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

Reminiscence 10 - "The Foolish Man"

Once again, she was back at the entrance. Ten days...and she had not even gotten halfway. But she was fortunate, she told herself. Because of the training, she had received at Kunlun with the Demon Ancestor, and because of Kunlun's power suppression that had forced her to excel, her agility and speed had improved exponentially. If not, she would never have made it this far.

The first day, when she had been completely unprepared for the ambushes, she had only managed to clear a couple of hundred yards, and then was quickly thrown back by the force of the magical vines. The shields here were so strong, cloud jumping was not an option.

Frustrated at her failure, she had thought she could make it further, maybe halfway, but it was too difficult, with the magical traps. She had to head back to cultivate her magic that night in preparation for the next day. They were testing her, her commitment, her strengths. They wanted her to prove herself to them. Ancient beings that they were, their methods were still admirable.

Yan Zhi rode her horse back to Grand Ziming Palace by nightfall and was welcomed by the unusually anxious Xiu Sisters. Fearing the worst, she hurriedly climbed off her horse and ran straight to Xiu Yin, the eldest.

"What's wrong? Is it Qiao Er?"

"The Princess is safe... but your Highness, you have a guest."

"What? Who?"

She rushed towards her throne room before Xiu Yin could answer. Dumbstruck, she found Zi Lan sitting on her throne, with a sleeping Qiao Er on his lap, while Qilin, in his true form, was lying at his feet.

Zi Lan greeted her with his usual bright smile. "Qiao Er couldn't wait anymore. We've been practicing swordplay while you were out. I must have exhausted her." His relaxed demeanor never changed, despite this being enemy territory, and his hand continued to sooth the child in his arms, "I've never been to your home before. Si Yin told me that the flora and fauna are unique."

"As I recall, you drew a magical line at the border to prevent yourself from entering some time ago." Her cold reply didn't stop him from grinning broadly, infuriating her even more. "How did you get in?"

"I have my ways," he said, caressing Qiao Er's cheek.

Her fists clenched at the display before her.

"I just had to stay at the border for several days," he shrugged. "It didn't take her long to dream of me."

"Xiu Yin, escort the Princess to her room. Dismiss the rest of the guards."

Xiu Yin immediately removed Qiao Er from Zi Lan's arms and hurriedly left the room with Qilin. They were alone now.

"Xiu Yin should not have let you in, what did you tell her?"

Zi Lan stood up, and with deliberate but casual strides, he strolled towards her. "That I cannot take credit for. Qiao Er was very good with her words. I think 5th senior has taught her a thing or two at Kunlun. And who can say no to our lovely daughter?"

Shocked by his statement, her voice increased in volume. "She's not your daughter!"

His gaze turned possessive. "She is, isn't she? Not by blood, but she has my cultivation," he argued, with an edge of underlying anger.

Unable to refute his twisted statement, she could only give him a reproachful glare. "May I remind you, this is my home, your powers are suppressed here."

He chuckled cynically at her threat and his smile never reached his eyes as he casually picked up his sword from the table. "I'm well aware of my situation."