Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 27

QingWa Sheng-Da ran out of Xuanji Palace, fleeing from Nuwa's ministrations. Once he was out of the palace, he decided to keep running. It was good conditioning, and his muscles felt great, now that they were healed.

It was cruel of Old Lao to sic Nuwa on him. He could have healed him with a touch on the forehead. Instead he made him into Nuwa's guinea pig. He was so old, he must have forgotten what it was like to be a young man around a pretty girl. It must be payback for turning in his assignment late.

With Fuzang watching too! The slightest misstep there could have had him facing extreme embarrassment. He breathed deeply, settling in to an even pace on his run. His heartbeat was regulating now. He could cover a lot of ground at this pace.

He reached into his pocket for a coin, placing it under his tongue, and let his mind wander, going over his earlier conversation with Fuzang. He had briefed Fuzang on the cave system he had explored in Huanglong. It was an underground river. No sign of any demonic activity inside.

Fuzang had been a bit disappointed, but then commented that they could just cross that one off the list. They then discussed various other cave systems that Fuzang had looked up while he was gone, speculating on whether they had potential. Fuzang was inclined to concentrate on the ones with volcanic activity. Sheng wasn't so sure. He wanted to be thorough.

All those souls in the Wangchuan River didn't get there by coming in the front way, or else the Boatman would be inundated all the time. They seeped into the Demon Realm through numerous cracks and fissures. If he could just find one of them, he could go in and out anytime he wanted!

Together they had decided that their next target would be the Xueyu Dong or Snow Jade Cave. It was a young cave. If it did lead to the Demon Realm, the demons were less likely to know about it, and thus it may remain unguarded. Nuwa had interrupted them at this point, so their plan was not fully formed yet.

Sheng decided to turn around, and run back to Xuanji Palace. His anxiety had dissipated. Grandmother Zhou would probably have collected the Princess by now.

On the way back, he thought about what the Matchmaker had said about marriage proposals for Nuwa. That she wasn't accepting any. It seemed kind of unfair for her to make that decision without consulting Nuwa. Then again, Nuwa did seem really too young to get married.

Sheng tried to imagine Nuwa getting married to some strange guy, and the thought was upsetting. She wouldn't be able to spend time with him and Fuzang anymore. She would have to be an adult. He frowned, clicking the coin in his mouth against the back of his teeth, and sucking on it.

He had reached the bridge in front of the gates now, so he stopped running, and began to stretch a bit. The water below looked inviting, but he didn't dare bathe in this lake. His demonic bullfrog form was sure to alarm passersby, and his man form would need to be unclothed for him to swim well. That would be just as alarming.

He headed inside to discover that Fuzang and Nuwa were gone, so he decided to take a bath. He considered himself lucky to have time alone. Especially after his visit to his parents at Dongting Lake. Nothing will make you appreciate a private bath like a legion of soldiers waiting in line to use the facilities.