Choices and Consequences

Protection Spell(保护法术Bǎohù fǎshù)

Kunlun Mountain

Ye Hua and Mo Yuan felt the sensation of being pulled into a vortex of swirling forces but this time it felt more vicious as if it was fighting to keep them in its embrace.  The golden thread that kept them tethered to Bai Qian is flickering.  They could feel a surge of her power to stabilise the connection before an explosion of blinding light dragged them to oblivion. 

Mo Yuan felt the soft touch of Bai Qian's essence in his mind's eye that brought him back fully to his senses.  He felt Ye Hua come back through their twinship link.  He opened his eyes to see Ye Hua also opening his eyes.  Both turned their heads to check on Bai Qian and saw blood forcefully expelled from her mouth before slumping down unconscious on Ye Hua's side.

Ye Hua bolted upright with Bai Qian's small frame cradled in his arms with her head resting on his chest.  Mo Yuan frantically summoned Chang San to prepare the elixir chamber and the infirmary.  Dei Feng arrived seconds later after having received the urgent summon from his Shifu.  "Dei Feng go fetch Zhe Yan.  We need his help." "Yes Shifu.  I'm leaving now" Dei Feng replied before calling a cloud and travelled at breakneck speed to the Peach Grove.  He has never seen his Shifu in a state of panic before. 

Mo Yuan followed Ye Hua to the infirmary.  He watched him lower Bai Qian into one of the beds carefully and tenderly.  Blood continued to trickle from her mouth.  Her skin was so pale that it looked almost translucent.  Ye Hua turned his panicked gaze to his brother "Dage, please do something."  Mo Yuan approached the bed and stood beside Ye Hua.  He stilled his hammering heart and his panicked mind.  He checked Bai Qian's pulse.  It was thready and he could feel her slipping away from them.  Pushing his essence through his hand, Mo Yuan scanned Bai Qian for any physical injuries but he couldn't find any. 

Ten Mile of Peach Blossoms

Landing a few yards away from Zhe Yan's hut, Dei Feng ran straight to the high god who was lounging beside the Jade Lake drinking wine.  The sudden rush of footsteps behind him had Zhe Yan turning his head and seeing a red faced first disciple of his brother  Mo Yuan.  His face showed panic and urgency.  Zhe Yan raised his eyebrows.  What has happened to send Die Feng to the state he is in. 

Zhe Yan straightened from his lounging position as Die Feng reached him.  Bowing his head Dei Feng greeted the high god and said "Shifu urgently needs your assistance for High Goddess Bai Qian."  In his words, Zhe Yan stood up and transformed into his beast.  He can travel faster in his true form.  Die Feng watched in awe as the magnificent blue and silver phoenix soar through the sky.  He called another cloud to chase after Zhe Yan.

Kunlun Mountain

The disciples who were gathered at the entrance of the grand  hall stared in amazement at the enormous blue and silver phoenix soaring straight at them.  They scattered out of the way as it landed and transformed back to its human form.   Zhe Yan scarcely noticed the disciples who started to bow their heads to greet him.  He ran straight to the infirmary nearly colliding with chang San who was carrying a basin of water and cloth that his Shifu asked for.

The first thing that Zhe Yan saw as he entered are the brothers transferring their essences to Bai Qian who is lying very still in the infirmary bed.  "What happened?" He loudly asked, startling both men and cutting the flow of their essences to Bai Qian.  "Please help her.  We're losing her." Ye Hua implored him.  His eyes moist with unshed tears.  Mo Yuan looked equally distraught. 

Zhe Yan stood at the head of the bed.  He closed his eyes and pushed his essence in Bai Qian's head and throughout her body. Scanning her for physical injuries.  He could not find any so he delved further and scanned her spirit.  Mo Yuan saw the disquiet in Zhe Yan's face before his brother visibly calmed himself. 

Zhe Yan gestured to Mo Yuan and Ye Hua to follow him out of the infirmary.  Before leaving, Mo Yuan summoned Chang San and Zi Lan to keep watch over Bai Qian and inform them of any change to her condition no matter how miniscule.

Mo Yuan caught up with his brothers at the entrance of his study.  It is clear in Zhe Yan's demeanor that he has questions.  Mo Yuan entered his study followed by Ye Hua and Zhe Yan.  They seated themselves around the low table.  With a flick of his fingers, Mo Yuan conjured tea and refreshment.  He poured and served them a cup of tea.

"Bai Qian injured her spirit and lost more than half of her cultivation.  She is fine but she needs a few weeks to recover.  She cannot be moved to Qing Qiu until she regains her consciousness and I suggest that you move her to your meditation chamber Mo Yuan.  The concentration of divine energy in that cave will hasten her recovery.  Now tell me exactly how this happened?" Zhe Yan looked intently to the brothers in front of him as he talked. 

The twin shared with Zhe Yan the meeting they had with their parents.  The spell that Bai Qian used and the spirit anchor that their father created to tether Bai Qian's spirit to Xūwú shìjiè (The Unmade World) which allowed them to visit the realm.  They also informed him of the details they've learned from their parents about the prophecy. 

Understanding flared in Zhe Yan's mind when he learned of the spirit anchor.  It explained the injury in Bai Qian's spirit.  The spirit anchor has not been returned. Her spirit is not complete but it's being sustained by an essence that has bound itself in the seat of her soul.  He chose not to divulge the information to his brothers.  Nuwa and Fuxi must have their reasons why they've kept the spirit anchor.  His heart is filled with happiness as he listens to Mo Yuan and Ye Hua.  Meeting their parents has brought them peace and contentment. 

Mo Yuan conjured the glass sphere that Fuxi had given him before they left.  Zhe Yan's eyes bulged from their sockets.  "Is that what I think it is?" Zhe Yan asked.  His beast recognised the phoenix essence in the glass sphere.  "Father asked me to give this to Dong Hua.  This contained what he lost when he removed his name in the Rock of Three Incarnations." Mo Yuan explained.  "I am going back to the nine heavens later to attend to some urgent reports that require my attention.  I can give it to Di Jun if you don't mind me doing so, Dage" Ye Hua offered.   "Thank you Dìdi.  it will allow me to get my meditation chamber ready for Bai Qian." Mo Yuan thanked his brother as he accepted his offer.

Ye Hua insisted on helping Mo Yuan move Bai Qian before he left for the nine heavens.  He took one last look at the sleeping Queen of Qing Qiu and tucked behind her ears the stray hairs that had fallen covering her eyes.  He met Mo Yuan at the entrance of the chamber and asked him to take care of her.  Mo Yuan nodded before entering the chamber holding a basin of warm water and towels that he will use to clean the remnants of blood in her face. Zhe Yan has gone to the elixir chamber to prepare some potions accompanied by Chang San. 

Taichen Palace, Nine Heavens

Ye Hua sat in front of Dong Hua sipping a cup of tea as he watched him study the glass sphere in his hand.  Except for a flare of recognition and a fleeting look of sadness in his eyes, no other reaction came from Dong Hua.  He conjured a velvet lined onyx box and carefully placed the sphere inside. He then got up and walked to one of the cabinets in his study, pulled out a drawer and placed the box inside.  He sat back in front of Ye Hua and thanked him for bringing him the sphere.  Ye Hua excused himself and left Di Jun with the cup of tea lifted half way to his lips deep in thought.

Di Jun's mind is on the sphere safely tucked in its box.  It calls to him.  He knows that he has a decision to make.  Fuxi knows that he actively resists what he accepts as what needs to be done.  It's been centuries since the event in the Rock of Three Incarnations.  He has lived a peaceful life since then.  Is he ready to give it up? He doesn't know the answer.  His mind strayed to Bai Feng Jui.  He sighed and decided to take a walk to the lotus pond to clear his mind.

He got up and walked out of his study.  A piercing pain ripped through his abdomen.  He doubled up from the pain.  Feng Jui!! The protection spell that he put on her has activated.  She's in danger!  Di Jun followed the pull of the spell.  He apparated in a clearing just south of Qing Qiu.  What he saw chilled his bones.  Feng Jui is surrounded by Mermaid Clan soldiers.  Her left hand clutched her injured abdomen.  Blood was gushing in between her fingers. Her sword is embedded  in a tree with blood dripping from it.  Before his eyes, he saw an arrow pierce her chest right through her heart.