My Little Shifu

The First Appraisal

Meeting her in the Grove, Mo Yuans much more relaxed appearance, had her on her feet in a second.  This was the first time he had arrived with a smile that reached his eyes, and not only were his hands lightly swinging from side to side, but there was a slight swagger in the way he was walking, as if he'd had a little wine, but not enough to yet dull his senses.  He looked far happier and the moment her floppy hat came into view, along with the smiling mouth and sparkling eyes he could see just below the brim, then his stride quickened towards her.

And having caught a glint of something in his eyes that suggested he had arrived ready to play, her next lesson came to mind in an instant.  There was something decidedly different about him as he made his way towards her,  she couldn't quite determine what it might be, but she found herself just as happy to see him.

To date, she had not really tested him in what she had taught him, because none of her lessons had been prearranged, she merely went with how he was when he arrived, and seeing the way his arms swung and his hips swayed, had her mind quickly going to one place in particular and one she knew he would have fun with regardless of the outcome.

Now taking his outstretched hand without thought, the smile on his face rose as he quietly observed her every move and facial expression that he could see.   Nothing at all looked amiss, she was still the same smiling, impish woman he'd frolicked at the beach with the day before.  Her eyes were sparkling, her smile bright and the warmth of her small hand in his, had him slightly closing the gap between them.

  He had no idea what it was about her that was now making him both uncomortable and exceptionally happy to see her, but suddenly he felt like laughing.  He felt like drinking wine, counting smiles, plucking peaches with her on his back and throwing the entire grove over the edge of the cliff at the walruses.  And even more absurd, he wanted to take that stupid floppy hat off her head and drag it down over the top of his own.

Of course he did none of that, instead he allowed her to lead him back towards the hut hand in hand to the Mortal Realm where his smile remained on his face even when she led him to the marketplace which was bustling with life.  Only having thought they were there to do a little shopping or even take in the street performers, he was surprised to find himself joining the back of a wedding procession and following a palanquin, that just happened to be passing through.

Or was it? He wondered as those eyes of hers began to twinkle mischievously, only the moment he thought to question her, then she just as suddenly cast a spell and in both surprise and horror, he watched as she changed her appearance into a man.

Surprise because it was so unexpected and horror because she had used her magic which was forbidden in the Mortal Realm. Only the look on her face suggested she either didn't know or she didn't care.  Either way, he was not happy to see it, seeing as he was an authority on the matter and had the ability to punish her.

"What's going on?" he asked leaning down towards her ear as fireworks and drums began to pick up in both speed and noise in the hope that there was a very good reason for breaking the laws of Heaven.

"Is it not obvious?" she asked laughing along with the rest of the happy crowd who were all looking towards the large building ahead of them where the brides groom was waiting. 

Perplexed as to what she was up to, but knowing her well enough now to know that anything was possible, he tried not to think too much and nor could he really scold her, mainly because he knew it would do him no good.  No sooner would he have an idea as to what she was leading him into regardless of the mischief, then she would turn around and do the complete opposite anyway.  Instead, and for the first time, he relaxed into this crazy life of hers and laughed along with everyone else, while completely disregarding her crime as if he too, just didn't care.