Chapter 7

Li Xiu Ying strolled back to the Lilly Courtyard taking in the view. Once at the gate, she knocked, "Li Na, Li Jie, let me in." Soon the gate opened and revealed Li Na dressed in a dark blue dress.

"Princess, Li Jie is in the backyard," commented Li Na before noticing the struggling white cat in her arms. "Princess, this can't be….."

Li Xiu Ying patted Li Na's arm and walked past her, "This is," she replied. Li Na quickly closed the gate and went to prepare tea. "Li Jie, come here, we have a guest."

Li Jie walked into the room and sat opposite Li Xiu Ying, "Who is the guest Princess?" He then looked down towards her lap. "Oh, I see. It has been a long time cat," his words full of anger.

The cat finally got out of her hands, "It has, hasn't it dog." He turned around and faced Li Xiu Ying, "What do you want, Princess of the Chrysanthemum Tribe?"

Li Jie snarled at the cat, "What is your problem cat?" Li Xiu Ying held up her hand and stopped Li Jie. Li Na came in and placed the tea in front of Li Xiu Ying. She then sat beside the angry Li Jie.

"Now that we have all gathered, Li Qiang, why have you been gone for a long time? I see you have gotten fat. As my third contractual spirit, don't you think you should inform me when you decide to investigate for yourself? You are a very tiresome Snow Leopard. Now you will stay by my side, or else you will be missing a couple of friends," she scolded. "Li Na hand me my dagger. Li Qiang sit." Li Xiu Ying proceeded to cut her wrist as she had done before and dripped it into the tea, "Now drink up."

Li Qiang lowered his head and began to drink not showing any dissatisfaction, know that if he did he would be missing his crown jewels. He began growing brighter as he drunk more, soon he finished his cup and was enveloped in a bright light. The light dissipated revealing Li Qiang dressed in a light grew robe giving off the air of a scholar. His eyes were as blue as a lake making you want to trust him.

"Tell me what you have gathered while you were getting fat," Li Xiu Ying sternly spoke.

"I have not gotten fat, okay? But I have gathered a lot of information regarding Wang Li Jun. Princess you have heard that he built this country putting the royal family in charge, that is true, but while I was in the royal library I noticed a book that was in our ancient language. It says the he had built this country to try and kill the Chrysanthemum Tribe, but the royal family did not want to start any wars while it was in a time of peace. Princess You must go to the royal library and read it. I only had time to find this out recently," he explained.

Li Xiu Ying extended her healed wrist, "How much time?

Li Qiang held on to her wrist and closed his eyes. He was silent for a while, "Ten years. Princess I have found, while studying your family's history, that each generation that struggles with this condition must find that one person. The one person that can stop you when you are on the edge of turning, but we are not that person. They must be human."

Li Xiu Ying sat back and thought out loud, "I have yet to find that one person."

Li Jie, Li Na, and Li Qiang looked at each other and spoke in unison, "You have already found him." They watched as her face instantly changed for sadness to shock.

"Who," she choked out.

"Pretty boy," replied Li Jie.

"But there is a catch Princess, you must be in love and never break each other. Just like your mother and father, she is the reason that he was able to remain human," voiced Li Qiang.