133. Spring.
.
A calm silence had descended upon the Silver Urchin, Yin Xiaolong's underwater residence, and most of the lanterns within had been dimmed or turned off...
...making it easy for Yan Liwei to sneak about.
She quickly found a hidden spot, shut her eyes, and held up two fingers, whispering, "Phoenix Light- Disperse!"
A swirl of golden light surrounded her then burst apart into hundreds of feathers which dispersed, darting in every direction and entering every single space within the household, from bedchambers, to halls, to kitchen, to storages...
'There!' She thought, as one feather shot into a beautiful bedchamber. It was easily the biggest within the household, and Liwei didn't think she had come across a more lovely space.
'That's surely the Master's room!' She concluded, and the feather glowed a little brighter as Liwei felt around it for any presence.
She smirked. She couldn't sense any presence around the feather for quite some distance, and the room itself was in a secluded courtyard, protected by several powerful wards.
This would deter most intruders...
Not Yan Liwei.
She was weak for an immortal, but her Phoenix Light techniques could get past most wards and arrays, while hiding her own presence, and this was why the feather had been able to enter the secluded courtyard in the first place.
Soon, the feather exploded in a mild puff of light and Liwei appeared in its place without any hassle, completely bypassing the wards.
"Hmph." She stepped around the room and began her search, glancing through half written scrolls atop the desk, looking through bookshelves, cupboards, and small chests.
'What should I be looking for?' She wondered, mildly annoyed.
A map? A written document or letter? Another questionable talisman?
Apart from the grand luxury of the room, and the fact that it was well protected, she had not seen a single thing out of the ordinary, and it was seeming more and more like this trip was indeed wasted.
She sighed. 'At least I can add this place to the endless list of 'sites not to look'!' She thought bitterly, turning to leave.
But then something flared by a far window, and a small voice said, ~Don't leave!~
Liwei swivelled in surprise and her gaze fell on a few potted plants, each giving off a dull glow.
'Wah...' Her eyes were rounded. 'Those weren't there before...'
The aura and appearance of these plants told her they were likely rare treasures, and merely breathing in their scent was slightly improving her qi, making it surge.
But the one which drew her attention sat right in the center of the plants, larger than the rest, with brilliant pink pear-shaped leaves, and a mild purple glow surrounding it.
Liwei wasn't sure if she was imagining, but the leaves of the other plants appeared to be bowing towards it, and she herself felt drawn to it. She appeared right before it, and her hand lifted on its own, reaching out to touch...
*Whoosh!*
Liwei felt a sudden pull and found herself within her own internal sea, seated in the lotus position, the strange pink plant before her.
She tried to rise, but was forced back down, and she watched in horror as her own hands rose on their own, her fingers forming one seal after the other.
'It's forcing me to cultivate it!' She realized as the plant's energy broke down around her, flowing in to merge with her own qi.
~Little one, thank you for saving me!~ A voice said, and Liwei's eyes were drawn to the plant.
Around the beautiful pink leaves, the small and smoky form of a pink nine-tailed fox appeared, swirling around the plant. A red crest sat on it's head, the tips of its tails were red, and its slanted eyes were artfully and entrancingly decorated.
~I was originally grown with the fox queen's spring essence so the fox princess could trap and tame Yin Xiaolong,~ The voice spoke. ~...but that fiend somehow saw through the fox princess's plan and threw her out before she could unleash me. And I've been imprisoned here ever since!~
'Oh no! What have I unleashed?!' Liwei would have exclaimed aloud, but now her lips were moving against her will, chanting some unknown mantra.
~Only a fox should be able to cultivate me, but you...
Though you're weak, your core and essence are enticing!
~ The fox was saying as it grew in size, swirling around Liwei.
~Rather than wither away here till I lose my strength and beauty, I will offer myself to you.
Absorb me and you can partially heal your core.
~Heh, but it will come at an interesting price...!~
Liwei's eyelids lowered as the plant's energy intensified, sending her into a trance-like meditation which seemed to last for endless days.
But by the time she opened her eyes, only a few moments had passed, and she was back in Yin Xiaolong's room...
Meanwhile, Bailong (Yin Xiaolong) lay sleeping on the bed all along.
Liwei's technique had somehow never sensed his presence, and the bed itself was covered by silky curtains so she never checked.
Bailong as well, known to always detect any intruder around him, somehow never even stirred from his sleep!
Until Liwei touched the plant and its bright pink light flared around the room.
Bailong sat bolt upright from sleep. "Who's there?!" He demanded, waving the curtains aside.
He gasped in shock. "Ei?!"
Indeed, no one had managed to sneak up on him for countless years, yet there was a figure here... dressed in beautiful blue robes and standing still before his precious plants- plants which should be hidden by his cloaking technique!
'The Entertainer!!' Bailong concluded, recognizing the intruder's mild aura. 'Hao. She indeed has other intentions!'
This 'Entertainer' had intrigued him since she appeared in the hall...
From the start he knew she was most likely looking for Four-Petal garden, because that was the only reason to use that silver talisman.
Then there was her heart-stopping dance with the Pipa, the memory of which made him feel a bit warm, even now...
But beyond all of that, there was something about her aura itself. It was mild, but strange and oddly compelling.
He had felt it since the day she had saved Yin Xing, and during the feast, his brother Shuilong had also remarked that the Entertainer's aura was too attractive!
Bailong could only wonder why...
He had never met another immortal with such an aura- quiet, yet potent, and this was what surprised him. By most standards this Entertainer was just a weak fairy, so where was this aura coming from?
However, there was a sudden brilliant flash of pink light, and Bailong snapped out of his thoughts.
"Not good!" He exclaimed. "It's the Fox plant!"
This particular plant could had physically tried to attack him several times, sending forth its vines around the room....
There was no telling what it might do to this weak little fairy!
Bailong shot off the bed, shorting out a warning. "You! Step away from ther-!"
But he never finished as the little Entertainer suddenly appeared right before him, her irises a dazzling pink.
'Fast!' Bailong's eyes widened in surprise. "Little Fairy, are you okay?!" He asked, placing the back of two fingers to her forehead. Her temperature had risen to insane heights, especially since Immortals rarely even had fevers.
But she suddenly caught his hand, holding it to her cheek.
"So... hot..." She said, wavering on the spot, and a bewildered Bailong snatched his hand away.
"You-!" He began, but there was a mild 'puff' which suddenly surrounded both of them with pink smoke.
A trained healer, Bailong instinctively covered his nose and hers, but scowled when the swirling pink smoke sunk right into their skin, drifting into ears and eyes.
"Ha... Fox spring essence?"
Divine Foxes were amorous by nature, but particularly in spring when they endlessly mated to breed their young.
At some point, some unkind soul had learned how to draw out part of a fox's essence during this time, and had made it into one of the most potent poisons in sky realm, guaranteed to make even the most upright Immortals misbehave!
Bailong cast a seal to dispel the smoke, then quickly channeled his qi in an attempt to stop the poison's spread.
But he temporarily forgot his intruder...
...till she suddenly jumped him, her unexpected weight sending both of them sprawling onto the bed.
Her face veil came undone and Bailong found himself staring up into the prettiest face he had ever seen.
"Help me!" She desperately whispered, and her face dove out of sight. Next thing, he felt hot lips on his throat!
"You -!" He began to protest, but she rose up again and boldly touched her lips to his.
Bailong was a bit surprised at first, but then a sudden wave of heat flooded him, and blood rushed to his head as the smoky essence surged. His own hands moved suddenly, grabbing her waist and flipping their positions in one swift motion.
"Ni-..." He stared down at her and his eyes darkened, falling to her lips.
Bailong had always been disciplined, firmly keeping himself 'clean' for his future partner, but he could not recall ever being so tempted in his entire life, and he reached out to caress her jawline.
"You little thief... You provoked me first, so don't blame me for this!"
And he leaned down to kiss her as he waved a hand, sending the bed curtains falling back into place...
.