From Dusk til Dawn

Under the Stars

"Are they not staying?" Mo Yuan asked with a frown as his hand enveloped her waist to pull her close.  He was frowning because, not only had his two best friends not greeted him, especially seeing as they were heading to war the next day, but he thought he saw tears on Bai Zhis face.  If Bai Zhi was that upset, he would have come to talk to him, he always did because the man never shed tears for anything unless there was something to cry about, and that had him thinking back to the Mortal Realm and something she had said to him. 

"Shifu." Di Fengs voice broke into his thoughts as he once again began to pick up her words, though it wasn't really what she said, but the way she said them.  It was almost said in defeat, yet she had continued so quickly, it took a while for his to realize it at the time.

"What is it?" he asked as they both turned to face him.

"The meal is served Shifu." he replied with his hands still raised and head bowed.

But no sooner had he thought to delay, than several of the Generals were hurrying out the door towards them with handfuls of wine which they were swinging in the air at him.

"Come, this is no time dallying." one said with a roaring laugh as he took in the soft embrace he was sharing with his wife.  

Though, he had not approached him with a more respectable tone, Mo Yuan decided to let it go, they were all well and truly drunk, having started on the wine the moment they arrived.

Snatching at a bottle as they reached her side, Bai Qian quickly popped the cork and took a long drink before smacking her lips with a big smile.

"Careful Qian Qian.  That is one of my more stronger wines." he warned her softly before leading her back to the Grand Hall, where Chang Shan was waiting with a wide grin.  

Having been in the kitchen all day cooking and preparing, he was just as exited for this meal as everyone else.  Normally his meals were not a grand affair, though nutritious, they were at times bland and tasteless.

"It's alright Mo Yuan, I won't have too much, I am going to be busy preparing myself for tomorrow, she winked at him cheekily, before running ahead and leaving him smirking with a knowing look.

The evening was a hearty affair, filled with past stories of Mo Yuans conquests on the battle field that many of the older Generals present remembered from their youth.  Though for a several minutes Bai Qian disappeared which Mo Yuan noticed, but seeing as she wasn't gone long and had returned happy enough, he said nothing, but not once did his eyes leave her, and nor did he miss the many gaping stares she was attracting either.

Even Ye Hua had looked at her a little too long, so when she left the hall with him, he wasn't sure what to think.  It was unusual seeing as she didn't know him all that well,  but seeing as he too returned not long after and came to him directly to place a reassuring hand on his arm before taking a seat next to him where he stayed for the rest of the night.  

Mo Yuan felt Ye Huas fear, and he knew it was for his own safety seeing as he knew the ramifications of the Bell should it be released and what she was planning to do to ensure he didn't sacrifice himself, so he thought perhaps his brother had given her a lecture of sorts to take care of him and perhaps to offer final words of encouragement.

The generals were a hearty bunch, but he could see the attention she was getting was becoming more brazen the drunker they got.  And though he too was reasonably drunk, he was alert enough to ensure no one overstepped the mark, especially with her, and especially when one foolish general held her arm a little too long.

So calling an end to the meal and drunken talk, the generals were eventually sent on their way.  Had they not had to go to war the next day, that general may have faced Mo Yuan on Mount Cang Wu, but it wasn't the time or place for it.