As soon as Bai Qian reached Qing Qiu, she told Mi Gu to lock down the Fox Den indefinitely. Then, she went to Yanhua Cave. A thick barrier was placed over its opening to ensure no one would disturb her.

Bai Qian went to the stone bed and placed the Jade Purity fan of Kunlun in front of her and tried to figure out what to do next. She gathered her spiritual power in the palm of her hand and commanded a small yet steady amount of it to her fingertips. She guided it into the fan and initiated the exchanging process. Gradually she opened up her core essence and let herself fully bond with the fan.

Within her mind's eye, she could see the tremendous power it held within. If she concentrated hard enough, she could feel the air caressing the fan and its connection to the surroundings. Between them magic spells were no longer needed, they acted as one entity now.

For next twelve days and twelve nights, she meditated tirelessly and replenished as much as spiritual power as she could. She knew it won't be enough, but it was the best she could do.

When the soft golden light of a new day appeared in the sky, Bai Qian leaved Yanhua Cave. She discussed with Mi Gu over the matters that needed to be addressed and what went on in Qing Qiu during her absence.

She also asked him to prepare many scrolls she deemed necessary for Xiao Jiu. Though she had yet to talk to her niece about succeeding her position as the Queen of Qing Qiu, it will happen eventually. She will need to study those documents - treaties and agreements between realms, rules and regulations and so much more - for future reference.

Bai Qian could only hope being the Queen will keep Xiao Jiu busy and set her apart from Lord Dong Hua. With enough time and distance, the little fox should be able to forget him and move on with her life. None of her family, aside from Fourth Brother, ever suffered from the love trials to become a God, she hope all the bad luck will not fall on her little niece.

"Mi Gu, have you heard anything from mother and father? Will they return soon?" She asked.

"Aunt, Yung Zheng came here a few days ago with High God Bai Yi's message, it's highly likely they'll be here by the end of next week."

"Really?" Her smile widened. She missed them so much, both had been gone for such a long time. "I'll be back next week then."

It was a good thing they came back quickly. She wanted that marriage arrangement gone as soon as possible; before Sky Lord will get any ideas and pull something on her. At least Ye Hua had stopped pursuing her. She hoped it will stay that way, else it will be so awkward when her parents go to the Ninth Heaven for the annulment.

She also hoped Zhe Yan and her Fourth brother already mentioned to her parents the change in relationship between her and her mentor. Her father maybe uncomfortable with Mo Yuan becoming his son-in-law, they were once colleagues after all. She still believe he will not object them being together too strongly. It was her mother she worried about. She had bemoaned so many times over the decision that sent her daughter off to Kunlun Mountain.

When she wrapped up her business, Bai Qian raced back to Kunlun Mountain. She was impatient to get there before her mentor came out of his retreat. She didn't anticipated Mo Yuan would leave early on. But as she stepped inside the Grand Hall, she saw him rolling the wooden scroll that laid open on the table in front of him and handed it to Senior Chan Song.

"Make sure he got it done as soon as possible," instructed Mo Yuan.

"Yes, Master. I'll go right away." Chan Song took the scroll, bowed then left immediately.

Bai Qian barely heard their conversation from where she stood. She peered at them curiously and watched her senior left in a hurry.

"Master, I'm back." She announced her arrival.

Mo Yuan turned his face toward her and gave her an affectionate smile. "Come here, Seventeenth."

She made her way to him and dropped down by his side. "Master, weren't you supposed to retreat for another day? Is everything alright?" She was anxious.

"I'm well. Don't worry. Did you finish your business in Qing Qui?"

"All done," she nodded.

"Very well. Let's go then." Mo Yuan stood up and offered her his hand.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously, putting her small hand into his much larger one.

"Didn't you say you want to visit the Mortal Realm?"

Bai Qian eyes' lit up in joy. "Truly? We're going there? Oh, I missed the marketplace. It is always lively down there."

She had missed the old days where she and senior Zi Lan would set up fortune-telling stalls and competed against each other who would attract more customers. Zi Lan lost more often than not even though he was better at telling fortunes and reading bones. He often accused her of using her handsome face to draw the crowd. She told her mentor as much when he asked what she was laughing at.

The city they visited was one of the largest city in Quan Zhou. All kinds of buildings could be seen along the roads. There were crowded with passing townspeople creating a scene full of hustle and bustle. Mo Yuan watched Bai Qian bounced from one stall to another. He noticed her lingered at a particular stall than most. When he walked closer, she was picking a few hair claps and hair pins before placing them back when she noticed he was closed by.

Mo Yuan looked down at the displayed ornaments and picked a golden hair comb encrusted with a pair of mandarin ducks twining their neck together.

"Do you like this one?" he asked.

"I love it," she smiled shyly at him when he gently put it in her hair.

"When we get back, I'll make another hairpin for you. How is that?" He looked at her tenderly, his lips stretched into a smile. She thought his smile could brighten thousands of worlds.

"I can't wait," she responded in earnest. Her mentor hadn't crafted anything for a long time. She wondered whether it will held some kind of power.

"You're so lucky," the jewelry seller who heard their loving exchanges sighed dreamily. "I wish my husband is as affectionate as yours."

Bai Qian's face colored slightly, she was about to correct her that he wasn't her husband – yet. Then she took note of the small crowd gathering near them, most of which were young females. Some were blushing when they gazed upon Mo Yuan. She was reminded once again how females usually found her mentor's face irresistible. Not that she was completely immune, she just had a lot of practices and seventy thousands of years to suppressing the urges.

She hooked her arm with his and dragged him away from his admirers; claiming it was already noon and they should find a restaurant. After lunch, Bai Qian brought them to a tea house. When they settle down, the storyteller - an old gentleman with long white-beard - was in the middle of telling the story of the Niulang the cow herder, and his beloved Zhi Nu.

Zhi Nu was the Daughter of Heaven who fell in love with a mortal. They lived together peacefully for a time as a couple before Zhi Nu's parents took her away. With the help of a celestial cattle, Niulang followed her all the way to heaven. In the end, despite their love for each other, they were forever separated by Silver River and can only be reunited once a year during the mid-summer's night. Their love was truly tragic, as was most love stories between mortals and celestial beings.

"I don't understand. Why she let herself falling in love with him when she know they couldn't be together." Bai Qian commented when the story was finished.

"Because love is irrational. Sometimes people let their heart decide, rather than their head. The more desperate they feel, the less sensible they become." Mo Yuan sipped the tea slowly when he replied. "

"It's just not worth the heartache," she justified.

"Sometimes to love and then lose are better than never love at all," he said solemnly.

"I'd rather not met Li Jing at all," she wrinkled her nose at that notion.

Mo Yuan raised an eyebrow at her conviction. "You still hold the grudge against him."

"Not really," she shrugged. "But it'd be better without him in my life at all."

"He kept you safe when you were held captive in Grand Zi Ming Palace." Mo Yuan pointed out. "There's no coincidence or chance encounter in life. Everything's, good or bad, happen for a reason and serve a purpose, Seventeenth. You and him are fated to meet, whether you like it or not."

"I guess," she reluctantly agreed.

"Let's moving," Mo Yuan got up and waited for her. "Do you want to spend the night here?"

"Do you have some place else in mind?" She asked.

"Actually, I do."

"Then let's go. We could always come back later," she decided.

The journey took longer than she thought. It was already nightfall and they had yet to reach their destination. Mo Yuan gathered her in his arms and told her to sleep. The cool gentle breeze of the night and the steady beat of his heart slowly lured her to sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, she found herself lying on a bed. Her face was pressed against her mentor's broad chest, his heartbeat beneath her ear, his breath warm in her hair. One of his arm was flung over her small waist. Down there, their limbs entangled intimately.

She made a note that he even took off her hair ornaments and outer robe, only two layers of white cloth were left on her body. She flushed crimson red; wanting to extricate herself but was afraid that her movement will disturb his rest. With few deep breathes, she forced her body to relax and let her eyes roam his feature instead.

His hair was let down just like the time he laid in Yanhua Cave. She rather liked him this way. He looked younger, relaxed and at peace without the burdens of being the God of War to weigh him down. She can't help but reached out and lightly smoothed his eyebrow and traced down his nose and his lips with her finger. She wondered if he knew she used to do this while he slept during those years, would he blame her?

"Awake?" His soft voice startled her out of her reverie. She tried to pull apart but the arm that held her tightened.

She nodded timidly. "How," she cleared her throat, "How did I end up in your bed?"

"You cling to me and refused to let go of me last night," he said impassively. "So I figured out laying here with you is easier."

"Ah."

"It's still early. Do you want to go back to sleep?"

She nodded again and buried her face deep in his chest. If only she could stay with him like this everyday, no matter what will happen in the future, she will have no more regret.

The next time she woke up was late morning, judging by the light outside. Her mentor was long gone, the side he slept on was rather cold. She slowly got up from the bed and begun to explore the place. It was a simple wooden house that was built into a cave. She peered into the back passage, it clearly led to somewhere else. The noise coming from another room alerted her to her mentor's presence. She padded across the room and began searching for him.

She found him sitting at the table, reading a scroll. Two bowls of steamed rice and some side dishes laid there.

"Are you hungry?" he folded the scroll and placed it away. "Let's eat."

"You cook?" She was bewildered. Spending twenty thousand years with him, she never saw him cook before. "But you've never cooked!"

"How do you think I survive before becoming the Master of Kunlun Mountain?" He looked at her strangely. "I didn't cook because someone else already did that."

She picked up the chopstick and took a couple of bites, it was quite pleasing. Bai Qian was speechless. The sons of Heavenly Father were truly a class of their own. Was it a requisite that they excelled at everything they did? She decided to have Xiao Jiu taught her how to cook when they got back. Simple dish like podridge shouldn't be that hard to cook, right?

"When you're done, we should go out. The weather is very nice today," said Mo Yuan.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Fusang, far east of Quan Zhou."

"Across the Great Sea?" She was surprised. No wonder it took them quite some time getting here.

"This area is scarily inhabited. We won't be disturbed."

When she stepped out of the hut, she can't help but looking in awe at their surroundings. Around them vivid yellow and orange color boughs highlighted the area. The shafts of sunlight caressed the carpet of reds and golds before her. An icy wind blew, the trees shook slightly and golden leaves spinning through the air. She squealed in delight and let them float around her. Some blew past her face and landed lightly on the ground.

"Master, this place is so beautiful." She looked back at him; her eyes were bright with happiness.

"There is a large pool over that way. Shall we?" He took her elbow and led her away.

It was an enchanting emerald pool, crystal clear, she could see its bottom. Mammoth boulder and ferns surrounded it. The place was so inviting, she was tempted to jump right into it. In the end, she decided to sit down against him.

"How did you find this place?" She rested her head on his shoulder, admiring the magnificent view.

"I stumbled upon this place a long time ago and didn't have a chance to come back. It's peaceful and quiet. The energy here is pure enough, suitable for retreat."

"I like it here," she turned around in his embrace and smiled at him. "I don't mind staying here for a while."

He studied her face. "Won't you be bored?"

"Give me some good books, I could practically live here for years," she laughed.

Mo Yuan tried to reconcile the wildfox that loved to run around and played pranks on her seniors with the woman who sat idly with him now.

"I guess it comes with age," she admitted. "I'm so used to reading books to pass time."

"It must be hard for you, staying in Qing Qiu all the time," he said quietly.

He learned from Zhe Yan that she hardly stepped out of Qing Qiu, all because she was busy guarding his body. He knew she loved to sneak out and played. It was in her nature as a fox, he guessed. For her to stay put all years round, it was a feat in itself.

"Not at all, I like to keep your company. Sometimes I brought books with me to read."

She remained there and kept a low profile to minimize the risk of being exposed. It wouldn't do if someone recognized her face, especially one of her seniors. The Easter Sea King's banquets was a near-missed, good thing she sneaked out just in time. It would be disastrous to run-in her seniors and Li Jing there.

"The other time, I closed down and practiced there. Yanhua Cave spiritual energy is good for cultivation, maybe not as much as Kunlun Mountain, but it's good enough for my people."

"You've changed."

He knew she was bound to change with time. He had gone for a long time after all.

"Not really," she looked into his eyes, "I'm still that lazy fox who prefer lounging around than doing the hard work. That remind me, I want to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"I could turn the Jade Purity fan of Kunlun into a sword just as you've said I would. But my sword skill is rusty, would you mind teaching me again?"

Mo Yuan looked at her and chuckled, "You really have changed. I couldn't imagine the day you'd ask for lessons in sword fighting. The next thing I know, you'd ask me to recite the war matrix."

"I'm serious, you know," she frowned. "And that'd also be useful."

"It'd be my pleasure, Seventeenth." He smoothed her hair affectionately. "But why the sudden interest?"

"I told you I want to share some of your burden, if you'd allow me to," she reminded him.

"I never expect you to," Mo Yuan took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "It's enough that you're here with me."

"I know. But this is also my wish," she sought his eyes, trying to convey her innermost thought.

He was deeply touched that she sincerely wanted to shoulder his responsibilities with him. Not that he would let her actually do it. But the thought alone warmed his heart. He raised her open palm toward his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on it. "I appreciate it, Seventeenth."

Note : This chapter is unedited, so please bear with typo errors. In a few days, I'm going on field trip so there won't be new chapter this weekend.
Please check again for the new chapter in two weeks.