Three days later...

Crown Prince Ye Hua was waiting for the Bai Clan and the other representatives to arrive. He chose an abandoned palace in the mortal realm. It was the same place that Dijun and Feng Jiu had their mortal trial hundred of years ago. Only Dijun and Ye Hua knew about the history of the place. Dong Hua looked at Ye Hua and briefly gave him a smile. Ye Hua knew the reason for the smile but kept silence. Ye Hua also had good memories of the place when he was trying to convince his beloved Bai Qian to admit her feelings for him.

"Am I missing something here between you two?" Lian Song curiously asked them pointing at them with his fan.

"Curiosity killed the cat" Dong Hua answered him blankly not giving anything away.

"Let's wait for them here, they should arrive soon." Ye Hua said.

Two minutes later an entourage of imperial guards escorted the Bai Clan to the abandoned palace. Bai Zhi, Bai Yi, Bai Zhen and Feng Jiu arrived at the courtyard. When Feng Jiu entered the courtyard, she remembered the place. Memories of her trial with Dijun came to her eyes. She was lost on her thoughts, that she forgot to properly greet everyone.

Bai Zhi interrupted her thinking, clearing his throat. "Xiao Jiu aren't you going to greet our hosts?"

"I truly apologize for my rudely behavior. Feng Jiu greets Crown Prince Ye Hua, Third Prince Lian Song and Dong Hua Dijun." She curtsied to all with her face flushed. "Focus Bai Feng Jiu" she reprimanded herself mentally. Bai Yi was eying her suspiciously.

Your highness, the representatives for Zhi Yue and Shīzi mountains are also here, a guard quickly announced them and lead them to the courtyard. When they entered; it was Cang Yi and another young man. Cang Yi was surprised to see Feng Jiu there, he gave her a swift smile and set out to greet the rest of the people. The other man was from the Shīzi region. He greeted everyone and Ye Hua introduced him to the rest.

"This is Lord Wen Chang from the Shīzi region. He graciously came in representation of his territory today."

Dong Hua's eyes widened when he heard his name. He remembered the name from the rock when years ago when he saw his name carved next to his beloved name. He gave Wen Chang a blank stare. Wen Chang approached Dijun and greeted him first. "His Lordship Dong Hua Dijun its an honor to meet you on behalf of my kingdom, please accept this bow." Dong Hua simply nodded at him.

Then he proceeded to greet all the rest and finally Wen Chang to greet Feng Jiu. "Wen Chang greet her highness Queen of Qing Qui it is with great pleasure that my eyes have the privilege to meet her highness in person." He gave her a bow and smiled at her.

His smile sent a sharp pain to her heart. She felt it and grabbed her chest. Dong Hua felt her uneasiness and stared at her worryingly. She felt Dong Hua's gaze and immediately responded to Wen Chang, "Please rise." For some reason she was uncomfortable around him.

"Please follow me", Lian Song said. Everyone sat at table inside of one of the halls in the courtyard.

Ye Hua sat in the higher seat next to Lian Song and Dong Hua at the other side was Bai Zhi, Bai Yi and Bai Zhen. Cang Yi and Wen Chang sat next to each other, while Feng Jiu sat next to Bai Zhen.

Ye Hua sensed the tension in the environment, he broke the silence. "Lord Cang Yi my scouts reported to me recently of strange activity in your region. Please share the events with us."

"Thank you, your majesty", Cang Yi bowed to Ye Hua and stood from his seat to the center of the room "As noble member of our Eagle tribe, I regularly participate with security troops to fortify the defense on our borders. We recently came across a band of mercenaries who were hunting exotic species in our territory. When we confronted them, they simply disappeared from sight, leaving their prey behind. We tried to follow their tracks, but our effort was in vain. Two days later we began to receive reports from remote villages in the mountains of people disappearing. So far we continue with the investigation. We believe these issues are related. My father sent a missive to report these events.

"How many people have been reported as missing?" Ye Hua asked him.

"Two hundred. We have sent part of troops to the remote's villages for their protection. My father is organizing safety groups to continue patrolling our different districts."

"Qing Qui will assist you in enforcing the security within your area, our northern district is near your region. My son Bai Zhen currently resides there. Bai Zhi offered."

"On behalf of our realm we thank you Bai Zhi Dijun." Cang Yi bowed to Bai Zhi.

"Is there anything else that needs to be said?" Ye Hua asked.

"No, your highness." He then returned to his seat, while staring at Feng Jiu. She blankly stared back at him.

"Lord Wen Chang please share your report with us." Ye Hua asked him.

Lord Wen Chang stood up and slowly approached the center of the room. "Thank you, your highness. Our cities are fortified to secure our citizens. Being one of the most remote regions in the kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Nine Heavens, we realized that our citizens reported to our court that some merchants were complaining about not receiving their exported products. We decided to investigate the traffic routes of our exported goods and we found that the main roads are being intercepted by a group of mercenaries who are kidnapping merchants. We have given ourselves the task of placing some of our troops in transitory routes to monitor these kidnappings. Until today we have found some of our merchants' corpses. Their immortal essence has been absorbed. It has been 50 so far. These situations are creating food shortages in our region. Since we depend on exported goods, many of our stores have been forced to close their stalls. So far we have kept the situation under control because we have opened the palace food banks, but we do not know how long we can sustain our citizenship. Part of my visit is to ask for help in supplying food for our people." Wen Chang kowtowed to Crown Prince.

"Please rise Lord Wen Chang, I will personally send provisions to your territory as well as protection after this meeting is over. I will ask you to accompany me so we can make the arrangements today."

"Your mercy is most graceful Crown Prince." He got up and returned to his seat.

Bai Yi was staring Wen Chang too much, he was getting anxious. He couldn't contain his curiosity. "May I ask Lord Wen Chang if your father still lives?"

Lord Wen Chang simply answered: "I never knew my father. When my Lady mother died, I became Lord of our region ever since, my mother was the only descendant from nobility that remained from the last war where her family was decimated. She was young when she conceived me, her mate back then abandoned her for another. He never knew of my existence. I hope that my status does not prevent of obtaining what my subjects need currently. He directed to Crown Prince.

"Not at all Lord Wen Chang as far as I'm concerned you are doing what you can to preserve the lives of your subjects. That says a lot from your character." Ye Hua said.

"May I ask who your mother was?" Bai Yi asked.

"My mother was Lady Xibu Zu from the White Lion tribe." Wen Chang replied staring at Bai Yi.

Bai Yi was surprised to hear his mother's name. He tried to conceal his shock, but he made it too obvious and Wen Chang noticed but decided not to speak. Bai Yi's face went pale. Dong Hua became curious at this questioning from Bai Yi, so he read his mind. He was also surprised to find out some answers on his thoughts. He simply stared back at Wen Chang.

Feng Jiu was surprised to see her father acting this way. She offered him some tea. "Father here, drink this tea it will help you", she silently said to him.

Weng Chang was staring at Feng Jiu, her beauty captivated him. He wanted to get closer to her. While Feng Jiu was attending her father. Ye Hua was discussing the last arrangements with the rest of the Bais and Lian Song. Dong Hua was dually attending both conversations. He was paying attention to Lord Wen Chang and the way he was staring at his little fox.

Ye Hua concluded the meeting and was talking with Lian Song and Wen Chang. Bai Yi stood up and left the courtyard not paying attention to the others. Bai Zhi and Bai Zhen bid their goodbyes and asked Feng Jiu to follow them, but she asked them that will follow them later. She wanted to spend time on the mortal realm. Bai Zhi was worried about his son and let Feng Jiu by herself. She stood outside the courtyard waiting for Dijun to finish.

Cang Yi saw her alone outside and approached her. "Your highness", he smiled at her.

"Lord Cang Yi." Feng Jiu sternly replied.

"Can I keep you some company? I saw that your family left already."

Not knowing what to say to him, she remained quiet, thinking about what to say.

When she was about to speak, Dong Hua appeared. "Am I interrupting something?" Eyeing at Feng Jiu.

Cang Yi replied: "I asked her highness if I can keep her company since her family left in a hurry."

Dong Hua raised an eyebrow to Cang Yi and Feng Jui abruptly said: "Lord Cang Yi after the incident on my ceremony I think it will be best if you refrain to address me so casually. Please take your leave."

Cang Yi didn't cared that Dong Hua was watching him; "Your highness made your point back then; I simply want to pursue a friendship with you. Is that too much to ask?"

"Friendship?" Dong Hua sarcastically asked him. "I believe her highness was clear when she stated her position before. After all you embarrassed yourself in front of thousands that day. I was there too, and I clearly remember her highness words. Do you need a reminder?" Dong Hua gave him a deadly stare.

"No your Lordship. I will take my leave." He bowed to him and left. Feng Jiu felt sorry for him, but she knew that a friendship will not be a good idea.

"Finally, we are alone", Dong Hua smiled to his little fox and took her hand. Feng Jiu giggled. "Let's take a walk around our special place, shall we?"