Taoist Master

Another Perspective

Transferring the Roc Birds took an enormous effort on Qing Qius part, because Bai Qian was still unknown to the world.  The major issue they had was keeping her identity secret while moving thirty seven adult roc birds and their babies to Kunlun Mountain under disguise and because the birds were so big and exceptionally volatile, Mo Yuan was forced to put the adults to sleep and the babies into a light meditative state while ensuring her people did not give themselves away to his disciples or those they met along the way.

Though once the birds were on his mountain and firmly entrenched in the northern valleys where they had plenty of room, remained safe behind his barrier and out of reach of his cranes, then Mo Yuan set about shifting her stallion to the western side of the high valleys where the land was far more lean and more suitable for saddle breaking.

It took the entire day and into the next night before the roc birds and stallion were finally settled and he was allowed to rest.  Though it didn't last long, because Donghua Di Jun had arrived and was not pleased to be made to wait.  And with his generals also on the mountain and wanting to continue their meeting, he was then forced into his study, even though, all he wanted to do was find a break somewhere in the bustle to spend with Bai Qian.

She on the other hand, was left to sleep and then roam the mountain at will, though it was while she was out under the stars admiring the beautiful views, that she was made aware of the meeting in progress seeing as Mo Yuan had not discussed it with her.  And she only found out by stumbling on his disciples who were all huddled about in the lotus pond area and discussing the darklands and a possible war that they would have to prepare for.

"Shifu hasn't said anything to us yet, but those darklanders are itching for trouble." One of the juniors whispered quietly.

"He doesn't have to say anything.  That he is meeting with Lord Donghua and his generals, says war is definitely coming." another whispered.

"But why?  It's not even their fault." another hissed.

"What do you mean?  They're the ones bordering raiding, of course it's their fault."

"But they wouldn't if Xu Lao Fei weren't encroaching on their lands." the same boy insisted.

"But its their land!  They have proof it's theirs and those Demons are causing so much trouble, that even Shifu can't contain them."

Quietly backing away having managed to remain in the shadows unseen, she then went in search of a quiet space to think.  That Mo Yuan hadn't informed her of what was happening, suggested that the situation had not yet reached a point of no return.  However, that Donghua was involved as well as his generals, suggested that he was considering the possibility of war breaking out and though she herself had never seen battle, she didn't need to be told just how much of an affect it would have on the world at large, including Qing Qiu.

All borders would close first, trade would end and with it, the people would retaliate.  But worse,  the backlash against the Demons would explode regardless of who was in the right.  Under her father, she had learned about all the past wars, and what she learned was despite the wrongs from both sides, the peoples deep seated dislike for a culture so few had even seen, was what led all the past wars. 

 In fact, her fathers teachings had been blunt yet honest.  He held nothing back on any of the main players of those wars including Mo Yuan and Donghua.  For the most part, Mo Yuan did his utmost to keep the peace, however the celestials pushed the Demons to the point of retaliation and from there, war exploded.  And it seems from the little she had heard, history was repeating itself.

Sighing heavily, the joy in Mo Yuans eyes at seeing the roc birds flying high over Kunlun Mountain was now just a distant memory.  It pained her to think of his beautiful smile now edged in worry and the light in his eyes dimmed having had it stolen with war talk.  In fact, the more she dwelled on the happiness he returned with and what he must be going through now, the urge to storm his study grew stronger with every passing minute.