Chi Myst'wing

Outside the inn, five carriages were awaiting those who needed transport to the Lord"s mansion. Each wagon was attached to two equines. One carriage had loaded with Cyaians, and it departed.

"We are honoured to serve Lord Benevence," said a carriage driver. "Everyone, take your seat."

They thanked the driver and stepped onto the carriage. Zhanshi and Vincere sat on the front seat facing Chi at the rear seat.

Once they had taken seats, the driver shouted to make a move. The equines neighed and then followed by the sound of the hooves thumping on solid ground. The carriage they were sitting was departing from Anle"s Inn, leaving three carriages behind. The view of cityscape began to slide faster and faster and replaced by the sight of trees.

After some time, the view of Lord Benevence"s mansion came into view. It was far large to be a mansion that it was like a palace; the silver palace with a dome on each corner tower. From each tower, hung a long blue banner with two crossed swords with silver equine"s head. As the carriage got nearer the lord"s mansion, it began to slow down, Lord Benevence"s mansion was far more significant than Nuwa"s siheyuan. The palace"s entrance porch had an insignia of golden equines. Before the porch, Chi could see a golden sculpture of horse wagon with several galloping equines.

At last, their carriage stopped. "We have arrived at the Palace of the Aureate Equuses!" It was a grand palace, yet Lord Benevence was humble to say his home a mansion.

As Chi was about to come down from the carriage, many gentlemen Cyaians came and offered their hands to help her down. Fresh breeze from blew on her face and in an instant, Chi had a vivid memory as if she had returned to Nuwa"s Sanctuary.

The servants led the warriors to the entrance hall. And in the hall, a strong lemongra.s.s fragrant filled the air around them. It reminded Chi of her accommodation in Anle"s Inn. The hall interior was circular and large; right under the ceiling, there was a painting of equines galloping in a circle. Even on the marble floor, Chi saw a picture of equines. "Welcome to the Palace of the Aureate Equuses. This palace was built during the reign of Lord Kinma. Equines were Lord Kinma"s benefactor, and that is why there have equines at every corner of this palace."

They followed the servant, turning right into a corridor and they trod along the brown and green carpet. Upon reaching a wooden door, the servant pulled the door open and beckoned the warriors to enter. The room looked much like a painting of a place of brownish hues; the wallpaper was in light brown with a gold horseshoe as its" motif. At the far end of a long mahogany table, there was Lord Benevence who was smiling at the warriors and invited them to take seats.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my mansion," said Lord Benevence. "Congratulations again on having a good position in the tournament. The ranking in the tournament determines your position in the Warriors of Benevolence. Each of you has room to stay in. My men will lead each of you to your respective room. Once you have placed your belongings, do return to this hall as I have some important announcement."

The servants came and guided the warriors, leading each one to a room. Chi followed one of them, pa.s.sing through stairs to the second floor, along the corridor and at the fourth door at her right, was her room. She looked up at the entrance of her room and saw a golden plat: Lady Chi Myst"wing. "This is the key." The servant then pa.s.sed the key to her.

Chi unlocked the door and pushed it open. The air inside was chilly and comfortable. White curtain half-covered the balcony gla.s.s, which it filtered Sol"s light that it shone without much glare and heat. She pushed open the balcony window. A breeze blew into her room, and she moved to the balcony and saw the vast sapphire lake.

"Lady Myst"wing, are you done?" said the servant. Only that Chi remembered that she needed to return to the meeting hall. She could enjoy the view after the meeting.

She followed the servant back to the meeting hall, and everyone was there already. Lord Benevence was giving a speech. Luckily no one paid attention to her. Shall Lord Benevence pause his speech and everyone look at her, she would feel so awkward. She made her way to the most rear seat at the meeting table.

"During the tournament, there were more Solluna attacks at the southern villages. There were also attacks from not one but two redragons. During the attack of the redragon in Kinma City, I was at Feles village fighting Solluna"s armies. And as soon as I received the news of the attack, I hurried to Kinma City."

Everyone let out a loud gasp as they had heard the redragons" attack, not one but two. Never before redragon had come this far. Now, there were already two of redragon"s attacks. More would come. Were they coming here for Chi?

"… Though my peacekeepers had fought them and maintain the peace, we still lack soldiers. Now even the partic.i.p.ants can be peacekeepers. We also provide training to those who lack fighting skills and strength. Now, there are around hundreds of peacekeepers keeping peace and patrolling the areas which are p.r.o.ne to attack."

"We need more men to patrol the areas east and south of Kinma City," said Lord Benevence as he pointed at "Eastern Sea and Sh.o.r.e" and "Southern Jungle" on the map. "The redragons hunt around this area while Lord Amo and his Solluna"s armies are searching for Vincere in this area. Solluna armies wear a black robe with insignia of red Sol and white Lune. Though only east and south areas are p.r.o.ne to constant attacks. The northern and western regions fear northern invaders though we defeated them years ago. I will separate you all accordingly."

"Sir Zhanshi, you will guard the Eastern Sea and Sh.o.r.e along with hundreds of my men."

Yu Zhanshi immediately stepped out and gave Lord Benevence a gesture that he accepted the command. "At your command, my lord!"

"Sir Patriarca, you will guard the North Plain."

Vincere came forward with haste and obeyed.

"Sir Whitefur, you will protect the Western Woods." A white tiger which stood on two legs came out and said, "Yes, my lord!"

"Lady Myst"wing, you alongside my peacekeepers protect the Southern Jungle."

Chi came out and made a gesture that she obeyed the command. "Yes, my lord!"

"Emceepy and Lady Swiftwind will protect the areas around the north and south lake of Kinma City." In no time, a lady in a dark green cape and a gluttoned-looking boar came out and said, "At your command, my lord!"

"With all of you guarding, I can finally go and propose to Lord Vincere about cooperation."

Vincere and Chi took a glance at each other. What can Lord Benevence talk to the fake Lord Vincere? Not just Chi and Vincere, everyone knew the leader of the alliance favours only enjoyment and not peace and wellbeing of the Eastern Land. Maybe Lord Benevence could persuade Lord Vincere to cooperate and possibly force Lord Phopo to do so.

"Today, you shall be ready with your belongings. Tomorrow morning, we shall have breakfast, and take the equines to the place which you guard. The meeting ends here, my warriors," said Lord Benevence.

"Thank you, my lord!" All the warriors spoke loud in unison. Then, they went separate ways to their room to ready their belongings. And Chi caught a glance of Emceepy grinning at Lady Swiftwind as the lady walked away in disgust. Chi returned to her room, and upon reaching the balcony, she stepped onto it and looked down at the lake.

"Me going south," said Chi to herself. "Further and further from Igniswing... and further from mama."

For some time, Chi wasn"t really looking at the lake, she was pondering how serving Lord Benevence could help her find her mama. Vincere and Lord Benevence didn"t even mention about helping her to find her mama. There was a thought in Chi that they had forgotten about her mama.

Chi sighed. As she was about to step back to her room, she heard a snorted laughed below. Chi turned herself and saw Emceepy followed behind Lady Swiftwind. "Get lost, you fat boar!" But the boar kept pestering the lady. "Lek me take care of you." The lady just turned around to face the perverted boar, placing an arrow at her bow, aiming at Emceepy. "I"m warning you, pervert!" said Swiftwind. Without any word, Emceepy turned and walked away.

Words from Sister Nuwa came to Chi all of a sudden – the Universe will always take care of you. Why she had forgotten about it. Was it the Universe had arranged her to be in the south so that she could find her mama? She hoped so. With a renewed mood and faith, she turned and stepped into her room and readied her belongings.

New Sol rose. After having breakfast with Zhanshi and Vincere, they went to the lord"s stable and each took an equine. Chi took a snow-white equine, Zhanshi a reddish-brown one and Vincere"s brown. After each had mounted on each equine, the trio was riding side by side.

"Looks like we will separate again," said Chi.

"Don"t worry," said Vincere. "It"s not for long. I bet we will be so much busy that we forget to miss each other." Chi turned to Zhanshi, seeing him nodding while looking in front.

"Vindicta, do you still remember my mama?" said Chi. Her face was sullen, and from the corner of her eyes, she spotted Zhanshi looking at her.

"Of course not. I haven"t forgotten of my purpose to find the man who had caused the death of my papa."

"How are you going to find it?" said Chi. "You are not in the alliance now. But let"s think who had the most benefit now?"

"It"s either Lord Vincere or Lord Phopo," said Vincere. "Lord Vincere is now enjoying himself, but the true authority now falls on Lord Phopo"s hand. There is a huge possibility that Lord Phopo sent Vincere to come. I believe it is Lord Phopo had caused my papa"s death, but there is no evidence."

"Maybe," said Zhanshi, nodding in agreement.

"Well, me will help you find out about Lord Phopo when me reach south," said Chi.

"Thanks, Chi," said Vincere.

"Chi," said Zhanshi. "I will see if there"s news about your mama. If there"s any news, I will inform you."

"Thanks, Zhanshi." Chi smiled so warm that it makes Zhanshi blushed.

"Let"s talk until here," said Vincere. "See you again, my friends." With that, Vincere lashed his equine"s rein, and his equine galloped away fast. Zhanshi lashed his equine and Chi did the same. Not long, Vincere and Zhanshi disappeared from her view. Each had gone separate way for the first task.

An hour later, Chi was in the jungle. The jungle wasn"t so dense as she travelled along the pathway. She rode slowly so that she could listen to her surrounding with more awareness. She was trying to find for any sign of her mama. The jungle was peaceful with the sounds of many animals, birds and insects. It had quite a breeze as the Sol was shining behind the ma.s.ses of trees,

A loud shriek broke up some distance from her. Birds were shocked and flew in every direction. There must be a village nearby, and Chi lashed the reins, and her equine sped up, hoping that the equine could bring her there as fast as it could. Cries followed after the loud shriek. Now that the cry had become louder, Chi hoped that she had wings so that she could reach there in no time.

"Noo!!!"

When Chi reached the village, a loud wail shouted. In an instant, she pulled the reins; the equine stopped, and she sneaked into the village. She lurked from hut to hut until she saw – several vulpines were tied on the pole. There was an old vulpine which was looking down, and when she spotted his clothes were wet with blood, she let out a soundless shriek. Not far from the old vulpine, a female vulpine wailed as much hope had gone. She was the one who had cried loud a moment ago. Standing around her, were several Cyaians in black robes with Sol and Lune – they were Solluna acolytes! They were all laughing as the female vulpine were crying in agony.

Chi couldn"t believe she had to see this again. In a wave of unspeakable anger, she walked out from her hiding place toward them, hoping that they could see her coming. But then, she heard a loud shout from her behind.

"Monsters, die!"

The voice was familiar. It was so loud that the Solluna acolytes did not turn to her but to the voice. Chi swivelled her head and saw –

Zhu Ming.

He was standing on the roof of a hut. Though Chi could only see a black silhouette with an orange outline which was drawn by the Sol behind, she could be so sure that he is Zhu Ming.

"Who are you?" said an acolyte. "You want to die? Come and let me kill you!"

"It"s you who will die!" Zhu Ming shouted in return and somersaulted from the hut. At the same time, he withdrew his crossbow, Zhuge-X… and once he landed on the ground, he fired toward the acolytes. Each bolt hit their vital parts with accuracy, and they dropped, lifeless on the ground.

That happened so fast before Chi could even move her hand to attack. She thanked Zhu Ming, which he returned her a quiet nod. She closed her eyes and clasped her palm, reciting a few words in silence. Everybody of the lifeless vulpines began to glow, and in slow motion, sparkling ent.i.ties rose from the bodies and dwindled into thin air. Soon all the bodies were no more.

Chi opened her eyes and was glad that her prayer had worked. All the vulpines had found peace. Zhu Ming"s eyes were wide, possibly he couldn"t believe what he had just seen.

"Chi… No. Lady Myst"wing," said Zhu Ming.

That was the first time she heard Zhu Ming called her Chi and Lady Myst"wing. Usually, Zhu Ming would always slander and even curse her, but now he had called her in a nicer way. And he had just nodded to her a moment ago. She felt jovial that Zhu Ming had made peace with her. She opened her mouth to say, "she needs your help."

Zhu Ming went to untie the female vulpine in haste. Once unleashed from her bound, the vulpine had lost all her strength that she dropped on her knees. Zhu Ming squatted. "I"m sorry for everything that had happened. If only I come here earlier."

The vulpine looked at Ming and said, "Thank you for saving me, friend. Actually, I had known all this will happened."

"What?" Both Chi and Zhu Ming were aghast.

"My name"s Yosoku Mirai. I"m a psychic, I have foreseen the future and the death of my fellow villagers. I tried to persuade my fellow villagers to escape but… no one listens… Maybe the future couldn"t be changed."

Ming was speechless.

"Perhaps we should return to Lord Benevence"s mansion," said Chi. "It"s not safe to stay here much longer."

"Alright," said Mirai as she grabbed Chi"s hand when she offered her hand.

Luckily for them, Chi found two more equines by blowing her flute. With the equines, they rode back to Lord"s Benevence"s mansion.

Once they reached the mansion, Zhu Ming still looked unsettled that he attracted Chi"s attention. "Are you alright, Zhu Ming?" Chi realised Zhu Ming had turned friendlier to her since the attack on the vulpine village, and that makes Chi feel he must have her concern.

"I"m very… very sorry, Lady Myst"wing," said Zhu Ming as he looked down. "I should have known. You are not the one responsible for the death of my villagers months ago. It"s Amo Ziwo."

"How on Cyaian you realised this?" said Chi, looking surprised.

"Well, the incident of your poisoning and our fight at the third-place match had grabbed Lord Benevence"s attention. He eventually came to me and told me that I had targeted the wrong person. It was not your doing, but Amo Ziwo"s. At first, I still could not believe that you are innocent, which made me left the tourney, to my village to find any clue of the killer. I found nothing, but I keep searching. Until when I saw you prayed for the dead villagers, only that I realised you and Sister Nuwa were actually prayed for my fellow villagers."

Zhu Ming"s countenance had changed to better when he had poured out everything from his heart. "Thank you, Lady Myst"wing. Thank you for what you did for my fellow villagers…Will you forgive me, for whatever wrong I had done to you?"

"Yes. Yes, me forgive you, Zhu Ming." Chi could see his eyes swelled with tears thought she recalled how she in tears when he had condemned her at the tournament.

"Zhu Ming"s let"s have dinner together at Lord"s mansion." Then, they walked into the palace, straight to the palace"s eatery through a large atrium. At the ceiling dome, they could see a large golden sculpture of neighing equines. The equines seemed like it was rejoicing for the end of the Zhu Ming"s grudge and the beginning of a good friendship.