Star Crossed In Time

Bai Lei turns to stone as he says "Jiang? That bastard still isn't done? How is he doing anything in the Realm of the Dead? He should be imprisoned... never to be reincarnated." My eyebrows shoot up as I nod my head saying "Well, that does sound good but something has clearly happened. I now have two of them to worry about." 

Bai Lei narrows his eyes and says "No, I will go to the Realm of the Dead and take care of him personally. Ted is back, he's sitting with our mothers and the others. When I come back, we'll talk about how we'll handle Eli." 

I frown and ask "Is it dangerous for you to go to the Realm of the Dead? Maybe we should just worry about Eli right now." Bai Lei gives me a warm smile as he says "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I promise. I'll be back before you realize it." I want to argue and tell him to stay out of the Realm of the Dead but he just places a kiss on my forehead before quickly disappearing. 

I clench my fists and quickly walk back to the others. When Ted turns around, I nearly stumble to a stop. He's so... different. "T... Ted?" I ask and step closer, looking at him from head to toe. Ted gives me a knowing smile as he says "How do I look?" 

I sigh with relief and say "Stronger and slightly unnerving." He gives me a cheeky smile and says "I'm much stronger but I still have to work at becoming stronger." I nod my head and try to figure out why he has red eyes too. 

They aren't as red as Bai Lei's but they're definitely red. As if reading my thoughts, Zhen picks up his cup of tea and says "Bai Lei gave him a life bead that he made from his own essence. Ted is now Bai Lei's man." I nod my head again and ask Ted "And you're okay with that?" 

Ted gives me a big goofy smile as he says "Of course! Bai Lei explained everything to me beforehand and let me chose. Don't worry Nova, I knew what I was choosing." I give him a knowing smile and nod my head in approval before turning back to Zhen.

"Hey, Zhen... is it safe for someone to go to the Realm of the Dead?" Zhen nearly drops his cup of tea and hissing in pain when the hot tea burns the exposed skin on his hand. My mother quickly brings over a cloth to wipe up the tea and then gently touches Zhen's red skin.

A small bright light is given off as Zhen turns to look at my mother with surprise. After a few split seconds, the light fades and she looks up to find Zhen watching her with a blank look. My mother quickly jerks her hand back and clears her throat saying "Ah, sorry." 

Zhen blinks a few times before slightly shaking his head and saying "No! I'm sorry! Thank you, it feels like new." My mother's face turns beet red and this time Zhen notices it. Someone clears their throat causing Zhen and my mother to quickly snap out of whatever that was. 

I go to say something but I just can't find the words... this was slightly awkward... Zhen quickly clears his throat and says "That... Who? Who wants to go to the Realm of the Dead?" I arch a dark brow at him with a dry look before saying "Went... Bai Lei already went."

Suddenly, the slightly pink cheeks he was currently sporting, quickly disappear as he slams his hands on the table and stands up with a pale face. He goes to say something but suddenly stops and glances at Lady Xue. He quickly looks back at me and says "If it's him, it'll be fine. Now follow me. I need to teach you a new stance." 

My heart sinks but I keep my face blank as I say "Okay" I quickly follow Zhen out of the garden and when we're far enough away, he spins around and says "Does he have a death wish!? Why would he go to the Realm of the Dead!?? Even as I deity, it's extremely dangerous!"

My heart sinks even further as I say "Jiang... he's going to find Jiang. What can happen to him?" Zhen lets out a deep sigh and begins rubbing his temples as he says "Let's just hope he comes back in one piece." Shit... 

~~~~~~

Once he finds it, he walks up to the gates made with the bones of the dead and waits. As soon as the gates open, Bai Lei walks forward with a glare. Standing on the other side is a man dressed in solid black, much like Bai Lei but that's where the similarities end.

The man has long, blood-red hair and bright, white eyes that glow with an eerie light. One could even say that he looks an awful lot like Hundun but he didn't have the same charming smile. His face is lined with hard lines and there's a long, red scar running down the left side of his face.

Whatever caused it, bȧrėly missed his left eye but the scar only seemed to add to the man's attractiveness, not take away from it. "What can I do for you, Deity." Than man says with a straight face. Bai Lei nods his head slightly as he says "My name is Bai Lei and I'm here because of a resident of yours." 

The man arches a red brow, bowing slightly and says "My name is Mogui, King of this Realm, who do you speak of and why?" Bai Lei nods his head and says "A man named Jiang. He should be rather famous and new. He contracted a demon and tried to take my woman."

Mogui narrows his white eyes as he says "I know of him... who was the demon he contracted?" Bai Lei stands his ground and says "Hundun" Mogui clenches his jaw and says "Follow me" Bai Lei doesn't miss the reaction but he doesn't say anything as he silently follows the Demon King.

He silently leads him to a dark room as blue flames lick up the sides of the walls. Sweat begins to bead and slide down Bai Lei's back as he follows Mogui further into the Palace of death. If he wasn't mistaken, there were faces of anguish inside the blue flames. Mogui comes to a stop over a large pit and waves his hand. 

Bright blue flames come to life, nearly taking the breath out of Bai Lei but he quickly uses his power to sustain his breathing. When he glances down into the bright blue flames, he sees nothing but an empty cell of sorts. Mogui grits his teeth and says "It looks like I have a leak. I will go down and find out what has happened. When I do, I will send someone to notify you. Until then, give your woman this."

He lifts his hand and a red, braided string appears with a white, jade bell at the end. Bai Lei narrows his eyes on it before looking back to Mogui and asking "And this is?" Mogui dangles the bell and even though it rocks back and forth, no sound is heard as he says "It's a bell made from my essence, all she has to do is ring it and I will appear." 

Bai Lei reaches out and takes the bell, instantly feeling the other man's energy pulsing around it. Bai Lei looks back up to Mogui as the man says "Just until I can find the worm named Jiang. This Realm is large and vast. It will take some time, even for me." 

Bai Lei still looks unhappy but Mogui lifts a hand and says "You won't be able to stay here for much longer. Even as we speak, you grow weaker. If you stay too long, even the weak wandering spirits will latch onto you and begin eating you. Leave while you still can. I will find the man."

Bai Lei clunches the bell and nods his head before turning around and disappearing. When he reappears, he falls to his hands and knees in front of the pool of stars. Steam lifts from him like angry claws, instantly suċkɨnġ the moisture out of the air as his glowing red eyes flash with anger.

He lifts his right arm and reaches over, grabbing a small, rat-sized spirit. He rips the spirit from his side, causing the thing to screech in anger before he squeezes his fist. The small spirit cries out and tries to wiggle away as Bai Lei slams it down onto the ground, unleashing his power and instantly killing it. 

A few drops of red blood fall from his side as he looks down at his other hand. The jade bell hanging from the red braided string hangs there with the strange pulsing energy. Can he trust the King of Death? He tightens his hand on the bell and looks up to find Nova walking into the room with a look of shock.