Chapter 148: Latnos Part 7: Surprise!

Chen Jing's POV:

The past year has been filled with countless ups and downs as I keep plummeting and ascending between heaven and hell. When I was first exiled from the holy palace of his majesty I struggled to endure the hardships of the outside world. Fortunately, the heavens had not forsaken me yet. In my hunt for that wicked devil who defiled my lord's honor, I discovered two little angels who granted me some solace in my time of need. They had fooled that devil into revealing her whereabouts while surrendering both her sinful and holy artifacts.

Unfortunately, she is a rather slippery one. Every time we close in on her, she manages to escape only moments before we arrive to apprehend her. It has happened so many times I am starting to suspect we might have a traitor in our midst. If only she would repent for her sins she could become the greatest artist of the Dark Palace.

As evil as she may be, I cannot deny her artistic talent. If only she would repent for her sinful behavior and beg for my lord's mercy, I may be able to earn her a pardon from the death penalty. Though his majesty is merciless to enemies, he values those with talent and skill, he might grant her mercy if she can prove herself valuable enough to our empire. I can only hope she will see the errors of her way, once she experiences the depths of the Frost Palace.

I am currently on my way to inform Mr. Fuji's representative that I will be returning to the Dark Palace soon as my exile has been lifted with the start of the new year. Though I would have preferred returning with the sinner in tow, I simply cannot stand being away from my oasis any longer. I was going to ask mistress Fu to look over the Yellow Palace's affaires in my place until I returned. However, …

"SURPRISE!!!"

The moment I entered the meeting room in the Purple Palace, I nearly had a heart attack as I was not expecting such a large group of people to jump out at me. Around the room I could spot the servants of the Purple Palace in festive garments, and some were even wearing some rather cute and slightly off-putting animal costumes. At the center of the room the two angels were standing in front of a giant cake.

"*Huff**Puff*! What are you fools doing?! You scared this old man half to death!" I spoke as I was trying to calm my racing heart.

"Happy birthday grandpa Chen! Were you surprised?" Little Yang asked.

I just then remembered that tomorrow was my birthday. It had completely slipped my mind as I was too engrossed in my hunt for that sinful artist. I could feel my heart soften at the thoughtful little angels whom helped me this year. Even that little debacle with the Hi Empire faction couldn't gloss over the joy these little fish-masked children have brought me.

"YOU'VE SEEN NOTHING YET! JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU! GUESS WHAT WE GOT FOR YOUR BIRHTDAY PRESENT! GUESS! GUESS! GUESS!" Little Yin prattled excitedly.

"Uh, well I-!"

"Never mind her! She got a bit too hyped for the party! Why don't you go take the first slice of cake! It's your favorite!" Little Yang spoke while trying to calm his sister down.

As I moved towards the large cake, I wondered how the two of them managed to convince that unpleasant woman to let them hold this celebration here. However, my thoughts quickly derailed as I tasted the cake. I am not particularly fond of sweets, but this cake was an exception. Never before have I tasted something so delicious. From its texture to its sweet smell and taste, it struck a perfect balance between too much and too little.

I don't quite recall much of the party after that as all I can remember was pleasant music and pretty lights. At some point I passed out only to find myself cuffed to a chair in a dimly lit room.

…

"Ugh! What happened?" Chen Jing asked after coming to.

Just then the people in animal costumes removed their animal masks to reveal their true identities as the various faction leaders of Latnos.

"Wait! Why are you here?"

However, before he could get an answer, Yin and Yang came riding up to him on someone wearing a dog costume.

"Grandpa Chen are you ready for your big surprise!"

"I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE! YOU'RE GOING TO BE SO SHOCKED!"

It was then that his attention turned to the giant present sitting behind them.

*Drumroll*

*Bang*

Suddenly the top of the giant present flew off the box. And like a ghost girl crawling out of a well, a silver-haired girl came crawling out of the box with her hair dangling in front of her mask.

"TA-DA! YOUR PRESENT IS TO MEET YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST!" Yin shouted, as Nox came crawling over on all fours before finally standing up like a normal person.

"Is that?"

"Hello Mr. Chen! I hear you're a big fan of my smut peddling operation! Would you like an autograph?" Nox asked before pulling out a paint can and a brush and started doodling on the old man's face.

"DAMN YOU! NO STOP! *PTOOEY* ACK! STOP I'M GETTING IT IN MY MOUTH!" Chen Jing screamed, as he struggled to break free from his restraints.

However, they had taken special measures to seal his qi. Meanwhile, both his chair and cuffs were made from adamantit which even a nascent soul like Chen Jing couldn't easily break.

"OH, THAT LOOKS FUN! LET ME TRY! I WANT TO TRY! I WANT TO TRY!" Yin said, while tugging on Nox's sleeves.

"Sure! Knock yourself out!" She said, before handing the little fish-girl the brush.

"SO, YOU WERE IN LEAGUE WITH THIS EVIL WOMAN ALL ALONG! OUCH! YOU'RE GETTING IT IN MY EYES! STOP THIS!" Chen Jing screamed while Yin was having fun with his face paint.

"Yeah, sorry bout that, Grandpa Chen! Your boss kind of owes our boss some money, so we didn't really have a choice in all of this!"

"YOU WILL NEVER-! *PTOOEY* QUIT IT! YOU WILL NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS! MY MEN WILL SURELY COME LOOKING FOR ME! IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY CAPTURE YOU HERETICS!" He screamed as what little of his face wasn't painted over, turned red with anger.

"Yeah, about that!" Yang said awkwardly.

"Sowwy, but your wittle palace has already crumbled! Too bad so sad!" Nox said mockingly as she moved his chair to the balcony.

Outside he could see the Yellow Palace's courtyard burning down. His subordinates were either in chains or lying dismembered on the ground while he witnessed some men tear down the golden statue of the dark lord.

"No! This is impossible!" He muttered in disbelief.

"Nothing is impossible with the power of a birthday drug-cake … and some slaves! Isn't that right slave fishy nr. 1!"

"Could you not call me that?"

"Nope! But I'll let you return to your original forms now if you want!"

"*sigh* Finally! I'm sick of all these flailing appendages!" The Yang said as his eyes turned black.

"I KIND OF LIKED IT! IT WAS FUN NOT HAVING TO SWIM EVERYWHERE! OH, AND THESE FINGER THINGS ARE SO FUNNY LOOKING!" His sister said before her eyes turned white.

Chen Jing watched in astonished as the two little children transformed into two giant floating black and white fish with contrasting eye colors.

"Can we go home now? I'm sick of being out here dealing with these perverts all day!" The black-eyed white fish spoke.

"Okey dokey! But I'm keeping the dog!"

"NO! FUFU!" Yin cried.

"Come on Yin! You can have as many pets as you want when we get back!" Yang said as he pushed his whaling sister towards Nox, before they both turned into smoke and entered her body.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS! ONCE HIS MAJESTY HEARS OF THIS DO YOU THINK HE WILL JUST LET YOU BE! HE WILL BURN YOUR COUNTRIES TO THE GROUND BEFORE SKINNING YOU ALL ALIVE!" Chen Jing screamed at the other city managers.

"Oh, don't you worry your sweet old beard! Those furries will be perfectly safe once the dark empire falls!"

"Hmph! THE DARK EMPIRE WILL NEVER FALL! MR. FUJI WILL SURELY HEAR OF THIS SOON AND ONCE HE DOES, YOU ARE ALL FINISHED!"

"Well, what do you think Fufu!" Nox said as she moved to remove the dog mask from mistress Fu.

"Woof!"

"Oh! Your gonna lie to your ex-boss?"

"Woof!"

"You're going to tell him everything is fine, and he doesn't need to pay us a visit?"

"Woof!"

"And if he does, you're going to lead him to our trap!"

"Woof!"

"Good, vampire dog! Here! Have some more Nox juice!" Nox said before cutting her arm to poor her blood into mistress Fu's mouth.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?!" Chen Jing screamed in astonishment as he watched his colleague act like her loyal pet.

"Oh, nothing much! It's just that I'm irresistibly tasty to vampires like her! One sip of my blood and they will be begging for more! It actually kind of creeps me out how effective this is!" Nox said as she recalled a certain woman she would rather not meet again.

As Chen Jing realized that help would not be coming for a long while, he grew as pale as a ghost.