Rescue Me, My Love

Well, What Now, Fuqin?

     Mo Yuan stood on the cloud and watched the bodies burn to ash.  When he was satisfied none were left, he turned their cloud toward Ye Hua and Xue.  When he touched down, Ye Hua was about to go destroy the clutch of eggs.  "Wait!!  You there, transform and let me see you!"  The old man turned and transformed.  Mo Yuan knew him.  He was the old king.  He had ruled until a palace coup had put his daughter on the throne.  "How long has it been since last I saw you, old one?"  "It has been some time, War God, but there is no time for chit chat.  That clutch of eggs must be destroyed now."  "Ye Hua, I will go.  You stay here.  These boys can help you organize and find shelter for the people here."  He turned and followed the old man.  He knew where they were going.  He had been there before.  Sent by his father as an emissary, he had come to negotiate a treaty between them.  Instead of a treaty, he had barely made it out alive.  The daughter of the king had taken a liking to him, claiming he was her forever mate and refused to let him go.  She had imprisoned him in that very room until he threatened to destroy every egg there.  She had let him go.  Why she didn't pursue him he never knew and didn't care.  He went straight back to Fuxi and reported that no treaty was possible, told of his debacle and staunchly refused to go back.  Now he had come full circle.  When the old man came close to the door he stepped back.  "I believe you know what to expect.  If you wish to help us, rid us of this room now.  I will leave you to it."
     There were no traps or alarms.  It seems she had grown confident over the years.  He opened the door.  There weren't as many eggs as before.  The cavern was huge so he was able to rise up over the eggs.  He started at the far end blasting fire and burning them.  He burned as he slowly backed out of the room.  When he left, there was nothing but smouldering ashes in his wake.  One last blast closed off the room for good.  He returned to find Ye Hua and group busy with the old king.  Mo Yuan came to him and offered him and asked him if he had an heir.  "High God Mo Yuan, I have one heir.  He has been safely hidden for years.  If any queen would have known about me or him, we would have been killed.  You have saved us today.  We are in the debt of the nine heavens."  "We are here because your queen tried to destroy my son, the white dragon, because he refused her advances.  She tried to kill him, his wife and his children.  Rebuild your kingdom and drive her kind out.  We will help you."  "We have another nest of caves many miles from here.  I also have my own palace there.  I will strip this one and obtain any riches hidden to rebuild our kingdom.  Many have secretly moved to get away from her.  I believe you have killed all of those loyal to her.  If we need aide, we will come to Tianjun Ye Hua.  I can see that he is a very compassionate man worthy of his office and title." 
     After many talks and negotiations, they left for the nine heavens.  They were all tired but Mo Yuan had some unfinished business he needed to tend to.  He called Junjie into his study.  Bai Xue, Mo JinDe and Bai Baohu Zhe all looked at each other and all started to comment when Mo Yuan held up his hand.  "No words from any of you!  Not one word!  Now all of you have things to attend to, don't you?"  He looked each one in the eye meaningfully.  Each one knew no matter how adult you thought you were, when Fuqin told you to do something, you did it.  They all bowed simultaneously and left.  Outside the door, Baohu spoke to Junjie in his mind.  "Whatever you do, Junjie, tell Fuqin the truth!  Tell him why you followed us and don't lie!  Call me when you're done!"  Bai Xue looked at his brothers with great pride.  "Although I didn't swing a blade today, I'm very proud of you, JinDe, and you Baohu and Junjie.  You, JinDe, because you have become a mighty warrior, just like Fuqin!   You, Baohu, because you show absolutely no fear even though you may be afraid.  Zufu has taught you well how to use those tails!  And Junjie!!  Who knew he could shoot lightning out of his tail like that!  I can't do that!  He's one little fearless dragon for sure!  I hope Fuqin will go easy on him.  I wish I could have seen his face when he saw Junjie stab that snake in the eye with no fear!"  JinDe grinned and shrugged.  "If it is one thing that Fuqin appreciates, it is a fearless warrior.  Junjie was absolutely fearless and if he hadn't been looking back, she would have attacked me and Baohu.  I for one, am glad he was there!  Well, I'm tired and I hear my hot pool calling me.  Mei Ying will give me a good massage too!  I'm off for home.  I'll see you in the morning!"  He jumped to his palace.  Baohu hugged Xue and told him to go home.  "Da ge, I'm sure Meili and your boys are waiting for you.  I'll see you tomorrow."  Bai Xue nodded and jumped to his palace.  Baohu sighed and headed to his own room.  He was tired too.  The hot pool was a really good idea.  A really good one.  He jumped to his room, got his favorite oils and jumped to the pool.  Hopefully Fuqin and Junjie would come soon.
     Mo Yuan was sitting behind his desk when Junjie walked in and hit his knees in the lowest bow he had ever done.  "Fuqin, let me explain please?" "Yes please do explain why you saw the need to follow us.  Please do explain to me how you learned to shoot lightning out of your tail?  Even I can't do that!"  "Zufu Bai Zhi taught me.  He said it was a gift from Mother that my dragon and fox combined in this way.  He saw me trying to use it one day and taught me how just like it was a fox tail.  I've been training to get stronger.  I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Fuqin.  Please don't punish me too hard?  Please?"  Honey brown eyes, so much like his own looked up at him.  "Now tell me why you followed us!"  "Fuqin, you taught me to never be afraid, but for some reason, I feared greatly for Baohu.  Flying is one thing, but Baohu has his most power when he is on the ground.  I put myself behind a barrier and climbed onto JinDe when he did.  I think he knew I was there, but he didn't say anything.  If I hadn't been looking behind us, that snake queen would have hit JinDe and Baohu at once.  That's when I transformed and called lightning to hit her.  I hit her one good time and stunned her.  That's when JinDe stabbed her head and I stabbed her eye.  I'm sorry, Fuqin, but you didn't tell me not to stay here or not to follow.  Besides, I can fight too!  Just like you!"  "Hmmmm, using an omission of words directly spoken as a technicality to do something dangerous.  Good defense, but it won't work.  Although I  didn't tell you directly not to follow us, you should have used good common sense and known better.  Just what do you think your punishment should be?  Hmmmm?"  "Well, first I need Jinzi to clean this spot on my chest.  Snake venom splashed on me and it burns really bad."  "What?!?  You have been all of this time in pain and said nothing?  You foolish little dragon!  Come, let me take you to Jinzi now."  Junjie passed out right into his Fuqin's arms.
     Jinzi had decided to stay for a few days and make sure no one needed him.  He gathered his own oils and went to the hot pool.  Baohu was already there.  "Ah, Jinzi!  I need a good shoulder rub!  Do you mind?"  Jinzi grinned and took off his clothes and dove into the water.  He was rubbing Baohu's shoulders when his Fuqin appeared carrying Junjie.  "Jinzi!  Junjie has a snake venom burn on his chest!  What do you need?  I'll get it."  Take his clothes off, Fuqin and lay him in the water.  I'll look and see."  Mo Yuan removed Junjie's clothes and his own and walked into the pool.  He had to admit the water felt nice.  Jinzi took Junjie from his Fuqin and dunked his chest in the water.  He had a wound the size of two fists on his chest.  Jinzi passed his hand over the area.  Slowly it healed.  He washed it good and oiled him good.  Junjie smiled and sighed.  "Why did he pass out?  He shouldn't have.  Unless he is trying to gain sympathy from a very angry Fuqin."  "He didn't eat today.  That might have something to do with it.  Scan him for hidden spells.  That snake was devious in more ways than one."  Jinzi scanned him but found nothing.  "I can't find anything, but I will call Shifu to check him.  I'm still learning spell detection."  Junjie stretched and opened his eyes.  He looked around.  He looked at his chest and then the water.  "Thank you, San ge.  That feels better."  "Junjie, are you sure?  You don't look better."  Junjie's eyes flashed and glazed over.  He fainted again.  "Fuqin, go get Zhe Yan right now!  Hurry!!"  Mo Yuan jumped so fast the ground shook.  He was back with Zhe Yan within minutes.
     Jinzi stood up and carried Junjie to the grass by the pond.  He was there with him when Mo Yuan returned with Zhe Yan.  "Shifu, I can't detect spells but something is here that I can't see."  "It's ok, Jinzi, I haven't taught you this type of magic yet.  Let me look."  Zhe Yan stood back and scanned Junjie.  "It is as I thought.  The snake's spirit is trying to overtake his spirit.  The strength of spirit this child has is strong.  He is fighting her every way he can.  Jinzi!  Go gather me a couple of those snake flowers!"  Jinzi gathered a handful of them and came running back.  Zhe Yan laid them on Junjie's chest right where the snake venom was.  Junjie was fighting something.  He had to be held down.  The snake's spirit was struggling to get away but couldn't.  Her essence rose from his body and was captured by Zhe Yan.  "Got you, snake!"  He created a ball around the essence.  The ball kept getting smaller, forcing the essence to swirl.  Finally a scream was heard and the ball disappeared.  Junjie lay still for a moment.  He opened his eyes and sighed.  " Fuqin, please don't punish me too badly.  I just wanted to go to war with you!"  Mo Yuan knelt down beside him and took his hand into his.  Junjie smiled and went right to sleep.
     Mo Yuan was in a quandary.   He knew he should punish Junjie, but he had shown a power and confidence in battle that was extraordinary.  They had put him to bed to sleep off the effects of the snake venom.  He was thinking over the situation when JinDe knocked on his door.  "Enter."  "Fuqin, I wish to ask for leniency for Junjie.  I feel like he thought he was doing his duty.  If he hadn't been with us, the snake would have injured Baohu and I."  He bowed low to his father.  Mo Yuan sighed and motioned for JinDe to sit down.  "JinDe, I was sitting here thinking that very thing.  Junjie is very brave and fearless.  He has grown a lot in his fortitude and bearing.  Killing that demon also gave him a heavy dose of courage.  I was actually going to give him a speech and up his training several notches.  That little tail thing was totally unexpected.  He needs to build that and I'm going to get your mother to show him more about tail control.  Yes, I agree, his ordeal was enough stress without worrying about punishment.  I was about to check in on him.  Would you like to accompany me?"   "Yes, I will.  My Didi was very brave today.  Very brave!"  They were close to the door when a very loud dragon growl could be heard.  They rushed in the door to look.  Junjie was asleep, but he was in the midst of a dream.  He was moving his hands in dagger moves and he was trying to transform.  Mo Yuan jumped to his bedside and grabbed him.  He lightly shook him and called his name.  "Junjie!  Junjie!  Wake up!  It's Fuqin!  Wake up!!"  Junjie relaxed and opened his eyes.  "Oh, it's you, Fuqin!  I thought that snake was here again.  Is she gone?  Did we kill her?"  "Yes, you, JinDe and Baohu killed her.  She is dead now.  I destroyed her eggs so she can never come back again.  How do you feel now?"  "I feel fine.  Tired, but fine."  "JinDe and I came to check on you.  I have decided that no punishment is necessary, but your combat training will be increased.  I find your little tail trick to be very good.  It needs refining.  What do you say to that, Xiao Jinlong?"  Junjie grinned and brought forth his dragon.  "Must you call me Xiao Jinlong?  I'm not so little!  I'm just not as big as you and JinDe!"  Mo Yuan brought forth Jinlong and grinned himself.  "So you think you are not small anymore?  Think you're a force to be reckoned with?"  He blew smoke across his chest.  Xiao Jinlong giggled.  "No fair, Fuqin!  Smoke always tickles!  Blow smoke on Mo Jinlong!"  JinDe's eyes turned gold.  "No!  Not smoke!  It tickles!!  That's how Fuqin gets you!  He tickles you with smoke!"  Mo Yuan laughed out loud.  "Hmmm, so now I know how to get the both of you!  Smoke!  I won't be forgetting that!  You both can run, but I'll get you eventually!!"  "Well Junjie!  We're both had!  From now on we better behave or Fuqin will tickle us until we pee!  How embarrassing!  My Fuqin can still make me pee on myself!  Don't tell on me!"  Mo Yuan smirked and blew smoke out his nose.  "How about the hot pool, Junjie?"  Mo JinDe grabbed his brother and jumped them to the pool while their Fuqin was laughing.
     Bai Xue came into his garden with Meili and Fenli and Ali.  He had a basket of food for them.  He called a quilt and sat down.  "You boys can swim in the pool, if you wish.  Mother and I will sit here and watch you!"  They jumped in the pool naked and were swimming around splashing.  Xue leaned over and brushed Meili's lips with a soft kiss.  "I still can't believe you're here, my love!  I love you so!  I'm sorry I didn't protect you.  I should have been able to detect the spell."  "Xue, my love, I couldn't tell you because she silenced me.  I couldn't speak about it.  It's the reason I planted the flowers in our garden.  She wanted you really badly.  Since you are white, pure white, she wanted you for breeding purposes.  She wanted the strength you could bring to her offspring and the pure white color.  She wanted you so badly, she was willing to commit any crime to get you.  I was able to weave a protection spell around myself.  I went into sleep.  Burying me at home saved me.  The soil there is magical and helped me return faster.  I'm sorry for your grief.  I hope you can forgive me?"  "Meili, my love!  I could never stay angry at you for anything anyway!  Our boys are so happy now, as am I.  Your Fuqin has been training them.  They have your powers and mine combined.  They could smell the snake.  They are special little boys!"  "Xue, I love them so!  Let's get in the pool with them!"  Xue's eyes turned white and he growled a seductive growl she was all to familiar with.  "Tonight, Bailong!  Tonight!  At this pool, you and I will renew ourselves!"  They played with the boys for a couple of hours before they went in for dinner.  Later that night, Bailong took his mate to the pool and renewed his love.  They made love all night and the housekeeper smiled the next morning when she found them together, asleep on a quilt.  He was coiled around her naked body.  She was asleep with her head laid over his heart and flower petals were scattered all around and about them.  She left them there until they arose with renewed love and their hearts soaring.
     After lunch, Mo Yuan brought Baohu and Junjie with him to see Xue and Meili.  They were in their garden drinking tea.  "Fuqin!  Come drink tea with us!"  Baohu ran to his beloved Da ge.  "Da ge!  Are you feeling better now?  Are you happy now?"  "Da ge!  Junjie is glad you're all better!"  "Yes, your Da ge is all better and I'm very happy too!!"  "Fuqin, I was going to talk to you about Junjie!  He packs some power in that tail!"  "Yes, I'm aware and after today, he will begin intense training.  He has shown me that even though he is young, he is capable.  Hopefully your mother won't kill me when I tell her about his training.  I'm also wondering what Liang Lei can do.  I need to contact Bai Zhi again.  He could also teach Chin Chu and Chen Bo some tail maneuvers.  What do you think of this Xiao Jin Huli?  I guess you know he singed my hair with those tails?"  Bai Xue looked at Baohu with new respect.  "Well my Xiao Jin Huli!  I wonder what Jinlong thought when you scorched his hair?  It seems we have kept Fuqin on his toes!!"  Mo Yuan's eyes turned gold.  "Well, to be fair, he scorched my hair but he took a direct hit from me, got up and walked off, albeit he went straight to his brother for healing!  Never said a word.  I was told he landed at the peach grove and passed out.  I can say I'm very proud of all my sons!  Now if I could just light a fire under those lazy girls!!"  "Fuqin, are you saying they are like mother?"  "Baohu, I will never say that out loud!  I might think it but I will never say it!  Your mother is going to kill me over Junjie like it is!"  "Fuqin, please don't tell mother!"  "Tell me what?"  All heads turned toward her at once.  "Well?"  "Dearest, it's just about Junjie's training.  That's all."  "Why am I not liking what your saying, Mo Yuan?"  "Well dearest, he is ready to start more intense training now.  I thought to train him and the girls along with Baohu.  I intend to send for your Fuqin for more fox training."  "Mo Yuan, dear, I've asked Zhe Yan why he was here yesterday.  Why do you think Junjie needed healing, dearest?"  "Mother, it was just a little snake venom on me, that's all.  Nothing to worry yourself over!"  "And just where were you yesterday when your Fuqin and brothers were gone to war, hmmm?"  "Well, Mother, I might have been with Baohu and JinDe."  "Mo Yuan, dear, would you mind helping me just a minute?  It won't take long!"  Meili snickered behind her hand and every pair of male eyes looked at her in terror.  Mo Yuan took a deep breath and followed her out of the garden gate.  Bai Xue looked at Baohu and Junjie.  "I suggest you boys go to JinDe to hide for a while!  Fuqin is about to be raked over the coals again by Mother!  Poor Jinlong!"