Abide With Me

Blinking is not flirting!

At this, the water foamed and sprayed everywhere, drenching Wei Ying but unbelievably Lan Zhan stayed dry. There were splashing sounds and a huge form nearly two metres long emerged from the water to stand before them.

From the leathery golden yellow head to a green and grey body, the creature looked (and smelt) like a newt. Two large purple oval eyes with vertical golden pupils and fringed with gorgeous purple lashes gazed intelligently at them.

"I am Zise de Yanjing*, Princess of the Aquatic Realm," she bowed low to Wei Ying and nodded to Lan Zhan. Immediately, Lan Zhan's grip on Wei Ying's hand tightened perceptibly.

"Welcome, Master Wei!"

"You know us !" exclaimed Wei Ying.

"Only you, Master Wei," said Zise de Yanjing.

With a mischievous glance at the stony Second Jade, Wei Ying pulled him forward, saying "This is Hanguang Jun, Lan Zhan, Second Young Master of the Gusu Lan clan" and paused, as Lan Zhan gave him his best glare. "And my husband!"

Surprise glimmered for just a second, before the Princess bowed to Lan Zhan with the same courtesy, saying

"Welcome Hanguang Jun, husband of Master Wei!" Lan Zhan almost smiled, and bowed back.

The Princess flicked her long tail and there opened into the floor a marble lined channel of water leading further into the cave.

"I am sure you have questions," she said, swimming ahead. "But after this long and arduous climb, please do rest and refresh yourself before we talk."

Ahead was a beautifully appointed chamber furnished with a satin covered bed, a table with hot food, fruits and wine. "You are my guests," the Princess smiled and the purple lashes fluttered.

Wei Ying blinked. Pulling Wei Ying behind and covering his body with his own presence, Lan Zhan answered, "We thank you, Princess and we'll meet you later."

She nodded and swam away with a flick of her tail.

Turning to Lan Zhan, Wei Ying said, "Take a bath?"

"Mn" said Lan Zhan, not looking Wei Ying. "Wei Ying can go first!"

"Lan Zhaaan" Wei Ying whined, "I can't, won't you come too?"

Putting away Bichen and Suibian with a loud clatter, Lan Zhan said tightly, "Wei Ying can teleport alone, Wei Ying can identify strange princesses alone, Wei Ying can bathe alone!"

Bursting out laughing, Wei Ying slid his arms around a fuming Lan Zhan and whispered in his ear, "Blinking, Lan Zhan, is not flirting!"

Lan Zhan's downcast eyes flew up to Wei Ying's smiling face and he gulped, "Blinking?"

"Blinking," confirmed Wei Ying, "and besides, I can't see past my handsome husband!"

Suddenly businesslike, Lan Zhan said, "Hurry, let's bathe, Wei Ying!"

Some time later, a splashing alerted them to the Princess's arrival.

"Thank you for your hospitality," said Lan Zhan.

"Thank you for Master Wei's help," said the Princess, silencing the Jade in one fell swoop.

"Tell us why you've summoned me" asked Wei Ying.

"Summoned? Oh no no, it was a call, a call for help," said the Princess,"You must believe me," fluttering her lashes at Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan turned pink and turned towards Wei Ying and mumbled, "Blinking!"

"Hanguang Jun, Master Wei," she began, "Welcome to the Emerald Island also called Lanka*! You are at the stone fortress of Sigiriya*. I have brought you here because our Realm needs your help desperately."

She continued, "We are the Da Ni*, an ancient race in the Aquatic Realm of the North. We lived peacefully, our food being crabs, fish and small creatures found in freshwater. We are not a violent race, except during the mating season, when looking for a mate or having found one, protecting our mate," she looked meaningfully at Lan Zhan who nodded back seriously.

"Over the past two months, there have been reports of a few of our members suddenly disappearing from the waters, leaving no trace! There are no signs of battle or bloodshed, yet our people are disappearing. Last week Master Wei summoned a Da Ni spirit from the Shadow Realm, where aquatic souls rest. This lead us to believe that he could help us in our quest."

"It was during the night hunt at Lotus Pier", explained Wei Ying to Lan Zhan's questioning look.

"Wait a minute" said Wei Ying, keenly following a suspicion that had arisen in his agile mind,"Did you say Shadow Realm? What exactly do you mean?"

"I used resentful energy to conjure up the Da Ni, so that means of all of your Shadow Realm is in effect operating on resentful or demonic energy. Who would have thought, Honoured Princess, that the Da Ni were evil?"

Both Lan Zhan and Zise de Yanjing looked up at this.

"Evil?! Not at all! What could have led you to accuse us of evil? We are a peaceful people, and barely a hundred in number!"

"But you use Demonic Energy" said Wei Ying.

"You, Master Wei, more than anyone else can understand what I'm about to say," she said.

"In ancient times, energy came from many sources and in various forms. There were many Realms and creatures native to each. Different Realms used different resources for living.

On this one planet, creatures occupied land, fresh water, sea water, air, space, light, shadow, twilight and time; and all coexisted and interacted with others with hardly any conflict.

The mere source of energy did not make one Evil. The purpose that they used it for determined their fealty."

Lan Zhan nodded at this and intoned, "The Ancients were wise!"

"Come," said the Princess, leading them still further into the cave chamber. Before them on a raised platform, were two bejeweled troughs that connected to the channel the Princess swam in. Gracefully flipping into one of the troughs, the Princess' purple-fringed eyes dewed over as she gazed at the empty one next to hers. Silently, she pointed to the wall behind the trough, her eyes filling.

A powerful green and gold Da Ni, nearly three metres long with amazing orange eyes, was depicted on the mural. Commanding and triumphant, he wore a crown with a huge green emerald right at its centre. Clearly, a prince among Da Ni!

"And this is...?" asked Wei Ying gently, passing a white handkerchief over. "My Prince!" her tears spilt over.

"What happened?" asked Wei Ying and then answered his own question "Oh no, he disappeared!"

************

A/N:

Illustration credit - nicadilly
and lavathelamp

*Zise de Yanjing - Purple Eyes

*Da Ni - Chinese Giant Salamander

*Lanka - modern day Sri Lanka

*Sigiriya - A rock citadel built in the 5th century in Central Province, Sri Lanka

06.10.21