18 Chapter Eighteen

Coming face to face with that brat was thrilling. It's been awhile since I had a strong opponent. But one thing is sure he wants Yu Long and I doubt he will settle down before finding him. Yu Long needs to disappear. But what does he mean by Long coming to him? And that news...

Rahu heaved out a long sigh before entering his space.

"You are late. It is already dark. Did auctions start late or something?"

"What are you doing near the entrance? Trying to sneak out or something?"

"Why would I sneak out? I was tired practicing, so thought I would wait outside... near the entrance for my siblings." Yu Long pouted. "You don't trust me, do you? Anyways did you get the scroll?"

"Yes. I swallowed it?"

"You what? Are you crazy?"

"Do you have the Jade ring?"

"Yes. Here." Yu Long removed the ring from his right index finger and showed Rahu. When Rahu approached to take it, he immediately pulled back his hand.

"You want to eat it as well?"

"No. I am giving you access to the scroll."

"O-Okay."

Yu Long hesitantly gave Rahu the ring. When Rahu held the ring, the jadestone started glowing brightly. Soon a huge concentration of spiritual energy circulated the ring.

"Follow me."

Rahu led Yu Long to the inner hall where the casket was, through his spatial transmigration.

"You can create doors anywhere? It must be so convenient."

"It is only possible in my space."

Rahu flicked his fingers as the golden casket came flying into his hands. He opened the casket by simply fitting the jadestone of the ring in the socket. As the casket opened, it emitted strong rays of energy which caused Yu Long to unable to tolerate as he fell on his knees holding his chest.

"W-What is th-this? W-What is happeni-ng?"

Rahu didn't reply as he removed a white ball of concentrated spiritual energy.

"Yu Long stand."

"Can't… Heavy...too heavy."

Rahu picked Yu Long with his free hand as he guided the energy ball into his forehead.

Yu Long screamed with the sudden pain he felt when Rahu pushed the ball of energy through his forehead.

"What are you doing? Stop…."

Yu Long screamed louder thrashing his hands on Rahu's muscular arms to stop pushing that concentrated energy mass into his forehead. Yu Long's icy blue eyes turned  golden and reptilian like that of Rahu. When ball of energy was completely inside the new host body, the concentrated energy released. The entire mana channels of the body along with the core were glowing red. Rahu brought back his hand and supported Yu Long properly.

Hot.... My insides are burning. What did this stupid dragon do? Burning…

Yu Long was pulled into a subconscious state, where he was in a pool of fire.

Where is this place? Burning? I am inside this pool of fire?

He looked about to see nothing but fire.

This is the power you desired, Yu Long.

I desired? What is this place? And who are you?

I am Maasa, the spirit that the guardians protect. I am not complete yet. I don't have a shape now. But once you have all the scrolls, my body will take a shape.

What kind of name is Maasa?

Yu Long tried to cover his mouth with hands.

Your thoughts are voiced in this space. Anyways the people from Kingdom of Spirits have such names. The direct descendants are the dragons who protect these scrolls.

I see. Now that you said, Rahu is a strange name as well. Anyways what is this space?

This is a space inside your core. It has been a while since I met one of our descendents.

Descendants? I don't understand.

Hmm...you see the Light and Dark dragon were the direct descendants of the Spirits. They were the first spiritual dragons who descended the spirits land in Heavenly Realms. But this enraged the Spirit king and they were cursed as to never return to the Heavenly realm. Along with curse he took away the dragons original forms and hence they were to stay as humans. Humans have short life spans. So did they. But due to their politeness and spirituality, people worshipped them and even they formed a tribes...Feng and Mayu...Light dragon was named Feng hence his worshippers called themselves Feng tribe. The dark dragon was named Mayu, hence it led to the birth of the Mayu tribe. Their powers rivalled that of the other spirits. They could create miracles and decided to work for the well-being of the humans who revered them as deities .But unlike other humans, their spiritual energy was too high. They posed a threat to the Human race. Worse happened when they had a son who used the power he acquired from his parents to conquer the human race. It started with slaughtering of his own parents followed by the tribes. This again caused displeasure in the Spirits Kingdom as they sent equally powerful four dragons, the four were the siblings of the previous two Spiritual dragons. These four sealed of the power into four of the scrolls.

Ooo...but what happened after the- ah..

Yu Long suddenly felt weak and darkness enveloped the space.

Da-rk….

#outside Long's new found space

"Yu Long? Long? Just how long is it taking him to stabilise the energy in his body?"

Suddenly Yu Long's eyes closed shut and the weight was put against Rahu. Rahu saw Yu Long's head fall back and knees fold as if the bones and his spine all had disappear.

"Hey. Balance."

He lost consciousness completely?

Rahu picked him up and got him to his bedchamber.

Rest for tonight. You will need to become stronger, Yu Long. And the path you chose for yourself is going to be full of obstructions.

Rahu sighed as he walked out of the chamber to his personal quarters.

He sat on the chair as he poured himself a cup of wine. He started remembering what happened at the Auction house that afternoon.

#retrospection of the encounter at auction house.

"Isn't it you, Rahu?"

"It has been a while, XinYi."

"What a rare occasion! You finally left your space and, started taking interest in pathetic humans and their materialistic displays."

Rahu stayed quiet as he looked straight into the eyes of the man standing a few feet away from him.

"Looks like you bought something. What is it?"

"None of your concern."

"Aa..why are you always so rude? Now please show me what caught the eyes of the legendary Red Dragon."

Zhang XinYi was speaking to Rahu when opportunity to swallowed the complete scroll as if a piece of juicy meat.

"Wait. You swallowed it? And I wanted to see that scroll. Kungu' scroll for Soul Ascension. Or the second scroll of the four."

"You know a lot about them. Though you failed to acquire one of them. So why did you plan to put this on auction, XinYi?"

"I got bored of this scroll lying in my study. I couldn't get hold of the matching jadestone. So why are you here for the scroll you yourself discarded saying a vexing responsibility? Did someone come to you with the matching jadestone?"

Rahu glared at XinYi.

"And if so then what? Want to steal it?"

"Steal? No no...I am an emperor not a thief. Anyways why do I feel that the person who caused this lonesome dragon to come out of his space just to seek a scroll is…" XinYi stared straight into his eyes as his lips curved into a smirk, "...a very interesting person, won't you agree, Rahu? How about we meet that person now?"

"Unfortunately he isn't here, XinYi."

XinYi's expression drastically changed. His face darkened with rage and his aura became dark and menacing.

"Not here?"

"You seem really interested in my new friend."

"I am very curious actually. You see I am entranced by one person's charms and endearing reactions. I believe...actually I know...that person is with you, isn't he?"

"Say whatever you have to. I don't get what you are talking."

"Remember the Floating Gardens show of yours rescuing that beautiful maiden named WaYi."

"WaYi? You need something of him?"

"Haha...Rahu, are you trying to act innocent in front of ...or treat me like a fool? You know what I want. You really had guts to snatch him from my arms. Trying to protect him from me? For Heavens' sake, I know that sobriquet 'WaYi' belongs to none but Yu Long."

"'Snatch him away from you'? Better use 'save him from you'. That guy told me how you annexed kingdoms to merge them into territories of ZhaoShu. As an emperor you might have achieved something but I doubt the XinYi I knew would take such an extreme step just for the sake of entertainment or for sport."

"What I did was avenge my Father's assassination. But that is not what I am concerned about now. So Yu Long is looking for the scrolls? Interesting. He must be having the Abjection scroll that belonged to Late Empress Feng Bi."

"You sure know a lot, XinYi."

"I do. I also know that he will not be able to get the first scroll or open the last scroll without approaching me."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. Just give up on Yu Long. He is just mine."

Rahu laughed at this sudden proclamation of XinYi.

"I didn't realise I had said something funny."

Suddenly they both started emitting a substantial amount of spiritual energy which was felt by the people in the adjoining auction hall.

But before the clashing of the tremendous mana could begin, it was interjected by Minister Jin.

"Your Majesty…. I sincerely apologize to interrupt in your current affair. Your servant deserves death."

"What happened Minister Jin?"

Jin ran to his emperor as he opened a scroll presenting it in front of his Emperor.

"We are leaving immediately."

He looked at Rahu who was staring at him all confused.

"Something came up. Looks like our little game can wait till we meet again. Which I suppose will be sooner."

"Leaving the battlefield? How about you give up pursuing Yu Long. He can never be yours."

"You are pretty funny. But XinYi doesn't give up that easily. And this isn't the real battlefield. Anyways I receive a sad news do convey it to Long if possible. He can give up all his hopes of getting in contact with his parents. It is impossible now."

Impossible now? Don't tell me…XinYi killed them? Now? What is happening?

Before he could question, XinYi was gone with his Minister.

This is serious. How should I break this news to Yu Long?

Rahu tried to control his spiritual energy as he fled from the Auction house for his space as it had started getting dark.

#end of retrospection

Rahu opened his eyes as he looked out of wooden window frame.

I can't tell him, can I? It will break all his hopes and spirits. What kind of trouble is this?

@Entrance of the isolated hut, door to Rahu's space. #next morning.

"Is it this place brother?"

"Yes, according to the message it asked us to find a burnt door of an isolated hut in Liong. And there were only three, this being the last one."

Li Bing pulled the Mystic Bird as Yu Lin and Yu He inspected the door.

Previously they entered the other two huts, one to be chased out, second to be scared out of. They ran away from both the places trying to save their lives.

"Should we knock?"

Yu He nodded as he went forward to knock the door thrice. He repeated the same for a while but no one responded.

"Elder Brother He, I doubt this place is haunted like the previous one. What if we encounter another evil spirit here?"

"Wait. Listen. Someone is there."

The door flung open to only to reveal a graceful lady who welcomed them warmly into the space.

"You must be the family of Mister Yu. It is pleasure to meet you all. I am Lu. Master and Mister Yu are waiting for your grace in the Red Dragon's Crest. Please proceed."

Yu He and Yu Lin admired the place as Lu help Li Bing in binding the Mystic Bird by magic, leading to shrinkage in it size which made it easy for them to get the Bird into the space and tied it to a spirit tree.

"Brother He. Lin'er. Li Bing. I can't believe you are here."

"Long."

"Long gege. Thank god you are safe. How could you leave us back? We were so scared."

Yu Lin ran up to Yu Long to hug him later breaking apart to hit his brother while bawling and complaining. Yu Long could do nothing to coax her but let her hit as he tried to hold her again in his arms.

"It is a very long story. I will tell you about that after you meet the Master of this space."

"You have changed, Long."

Yu He said as he approached the younger siblings. Yu Long currently had silver band engraved on his forehead with three strikes of red in the ends.

Yu Long smiled smugly. "That is because of Rahu."

"Rahu?"

"The Master of this space. My friend. The legendary Red Dragon, Rahu. Anyways let us move into the chambers and get you a hot bath ready. You can meet him once he wakes up."

The siblings nodded as they headed inside followed by Li Bing and Lu.

"How are you, Bing?"

"I am fine, Master Long." Li Bing replied with reddened cheeks.

"Come come. Let's us have a feast to celebrate this reunion."

"Yes. Yes, Brother Long." Yu Lin grinned as she ran ahead of them only to crash into another being of her height.

"Ouch. Don't you have eyes?"

"I apolo-gize."

Yu Lin looked up to look into the glaring eyes of another girl who appeared to be the same age as her.

"Miu, they are our guests. Please behave."

"Master never took guests before. Why is he taking guests nowadays?"

"Miu. That was rude. Please apologize."

"It is okay, Miss Lu. I apologize on my sister's behalf. She won't do it again. And I am really sorry if I caused you any trouble while my stay in this pavilion."

"Your presence was not needed. But you still made yourself a member of this family, didn't you? Mister Yu?"

Yu Long couldn't reply to this as it was true. He had no plans of staying back after getting the scroll and its contents. But he had gotten attached to Rahu, Lu and FeiMei.

"I will decide who will be my guests."

But they all suddenly flinched at the loud husky voice of the now awaken Dragon.

He stood in an intimidating position in front of Miu and Yu Lin, which scared them so much that they both started to cry, unconsciously grabbing onto each other.

Seeing this scene, Yu Long blinked twice before smiling and winking at the red dragon.

Rahu's eyes widened on such a sudden gesture. He blinked twice before turning back.

"Lu, take care of our guests. Let them rest for one day. We will meet again tomorrow."

Lu bowed as she led the guest into their quarters.

Yu Long is scary at times. What was with that subtle gesture? And what was that sudden rise in my pulse. Looks like I need to recuperate properly. Time to retire for the day.

@Qiying #same day

"What do you mean by he escaped? He broke into our secured dungeon and killed my captives. I need that man in front of me, Wen."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wen bowed before he led his elite troop in search of the sinner.

"Minister Jin, keep an eye on every movement of the man we met in Kusan Auction. I want each and every detail of his movement."

Jin bowed before leaving the Emperor alone in his study.

Tsk. Can't believe, such a miscalculation occurred on my part. I underestimated that guy.

XinYi sighed.

Rahu. I will slice off those arms of yours which you used to touch my Long. And Yu Long. I am waiting for you. Come sooner.