Elixir of Immortality

Chapter 18

My chest felt heavy as my eyes became lidded. Breathing felt so much harder, but it wasn't impossible. I forced my eyes open and gasped. We are on the moon, I thought excitedly. Stars were above us like an angel's halo.

"This is insane!" Ushi screamed next to me, jumping up and down. As she did, it took longer for her feet to touch the ground again. "I can float!" Ushi kept leaping, twirling.

"Is that the Guanghan Palace?" Abahai gasped, pointing to a palace in front of us. It looked like the royal grand palaces that are in Māmā's TV shows. Next to the palace, there was a towering cassia tree. There was a man, a woodcutter, in fact, trying to hack the tree.

"That tree is giant!" Ushi whispered in my ear. "How will he cut it down?"

"That's Wu Gang," Xiong explained. Wu Gang wore light robes and had a straw hat hung around his neck. He wore big boots and a large axe. "He committed a crime so the Chinese gods ordered him to be punished. He must cut that cassia tree every day, except the tree will endlessly grow. Wu Gang has been doing this for hundreds of years."

We walked up to the door, but not before the woodcutter waved at us. "Greetings, Xiong Lee. Who are these visitors with you? For Chang'e?" Wu Gang gave us a grim, but toothy smile. He looked exhausted and I felt slightly bad for him.

"Yes, we have the Elixir of Immortality for Chang'e. Change is happening, Wu Gang," Xiong said, nodding. The front doors suddenly opened as if on cue. "Oh, good, Chang'e knows we're here. Let's go to the Throne Room."

We headed inside and were shocked at how lavish the Moon Palace's interior was. The walls there were filled with old Chinese artworks, and not coped prints. "I'm afraid I'll break something," Ushi squeaked in Cantonese.

"Same," Abahai agreed, his eyes wide. At the end of the hallway, there was a throne. It had jade and other jewels adorning it. A tall lady sat on the throne, looking like royalty. Chang'e.

She had pale skin and black pinned up, her red robes flowing. Her face was soft and feminine, but also sharp and cold. Abahai brushed my hands with me and I tried my best to ignore it.

"Xiong Lee."

"Chang'e." Xiong knelt down, bowing. Abahai, Ushi, and I quickly dropped to the floor, also messily kneeling. Next to Chang'e was a white hare with beady red eyes. The Moon Hare, I thought.

Suddenly, I looked at Xiong. Something's not right, I thought. Xiong stood up, producing the Elixir of Immortality from his pockets, walking towards the throne. "Abahai, Ushi!" I hissed under my breath as their heads snapped towards me. "Something isn't right!"

Ushi widened her eyes. "Huh?"

"How did Wu Gang know Xiong's name?" I demanded as Abahai looked like he had the same question. "He couldn't have known if Xiong didn't visit the Moon Palace before. He said he was hired by Chang'e, but why Xiong specifically?"

Before Abahai or Ushi could protest, I jumped to my feet. "Wait! Stop! Stop!" I shouted and Xiong paused, startled. All eyes were on me now. Chang'e glared at me, curling up her fists. "I-I—"

"You speak when I say you can speak, girl."

I have a name, Chang'e. "What are you going to use the elixir for?"

Chang'e scowled, shifting her glare to Xiong. "I was not expecting guests, Xiong Lee. Now, give me the elixir."

He nodded. "Yes—"

"Answer me!" I yelled angrily, surprising myself at the tone of my voice.

Chang'e stood up from her throne, walking towards us. She swiftly snatched the elixir from Xiong's hands and Xiong followed after her. I backed away, stumbling. Ushi and Abahai stood up, coming to my side to support me.