The Dragon's Flower

XH 104

Feng Jiu left Qiang Laohu on the floor, knowing that it would be more peaceful if he remained that way. With a snap of her slender fingers, fire appeared out of thin air and started burning down the wall made of plants in front of Xiao Hua.

The Third Prince did not make a move to stop Feng Jiu since he does not sense any hostility from her and watched as she grasped Xiao Hua's hand gently and have her take a seat. They ignored the way Mingzhi stiffen, resembling a statue when Xiao Hua approached.

Xiao Hua might feel a bit unhappy with how Feng Jiu had not saved the Third Prince when he's in danger, but she also knew that the four of them had a bond that allowed them to act this way. 

"I suppose that explains your innocence of a pampered lady in a noble household despite being a commoner. Are you a noble lady in your world?"

Xiao Hua has few choices of words to categorize those pampered ladies in the novels she had read, as they were hardly known as innocence. Not even those original heroines that swoon men's hearts easily with their ignorance and kindness could be labelled as innocent.

Xiao Hua: '...' Or maybe she's gotten prejudice over how those heroines had captured so many good men to her side with just a smile and act of kindness.

So jelly!!! (°ㅂ°╬)

"I'm far from innocent and trusting..." Xiao Hua protested. "That label is only for young children."

"You are still a child," Feng Jiu pointed out.

"I'm twenty-seven years old. Um, twenty-eight now I suppose."

Although Feng Jiu did not say anything, her stunned expression said that she does not believe her.

"Will he be fine?" Xiao Hua pointed at Qiang Laohu. She guessed that he should be fine when no one seems to be concerned much about him, but she was rather curious about what had happened to him.

"He's just sleeping," Feng Jiu reassured the younger girl.

"My plant injected some drugs into his blood." Long Zhu seated beside Xiao Hua, which was way too close to be proper.

Qiang Laohu might have the strongest body among them but that does not mean he does not have a weakness.

"Long Zhu," Mingzhi called out softly. When the said person turned his head to his direction, he continued, "Is there a purpose for telling her the truth?"

'Other than flexing your peacock tail at your potential mate', was remained unsaid by the two time-travellers.

"There is another transmigrator. He wrote about our world...accurately, mostly." Successfully capturing the other time travellers’ attention, Long Zhu continued on, "But the story focused on Long Shan and Liu Chu Chu, being the main characters."

"The cowards and traitors to their home?" Feng Jiu scowled in disgust. She may have been sympathetic with the Second Prince of Guilin's past, but that does not excuse his spinelessness. That fool had run away with his wife and mother when it was clear that he could not defend his kingdom from demon hoards.

All he did was sending out an evacuation order to the public before fleeing elsewhere.

"The book ended when they got Guilin under their control. There are none about demons and the celestial beasts."

"Then my question stands. Why did you tell her?" Mingzhi asked solemnly.

"An ideal husband and wife must not hide secrets with each other?" Feng Jiu guessed jokingly.

"Yes."

Mingzhi and Feng Jiu suddenly wondered if Long Zhu was possessed by a sappy spirit!

"She can help spot things out if we missed something. Xiao Hua, tell them what you think about Long Shan and Liu Chu Chu."

"Ah? Er... please know that it’s all just my random guess!" Xiao Hua hurriedly gave a warning.

"Then we will listen with an open mind," Feng Jiu smiled, ignoring Mingzhi's betrayed gaze towards her.

"Alright...The story did portray Long Shan and Liu Chu Chu as the hero and heroine, the undefeatable couple. Perhaps they would return after a while with a way to defeat and stop the demons?"

"I did not see them in the future. The ending still remains the same that humans died and demons rule the world. There are a few brave warriors that manage to prevent most of the demon's attacks, but they still could not stop the demons from taking control of the world."

Xiao Hua was scared at how Mingzhi's eyes currently looked like. It was unfocused and light grey, with no sight of the pupil.

"Prince Mingzhi can see the future," The Third Prince explained.

"Cool," Xiao Hua gushed in admiration after knowing the eyes were the indicator of Mingzhu using his power.

"Mingzhi, is there a way to send Xiao Hua back to her own world?" Feng Jiu asked when Mingzhi's eyes finally went back to normal.

"None other than permanent death," Mingzhi answered, giving the same answer as last night's. "Her soul is already settled properly inside her current body."

To try separating her soul from its current vessel would harm her soul.

"It's okay Feng Jiu." Xiao Hua mustered a smile at the distress apparent on the lady in red's face. "I had already accepted it long ago."

Wanting to change the subject, Xiao Hua asked, "I don't know if it's related, but Liu Chu Chu has a cheat... ah, I mean she has a spatial jade bracelet with endless of spring water from a pool that could heal any illness she encountered."

"Heal any illness?"

"That's how the story is written. Heise, the author, had written that every person that Liu Chu Chu gave the spring water to drink would recover completely! Even my eyesight was recovered by it."

Feng Jiu pondered. "I've heard about a miraculous healing fountain that belongs to the Fire temple in the Zhu Que Kingdom but one day it disappeared without a trace a few hundred years ago. An expert had analysed that it was transferred to another space and I fear that it was the same spring fountain in Liu Chu Chu's hands."

"Oh, I remember there's a guardian of the spring fountain. 'A dark beauty' is what Heise described her."

"There's no guardian of the healing fountain. She might be the thief or an unfortunate soul that was sealed in the spatial dimensional ring."

Mingzhi shakes his head at Feng Jiu. "We must not assume things without knowing the truth."

"Assumption is what keeps us from being surprised," Feng Jiu countered.

"That lady might the guardian of the space instead of the fountain," Xiao Hua added, trying to diffuse their argument.

"That is possible as well," Feng Jiu relented and Mingzhi did not counter what Xiao Hua said just because he does not wish to talk to her if possible.

"How did the demon invasion starts? Surely there must be something that triggers it?" Xiao Hua asked curiously.

"To know that, you will have to learn about the history of the Four Kingdom," the Third Prince said.

"So the Four Kingdom is related to the demons? Perhaps the four kingdoms were constructed just to hide something? Like the demon's portal?"

The time travellers: '...'

Xiao Hua's enthusiasm shrivelled as she timidly asked, "So I'm wrong?"

Surprisingly it was Mingzhi that answered her. "You are surprisingly pretty close to the truth. The four kingdoms were built a thousand years ago for the celestial beats to recover their vitality after battling with the demons. They had sealed the path linked to the demon realm, which was purposely created by the demons after sacrificing cultivators that cultivated the demonic arts. Choosing four humans that had fought with them as their guardian, they were tasked with the honourable duty to keep their resting place safe. In return, the celestial beasts lend their power to the guardians."

"We are grateful to the celestial beast for protecting us from the demons," Feng Jiu said. "They nearly died from using up their energy to seal the gate."

"Are they close to recovering?" Xiao Hua asked.

"We don't know," the Third Prince admitted. "The first guardians had not asked."

Xiao Hua nodded. "How did the Gate unsealed? Or was it destroyed?"

"That seal is slowly weakening, but it's able to withstand few more centuries." Xiao Hua stiffens when Qiang Laohu stood up slowly, but his eyes were bright and clear. "It was unsealed by someone."

Since the tiger guy did not attack her, Xiao Hua relaxed. "Who?"

"We don't know." The Third Prince rubbed her head. "That's what we want to know the most. No one knows how to unseal the lock, yet that person did."

"Which means that person isn't simple."

The Third Prince nodded with a smile. "Correct."

"Did you manage to find any other clue on that person's identity?"

"That person should be a surviving demon from the war or a demonic cultivator. They are the only ones that could withstand the miasma surrounding the gate that leaked out from the demon realm long enough to unlock the seal."

Qiang Laohu grunted as he took a seat, body still stiff with lethargy. "Brat, the cure."

"You need to wait for the drug to dilute by itself in your system."

"Tsk." Qiang Laohu glared at Xiao Hua, and unknown where she got the bravery from, she glared back.

"When's the wedding?" Qiang Laohu asked gruffly and picked up a cup of tea to moist his throat.

Xiao Hua blinked at the sudden change of conversation. "Huh?"

"I'm searching for Teacher to ask for an adoption," the Third Prince replied as his antenna was able to connect to Qiang Laohu's.

Feng Jiu gasped delicately. "You wish for Teacher Bai to adopt Xiao Hua?"

The Third Prince nodded. "Imperial grandfather is helping me to search for his whereabouts."

Qiang Laohu laughed. "You want that man to adopt a servant? I will be there to watch him beat you up."

"Who is that?" Xiao Hua asked softly, unsure if she's allowed to ask.

"Legendary Doctor Bai," Feng Jiu answered. "He's the best doctor we ever had in this world."

"...Isn't that person Liu Chu Chu had claimed to be apprenticed under?"

The Third Prince slowly smirked, his eyes brightened with mischief. "Yes."

"You are confident that he will adopt Xiao Hua?" Mingzhi stared at Long Zhu suspiciously.

"You can't see that future?" Qiang Laohu teased. "Go and see it! Tell us if that stinky brat is going to be beaten up or cut into pieces!"

Mingzhi sniffed delicately. "I do not abuse my gift unlike you."

Xiao Hua stared worriedly at the Third Prince. "Perhaps you should pick someone else to adopt me? Doctor Bai sounds scary."

The Third Prince laughed and holds onto her hand. "Do you believe me?"

Xiao Hua slowly smiled and tightens the grip. "I do."

Scarily, she trusted him, even with her life. This man had never outright lied or disappointed her. Well, she was proud of her good taste when it comes to picking a boyfriend!