True Nature

The Darker Side 3

Yan Da sighed. She wanted to move but couldn't. Xing Gui's grip on her was strong. The dream princess was deep asleep and she wanted to take this chance to go and hunt or gather some food for them. Biting her lip, she raised her hand.

If she can't, then someone else has to. Three beautiful wolves then appeared on the end of the bed.

"It's about time," the alpha grunted. He'd been waiting to be called out but Yan Da never did until now.

She chuckled. "Sorry. You know that I could only summon you guys once in a while."

The alpha snorted, looking at her and Xing Gui. He grinned, showing his sharp fangs. "Princess, finally acting on those desires I see."

Yan Da blushed, giving the wolf a death glare. "It's not like that!? Get your mind off the gutter. I want you three to go and hunt for us. The bigger. The better. Just be careful."

The wolf smirked. "I think the lady protests too much." He said before disappearing with the others.

Yan Da closed her eyes in embarrassment. Of all creatures she has, it had to be Al who saw her and her experiments. She admits. She did have dalliances with ladies before. But that was only in her younger years. It was out of curiosity that's all.

~~~

"I always knew that there was something." Shuo Gang muttered, focusing his eyes on Yan Da's servants. They avoided his gaze but the blush on their cheeks were visible to everyone.

~~~

A groan made Yan Da opened her eyes. She frowned that didn't sound good. For it not to escalate, she sat up and held Xing Gui like a lover would. One hand on her waist and the other on her nape. Yan Da rested her forehead on hers.

"Shh...it's only a dream. You're safe now." She whispered repeatedly, calming Xing Gui down. When her breathing even out, Yan Da sighed in relief. She then let her head rest on her chest. Heartbeats always calm her. It means that she wasn't alone. Maybe, it would help the other too.

With Xing Gui's state, Yan Da couldn't help but worry over the others. What happened to them? Where are they? How about her tribe? Her brothers? Her father? Are they alright?

~~~

Yan Da's thoughts echoed in the throne room. Some had the same thoughts. Some were surprised. They were touched by her sincere worry.

But indeed, what happened in there? That it became like that...What's really going on in that world?

~~~

Hours later...

The wolves have returned with lots of meat. They even gathered some fruits and vegetables for them. After teasing Yan Da one more time, they disappeared.

"Xing Gui, wake up." Yan Da gently shook her shoulder. She didn't want to but she needed to prepare and cook. Xing Gui frowned but moved. Yan Da made sure that she's comfortable before she separated herself from her.

"What do you want to eat? I have rabbits, chickens and boars. If you don't want that you can have some fruits and fresh water. Or do you want some rice...hmm... porridge maybe?" She asked as she skinned the animals expertly. She learned to cook human food for Shuo Gang in the last realm. He liked them.

When Xing Gui didn't answer, she washed her hands and got some water. "Here drink first. But slowly since I know that they didn't feed you well for a long time."

Xing Gui did. Taking a sip then another and another. Tears poured down in the corner of eyes. It had been so long...The water tasted so good. "I..." She began, biting her lip.

"Hm?" Yan Da urged.

"Some porridge please with chicken."

"Okay. Got it." Yan Da then prepared the dishes and cooked them. Good thing that she always brought her materials for cooking. Actually, mostly everything. You'll never know when you need them. Her mother gave her a small pouch when she was just a little girl. Anything will fit in it. No matter how big or small.

It's the one thing that Yan Da treasured the most. The only thing left by her mother.

Xing Gui used her energy to see. She smiled when she saw how the other enjoyed what she was doing. It was motherly. Or more like an older sister.

Her heart flutter at the thought. Why not?

Her brow then crunched. It's time to inform the other. "Princess Yan Da, what are the things that you already know?"

Yan Da wasn't surprise that she already knew her name. She's quite the psychic after all. "This is a world that is based on the marks on the right hand. Blue for soldiers. Gray for the master of slave traders. Gold is the highest one, royalties."

Xing Gui nodded. "You're right. But those aren't the only colors. Gray is also for the ones who are all in the middle class. They have power and influence but not so much. Besides blue, there's red the mark of the highest and strongest generals. Silver for the concubines. Do you have one?"

Yan Da nodded. "Gold."

Xing Gui gasped. "Really!?"

Yan Da stopped at that, looking at her in curiosity. "You seem very surprised."

"I am because no one ever has that among us. That was why we all became slaves."

"All of you?"

Xing Gui smiled sadly. "Even the royals of the ice tribe. Most perished because they fought for our lives. But in the end, we still ended as slaves."

Yan Da's heart plummeted into the ground. "No one was left?"

Xing Gui looked down. "There are but only few. Prince Ka Suo who was looked up by His Excellence in the castle in the ice tribe. Prince Shi... last time I heard about him was he was taken."

Yan Da clenched her fists. "And the others? Huang Tuo? Luna? Your brother? Chao Ya? The mermaid tribe? and the fire tribe?"

"They're still alive. I could feel them." Xing Gui answered solemnly. "But like me... I don't know how broken they are."

Yan Da closed her eyes. All of them were taken. All of them became slaves. "By who?" Who would do this? Who's strong enough to do this kind of thing!?

"The first king. Yuan Ji, the king of the ice-fire clan. The one who created the ice tribe and the fire tribe."

~~~

"Father?" Shuo Gang asked when Flame became pale.

"The clan of ice-fire clan is extinct. To know that they're the ones behind this..." He answered. He faced the leader. "Is there really no way that we can help Yan Da?"

The leader shook his head. "We can only hope that she survives this."

Flame clenched his fists. He didn't like this. For the first time, he felt helpless. His only daughter... Yan Da. Would be facing the most ruthless ruler of the immortal realm. She could die and he couldn't do anything but watch.

~~~

It was late at night when Yan Da felt someone triggered one of her traps. In a flash, she was in there. Using her whipped she caught the intruder. She was about to finish him off when she saw who it was.

"Huang Tuo?