THE VEIL-
Yao Fu stood at the entrance to the Veil, awaiting entrance into the cathedra room. His hands wrung together in an anxious twitch, a drop of sweat slowly sliding down the side of his temple as he waited.
He whispered a self-motivating prayer to himself, "Be eloquent. Don't screw this up or you're dead."
A Veil member trod out from the monolithic serpent-ridden doors. Swinging his hand biding him entry, Yao Fu swallowed nervously following the man inside the vast interior. His mouth dropped in awe seeing the exquisite decor of the hall.
As he followed, his head was on a swivel. The massive green columns looked as if snakes had engulfed every space. The detail in the sculptures created a slithering effect on the hard surfaces. The floor reflected the flames from thousands of lit candles and lanterns along the path.
In the center, of the massive cathedra room, sat a fountain created by four skeletons all leaning in towards each other. Snakes slithered through the rib cages and around the bones; red water running from the screaming mouths of the skeletons, poured down the bodies into a star shaped pool, where more snakes resided.
Finally, Yao Fu stood before Ri Il. He plunged to his knees, bowing as if the Emperor was standing in front of him. Ri Il smirked, satisfied at the pathetic attempt to worship him.
Yao Fu took a deep breath, attempting to steady his breaths before he spoke. "Veil Minister Ri Il. I come on behalf of Yan Wang, the Purgatory King."
Ri Il lifted an eyebrow at this satisfying revelation. "Oh?"
A low hum surrounded the god's servant, causing him to shutter. He could barely make out the dozens of cloaked figures in the shadows.
Ri Il leaned forward, judging the servant before him. "Tell me more." Yao Fu cautiously lifted his head.
The gaze from the human made his heart race with fear, “Why is he scarier than Zhou Shuren? Eloquence. Convince him you are here for his benefit.” Yao Fu took a calming deep breath.
"My Yan Wang has heard of your substantial exploits and successes when defeating those who should never have been born. He applauds you and wants to form an alliance to continue the good work you do here in the mortal world."
Ri Il stood, slowly gliding down the steps towards the servant. Yao Fu dropped his eyes from the intimidating human, “How can a mortal exude such a powerful aura?” Ri Il places his frigid fingers below the man's chin, lifting his head so he can stare into his eyes.
His low voice reverberated as he spoke. "What's in it for me? I do nothing without an extensive reward."
A slow smile unfolded across Yao Fu's face. He whispered, "Immortality. Wealth. It will all be yours."
Ri Il began laughing. Pulling the servant to his feet, he turned, raising his arms in the air.
His voice echoed around the chamber. "Immortality. HA, the god's have been watching. I accept." The constant humming grows, bouncing off the pillars and walls. Yao Fu covered his ears, the sound unendurable.
Ri Il clapped the servant on the back hard, knocking him forward a few steps. "Come, join me in a drink."
Yao Fu followed the commanding human. He wondered silently, “What is this man capable of? What would he be capable of once he became immortal?” Swallowing, he cringed at the thought.
SOMEWHERE SAFE-
Fog and mist swirled; shutters and loose roof tiles fly and shatter on the ground in front of an abandoned manor. The morning sun began to peek over the damaged roof of the main hall. Once the fog cleared, Ao Shun stood holding Jin An close to his chest. His hand, tangled in her hair, held her head close to his shoulder. Huxian and Langshen materialized next to him, immediately on guard, spinning in a small circle around the couple.
"Looks safe here." Huxian swallowed, his hand lifting towards his head.
Langshen grabbed his friend's arm, leading him to a set of stairs to sit down. He sat next to the exhausted fox, rubbing his hand along his back in a soothing manner. The dragon looked around, his eyes focusing on a room to the left. The torn blue curtains still hung from the awnings; wooden doors wavered on hinges that were rusted and broken.
Looking to Langshen, Ao Shun jerked his head towards the room. In acknowledgement, the wolf runs towards the building, checking the interior. Finding the inside safe, he exits, nodding all clear. Ao Shun gingerly carried Jin An into the dilapidated room.
The interior was coated in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. Frowning, he looked to the disgusting dirty bed, then turned giving a disappointed lift of the brow to the wolf. With a frustrated huff, he carefully laid Jin An in a shocked Langshen's arms and turned facing the interior of the room.
He closed his eyes, crossing his forearms. A brilliant silver blue light emanated from his hands. Twisting his hands down, then up, they spread outwards towards the room, the light growing in intensity. The room began to transmogrify just as his home did on the godly realm. Broken was replaced with intact. Dull shifted into bright and beautiful. After a short period of time, the entire manor property had changed from desolate to immaculate; abandoned to livable.
Opening his eyes, Ao Shun took Jin An from Langshen, who had stood still as a statue through the whole transformation. He didn't want to offend the dragon by holding the bride in an offensive manner. He released the breath he held, having been given a sudden reprieve. Huxian appeared at the door just as Jin An was laid on the bed.
"Good job. I guess this is now our mortal home. What's it called, Ao Shun?" The dragon thought for a minute.
A gold enameled plaque appeared above the door outside the manor gates. The simple words revealed the new home of the dragon and his bride, Eclipse Manor. The friends smile at each other, nodding their approval of the name. Ao Shun turned, staring down at the woman who would be in his life forever. Langshen prodded Huxian and together they exit the room, leaving the couple together.
THE VEIL- Ri Il laughed hearing the report from Xun Zi that the dragon was marrying his bride. He held his stomach as it rolled repeatedly. Standing from his throne, he raised his arms up into the air. “I can’t be happier that I will have such a splendid stage to destroy the bride and render the dragon pathetic. Follow them. Keep a close eye on the stage and all its wondrous opportunities for her demise.” Xun Zi and the Shroud members walked out as hearty laughter continued with whoops of celebration between cackles. THE FOREST ROAD- Blended into the forest fluidly, the Shroud members watched and followed the procession of the wedding caravan. They made sure to keep their distance knowing the wolf and fox would sense their presence. Foretelling thunder sounded in the distance. The heavy limbs of the sheltering trees rattled together in the intermittent wind cruising through the thick forest. Huxian watched from a di
Jin An exited her room after spending the evening before celebrating with Ao Shun and the new family members. They had spent the dark of night shooting fireworks and dancing to music played by Huxian on his flute. The couple had decided they would celebrate and have a wedding ceremony that weekend and the staff of the manor began preparations. The dragon's bride would become the dragon's wife. Jin An was very nervous but she had seen that she couldn't leave if she wanted to. There was something holding tightly onto her heart, painfully tensing the palpitating muscle every time she even considered escaping her fate. The clouds were ominous as they hung in the sky. Distant thunder crackled across the heavens as if warning of an impending storm. The wind dusted across the treetops, red leaves and pink petals cascading down into the courtyard, almost looking like a shower of blood droplets as they floated to the ground, covering the white pavestones. No one noticed the i
Jin An stepped towards the family still on the ground. She laid her hand on the shoulder of the man and knelt down beside him. “What's your name?” The family stood together, looking around at their new home. He smiled to the young girl before him and bowed his head respectfully. “Miss, our family name is Gu. I am Gu Ming.” He looks to his family to introduce them all. “My wife, Gu Lan. My daughter, Gu Yi. My eldest son, Gu Long. And second son, Gu Bao.” Jin An smiled. She turns looking at Huxian, giving a coy smile to him while pointing her chin towards the back of the manor where a garden sits. “Do you think we can talk him into putting a small house back there for the Gu family?” She lifted her hands in front of her and rubbed them together as she blinked sweetly at the fox. With a huff, he nods once and walks off towards the main hall where he assumes Ao Shun vanished to. Jin An turns, clapping her hands together. “Well, now
PURGATORY- Zhou Shuren sat on his bed staring at the contents of the glass in his hand. The red liquid swirled in a circle just as his thoughts swirled in his head. He groaned and threw the expensive goblet across the room, the shattered remains scattering across the hard black tiled floor. Yao Fu stepped from behind the pillar protecting him from the sharp blades of glass. His eyes bowed low, he walked closer to the frustrated god. “Yan Wang, what is bothering you so badly on this beautiful, dark night?” The Purgatory King sighed heavily, “Why am I bothered by the fact that a human can do what I can’t because I am stuck in this hell?” He shook his head, long black hair falling from its binding, making him look as if insanity had taken it’s hold. “I should be the one killing her; to destroy the dragon’s happiness and power. But instead, I have to depend on the disgustingly immoral Ri Il to do the work for me. I get nothing out
Langshen stood just beyond the road peeing into a bush. He watched Huxian running with the child, the others behind them, stumbling as they ran. He didn’t know what was happening but the panicked look on the fox’s face worried him. Dashing towards the sedan, he took the child as it was thrust towards him. The remaining four gathered behind the wolf and turned staring down the road at the ones chasing them. Coming into view, fifteen bandits sped towards them. Some of the bandits were limping but all carried swords and wore green half-masks. Langshen sat the child on the sedan and stepped in line with his two best friends. “How should we handle this?” Langshen wasn’t really asking what to do, he was just curious as to whether they could use their powers or not. Ao Shun glanced sideways at him, shaking his head, “Not unless we need to but don’t kill them with your power. You know the consequences of that.” Langshen chuckled and took a step forwar
A brilliant, full moon lifted over the forest, creating shadows across the narrow road from the temple. Just a few minutes before midnight, Ri Il paced back and forth impatiently. His dream of becoming an immortal human would finally come true.His men gathered and bowed before him. They awaited his transformation, some silently wondering if he would change physically from the elixir, becoming a monster. Most of them were loyal to the insane man. He had given them riches beyond thier imaginations for the time period. Others were too terrified to ever leave and suffered with the guilt of the hundreds of murders they had been a part of.Ri Il yells, "AHHHHH, it is time...who will rise with me and follow me through this life?" A widespread hum silenced the night insects and birds in the forest.Pulling the sealed top from the bottle, Ri Il took a sniff. A red essence hovered between his nose and the opened top. His mouth crept into a conveluted smirk. H