Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 71

QingWa Sheng-Da stared down the man he loathed.

"QingWa" Tangyue said to him in greeting.

"Let go of the Princess, Tangyue" Sheng ordered calmly.

"Now, QingWa Sheng, I don't want to hurt you. Your Mother and I are old friends. You're too young to get involved in this. You should just stay out of it" Tangyue advised him.

Sheng spit a coin out of his mouth, sending it flying to the side. Tangyue winced, and then glared at him with distaste. Sheng knew that he had always hated that.

"Let go of the Princess, Tangyue" Sheng said again, his voice lower and more serious than before.

There was a loud tsking sound, repeated many times. "Who do you think you are, young man? You have no right to stand in the way of their true love!" the Fox Spirit blustered, puffing up indignantly.

Sheng laughed mockingly. "True love? Nuwa's baby could be mine" he stated coldly.

Tangyue scoffed at first, clearly not believing him. Then he looked down at Nuwa by his side. She was staring at her hands, her head bowed, twisting her fingers together nervously.

"No..." Tangyue whispered.

He looked back at Sheng's face, and flames lit inside his eyes.

"NO!" He shouted, enraged. His face looked murderous.

The Fox Spirit was staring at them, dumbfounded.

"Uncle, take Nuwa out of here" Tangyue ordered, his voice close to hysteria.

Fox Spirit grabbed Nuwa's wrist and pulled on it, but she fought him, trying to stay by Tangyue's side. Sheng whistled loudly, and suddenly Lord Yama's demon dog attacked, jumping at the Fox Spirit. Fox Spirit swung his staff at the Demon dog, who grabbed it in his teeth, trying to jerk it out of his hand.

"You think to use my own magic against me?!" The Fox Spirit yelled furiously.

He snapped his fingers, and Sheng felt the bracelet that controlled the Demon dog fall off of his wrist. The demon dog stopped in its tracks. It shook its head, and then stood up on hind legs, like a man. It glanced around the clearing, caught sight of Sheng, and then took off running into the forest, soon disappearing from view.

Sheng was taken aback, he hadn't expected that. Now he was outnumbered. He knew he didn't have the option of retreat, as he might never be able to find Nuwa again. He clapped his hands together, and summoned forth the Jade Staff, holding it at the ready, prepared to take on both of them if he had to.

"Uncle, take Nuwa out of here!" Tangyue repeated his request.

"No! I won't leave you!" Nuwa yelled, clinging to Tangyue's arm desperately. "I can't leave you!"

The Fox Spirit grabbed her tightly, dragging her back, while she fought him, trying to pry his fingers off of her arm.

"Nuwa, PLEASE!" Tangyue yelled at her. "Please go with Uncle! I need you to be safe!"

She shook her head, pouting, clawing at Uncle's hand.

"It's the string" Sheng said drolly. "She can't leave you."

The Fox Spirit narrowed his eyes at Sheng, clearly displeased. Tangyue looked shocked, the blood draining out of his face, while Nuwa held on to his arm.

"Uncle" Tangyue whispered, then cleared his throat. "Uncle, you are going to have to remove the string" he said, and his voice sounded desolate.

The Fox Spirit looked incredibly annoyed as he reached down to Nuwa's ankle, and removed a length of red silk string from it. Nuwa's eyes blinked, her sight seeming to clear.