Episode Thirty Three

They finally reach the Winter Sect kingdom, and Kai is booming with energy. He hadn't stopped smiling, after he woke up and got news of how he destroyed the fire demon. Also, he couldn't have been more proud when he saw the double index of a dragon intertwined with a Phoenix on his sleeve.

Qing yuan had told him that the reason why he fainted was due to exhaustion. He explained to him that his aura is linked with his soul. And due to the sudden activation of it, it strained on the body, and all of his energy had been used. Kai had nodded to everything that Qing yuan was saying, but his mind wasn't there. He was too engulfed in the glory that the others are showering him, and his sudden achievement. That he didn't hear the part, where Qing yuan warned him not to push himself too hard until he reached that level of exhaustion. He also stated that using up too much of his body and spiritual energy could put him in a coma. But Kai didn't hear any of that, and Qing yuan knew. He just has to go and monitor him as best as he can.

Li Jie had even started talking back to Kai, his face was the second one Kai saw. Qing yuan was the first, when he woke up. Even Shufen started to warm up to him, and Taio. Taio had chewed all of his nail when Kai didn't wake up, and when he did. Qing yuan was the only one who could get him away from Kai, with his overprotective fussing.

    Now they have entered through the gate of the Winter Sect school of cultivation, and Kai mouths open in amazement. All around there were neatly kept cherry blossom trees, with their light pink to white petals in bloom. And some of them had white and yellow flowers. Filling the courtyard with a sweet smell, as the cool gentle breeze blows through them. The floor of each building was made of hardwood, and was so shiny that Kai could see his reflection in them. Every inch of every building is well kept, and everywhere he turns. A different nose warming fragrance welcomed his nose. 

   "Alright then, the first thing you all must do is go find your rooms. I am sure all of you had been given a scroll before we left the Dragon's kingdom." Chen Liang addressed the crowd. Everyone gave a positive response, but Kai. 

He was the only one who didn't know what to do, and his only source of help had vanished off to who knows where.

   "Ah, Chen Liang?" Kai called out to Liang as he was about to walk away.

   "Hm?" He walked up to Kai with his hands folded behind his back. "What may I help you with?"

    "Where-should I go?" Kai stuttered, suddenly feeling nervous. 

  "To your room. I had mentioned that a while ago." Chen Liang answered with a small chuckle, which made Kai blush.

   "I know, that is what I am asking you. I wasn't assigned a room." 

    "No, that is not right. I specifically told Shufen to tell you that you will be sharing a room with him and Taio." Chen Liang said, looking around to see if he could spot either of the two disciples.

Kai sighs inwardly, disappointed that he would be rooming with Shufen. Even though he has been lenient on his dislike towards Kai, they see each other almost all the time. That can't be good.

   "Ah, Shufen!" Chen Liang called, when he saw Shufen and Taio walking towards the dorms with another disciple.

   "Yes Master Chen?" He bowed to show his respect.

   "Why didn't you tell Kai that he would be sharing a room with you and Taio?"

Shufen's face looked annoyed, before he remembered that he is still in the presence of Chen Liang. And he wouldn't want to get reprimanded, and training hasn't even started as yet. The Winter Sect kingdom is different from the Drogan's kingdom, with different rules and regulations. One being, no discrimination against others. He didn't want to share a room with Kai. No matter if he had defeated a fire demon without being trained, or who his parents are and certainly not because of his strange aura. What do you even call a dragon intertwined with a Phenix? No matter how much he disliked the idea, he couldn't show it. And to be fair, Kai wasn't as useless as he thought. So, all he had to do is suck it up and go with the flow.

"I am sorry master, it completely slipped my mind." Shufen put on his best sincere expression, and bowed again. 

   "Nevermind that, but next time. Remember not to forget." Chen Liang said.

    "Yes master." Shufen quickly bowed, and Chen Liang walked away. Shufen peeked through one eye to see if Chen Liang had actually walked away. When he was sure, his expression changed from a sorry one to an annoyed one. "It is a disgrace to share a room with someone like you." He scoft and turned away.

Kai's hands curled into fists, as he felt something sparked inside of him. 'Breathe Kai, calm down.' He calmly thought to himself. His body and mind are going through different changes, and he needs to calm himself so he doesn't spiral out of control. Shufen isn't worth getting kicked out of Cultivation school, for.

   "What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to follow?" He heard Shufen's annoying voice ask him from all the way across the courtyard.

Kai rolled his eyes, as he snarled at Shufen's already moving back. 

      "Kai, you are sharing a room with us too?" Taio asks, when he saw Kai appear at the doors.

 Kai nodded, smiling that at least he has Taio as a roommate as well. At least it won't be hell living with Shufen. And if Shufen decides to make trouble, Taio will be there to defend him. Speaking of defending, he still hasn't seen Qing yuan. And apart from Taio, and even though he felt uncomfortable admitting it, Li Jie. Qing yuan is also one of the few people he feels comfortable around. There are so many people here, all from different places. With so many things in common, he just feels out of place. Even though, deep down he knows that he belongs here. But, he just felt like he belonged somewhere else.

   "Come Kai, you can sleep next to me." Taio happily said, as he patted the bed beside his own.

     "Aww, look at lover boy." Shufen mocked Taio. "You should just give up already, he only got eyes for prince Qing yuan." Kai blushed and looked away. "And that scary prince is so possessive over…." He scan Kai up and down, with a look that made Kai feel like a dirty discorded cloth. "Him." He turned his nose up at Kai, before running and leaving the room.

   Taio and Kai stood in silence, the both of them stare at each other when the other isn't looking. And quickly look away when their eyes meet, with blushes on their cheeks.

    "So…what he said, is it true?" Taio bravely decided to ask. Even though he felt like he knew the answer.

Is Shufen telling the truth? Kai thought to himself. He has felt a special connection with Qing yuan from the first time they met. It's like this force is pulling him to Qing yuan, like without knowing that he is not around, makes miserable. But Taio, he has known Taio for a long time now, and even though he can be gullible sometimes. He is sweet and caring, and he is always there to pick up Kai when he has fallen. So what is his answer? Right now, he is too confused to give a correct one.

   "No, Shufen doesn't know what he is talking about like always." Kai tried to go around the question. "I am not sure who I like yet."

   "Oh, well that is ok. Take your time." Taio said with a bit of sadness in his voice. Should he be relieved, or should he be sad that maybe Kai doesn't have the same feeling as him?

Kai saw the conflicted look on Taio's face, and he immediately felt guilty for making him upset. "Taio, is this your first time here?" Kai asks, in order to change the conversation into a whole new direction.

   "No, this is my second time coming back." 

   "Would you mind giving me a tour?" Taio's face brightened, and he wore a smile brighter than the morning sun. 

    "I would love to. If you want, we could go now."

   Kai nodded with a smile, and he and Taio walked to the door. But was blocked by a tall and serious looking Prospector.

    "Qing yuan." Kai muttered, as he looked up at the non smiling prince.

   "Have you settled in yet?" Qing yuan asks, as he looks over at Taio annoyingly.

"Yes, and Taio was just going to give me a tour." Kai smiled, looking over at Taio who gave him a big smile. But was actually uncomfortable from the looks Qing yuan was giving him.

    "Is that so?" Qing yuan  scoffed at Taio, and Taio shrank back into the room. "Well that will have to wait." He grabbed Kai's hand and pulled him from the room.

   "Qing yuan stop." But he continued to pull him. "I said stop!" He yelled, catching a few attention. Making Qing yuan froze in his steps. Kai yanks his hand out of his grip, and Qing yuan turns around to look at him. "You can't just pull me around whenever you feel like. And you can't make me not be around other people because you don't like it. And you can't always keep me away from Taio, he was just being helpful."

Qing yuan scowled at Kai, as an angry laugh left his lips. "Do you think I care about your stupid tour, I only came for you because I wanted to see if you are doing ok. And to tell you that training for you starts right now.

          Meanwhile at the Forbidden lands

Feng Gao sat down beside Fong Woo, as they drank wine together. And watched as two dancers danced a series of traditional dances. As they celebrated the good news Feng Gao had just delivered.

   "So the master Prospector had a son?" Fong Woo asked.

   "Yes. The baby didn't die at birth as everyone thought. His mother just hid him well." Feng Gao explained.

   "And he has his father's lotus aura?"

   "I watched him get shot with an arrow and burst into flames, and then rise from the ashes."

   "And where is the boy now?"

   "In the Winter Sect kingdom, at Cultivation school."

  "Is that right, now?" Fong Woo rubbed his smooth flawless chin. "I want that aura, and I must get it. Which gives me the perfect idea."

"What do you have in mind?" Feng Gao asked, suddenly interested in something Fong Woo finally had to say.

    "Yes, and I must say. It is a very good one." 

Feng Gao rolled his eyes at Fong Woo. 'The first and only time he said something I am interested in, he went and acted all crazy again.' Feng Gao thought, him also coming up with his own idea to trap Kai. "I actually have a plan of my own too."

    "Do share." Fong Woo sip his wine, his face looks a bit tipsy.

   "The family that took in the boy has a daughter, we met when I went to the Dragon's kingdom. She has a strong dislike for the boy, and has a high tolerance for a high and mighty husband."

   "Oh, I see. You want to use her to get to her brother." Fong Woo smiled.

   "Exactly." 'I guess he isn't as crazy as I thought.' Feng Gao poured more wine into their cup, and they cheered to their individual plans. Laughing like crazy fools, as they drink the night away.