The next morning, Feng Jiu was having breakfast at Ali's garden.

"Nai Nai, where is Ali?"

"He still sleeping your highness, he's a late sleeper." Nai Nai smiled at Feng Jiu.

"Oh, is that so, then let him sleep. Let me know when he wakes up if he needs me."

"Yes your highness."

Feng Jiu was recalling last night time spend with Dijun. She radiantly smiling at her teacup. "Last night was a gift. I will treasure it since I will not expect more of him." She sighed.

"Had fun last night?" Bai Zhen asked her.

"Fourth uncle, yes I did. I hope father is not angry at me." Feng Jiu pouted at her uncle.

"Don't worry about him for now. I am here to remind you about Qing Qui's Weapon Hiding Ceremony. You need to be ready for it."

"Of course, uncle, I have my weapon ready. When is it again?"

"Next week."

"Oh, then I must train and be prepared. Can you train with me?"

"I don't have the time right now Xiao Jiu. I have to attend some business in the northern border before the ceremony, I will be leaving tomorrow."

Hmmm she pouted. "I need to find out who can practice with me. I hope Ali does not mind that I must let him be with Nai Nai while I practice. I wonder if Zi Lan can spare some of his time with me. I will ask him."

"Who needs to practice?" A male voice behind them asked.

Huh? Dijun? They both got up from their seats and greeted him. They were surprised to see him at Ali's place.

"Dijun, my niece and I were talking about her upcoming Weapon Hiding Ceremony at Qing Qui. She needs to prepare for it."

"Oh?" Dijun raised one of his brows.

"She needs a practice partner to sharpen her sword fighting skills. Perhaps you know someone who can recommend helping our Xiao Jiu on a short notice."

"And may I know when does the ceremony take place?"

"Next week. With all the festivities and her being busy with her duties at Qing Qui she forgot to set aside the date and add it to her agenda." Bai Zhen interjected.

Feng Jiu was lost of words; she couldn't believe that her uncle was asking Dijun to help her.

"Hmm, let's see. I happen to have free time; I can train her."

"It would be an honor for the Bai Clan to assist our queen Dijun." Bai Zhen kowtowed to him while smiling.

Feng Jiu's face was red. She was flabbergasted. It was one of her dreams to spar with Dijun. She never imagined in a million years to have the opportunity to do it with the former ruler of all realms.

"When can we start?" Feng Jiu asked.

Bai Zhen answered: "As soon as possible. Xiao Jiu. You need to be at your best. This is an important ceremony and we are honored that Dong Hua Dijun will be training you. That means that you will miss the rest of the wedding banquet for the rest of the week. I will plan with Nai Nai so she can keep Ali busy. I will alert your father and grandfather that you will be preparing for next week. They will understand your absence."

"Then it's settled." Dong Hua said. "How about it Jiu'er, why you are so quiet?"

Feng Jiu was processing all of it in her mind. She is really trying not to lose her composure, so she said the first thing that came to her mind: "Feng Jiu is grateful to Dong Hua Dijun for his grace. She curtsied to him and her fourth uncle."

Dong Hua just smiled at her. "Come by Tai Chen Palace in an hour, I will have everything prepared. I will send my steward Zhong Li to pick you up."

"Thank you. Feng Jiu respectfully sends out Dong Hua Dijun." She curtsied to him without looking at his face. Her embarrassment was so obvious. She waited until he left. "What was that all about uncle?" Feng Jiu scolded her uncle.

"I just solved your problem. You needed someone to practice for your ceremony and now it's all settled. Better get ready. I know Dong Hua will not tolerate you to be late."

"Thank you, fourth uncle, you are the best!!!" She hugged him and gave him a kiss on his cheek, then left to start getting ready.

"Xiao Jiu, I just save you from a pack of wolves that your father arranged several blind dates." He thought to himself and proudly smiled. "I just want to see second's brother face when he finds out. He, he, he, he." He mischievously smiled.

At Tai Chen Palace, Zhong Lin was escorting Feng Jiu to the main garden where Dijun was patiently waiting for his little fox to arrive. He didn't want to give out his excitement, so he was facing to the garden when he heard them coming in.

"Dijun, her highness Queen of Qing Qui is here as you requested."

"You may leave Zhong Lin."

"Yes Dijun", he bowed to his master and left them alone. He was glad she was here with his master.

Once alone, Dijun placed a privacy barrier in the garden. He carefully approached Feng Jiu. She was wearing her usual red hanfu dress. She had her hair tied up in a bun. She was staring at him with a blank face.

"Hello Jiu'er." Dijun curiously greeted her.

She was about to curtsied him, when he stopped her. "Why are you acting like this with me Jiu'er?"

"I'm just being grateful towards your majesty." Feng Jiu responded with a confused expression.

"Are we being formal towards each other now?" Dong Hua squinted at her.

"How would you like me to address you?" She was getting annoyed.

Hmm. Dong Hua didn't want to upset her, he was not in the mood to waste time. "Let's start then. I will give you the opportunity to charge at me first. We will use no magic, to make sure that will be a fair practice, I will seal our magic. It will be purely done by skills."

"You will have the upper hand then. Let us begin", she bowed to him. She materialized her Hexu sword in her hand. Dijun materialized his Cang He sword in his hand. Feng Jiu stared at him and played in her mind some moves, studying his posture.

Dijun was waiting on her. "Whenever her highness is ready", he was using a sarcastic tone. They were staring at each other. He was taunting her.

Feng Jiu charged at Dong Hua, and he easily missed her attack. She knew he was going to quickly move out of the way. She was expecting that. For her next move, she took her sword with both of her hands and waited for his turn to charge at her. He gave her a roguish smile and began attacking Feng Jiu. They were quick with their swords, charging at each other. All that it can be heard was the clinking of metals.

They went at it for a good amount of time. Feng Jiu was mimicking Dijun's moves. He was surprised. So he decided to quicken his pace. He wanted to see how fast his little fox can go. To his surprise she was able to keep up with his pace. She was concentrating on his pace, moves, rhythm, timing, breathing, force, gravity and environment. Feng Jiu skills were indeed excellent.

Dijun stopped for a moment to suggest her something; "I see the god of war influence in you Jiu'er. I'm surprised that you are still able to control your breathing."

"Not bad for an old man" she said to him with a smirk.

He widely smiled at her. "This old man still has some moves that can teach this spoiled fox. Let's make it more interesting; are you up for a challenge?"

"This spoiled fox is interested"

"Okay, then turn around."

"Huh?"

"You heard me, turn around and close your eyes Jiu'er."

He blindfolded her. "Now let's see how good your skills are. I want to know what you learned while training at Kun Lun Mountain."

Feng Jiu gasped, but in her mind, she was smiling. She acted like she was lost to see if Dijun will take her bait.

Dijun squinted his eyes watching his little fox act. He knew foxes have keen hearing and are mischievous in nature, he loved that about her, but he wanted to push her limits. "Whenever spoiled fox is ready, then we can begin. This old man doesn't have much time" he yawned and stretched waiting for his little fox to recollect again.

"Very well Dijun." She enlightens her hearing senses to full capacity. She was able to hear every sound and feel every movement around her. She was waiting for Dijun to make his first move.

"I thought you said that your time was limited old man." Feng Jiu loved teasing him.

"My vicious little fox" Dijun mischievously smiled while proceeding to attack Feng Jiu.

She was concentrating on how quick he was approaching her, so she got ready to receive his blows. And they went at it. Sword against sword for a while. Feng Jiu could anticipate all of Dijun's movements even being blindfolded. Beads of sweat were on both foreheads. While controlling their breathing they could go for hours. But Dijun didn't want his little fox to exert herself. So he managed to block Feng Jiu sword in one movement and point his Cang He sword to her neck.

"Jiu'er, is a worthy opponent. You will make Qing Qui proud at your Weapon Hiding Ceremony."

Feng Jiu removed her blindfold. "Dijun is most merciful. Do you have more tricks on your sleeve or this will conclude our practice?"

"An eager student." Dijun smiled at Feng Jiu. "I have an idea if you not that tired"

"I can manage Dijun."

"I can create a simulation of a battle scenario let say with 20 soldiers ready to charge at us. Would you like to try it?"

Feng Jiu smile grew wide. Dijun was trying to concentrate on his plan, but her bright smile was too much for him. He looked away.

"Very well little fox. You and I will be on the same team, we will watch each other's backs and will try to defeat the 20 soldiers. Expect the level of difficulty to increase at every miss we have. The length of the battle will depend on our combined skills and how well we fight as a team. I use this simulation to sharpen my sword fighting skills every now and then. To make it fair on us, this will be a brand-new battle. I will not know how well or not would develop. Remember that this is a team effort, you will need to follow my lead in order to succeed. Don't try to be a loner hero on this Jiu'er, it will put both of us in danger. Understood?"

"Yes Dijun."

"Come and face my back, ready Jiu'er?" An electric current travel to his body when he felt hers against his. Feng Jui felt it too and she shuddered.

"Ready Dijun."

Immediately the garden transformed into a battlefield in front of them. They were surrounded by 20 soldiers hungry for blood. Feng Jiu concentrated in the strong ones first making sure to slash them with one move. Dijun watched his little fox fight well, she firstly took 5 soldiers our with one of the movements with her sword. Her little hands were lethal. She was merciless against her share. He was so proud of her, that he lost concentration. She saw when one of the soldiers was charging at him and he was unaware that he was being attacked. She jumped in front of him and she buried her sword on the soldier chest.

"Dijun are you okay?"

"Yes, now on your guard Jiu'er!" He smiled at her.

A general with a lance charged at Feng Jiu using all his strength. She saw the lance and avoided the attack but left her arm was scraped by a sword on her flank. She saw it but couldn't avoid getting hit. She winced but continued fighting. Dijun was fighting 10 soldiers by himself left and right. The difficulty level increased again. Finishing her share of soldiers, she went to assist Dijun. He was getting bombarded and without magic the battle was intense it required a lot of stamina and skills to endure the level of difficulty. They were both sweating. It reminded him of his days of gore during the wars in the old days. He tried his best not to lose control, he remembered that Feng Jiu was fighting along his side.

"How are we doing Jiu'er, tired?"

"Let's finish them up, will you?" Feng Jiu smiled at him.

"That's my little fox!" He let out a loud grow with all his might. They slaughtered the remaining soldiers.

They were huffing and puffing trying to regain their composure. Then out of nowhere the same general came and charging at Dijun's back. Feng Jiu yelled to Dijun, to warn him about the attacker. While doing that she started to feel a deep fire on her core developing like an explosion vastly invading her veins. Her hand started to radiate fire she couldn't explain it. She grabbed her sword, it got inflamed with red flames. It was raw energy that created a blast that broke the forcefield in the garden, powerfully spreading out and knocking down Dijun to his back. She jumped to the air and slashed the general in two from head to toe with her sword. It was gory. Dijun eyes were wide open, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Feng Jiu's eyes were red with flames her aura was rather powerful. Her dormant powers had awakened.

Mo Yan and Zhe Yan were at Ku Lun having tea when they felt the strange powerful energy coming from Nine Heavens. They decided to trace it until they arrived to Tai Chen Palace. Both materialized in front of the garden watching Feng Jiu breathing hard. Dijun was on his back. Zhe Yan went to assist him while Mo Yan carefully approached Feng Jiu.

"Feng Jiu?" Mo Yan called to her. She was not responding; her face was unreadable.

"Xiao Jiu, are you alright?" Zhe Yan was calling her, she was not responding either.

"Jiu'er, listen to me, you are in Tai Chen Palace garden. The simulation has ended. Jiu'er?" Dijun called on to her, with a soft tone.

Feng Jiu shook her head to come to her senses. She was not aware of what happened. She only reacted when Dong Hua called her. She was surprised to see him on the ground with Zhe Yan helping him.

"What happened? Are you hurt? Why Mo Yan and Zhe Yan are here? What did I do?" She was hyperventilating.

Mo Yan got in front of her and reminded her to calm down. "Feng Jiu please regulate your breathing, remember the breathing exercises that you learned."

"Laohsi, what is going on with me? I feel strange. Uncle Zhe Yan why are you holding Dijun?" She felt overprotective towards Dijun. Zhe Yan just stared at her confused and took his hands off Dijun. He felt her possessiveness jealousy.

"I'm all right Jiu'er, see I'm in one piece." He got up and started to walk close to her, but she stepped back.

Dijun couldn't understand her reaction. He looked at her curious. "What's wrong Jiu'er? It's me Dong Hua."

"I don't want to hurt anyone, just to be safe please step away from me until I calm down." Feng Jiu hesitant warned everyone.

"Dijun let her calm down first" Mo Yan interjected. "All right Jiu'er we will be right here on a safe distance. Please meditate for a while. We won't go near you, we will be safe, don't worry." Feng Jiu nodded at them with a forced smile on her face.

Zhe Yan stared at Mo Yan and Dijun. "Let me see if you have any internal injuries Dong Hua."

"I'm fine Zhe Yan. Let's have a talk after she's done meditating." Dong Hua mentally told him.

Feng Jiu sat down and closed her eyes. She casted a privacy barrier and started to meditate to calm down her senses.

Dijun wanted to know the source of her power but decided to wait until she calmed down. He sat with Mo Yan and Zhe Yan.

Meanwhile Zhong Li, Si Ming and Lian Song came running to the garden to see if everything was fine, they were surprised to see Mo Yan and Zhe Yan with Dijun. They all felt the blast coming from his palace and wanted to make sure that Dijun was fine.

"What's going on here?" Lian Song asked.

"There is nothing to worry about Lian Song. Her highness and I were just training."

"Training for what?" Lian Song asked surprised to see her at Tai Chen Palace.

"Her upcoming Weapon Hiding Ceremony at Qing Qui." Dong Hua answered.

"Oh, I see, and you are helping her out?" Lian Song asked again.

"Yes, I am." Dijun said seething. He was getting annoyed.

"If her highness okay?" Si Ming was worried.

"She is meditating, are you all done with your questioning? If so, please take your leave, I am in a meeting with Mo Yan and Zhe Yan!" Dijun was not used to get questioned by anyone.

"Zhong Li"

"Yes Dijun."

"Please have the maids prepare the hot springs for her highness. Provide her with a clean set of clothes and some refreshments. Make sure she doesn't get disturbed; she needs time to relax. Also prepare a guest room for her to stay. Go and make the arrangements."

"I already made all the preparations Dijun. We are just waiting on her highness. The maids are waiting for her at the garden entrance by the steps."

"Very good, you may all leave."

"Yes Dijun." The three of them bowed to him and left.

Mo Yan was studying Dong Hua emotions. He wanted to know his interest of keeping Feng Jiu near him. Didn't he send her away many years ago from his palace? Cutting all ties with her? Why suddenly he is pursuing her?

Zhe Yan broke the silence first. "What is going on here Dong Hua?"

"What do you mean Zhe Yan?" Dong Hua innocently asked back.