A Trial by Halves

A Growing Enigma

The Celestial Heavens

Storming into Ci Hangs mansion, Haode almost tripped over his sole maid.  A small woman who had grown up with Ci Hang since childhood, Xiulan was highly respected throughout the entire Palace, and had she been any other maid, he may have struck her.  

Not only was she the only maid that even he was respectful of, but no one dared to strike her for fear of Ci Hangs immense temper when he lost it.  So nodding at her as he entered, he was annoyed to find he was not in residence.

"Xiulan, where is Ci Hang?" he asked looking around being the only person present.  He didn't even have guards on his entrance, because his Palace was rarely visited, and that was because most were a little afraid of him.  Being the only living master of their worlds most ancient spells both high and low, to encroach on his personal space literally meant taking ones life into their own hands.  

Though, so long as a visitor who did appear, remained respectful and touched nothing, they were safe enough, but listening to the maid who informed him Ci Hang had been gone for two days, Haode could not contain the surprise.

"Two days?" he asked incredulously.   The man never left his Palace for more than a few hours at a time and even then it was only when he had important business to take care of.

"Yes Your Majesty.  He is with Lord Donghua Di Jun." she informed him.

Nodding, he said no more, but his head was churning with all kinds of reasons why he would be there, and for two days.  Deciding to visit, and perhaps learn anything he could into Ye Huas so called death, he forced himself to calm down.  His anger was still at boiling point when he arrived back from the Mortal Realm, but if he was to learn anything, he knew his anger had to be contained, because Ci Hang would automatically close down on him.

Now making his way into Taichen Palace, he half expected to find Di Juns Palace also empty, only he felt his essence the moment he passed over the threshold.

"Di Jun, you're here." he said entering with a quick glance about his Parlour.

Reclined on his resting platform with a few bottles of wine, Di Jun was expecting him though he had thought he would have arrived earlier and seeing the way he was glancing about, it seemed as if he was also hoping for Ci Hangs presence.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit?" he asked with a small smile and cold dark eyes that gave nothing away.

"Ci Hang.  Xiulan informed me he has been away for a couple of days, I wanted to catch up with him." he said taking a seat opposite and accepting the cup of tea that a maid suddenly placed before him.

"You may be waiting a while, he has left the Celestial Heavens for a few days." Di Jun informed him and if Haode wasn't mistaken, there had been a very quick flicker of something in his eyes before he drew it back.

"He's left the Celestial Heavens?" he asked somewhat stunned by this.  Not only had Ci Hang retired many years before and had all but become reclusive, preferring the sanctuary of his Palace which he rarely left,  to leave the Heavens altogether suggested something of great importance was happening.   

"That's right." Di Jun replied without giving him anything else.

"Can I enquire why he has left?" Haode asked outright seeing as Di Jun was not making it easy on him.

Looking at him a little harder than normal, Di Juns mind fully closed off so that no expressions showed through.  He knew why Haode was there, and having already to come to an agreement with Ci Hang, he would not learn anything from him.  When Di Jun closed down, nothing could shift him, not even a worried Grandfather who would not only beat his Grandson senseless before throwing him onto the punishment rock, but whoever the girl was that had Ye Hua risking even Heavens wrath, would not live a second if he got his hands on her too.  And also knowing that a child existed, one that should not, he had agreed to assist Ci Hang in keeping Haode off his trail, at least for a few days being the only one who could.