Chapter 19: The Meeting

"Your Majesty.", Some voices greeting Xin Suan that walks to the altar while his hand still dragging Ai Lie's. Ai Lie's oversized robe is sweeping the floor.

He sits elegantly on his throne, while Ai Lie standing beside him awkwardly, doesn't have any idea what to do. When Ai Lie takes a look at the lower floor, she saw 6 people are standing there, bow to the man beside her. It's obvious that they have lower ranks than Xin Suan. Two of them are women, dressed in deep blue robes.

"Raise your heads."

"My my my, who is this beautiful girl, Your Majesty?", A man dressed in flashy elegant robe with fire pattern embroidery speaks loudly. He covers half of his face with a fan on his hand.

"So the rumor was true. Your Majesty really brought a human here.", The beautiful young woman dressed in the blue robe replied. Beside her is a tall man with well built body, almost like a fighter, wears a sleeveless brown clothes, exposing his very big arm muscles.

"She is my guest. I bought her from the human's world."

'Bought me!?', She turns her head to Xin Suan, can't believe what he just said. That's very explicit and rude, but also a simplest way to describe her story how she ended in this realm.

"Ai Lie, these are the other rulers of this realm you haven't met. That one, is the Lord Fire, he rules the western territory. Be cautious with him. The woman in the middle is the Lord Water, she rules the eastern territory. And the last, the muscled man, he is the Lord Earth, he rules the south-eastern territory. Those who stand behind them are their underlings. They are all asuras, just like me and Yin Ling."

"G-greetings! Nice to meet you all, my Lords!", She bows to them.

"No need to be polite to them. Raise your head."

"Your Majesty...", Ai Lie feels upset towards his arrogant behavior. He may be the highest rank here, but Ai Lie is just a weakling mortal.

'So the 10 asuras left are: 5 the rulers and the other 5 are their underlings? Finally the puzzle has been solved.', Ai Lie discussing with herself in silent

"This beautiful child is named Ai Lie?", The Lord Fire waves his fan, exposing a bit of his lower face that was covered. He is quite handsome, has flamboyant style, but he also has an aura that makes Ai Lie feel disturbed.

"Don't ever think about it, she belongs to me.", Xin Suan throws a death glare to him.

"Hahahaha! Of course, I know that, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty! Hosh... Hosh...", Yin Ling was running behind.

"Just stay where you are. Now, give me your reports."

"As you can see, Your Majesty, the Qiong has contaminating all over the world. The plants are hard to grow, and the south east territory has lost so many cows, pigs, and chickens. Their foods are poisoned.", The woman behind the Lord Water answered him. She must be the Lord Water's underling.

"Yes, and I can't control of the weather anymore. I have used so many tricks to make it more stable, but all of my efforts always ended useless.", The Lord Fire responded.

"Hmm... Lord Water, you are the one in charge of the Jinghua Ritual. We have done that 50 years ago, but why is the Qiong keeps spreading? Is there something that makes the ritual failed?"

"I know not, Your Majesty, my apologize. I have used the Eye of Puritiness, but I found nothing wrong."

"Is anyone of you has actually lost your power? I believe Bai Wu and myself are still fine."

"Do you want me to check it with my Eye of Puritiness, Your Majesty?"

"Hmm. Do it here, we need to solve this problem fast."

"Very well. I need to meditate. Please, be patient to wait."

'CRING!', The Lord Water closed her pale blue eyes, and the waterdrop emblem at the center of her forehead emits a blue light. The light is so bright, even brighter than a lamp. Ai Lie is amazed, as if she is watching a fantasy movie but the difference is it's in the real life.

'Ugh!', Suddenly her belly feels hurt. She rubbed her stomach a few times unconsciously. Xin Suan was staring at her all this time instead of watching the Lord Water's 'attraction'.

"Y-yes?", She is surprised because Xin Suan pulled her wrist.

"Sit here. The chair is enough for two.", He asks her to sit beside him.

"Eh? No, I don't need to..."

"Your stomach is aching right?", They speak in a low voice so that the others won't hear them.

"Huh? How could you know that? Did you read my mind?"

"Nope. Your hand is on your belly, of course I noticed it. Sit, don't be stubborn."

Finally, Ai Lie surrendered and sits beside him. The throne is wide enough for two, but still, they have to sit stick to each other. But Xin Suan doesn't seem to care about it.

"Are you sure you are feeling comfortable if I join you here?", She feels hesitate.

"I don't mind. How do you feel? Is this pain because of the internal injury that you told me?"

"Hahaha... Yeah. But don't worry, usually this will only last in 5 days.", She whispers to him, asking him to lower his voice too.

"5 days? Why is that taking so long? Is what I bought can't heal your wound?"

"It can't, Your Majesty, it's not something as simple as wound like that... The only way to 'heal' that is just to wait until the phase is done... Beside, this will be naturally repeated every month."

"I don't understand, but maybe... Get well soon? I wish I could help you to reduce the pain.", He embraced her with one arm.

'How can he do this in front of so many people? What if they misunderstand us?', Her cheek is blushing red.

"Hmm?", Lord Water seems to be disturbed.

"What's wrong?", Xin Suan noticed it.

"Your Majesty, I guess I found something.", The blue light vanished from her forehead, "Before that, I can't guarantee that this method will come to fruition."

"We will never know if we never try. Do tell."

"I think... I think we should change the Sword Maiden."

"Why? Usually it was you who take the role. Did you find anything wrong with your power?"

"No, Your Majesty, but the Eye of Puritiness choose someone else instead of me."

"Who?"

"That child beside you, Your Majesty.", She bows to Xin Suan.

"H-huh?? Me?? Why?", Ai Lie is surprised. She had no idea what they were talking about.

"Because-"

"Rejected. It's too dangerous.", Xin Suan immediately cuts her words.

"Your Majesty, don't be like that, we have to listen to her first!", Ai Lie is frowning to him.

"Huft... Alright, tell us why.", Xin Suan lost to her.

"Because that child is the most innocent creature in this realm. She has never commited a sin. The Eye of Puritiness is only choosing the purest one."

"Huh?? I-I mean, everyone has their own mistakes, unexceptionally me..."

"But, my child, have you ever killed someone? Or have you ever robbed someone? Of course not. You are different from us. In the world full of maleficious demons, you are obviously the brightest light that shining above the darkness."

"Uhh....", Ai Lie's brain is still processing what she said.

"But she is a human. The Sword Maiden usually performed by an asura. Are you sure that will work?"

"The only requirement to be the Sword Maiden has to be the purest woman. It does not important whether she is a human, a demon, or even a god."

"Hmm... What do you think, Ai? Are you willing to help us?", He released his palm from her fist.

"Sure, Why not? But, as you can see, I'm a newbie here, I don't understand so many things, even what the Sword Maiden is..."

"Your Majesty, I will bring her to the Riverside Shrine. I will prepare her for the performance."

"What!? No! She has to be with me, it's safer here!", Xin Suan immediately rejects her once again.

"Oh my, I didn't know Your Majesty is actually a possesive man.", The Lord Fire teased him.

"So what? She is small and frail, who knows someone like you might harm her without my knowing."

"But, Your Majesty, Lord Water's place is completely safe. We all know that her Shrine is full of priestess. Please do reconsider, Your Majesty.", The Lord Earth bows at him. Lord Earth and Water are bestfriends, so it's obvious that he stands at her side.

"That's true, Your Majesty. The Sword Maiden needs to be fully concentrated when performing the Sacred Sword Dance. I will train her mind, body, and heart. She also needs to keep her distance from the opposite gender that might distracting her focus.", The Lord Water stares at the way Xin Suan curling his hand to Ai Lie.

Ai Lie's cheek is blushing red. It's obvious that 'the opposite gender that might distratcing her focus' means Xin Suan. It's just Lord Water doesn't want to said it frontally.

"Hmm...", Xin Suan doesn't seem to agree with them.

"Your Majesty, don't be selfish, the world needs your wisdom!", Yin Ling yells from behind bluntly.

"Fine. Give me a week. She needs to learn how to wield a sword. Yin Ling will teach her."

"What!? Me!?", Yin Ling feels reluctant to do so. He is a short tempered man, it won't be an easy job for him to teach a 'new born baby'.

"How long do you need to train her?", Xin Suan ignores him and talks to Lord Water instead.

"About a month, Your Majesty, she needs to prepare more."

"Very well. You are all dismissed. Let's meet again a week before the Jinghua Ritual begin."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Now, the crowd of asuras have already preparing to get back to their own territories. The three are alone in the throne room, Ai Lie, Xin Suan, and Yin Ling.

"Hey you, go away from there! You are no one special, how could you sit on the same throne as him!?", Yin Ling is mad at her. He is always like this, it seems he really hates her to the bone.

"Ahh!! Sorry, sorry!!", She immediately stands, but Xin Suan pulled her back to sit.

"Who are you to give her an order?"

"You... Ever since she came here, you became more selfish! I can't believe you changed in one blink! What kind of spell that she puts on you!?

"Shut your mouth, Yin Ling! Don't mess with me!"

"P-Please, don't fight!", Ai Lie's stuck between them.

"I'm not trying to play with the fire, but go take a look at yourself! Lord Water has found an idea to end this world's problem and you almost rejected her just because you want to be with her?? What kind of bullshit is that! The world's suffering for this 50 years, and you will ignore it!?"

"I'm not ignoring it! Didn't you hear that I agree with the her idea!? Are you deaf!?"

"What!? Deaf!? Better than you, you are blind!! You became blind just because of that little brat! So what if she's dead!?"

"Ha!! Say that again! I thought you were protecting her and targeting me with all of your negative thoughts when you smell human's blood and now you said so what if she's dead!? What a hypocrite!", He raised from his throne

"What did you say!?", Yin Ling shouts louder than before.

"STOPPPP!!!" , Ai Lie moves between them, "You two, please stop this nonsense!!"

"The one that her life you said 'so what' is me! That's true, I didn't even care if I die, especially for the people's good. But it's very rude, General Yin, what if someone 'so what'-ing your life? It's good for you that you have died long time ago, but what about me? I'm still alive, surrounded by the dangers that waiting for my death!", She crossed her arms and shouted at Yin Ling bravely.

"...", Yin Ling can't reply anything, he lost his words.

"Hahaha!! That's my girl!!", He pats her head a few times.

"And you, Your Majesty, stop replying to his words. You are only make the situation worse."

"Hahahaha! How does it feel!? She is not really on your side!", Yin Ling finally fights back.

"You!!", Xin Suan clenched his fist tightly.

"I said stop!!", She glares at Yin Ling cynically, "Huft... Instead of continuing this stupid debates, you two better answer to my questions. One; What is Jinghua Ritual? Two; What is Sword Maiden? Three; What is Sacred Sword Dance?"

"You answer her.", Xin Suan ordered his underling to explain.

"Cih! Listen to me you little brat. Firstly, what is Jinghua Ritual? It's an ancient water purification ritual that usually performed once every 300 years to get rid of the Qiong. Don't tell me you don't know what is Qiong?"

"I know that, His Majesty told me."

"Then good.The Jinghua Ritual usually held in a full week, 7 days 7 nights. The first five days are the Divine Palladium days. During these days, His Majesty and the other 4 lords will travel around the world to pray at every capital cities of each territories. Usually, the commoners at each capital cities will line up to meet them, to ask for their blessings, and that's what makes the Divine Palladium took longer than the other two events. On the 6th day, the Sword Maiden will performing the Sacred Sword Dance at the Sheng Shui Lake when the sun is on the top of the sky, to purify its water. Later in the night and until the 7th day, it's time for the Dragon's Prayer hours. His Majesty's pet, the Golden Dragon, will awake from its sleep and flying around the world, to give its good fortune and its prayer to the people. Usually the commoners will held a festival during the Dragon's Prayer hours, so at this time, all of the cities will be very crowded, full of ghosts, musics, dances, and performances. The festival will be ended as soon as the dragon back to sleep in its lair, and the ritual will be ended as well."

"Wow!! Sounds fun!!", Ai Lie replied in full of excitement.

"But remember Ai Lie, the most crucial part of this ritual is the sword dance. Sheng Shui Lake is the source of this world's life, if it's ever contaminated by the Qiong, we are done. That's why the Sword Maiden should be the most innocent woman in this rotten realm, so that its water will receives her blessing and became as pure as her.", Xin Suan adding Yin Ling's explanation.

"Okay... But why should we get the purest person? I mean.. I'm sorry, but this world is full of criminals, right? So that's almost impossible to get the purest person here..."

"You're smart. Why? Because even the dark needs the light. This realm needs to be balanced, but the nature of this world is actually denied our presences. Of course, no one loves sinners, even the nature too. But the nature still took pity on us by giving us the Sheng Shui lake that must remain as pure as possible. But as you can see, to find the purest person that specifically has to be a woman in this realm is very hard. So in short, the Qiong is our punishment, and this ritual is our atonement way. Are you following me?"

"Hmm!", She nodded a few times.

"Good. You are a fast learner. Now you have one week to learn the basic of using sword. Tomorrow you will start practicing it with Yin Ling."

"But... Why me? And where the hell we should be practiced at?"

"In the wood maybe? You are in charge of protecting her too.", He smiles and pats Yin Ling's shoulder a few times.

"You!! You just do whatever you want, huh!?"

"Hehehe. You can do it.", He smirks evilly, "C'mon, Ai, Let's have a dinner."

"Huh? It's dinner time already?"

"Yeah, it's already evening.", He grabs her arms and dragging her to the right wing, "Goodbye, Yin Ling, and good night."

"Uh... S-see you tomorrow, Ge Ge!", Ai Lie unconsciously called him Ge Ge again.

"Hey!!! If only you were not the king I will definitely cut you to pieces!!!!", Yin Ling shouts loudly.

"Go on and try.", He smiles as he enters the right wing with Ai Lie on his hand, leaving Yin Ling alone behind.

As soon as the two entered the dining room, as always, the meals have been prepared and they are still warm, freshly cooked. Ai Lie eats those meals but Xin Suan doesn't seem to be in his appetite. He only eat a few munch of rice, and he ends his dinner with his alcohol drink.

"Your Majesty, are you full?"

"Yeah. I don't need to eat as much as you. I'm not a human anymore."

"Oh okay...", she stops her eating too.

"Your Majesty, the asuras like you can give blessings to the other people... So you really are similar to the gods..."

"The only thing differs us to the gods is they are the lights and we are the darkness."

"Then, you must be more powerful than I thought..."

"But still, I'm not almighty, Ai Lie. I just happened to be ascended as the asura's king and live longer than anyone else here. I have lived the three cycles of reincarnation."

"Three? You were a preta too?"

"Yes, I was, at least for the first 150 years since my death before I crawled up to the higher rank."

"Woah, you are amazing! But isn't that hard... To live for more than 3000 years?"

Xin Suan stop drinking his beverage. He took a short pause before answering her. Ai Lie realized her question must be wrong.

"Oh, s-sorry! You don't have to answer me! I-I was just blabbering..."

"It is. It's very hard. Everyday I open my eyes without knowing when will my life be ended. I've been through a lot, I've killed so many people, I've lost so many comrades even I lost my precious ones. But this realm loves me more than anyone else. I couldn't die, but in contrary, I grew stronger everyday. I guess this realm owns me as its treasure, huh?"

'Precious ones?', Ai Lie's wondering who they were, but she didn't dare to ask.

"Ah.. I see, I'm sorry for open up your old wound. Let's move to other topic..."

"That's okay. It doesn't haunting me anymore.", Xin Suan suddenly remember he met Ai Lie's brother in the human's world.

"What about you, Ai?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you... Do you miss your family?"

"E-eh?"

"You were wondering about how they're doing, right?"

"Umm... Uh...", She's hesitate to answer.

"Don't worry, just be honest, I won't be angry or anything."

"A-actually... Maybe. A part of my little heart still worry abou them.. You know, Your Majesty, they loved to spend money. Really improvident. They can spend 20.000$ just in 3 months without a specific reason. I always wonder why and where did those money go... O-oh... I-I actually put a 100.000$ from selling your gold bars at my parents's desk... I'm afraid they will spend it too..."

"Hmm... I see. Human's hearts are weak, Ai, not all of them can easily resist the temptations. But good for you, you were born different from them.", He pats her head.

"Ahahaha...", She chuckles awkwardly.

"Then, do you wish to go back to them?"

"What?"

"Tell me. Be honest."

"Uh....", She doesn't know what to say, she feels like she is being trapped by his question.

"To go back to them... I guess not. I'm not really accepted there though..."

"Then, which one do you prefer? This place or your home?"

Another tricky question, but Ai Lie bravely telling him the her true feeling, "This place."

"Why?"

"It's more comfortable here. Everyone here is kind, eventhough some of them might hating me, or targeting me as their prey. But with you in my side, I feel like I'm being protected by a bodyguard, you know? Hahahaha...", She once again chuckling awkwardly.

"Don't worry. I will make this place your new home. I will make it as comfortable as I can. Tell me if you ever feel disturbed by someone. I'll get rid of them."

"Ahaha... There's no need to use violence, Your Majesty. Beside, I really like it here. I like everyone here."

"Even me?"

"Huh?"

"Do you like me too?", He asks her with flat expression.

"Of course I like you!", Ai Lie thought he is asking for a compliment toward his good deeds to her, "I like you a lot, the most that I like among all people in this world.", Her 'compliment' is a bit lame.

"...", Xin Suan is somewhat blushing, his ears are red. It seems he misunderstood her words, "Are you... Certain?"

"Why yes! I like you, Your Majesty! Hehehe.", She is smiling widely.

"...", He couldn't reply anything. He feels a bit flustered, "... I think I'm a bit drunk."

"Eh? Drunk?"

"Hmm. Finish your meal. I need to take a rest after this. I'll deliver you to your room.", He continues his drink.

"Oh, you don't need to. I can go back by myself. Please, take a rest first, Your Majesty."

"I'll be waiting for you."

"Eh...?", She doesn't know why he acted like that. She finished her meal rushingly, afraid if Xin Suan will be angry for waiting for her too long.

"I'm done! I'll clean this first.", She gets up from her chair, readily to wash the dishes.

"No need to. Let Ming Ming do it for us. Come, hold my hand.", He raised his palm to her.

"E-eh?", She hesitately holds his palm.

'Swoosh!', The view in her sight changes from the dining room to her room in an instance. It seems Xin Suan used a teleport spell.

"Wow, cool!", She couldn't believe what was happened in the last 3 seconds.

"Hahaha, you're so cute."

"D-don't say that! I'm still not used to this kind of magic!", She feels embarrased.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Good night, Ai.", He lands his cold lips to Ai Lie's forehead.

"A-ah!", She is surprised, "G-good night!", Her face is blushing red.

He turns his back and vanished from Ai Lie's sight. She is still boiling red. She couldn't forget how they kissed each other as if they really are lovers. But as what Jiu Lan said, they don't have such romantic relationships.

"I wonder who I am to him... I'm afraid... I'm afraid I will really have a crush on him sooner or later...", She pats her warm cheeks with her palms.