Lunar New Year (XI)

Lunar New Year,

The Nian Beast is yet to appear,

But I don't know that it's near,

From where he would hear.

***

THE YEAR 1904, 100 centuries away from the present time.

The Fang Clan was a family of assassinations. But they were good at concealing their own colors.

Qing Long heard what Althea had said on his mind and stopped from the corner of the street. He looked up at the moon, who was still rising in the middle of the night and licked his lips.

"The Nian beast will now appear anytime," Qing Long whispered as he looked around the area. Qing Long sighed as he squinted his eyes and saw that the people were all showing their teeth, probably because their happiness was at the bay, knowing that no one could harm them. But it was not.

Wang Qing Long became human in disguise was because it was the year of the Wooden Dragon. He sighed as he was not the Wooden Dragon, he was the Azure Dragon, the dragon that was responsible for the east and spring season. For now, he would have to battle out with the Nian beast for another Lunar New Year.

He sighed as he stood up with his chin lifted and observed the surroundings. The people were starting to pack up from their stores, and they were delighted to see that the feast was starting. The Emperor and Empress of the Qing Empire were now piled up. They also heard about the news that the destined Queen was back.

The area of the palace was full of laughter, happiness, and joy. They didn't know that someone would attack once again after a very long time. It was this year that Wang Qing Long finally become a human again, that's why he wanted to isolate himself from everybody when he was hibernating as an azure dragon. He doesn't want the Last Healer to be in danger once again just because of him.

He swallowed as he closed his eyes and recalled the 6 Healers that had been delivered to him by the deities, his guardian angels, in whom prospered the knowledge that he could break off the curse inside him if he loves someone. And only that Healers could do that.

But Qing Long ended up knobbing them down to fulfill his stomach. Or so he thought. The Healers that had been granted to him in the past five hundred years didn't return back to their places. They had been killed by him, or they had been punished by the reigning dynasties alone.

Julissa was the sixth Healer, and she had been killed when she had gone to the war to fight off the Fortress for Ming Dynasty. She was not able to lift up the curse from him, which was difficult to understand. Qing Long had finally realized that Althea was the last Healer.

"She was the last one. She was the last one I needed or I will be a dragon forever, without the help of the deities, I shall kill the Nian beast," Qing Long said while the people were scrambling to get inside the feast. Qing Long huffed some air as he gripped the sheath of the Jian sword while closing his eyes.

"I will come back for you, please hold on, Althea..."

He whispered in his subconscious as he knew that Althea could hear it. He sighed as he walked along the way, opposed to what people were doing, and he turned to the curb while the wind was blustering. Lunar New Year was coming, and the humidity of the atmosphere was changing every second.

Althea widened her eyes as she heard Qing Long's voice and looked at the way. The Empress continued to hike through, ordered the peasants to continue moving her palanquin all the way to the hall while leaving her son and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law by the sideways. Althea was bothered by the one Qing Long said on her mind and she doesn't know what to do.

She licked her lips as she started to worry about what happened to Qing Long but suddenly, someone touched her hand. Lei Jie smiled at her and whispered, "We need to dress up. The Lunar New Year is coming. You can explain to me what happened later at the banquet with your family."

Althea stood on the ground as she wanted to see Qing Long off. She hardened her palms and said that she will have to go somewhere. Lei Jie turned to her and furrowed his eyebrows while Althea looked at him with azure eyes, tainted with determination. She sighed as she continued, "I need to go somewhere, so please, stay behind."

She removed his hand from hers but Lei Jie quickly grabbed her waist. Lei Jie was strong enough to carry him over her shoulders that made Althea squealed. The people around them stopped and saw that the Crown Prince and his destined Queen was mingling around.

Althea felt that she flailed and that her stomach was resting on his shoulder. Lei Jie held onto her legs while he walked with ease. He swallowed while he muttered, "I will not let you stay out of my sight, my destined Queen."

Althea furrowed her eyebrows and grimaced at the thought. She swallowed as she closed her eyes and tried to mumble words on her subconscious, but she can't do it again. She shot up a glance as the Crown Prince held to her tighter. It made Althea screamed, "Put me down!"

"No, my destined Queen, I will not let you down! You could be in danger!" Lei Jie yelled back as he rushed to get Althea on the hall immediately. He sighed as he glanced at the feast and he saw that the Emperor and the Empress were bowing down their heads because of the people that were coming in.

They didn't notice that Lei Jie was carrying his soon-to-be wife, without even knowing that something might happen that was dangerous. She swallowed as she heard Qing Long's voice saying, "Something will happen. At least, not now, but later."