On the other side of the Heavenly skies, God of Lightning, Yuan LeiFeng, was back to his manor and was pondering about the tiger demon he fought in the mortal realm. He had never encountered this tiger demon specifies, different than the celestial white tiger clan. He wanted to test his adversaries and get to know more about it, and he used partial strength. It was surprising that the tiger demon was still able to fight back and receive his blows; normal demons would not have lasted as long as this one did.
Just when he wanted to get serious, a familiar slithery shadow neared and with his instincts, he used his seven-star sword to throw a lightning bolt at the direction of the shadow.
A distraction! Now he lost both them and grew frustrated about how these demons had thwarted his plans to capture them. It was time to pay a visit to BaiZe, the wise White Horned immortal who chronologizes hundreds of demons and creatures, regarding these strange strong demons.
Reaching He FeiQuan's family Manor, the veiled LiEr came and asked for XiaoMing at the gates. However when He FeiQuan's pageboy came out and saw the veiled unknown lady, he mistook her for another of his young master's admirer. XiaoMing respectfully asked for the immortal's name, and Lier ingeniously concocted a new name as TaoYuan, the Peach Garden Fairy.
XiaoMing had a good memory and remembered all his young master's visitors' names, but he never heard of this title and thought that she wanted to be received discreetly and incognito as to preserve their dignity and reputation. XiaoMing led her to He FeiQuan courtyard, and before he could announce her arrival, they saw two figures in the courtyard. One seemed to be pulling and the other familiar one was running away from her clutches.
"Quan Gege…" the voice trailed from the female, trying to get a hold on He FeiQuan's sleeve, and the other hand a tray.
LiHua took a few large steps forward and gently took the tray with the tonic from Hua FeiFei, who was great in balancing her tray without spilling the contents while chasing someone. XiaoMing tried to hold this unknown fairy back but he was more interested to see how the scene of love rivals unfold too, so his grasp was not very effectual.
"Oh yes, FeiQuan, let's accept it. It would be impolite to decline", she turned to the confused He FeiQuan and wiggled her brows at him. She almost laughed aloud when she saw his brows frowned then twitched in recognition.
"This fairy is...?" Hua FeiFei looked at rude and foreign fairy who just snatched her tonic that she took time to brew for her cousin.
"Oh, I was just passing by and smell the wonderful fragrant and decided to accept for my sweetheart."
XiaoMing was internally clapping and calling out 'Good!', sadly he had a role to play, which was the loyal pageboy. "Young master, pardon this lowly self for not stopping TaoYuan fairy from barging in.
He FeiQuan merely gave his impudent pageboy a cold glance, and Hua FeiFei retaliated with a pitiful lovelorn look and eyes misted up, "Quan Gege, who is she and why she did she say she's your sweetheart?" A handkerchief miraculously appeared and she started to dab at her tears, "you know how I feel about you…" More tears flowed.
Whoa, she was better than the mortal actors she had watched before, and LiHua did not want to lose, "this fairy is the little prince of Crane Clan's sweetheart. Fei Jiejie, there are plenty of birds out there in the sky, you don't have to try to take my bird from me. FeiQuan ah, say something" She used her sleeves hem and cover her eyes, pretending to cry while she glanced up at He FeiQuan eyes shining with mirth.
Both females competed in their crying skills and leaving the Prince and his pageboy shaking their heads.
"FeiFei fairy, why don't you return first? TaoYuan fairy is just my sister's friend and is a troublemaker. On behalf of my mother, this prince thanked FeiFei fairy for her soup and will let XiaoMing take this to her. This prince will not send you out. XiaoMing please send both fairies out." Massaging his temple and gesturing the ladies to the exit.
"Fei Jiejie, why don't you leave first, I have to look for the prince's sister for an important message" LiHua waved and sprinted into the inner courtyard and towards He FeiQuan's courtyard.
Before Hua FeiFei could protest, XiaoMing made a "please" gesture to send her to exit. With ladylike mannerisms ingrained to her since growing up, she straightened herself and try to leave with whatever dignity she was left.
As much as He FeiQuan wanted to leave, he had to remove the root of his problems first before more trouble came his way. And knowing this girl, trouble follows wherever she went and he had to clean up after her all the time. "You ungrateful fruit! Can't you just give me peace? Ever since I met you, trouble heap unto one another!"
"How can you tell it's me?" LiHua looked at He FeiQuan inquiringly.
"The only female who can make me have an exploding headache can be no other than you. I suffered many grievances from befriending you, so today can I have a little peace first? When I feel better, I will look for you."
"Really? You want to do this now! Fine! Let's compare!" Saying this, she took out a small book she kept by chest inside her hanfu. This notebook was all the grievances she had suffered by this bird, this was a good time to get repaid.
"Can you stay relevant to the subject?" FeiQuan massaged his forehead and shook his head, did not even bother to see the book from her clothes.
"I am staying relevant, you were the one who was talking about grievances."
"Peace. I said peace. Really, you fruit brain, it is so tiresome talking to you, this feels like a juvenile's conversation." He FeiQuan said exasperatedly, "Just tell me already - what do you want?"
"I want to go to the island but I don't know the directions," LiHua tried to imitate a small maiden's shy gesture, stooping her head and delicately fidgeting her hands. Seeing that He FeiQuan continued to ignore her, she peeked up and saw him walking away.
"Hey! I asked nicely! I told my family you will take me there."
She gave a fist pump in the air when she heard the weary sigh, knowing she won this round.
"First, let's go to the mortal realm, I miss the food there."
"!!!" He knew it! Give her an inch, and she would ask for a mile.
Standing at the foot of Mount KeLan, He FeiQuan looked on this particular mountain with interest. LiHua had told him she wanted to visit Kai family, and Kai Zong briefly came to his mind. Thinking that the fruit wanted to see the Kais as Kai Zong was the first human acquaintance she had made, he agreed and accompanied her.
Mount KeLan was situated in the remote area of Xuan kingdom, more a small mountain with many tall trees and since it was winter time, they could not determine what kind of trees they were. They walked through a path until they saw a gate before LiHua took another step, He FeiQuan grabbed her arm to hold her back, there was a string that around the trees to higher grounds. LiHua looked back at He FeiQuan, suddenly finding him a little trustworthy and capable, awarding him with a thumbs-up, to which he, in turn, ignored.
There was a gate at the foot with two imposing guards guarding. He FeiQuan, casually glace and could tell that the guards were capable of martial arts. For a human clan to be able to hire such worthy soldiers just for the gate, the family could not be underestimated. He could also feel a light traceable barrier set after the gate, Kai family was getting more and more interesting. LiHua took out the token Kai Zong had given her and showed it to the guards, He FeiQuan stared at the raised token and looked at Mount KeLan again.
He had a network of spies and from his sources, he had found out that there was also another network in the mortal realms that was operated under the celestials and human monarch's noses. This mysterious network was not known to many but those who worked in shadows gave it much respect and the human spies from different kingdoms sometimes even purchase information from the said network. This human secret network had gone through many dynasties and had stayed neutral, never taking any sides, selling news to those they deemed worthy.
Crimson Wolf was the name He FeiQuan received from his trusted sources. Those areas marked with black Crimson Wolf emblems and those claimed territories would be cleared off, not wanting to aggravate or gain the attention of the Crimson Wolf. Even the royalties kept their berth from Crimson Wolf to them, as the saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. So long Crimson Wolf did not partake with their political plays, they would close one eye. How was Kai Zong, the seemingly regular scholar, related to Crimson Wolf, what was his role in the Crimson Wolf. Why did he invite only LiHua and was he, He FeiQuan leading the clueless fruit into a wolf den?