The Case of Jing, Xiaoyao and Dongling
Huang Beiyue has returned to the palace, but her hair had turned silver and her eyes amber, and wore unusual fashions with heeled shoes.
Prince Zhanye managed to bring her back to see the Grandqueen, wearing a just-as-weird outfit that highlighted his handsomeness as a young man and highlighted his physique, showing off his strong arms maids swooned over.
However, many maids were witnessed to what happened in school last year.
That the whole palace knew she swore to never go back to Nanyi Country, and stay with her new family, throwing away her princess status in favor of a happy life with her surrogate family, and came back powerful. But with Grandqueen falling ill, Prince Zhanye was looking for where she was, and managed to persuade her to come home to see the ill grandqueen who fell ill out of grief and guilt concerning her daughter and youngest granddaughter.
It took time for word to spread.
1 hour at the longest, that the Royal Family gathered at Grandqueen's Chambers and a rather clingy-chaotic reunion ensued, with a lot of crying and asking for forgiveness.
But the ones absent, were the eldest and youngest princes.
Jing was too drunk to come according to the manservant who sheepishly showed up. His routine was do paperwork regarding his county, send his agents to do jobs, then get drinking.
As for youngest prince, he hardly knows anything about a family member he hasn't seen in years since she was in toddlerhood. He had no clue so didn't bother to show up. After all, he had never done her any wrong. He never had any fault with her and he knows she knows it. They were total strangers and that was what was tragic.
In his family's mind, he never got to know his younger 'sister'.
That after monopolizing her until dinner time, the Grandqueen finally has strength to join family dinners.
But that night...
While it was Prince Weiyi's first time to meet his youngest sister, there was something wrong.
'Beiyue, your skin...' Yingye shook as Beiyue's skin was deathly-pale, not fair-maiden pale. Her lips was starting to become blood-red!
'Something's wrong...' she frowned. 'Something here is making me strong enough to change, but this darkness...' she searched out who with her dark feelers that made it look like she sprouted black sticky webbing. '...it's Prince Jing!'
'What about Jing'er?!' the Emperor cried anxiously. Like father like son indeed. Out of all princes, he and Jing were similar in personality. Zhanye was wise, just and cool. His third son prefers pacifism and neutrality, will side only with what was for the best and not cause chaos. His fourth son has a lot of emotional baggage because of how he was treated in Beiyao, resenting he had a hard time while their own people treated Prince Yi!
'This darkness is coming from him.' said Beiyue, shaking at this kind of darkness she was feeling. 'I heard from Dongling what happened not long ago...and there was darkness surrounding Dongling's home too that caused my partial change. I realize it now!' she cried in horror. 'His hatred...while he still has a conscience to send away his son, it was to protect him from his own hatred considering how and why he was born.' the dining hall went slackjawed at her words. 'The darkness in Dongling's house turned out to be actually from Prince Jing aimed at his own son so I protected him with Darkness Blessing. We have to go see Prince Jing. He's in danger as well.'
'In danger from what?' the Grandqueen asked anxiously.
'I blessed little Zhenji not long ago. The blessing is, word for word...' she told them how she worded her blessing. 'I am a dark-element magician so my blessing must have a curse in turn. And since Prince Jing is aiming his aura of hatred at his son, it counts as an attack, a betrayal against Zhenji! He'll attract misfortune to himself soon because the curse will take effect!'
Fairy Darkness Blessing.
It was the same as Maleficent's, magic born with darkness affinity. Blessings from a Dark Fairy must have a cursed catch before it can take effect. It was why Beiyue cursed anyone who will betray Prince Zhenji. But she never dreamed the first victim will be the father himself!
Her words made everyone run in haste to Jing's residence.
There, Zhanye can feel it. He can feel what Beiyue feels.
'Beiyue, this is...'
'You learned our magic so you feel it too.'
'I don't feel anything...' Weiyi pointed out.
'The brand of magic I learned from Beiyue's friends enabled me to sense 'the heart' of everything. Everything has a root cause, the heart.' said Zhanye. 'I've gotten sensitive to darkness of the heart as well and its a horrifying feeling...how on earth can you live with this, Beiyue?' he asked in a pained voice. 'This is horrible!'
'I feel at home because its my element so I feel nothing bad if aimed at me. I just get stronger.' said Beiyue. 'But at least I can discern danger to oneself and others...' they barged in to see Jing on the floor unconscious with a bleeding head and partially-undressed...and what they saw made Yingye and the Grandqueen scream as the furious Emperor and other princes had to kick the crazy ambitious, undressed maid off and restrain her while Jing was instantly healed, cleaned and dressed by Beiyue with a snap of her fingers.
'WHERE THE HELL ARE THE MANSERVANTS THAT THIS HAPPENED?!' the Emperor, was furious that his son was compromised and exploited. 'Yue, determine what happened here! I'll have heads on a platter soon!'
'Yes!' Beiyue created scrying flames.
Jing had sent his manservants out. All of them to carry his orders before he goes drinking again after a day of managing his county. His personal eunuch was sent to buy his nightly drink. It was why he was alone and defenseless because his mind was clouded with work stress and unable to get over his feelings.
However, the maid in question got in and bonked him hard on the head with a rock, incited by lust and twisted feeling of love hoping to be his woman should she get pregnant after everything that happened. Too bad she was caught in the act while in a haze of ecstasy!
'If we didn't get here sooner...she'd have time before she can get away with her crime.' Prince Weiyi grimaced as his angry father put the maid to death on the spot, prompting Beiyue to clean her and the blood up too.
'Let's not mention this to Jing...it'll cause him more harm than good.' Zhanye suggested, and the whole family agreed grimly. 'I'll adjust his memory a little...but Beiyue, he'll attract misfortune as long as he feels hatred toward his own son, the survivor of the Jing Faction purge. This won't be the end of this mess. Can you do something?'
'It's a temporary solution as he must gain closure himself.' said Beiyue as she placed a transformed hand on Jing's chest. 'His darkness piled up so much, tainting his cultivation so its brought to life by attacking Zhenji. It caused a rebound amplifier effect as he couldn't turn to anyone with his feelings since the exposure and the aftermath of the Jing Faction's treachery...if I extract his darkness, we'll set a monster loose and we all have to work to defeat it and a good chunk of the palace will be trashed as I have no time to take the monster outside the city.' she warned. 'And you must power up your attacks with the strength of your heart. Your cultivation will do nothing. Useless against an enemy like this. Are you ready?'
'Yeah.'
'Let's go out and leave Jing to me.' said the Grandqueen. They went out of Jing's office to go outside, and at the open grounds...Beiyue extracted his darkness out of his body and let it take form on its own.
It was a shadow version of Jing in a disheveled state, with chains around itself. It was even emitting wisps of darkness around itself.
Now that it's out, everyone can feel what it feels. And it howled in rage, its howls loud enough for the whole palace to hear, like the monster it was but mixed in the howl was Jing's own enraged voice, causing the royals to take out their swords.
'My poor grandson!' Grandqueen cried in grief, holding Jing in her arms as she sat by the steps, and all hell broke loose.
'What is going on here?!' minutes later, the Black Cavalry arrived led by Lord Geng as did Prince Xiaoyao. What they saw was the whole Royal Family fighting a monster version of the unconscious prince in the Grandqueen's arms.
'We'll explain later, but defeating that thing will save Jing'er!' the Grandqueen cried. 'They're fighting it and its too strong! That thing is Jing'er's hatred brought to life, hatred borne of what the Jing Faction has done, and its also hatred aimed at his innocent son! Its why we're fighting it! It's a living curse!'
'What?!'
'Protect the Grandqueen and the Princes! Use your barrier magic!' Geng barked orders at his subordinates as things were going crazy in the gardens.
'Yue'er is here too...' Prince Xiaoyao whispered as the missing princess was back, but slowly transforming as her power draws from people's darkness. Her transforming state was a terrifying beauty to behold.
However, she and Zhanye are strong against Monster-Jing, while the Emperor, Princess Yingye, Third and Fourth Princes were greatly troubled by it!
Soon, Monster-Jing was defeated after a long battle, and it exploded into black wisps after a death rattle.
'Its...over...' Geng croaked out wearily, amazed and horrified by the battle. 'Can we get our explanation now...? And why is our recently-returned princess looking different?'
By the end of the day, its the Censorate who went for drinks. And the royal family will decide what to do with Jing. It was better for his mental health...and Beiyue was put to task in sniffing similar-minded maids out, and make an example out of them to the other maids by next morning.
'That was quite the day, Yue'er.' after dinner, she went to see Prince Xiaoyao on the man's request. 'Your first return home and this happens.'
'No kidding, what a day.' Beiyue agreed tiredly, in her normal form now, now that Jing's darkness was gone...for the moment.
'How did Zhanye manage to persuade you to go home though?' Xiaoyao inquired. 'Its as expected of him. It seems he really cannot do anything wrong.' he said, impressed.
'...that guy snuck behind my back, training with my friends to learn a technique while I'm out at work.' Beiyue told him. 'It was an ability to make people feel their sincere emotions. In a world like this, sincerity and honesty is a dying breed. I'm honestly surprised.'
'Heee...'
'Well, my home is elsewhere now though.' said Beiyue. 'My heart belongs there.'
Xiaoyao recalled the dreams Dongling showed him.
Her childhood on the island of true happiness even if it meant living in that...shack. But she has experienced what she longed for. A loving parent, a good older sister, lots of friends, and freedom. Then going through quite the adventure to get her home and friends back, and returned to a normal life after. But now, a powerful magic user and warrior who's fine with a peaceful life. And she was clearly, a Summoner judging by the ice sword she has in her possession. A Shadow Sword.
It goes without saying that while her royal father won't let her, she threw away her royal status for what she has now. But he keeps holding onto it so when she returns home one day if ever, she can live in luxury after living as a commoner for so long. And she's a princess who can cook, swim, and clean around!
Swimming, he thought in a deadpan voice.
In a fishtail with barely anything for cover! She can somehow go anywhere she wants on a whim using her Dark Corridors, and transform herself, considering its a world of half-fish, half-naked people!
However, it also showed how beautiful she was in entirety and it haunted his dreams. Anguo Gongzi was such a fool. A fool to the end after he got killed alongside the Jing Faction a few months ago.
In a world where Immortals can exist, age does not matter, is it not?
However, another has her heart.
That boy called Riku.
A youthful, but mature young man who is fearless, unafraid to seek out his limits and answers to mysteries evident in training with Beiyue and looks after her well-being which may very well be why she fell for him. She did her very best to hide her feelings because she was considerate for him as he likes her SISTER yet funnily enough, said sister likes Sora, their other friend and just-as-funnier, secretly mutual. But knowing Riku, he'd catch on at some point and maybe her chance will come.
Everyone on the islands led a simple, but innocent life of honesty and sincerity. Nothing like their treacherous world.
Beiyue would never marry anyone here...no doubt.
'So Yue'er, about this boy you like...is he good to you?' he asked and her face instantly went red with the shyness of a maiden in love and went full-blown awkward.
'Y-yeah...he's just...way too good.' she squeaked.
Unknown to him and unfortunately for Beiyue, she remembers how Riku kissed her, held her in his arms tightly just so she won't kill her cousin.
Then she calmed down.
'I don't think...I'll find a man like him in this world anyway. Who would want me here, in a world that only ever cares for gold, reputation and power, not for who you really are? In this world, I never had the chance from the very beginning.' Beiyue shook her head. 'But even then, I'll just end up like Jing no doubt. Faking their way to my heart and once finally married, their true colors will show now that they got Princess Consort status, their family become Imperials and access to my money and connections?' she snorted hollowly. 'You most likely feel the same way since you're still single. You're just as picky as me, right?'
'Hahaha.' came the sarcastic, but amused laugh. 'Its hard being us.'
'It sure is.'
xxx
As Beiyue left his office after a few hours, Xiaoyao was thinking.
Indeed, he was picky.
He loved her mother, but Grandqueen under threat at the time, unhappily married Huiwen to Xiao Yuancheng, a man so worthless not worth a princess. He wasn't even Beiyue's real father.
He got Huiwen to agree to marry Beiyue to him so she can have a future despite her suffering caused by their own people nonetheless, but she died before she can even put it in paper with him.
However, he could not have either. Things worked against him somehow.
Marquis Jing'an's relentless thirst for power. Grandqueen's weakness. And now, Beiyue's own powers that made her disappear during the funeral. It led to her falling in love with another not him.
It really made him sigh most days.
Why can't he have the women he actually wanted?
xxx
'That must have been rough, Princess.' said Dongling with sympathy as Beiyue showed up at her house.
'No kidding.' said Beiyue wearily. 'The family must deal with Jing's issues. I explained the concept of Counseling and Therapy as a family, not doctor to patient sort of thing.' she explained. 'Tomorrow, we'll get you your Spirit Beast, OK?' she chimed. 'I got a real nice candidate...with a catch.'
'I have to defeat it, don't I?' Dongling deadpanned miserably at the idea, making her go green at the notion. There's a reason one needs HELP when one aspires to be a Summoner.
'Yup! It's an Arcane-Class Beast like the Wuling!' Beiyue grinned. 'I've been scoping out potentials, tracking every Earth-Element Beast and I found the strongest one! But first...' she summoned Riku.
Who has his thing out because he was about to use the toilet.
Dongling shrieked and ran out the door. Beiyue was horrified with what she unwittingly caused to happen and they got quite, the eyeful!
'AAAAH!' Riku yelped, red-faced in shock that he was suddenly somewhere else while compromised, and quickly zipping back up.
'I'M SO SORRY!' Beiyue cried, red-faced in horror. 'HOW SHOULD I KNOW?!'
After things calmed down...
'S-so, you'll take back your training sword just for tomorrow so Dongling can get respect from an Earth Spirit Beast?' Riku coughed out, red-faced as Beiyue was utterly embarrassed from her...mistake. How was he supposed to know he'd get summoned out of the blue? And how was she supposed to know he's using the facilities?
'Y-y-y-yeah!' Beiyue squeaked shakily, red-faced. 'I'm really sorry Riku, I thought you're just back at the mansion hanging out on that mango tree...' she stammered out an apology while kowtowing, and banging her forehead on the floor he had to stop her from hurting herself just for saying sorry! Is this how people of this world apologizes?! What a painful way to say sorry!
'Yeah well I drank too much Lemon Tea so I really needed to go...' said Riku, utterly embarrassed.
'So uhm, about our work...'
'Nah, it was a little bit difficult, but I KO-ed them and stuffed them in DiZ's system as we planned.' said Riku. 'Then the rest is all on Namine's hands.' he reassured her. 'I'm free until then.'
'Mm. Guess we'll stay here for a bit. Good thing Dongling still has room.' Riku mused thoughtfully.
'And for you to blend in, wear this.' Beiyue changed his clothes into clothes of this world and made his hair long like a young master should look...
ENORMOUS DAMAGE
'Er...' Riku sweatdropped at his clothes, and how Beiyue got all red in the face again. 'Men of this world wear dresses...?' His hair is floor-length, and in a half-bun inside an ornate rectangular hat on his head, complete with a long hairpin.
Well, Namine DID say she likes him for years...
...he honestly has no idea how to go about it. And Namine called him an idiot.
xxx
Next day...
Floating Light Forest...
They were in front of a Gemstone Dragon. Very rocky and shiny in appearance. It has the appearance of a living, dragon-shaped Spinel gemstone.
'This is the best one there is.' said Beiyue as Dongling knows she will soon fight this thing! 'Are you ready?'
'Yes!' Dongling took out her Training Sword lent to her by Beiyue. It is powered by her heart. Belief empowers it. Doubt and Fear weakens it till it breaks. Thus she must believe in herself, now that she has the support of her lady! It can also help her recover lost energy by absorbing qi in the surroundings so she will never run out, thus she can enjoy using large-scale attacks with impunity.
'Have fun! Riku and I will watch from afar.' and the pair vanished, leaving Dongling alone.
'Afar.' Riku deadpanned as they were back at Dongling's house, using flames to watch over her.
'Well, Dragons have immense pride...Dongling really has to defeat it alone.' Beiyue told him. 'If it sees us nearby while she fights, even if she wins without our help, she won't get its respect. She must really be alone.' she explained. 'Spirit Beasts with no respect to their Summoners will be harder to work with in battles. Or worse, actively screw with them. The Life Contract is a line they won't ever cross because if Summoner dies, they die too.' she said. 'The harder part is taming them after capturing.'
'So with your Ice Phoenix...' Riku frowned. 'How'd you tame him?'
'Well, given what I am, he was terrified of me.' Beiyue said gloomily. 'Just for existing.' Riku sweatdropped. 'So he became really obedient.'
Beiyue through Yan, has darkness affinity. This made her very-at-home with the Realm of Darkness, and access to its vast powers within without harm to herself. King Mickey reckoned that if she is strong enough, he would let her have the Kingdom Key D he has, the Keyblade of the Realm of Darkness, assuming she hasn't forged one out of her heart yet.
For each Keyblader, their Keyblades are unique to oneself. It will always take the form of a 'reflection' of its owner's heart.
And for having immense power, Ice Phoenix became a Divine Beast, Rank 12 instead of the Arcane Beast it once was, but it was EXTREMELY OBEDIENT because he fears the power of darkness, even though his owner IS SO NICE. And as Beiyue matures, so will their power. Her full strength is limited by her age and maturity.
Alas, Ice Phoenix is a resident of the Realm of Light. He is naturally, scared of the darkness.
He was a typical prideful beast who thinks highly of himself before.
But upon Contracting with Beiyue...?
His attitude changed drastically even if he got stronger.
They were the ones who babysitted the children as Dongling took a week to defeat the dragon and gain its respect. And upon drinking Elixir courtesy of Beiyue who picked her up, Dongling could see how strong she is now and was astonished. She is now an Arcane-Class Summoner.
'This dragon is stronger than the Earth Turtle of the Wuling! How the heck is he not recognized worldwide?!'
'Well, only the weak ones boast themselves to feel strong, Dongling.' Beiyue told her. 'While the real scary ones mind their own business and not care about fame. But if insulted, prepare to die.'
'When you say that now...' Dongling sweatdropped.
'Gemstone Dragon is a step away to Divine Beast Rank 1. It takes the form of a Spinel gemstone for now, its form will surely change. Not only that, you can sell its sheddings for sale! Spirit-Imbued Gemstones are 1 million gold ingots a kilogram, increasing in price the stronger the gem and its currently a Spinel!' Beiyue told her with a grin, making Dongling's eyes pop in horror at how rich she can become. 'We're in Dongli Territory, past Aunt Xihe's borders so...use my sword as a bridge for Dragon to ascend to Rank 5, so you can breakthrough through him.' Dongling raised the Training Sword to absorb qi in the air en-masse. Guided by her miss, her dragon within her Summon Space could cultivate.
'Can't I go to Rank 12?' Dongling asked her while amassing massive amounts of energy.
'We're only 14 Dongling. We're not old enough to handle that kinda power.' Beiyue told her. 'Rank 5 is already stretching limits as it is.' she told her. 'The reason I can cheat, is through my connection to the Realm of Darkness, making me Rank 12 and still alive to talk about it.' she snorted. 'But I cannot go further than that or I die from Power Explosion, destroying my existence entirely.' Dongling gulped at that. 'When you're twenty years old, we'll go up a few ranks, OK?'
'Yes!'
'That, and I don't want you to gain the wrong kind of attention either.' Beiyue quipped. 'Many people or factions will want you for nefarious purposes or worse, a personal visit from Honglian, the strongest female of Guangyao Hall in Beiyao. You already met Molian, her male counterpart. They always kill who they personally challenge.' she warned as Dongling inwardly gasped. That boy she befriended was actually an organization's male strongest?!
'Given your young age and cultivation, but lacking in fighting experience, you are still easy prey so you must train hard after gaining cultivation. I'll give you a guide.' she poked Dongling's head to give her training pointers. 'Master your cultivation. Create team-up techniques with Gemstone Dragon and work together as a pair. Perfect teamwork so get along with him.'
'Yes!'
'For now, we visit Aunt Xihe...she might send investigators as to determine that stunt of ours...for now, Dongli won't notice it but they will wonder why there's little qi all of a sudden in their lands...'
xxx
Princess Huang Xihe.
One of Nanyi Country's strongest after Huang Huiwen, and the youngest of the three surviving children of the previous Emperor...from royal infighting of course!
Emperor Fengshuang and Princess Royal Huiwen, the children of Empress Wende. The other siblings were children of their father's concubines.
Princess Xihe, a princess ten years younger than Emperor. Emperor was the middle between the two royal daughters.
Ironic that the kindest siblings were the survivors of the insanity of royal infighting to gain their father's favour, while the ambitious ones killed each other off.
The nicest ones survived through sheer cunning and teamwork.
However, with Marquis Jing'an's treachery...only two siblings left, now.
'Yue'er! How you've grown since I last saw you at four years old!' she squealed as after a dark corridor opened in the Border Forces' camp, Beiyue showed up first, before her maid.
Princess Xihe is still single, and age 33. Clad in an armored riding outfit as the leader of 250.000 men as its Commander-General. She wore her long hair in a firm ponytail, leaving no room for bangs and fringes, but she was beautiful nonetheless.
'What brings you here to this place all alone, you reckless child? You're a walking Adult's Fear!' Princess Xihe fussed over her niece. 'Not to mention a weird incident happened...'
'Erm...that would be our fault auntie.' said Beiyue weakly, you see...' after explaining why, Princess Xihe gaped at her.
'M-may I see this...sword?' Dongling gave Xihe the sword and tried her shot at cultivating the way Dongling did, thus rising in strength rapidly.
Unlike her siblings, she isn't a Summoner. She got by through her wits, skill and strength in that order. Under her leadership, they have very minimal losses that's quickly replaced by her royal brother. She was a competent general thus has respect of those even stronger than she.
She reached War God levels of Warrior's cultivation, but Beiyue didn't let her aunt stop, until she 'feels' her final limits. She aided the Warriors in the camp to reach their final limits, the limits their inborn potential granted them at birth as Warriors in order to keep up with their Summoner colleagues in terms of ki reserves. Most of the Warriors here, were Gold Classes. That was as far as their money can afford them. Thus, War Gods they may be, there's still varying levels in strength hence. As for the Summoners, they were aided to reach Arcane Classes as well, but to keep them from growing big-headed and defy Xihe's authority, she lied about limits.
She only allowed precious few who will never defy Xihe to reach Divine Class in secret.
Thus 9-Star Classes they are all now, but their Spirit Beasts are simply 'a step away to Arcane Class'. Thus unlike her and Zhanye, they cannot ascend until they did the rest on their own efforts.
Beiyue also updated Xihe on happenings in Nanyi Country as news is hard to come by to the Border Forces due to the treacherous forests, after amassing massive resources using her abilities for Dongling to refine into medicine supplies by the bulk, that the men eagerly took out crates they use to store precious pills in. She created a magical book, that Xihe must 'read' by chapter every week under her pillow during sleep so she can dream of what's within the book.
Xihe really knew nothing of what went on, since she took this onerous, thankless duty with her men since Beiyue was four years old. She and her men get supplies every new year that until then, they're on their own!
'I see...to think you can create a magical book like this now, Yue'er.' Xihe said, amazed, holding the magical book made entirely of qi. 'I'll be sure to learn updates so I can inform my men of going-ons back home.'
'Yeah. Well, Dongling and I will go home after she uses up the resources to supply your camp with medicine.' said Beiyue. 'Due to...complications...she can't leave little prince Zhenji alone for too long. There's...a good reason she's the Legal Guardian of your nephew.' said Beiyue awkwardly. 'Prince Jing's newborn son. You'll dream about that later.' that got Princess Xihe worried.
Her nephew has a son, yet cannot care for him? Why?
'Mm.'
xxx
Back at the Capital...
'You guys...' Riku twitched, glowering at the girls in annoyance and they meeped at him. 'I'm lucky some kids knows how to change diapers cuz' I certainly didn't study this! I can clean with magic, but NOT how to put on a diaper!'
'I got into a long talk with Aunt Xihe I'm so sorry!'