When Bai Qian woke up in the morning, she almost believed last night was a dream. But when she nuzzled her face against the bedding, she knew it was real. The light sandalwood scent Mo Yuan usually wore was still fresh. She took a deep breath and let it soothe her. How long did he spend here, she wondered.
Then heat crawled up her neck and across her cheeks when she remembered the light touch of his lips against hers. She covered her face with both hands. Did he actually kiss her?
Zhe Yan had insisted before that her mentor was in love with her, but she was skeptical. There were times when she wanted to ask him outright. However, somehow the staggering fear that she would ruin all the great things they had together held her back.
Lately she began to notice those small touches her mentor had initiated. In the past, it was she who would approach him first. More often than not, she would cling to his arm, hug his waist, or hold his hand. Yet her mentor never discouraged or reprimand her for those behaviours. Casual physical contact between them gradually became natural. But she couldn't mistake the kiss from last night for anything but what it was. It was useless to deny the mutual attraction between them anymore.
Her thought was interrupted when Zi Lan came inside the room. He sat down and propped his head up on one hand, looking at her. "Seventeenth, are you sick? Your face is so red."
She shrieked at his sudden appearance; then threw a pillow at him. "Get out and knock next time, Senior Zi Lan,"
"I did. Many times. You didn't answer so I came inside," he muttered as he deftly caught the projectile in one hand. "Someone is here to see you."
Actually, he swung by her room twice already this morning. The first time he had backtracked when he saw their mentor leaving her room at an early hour. This was the second time he found them together in an intimate situation. Both had always been closed in the past, but that was before he learned that Seventeenth was actually a woman.
What was really going on between Seventeenth and their mentor? Were they ….together? His eyes widened at the epiphany. He couldn't wait to see his seniors' reaction when they hear about this; he snorted. He was so right about them from the beginning.
When Bai Qian went out to see who had come; it turned out to be Feng Jiu. She had another encounter with Lord Dong Hua and was rejected once again. Bai Qian tried to comfort her little niece, but she was inconsolable. Her mentor, Zhe Yan and fourth brother came to investigate who was crying in front of the hall and found them sitting there. She put her finger against her lips to silence them.
"Aunt, father has given up on me. He doesn't try to stop me anymore. He knew Lord Dong Hua wouldn't have me no matter what I did. But even if he speaks to me cruelly or bullies me, I just can't forget him," Xiao Jiu wailed miserably.
"If you were told to forget High God Mo Yuan, could you? You kept waiting for him for how long? Over seventy thousand years? How can he ask me to let go of him?"
"I'm sorry, I should be more empathetic," Bai Qian patted Xiao Jiu's head soothingly.
"Aunt, you still haven't answered me. Could you do it? Let go of him?"
She glanced back at her mentor who still watched their interaction. Bai Qian's thoughts went back to last night. "I couldn't," she said honestly. Her cheek burned with embarrassment.
Mo Yuan lips curled into small smile at her shy admission. Zhe Yan chortled when he saw the covert exchange between the two of them; thus alerting the little lass of his presence. Xiao Jiu was upset and embarrassed that the men were eavesdropping on her. Zhe Yan had to bribe her with his thousand years old wine.
That night, after sending Xiao Jiu back to her bed, Bai Qian went to the back of the mountain to pick up some fresh peach tree branches for her mentor's room.
As she was about to enter, she heard a familiar tune coming from inside. She smiled to herself. She loved listening to her mentor playing the zither. It always calmed her.
"Master," she called out. "I'm replacing the peach blossoms in your room. Did I disturb you?"
Mo Yuan shook his head. His long fingers moved gracefully over the strings. Before she came in, he was just thinking back to the old times where she would insist on him playing more songs.
After replacing the new peach blossoms in the vase, she walked across the room and sat down near the window. It was snowing lightly outside. She turned back to face him.
"I remember when I first came to Kunlun Mountain, I was still very immature then. When I learned that you could play the zither very well, I pestered you for a tune every day. Do you remember that?"
"I do," he chuckled a little. "Perhaps tomorrow we should go sit beside the lotus pond. I'll play some more for you."
"More than one?" She tilted her head, asking excitedly. "Is that a promise?"
"If you want, I'll play for you every day," he said softly.
"Then I'll have to stay here every day too?" She smiled at that thought. "You know back then I thought if I could stay here forever, wouldn't that be nice? I could keep your company and listen to you playing zither. Maybe learning Taoism too.
"You hate Taoism," he pointed out. "You always fell asleep during the lectures."
"That's true," she laughed at the memories.
"What about now?" He paused then turned to look at her. "Do you think you could stay here?"
"Naturally, Kunlun Mountain is also my home," she replied happily.
"What about Qing Qiu? You've your responsibilities there."
"Actually, I'm thinking about retiring. Xiao Jiu is old enough. She would inherit my position sooner or later anyway," she shrugged. "I could always go back and forth between Qing Qiu and here to help her until she is ready."
"Master, are you tired of me already?" She pouted.
Mo Yuan shook his head and smiled fondly at her. Then he went back to playing.
This male phoenix has returned to his old home,
from roaming the four seas searching for his mate.
Time was not yet ripe, there was no way to meet her;
then what a surprise: this evening I come up to this hall,
and there's a dazzling maiden in the women's quarters.
The room near but she far: this poisons my guts.
How can we entwine our necks like mandarin ducks?
How can we flutter about, and together soar?
Lady phoenix, lady phoenix: come with me and nest,
be supported, breed with me, forever be my wife.
Exchanging affection in a physical way will harmonize our hearts;
at midnight if you follow me who will know?
Our wings together will rise, fluttering as high we fly.
If your are unmoved by my feelings, it will cause me misery.
Feng Qiu Huang. Bai Qian perked up; she knew this particular tune by heart. Her mentor used to play this song quite often back then. She didn't know the meaning of this song until much later. She wondered if he played this song for her all along.
She walked back to him and sat against his side. "I remembered, back then, you just began to introduce me to the zither. I only managed to learn a few strokes. What a shame!"
"But now I've gotten better." She asked him shyly, "Later will you teach me how to play this song?"
"You knew what song that was?"
"I do now," she smiled sweetly, holding her eyes steady into his. That night they stayed up late together, she watched the snowfall from the window while he played the zither for her.
Zhe Yan who heard the sweet melodies fill the night, turned his head toward Mo Yuan's room. "So in love. So in love," he sighed thinking about Ye Hua. Had he not thought Ye Hua was Mo Yuan's reincarnation, he wouldn't have tried to set a match between him and Bai Qian in the first place. Now it was a mess. "Such an unfortunate coincidence."
The next day, Mo Yuan set up his zither near the lotus pond as promised. Bai Qian was delighted when he started playing for her. She sat there listening and sometimes chatting with him. It was late morning when an unexpected visitor came to Kunlun Mountain.
Ye Hua stood waiting in front of the Grand Hall of Kunlun Mountain when a man clad in disciple's clothing hurried down to greet him.
"Zi Lan greets the Crown Prince," Zi Lan bowed respectfully. "What brings Your Highness to Kunlun Mountain today?"
"I'm here under the Sky Lord's order. He wanted to consult High God Mo Yuan about a matter of grave importance. I'm here to invite him to the Nine Heaven."
"I see," he nodded. "Your Highness, please wait inside the Hall. I'll inform Master of your arrival right away." He disappeared for a while then came back. "Master said he'll be waiting for you at the back of the mountain. Your Highness, please follow me."
When the Sky Lord said he wanted to invite High God Mo Yuan to the Nine Heaven for a consult. Ye Hua jumped at the chance. He wanted to see Qian Qian and talked to her. When he arrived here he was half-hoping and half-afraid to see her, but she was nowhere in sight. He didn't anticipated seeing her sitting so closely together with High God Mo Yuan, watching him playing the zither.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, Bai Qian turned around to see Ye Hua standing beside senior Zi Lan. She took in the sight of him, he seemed fine to her. She was a little worried when she heard he went to deal with rebels in the East.
"Ye Hua," she greeted him stiffly. Mi Gu had sent her a missive soon after she left Qing Qiu that he went there looking for her. He also warned her Ye Hua already figured out her association with Kunlun Mountain. Although the secret that she was Qing Qiu's Bai Qian was out, it was still kept relatively among those in the know only. She had yet to talk to him about their supposed marriage. She winced at that thought.
"Qian Qian." His eyes swept carefully over her. He tried to determine if she had truly lost her self-cultivation as Li Jing claimed. Then he glanced at Mo Yuan who had moved up to join them. "Ye Hua greets High God Mo Yuan."
Mo Yuan watched the way his brother eyed Seventeenth intensely. He wondered what was his intention toward her. "Perhaps you should address me as your older brother instead."
"My older brother?" Ye Hua's wandering attention snapped back to him instantly. He was confused. Why would this ancient God claim to be his brother? Wasn't he the only son of Heavenly Father?
"Master, I'll go help seniors in the Hall," Bai Qian said quickly; not wanting to stay here when both brothers finally met and had the chance to talk.
"Seventeenth, you can stay," he caught her elbow as she moved to stand.
She turned to him and pleaded him with her eyes. "Um, Senior Zi Lan said he really want my help and I forgot. You two should talk, I'll just come back later."
She smiled sweetly at him when he acquiesced. Both pairs of eyes followed after her retreating back. Mo Yuan cleared his throat and closed the distance between him and his brother.
"Come and sit here with me, little brother, there's much to talk about."
Ye Hua slowly learned the true origin of his birth and how he and High God Mo Yuan was supposed to be born as a twin sons of Heavenly Father. When he mentioned the time he was still the golden lotus in this pond; Ye Hua was reminded of the familiar flashback he saw many times along the years. The back of a man in white cloth was not a dream at all. It was Si Yin – Bai Qian all along.
Mo Yuan voice still went on, "That year Seventeenth liked to play with the golden lotus, she often sat there," he pointed at the edge of lotus pond, "and talked to you."
"Zhe Yan said after I died, Consort Le Xu was here; three years after that, she gave birth to you. I'm glad you are finally here. I have been waiting for you for hundreds of thousands of years," Mo Yuan gave him a smile of satisfaction.
Ye Hua was conflicted. Never once had he imagined Qian Qian's mentor would be his brother. Many had said before that both of them looked very much alike. Seeing Mo Yuan now, even he couldn't deny the striking resemblance between them. Had Qian Qian saw him as her mentor all along? Is that why she let him stay with her in Qing Qiu? Ye Hua's heart squeezed tightly at the mere thought.
They sat together in silence until Bai Qian came back. She quickly walked up to Mo Yuan and pulled at the end of his sleeve anxiously.
"Master, I heard that the Sky King asked to see you. What for? You just came back!" she exclaimed before turning to Ye Hua. "What does he want with my Master, Ye Hua?"
Her Master. He thought bitterly. "It's about Qing Cang and the Bell of Eastern Emperor," his voice was stifled.
Bai Qian's face tightened at the name of their nemesis. She looked at Mo Yuan in trepidation. Did something happen? Was Qing Cang's seal weakened because of her mentor's return? Her heart raced.
"It's going to be alright," he patted her head softly.
"I'm going with you. I'm worried about your health. There are so many visitors lately, you've hardly had any time to rest," she decided. "If this is about Qing Cang, it concerns me as well. I want to know everything."
"And how are you going to explain your presence?" He raised an eyebrow; gesturing at her female clothing.
"I'll go as Si Yin, of course," she said, amused.
Mo Yuan sighed knowing she wouldn't change her mind.
"Can you imagine their surprise? Seventy thousand years they've searched for me in vain. And one day I just waltz inside the Grand Hall when they least expect it," her eyes lit up mischievously.
"No one at the Nine Heaven, except Ye Hua, know Bai Qian's face. Well, I guess his two officers don't count, they won't talk anyway."
"If you're coming with us, then go change quickly." Mo Yuan shook his head, resigned, then added. "And Seventeenth, let me do the talking. Alright?"
"Of course, Master," she immediately obeyed, a secret smile on her lips.
Note: Special thanks to Midorizawa who proofread this story for us. :)
Sorry for the late update, got a hectic week at work. Next update is likely to be delayed as well. ;'(
Weissfreya : I think she's rather forget the humilation and the betrayal. Someone who didn't cherish her enough, why should she bother to remember him at all. When LJ betrayed her, she hated him for life. As for YH, she was unwilling to let him stay in her memories at all. Sang Ji wouldn't be able to keep up with BQ anyway. She's too domineering for him. *-* I really wish to see BQ fight with QC again; to show off her prowess even if a tiny bit. Sadly that glory was robbed.
loreinacadis0412 : Added a little scene between 16th & 17th here. I always love them together, their love-hate relationship is always hilarious. Yeah, she was as strong as Si Yin back then and she knew she was handcidapped in the coming *ahem* - you know what. I guess YH never had personal relationship with anyone; even the one with his own parent was superficial. And he was dubbed the future crown prince at the early age. He hardly has to explain himself to anyone except Tianjun (which always brief and to the point). My guess it's his (bad) habit. Uh Oh .. hot & bother Shifu! I'll try but no promise. I'm suck at writing those scenes.
PS: I don't think he needs boost; BQ's charm will be enough for him. Well, if she choose to use it, that is. :D