Chapter 46 - 3rd Arc: Rebirth Of The Dragon

(Author's note: Thank you all for your patience. The following chapters are somewhat longer to make up for my long absense.)

My fight with Fa Min ended with me yielding. I had injured him while in my altered state, something totally unlike me. It wasn’t until I spoke to Master Fa that I understood a bit more.

What I felt inside me, the ‘two consciousness’ that were warring for the control of my body during the fight, were my mind and spirit being separated.

At a moment of intense concentration – meaning my duel with Min – my spirit rebelled against the conscious decision I had made about marrying Bai Fan. Its discontent had accumulated since I slept with Ling and figured out that I couldn’t stay with her despite our feelings. The Heavenly Tribulation I went through days before, had only given it strength.

This means that every time that I do something I don’t like, I have to listen to a part of me protest about the need for such a decision.

But, as Master Fa revealed to me, my spirit already knew the way through the heavenly tribulations. I had been following in his wake… that was one of the reasons why the tribulations were nothing to me. Up to now, my spirit has guided and protected me… for its/my own benefit.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but… I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated.

Anyway, let’s get back on track, shall we?

Fa Min was understandably upset when I yielded. But, in truth, I wasn’t sure if I could still continue fighting with him when a stronger opponent was vying for my attention. His grandfather took him away to speak to him, while I tried to rein in the new tenant in my head.

“Mu, are you all right?” I felt Bai Fan drawing near before I heard her.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down my other self before I turned to her with a smile “of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

Her father was with her, frowning.

Bai Fan came really close, placing her hand on my forehead. Immediately my other self huffed, asking why I let her touch me, but I had to admit that her hand was incredibly soft.

“Are you sure?” there was worry in her eyes, which I found amusing. I never imagined she would be a worrywart.

I chuckled and took her hand off my forehead, keeping it between mine “Yes. Besides, I'm all sweaty.”

Instead of getting all flustered like Ling usually did, Fan frowned and took her hand back. Then, fishing a handkerchief from inside her robes, she began dabbing my face with it.

Strong women for the win.

I hadn’t lost my smile as I watched her, truly amused at her antics. Better yet, I felt my other self silently nodding in approval.

‘She might not be as bad as I initially thought… even if she’s still a weakling.’

‘Bai Fan is an interesting and intelligent woman. She has her merits, even if she isn’t a cultivator.’

‘It’s a pity. If she were, you wouldn’t have to see her die.’

Its words scared me, and I asked for an answer, but it ignored me.

“….u?”

I blinked, coming back to my senses. Bai Fan was looking at me questioningly. The hand with the handkerchief was suspended in front of me while she studied my face. “Are you sure you are all right?”

I snorted “Yes, just lost in thought for a moment.”

“Um.” she nodded and brought her hand down.

I turned to her father and said, “Comments, General Bai?”

The man scratched his chin “I must congratulate you, prince. The two of you were evenly matched until you…” he made a curious gesture with his hand “changed.”

So, they had noticed too.

I nodded and looked down at my hands. “I hope Fa Min will one day forgive me. I sincerely did not wish to hurt him and if we continued, I most certainly would have.”

The older man nodded “Master Fa He Long said something about discovering your spiritual animal.”

I shook my head. Apparently, my master still had some things to teach me. “I wish he had told me before!” I chuckled for a bit longer before sighing and addressing the older man who appeared amused. “I felt something awakened inside me…” I shook my head, at a loss of how to properly explain the situation. In the end, I shrugged. “I don’t think I can properly explain it.”

General Bai made a dismissive gesture with his hand “It matters not.”

I shrugged at him and turned my eyes to Bai Fan who was watching us interact with interest. I realized that the woman in front of me probably had the same habit I did in the past, when looking for inspiration I would always watch people interact and wonder if my characters would ever behave like that. Bai Fan was an artist, a writer like I had been, it stood to reason that she would do things like that. After all, it was something I had often heard from other authors.

“General Bai, I would like to ask for your permission to take your daughter to town” My words brought both of their gazes to me, one interested and the other curious “I know very little of the place, but I am sure that we will surely enjoy a stroll through the streets of your wonderful province.”

General Bai laughed amiably “What do you say, my daughter? The Prince is asking you out!”

For some reason, Bai Fan blushed and pouted, but eventually turned to me with a bow “I will enjoy showing you my hometown, your highness.”

“Excellent!” I smiled and took her hand, brushing my lips against her knuckles. “I shall see you later” I offered a small bow to both who looked a bit perplexed, but I ignored it. What I wanted the most was to get away and take a bath. Everything else was inconsequential.

---

Sometimes, I forget that the manners I learned in my previous life are from the west and that they are awfully strange or rude in a culture with so little physical contact between people as it is here in Asia. I had kissed Bai Fan's hand like I was taught in my past life, something that was mostly unknown in the time I'm living now.

That is the reason why my fiancée is currently acting so bashful.

Oh well.

“Fan’er” I chuckled, loving the way her cheeks flush every time I say her name. We are currently strolling through the streets and I'm holding her hand on my arm. There are plenty of onlookers and bystanders watching us and whispering... nothing that I care for since they are completely inconsequential to the status of our families. But apparently, Bai Fan doesn't think the way I do. “Why do you blush so much?”

She looked up at my face and pouted.

God, I love teasing this woman.

“Barely one day engaged and you behave as if we knew each other for years, your highness.”

“Ah, but we have known each other for years!” I smiled, patting her hand on my arm “In fact, I dare say there is no other man in this city that knows you as well as I do!”

Bai Fan turned even redder and covered my mouth with her hands. “D-don’t say such things in public!”

I couldn’t help it and laughed behind her hands. I took them both in mine and pressed my lips against her digits, making her blush further. “Very well, very well. I’ll stop teasing you.” We kept walking, she was showing me everything that she loved about her hometown, while I was secretly underwhelmed by everything.

I know that sounded strange, but the truth is that very little of what I’ve seen in this age has that ‘wow’ effect that was so common to the XXI century (cultivation and magic notwithstanding). Therefore, there are very few things that will impress me, but I can certainly appreciate the effort and, more so, the emotion she’s showing.

After walking for an hour or so, I began getting an odd feeling, as if I was being watched with ill intentions. Being watched was given as soon as we took a step out of the Fa estate, especially when the most beautiful woman of the Empire was gently holding your arm, but the way I’m being stared at this very moment is making my skin crawl.

Something is afoot.

Sadly, it seems that I’m the only one who has noticed. Bai Fan’s guards looked somewhat bored, perhaps it is time to give them something to do apart from watching us.

When Bai Fan got into the restaurant to ask for a table for us, I discreetly motioned the man in charge of her security to me.

“We’re being followed,” I said and he blinked. Mr. Guard has had good training, apparently, he knows not to cause a scene when he’s given a tip in front of people “Do you personally know each of the men you’ve brought today?”

“Yes, your highness” I see the doubt in his eyes… unsure as to why I’m asking such a thing, but it should be clear soon.

“Make them do a sweep of the surroundings. I will protect Lady Bai Fan.” If the people watching us are good, they may suppress a guard and try to sneak in their stead. If, however, they aren’t, then they’ll more than likely flee.

The man nodded and discretely ordered his men to do what I commanded. While this was happening, Bai Fan came back to me with a genuine and wide smile, “We have a table waiting for us.”

I placed her hand on my arm and stepped inside, following the servant that guided us to a curiously unoccupied table in the corner of the packed room. “Is this a common occurrence for you?” I asked and she looked up to me in askance. “Getting a free place in a business despite the demand?”

She smiled and shook her head “I come here often when I wish to get some air, I’ve got my own table.”

I chuckled and patted her hand on my arm gently. “I worried that we were booting somebody from their table, good thing I was wrong.”

She was about to sit with her back to the window, but I took her hand and shook my head instead, leading her to sit with her back to the wall and the window at her left. Then, I took the seat in front of her.

Fan’er tilted her head sideways, a gesture I’ve seen her do quite a few times when she doesn’t want to voice a question. The cutest thing is that I can’t help but think of a German Shepherd puppy doing the same.... and now I can’t help but imagine her with the dog’s ears.

OMG. I need to think of something else before I get the urge to pet her.

“I’ll tell you later” I answered, shaking my head.

Bai Fan’s lady kneeled behind her with her head low as she waited for the servant to come to take our orders. She’s fairly good-looking and has a nice body, but her greatest feature is that she knows how to blend into the surroundings, something that Ling has either forgotten or never learned.

The odd stare I felt before vanished as soon as we entered the establishment, and I was hoping that would be the end of it, but it just came back with a vengeance.

It seems like Bai’s guards have been unable to find the person responsible.

While we were having some small talk, I had the chance to look around but I couldn't find anything that’s out of place... Sure, people still turn and look at us (at Bai Fan, really) every so often, but that is the norm. Had the clothes I was gifted by the emperor survived the trip, people would be staring at me more often... I can only thank God for small mercies.

As the serving girl approaches our table, the feeling of danger I’ve been getting becomes stronger. She stopped before our table and bowed to me and then to Bai Fan.

I’ve got her.

Before Bai Fan could say anything, I grabbed the girl by the coat and pushed her against the wall.

“Who are you?” I glared at her while Fan’er looks on in shock.

To my surprise, the girl squirmed out of my grasp and I’m forced to evade a blade that could have sliced my throat wide open.

“What gave me away?” The girl smiled at me, behaving as if we were talking about the weather.

I bit my tongue, not wanting to give her any more information than I should. Her disguise was perfect, but she made the mistake of bowing to me first. Nobody in this place should know who I am, everyone, the whole way from the Bai residence to here, has been bowing to Fan’er first, as she is the daughter of the Lord of the Land. Plus, my clothes are pedestrian at best... There is simply no way for anyone to have known that I outrank Bai Fan, from the get-go.

“Who sent you?” I avoided the question and asked her, standing up so that I could move more easily.

“Your highness, surely you jest?” Her demeanor is coquettish, but she reeks of danger... an assassin to be sure.

There is a commotion outside, and I can hear the voices of Bai Fan’s guards. Apparently, she isn’t the only one.

I realized that she’s making time not a second too soon, and kicked our table up in order to stop a handful of projectiles from harming Bai Fan, while I began using air-breathing to accelerate my reaction time, only to have to evade another swipe from her again. I grabbed her wrist as it passed and used it to twist her arm painfully.

I heard her gasp, but the blade quickly changes hands and I’m too busy trying to stop her from eviscerating me, to focus on what is happening outside.

“Xiao Yu, take your mistress and leave!” I ordered Bai Fan’s maid, and immediately the girl that had been attacking me growled something fierce, her face twisted in anger. She then attacks the hand that is holding her by the wrist, but I strike her hand with my fist with a force that can shatter bones, and she hisses, letting go of the weapon which clatters noisily on the ground.

Of all the attacks I could have envisioned, never for a moment did I think she would head-butt me, blinding me for an instant before I felt her sharp teeth on my hand.

I cried out and let go of her, landing another punch to her face that sent her flying a good two meters before crashing into another table.

I looked around quickly and got a glimpse of Bai Fan’s dress as she rounded the entrance of the building.

The bad feeling in my gut intensified, and I pursued her full throttle.

As soon as I’m outside, I’m forced to duck from a hit coming right at my face and strike with all my might at the attacker, not really caring where I hit. I heard a gasp and a big man fell at my feet, one of his hands holding a rather crudely-made wooden mace. I sidestep him to find around six dead bodies on the street, three of which are from my fiancée’s guards. The lead guard and another two are trying to keep Bai Fan and her maid safe from a company of bandits.

‘Were they here for me, or for us?’ My mind wonders as my other self awakens inside of me, rearing its head and eager to fight.

‘Does it matter? They’ve come to take what is ours, they must be wiped from this world!’

Its need for bloodshed scared me out of my wits and I’m forced to watch in utter despair as my body launches a wave of fire chi-magic to the backs of the unsuspecting bandits, who immediately begin wailing and screaming in pain.

“Monster!” Somebody shouted behind me before a heavyweight landed on my back, taking me to the ground.

Sensing danger, I twisted out of my prone position under the weight of my attacker, barely missing the knife that would have cut my neck. It disappeared from my sight as I turned again and lifted my arm to cover my face only to have the weapon get embedded on the appendage.

I cried out in pain and again the beast acted before I’m able to stop it, hitting my assailant with more fire magic right on the face. The person doesn’t even have the time to scream before the ability is taken from him and falls to the side like a half-man, half-charcoal statue. I quickly got out from under the burning body to survey the damage around me.

Fortunately, Bai’s guards were able to finish off the rest of the bandits and Fan’er seems to be fine, scared to be sure, but physically fine. She is, however, staring wide-eyed at the body of my attacker.

Wincing from the pain in my right arm, I continued to look around and found myself staring at the entrance of the restaurant which is slightly singed, everyone is staring at me as if I was the culprit. I shook my head at their reaction and switched to wood-breathing, while mentally preparing myself. I grabbed the handle of the weapon embedded on my body and before I chicken out, pulled out the offending item.

Pain like I’ve never felt before assaults my senses despite my mental state and makes me curse out loud.

That had always looked so cool and easy in the movies. But in real life, it hurts so bad that even my other-self retreats from my mind, and I’m suddenly again in control of my whole body. I then placed my free hand over the wound and concentrated my remaining chi on sealing it.

“Mu’er!” Bai Fan calls to me, but the guards are still surrounding her, not letting her out of their protective formation.

I shook my head and using the same knife that was used to stab me, I cut a piece of my sleeve and awkwardly tied it around the wound, using my teeth to keep it tight. Once the pain subsided and I’m sure I wouldn’t faint, I made my way to the guards who were staring at me with reverent fear. One of them even took a step back as I approached.

I glared at the boy, and growled: “I bet you were very thankful to me for killing the bandits earlier when your life was at stake, weren’t you?”

The kid looked down abashedly and I transferred my glare to the guard in chief, who flinched away from my stare.

“Let’s go back to the estate, on the way you will explain exactly how you got surrounded when I told you we were being followed.”

The man grimaced and nodded, and I felt a gentle pull on the sleeve that wasn't cut.

As I looked down, I found Bai Fan staring worriedly at me. She’s paler than usual and is on the brink of crying.

Not caring if it is too forward for the time, I grabbed her delicate hand in mine and kissed it. “Let’s go Fan’er.. I’ll take you back to your father.”