Chapter 67: Water Strider Chases the Moonlight

"My Grandmother lives on another country far away from Old Jianghu. Aside from my father, she had bore another child named, Cao Cao who was the Empress of the Water Country."

"If that's so you're highness then we better get going. I will bring LanRong with us only three of us shall know about this journey."

"Yes. I know Hua FeiXian and YingLuo are now bearing a child and they need each other in times like these and also, Lu Jie and XuanZheng needed to attend matters regarding to the Shangguan Longyan box."

Wei Yue sipped a cup of tea right then and afterwards, sat straight putting a chess piece on the board.

"It's a steal MoXiao. I won."

MoXiao looked at him indifferently and put another chess piece on the board.

"No your highness. I won."

Looking on the chessboard, Wei Yue smiled on the positions of the remaining pieces. He indeed lost the game for the first time.

"King XiaoXing Fu had raised you well, MoXiao. Come, fetch LanRong and we'll leave in the afternoon."

"Thank you, your highness."

MoXiao excused himself and went to the chambers while Wei Yue remained sitting there still looking at the pieces of the chess. He picked a piece and looked at it intently.

'The Gods are using us like mere pawns in a grain of sand.'

He released an exasperating breath and then put the piece back on the board as he saw Lu Jie walking towards him. He guided her on sitting to the chair beside him since she could not see.

"Your highness why are you so forlorn?"

"No I am not."

"As I've told you... We demons can sense emotions... Please don't lie to me."

"Well MoXiao and I played chess and."

"You lost?"

"Hmph! What's the big deal about losing?"

"Well... It's normal to be forlorn after losing but, because of it, you might learn a thing or two how you can overcome the next challenges thrown at you."

"Thank you. Lu Jie. Now, my decision is final, MoXiao, LanRong and I are going to Water Country."

"Going to Shui Guo? But it's far too dangerous your highness."

"We've survived far more dangerous journeys than this Lu Jie."

"Alright your highness. I'll stay here with XuanZheng and the others. Do your best and Good luck to you in your journey."

"Thank you."

Lu Jie excused herself and went inside the room where XuanZheng is.

"Have you told him?"

"Yes but he's unstoppable."

"Let's just stand aside their path and come if trouble uprises."

"Alright."

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FLING! A steady sound of blade reverberated on a cold moonlit night. Water coming from above the waterfalls slowly dripped below and a woman holding a sword caught them with precision. Her hands were swift and gentle like a water strider merely touching the water's surface. Not a single drop of water touched her face not even her hair.

"Your highness."

A servant stepped forth from the shadows behind the trees. The woman stopped her powerful attacks and glided over like a swan across the waters of the Waterfall lake. Removing the blindfold, a pair of gleaming jade-colored eyes shone reflected by the moonlight.

"How was it? Any news?"

"I have received a letter coming from a kingdom in Old Jianghu."

"There are many kingdoms in Old Jianghu. Who sent the letter?"

"From his highness Wei Yue."

The woman's eyes grew wide and afterwards rushed walking on the empty halls of the kingdom. Her calm composure was distracted as soon as she read the message coming from her grandson. She walked past the guards and went straight into Cao XiuCai's chamber.

Cao XiuCai busily played his GuQin when her highness suddenly entered the room. He stopped playing and paid respect to her by bowing his head and his arms stretched forward crossing each other.

"Cao XiuCai acknowledges her highness Empress Dowager's presence."

"Keep the guards away and the servants too. I want to discuss something important with you."

"Is it something important your highness?"

"Time is fleeting XiuCai. May I want to remind you that you are in my kingdom now..."

"I am sorry your highness. I am at fault. I will now dismiss my servants."

XiuCai called one servant and relayed a message through whisper. BeiYin raised an eyebrow and afterwards, the maidservant nodded and afterwards excused herself. The other servants and guards went away with her and soon, only XiuCai and BeiYin remained inside.

XiuCai played a tune on his Qin and wonderfully delivered the music. BeiYin wasn't fazed about it nor was she happy.

"I am going to get frank with you, XiuCai. Tomorrow, I do not want you to interfere in my matters."

XiuCai stopped playing and placed his palms on the Qin.

"But your highness... I am the Emperor of Shui Guo. Must I not be included in such matter?"

"May you an emperor or not, I do not see you as my family and I want you to stay away from my guests as far as possible."

"But your highness, I must attend to your guests too. I am the Emperor of course."

"Shut your glib tongue! You maybe the emperor by marrying my daughter but let's not forget what your slithering country did to my own country and I will not forgive you for that."

"Her highness. But that was long ago. It's ancient history now! Why not let go of the past in order to smoothly transcend into the future?"

"Letting go of the evil deeds that you did in the past is like slicing my own arm. Transcend into the future you say? If it weren't for the treaty of our countries, I wouldn't have let you marry my daughter!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH your highness. If you had come in this late night to pester me, then you're the one at fault. Please leave."

"Yes. I will take my leave but I beg you not to do something sinister tomorrow. If I caught you on act, I will not let you get away with it!"

BeiYin went away roughly brushing the sleeve of her robe. XiuCai stood up and bowed down once again. As BeiYin was already gone, a conspicuous smile flashed on his face. Behind the silhouette of the bed, a woman named, Bian Hui, his top consort moved and got up from the bed.

"And I thought that I'd be caught on act right there your highness."

"Bian Hui, behave yourself. Tomorrow we have something to do."

"Spare me the lessons your highness. I've heard all of it."

"I wonder... How does her highness, a mere water strider display her prowess against the White Snake Country."

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The sky painted in peach color as the sun set in the western horizon. Wei Yue beckoned his subjects and placed an edict that Na YingLuo and Hua FeiXian shall be in charge while he's going to do a royal visit to honor his grandmother, LiuFang BeiYin.

It was dusk when they set off at Old Jianghu's pier. YingLuo was over emotional when LanRong bade her goodbye.

"Do you really have to go LanRong? You could just stay here please!"

"Sister YingLuo... You got FeiXian, Aunt XuanZheng and Miss Lu Jie to take care of you. Please behave since you're pregnant."

"Awww. I wish I could come with you."

"No sis. Your pregnancy is the topmost priority. Behave well while we're gone."

"Meh. You're the one who should behave well. Did you really think that I didn't know what you and my brother did?"

"H—HUH? Eh... Umm... I— I think his highness Wei Yue is calling me... BYE BYEEEE."

LanRong turned red peppers and rushed inside the ship without another word. YingLuo bursted into laughter and shouted...

"YA THAT'S RIGHT! I KNOW YOU BOTH DID IT!"

The anchor was then lifted and soon, the ship was ready for the journey. Wei Yue bade goodbye at Old Jianghu while MoXiao was staring at the peach sunset sky. His mind was in a daze until Wei Yue gave a tap on his shoulder.

"What seems to be the problem, MoXiao?"

"Nothing your highness. I was just worried for my sister. The Lunar Empress she predicted that she and FeiXian will die—"

"No they will not. I guarantee that they'll be fine MoXiao."

"Thank you your highness."