(Part 5)

The tides were strong and Xianwu was tired. Her eyes felt heavy as she thought "Ah… I feel scared. Just like in the past… Senlin… I'm sorry for talking like a hero back then, I think I will really need you to bring me back from hell… what Crown Princess Yue Xianwu? If someone were to see me now he'll laugh at me to the extent of having a stomachache. But I really don't want to die again… I promised to return to Xiao yin and Yeying as well… I'm such an idiot…"

Instantly her surroundings went black. She could feel a strong grip around her wrist as it pulled her up. Xianwu couldn't make out. The grip was firm and strong which pulled her closer and picked her in its arms. It was pitch black and nothing was to be seen. Only faint footsteps cracking the branches and the bones of the wolves was heard. Xianwu coming back to her senses realised the wolves with red eyes were going back in the forest yelping in fear. With sudden realisation she thought "Who is he…? Where is he taking me… how can I get down from his arms?! I really shouldn't move if I value my life a little more…" Fa ling with fear too hid inside her hairs in fear.

"Even Fa ling fears him…" Xianwu thought. Cracking of skulls and sudden pattering of rain alarmed Xianwu "Is her walking over skulls?" she thought in shock. Xianwu still couldn't make out the person as he halted. Xianwu wondered if she should act like she woke up or not. In the end she did move. With her slight movement the figure kept her down. Xianwu pushing her hairs over her face to the side stood straight. Her hand still placed over his which was cold, very cold.

Xianwu retracted instantly. Around her it was raining heavily but to her surprise not even a single drop hit her. Opening her mouth to speak the figure passed through her dispersing into silver beams of light, disappearing from the sight. Xianwu stared with her eyes widened "Yeying…?" she called in the lightest whisper. The rain had halted and moonlit beams vanished around her. Xianwu asked puzzled "Did you to save me? If it was you… then, Thank you…" she whispered.

Looking around she remembered. "Shijei, Senlin! Where are you both?" she asked in the transmission group. Firstly Shijei's voice crossed her "Xianwu! Where are you? Are you alright what about the Demonic wolves? How did they come there?" he asked. Xianwu replied "I am alright! Where are you both?" she asked. Walking forward she saw the two of them in front of her. They were standing in front of a building. Senlin and Shijei ran towards her in panic. Shijei shouted "What were you doing?" his voice felt like he was about to cry the other moment.

Senlin sighed in annoyance "I thought I really would have to get you back from hell…" the two of them started mock her in their own fashion. Xianwu sighed back with smile "I too thought that as well Senlin…" she whispered unheard by the other two. Senlin mocked "Look at yourself, you look like a beggar! What about the wolves? How can they come here are you sure you're not mistaken?" Xianwu replied "I took care of them thanks to Fa ling. But I'm very sure they were them. Exactly the same!" Fa ling stood up caressing her face to calm her down.

"I won't lie about something like that and you two know it! The time I fought them, they kept regenerating and becoming stronger. It was all same! No coincidence, I swear!" Xianwu panted. Looking at how shocked and in disbelief she was none dared to question anymore. "Alright, alright, we understand. No need to repeat again and again." told Shijei calming her down. Xianwu stood baffled. "Oh right! The kids! What about the kids?" she asked.

"Looks like there were three of them. A girl and two boys. We kept following them and found out that they entered in the building which Shashou told us about before. The talisman around the building were all removed as well." explained Senlin. "I was right!" Xianwu thought. "Alright, let's go inside the building." She told. The two of them stared at her dumbfounded. "Are you out of your mind?! Who knows what is inside there?!" said Shijei stopping her. "I know it's dangerous but before something happens to the kids. I want to secure them." She told.

Suddenly Xianwu began to hear a lullaby. She abruptly asked "Could you hear it?" Senlin and Shijei looked each other puzzled "What?" Xianwu walked towards the building in front of her. Shijei asked again "Hey! What are you hearing?" Xianwu walked forward as Senlin stopped her. "Xianwu tell me what do you hear?" "I hear a lullaby constantly and it seems to be coming from the building." "Huh?! How come we can't hear it?" asked Shijei.

"It goes like "'the blue sky, covered by white clouds~

The forest deep, with birds chirping~

My baby in the cradle, your mother sings~

Sleep, sleep, sleep sweet dreams~

mother always watching over you looks at you lovingly~'" Tears streaming from Xianwu's eyes. She sang in the same voice which only she could hear.

Senlin and Shijei looked at her in confusion. "Xianwu?!" Shijei asked. Xianwu however walked singing repeatedly finally standing in front of the building. Her heart wrenching in pain. She gazed at the door which was opened walking in fearlessly. Senlin and Shijei unable to stop her followed behind. Inside the building, a normal house stood. Chairs, tables, swings and pots. Shijei pulling his sword out asked "What is this?" Xianwu walking forward with a saddened expression replied "A home…" Fa ling stood on alert. Senlin suddenly saw the three children going inside the room. She tugged Xianwu "There, the kids! Let's go, and stay behind me." Senlin in the front, Shijei at the back and Xianwu in the middle walked towards the door.

Xianwu stood as she listened "Don't enter in the room." she advised. The three of them stood silent "No! No! You're not him! Get lost!" shouted a woman's voice as something hit on the ground with a thud. Xianwu alarmed took a peek. Shrouded in darkness an arm picked the kids one by one throwing them, towards the ground. "Not even you!! No! You are not him!! Where is he?" she shouted with another thud on the floor. Xianwu gazed clutching her fists tightly. "At this rate she'll kill them." Said Senlin. "No, this is where we come in. the moment she resorts to any sort of violence. We'll rush in and protect them." Told Xianwu.

The voice soon became enraged as it shouted "No! No! Not a girl! It was never a girl. It was a boy! A boy!! Why? Why are you here? I'll kill you!" suddenly Xianwu pushed the door open as Senlin shot an arrow in the midair. Xianwu ran forward picked the girl in her arms and Fa ling wrapped itself around the other two boys pulling them towards Xianwu. She said "Whoever you may be! I won't allow you to touch a single hair on their head, all because of your madness." Xianwu withdrew back.

"Yes!! Yes!! I'm mad! I'm crazy! Call me whatever you like! But give me back my child!!" the woman shouted. An evil aura surrounded Xianwu and others. "Let's go outside!!" Xianwu called picking up the girl in her arms and the other two carried by Fa ling they rushed out. Senlin continuously firing arrows "What the hell! Who the heck are you? Show yourself!" she shouted.

Xianwu and the others escaped to the lawn. Shijei taking out his shield protecting Xianwu and the kids who surrounded her. He asked in shock "Who was that?" Xianwu sure than ever replied "The wandering soul of the mother who lost her child in this village seven years ago…" she explained. Shijei looked at her confused. Xianwu looked at the roof her words steady and ready for anything "Both of you… be ready. No matter what we have to protect these children." She said.

Suddenly the woman cried "My child… my child! Give me back my child. It is all his fault…" she showed herself in front of them. Her features creepy. Her clothes dishevelled and her hairs were cut to her shoulders with a black robe covering her arms. But, underneath it her fingers had been cut ruthlessly. Shijei taking out his sword clutched it tightly in front of Xianwu.

The woman spoke "Ah… if it isn't from the heavenly city. You are all from that damn place!!" she roared. "Where is he? Tell me. Tell me where is he… I will kill him!! Give me back my child!! He is a killer tell him to come here!!" she shouted even louder. However, both Shijei and Senlin stood dumbfounded. With their expression Xianwu could tell as if they knew something.

"You are…" Senlin gasped in disbelief. "What?" Xianwu asked. Senlin replied "She is… the first wife of General 'Zhou Gonghe' (The one who expresses great wishes). She is 'Li Qianyi' (The Inspiring/Gentle One)." Qianyi shrieked in laughter. "That's right! Li Qianyi… that Li Qianyi who was thrown out with not even a single glance." Xianwu looked at her worriedly, she asked "What do you mean?"