Flower 1: Forest Path of Lovers and Cobras, Pt. 1

Even after proving his strength and agility through the challenges, Fook Yu's offer to accompany Su Wang is still being refused by her cautious older brother.

"I don't care how strong or how nimble he is!"

The brother snarls, looking away as Su Wang tries to crowd in front of his face.

"Wu Wang, that's no fair!"

"He bested your challenges, fair and square!"

Nevertheless, Brother Wu Wang adamantly shook his head, and stubbornly closed his eyes to her argument.

"No! Fook Yu is only out to find a bride!"

She grins. "So what if he is? He is handsome, and proven capable."

Wu Wang glares at her, with a mocking grin.

"Haha! Foolish sister, you'e fallen already!"

Meanwhile, Fook Yu has been observing their back-and-forth from atop the grain house, craftily formulating his next manipulative move.

'It is Wu Wang who distrusts me, though his sister has been fooled by my charms!'

'Pffh. It seems I must do an unthinkable act--'

'I must break these siblings apart!'

Fook Yu leaps down from the grain house, less than ideally stumbling anf rolling over on his fall to the ground--as opposed to the elegant, swanlike descent he'd imagined.

"Fook Yu!" Su Wang cries, running to his aid, lifting him up by his arm.

"I'm soery for the stir I've caused." He says, wearing a sheepish smile. "Still, I have to wonder if maybe big brother is being far too controlling of Su Wang."

Wu Wang is furious. "Outrageous! I am merely concerned for--"

"Her safety, right?" Fook Yu interrupts.

Slowly, hewalks toward Wu Wang.

"Life is about taking risks, you know? Like it is in all the great epics--how the hero must embark on a journey to test their limits, and through a series of trials they unlock all the strength that lies dormant within them."

He turns to Su Wang as he continues, even though his speech is still directed at Wu:

"Su Wong...is a courageous, strong woman."

She inhales deeply, her sweet lips ajar and cheeks flushed bright pink at the compliment.

Internally, Fook Yu is grinning like a snake.

"Su Wong is grown, now." He says, turning back to Wu Wong sharply. "She is no longer just a child, you can boss around as you please!"

Wu Wong, growling, furiously hobbles forth from the doorway on his cane.

"Damn outsider! How dare you--"

He raises his cane, about to strike Fook Yu, but Su Wong intervenes by abruptly standing in the way.

"Eh?!" He cries out in amazement.

"Sister! You would dare stand against me?!"

She takes Fook Yu by the arm.

"Everything he said is exactly right, brother!"

"Since mother and father died, you've alwayd tried to control me like I'm your burdensone wife!" She huffs, sticking up her lip. "Not anymore! I'm leaving with Fook Yu to town, and maybe I'll marry him or I won't--but it's none of your business any longer!"

With all that said, Su Wong turns to leave, with Fook Yu by her arm.

"Sister!" The brother yells after her.

His voice has lost its previous anger: sounding more desperate and pitiful.

Yet, no matter how he pleads--even falls into the dirt, crying and begging for her not to go--Su Wang remains steadfast im her resolve, as she continues to walk forward with Fook Yu, until his anguished screams are well out if earshot.

As the two are walking along the roadside, having not exchanged a word, Fook Yu's heart is still beating fast--from seeing the first flower he had chosen at her most feisty.

"Su Wang." He says, tilting his head to her.

"Back there, you were--"

He stops, before he can finish, having only just now noticed--

Su Wang's red face, and shimmering eyes.

...

...

Wow! I haven't been in this body for longer than a day--and already there's a cute girl who left her family behind, just to cling to my handsome arm!

Though, we haven't spoken since leaving the village...

The poor, stupid thing is still crying!

Smiling sweetly, I catch one of her falling tears on my finger.

"Su Yang. It was very brave, what you did."

"I am sure you feel bad for speaking so harshly to your brother now, but it will pass."

"This is your first step toward freedom."

She nods, forcing a smile as she dries her face on the back of her long-hanging sleeve.

"Brother was born with a bad foot, but he became good enough with his hands that he can earn his living by working as a carpenter, while I would cultivate the rice."

"I know Wu Wang will be able to make do without me, but..."

"I still can't help feeling guilty..."

I tenderly brush a strand of hair from her face, and as I do she looks to me with a kind of pleading look I know I've seen before in my ogre days:

It was...a man...a martial artist of some skill...

How it started, I was awoken from my nap by the loud grunts and groans of his training, so I furiously challenged him head-on to a fight.

We battled, and it was clear he possessed a far stronger physique than mine--as well as him being more skillful at combat, just like I expected from a training martial artist with the dilligence to train in an isolated forest.

However, the ogre was a devious one.

I waited, until right as he thought he'd won...

To pick up a handful of dirt--

To throw into his face.

Then, I ran up behind him, and started choking him with all my savage might, as a spirit mongoose watched nearby, shaking its head in disapproval.

Hah! I didn't care how pathetic my tactic was in the eyes of others!

I only wanted the pride of beating a warrior!

Besides, all the dojo training in the world means nothing in a real fight!

I remember, it was the same hopelessly surprised look in that martial artist's eyes, as I was choking him to death--of someone in defeat, that is unused to being defeated--as Su Wang has now...

So!

I caress and squeeze her face, trying to make her forced smile--

"Transmigrate," into a real smile!

She laughs. "Fook Yu! You're so playful--"

Followed, by a big-lipped pout.

"Like when you threw your sweaty robe at my face, earlier..."

Huh? She remembers when I did that?

Quick! I have to appear nervous--

"Haha! Su Wang, I'm sorry if I offended you!"

"It's just that you look so sad all the time--so I can't help but tease you!"

She frowns, giving me a playful push.

"I thought you said I was strong!"

"I can't be strong and look like I'm sad all the time, can I?"

"Not neccessarily! You can be a tragic hero!"

We continue bickering like this and walking along the road, as the cropfields give way to thick, green forests--until finally, as it's nearing sunset, we reach the head of a dark trail carved into the forest's depths.

It is marked with a crooked wooden sign, which reads:

"Shrine path." Su Wang says.

"It's the only road leading into town, so there'a always bandits patrolling it."

Of course--

It's like the jungles where I used to hunt.

"Still, it's wild animals I'm more scared about."

I look to the sun: a big orange ball, sinking over a distant, purple mountain range.

"Since it'll soon be dark, and I'm unfamiliar with these woods, it's best we set up a camp for the night somewhere nearby--and continue on through the trail at daybreak."

So I set down mt basket, that Granny Some gave me, to retrieve the blankets she packed--

When suddenly, Su Wang springs at me--

Next thing I know, she's pressing her body up against me!

"My brother was right, wasn't he?

"You're only interested in getting at me."

Eh?! What's with her giving me this totally different kind of vibe, all of a sudden?!

"Fook Yu...aren't you strong enough to protect us both?" She says in a quiet voice, like she's whining, that turns my skin red hot as she wraps her hand around my neck.

"I want us to find somewhere secluded..."

"Su Wang, you can't possibly mean we should--"

"Yes, Fook Yu, we SHOULD--"

"In the forest?" Obviously, a former ogre hasn't any issue with it, but--"I thought you more noble than that!"

She cranes her neck--

To whisper, sensually, into my ear--

Grazing her leg against my bald-as-hell crotch.

"I am no naive, innocent farmer girl."

...

...

Fook Yu's plans are thus changed.

Night has fallen, like a burglar's hood, upon the deep woods, where Fook Yu had hastily set up a fire before folding to Su Wang's lustful desires for several hours; until she was too exhausted, and fell asleep coccooned in a blanket beside him.

His arms and neck are covered in bite marks and bruises when he sits up from a light nap, touching his forehead.

'Su Wang...is more savage than any beast!'

Watching her sleep soundly, his heart stirs for more--although he knows she still needs rest.

'As a cultivator, I have enhanced stamina--'

'Poor girl! I must've run her ragged.'

He redresses in his clothes, then, and decides to set out from the camp to patrol the surroundings, as he is suddenly overtaken by a tremendous sorrow...

But also because, Fook Yu, although he was acting calm--

Could sense that they were being watched.