A Qilin's Lament

After becoming one, heart and soul, the two laid next to each other. Now clothed, the intimacy of their act lingered on their skin, the delicious taste of the other still fresh in their tongues. Through Zhen's arm that wrapped around Jiawei, they remain temporary lovers.

Her heart rate at ease, Jiawei never predicted her impetuosness to lead her into the safety of a human's arms. Jiawei tugged at Zhen's sleeves, her hatred for these humans are set in stone, but this one moment shared with Zhen opened her heart as well as her mind. Temporarily faltering in her resolve, Jiawei seized the opportunity to betray her very creed.

"Zhen, I implore you, there will be no better time to make a dent in our plans than now. My defenses are down, you can freeze and shatter me this instant."

Did Jiawei made a request to perish in Zhen's embrace? Zhen could not believe it. In truth, Zhen is a bit slighted, her embrace tightening to inform Jiawei that Zhen would never dare.

"Such a crude request. I won your heart, only if for a night. I intend to crush whatever your comrades are planning and take you back to the heavenly court right after." Zhen declared with utmost confidence, resolved to stretch the temporary into an infinity.

"Take me back to your court!?" Jiawei chuckled. "You jest. Unlike Daji, I do not intend to hide my proud visage. You will have to fend off hunters left and right."

Suddenly, soft lips pressed upon Jiawei's forehead, the sweetest form of chastisement telling her to stop worrying about such paltry things. For Zhen will...

"I will have them meet my blade, all of them shall for daring to touch my Qilin."

'My Qilin'. Saccharine words that bent Jiawei's lips into a smile. Far removed from the slavery that came with harvesting their soul cores, this ownership was one Jiawei would gladly partake in.

"Your Empress, the news of her strictness reaches even Wodan. Will she allow a runaway like me to stay their knowing I plotted your race's extinction?"

"Guanyin? Hah!" Zhen's rising timbre indicated familiarity, how deep, Jiawei could only guess. "Naturally, she will not. But trust me when I say that I have my ways of convincing her."

Even though it is night, Jiawei discerned clear as day the nature of Zhen's relationship with Guanyin. What should have been a lucky guess, Jiawei knew she was right on the mark with how voracious Zhen is when it came to pretty women.

"Of course, even your Empress is not safe from your clutches." Jiawei faced to the side, upset as a maiden finding out that her lover has a another.

"What's this? I never took you for the jealous type, and on our first night even. You must know that I try to divide my to love all my women equally as I can."

"But what if I told you that I want your all? For you to look only at me"

Such monogamous desire would clash against Zhen's avaricious nature to dual cultivate, to bed all the strong and gorgeous women she comes across with.

"Must I need to answer? The future that awaits us is full of uncertainty, my feelings for you right at this very instance is not."

A smirk adorned Jiawei's lips. Zhen was basically telling her to shut up and enjoy the moment in the kindest way she could.

Tenderly, Zhen's arms turned Jiawei to face her once more, sharing another solemn kiss underneath the moon and stars. As Jiawei relished the softness of Zhen's lips, her mind wandered, how nice it would be if she could simply abandon her duty and run with Zhen back to their realm.

If only she Jiawei was not chained to her role as one of the 4 guardians.

As their lips seperated, the elation was slowly getting replaced with longing for a life Jiawei could never have. Her forehead pressed upon Zhen.

"You will regret not killing me, that much I can assure you when the time comes."

A sorrowful threat from Jiawei evoked Zhen's confidence once again.

"When the time comes, I will help you and your sister pack your belongings because I will be taking you back to the Heavenly Court with me."

Closing her eyes with a smile, Jiawei nestled upon Zhen's chest. Zhen's dream was Jiawei wanted to make her own.

++++

The morning sun hanging above Zhen, its brilliance evoked nothing but sadness as she woke alone in the fields where they shared the previous evening as one.

Hands behind her back, Zhen breathed in the fresh morning air, closing her eyes to resolve herself.

(Jiawei, you are stubborn, but I am even more so. By my name as Ice Empress, I will pluck you from your duty as one of the Four Guardians and have you join my harem!)

Jumping into her ice sword, Zhen hurried back to Qinglong's palace.

Traversing the skies, her encounter last night still fresh in Zhen's mind. Both Jiawei and her qi are of the finest league, simply exquisite. Zhen already won her heart, all she needed to do now was...

Anxiety grasped Zhen's heart as she was hit by this ripple of power the moment she got close to the Four Guardians' headquarters, almost making her crash below. Innocent in its malevolence, the intent of this qi ripple told to Zhen its simple desire to eradicate all of humanity.

Whatever this is, Zhen cannot let the Four Guardians manifest this being into existence! Her thoughts of Jiawei shelved temporarily, her duty as the third seat comes foremost!

Zhen landed below the gate, where she sensed a familiar presence that alleviated her heightening anxiety as she got closer to the source of this chaotic but primal qi.

It was Daji, her back resting against the gate. Her confident grin, a welcome reprieve from all of this chaotic madness.

"Took you long enough to return. I can smell Qilin qi on you. Did you enjoy your night together before you try to claim each other's heads?"

Ever the wicked one, Daji reveled in the tragedy of Zhen's affair with Jiawei. Perhaps she is jealous, or perhaps she is simply elated by Jiawei's ruination. Zhen could only guess.

"Jiawei's hand is the one I shall claim. Not her head."

"She will kill you if you don't fight her seriously, the four of them would if you show even a moment of weakness."

Zhen leaned in to kiss Daji, a moment of respite before the battle ahead.

Their lips seperate.

Zhen smiled, "I know. That is why I brought you to watch my back."

"Grrr. You are lucky I love you! Come, let us see what dragon geezer is truly up to!"