Chapter Fifty Seven

An earing made of three pearls swayed lightly as the ear wearing them turns lightly in a direction without a single living person in sight as if hearing something other people could not. The pearls only slightly visible under the thin veil which covered the person's lightly pursed lips, seemingly troubled by something. "Jie Jie?" Shaking her head Feng Mei Xing dismissed her brother's concerned inquiry and squeezes his arm to hurry him along. "It's nothing, for a moment the shadows attached to Chao Bai's bedframe felt her stir. Ehuang is still by her side so it should be fine." At least, she prayed it was fine. Chao Bai's heart was beating so slowly the last time they saw her Feng Mei Xing was afraid she would die at any second. Her core had also been cracked almost in half and terrified them all to death. Only when Ehuang had stabilized Chao Bai's spiritual sea and mended her nearly spilt core did they release a brief of mild relief. 

Feng Shuchang also being reminded of Chao Bai's condition furrowed his brows with equal amounts of worry "What kind of grief could make a pure blooded spiritual beast be desperate enough to want to shatter her own core and seek death?" Feng Mei Xing wondered this as well, although she had caught small snippets of conversation between Sun Shao and Ehuang as they discussed Chao Bai's treatment; It still wasn't enough for her to understand the full story. Such a level headed person, to cry her heart out like that over a Dipping Iris. She was heartbroken for her. "Sun Shao refused to say anything to me as well about the matter however, Chao Bai's hatred for the golden city must be for a reason." the siblings reflect on what they knew about Chao Bai moodily. 

"Lady Xiu....She most likely also knows the reason why Chao Bai is doing what she is and sent her to us on purpose." Hearing his sister's murmur Feng Shuchang nods in agreement "Ehuang informed me that much of the spiritual energy stored within Chao Bai's core had leaked in her backlash. It'll take her a near fortnight to recover even quarter of it." Frightened Feng Mei Xing looked to Feng Shuchang with wide eyes, "Then can she still make the trip with the others in time?! A leaking core is dangerous! Especially for someone of her stature!" "Ehuang said that given the amount of spiritual energy she has stored within it'll likely be impossible for Chao Bai to be able to hide her presence without additional medicine." Stifled by this piece of news Feng Mei Xing was even more upset for Chao Bai, wanting to speak but finding nothing to say she instead asks faintly. "Can she, not take it?" 

He tightens his hold on his sister's hand, appearing more calm than his elder sister who was more more emotionally swayed than himself. Even if Chao Bai followed his suggestions and the rules of the human realm, she still had one thing she wouldn't allow others to advise her on. "It is her core and body to do with as she sees fit. When she awakens and if she is willing, we cannot stop her from taking it." Although they called it medicine, the siblings had inklings of what that "medicine" was made of. That proud daughter of heaven who stood as straight and dignified as any, her eyes made of glimmering silver dust as she gazed beyond their fleshy bodies straight into their souls. In such a short amount of time since intaking that "medicine" she had decayed into a mere shell of her former self, focusing all her time and efforts into storing spiritual energy into her core. 

Her body so weak she could be blown away by a breeze. A spiritual beast who was bound to be arrogant and prideful letting her instincts drive her will had instead chosen to hide away and calmly reside in a palace full of humans for protection. What could drive her to make this type of choice? Peering at a tree a few feet away Feng Mei Xing tensed before scanning their surroundings and relaxing, confusing her brother. "What is it? Why did you stop? Are you feeling uncomfortable should we continue on carriage after all?" Shaking her head gently she lifts her free hand up and spoke softly to the sudden guest. "What does the young disciple of Tiaozheng's most beloved Matriarch have to say to us siblings on such short notice? We are not late are we?" 

Feng Shuchang too relaxed when he realized the intruder was no threat and observes how a young dove carefully lands onto his sister's fingers chirping at them sweetly while putting up a privacy bubble around them. A charming shard of white jade hanging from it's neck, trembling when spoken to and soon from the glowing jade a feminine voice full of vigor erupts. "Sect Master and Madam Feng this junior apologizes for the sudden summons, however Master said that it was urgent!" The two frown "What's the matter? Is something happening within your sect?" "That is-!" Before the young girl could explain there was the sound of fussing before a young boys voice answers the two instead confusing the Feng siblings. "Apologies to the two esteemed seniors, however, it appears as if someone has spread a rather potent poison into the wells of our sect. Luckily, our master caught the culprit in time so our spiritual beasts weren't harmed in any way." 

"Poison?!" Feng Mei Xing shutters while Feng Shuchang curtly questioned the boy about the situation more clearly wearing a severe expression "How could this have happened under Matriarch Wu's watch? Were the traitors not already all cleaned up by our people? Who else has access to your stables? Can we trust our identities to remain concealed?" The boy though did not stutter and seemingly upset himself still spoke clearly to the best of his ability to answer his doubts. "Master herself has interrogated the culprit and confirmed they know nothing of the alliance's existence and their intentions were just a means of handicapping our spiritual beasts for a few days. The main target was not to harm them, but merely dull their sense for a couple of days and delaying the departure of our patrols. The dispute between our sect and Manque have still not been settled so Master suspects this was their doing as retaliation for our demand of justice for the sake of senior brother Yu. However, she still wishes to inform all seniors who were to attend tonight's gathering of what happened this morning and for individuals to decide for themselves whether to attend or not." 

The two shared a glance before Feng Shuchang answered for them solemnly "Everyone will attend, there will not be a single exception." The boy breaths a sigh of relief, then as if hesitating he spoke lower most likely intending only the Feng siblings to hear. "Master also asked for, "The Lady of Mist" to attend, no matter what she has to give in return, Master asks for her appearance." Lady of Mist.... Feng Mei Xing was the first to purse her lips, already expressing rejection towards the request turning her head away eloquently despite the other not being able to see. Feng Shuchang too deflected the request instantly wearing a flat expression as he did so. "The Lady is in no condition to leave the safety of the sect, please turn down the Matriarchs request for us. The Lady also has no interest in human valuables, we will respectfully ask the Tiaozheng Matriarch to not demean the Lady's character by offering such things again." 

"I-Sect master Feng and Madam Feng, Master has no intentions of offending the lady! It is just, just," The boy appeared flustered for the first time and then sighed heavily as if giving up on all pretenses pleading softly. "-Seniors, Master's spiritual beast as you both know is from the royal bloodline, a few days ago he gave Master a divination. In this divination, the lady was mentioned...It is not Master who wishes to meet her, but Sir Hulian who requests her presence." A boy with dark hair and hazel eyes peers in a dazed manner at the jade in his hands which slowly dimmed before emitting no light at all. He only snaps out of this daze when a hand snatches the jade from his hands complaining in an upset tone "Jiahao is this how you should treat your seniors?! Just because your Master's son isn't this too far?!" 

Though older by a couple years, she pouted at the boy seemingly helpless and unhappy at the same time due to his authoritative air. Not only that but this brat managed to overpower her and snatch her task away!! Jiahao paid no mind to her injured pride and just gave her a glance in response infuriating her more before he exits the room wordlessly. Seeming to see her as a waste of time and air, if not for her talent in long range communication he wouldn't have bothered coming at all. His mother could trust whoever she wanted, but in his opinion Dongmei was far from a reliable disciple to handle sensitive cases as with the one convincing the Lady of Mists to visit their sect. Treading the line of ignorance and intelligence was not her greatest skill, one wrong word would have cut off all possibility of the Feng siblings from delivering their message at all. 

Plus, with his identity as the son of the patriarch, acting humble would be more effective if he did it. And he had been right. "Hey!" "Mother called for me just now, if senior sister wishes to speak it will have to be after I meet with Mother first." Dongmei sputters angrily as the boy turned on his heels and left while she was struggling to find words. "That heartless shameless brat!!" Still hearing her curses in his ear after flying away, Jiahao tilts his head and slaps the other end with a frown as if to dump the words out of his ears. A soft chuckle fills his eardrums sounding silky and calm like a lazy river bed. "JaoJao what's the matter? Did you go swimming and get water in your ears?" Hearing his mother's questions his irritation was eased away and he pouted, reverting to a regular child before his mother. "Mother, senior sister was cursing at me again, why do you tolerate a brute like her in the first place?" 

His mother gave a muffled giggle, leaning over to tuck his messy hair back into place lovingly before answering. "JaoJao no matter how much you dislike her, calling a young woman like Dongmei a brute is too much. Besides, don't think mother doesn't know it was most likely you who provoked her again in the first place. What did you do to her now?" This time, Jiahao was genuinely feeling a bit embarrassed after being exposed so easily by his mother. Under her soft stare, he obediently lowered his head mumbling. "I didn't do much, senior sister isn't good at handling matters like the one you assigned her so I just stepped in to make things go smoother." Domgmei would have gotten in trouble if she offended the their seniors without realizing it. "Hm." Besides this, his mother didn't say much else on the matter tussling his hair which she had just smoothened out teasingly. 

"Ok, mother understands." He flushed but calmed down quickly, asking falteringly. "Mother, is GeGe still asleep?" Reminded of her eldest, Wu Mèng yáo showed a somewhat sad continuance but under the worried look of her youngest she curved her hazel eyes and smiled dotingly down at her child instead. "He will wake up soon, didn't Hulian already say your brother would wake up in a weeks time?" "Your mother is right, don't worry too much. You are too young to take on the world's burdens alone." Jiahao with bright eyes hurriedly looked up at the hand that replaced his mother's exclaiming happily, "Sir Hulian!! Are you finally back?" A gentle looking man appeared from the side room effortlessly. With a loose robe and messy long hair, he carried himself with a somewhat easy going aura. 

His hair as dark as night was as soft as fur, his eyes sharp and angled giving him an aggressive beauty look despite his easy going mannerism. On a tanner side than most celestials, the princely spiritual beast didn't seem to care for the high standards of cultivator beauty and instead gave a more exotic allure. Ten out of ten cultivators fell short from the man just giving them a yawn, as expected from a royal spiritual beast though. Wu Mèng yáo covers her grin at Jiahao's worshipping expression towards the dark haired man who patted her son's head one more time before waltzing pass him. 

Stretching his upper body Hulian laid down on the courtyard bench and made himself comfortable under their inquisitive stares. "So? How did they answer?" Wearing a bright expression Wu Mèng yáo clasps her hands together laughing lightly "Naturally it went well since JaoJao was the one to ask!" The spiritual beast who was mid yawn blinked slowly with his aqua eyes and looks over at his contractor and her son with a hint of surprise. "JaoJao spoke to them? Didn't you say you had Dongmei send the communication jade?" Playing dumb the woman who long had children and a husband put on a confused and troubled attitude "Oh no! Did I do something wrong? I did ask Dongmei to send the communication jade but because I forgot to tell her something important I had JaoJao sent over to talk to the Feng siblings instead! Will it be ok?" 

Hulian peered carefully at his contract partner, and then at Jiahao's guilty look before laying back down calmly. "...Its fine, as long as she agreed." Sending her son another teasing glance, Wu Mèng yáo sat beside the lazy fox and nudges his knee playfully. "Say, what kind of special connection did you have with her anyways? Is she someone from your past? I never thought there would be a day a royal like you would bow your head just to get a favor out of me." The man scoffs seeming annoyed by her implication and shrugs away her arm. "What do you take me for? Do you think it's that easy for people like us to find a life partner?" "This Lady of Mists, why does sir Hulian call her so? Do all beasts have titles?" Jiahao innocently pipes in sitting by his mother's side who put her arms around him hugging her adorable son tightly.

Hulian seemingly not hearing his question was gazing at the blue sky above them quietly, seemingly lost in the clouds. But the two humans seemed quite used to his dismissive and aloof attitude, peacefully coexisting and waiting for his return to the ground with smiles on their faces. As Wu Mèng yáo was playfully braiding her son's hair much to the child's reluctance. Hulian's response was like a whisper on the wind, whimsical and a hint lost as well quite unlike himself. "Not all of us do, even amongst royals we don't care much for titles or meddle in one another's achievements. The gods murmur to me in all sorts of ways. However, the only thing I heard as clear as the blue sky above our heads was this name over and over again as if wanting to sear it into my mind." A strong wind blew above their heads making the two humans also peer above them as the shifting of grass and leaves fill their ears. " "The Lady of Mists is fading." "