LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN TIGRESS

As soon as she entered the slopes of the mountains, she saw the Tiger G.o.d sitting on a rock as she expected and smirked in her heart.

"So, where are you keeping him? Give him back to me", she asked in a pleading tone. She knew they had nothing to do with Shengli"s disapppearance but she had to play the part of a lovelorn, helpless girl to get their guard down to know exactly what they want from her.

"Only if you do as we want. Or else you won"t be seeing him again", the G.o.d spoke in a condescending tone.

The moment Xing looked at the one in the tiger form in front of her, she knew it was not Fei Lian but some other G.o.d. But she still decided to humour him because she knew he could not take the form of another powerful G.o.d without Fei Lian"s knowledge. She felt cheated by Fei Lian as she had thought of him as an actual friend but he had failed her. But she had to endure it for the sake of bringing Shengli back.

"Are you speaking on behalf of the heavens?", she asked.

"No, but my wish is the heaven"s wish", the G.o.d answered.

"Then I"ll leave", Xing turned to leave it the G.o.d screamed to stop. Xing smirked and turned to look at the G.o.d with a pitiful expression.

"My lover is missing. I cannot waste time and play games", she rubbed her eyes and sniffed her nose as if she was holding back her tears.

" Fine, I can speak for the heavens", the G.o.d replied.

Although Xing wanted him to call her back, she could not understand why the G.o.d had actually did that. Since when do they want the help of a human so desperately they are willing to go to this extent to get their help?

Then she remembered how Fei Lian said previously that he is by her side, does that mean there are two factions in the heavens by now? Is there going to be another war between the G.o.ds? That"s no good because G.o.ds never fight in their realm and only fight in the human realm causing destruction here.

She also remembered how s.h.i.+hong mentioned "Old Rong" and how Shengli said it was a G.o.d trapped in a halberd. Could this be the G.o.d on the other side of the faction of Fei Lian? Is that why they are trying to recruit me to their side?

"What must I do?", Xing asked.

"Enter the inner palace", the G.o.d replied.

Even though Xing expected this would be their reply, she still felt her heart skip a beat when the G.o.d said it.

"How?", Xing asked with a tear filled eyes, "How can I do that? The Emperor is my husband"s brother. How can I become his Consort?", she asked knowing very well they don"t care.

The G.o.ds mate decided by the Heavenly council and they had no concept of marriage. They usually mated like the wild animals, choosing a parter for producing an offspring and the next for another offspring. They really don"t care about human values of family and other social constructs. For them as long as they are male and female, they can copulate to make offsprings. Simple as that!

"If so, we can get rid of your husband and then you can enter the inner palace freely", the G.o.d said in a flat tone.

"Then, my life will end too", Xing answered in a cold tone and her eyes were filled with malice now. How casually he mentioned killing my man! Doesn"t he know both of us are bound for life?

"Did you forget? We are bound! We come in pairs. You kill him, you kill me too!", she said with her eyes glaring at the G.o.d.

The G.o.d looked surprised for a moment and then his face went all red with anger. A mere human cannot speak in this tone with a G.o.d.

"Huangs, Zhongs, the one friend you take with you everywhere, practically anyone who knows you.... We can end them... We will end them if you refuse us.. ", he spoke in a cold, authoritative tone.

"Then tell me where you are holding my husband and let me meet him! I don"t care about others and I care only about my Prince. I Won"t Accept what you ask me to do! You can do whatever you want with the others ", Xing said in a clear tone. She really had no intention of entering the palace! She had to find another way!

In fact Xing was seething inside and wanted to slap the G.o.d in the face for even involving her family and friends. How dare they? She also realised that Shurei"s sickness must be the handiwork of these G.o.ds too. Sc.u.ms!

The G.o.d was surprised by her answer. He had thought that she"d surrender if they"d threaten her with the lives of the people dear to her. But she seems to only care about "her prince"?

He cannot kill the most important person to her and she does not care about others. So how could he negotiate with her who has no weakness?

"Whatever we want?" the G.o.d sneered, " We"ll give the utmost punishments to those who are close to you. They"ll hate you and curse you for not helping them. They"ll call you selfish and abhorrent and they"ll curse your so called love. You"ll watch them melt away and sooner or later you"ll hate yourself for letting all your loved ones die miserably. Will you really be happy standing on the graves of the ones who loves you? "

Xing remembered Haru saying the exact same words "standing on the graves ". Were they listening to that conversation too? Haru said he wouldn"t mind, but do I mind?

Xing sighed. Of course I cannot lose everyone else. I cannot lose Shengli too.

Or should I? If I choose Shengli and leave this place.... , if I never gather news about what happened to my family and friends.... , won"t I be happy with my Prince? Who cares about others when I have him with me?... All I want is him...! Even Haru said so right?.... He meant it..... so it should be fine right? Or... should I just die? Won"t that end every sorrow?

She fell on her knees dejectedly. Her heart beat fast, sweat drops were formed on her brows, she was confused profusely! She felt like she was stranded in a cold land of gloom and darkness.

What must I do, My Prince?

Time ticked off slowly and Xing was on her knees in deep thoughts....

You are my wife.... Where ever you are.... Do what you want to... What you have to do.... Do not succ.u.mb to darkness.... My moon.... I"ll love you no matter what... I"ll wait....live well... You are mine and I"m yours....

Shengli"s voice rang in her thoughts and it brought warmth in her heart.

She reached to a decision...

I"ll trust you on this, my Prince! I know what I"m going to do is an abhorrent, filthy thing to do. Forgive me but I have to do it. I know it will hurt you but I will keep the promises I made to you. You want me to make the right decisions, so I"ll make one now!

Xing stood up and looked at the G.o.d with her bloodshot eyes proof that she was stressed but it had a confident glow in them,

"Can you promise me on behalf of heavens that if I enter the inner palace, you will not hurt my friends and family and protect them forever?", Xing asked.

Actually her request itself was tricky with layers. She had only promised to enter the place and not do anything more for them. Also she had asked them to not harm her friends and protect them forever. To protect them means they have to protect them from G.o.ds their side and also the other side, that is the side s.h.i.+hong is on.

"I swear on behalf of the heavens", the G.o.d sweared and Xing didn"t wait to kiss that G.o.d on the lips and sealed the promise.

As sc.u.ms as they are, the one thing they are good for is keeping their word. She had learned that habit from them. Even if they will lose because of a promise they still keep their word.

Xing turned to leave not even looking back with a smirk on her face. It was true she had lost her bearing for a moment but thinking deeply, this is the best deal she could get in a situation where she is completely helpless.

If s.h.i.+hong is on a side in the war between G.o.ds,she should be on the other side. Also s.h.i.+hong is the one holding Shengli and he seems to be oddly attracted to Shengli and so he won"t hurt him. Shengli had promised to protect himself too. Judging by the rumours spreading around, s.h.i.+hong wants Shengli"s lover to enter the palace, so he could tell Shengli, "I told you so". So if he gets news that she entered the palace, he"d probably let Shengli go.

Also Xing had gotten the protection of the G.o.ds for her family and friends forever and so they cannot hurt them even if she leaves the palace after Shengli returns.

As for the reason the G.o.ds want her in the palace, it does not matter as she has no interest in indulging them. She simply does not care. All she has to do is wait in the palace for the day Shengli returnes and leave the palace after that and be happy with him.