CHAPTER II

All eyes swapped to Uncle Dai Chan as he jerked on his feet and made his way to frightened and anxious Mei Wu San.

"This decision is the best for the safety of all us." He continued, stopping right before King Mei and honoring his presence with a simple bow.

"Rest assured, this city will be as peaceful as ever through out his stay—"

"Nonsense! We are speaking of General Lu Tan here!" Uncle Mei Tin cut off furiously, creases pressed together on his forehead. "Have you forgotten how many lives were lost the last time he graced this city?!" Uncle Mei Tin barked, jabbing accusing fingers at Uncle Dai Chan. 

However, one sinister glare from Uncle Dai Yang had Uncle Mei Tin sealing his lips and sanking back into his seat in an instant.

Uncle Dai Chan proceeded on, swirling to face Mei Wu San, a smile painting his slightly-wrinkled face.

"Giving him a proper welcome would be a perfect distraction. I know he loves being welcomed and pampered. If he gets such special visit, he would easily forget his reason for stepping in at the first place."

"Your Uncle is absolutely right," King Mei chipped in. "The vampires are ruthless but, they are also arrogant. They like to be dominant and they like to be treated like Kings. If we do that to them, we would be keeping this city safe." 

Mumbles fills the air, some in agreement and some in disagreement. And, they dared not voice out the disagreement lingering at the tip of their tongue. But, there was one person in the room bold enough to challenge the King and argue with him if she had to,

"But, what guarantee does that have? What are the chances his visit wouldn't cause the city harm?" Wu San questioned, her chest heaving anxiously.

"Wu San, you are in no place to question the King—" Uncle Mei Tin started but was immediately interrupted by King Mei who raised his ring-decorated finger to shut him up.

"She is right. The chances of this happening are low. However, I'm taking this risk because they are no other option left. And, if Uncle Dai Chan's plan does not work as planned, we will unleash the Souigaram Army of the North."

The group erupted in another unison gasp.

"Wait. The Souigaram Army? The ones that helped stopped the witches attack?" Cousin Fui asked to reaffirm.

"Correct." King Mei said with a slight nod of his head.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider your decision. The Souigaram Army are known to be ruthless. If they step in, it will only anger the vampires more." Aunt Mei Dam swallowed.

"Father. Involving the Souigaram Army is too much of a risk to take. The vampires are more than you think. We are outnumbered."

King Mei nodded in agreement to Wu San's words however, his statement contradicts it.

"Which is why it is called a risk. If you have any other option on how to stop the vampires from claiming more lives, do make an input. If not, my plan is the final decision. This topic shouldn't be brought up again, henceforth."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The relatives acknowledged.

"As for you," King Mei says, turning to Wu San. "Go back to prepare for this banquet as the matron of this family. Also, you shall be performing for General Lu Tan tonight."

Wu San stiffened. 

"What?"

"He needs to be entertained and distracted and learnt you dance pretty well. Your performance would be a good distraction." 

~

Immediately Wu San's residence - the Lotus Flower House - received Wu San, she reached for the teapot and teacup carefully arranged for her on the table and knocked it down, shattering the mug into several pieces.

The noise had alerted lady YiSoo that she had immediately barged in with force, aiming to get rid of the threat.

Yi Soo glances around, finding the said threat however, when she sees nothing, her gaze settles on Wu San who was found fuming and clenching her fist until her knuckles turned white.

"Matron Mei, are you harmed? I heard a crashing noise just now." Yi Soo's tone is labored and urgent.

"I'm fine." Wu San supplied, pinning a narrowed gaze at the pieces of the broken mugs.

"We are leaving for TangYian Tower." Wu San announced, getting onto her feet and immediately dashing out her residence.

[TangYian Tower: A temple owned and managed by Priest Bi Lin, a priest in his 50s who had retired from the Souigaram Army to pursue is dream as a monk.]

TangYian Tower was situated in the capital, hovering over the elite buildings and even the palace. Built in ancient luxurious granite, TangYian tower was indeed an alluring sight.

Wu San requests Priest Bi Lin immediately she arrives TangYian tower, waiting at the guest room to receive him.

Wu San is entertained with fruity herbal tonics in a minute, portable cup. She was on her fifth cup when the door to the guest room slid open and the room received Priest Bi Lin.

Bi Lin pays his respect and settles before Wu San on the wooden chair.

"You are growing white hairs." Wu San pointed out, going for her sixth cup of the fruity herbal tonic. 

"And, you need to stop visiting here." Priest Bi Lin retorted.

"This is my place of birth. I can't possible let go." Wu San says and takes the sixth swig of the fruity herbal tonic.

"You talk as if you live here. You only come when you need my help. So, what are you here for this time?" Just like his aura and presence, Priest Bi Lin's tone is calm and composed. However, he had often given the first impression as a scary, vile man which was due to the scar that drew a long line from his cheek to his jaw - a scar General Lu Tan had given him before massacring his whole family right before his eyes.

"Father plans to revive the Souigaram Army."

Priest Bi Lin froze. 

"He wants to bring General Lu Tan back to town and make use of the Souigaram Army if anything goes wrong. I was hoping you could convince him otherwise."

Priest Bi Lin sank back into his seat, processing his thoughts.

Then, he finally leaned forward and whispered, "It's not in my place to implicate the decision of His Majesty."

"This is not only about implicating his decisions," Wu San shot back in defense. "This is about saving lives. The Souigaram Army are brutal. This might claim many lives. We have to stop him, Priest Bi."

"Like I said, Wu San, I can't get in between the decision of His Majesty. I'm sorry there is nothing I can do.", had been his last and final words.

Priest Bi Lin barely never resisted Wu San's request but, he was adamant about this particular one and stood his ground.

Slowly and gradually, evening drew in and when Wu San realized the city will soon receive General Lu Tan and she would have to entertain him, her heart picked a race. 

Practically, she had the lives of the people of the city of Yin in her grasp. The conclusion of the night depended on if Wu San would manage to entertain General Lu Tan or not.

If he got bored mid-performance, lives of many would be at risk. So, she had to put her best in performing for him.

She tightened her mask in her hold and said a silent prayer to the heavens.

As she is set in a hot tub, she took a quick look at the traditional writing inscribed at her upper-back. It was her mission as a rebirth and it was to inform her who she had reincarnated into and what she was expected to do as the reincarnated.

For now, the writing was faint which meant it wasn't time for her to carry on with her mission. Once that time had reached, the writing would be in full display.

She had often hoped and prayed her mission wouldn't be something that was impossible to accomplish because if she failed the accomplishment of her mission, she would disappear and seize to exist.

Wu San got into her performance dress of floral and bead intricates. The edge is adorned with jade beads of sparkling color and the sleeve of her dress decorated with floral.

The pink dress is extremely beautiful and it compliments her gorgeous facial features and even her hairdo which was styled in a huge bun, and adorned with beads and gold hair clips and a light pink hair tie dangled off it.

Wu San was a sight to behold. And, it even made her more nervous. What if it still fails to impress General Lu Tan? What if she meets his gaze and misses a step? Will she ruin this for herself and for her city?

A loud, noisy beat of the royal drum had her jump in fright.

"General Lu Tan arrives!" The royal announcer announces.

"General Lu Tan arrives!" The announcer repeated followed by another noisy beat.

Wu San takes in deep breath, bracing herself for whatever was to come.

Following the arrival of General Lu Tan, the palace suddenly went gloomy and tension fills the air.

The party proceeded on. Everything she had prepared performed in its rightful order. And when lady Yisoo saunters in to inform her that she is up next to perform, her stomach twisted and she buried the nauseated feeling crawling up her throat.

As she is led to the backstage, she wears on her confidence as a dancer and wipes off her sweaty palm.

The guests of the family banquet receives her on stage in a minute. 

She doesn't raise her gaze as she proceeded with dancing to the instrumental music playing in the background however, from the corner of her eyes, she could see him.

Sat at the center, right beside her father, he had his black cloak hiding his face as usual. His demeanor was as of five years back and his aura is as always - dark and taunting.

Wu San's style of dance was the classical style so, her pink dress often flies in the air with her every move, obstructing her view. But, the second the dress is off her view, she takes a glimpse through her pink mask and gets a grab of his emotion.

He felt impressed? Impressed? So, she had managed to impress General Lu Tan?

Wu San swallowed, focusing on the rhythm of the instrument for a perfect performance. 

However, her breath caught in her throat and her breathing seizes when she catches a glimpse of General Lu Tan suddenly arising from his seat and walking towards her.

His steps are calculating and intimidating and with every single one it takes, she feels a stab to her heart and a pierce to her chest.

What was he doing? 

She doesn't stop dancing still. Although, the energy she had put in her step at the start of her performance had began to decline, she still continued dancing.

Lu Tan stops right before her just as she concluded with the last step, a lemon scent engulfing her and filling up the air around her.

He raises his head slightly, showing a glimpse of his face behind his cloak. She hadn't seen much but, she had seen enough to conclude that he was the most beautiful creature she had ever set her eyes on.

The guests in the room all froze as they watched General Lu Tan access Wu San carefully. 

He cups her face in his cold, rough palm and titled her head up. Their gaze met and Wu San's world froze.

"Take off your mask." 

His tone, the darkest, gruffiest and roughest Wu San had ever heard, commanded.