Chapter 4 Her Rage

Xiyu monitored the travellers helping themselves to servings of her sumptuous fish porridge. The rice porridge was cooked on a traditional pan and contained special ingredients, many of which could not be found outside the island. Furthermore, the fish that served as the meat base of the meal was caught from a small stream with magical properties. She assumed that the magical properties would pass into the water used to cook the porridge and prove beneficial to the exhausted travellers.

Perhaps, she would not need to exterminate them. They might be of some use to the island.

She realised the captain of the ship was staring at her intensely, and called out in a sweet voice, “What is it about my looks that cause this young master Zhan to be so enamoured?”

A sheepish look spread across Dongyue’s charming appearance.

“My sincere apologies, Miss Muxue,” he said with a bow. “It’s just that you remind me of someone.”

Without responding with a question on who this person was, she ignored him and went about her own work, diligently calculating the sales for the day with an abacus. Dongyue found his eyes wandering in her direction once more, and despite not having a full view of her face, was captivated by her solemness as she worked.

He had never been allowed around women, except his own mother. Even when he had rescued Xiao Tian, he was on the way to a male relative’s house, where there had been no female servants or family members. It was his first time he had actually paid so much attention to a female, that every feature of her face seemed etched into his memory.

Dongyue noted how her eyes possessed a distinct sparkle, and somehow appeared to be full of loneliness. That emotion had been so familiar to Dongyue since he had particularly lived through it all his life, and hence he was able to recognise it at his first glimpse. It made him feel even more curious about the proprietress of the Crimson Fairy.

So a fairy… in the Crimson Fairy? He wasn’t aware that fairies did exist, until now. What had the mayor called her? A witch? That didn’t seem true to him.

The trio finished their meal, and a stuttering male servant rushed to their table to collect their empty plates. Dongyue bonded with Xiao Tian over tea, noticing how the man seemed a bit anxious.

“I had the dream again,” Xiao Tian mumbled. “I saw a woman in grey. I think that she must be connected to me.”

Dongyue remembered how he had been awakened previously by Xiao Tian’s cries during his sleep for a few times in a row, but even that was a mystery to unfold. He could not see through Xiao Tian’s eyes which the woman was, and until Xiao Tian recovered from amnesia, they would probably not have a solution to his endless dream sequences.

Xiyu stared up to Dongyue’s curious eyes again. What was it that this man wanted? Such a pesky fly, she thought. Again, he was another man of Han descent. Would he end up like Hanshan, leaving without a word?

“Miss Muxue,” he crossed his palms in admiration this time, “I have to admit your porridge tastes really great. Do you have any tips on how to make porridge?”

She was perplexed by his sudden question and remained silent. Dongyue felt an impulse to run his fingers through her dark hair, but prevented himself from doing so, as it would be inappropriate. He had read far too many books for him to know what etiquette was, and though the residents of Muxue weren’t that concerned about manners, he knew to treat a woman, moreover a proprietress of the inn, with much respect.

“Thank you, Miss Muxue.” He bowed and left, understanding it was her choice on whether she wanted to divulge her secret recipes or not. 

……………………………………………………..

(Hours later)

It was now the second watch, and Xiyu found her body scorchingly hot again. The heat of the night was wholly unbearable, and she was unable to sleep. Gracefully, she got up from the hard bed and pulled a cloak over her undergarments. Creeping down the stairs slowly, she exited the inn. Just metres away was a stream, where she intended to soak in to cool the extreme heat that was now consuming her body. 

In Muxue, people slept a lot. It was the norm of the majority of the people there to turn in early, and at this time, most should be asleep. But she was nervous about it and just in case. She called upon her enchantment magic to create a barrier over her so that she could bathe without being disturbed. Now that there were three extra people on the island, she should put her guard up, she thought. Being seen naked was a compassionate thing, and even if someone saw her without her veil, the person would probably pay with death or eternal servitude. But then, she would probably choose to bombard the person with fireballs to death.

She looked at the clear sky and the fullness of the moons shining above her. The night view of the outer parts of the island was beautiful, but she had grown too used to the breathtaking view of the forest, where she could have a splendid view of the hills. There was no homely feeling about where she was, and everything about it didn't felt very pleasant to her. 

The loss of her parents, the departure of Hanshan, and how the people on the island looked upon her like vermin; it had all turned into a big blow on her, and under the veil, she felt at ease. The forest, however, was different. She was like a part of it now.

“Hanshan, I hope you are fine now,” she said to the sky, her eyes looming with sadness as she spoke. “I know she is a better match for you than the witch that I am.”

Such pain. How long would it take for her to forget the loss of a good friend? She crouched at the bank of the stream and watched the water ripple as tears descended her cheek and trickled into the stream. Her heart ached. For the same reason, she wasn’t sure of love, and it would always remain a myth in her life. How could she even realise love if the person was doomed to leave her?

Was being a witch so bad that everyone shunned her so much? At times, she admired the young women happily running in the streets, chased by their partners. Once a year, Muxue would host events allowing the single women to find a partner. She knew that even if she participated in such an event, an able suitor would have run away upon knowing she was a witch.

With a deep sigh, she took off her cloak and slipped out of her garments, leaving them on the bank and entering the water. The coldness of the water calmed her while invigorating her magically and renewing her abilities. Every time she soaked inside one of Muxue’s magical streams, she sensed a different ability earned. 

The first time she had entered such a stream, her magical powers had been enhanced. The second time, she had prolonged spells. She wondered what would be the effects this time. 

All of a sudden, she sensed footsteps in the distance, which eventually got louder. But as her barrier was still active, she disregarded the noise and resumed cooling inside the water while having her eyes closed.

The sound stopped, and she opened her eyes to look about her. To her absolute shock, she was looking into a male face, too beautiful for her to even think of it belonging to a male. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he crouched before her.

“Ah, Miss Muxue. We meet again.”

No words could define her rage.