Chapter Three
“Do you have any plans to go to Xiwu Palace after this to visit Aunt Bai Qian, Aunt Lin Hua?” Bai Feng Jiu asked as the adults, plus little Gun Gun, finished their meals.
Lin Hua finally had the chance to meet Bai Zhi’s and Ma Rui’s eldest grandchild when the goddess dropped in on her husband’s study just after she and Dong Hua finished talking about most of the important bits.
Bai Feng Jiu was a lovely goddess and Lin Hua was exceptionally happy for Dong Hua to find who he wanted to be with for the rest of his lives after being alone for so many years. Dong Hua might not have come from her own womb and she might not have experienced the pains of birthing him but no one could deny her the feeling of being like a proud mother, especially when she met their adorable Gun Gun, whose features were a remarkable amalgam of Dong Hua’s ethereal look and Feng Jiu’s stunning beauty.
Lin Hua was notably thrilled to see that the little one had inherited Dong Hua's gorgeous, white locks. She'd always loved Dong Hua's pale hair. She'd helped him take care of it, letting it grow out and smoothing it down had been one of the many fond memories she held in her heart when he'd been a tiny sproutling, distant recollections of solemn conversations as she regaled him of stories from distant times and far-off worlds.
Those had been one of the good times, she wistfully pondered with a smile, thought about how Dong Hua had believed he could only live off from her stories, before an indignant sound coming from Gun Gun broke her out from her train of thoughts and made her focus on the present time.
Feng Jiu didn't really know that her reason for her visit in Tai Chen Palace was mostly because of Dong Hua. Lin Hua knew she was here of course, her inside news coming from the very lengthy chat with a loquacious Zhe Yan and Bai Zhen. Lin Hua was simply fortunate that she got to hit two birds with one stone.
She didn't have to comment about how Dong Hua and Feng Jiu were almost joined to the hip. Where one went, there was a certainty the other half will follow.
Lin Hua had to recount her stories as they partook their meals in Dong Hua’s study. It was a surprising suggestion from the man himself―judging from Zhong Lin's dumbfounded expression―and one that she greatly appreciated. He didn't forget her fondness for a more casual and warm setting rather than the flamboyant, stiff banquets he had come to learn over the years.
The Empress of Tai Chen Palace had been the most expressive so far―so unlike her brooding, intimidating husband―that Lin Hua couldn’t help but feel immense fascination of how this unexpected pairing came to be. Dong Hua and Feng Jiu were polar opposites in every sense of the word but they undeniably match each other very well―a smooth and seamless fit, really―that made Lin Hua continue to regard this affectionate couple in wonder.
Lin Hua inwardly snorted as she savored her tea.
Dong Hua had innumerable years to perfect his aloof countenance, something she knew was mostly because of what he had to live through, but Dong Hua was utterly and unreservedly enamored with his wife and he can’t help but make some affectionate gestures here and there that Lin Hua could easily perceive through her keen eyes. It hadn't always been like this, she knew. The path to this blissfulness had been one ambiguous journey, treacherous roads so complex and elaborately winding.
Fate really plunged down both Her hands on this one, along with a few others.
Dong Hua has always been a part of her short list of favorites but Lin Hua would never put it past the other Higher Entities not to shake things up and cause a little bit of mayhem.
She’s been working with Death for so long she already knew how these types of things worked. They were frustrating, always dipping an arm in each other's businesses eventually concocting a big pile of jumbled mess.
It's the reason why she preferred not to be with Them when They’re on a closed session regarding about something. Or basically anything. Those bloody congregations have never failed to give her days’ worth of damned headache.
"Aunt Lin Hua?"
Lin Hua blinked a few times before snapping her head towards the voice.
Feng Jiu had been the one to call her attention once again and Lin Hua realized she didn't really give her an answer regarding her earlier question.
Feng Jiu was looking at her worryingly, Gun Gun sporting the same look beside her, "Are you well, Aunt Lin Hua? Maybe you should get some rest after this. You just had a long journey from... wherever you were. You must've expended a lot of energy just by coming here."
Dong Hua, the little shit, casually piped in, the only one completely unconcerned by her momentary lack of response judging from how he languorously continued consuming his meals, "She's quite an expert of travelling so you don't really need to worry about Zhilan, Xiao Bai. She was probably just lost in the clouds again."
"I do not!" Lin Hua responded with a heavy scowl.
"Dong Hua!" Feng Jiu softly admonished, shoving an elbow to his side.
Dong Hua lifted his eyebrows at her while simultaneously munching his food, not saying anything nor was he arguing back. Feng Jiu clearly knew how to read her husband and merely gave off a huff as she tugged on his sleeves, exasperated.
Lin Hua held herself from cooing at the adorable couple. Dong Hua could be difficult when he wanted to and he'd find ways to pay back.
Not that she couldn't handle it if he did.
Lin Hua let out a grimace and gave her answer instead, “I could certainly do that but it will probably draw out more gossip and it's something I really don't want to deal with, especially the both of you. My presence here has already brought some unwanted attention and it will only continue to grow worse if I stay any longer. It’s also why I didn’t accept Dong Hua’s offer to stay indefinitely.”
Feng Jiu shared a look with her husband and suggested, “In that case, why don’t you stay in Qing Qiu? The Fox Den is currently empty, save for my steward, Mi Gu. He's there to supervise some easily-handled affairs until we go back. There are plenty of room for you there and I'll be assured to know that Mi Gu is there to assist you with whatever you need to make your stay more comfortable.”
Lin Hua tried not to show her grimace as the reason for her reluctance to stay in Qing Qiu came into the forefront of her mind, “Thank you for the gracious offer, little fox, but I can’t. You don't need to fret though, since I’ve already made plans with Zhe Yan to stay in his Woods. Zhe Yan might have known I would eventually return because he'd made another room in his cabin for me to use."
Lin Hua realized the blunder she made when Dong Hua immediately caught on, narrowed eyes trained at her, “What do you mean you can’t stay in the Fox Den?”
“It literally means just that,” she groaned, holding up a hand to halt the additional questions she knew would follow, “And please don’t ask me any more. I’ll have to talk about it with Bai Zhi and Ma Rui before anything else.”
"Even before me?" he claimed, slightly disbelieving.
Lin Hua shot him a stink eye, "Even before you."
Dong Hua scowled at her but Lin Hua wasn't relenting this time. He could scowl and pout at the same time if he wanted to.
The man eventually relented, thank Morgana for simple favors, and opened up a new discussion instead, “How long you’re staying is undetermined you'd said, but you don’t plan on introducing yourself to the rest of this world. Will you care to elaborate now?"
Lin Hua should’ve known this was coming. Dong Hua had always been on her case, even when he'd been young. She thought he’d lose his penchant for being overly curious about anything, but no, she internally groaned, just shy from ruining her hairstyle and tearing her hair out in frustration.
Feng Jiu must've enabled this particular trait even more because who else would have this much audacity?
“Who said I didn’t plan anything?” Lin Hua scoffed, “What do you think I did yesterday while I was with Bai Zhen and Zhe Yan?”
“Taking part in significantly reducing the bird's most coveted wines.”
She held up an imperious finger as she stressed out, “I don’t understand the point you’re trying to make but Zhe Yan’s wines are fantastic. He clearly knew what he’s doing when he partially retired and started making those bottled treasures.” She gave him a leer as she wiggled her finger, “Don't be nasty. If you wanted the old bird's wines, you could've just said so and I'd happily bring you a few jars whenever I drop by. Or wherever you both currently are. Doesn't matter. I heard Qing Qiu is constantly supplied with the lovely treasures.”
“I’m not insinuating I want the old bird's wines,” he shot back.
Lin Hua felt the need to flip her long hair behind her just for the flair, “Which means you will want them a couple of days from now. Probably a couple months. Could take years. I don't really care for the specifics. I’ll let Zhe Yan know though, so that you won't feel like you're being left behind. He's awfully generous with his wines. Perhaps I should try my hand in wine-making as well."
Dong Hua’s eyes flashed in frustration as he retorted, “And you always have this odd talent of twisting conversations around whenever you want, Zhilan. It’s an ability of yours I don’t particularly miss.”
Lin Hua smirked and tutted, “Ahh, but it’s one of my awesome abilities you seem to have inherited. A little bird told me just how potent you are with words. Look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong.”
Feng Jiu contemplatively chimed in beside him, “That’s true.”
Dong Hua sent his wife a look of betrayal, making Feng Jiu giggle as she gave him a few loving pats on his shoulder.
Lin Hua knew he deserved this and so much more. All the time she spent looking after him made her hope he’d find something beyond the need to simply carry his duty. She'd hoped he wouldn’t become too much like her but considering what she’d seen from his memories, Dong Hua almost really did.
But the vivacious Fox Queen had caught him off guard and made him show interest, her unrelenting love for him finally making him do something other than covertly minding the business of this entire Universe.
This was a gift she didn’t mind having. To see him happy with the family he’s made and to see that her three friends had found happiness after the great turmoil of their world.
Lin Hua was happy for them, truly she was, but she also couldn’t deny the sharp twinge of pain every time she thought about the what-ifs and the what-could-have-beens. It was an unpleasant feeling, searing and slinking and horribly encompassing, knowing she couldn’t have that same contentment for herself, not when she was inclined to be terribly evasive when it came to the matters of the heart.
It was something she didn’t dare consider anymore, not with what she was. She’d known long ago that creating her own family would be unwise, especially with the kind of responsibility she had. Her choice to return was because of the familial bonds she'd unknowingly formed with this bunch and even that was already pushing it far enough.
Bonds were always so tricky. It was why she avoided them. But Lin Hua had been honest. She was delighted she was back―that she chose to when she normally wouldn't have―and even though she might’ve a feeling she could stay for many, many years, it simply didn't mean she could stay forever.
It was a burden she had to bear for thousands and thousands of years and it seemed like it was a duty she wasn’t going to part from anytime soon either.
But, she thought with a miniscule shake of her head, no matter how pitiful she feels for herself, she was determined to make the most of her stay, even if all she’ll have in the end are her memories she'd shared with them.
“Zhilan,” Dong Hua called out. Probably a few times already.
Lin Hua let out a hum in question as she finished the delicious cakes Feng Jiu had made.
He pointedly raised an eyebrow at her and reiterated, “Your plan?”
Lin Hua let out a grimace and tried to bury the hurt and whined, “That one again?”
The sharp look remained and Lin Hua heaved out a sigh, “Fine. I’ll tell you.” She downed her cup of wine first before continuing, “Zhe Yan thought it was best to go with the story of how I’m an orphaned, young fox who wandered into his woods. I was dejected and miserable so he decided to take care of me. I left Zhe Yan’s tutelage when I was old enough to be on my own and had gone to travel in different realms until I decided to come back after many, many, many years of wandering about." She gave him an irksome look, "Plausible and good enough?”
Feng Jiu suddenly let out a fit of giggles and Dong Hua gave her a dreary look, his voice awfully sarcastic as he intoned, “Horribly obvious, considering he used that same excuse for Bai Qian when he dressed her as a boy and handed her over to Kunlun Mountain to become a disciple."
Lin Hua shrugged, "Zhe Yan's plan."
"Truly? Is that all he can do?”
Feng Jiu supplied in between giggles, “Hearing such plan makes me want to agree with Dong Hua, Aunt Lin Hua. Some of them will get suspicious and you’ll surely be found out by a few of the High Immortals who are exceptionally sensitive when it comes to detecting an unusual powerful essence.” She gave her a wink and playfully added, “And they’re a nosy, shameless bunch when they find something.”
She snorted and replied, her tone incredulous, “You mean that silly Emperor you currently have? I’ve been here for a couple hours already and not a single one came to your palace to inquire about it.”
"Not all of them are completely inept," Dong Hua answered as his lips twitched, his voice sounding a bit humorous, “And perhaps that’s partly because I ordered the gates to be closed. Heaven knows it’ll only be a matter of time before a trio of particular immortals would appear the moment I open them.” He gave his wife a knowing look before turning back to her, “I’m not worried however, since you’re extremely skilled with masking your presence.”
She scoffed and waved a flippant hand, “I’m excellent at it. I’m merely checking how dependable your security is here in the Heaven Kingdom and so far, I am not impressed.”
Gun Gun, who's been sitting beside her and has been silent for the duration of their conversation, finally tugged on her sleeves and innocuously gave her a piece of his thoughts, “It seems like you’re very difficult to please, Aunt.”
Lin Hua let out a woeful sigh before griping, “Don’t I know it, precious Gun Gun. Perhaps it’s because this Aunt is simply so, so, so old and a few things only make her fascinated anymore. I need to have hobbies.”
"Hobbies?" Gun Gun parroted back with a confused look.
"Something I can do to keep me from getting bored," Lin Hua explained.
Dong Hua chimed in a piece of his thoughts as well, "And what a horror you'd become when you are. Perhaps you were right to consider wine-making."
Lin Hua scrunched her nose at him while an adorable frown took shape on the child’s face as he remarked, the tone of his voice making it sound like he was giving her a lecture, “I can share my hobbies, Aunt Lin Hua, but that doesn’t mean you really have to like them for my sake.”
Lin Hua stifled the urge to coo at this sweet child and pinched a cheek, “Well said. Who taught you that?”
Gun Gun perked up like the sun when he answered, “Father did! I've been having lessons.”
Lin Hua sent Dong Hua a meaningful glance before turning to Gun Gun and nodding, sounding satisfied when she said, “And your Father taught you well, I can see that. Just for that, I’m giving away babysitting privileges for whenever I’m free. I'll take you wherever you want to go!” She paused, thought about it sounding not quite right and clarified, "Bu within reason, of course. Can't have you jumping into different worlds when you're that small."
Gun Gun smiled widely at her, looking enthusiastic with their new plans for more adventures, while his mother grew a bit red before expressing her appreciation. Dong Hua let out a very faint scoff as he took his time with his tea, not saying anything.
Brat, she mused with resigned fondness as she deliberately smirked at the couple, one growing redder on the face while the other one showed a more composed face of indifference.
But Lin Hua knew better.
And chose to go back to the topic at hand, “Still, I suppose I’ll trust the old bird with this one. It’s not like I’ll be doing anything important. I’m on a break, a glorious retreat which I will explicitly emphasize. Qing Qiu is a great land full of foxes and I'll only be a lowly fox amongst a couple hundreds. What harm will it bring?”
“Your complete nonchalance about this whole affair you’ve created will, considering the uproar Bai Qian had made after that precise story came out,” Dong Hua accentuated with slanted eyebrows.
Lin Hua let out a huff and languidly reclined into her seat, “She only hid her Master’s body for almost a hundred thousand years. Successfully preserved it too, I might add. Blood Magic is complex and is needed to be handled very delicately but if you do it right then it’s definitely considered a job well done. I don’t see what the fuss is all about.” She gave them a look and added, "Don't tell me you've all never done Blood Magic before. You're missing out something great, I tell you."
Dong Hua let out an aggrieved, deep sigh as Feng Jiu let out another round of giggles behind her hand, her laughing eyes darting between the two of them.
Lin Hua devoured the remaining cake on her dessert plate and said after she swallowed down her food, “I still want to meet Bai Qian, her husband and her son though, preferably before I go to the Underworld to meet with Xia Go Chou again.”
Dong Hua raised another inquisitive eyebrow at her.
Lin Hua, feeling exasperated, let out a huff for his silent inquiry, “Matters pertaining the dead. You know how it is.”
Dong Hua frowned but nodded in comprehension.
"Do I have to tell you every single thing I'm going to do?" Lin Hua miffed.
"Clearly not every single thing," Dong Hua countered, his frown twisting in distaste.
Feng Jiu interjected as she suggested, “How about we invite Aunt Bai Qian in Tai Chen Palace for a visit the day after tomorrow? That way, you won’t have to stroll down all the way to Xiwu Palace and literally announce your presence to the entirety of the Sky Kingdom.”
Dong Hua drily chimed in, “And you’re being horribly deliberate but you’re currently flaring out an obvious stream of otherworldly presence. What happened to being excellent in obscuring your aura?”
Lin Hua hesitated very briefly before reaching out a hand to hold his arm and transferring a bit of her magic to him, Dong Hua gasping out in shock as his core drew even more from her, catching Lin Hua marginally off guard.
Lin Hua sucked in a shaky breath as she hunkered down to her knees, Zhong Lin immediately supporting her from behind as Feng Jiu held her husband, who was crouching down on the table before him, panting heavily as if he just ran a long marathon.
“What happened!?” Feng Jiu anxiously asked as she worried over her husband, similarly sending her concerned glances as she slumped down further on the floor. Poor Gun Gun was looking at them with fearful, wide eyes, probably terrified someone might keel over and really die.
Lin Hua casted her privacy spell around the room and asked Zhong Lin to pour her some tea, to which the steward swiftly did.
She tipped it straight down into her throat before answering, “Your last fiasco with the demon has left you a bit of a residual problem. It was a wise decision to recover in Bihai Cangling for it's abundance of primal, potent magic. It helped the both of you to recuperate a lot more quickly than going through the normal trials, which you also couldn’t do considering the severe injuries you both acquired.”
She let out a deep sigh, suddenly feeling weary, and looked at Dong Hua, who seemed to look a little better, his core much brighter and steadier than what she’d perceived the moment she saw him, “Xiao Jiu managed to recover completely and so did you but your core remained a fraying, complicated twist of a mess. It was barely there however, so I’m not surprised you missed it. I merely reinforced it and made it to how it originally was, or else it may become a bigger problem for you in the future.”
Dong Hua breathlessly said, “You gave me some of your magical core.”
She nodded and candidly replied, “Yours latched onto mine fairly quickly just as I knew it would, but unexpectedly continued to pull some more, which actually says a lot to how terrible your core was. Don’t worry,” She held up a hand to stop them from saying anything else, seeing as the couple had started to open their mouth to probably chastise her for her action―and possibly fret over her when the dressing-down was done―and soothed, “I'm fine. What I gave wasn’t even plenty for you to be concerned about and I will regain what I’ve shared in time.”
A yawn managed to escape her however, and she sheepishly added after seeing the couple’s sharp look and Gun Gun's empathetic ones, “Though it seems like one of your guest’s quarters is going to be occupied, after all. A couple hours of rest should do the trick.”
Dong Hua gave her an unsmiling look, silently reproaching her with an ‘I-told-you-so’, as Feng Jiu immediately ordered Zhong Lin to prepare a room for her, the attentive steward making sure she was steady and secure on her seat before standing up and going out to execute his Empress’s order.
“And the finest wine in the cellar, if you will! Much appreciated, Zhong Lin!” she hollered out right after him.
Lin Hua chose to devote her complete attention to an enthusiastic Gun Gun as he gushed on learning such magic, not quite successfully ignoring the heavily disapproving look Dong Hua was currently giving her.