Ashes of Love

Chapter 17

In Daddy's backyard, I took a few traces of clouds, opened space, and placed a few banana leaves at the moist and cool parts. In just a while, amid the stream and false mountain, there grew two banana trees. No matter how I looked at it, I was happy. My current skills at planting flowers and grasses did not let down my title as the Flower Goddess' daughter. I placed a bamboo seat under the coverage of the leaves and with a cup of freshwater, I was prepared to fall asleep.

"Jin Mi Immortal, his Fire God Highness is requesting to see you at the entrance," Just as I sat down, an immortal child that guards the Luo Xiang Manor reported to me.

I closed my eyes and waved my hands, "I will not see him." Thinking of how my divine energy seemed to have deteriorated instead of improving, no matter how easy-going my personality was, I could not help feeling slightly despondent.

As the little immortal attendant went to reject Phoenix, I listened to the soothing sounds of the stream and started to fall asleep. In a short while, the immortal child returned, "His Fire God Highness says that he must see Jin Mi Immortal today, if not he will stand guard outside the Luo Xiang Manor."

This Phoenix... why after night he has fallen from the proud and almighty to someone so shameless? These words are really not his usual style. Today, Buddha Grandfather was giving a sermon in the West, the gods and immortals of the six realms have gone to attend. Daddy went, Night went, even the Moon God went. In fact, all the gods including the Heavenly Emperor had gone, but why didn't Phoenix go as well?

"Tell him that no matter what I will not see him today," I told the little immortal attendant. As I stabilized my breathing and saw that the immortal child did not return, my heart started to relax because Phoenix must have left. Just as I was about to close my eyes entirely, I was shocked to see Phoenix before me. The little child was holding his fist respectfully and not sure which side he should go to, "His Fire God Highness... Jin Mi Immortal..."

Phoenix waved his hands indicating that the little immortal attendant could retreat. Immediately, the immortal child gave a bow and quickly left. I grind my back teeth and thought that authority was definitely something that needed to be supported by divine strength. Phoenix exchanged glances with me, his gaze was determined as if he could see through something, I felt emotional and immediately turned away my gaze. He suddenly stretched out his hand and held my shoulder, I turned my head in surprise and became even more surprised at the hesitant expression in his face.

"It's natural for you to be angry at me, last night... I broke a commandment*..." Phoenix's usual dazzling proud eyes were stern, but his expression was surprisingly moving and determined. Although his lips did not smile, his mouth was faintly up-turned such that one could see his rare, once in a hundred years, dimples. On his cheeks, there was an unnatural glow, I looked in shock, could this be harassment? As if to hide his expression, he suddenly came forward and pulled me into an embrace. After a while, something soft-landed on the top of my head, "But, I have no regrets. Even if last night happened again, even if I was not drunk, I will do the same thing again."

His palm was warm and soft, he lightly brushed my back, suddenly all the pains in my back disappeared, "Jin Mi, you know my heart. Even if you are angry at me, even if you curse me, I am determined not to let you marry Night!" His words were proud and arrogant, but his gaze into my eyes and face revealed a sense of unease as if he was looking for some traces of support.

Ridiculous! I pushed him away. I did not know why I lost my usual calmness, I lifted up my feet and fiercely stomped on his toes, "Whoever destroys the marriage will go to hell, naturally I will marry Night!"

The wide banana leaves swayed in the wind and covered the warm sun. The leaves shrouded Phoenix's face he stood unmoving as I continued to stomp on his toes. His silence was unnerving. After a lengthy silence, he said in a low voice, "Going to hell - so what?" He gave a smile, "There is nothing in the universe that I am scared of!"