Big Baddie

Junjie's shrill squealing new no bounds. A terror like no other caused him to release his bowels and his face swoomped to the floor. His eyes were so wide, they were about to pop out and run off in opposite directions.

Little Lord shot a glare at Zhu Shensheng.

Tian Cai's mouth dropped in awe. Visibly, Zhu Shensheng trembled and to his dis-belief, she pattered back , giving ground to Little Lord.

"Big Brother this....Little Junjie, he's just a baby, don't-don't end him. He's too young to know better. Sister promises to teach him well his status and ensure that such a thing never occurs again."

"Che! Why is Great Grandfather still a fly, HUH!!"

Suddenly, loud thunder cracked the sky and the earth started shaking uncontrollably.

"Return!!!" squealed Shensheng.

Zhao Chen's body twitched with life. Zooming over to help, Tian Cai asked. "Grandfather, how-how do you feel?"

"Big Brother, there's no need to ascend and wipe out Third Heaven. Look, Sister has already returned him to his body!"

"Cai'er, the taste...in my mouth, why does it taste like dung? For a moment, Grandfather thought he was seeing himself from a jar. What-What happened?"

He tastes dung! Doesn't that mean....

Tian Cai stood up and a giant wave of heat blasted out. Eyes black, he spat, "You...You turned Grandfather into a f*cking DUNG FLY!!"

OM! OM! OM!

Little Lord hissed, his ears rising to the sky, as he floated upward.

"Dadda mad....Son mad!!"

Zhu Shensheng's eyes bugged. Both their tops just blew off? How was she going to resolve this?

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Big Brother this was an unfortunate mistake. Sister overstepped her bounds and forgot his relation to you. Sister will make it up to you no matter what. Please, please spare Little Junjie...he's destined to rise to Heavenly Lord!"

Tian Cai was so distraught that inside of him, the cosmic seed sizzled into life. Largely undetected, a tiny wisp fluctuated outward. In all the Nine Chaos Heavens, only two beings detected the fluctuation and immediately reacted.

Somehow, both the Divine beings squealed and were thrown to their feet. Trembling, they looked at Tian Cai gobsmacked.

This!!!

"Big Brother isn't this cosmic essence, only Big Baddie...."

Suddenly, like a frozen picture, all life and sound stopped. Even the Divine Pig and Rabbit were paralyzed and unaware of their predicament.

High above and deep within the fathoms of the star sea, once again the eye had opened up.

A soft disappointed sigh was heard. "Imbeciles...the both of you...to think you would call out his innate ability so soon....TOO EARLY! Humph! When you two return, let's see how I roast your feet for 1000 millenniums. Now I your Father am forced to intercede..."

From out of Little Lord stepped out an illusionary body composed of innumerable pinpoints of light.

The figure stooped low and gently clasped Tian Cai's hand. "To think, we would meet like this..." For several long breaths, the being quietly held the hand. Finally, it said, "Forgive me for raising my hand against you...now is not the time for the Cosmic Seed to show itself. For now, let it be sealed."

A soft light enveloped Tian Cai, and seamlessly it shrunk inward to seal the Cosmic Seed. With great difficulty, Tian Cai's hand was released and the being turned about.

"You two sure have guts...we'll see how much further you can screw things up. I your Father, will be watching and keeping a list of all your transgressions. Little Girl, you directly calling this Lord's name...Humph? Wait and see what happens to you. The last ten breaths...you all forget."

With a brilliant flash, he disappeared.

Unimaginably, events appeared to reverse prior to the point Zhu Shensheng had transported Zhao Chen's soul to a dung fly.

Everyone blanked, there eyes blinking as white fog appeared to blanket their minds.

Finally, Tian Cai asked, "Teacher you and Junjie are here...when-when did you appear?" In his arms, Little Lord gazed about in all directions.

"Little Genius, why we arrived just now."

Scratching his head, Tan Cai said, "Ah..I see."

Zhao Chen snorted, "Cai'er have those two recognize Grandfather properly. If not, punish them accordingly."

Tian Cai shook with a weird tingle. What did his grandfather just say? Didn't he hear him say those same words before? Suddenly, he shot a look at Shensheng. Little Lord also reacted and both simultaneously said, "Don't you dare!!!"

Zhu Shensheng snorted in surprise. The look those two shot her just now...did they perhaps know she was about to sentence that old geezer to life as fly?

"You-You-You!" pointed Tian Cai furiously.

Little Lord however ended the argument. "Those who hurt great grandfather die."

The Divine Pig and Junjie couldn't help but take a double look at Zhao Chen. Technically speaking, if Little Lord considered Tian Cai as his father...wasn't it true that Zhao Chen would be his great grandfather!?

"Junjie, from now on you treat him respectfully. Clearly Big Brother, considers him family."

Junjie grunted and nodded furiously.

The meaning of his words translated to, "He's the ancestor of my ancestor."

Realizing that Shensheng, was making concessions, Tian Cai knew she would never bow to him. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Grandfather, Grandson failed to notify you earlier....Zhu Shensheng in fact is my Teacher."

"Teacher?"

Perplexion filled Zhao Chen's eyes. Scratching his head, he said, "Cai'er Grandfather is confused. How is it that the disciple of your son is your teacher?"

Indeed, how did it turn out this way? Also, who in the right mind would accept such a teacher? Sure she was profoundly powerful, but who'd want to learn techniques like Silent Killer...the Divine Defecater? Huh?

Putting on the biggest smile, Tian Cai said, "Grandfather if you recall, Little Lord descended only recently. By then, Grandson already accepted Zhu Shensheng as his teacher."

Zhao Chen cleared his throat more than several times. His grandson's teacher was a pig??? "Grandfather understands now...its a bit confusing...how about we keep this news low profile? Hee-hee-as in very very low profile."

Tian Cai nodded in complete agreement. "Grandfather, Little Lord says he has business with his disciples..."

"Ah...Grandfather understands and will leave to prepare for the trip. There are-uh-erm-lots of things that need packing."

As his grandfather left, Tian Cai knew it had to be an endless supply of wine jars.

Shensheng, quickly pattered up to Little Lord. "Big Brother, how about Sister massage your back for a while so that you can relax a bit? Junjie, quick you go and find him a tasty snack!"

Tian Cai turned about and jolted. Before him as an unholy sight.

Shesheng sat her fat rump on Little Lord's back. Minute popping sounds of his spine cracking could be heard and Little Lord purred in deep satisfaction.

OMFG! Shouldn't she be flatting him like a pancake!?

"Hee, Big Brother likes it when Sister loosens his joints."

"Teacher, you visiting...did you have something to say?"

The Divine Pig was about reply, when Ling Fan's shout pierced thru the walls.

"Zhao Tian Cai, you and Little Lord get out here NOW!!"

Junjie gingerly placed a fat juicy carrot before Little Lord. Swoosh! Junjie barely blinked before Little Lord swept the carrot up.

Tian Cai's eyes rolled. What did that little girl want with him now? "Little Lord, apparently your Mommy has something to say. Let's go out."*1

About ten breaths later, Tian Cai returned. His face was riddled with the blackest dejection. After dealing with Ling Fan and avoiding another calamity, yet again the little bugger hadn't acknowledged him. Huffing about, he said, "The Little Bugger actually apologized to her!?"

Worse, Tian Cai's head still hurt after discovering the Grand Horde's existence. For about another half hour, he walked about upset and released a truck load of deep sighs. It was at this time that Zhao Wen appeared.

Instantly he smiled at this pleasant surprise. But a few breaths later, he would learn his Mother was here because of Ling Fan.*2 After detailing her business, Zhao Wen had just triggered an ancient memory in Tian Cai.

Heavenly Snow Phoenix?

In the memory, a snow phoenix appeared to glide leisurely in the vast depths of the star sea. It's body glittered endlessly as icy feathers wondrously reflected the light of innumerable stars. Tian Cai knew not who the viewer was, but he felt innately close to that being. In fact, he felt his blood gently tingle in resonance.

It-It must by my ancestor.*3

The snow phoenix landed elegantly on a barren planetoid and like an illusion, it's body transformed into an astonishingly delicate, beautiful woman. Looking at the viewer, the refined woman said, "Sister Zhao, surprisingly you asked to meet privately? Is this to end the conflict between our clans?"

"Sister Yue, thank you for agreeing to meet me. Indeed that is my intention. Sister hopes you will implore your Father to negotiate a permanent peace? As you know, our forces cannot withstand the Fiend Race's invasion. Second Prince is planning to retreat to a forbidden area called the Nine Chaos Heavens. My Mother has ordered that I take the Zhao Clan and follow."

"What-What about his Imperial Majesty?"

Grimly, Tian Cai's Ancestor said, "Lord General Bai has stated his Imperial Majesty will make a last stand to cover Second Prince's evacuation. With no means to defeat the invaders, his Majesty intends to save as may people as he can. My-My Mother, along with several other experts, will stay to stand with his Majesty.

The Snow Phoenix's face froze like a statue. Tian Cai felt his ancestor sigh deeply. It dawned on him, this was how the snow phoenix displayed sorrow.

With strenuous difficulty, the Heavenly Snow Phoenix said, "Earlier, Honorable Father declared he would send me away while he remains to protect his Majesty. Doesn't this mean, doesn't this mean he too will..?"

Grimly, the viewer nodded. Tian Cai felt a huge knot in the throat. Clearly, his ancestor was incapable of a verbal reply.

After tens of silent breaths, the Snow Phoenix spoke again. "Sister Zhao, there will be no need to implore Father. My big brother Yue Li will be leading our clan to the Nine Chaos Heavens. As you know, he's well known for his scholarly understanding and reason. Therefore, he will not need convincing. However, the older generation?"

"Although, I can force the elder generation to accept a peace, the memory of several millenniums of clan war cannot be erased...no one would believe that during our time Imperial Academy, we-we would actually become friends."

"Sigh...Sister Zhao, those days...Sister wishes to see them again...this war...so many of our people have died.."

"Sister Yue, these dark times are unimaginable...it's impossible to deduce the future. With the understanding that the elders of our clans will never forget the past...it is my hope to establish a secret pact."

"A pact...you mean a D-Divine pact?"