nine tailed foxes along with your great grandfather. She died defending the safety of all realms when ancient evil was unleashed in the heavens." Bai Qian shook her head. She hasn't really paid much attention to her family history. "You look so much like her." Nuwa continued. "It's like looking at a mirror image. She was the first and only white nine tailed fox in her generation. The same as you are in your generation." Her voice trailed and she looked at the distance lost in her thoughts.

Bai Qian cleared her throat bringing Nuwa's attention back to her. "Heavenly Mother, please forgive me for my impertinence but why exactly am I here?." Nuwa continued to look at her with conflicting emotions in her eyes as if she was still deciding on whether to share whatever was on her mind, then she visibly squared her shoulders and let out a deep sigh. "You are here because of what is to come. You are one of the keys that will prevent the destruction of what I have died to preserve. The ancient evil that nearly destroyed your world will be unleashed again. I have watched the stirrings over the last millennia. You have very little time before its evil begins to manifest in your world again."

"How am I a key? I am only a high immortal. I can't be a key? No, you must be mistaken, Heavenly Mother." Bai Qian shook her head in denial. She is not powerful enough to fight some ancient evil who was strong enough to destroy the world. There are more powerful gods than her. Her mother is more suited to it as she's more powerful, Bai Qian thought.

"You will be a high goddess when you return to the immortal realm. The only one and most powerful high goddess the world has seen. You have the seed of an ancient power that was granted to you by the death of Daji. Only white nine-tailed foxes have this gift. Your birth signalled the continuation of a war that I should have ended. My failure has now become your burden as well as the burden of my sons." Nuwa finished with tears glistening in her luminous eyes.

Bai Qian was speechless. She keenly felt the sadness and regret that emanates from Nuwa. She also felt the pain of loss when she spoke of her sons. She might be the most powerful goddess that ever graced the world but she was also a mother who sacrificed her life to preserve the life of others and to give her sons a chance to live.

"How do I access and harness this ancient power, Heavenly Mother?" Bai Qian asked, looking Nuwa straight in the eyes. "I will teach you. But first there is someone I want you to meet."

The Fox Den...

Everyone looked at Bai Qian, glassy eyed and with their mouths hanging open. They can't believe what they are hearing. Bai Zhi was the first to recover. "Xiao Wu, are you sure about this? What you just told us is fantastical!! Heavenly Mother has repaired the pillars and the ancient evil has been sealed for eternity. All accounts of that war said so." "Father, I know that it is very hard to process but it's the truth. We need to prepare for it. We need to build an elite army who are not only skilled in war but in fox magic. War is coming whether we like it or not."

Zhe Yan and Bai Zhen asked how long they had before this war. "300 years at most but there will be upheavals before then. Those are ones that the celestials will have to handle themselves."

"How do you know that who you met was the Heavenly Mother Xiao Wu? It could have been someone who wanted to sow discord and influence you. You know for sure that the Nine Heavens will have questions when they learn that we are suddenly training and building an army since we never had one before. Wouldn't it look suspicious?" Empress Meili interjected in the conversation.

Bai Qian waved her hand in a figure of eight then the armour and sword that she was wearing appeared in the table before them. She then opened her right palm. Sitting on it is a white lotus flower. A soft white glow emanates from it then its centre turns to gold. Zhe Yan gasped. He knows that flower. It is the mark of Nuwa!! "Xiao Wu, where did you get that?" Zhe Yan nearly shouted. "This was given to me by Heavenly Mother. To show to those who doubt my words. Take a look at this armour and sword? Does anyone recognise its markings?."

Zhe Yan picked up the sword and unsheathed it. Bai Zhi took hold of the armour. Then they exchanged with each other. Zhe Yan checking armour and Bai Zhi the sword. Then both of them turned to Bai Qian simultaneously and said, "These are Heavenly Mother's sword and armour!!" "Everyone thought this was lost during the war. She was wearing this dragon scale armour when she passed to nothingness after giving birth to Mo Yuan and Ye Hua right after she repaired the pillars." Zhe Yan continued. Bai Zhen sighed and blurted out "I need a drink, my head is spinning!!" Everyone laughed and the tension in the room dissipated.

Bai Qian looked at her family. She will do anything to keep them safe along with the rest of the realms. She still has much to tell them but it can wait another day. For now, she will savour the joy of being with her family.