Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 57

The Heavenly Emperor Runyu closed his tired eyes, rubbing his temples with his fingertips. It was early morning, he had been working all night. The letters from Yuanji, the Goddess of Fate, lay spread out before him on the desk, along with his notes. He had written down the identities of some people that he guessed were being referenced in those letters. Possible spies for his Uncle in the Heavenly Realm.

He felt like he might be close to discovering them all, so he had sent his son away. He didn't want to risk being caught in the crossfire when he rounded up all of the conspirators. He would get them all at the same time, so that they didn't have time to warn each other or escape.

"RUNYU!" Guihua's voice reverberated in his skull.

He stood up, pushing himself away from the desk. She sounded afraid. He closed his eyes again, focusing on her, on the dragon scale that he had buried in her Inner Dan long ago. She was very far away. He strained, willing his tired brain to locate her quickly.

"No, please, Uncle Fox! I remember my lessons!" her voice echoed in his head.

Runyu felt sick to his stomach. Uncle had moved faster than he thought he would. He was caught unprepared. He rushed through the door of his personal chambers.

"Kuanglu, Get up! We have to move!" Runyu told the sleeping woman in his bed.

Kuanglu stretched languorously on the enormous bed, the golden sheets sliding off of her, revealing naked skin.

"Your Majesty, what is it?" she asked, yawning.

"I know where to find the Fox Spirit" he told her.

She sat up quickly, her eyes gleaming.

"Let's go!" he pressured her.

He left her there to get dressed, while he headed out to the audience hall. He waved at the guard on sentry duty.

"Bring me a squad of soldiers!" he ordered. "Quickly!"

He summoned the Red Cloud Sword to himself, and stood there fuming, waiting for his people to hurry up and arrive.

Kuanglu appeared from behind the throne. "I'm ready, Your Majesty!"

"Good" Runyu said before issuing his orders. "We're waiting for the soldiers. When we arrive, I want you take them and surround the building. I will go in after him."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Kuanglu replied excitedly.

They strode through the hall, passing through the doorway of blue stained glass, out into the blinding light of the sunrise. Runyu could see a squad of soldiers running towards them. He waved them on, and then took off in flight, following the Dragon Scale like a beacon. Kuanglu followed closely behind him, the soldiers following her.

"He is my husband! You said that you were teaching me those things, so that I could teach them to my husband!" Guihua's voice impinged on his consciousness. She sounded indignant.

"That's it, Guihua, don't be afraid. Fight him." Runyu muttered to himself, the sound of his voice masked by the rushing wind.

They descended through the levels of Heaven as quickly as Runyu could fly, straight as an arrow, heeding the call of the Dragon Scale, to the Mortal Realm. Runyu wasn't quite sure she was in the Mortal Realm, however. The location of the scale felt more like it was below the Mortal Realm.

"I deserve better than that" Guihua's voice echoed in his head, sounding louder than before. He was close!

"That's my girl, you tell him" Runyu muttered absentmindedly.