Three Lives, Three Worlds: Jasmine's Fate [Hiatus]

Chapter 3 - "The Generals Who Meddles"

Ghost Realm

It was early morning at General Hu Wan's residence--a large Pavilion located not too far fromZiming Palace. The 270,000-year-old High Immortal,  had always preferred a more discreet location for his warriors to focus on their tasks so they would not lose valuable intel while they worked. This was a more than private location--away from the central Palace, the training arena, the ceremonial temples, and most importantly, the crowd. And the healthy number of warriors was a blessing on its own.

As was his habit during mornings, the General was busy reading the newest intel gathered by spies he had placed in other realms. The number of scrolls piled on the shelves behind his desk was only a small portion that had arrived that week. The number of spies had increased over the years, bringing great volumes of reports to the desk. Even during times of peace, the importance of gathering personal information should never be neglected. One could never know when the next great war would arrive. Allies and foes could change without warning. Brothers in arms could attack without hesitation. But facts were facts, the most dependable variables for a tribe that had lost more than its fair share of lives.

30,000 years... no, to be more accurate, it had taken 25,000 years to restore the tribe to its former glory. And it had taken painstaking work, work that they had all engaged in first hand. The Ghost Tribe Civil War that lasted a hundred years after their Ghost King Qing Cang was vanquished; then the proceeding Demon War some 30,000 years ago had taken another toll on their numbers. Countless lives had been sacrificed for the greater good, and it was worth the cost.

The Immortals of the Ghost Realm now lived in peace, but most important of all, they no longer had to lower their heads before other Tribes.

Gone were the days when they had been used as front-line soldiers by others. Gone were the days when they had to live in the fear of possible genocide of their people. It was finally possible to grow, to prosper...to live for the future of their descendants.

All this had been made possible by one person, one woman. Yes, it was never a hidden fact that the Elders had played a major role in stomping out the Civil War from the beginning. But even then, the High Gods and Goddess had not been able to unite the people with their powers alone, especially given their unclear hidden agenda.

In times of civil unrest -- trust was valuable, belief was powerful, and loyalty was priceless.

That was why they had brought her back. The royal who was reluctant. The princess who ran.

They had tried many times before, but she had been adamant about not returning. Who could blame her though--she had lost everything. Princess Yan Zhi was never raised to be Queen of the Realm, given that the Ghost Lord, Qing Cang, was not one to share his power -- even going so far as to using his own offspring as means to an end. But their Ghost Lord had been powerful. So powerful, that even the Celestial High God Mo Yuan had only been able to imprison him for 70,000 years with the sacrifice of his own soul. Though the blood hungry Ghost King had wanted to take over all realms, his thirst for revenge had been even stronger. During his imprisonment, he had made sure if there was the slightest chance he would lose again upon his release--which he had, with the help of their Late Ghost King Li Jing--the Ghost King Qing Cang would take the world with him. The Celestial Bell had been transformed into a black hole upon his death. If not for the Celestial Crown Prince, all realms would have perished.

Though the past was past, the reputation of their Ghost King would always linger in the mind of those who had seen firsthand his destructive power back in the days. Their Queen could be hostile at times--a reminder that she was her father's daughter. She was cold to others, ruthless to enemies, but still softened when it came to her only kin, Princess Qiao Xin.