~~~一~~~

~~~幽灵公主~~~

"How dare you?!" a deep voice bellowed as the body of a young looking male in black was thrown to the wooden floor of the tea house, "I will have you skinned for the filth that has spewed from your mouth!"

"Are you now?" the male replied with a toothy grin on his face as he stood up, only to have multiple blades aimed at his figure by the guards dressed in blue.

"Because from the looks of your servants, I'll be the one skinning them," he continued with a chuckle, ignoring the potential danger he was in as the employees of the tea house could only watch the scene in fear.

"Impudent!" roared the main officer as he tightened his grip on his guan dao, the curved blade glinting in the light of the lanterns from within the public establishment, "How dare a filthy street rat like you speak this way in front of His Excellency?!"

"His Excellency?" the male questioned with a chuckle as he looked around at each and every single person that was present, "I see no one deserving of that title here."

"You-" "Wūsé, what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into now?" called a woman from the entrance of the tea house, wearing grey and purple robes that were altered to have the sleeves separate from the main article of clothing and skirt hiked up to end just below her knees as a fan was tucked into the cord over her sash and a light green jade pendant hung over her chest.

"I leave you alone for twenty minutes at most and you're already being threatened at the end of blades," she groaned, brushing her long black locks out of her face which allowed view her honey-golden irises that were narrowed at the young man with the boyish face.

"And just who are you?" the Prime Minister asked as half of the officers turned their attention the woman who just walked over to stand next to the male surrounded by officers.

"A-Lián, welcome to the party," the male mused, holding his hand out to pat the woman on the head only to for it to be smacked away.

She only glared up at him with arms crossed over her chest as she let out a long breath through her nose before their attention returned to the government official.

"Is this disrespectful, pathetic excuse for a man, your husband?" asked the older man dressed in purple robes from his seat on the balcony that gave view to the stage.

"That is most certainly not the case, Your Excellency," the ravenette responded in a respectful manner while keeping her head held up high, "We are merely travel partners, but may I ask what he has done to earn so much of your anger?"

"The rat got in the way of His Excellency and dared to insult him in front of everyone here!" the head officer proclaimed, as the woman glanced at her partner from the corner of her eyes.

The woman knew right away the truth was being spoken as her partner wore an amused grin the entire time and his posture was completely relaxed.

With a deep sigh, the female knelt down on her knees and bowed down to the male as she said, "I apologize to His Excellency on behalf of my troublesome partner."

"A-Lián, don't kneel in front of this boar," spoke the young male as he looked down at her, "You're just humiliating yourself for nothing."

"Hush! This is your fault in the first place," hissed the ravenette as she kept her head down and voice even, "If you want me to stand, then you get on your knees and apologize for yourself."

"No, neither of us have to do anything for him," he replied, earning angered shouts from many of the officers and the Prime Minister himself.

"I apologize profusely to His Excellency," the woman stated once more as she bowed again, touching her forehead to the ground, "I ask that you forgive him and we will leave this town immediately."

The Prime Minister looked from the young male who had insulted him to the woman who knelt before him, eyes lingering on the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders before saying, "I'll let your partner go if you come serve me in my manor."

This statement caused the young man at the woman's side to harden his gaze and immediately unsheath the sword he held in his left hand as the woman raised her head, the officers regripping their weapons now aimed at both individuals.

"Man, I was really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt too so we could just leave without any trouble, but it turns out he's just a lech," the ravenette commented as she stood up and reached to grab the fan at her waist.

"Who do you think you are?!" one of the officers shouted as she flicked open her fan and looked at the painting of a peach tree, "His Excellency is willing to give you and your partner a pardon and you ignore him?!"

The man and everyone around them were silenced as the woman looked over at him, eyes glowing a deep crimson as her pupils were narrowed into vertical slits.

The man dressed in all black looked over at her with a smirk as only his chocolate brown irises caught onto the translucent form of a serpent-like being appeared, the bottom part of its body wrapped around her left arm to perch itself on her left shoulder.

"You- the woman is a demon!" one of the workers of the tea house exclaimed as he pointed down at her from the balcony, "Look at her eyes!"

"We were honestly just looking for a place to stay for the night without any fighting for once but it seems it just follows us everywhere, doesn't it, A-Sé?" the ravenette asked voice slightly distorted with another, as she looked back at her partner.

"Of course it does, but I don't really mind," he responded with a smirk as he brandished his double edged blade, earning a scoff.

"I know you don't, but I sure as hell do," the female huffed as she began to lightly fan herself, "I just wanted a night where we could listen to stories and just go to sleep right afterwards."

"We'll try again in the next town, A-Lián," the man promised with a small snicker, "For now, just try to enjoy the moment before we get to Guangzhou, yeah?"

The next morning, the pair of travelers sat at a low table in the corner of a tavern in the town to the north of the one they were just in.

"You are too wild, you know that?" asked the woman in grey and purple, looking over at the man who sat across from her as she leaned her chin onto the arm that was rested on the table.

"All the people who know of your name have the same thing to say about you, you know?" he retorted before drinking more of the wine that was sitting in front of him.

"I don't understand how you can be drinking alcohol so early in the morning," she sighed closing her eyes as her shoulders rose and fell with each breath she took, "It's so distasteful."

"Do you want to take a break and get a room here, A-Lián?" the male suggested as he reached over to place a hand on top of the woman's head, earning a small groan from her.

"We don't have time," she muttered without opening her eyes, "I promised Father and my siblings that I'd be back by tonight at the latest and I still need to get boxes for the gifts I brought back."

The male rolled his eyes at the female's need for punctuality for her family, but opened his mouth to ask, "I'll go get the boxes and you stay here, but will you be able to stay awake?"

"I'll be fine, I have Māo with me," the ravenette replied as she opened her eyes to look up at her companion, "Don't forget that they need to be dark blue, dark green, crimson, and black."

"Alright, I'll be back soon so you better stay awake," Wūsé spoke as he stood up from his spot, taking one last look at his partner before walking out of the tavern.

After a few minutes of just resting her head on the table, the ravenette caught onto a conversation from the table behind her.

"Yuan, what seems to be bothering you?" asked a smooth male voice just over the tranquil chatter of the establishment that was slowly filling up with more people, "We are arriving at the Long Clan's Palace soon."

The ravenette perked up at the mention of her Clan's name and looked over her shoulder to see two males dressed in whites and blues as their long dark hair was half up with silver guans.

'Two Young Masters from the Kang Clan,' she identified before taking a sip from the long cold tea in front of her, 'They must be heading to the Guǐ Palace in Guangzhou for our festival.'

"This is the Millennium Festival, all main cultivation clans will be expected to attend," the same male spoke after the other gave him what the female assumed to be an annoyed look, "Plus, I have heard that the Second Princess of the Long Clan will actually be present at this event. Father wants us to get acquainted with her. "

"It would be a good opportunity to make connections and allies with those in the Long Clan," he continued, earning a small silent snicker from the female before she turned around to fully face them.

"Excuse me, Young Masters, but could you possibly be talking about Princess Mei Lián of the Long Clan?" she chirped with a small smile on her face.

"Uh, yes, do you know of her, Miss?" the taller male asked with a kind smile as the male sitting across from him turned to her with a stoic gaze, an invisible grip tightening on her left arm and shoulder.

"I've never met her but I've definitely heard the stories," the ravenette spoke as she slowly rolled her neck from side to side, "she definitely isn't the kind of person you want to associate yourself with."

"And why do you say that, Miss?" the taller male in white asked politely, never once dropping the kind smile on his face.

"They say she's never at the palace with the rest of her family save for four times a year," the woman stated, honey-colored eyes carefully observing the mannerisms of both males, "and she travels around the continent, slaying demons with a black fox spirit by her side before disappearing the next morning."

"She's a very suspicious character, if you ask me," she continued with a shrug as the shorter male's eyes narrowed slightly at her.

"I have indeed heard the stories; however, I would like to meet this princess myself before making any judgements," replied the taller male with a nod as he brought his arm back in front of himself.

"How noble of you, Young Master," the woman chuckled before asking, "If it isn't too much trouble, may I know your name?"

"Ah, it's Kang Chen," the male answered with a small bow that the female returned fully with her arms held out in front of her chest.

"Kang Chen," she repeated with a nod as she stood up and placed a nugget of silver on her table as payment for her meal and drinks, "I'll be sure to remember that."

"Wait, Miss, what is your name?" the male questioned as the female began walking past the table with the intent to leave.

"You'll find out," she chuckled with a small smirk and mischievous glint in her eyes as she looked back over her shoulder, "I highly doubt this will be the last time that we cross paths. Have a good day!"

Leaving no room for objection, the ravenette faced forward and continued out of the tavern with her head held high; but just as she opened the door, the eyes of the silent male widened as he let out a gasp.

"Yuan, what is it?" Chen asked rising from his seat when his younger brother suddenly stood up and picked up his sword.

"That woman had a dragon on her shoulder," the slightly shorter male spoke in his deep voice as he burst out of the tavern only to find no sight of the woman in purple.

After asking the surrounding people, the two males were left utterly confused as everyone they had asked couldn't recall the woman they described ever entering their town.

With not a clue to who she was, the brothers decided to give up for now and bring it up when they met with their father at the Guǐ Palace of Guangzhou.

The sun had just reached its highest point in the middle of the sky when a guarded gate with a sign that read 'Guǐ Palace' came into the view of the woman in grey and purple robes.

"Now remember, A-Sé," she spoke quietly as she approached the gate with a black fox walking by her feet, "You can't mess around here unless we're in my room, understand?"

The fox just let out a small chitter as it pawed lightly at her leg before running ahead to wait for her just past the gates.

"Welcome back, Second Princess," greeted the guards at either side of the gate as they bowed to the woman with their arms held out in front of their chests.

"Ah, it feels good to be back after three months," she chuckled, stretching her arms above her head with a bright smile before signaling for the guards to rise.

"No one inform my father or siblings of my return yet," the ravenette ordered, hiding her smirk behind her folding fan, "I want to surprise them tonight at dinner."

"Yes, Your Highness," the guards replied before she walked in, giving them a small wave over her shoulder before the fox continued walking with her.

As the ravenette walked around the palace, somehow managing to avoid all of her family members, a warmth filled her heart as she realized what would be happening.

"Our clans have been around for a thousand years now, A-Sé," she mused to the fox in her lap, running her hands through his ebony colored fur as she sat at the edge of her favorite koi pond, "Something big is bound to happen soon, don't you think?"

"Probably," the familiar voice of her partner rung in her head as she looked down into chocolate brown orbs, "But I'll rip apart anyone that tries to hurt you."

The woman only chuckled at his bold declaration and leaned down to nuzzle her nose to his own before leaning back onto the grass with a long sigh.

'It's only been three months since I've been home but it feels like it's been so much longer,' she thought, draping an arm over her eyes as she basked in the warm afternoon sun, 'And I'll finally have the opportunity to officially meet the other clans, but do I really want to?'

'All they do is compete over who is most powerful amongst each other and their politics are so petty,' the female continued to think as she felt a breeze blow over her and her fluffy companion, 'That's why I rarely choose to come home in the first place.'

The two travelers just laid in the grass, taking in the warmth of the sun with deep, relaxed breaths as the breeze blew ripples over the pond next to them; however, their moments of tranquility were quickly disrupted by the annoying yaps of a female voice.

"What the hell is this?" the voice scoffed upon seeing the pair laying in the grass, causing the previously relaxed female to let out an annoyed sigh.

"Who let this tramp and creature run around in here?!" the unidentified woman hissed as the ravenette removed her arm from her eyes and gradually came up to a sitting position, her movements causing the fox to stand up and stretch out his limbs.

"I think the better question is, who are you to be yelling in this place?" she retorted, eyeing the source of the noise to see it was indeed a woman, a little older than herself, well dressed in red and gold robes.

'Her clothes would indicate that she's from the infamous Pàn Clan,' the young woman thought as the female above her let out an offended gasp, 'But I don't recall their clan leader having a daughter.'

"You're obviously not of the Long Clan, so how could you order anyone around here in the Guǐ Palace?" she continued with a straight face as the woman clenched her fists at her sides.

"How dare you?!" spat the woman's maid, dressed in the white and red of the Pàn Clan, from her spot beside her lady, "You are speaking to Lady Pàn Miho, the wife of Young Master Pàn Qiqiang!"

'Ah so she's the wife of that narcissistic bastard,' the ravenette thought with an unimpressed expression as she stood up and stretched out her legs, 'That makes perfect sense.'

"I see, but that still doesn't give you the right to be disturbing the peace and tranquility in the Guǐ Palace of the Long Clan," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked the other woman straight in the eyes which only served to irritate her further.

"Who do you think you are to speak in that manner towards me?!" Miho practically screeched while pointing at the other, "You're just a street rat who managed to break into this palace! Your words mean nothing here!"

The female in purple couldn't help the small snickers that escaped her as she looked down at her equally amused companion before looking back up to ask, "If my words mean nothing, then why are you so worked up over them?"

"You- where are you going?!" the woman exclaimed as the ravenette turned her back and began walking down one of the stone pathways with the black fox at her side.

"I find your voice to be extremely annoying, so I'm leaving," she mused, not even bothering to turn her head over her shoulder as she offered a wave with the back of her hand.

Miho stood silently blinking with her mouth agape, before shaking her head and immediately calling for a guard who gave a quick bow of respect to the guest.

"Apprehend that criminal and cut out her tongue!" the woman ordered, angrily pointing in the direction the younger woman walked off in with a scarlet painted nail.

It took every ounce of control in the male to keep a smirk from forming on his face once he recognized who it was the woman wanted him to go after.

"I'm afraid I cannot follow that order, Lady Miho," he replied with another bow, "Please don't worry too much about her, that woman is perfectly harmless."

Before she could start whining he added, "Please remember that you are not in Pàn Clan territory. You cannot order for anyone to be punished when no crimes have been committed."

As the young woman entered the gates named Wǔyè Palace the maids dressed in robes of all black looked up with bright smiles on their faces and greeted, "Welcome back Second Princess!"

"I'm home!" the ravenette mused quietly in return as the fox ran ahead through the familiar halls of her personal palace.

"Homura," she called out, the head maid of the palace stepping forward and giving a respectful bow before looking up at her.

"I'm going to take a nap before greeting my family at dinner in the main hall, don't tell them that I've returned yet," the woman instructed, "I want to surprise them, is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness," replied the woman with short red hair as she looked up to her princess with her right index finger over her lips, "None of us will say a word."

"Good," the royal nodded before taking the familiar route back to Yuèliàng Hall, her personal quarters within the her palace.

Upon entering her hall, she looked to the right back where her bed was to see the familiar form of her travel partner sprawled out with his eyes closed on the left side of the bed with the black fabric of his robes fanned out around him.

"Aish, you couldn't even wait for me to get here before you go and change forms like that," the princess huffed before moving forward to smack his legs, "Move, asshole."

With a smug smirk appearing on his boyish features, the male opened his eyes halfway, looked up at the woman and said, "Make me."

She merely rolled her eyes with a sigh and shoved his legs up, sitting in the now freed space to take off her purple sandals and lay in the right side of the bed.

"You're finally back home and you're not going to change before sleeping?" Wūsé questioned as he turned to face the female while snaking his arm around her waist to pull her closer, "You usually change first thing when you come home."

"I would if I weren't so exhausted from fighting off a prime minister and his officers, making sure you didn't slaughter them all, and erasing their memories of the event," the female huffed as she relaxed in his hold and snuggled closer to the warmth.

"I'll change later before the banquet tonight," she continued as her eyes fluttered shut, "I still have to strike fear into the heart of that annoying woman."

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for making us travel all last night," the male whispered against the top of her head as he brought his other hand up to run through her hair, "Just sleep now and I'll wake up up in a few hours."

"You're just going to fall asleep with me and I'm going to have to be the one waking you up later," the ravenette muttered, rolling onto her side so she could curl into him.

"Hmm, I will neither confirm nor deny that statement," the male chuckled quietly before both of them fell into a dreamless sleep.

Around three hours later, honey-gold irises fluttered open to see the sun starting to set from behind the screen that blocked the hall from sight of the still opened doors.

With a smile on her face the woman shook her head and shook his shoulder to wake him up as she usually would when they were out in the wilderness or just traveling in general.

"A-Sé, A-Sé," she called quietly when the male didn't stir, gradually getting louder before she lost her patience and just shoved him off the bed.

"Ah, fuck!" the male hissed, sitting up from the wooden floor as the female swung her legs over the side of the bed to let her sock covered feet touch the ground.

"Ever the ruthless one aren't you, A-Lián?" he asked as the female walked past him to a set of stands where black robes with purple accents and a purple sash hung.

"You were awake from the first time I called you, I just wasn't in the mood to play your little game," she replied slipping her black knee high socks off, "Now close your eyes before I gouge them out."

Obeying his partner's orders, the male turned around and let her change into the proper garb of her clan and status as the Second Ghost Princess.

The Long Clan was known to have the strongest cultivators on the continent for their magical abilities and skills with the main family even being labeled as the royals of ghosts.

Her robes were all black except for the outermost layer which had a purple collar, purple flowers embroidered into the front of the skirt purple chiffon draping down from silver pieces at her shoulders that matched the ribbons she tied around her elbows before wrapping the lighter purple sash around her waist and tucking her fan into it.

When she finished getting dressed, the woman went over to her vanity where she scanned her reflection to see her circle pendant of green jade with the character for longevity cast in gold hanging over the center of her chest.

"Are you going to leave your hair down?" asked the male in black as he handed the female a hairbrush before pushing her raven locks over her shoulders for her.

"No," she replied, beginning to brush out her waist-length hair before looking up at the male who stood behind her, "Can you get me the silver hair clip, please?"

"The one with the purple flower?" he asked, walking over to the jewelry box and bringing the said piece over to her.

"How did you know?" the female chuckled as she used the clip to hold the two braids she made from the front locks of her hair at the back of her head to resemble a crown.

"It's the only one you ever use," the man responded as he watched her slip on her black and purple shoes, "You have tens of others but that one is the only one you ever reach for when you do your hair."

"This hibiscus hair clip matches the one my mother wore," the ravenette replied as she reached up to touch one of the petals, "but she died before I found you stealing meat from our kitchens so you never got the chance to meet her."

Meanwhile, all representatives from the five main cultivation clans were gathered in Jīngshén Hall with small dining desks in front of each of them, save for the Ghost King and royal children of the Long Clan who sat at a grand table at the head of the grand hall decorated with black silks to compliment the dark wood or at their own tables at the head of the room.

Almost of them were interacting well with each other, catching up with friends and talking about recent hunts; however, the representatives from the Pàn Clan stayed to themselves and looked at the others in disgust.

"Father, has Mei-Mei not arrived yet?" the First Princess asked as she looked up to the king from her table in between her older and younger brothers.

"Yes, Your Highness, when is your second daughter arriving?" questioned the Pàn Clan Leader, causing all conversation to cease as they looked over to the man in bright red.

"We were all under the impression that she would be present for the Millennium Festival and the annual Clan Conference right after," the older male spoke with a stern expression, "but she is not here."

"That's right, the Millennium Festival is supposed to celebrate a thousand years of peace between the five main clans and she isn't here," the First Son Pàn Wangzhou added, "Isn't that an insult to all of us here?"

"Young Master Pàn, the Millennium Festival doesn't officially start until tomorrow," stated the First Prince of the Long Clan, "There's no sense in trying to blame my sister for not being here tonight."

"And who says I'm not here tonight?" interjected a female voice, drawing all attention to a woman who stood in the entrance of Jīngshén Hall, wearing black and purple robes as a black fox stood proudly by her feet.

"You're that wretch from the garden!" Miho exclaimed abruptly, all but springing up from her dining spot as the ravenette walked down the middle of the hall.

"Insolent!" the Second Prince exclaimed as he and his other two siblings stood from their tables to glare at the woman.

"Brothers, Jiějiě, don't be angered," the ravenette spoke as all eyes remained on her when she arrived to the front of the king's table to bow with her hands held out in front of her chest, "I salute to my father and elder siblings."

When she rose from her familial greeting the woman turned to the guests in the hall and bowed once more, saying, "Second Princess Long Mei Lián salutes to the clan representatives and welcomes you all to Guǐ Palace."

Whispers broke out throughout the hall about the woman as she slowly rose up out of her bow and made her way to sit at the small table to the right of her three older siblings with a small cushion next to her for her fox before three males simultaneously gasped in surprise.

"Jiějiě?!" exclaimed a young, wide-eyed male in white and grey robes as he stood from his table, earning a hiss from his clan leader.

"Ah, Xiǎo Lǎoshǔ," the ravenette greeted with a small smile as the two Kang brothers looked at her before each other, "so you're here too."

"Ming, sit down right now!" hissed the male's elder brother with a glare that could pierce through steel from his own seat, "You're insulting Her Highness!"

"It's no insult at all, Clan Leader Fei," Mei Lián dismissed, the smile never leaving her face as she held her hands in front of her waist, "I didn't introduce myself as a princess when we first met so it doesn't matter."

"He can continue to call me 'Jiějiě' if he wishes, in fact I encourage it," she continued with a soft chuckle, "It would be awkward if he suddenly changed it now."

"Lián-er, how did you meet Young Master Fei?" the king asked as he stared down the young male who sat back down while avoiding eye contact.

"It was about last year, when I was making my way through Kunru Mountain to get to one of the hidden caves," the ravenette started as she looked up at her father, "I found him being hounded by a swarm of Xuè Zéi."

"Of course he was fighting back, but when I found him he was already injured and heavily outnumbered so helped him out," she continued, "I then helped him to the nearest village and stayed with him until he was healed enough to travel on his own. From then, we have just kept meeting whenever I would pass near Kunru Mountain."

"Ah, Second Princess, not only are you a beauty, but you are also very kind," commented the Jin Clan Leader as he stood up with a cup of wine in his hand, "I would like to propose a toast to the Second Princess of the Long Clan."

With many cheers of agreement, everyone raised their cups before downing the light alcohol with smiles on their faces.

The banquet continued on with many of the clans wanting to talk to and about the mysterious princess who did her best to answer them with politeness and patience even if she was feeling a bit overwhelmed from all of the attention.

However, even as she kept a smile on her face and actually enjoyed meeting some from the other clans, she couldn't escape the silent gaze of the young master dressed in white.

~~~Fin. Chapter 1~~~