Chapter 6

"Jing Mei, I knew you would come for me."

Jing Mei smiled, crossing her hands. "You should have. You're basically my apprentice now." She pointed out, turning to fully look at him. "What did you do?" Jing Mei asked, scanning his body for any injuries. Yao Wang didn't have any. "I didn't do anything to myself. I promise." Yao Wang smiles, placing his hands behind his back. "I simply forgot."

Jing Mei stared at him for a moment, before nodding. "Okay, I will believe for now. But-" Yao Wang shook his head. "I would never lie to you, Jing Mei. You know this." Yao Wang points out, before looking behind him. "Come, let's walk back." Jing Mei says, beginning to turn around to walk back. Yao Wang follows her.

"You have been here for more than what you had said. Two thousand years is very different from three hundred." Jing Mei pointed out. Yao Wang nodded. At first, he simply wanted to stay until someone told him otherwise. Until something were to happen that would need his attention. But, somewhere along the way, he must have forgotten who he truly was.

"A lot has happened in Heaven while you were gone." He had a feeling he would get scolded, yelled at. Something, but this is worse. Jing Mei's phrases. Short statements that she says, without fully elaborating. This was one of the most stressful parts of talking to Jing mei. He wished he had Fang Hai and Chen Guo by his side right now.

"Jing Mei, I understand you are a Royal God, but why are you not hidden from the world? Someone might see you, then what? Word spreads fast." Yao Wang worried. Jing Mei laughed softly, and shook her head. "I'm invisible. No one can even see me besides you and other gods." She smiled, stepping onto Yao Wang's rest place. She opened the door, stepping inside. Fu Hai instantly ran up to Yao Wang, grabbing his hand and pulling him into the sitting room. "Who did you like better when you were a prince, to be honest." Fu Hai said quickly, letting go of Yao Wang's hands to cross his.

Yao Wang stared at Fu Hai, before looking at Chen Guo. He wasn't a mean person. Yao Wang promises he's not. But, in this case, well. "I don't know what you're talking about." Yao Wang lied. He might as well make them believe something different. Fu Hai looked at him weirdly, before looking at Jing Mei. "He doesn't remember?" Fu Hai asked. Jing Mei glanced at Yao Wang, before slyly shaking her head.

"No, I don't think he does. Maybe something cursed him." Jing Mei lies. Yao Wang owes her one. "Wait, he doesn't remember anything?" Buo asked, suddenly concerned in the situation as well. Yao Wang looked at the two strangely. "What am I supposed to remember?" Yao Wang asked. Buo stared at him for a moment. "That's Hsien Lian. You're the God Of The Flowers. Come on, you don't remember that?" Buo asked, placing a hand on Yao Wang's shoulder. Yao Wang laughed.

"Oh, that? Yeah, I remember. Prince of the Han Dynasty, yes of course. I thought you were talking about what I ate for breakfast today." Yao Wang smiled. Buo stared at him before rolling his eyes. He sighed, stepping away from Yao Wang. "I honestly hate you." He muttered, stepping away fully.

Fu Hai rolled his eyes. "Wow, Jing Mei you went along with it. Whatever happened to you not liking jokes?" Fu Hai exasperatedly sighed, shaking his head. Jing Mei smiled. "You two were acting like fools instead of-" Yue hopped off the couch, almost tackling Yao Wang. "You remember?" She asked excitedly. Yao Wang nodded.

"Why did you guys bring Yue with you? No offense, she was the best spy I have ever met. But, why a demigod?" Yao Wang asked. Buo smiled. "She wanted to go. Also, I think you wouldn't really trust anyone else. A harmless little girl was perfect." Yao Wang nodded his head. It was smart, he wouldn't disagree. "Well then. Now that I know it you guys, I'm taking back my strawberries."

Fu Hai looked down at the strawberries on the table. "Are you serious, Yao Wang? Do you know how much I have done for you? You would have never survived without me-" Buo scoffed, flopping back down onto the couch. He shook his head dramatically. "Because, of course, he wouldn't be able to make his bed." Buo muttered sarcastically.

Before anything else happened, Jing Mei stood in the way. "Are you three going to change or what?" Jing Mei asked, her arms still wrapped behind her back. Yao Wang stood for a moment, before realizing what she was saying. "I might be rusty. Haven't done it in a while." Yao Wang jokes, flopping onto the couch with Fu Hai.

"We haven't seen you in two thousand years, you can go first." Buo said, pushing Yao Wang up. Yao Wang sighed, shaking his hands and feet out. He forgot what he wore, forgotten most about himself. Even if he did remember, his god form was something he would simply have to see once again.

Yao Wang sucked in a deep breath, a blue mist forming around his hands. He slowly rebuilt himself, into the god he truly was. His hair grew and turned darker, from the light brown to a deeper chocolate. His clothing floated into royalty white, with deep blue edgings on the sleeves. Gold embroidery and gold Chinese knots hanging at his waist. His sleeves barely enough to go down to the pale white bandages that wrapped around his wrists.

He sighed, looking back up at the three after brushing his hanfu down. "Can we go now?"