Chapter Three

Children frolicking at a nearby park caught my attention. I'm already sure that there are dozens of children in the town. Although it was quite proving to be a handful finding them without causing suspicion.

And with a sharp huff escaping her lips, she continued to look elsewhere. Failing to find a child who was marked by the monster. Her thoughts reminded her of Wei. The man she had spoken to before. Although he was her savior, he had always spoken to her as an equal. She respected him but in the end he was also the reason she was stuck in limbo.

300 years ago

A man can be seen in black and gold imperial garments punched by a warrior. "You fool! Do you know what you've done!" A grimacing laugh slipped through the man's lips. His eyes bloodshot and his red pulsating veins erupting from his flesh. The armored man's eyes widened, the audacity of the one who drew his wife to her grave enraged him even further. "Where is she?!" The laughing man stopped to stare at his enemy. And with his sanity on its last leg, he spoke, "My daughter is one with the three realms, you cannot touch her now!" Becoming hysterical, the man's face was then greeted with a fist. "Don't you know how much danger you've put us all in?!" The man continued to pummel him into the stones beneath them."A demon with access to heaven at whim, you will begin another war?!" The beaten man spit his bloody phlegm up to the warrior. "It would be worth it!" "Silence!" eyes going red now, the armored man grabbed the collar of the other man and dragged him across the rocky terrain to the edge of an active volcano residing hell. Trying to free himself from the man's grasp, the robed figure snarled at the guard. "You are to spend the rest of your days from whence you came!" Hearing his sentence the lunatic began to laugh hysterically, "I'll be sure to fuck that wife of yours in the meantime." Chuckling now at the madman, he continues, "I, the great King Yanluo, sentence you to damnation by endless decapitation in the seventh realm." Dropping the man into the tunnel of flames, he watches as hells arms clutch onto the man's limbs and forcibly rip him into pieces. All the while laughing until his neck was torn from his spine. The sounds now becoming nothing but an echo in the kings ears; he turned to return to his castle. Falling to his knees on the way, he thought of his wife showing up without warning in the third ring being tortured for her deception and conception of her bastard child. His minions, returning to assist him to his feet, plead with him about what he should do with the child. He was in his own world now. His mind, hollow and numb. "Have Wei and Lee find the babe." He couldn't think clearly. His mind riddled with emotions. Angry that his wife had fooled him, confusion from wether or not the child was his, and sorrow for the child's first hours of birth are to be celebrated by its own demise. He hadn't been this stressed out since Wu Kong erased his name and several others from the great ledger, having let loose a great portion of demons upon his exit and causing chaos among the human race. With a heavy sigh, he had returned to his chambers and awaited his trusted brothers to appear before him. Hopefully he can think clearly by then. Several of Yanlao's aids and imp generals kept amongst themselves for the time being, asking each other the same questions that the great Yanlao refused to answer. Their company in the great hall was beginning to feel tedious upon the arrival of the wind spirits. Wei was the god of the west wind, where Lee the god of the east. The two lived very different lives yet they knew their roles and what was expected of them. Lee, became one with the snake spirits, he was one with nature and the realities of strife that followed where many others would perish, as for Wei, he sought peace with man. Showing love and compassion through fertility and abundance. Together they build strength where weakness falls. Like all lives that are precious, it is their cooperation that Yanlao hopes to reestablish his initial sentence.

After two hours in wait; it was Lee that appeared first before Yanlaos chamber doors. His long black hair surfed down his spine and nearly touched the ground. His navy blue eyes surveyed the great hall. He saw many subordinates, yet he decided to kneel by the door of the great king. He had very attractive features indeed. He was built like a martial artist. Lean and muscles in all of the right areas. His attire was crafted by the snake spirits that sought his attention. His chest shown his breast yet he wore an emerald waist coat. And unlike his top half, his bottom appeared to be his Initial's attire choice of his. White with an emerald and gold sash tucked neatly in place. He suddenly bowed to the king even before he had opened the door and awaited his arrival. Wei on the other hand showed up second. He was a-bit more mature looking compared to Lee, who looked youthfully in his mid twenties where Wei looked like he had just begun to reach his early forties. Wei was handsome nonetheless. His beard was neatly grown to the base of his neck, his hazel eyes were warm. As for his hair, it was neatly tucked into a golden silk head wrap. A couple of braids escaping their prison to meet Wei's cheekbone. His robes were a burgundy embroidered with golden seams. He also witnessed the scene of the crowd and joined his brother wind. Kneeling beside him and joining Lee with the bow. The assembly grew quiet. The kings doors finally opened and revealed Yanlao. Now presenting himself in red imperial robes, he walked over to the men, his arms behind his back. "Did you find her?" He finally asked. Wei and Lee looked at each other before returning their gazes to him. Wei and Lee presented their hands in respect, "your majesty, we found the infant, but.." the man turned to Wei quickly. "The babe was greatly injured in the human realm. If we don't heal her in our realm she will surly die." Yanlao looked down in thought, "her chi isn't strong enough to reach your temple your grace" Lee, now speaking. "If she were to perish now, your reputation would not be soiled and the jade emperor will not become threatened." Yanlao turned away from both of them before opening his mouth to speak."Feng sought her power. She can enter through the gates of the heavenly realm as well as the realm of man." The two men paused to take in those words. If his ritual had become complete, he would have been able to enter all of the realms at his leisure. Lee pressed his lips together before continuing, "it would be the more wise to dispose of the infant your grace. Although now it was Feng, next time we might not be so lucky." Wei sat in silence for a moment. Collecting his thoughts before joining in the conversation. "The infant is innocent your highness. I believe that with her abilities manifested in time she will become a great asset to your grace." Yanlao and Lee are fixated at Wei now. "Wei, do you mean to follow Feng in his treachery?" Asked Lee, "How dare I? Im proposing that we use her abilities for our gain." Wei arose to his feet. "Permission to speak freely your grace?" Yanlao nods, "more than a millennia has passed since we were visited by a beast of the mortal realm. Wu Kong himself. During his escape, many had followed his lead, and escaped your gates-" Yanlao rose his hand to stop Wei in his tracks, "do you mean to use the babe to return the spirits that are lost among man?" He nods, "let the babe live your grace. Have her learn from Ox and Horse, and she will become your hunter" Lee scoffs, "You will have a woman do man's labor? Nonsense! That would be disgraceful your highness. Are our subordinates not doing enough to the point that you must call upon the help of women now? Especially A woman who would cause more harm by simply existing?" Yanlao pondered for a while. Both mens arguments proving to be Difficult to consider.