The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

The air outside, still unbearably thick with the moisture of the day as the sun was to set on the Other Realm. The encroaching darkness marked what seemed to be the makings of yet another uncomfortable night of tossing and turning for many members of Shui Long's estate. Servants and Mistresses, suffering equally as they struggled to discover sleep amongst the sheets that were dampened by their own sweat. Jing Li did not attempt this fruitless pursuit of sleep this night as she slipped out from between the sheets of her bed.

Barely a sound to be heard amidst the halls of the pavilion, aside from the coy splashing in the little pool found in the sitting room of her chambers. It was that time in the night when all of the maids in the Lotus Pavilion had retired to their own separate living quarters. The women, not questioning Jing Li when she had expressed the desire to rest early that night. Their numbers had dwindled quickly after there remained little light for them to conduct their chores. Unperturbed by this stillness as it dominated the Pavilion as she tip-toed across the floorboards. Jing Li opened a drawer at the bottom of one of the large pieces of furniture which occupied the room.

Finding herself alone now, she pulled on a long skirt and the baggy house coat left over from a maid's uniform before tugging the cloth belt which accompanied the ensemble tightly around her waist. Dressing herself for the first time in weeks, Jing Li felt that this daily task was something forbidden to her as she yanked her long hair back into a ponytail. Tying it away from her face as she prepared to sneak from the estate. Jing Li released a tense exaltation to ease her nerves before endeavoring to shove her feet into a pair of boots that were too warm for the season. Their lining made from something akin to wool, the footwear pressed uncomfortably onto the sides of her feet. However, pressed to continue, Jing Li assured herself that this amount of pain was tolerable, before removing a sheet from the bed. 

Balling the covering up in her arms, Jing Li progressed from the Pavilion. Her movements quiet and inconspicuous, Jing Li flitted through the walkways of the estate without encountering any problems. Her feet, carrying Jing Li to the gardens that she had admired many times in the light of day. There was silence about them now that could be felt more profoundly than the chatter of cicadas in the day. Seeming that almost all within the gardens had fallen prey to the seduction of night's spell. Jing Li skimmed the wall, which ran along the far side of the pond. Finding a tree that was both sturdy and robust enough for her to climb, Jing Li hiked up her skirts to scramble up the rough bark of its trunk.

Her inexperience in this domain, accounting a great deal for her lack of grace in the execution of this exercise. Jing Li slid several times as she grappled for a hold on the tree. However, aided by her persistence, she eventually came to sit upon a thick branch that extended out over the border of the estate. Clutching onto the overhanging limb precariously as she recuperated her breath. Jing Li then became comfortable enough to the point where she could secure the sheet, which she had brought with her, onto the thick end of the branch. Checking that the knot she had made was efficient enough to hold her weight. Jing Li tested it with a few hearty tugs, before lowering the length of the sheet over the side of the wall.

Moving from her perch on the branch, Jing Li shimmied down the makeshift rope until her feet finally touched the ground outside of Shui Long's estate. The landscape beyond the protection of the god's carefully tended gardens, appearing barren and more threatening to her in the night. Jing Li proceeded cautiously through the darkness of this foreign land with only the light of a half-moon to guide her. Mindful to take careful note of her surroundings as she progressed in order to find her way back to the walls of the water god's estate. Jing Li thought that these directions would probably be useful to her, once the golden lotus was confirmed to be a myth and she would be ultimately forced to return empty handed. However, Jing Li did not let the threat of failure dissuade her from at least trying in this instance as she continued east from Shui Long's residence. 

Jing Li's journey found to be relatively short, as she was to stumble upon the marsh some ten minutes later. She watched the fireflies that drifted through the reeds of the Forgotten Marshes. The insect's flickering light reflected in the dark waters. There was a croaking which emanated from the fat toads that eyed them hungrily from below as she progressed. The sounds of the wetlands echoing more radically in the night. Jing Li flinched at every plop of a toad who sought cover beneath the mud or unidentified rustling noise that sounded from afar as she waded into the marsh. Pulling aside the thick clusters of reeds as she moved forward slowly, each step she took was announced by a grim squelching from her shoes.

The boots quickly filled with mud that invaded the spaces between Jing Li's toes and beneath her nails as she trudged forward. She ignored the frantic rhythm of the heartbeat in her chest, which had been agitated by the terror of the unknown creatures lurked within the marsh. Continuing to scan the wetlands for any sign of the golden lotus as she waded in deep enough for the water to reach her waist. Jing Li was just about to admit to her humiliating defeat, when a glimmer from between a grouping of reeds captured her attention. Parting their tall stalks to reveal the petals of a bright and yellow lotus blooming unassumingly in the foreboding marsh. The flower resembled a few pleasant rays of sunshine that had fallen to the earth in the surrounding darkness.

Relieved that the illusive plant had allowed her to discover its whereabouts, Jing Li bent to admire its golden petals. However, still conscious of the risks that she had taken in coming here. She did not permit herself to become too enthralled by the lotus's beauty before setting about searching for the husk of another that had come before it. The dried shell of the flower, containing seeds once it was to shed its glorious petals. Finding this husk would prove to be more difficult than the lustrous flower that was still in bloom. Fumbling through the obscurity of the marsh some minutes, before she was eventually to find the dry stalk of a golden lotus. Jing Li tucked the cone of the flower between the folds of the house ill-fitting coat that she wore. 

Securing its stem by fastening the fabric belt on the garment even tighter around her waist. Jing Li had turned to leave, when she felt the cold touch of a hand claw at her from beneath the water. Not eager to discover what it was that scraped at her leg with its sharp nails, Jing Li accelerated the pace of her departure. However, discovering that a speedy retreat was nearly impossible due to the muddy terrain. Jing Li had not gotten far, before there was another hand, which seized her by the ankle. The creature's vehement grip refusing to relinquish her this time, Jing Li dropped down into the mud. Alarmed as more figures rose up from the depths of the marsh to assist in the vindictive task of drowning the human they had discovered, Jing Li splashed wildly against their pull. 

The vengeful phantoms, possessing faces that had been made grotesque by decay, Jing Li knew that she had stumbled upon the tortured souls of people who had drowned in these waters. The Shui Gui, meaning to make their victims suffer in the same way they had. They did not relent as Jing Li clutched at anything on the surface of the marsh that might preserve her. There was a clump of mud and roots that came loose from the cluster of reeds that Jing Li had grasped as she struggled against the Shui Gui. Their long nails digging into her skin and clothes, Jing Li released a distressed cry for help into the darkness. Knowing that the vague call was not likely to be heard as she was dragged below the surface of the water. Her futile efforts could not prevent more ghouls from coming forward to press Jing Li's body down onto the bottom of the marsh.

Her lungs burning from the toxic air that was held inside of them and eyes becoming clouded by the murky waters which stirred around her. An impending darkness closed in on her, Jing Li was prepared to face death yet again. When, suddenly there was a tremor that coursed through the waters surrounding her. The marsh hit by an unpredicted force that caused the Shui Gui to disperse in various directions. The few ghosts, who could not be pursued to release Jing Li, were crushed under the form of the mighty serpent which appeared in the desolate wetland.

Gasping frantically for air as Shui Long's thick coils managed to dredge her body from the bottom of the marsh. Jing Li hung limply in the god's firm hold for a long while, whilst he reviewed her tattered attire and the vicious cuts on her skin in a grave silence. Shui Long's golden irises flashing with the severity of his discontent, they inspired a fear within Jing Li as she met his gaze. Shuddering as the forceful emotions of his rage and disappointment struck her heart. Jing Li could comprehend the offense and injury that had been caused by her reckless actions through Shui Long's glower alone. The god's reprimands postponed until she had been returned to his estate. Jing Li was hauled back to the Lotus Pavilion by the seething serpent. 

Secured indelicately in the water god's broad coils in their silent journey back through the marshes. Jing Li was flung down onto the floor of her chambers, once they had returned to the estate. Hissing from the pain this harsh movement extracted from the new wounds and cuts inflicted by the ghouls of the marsh. Jing Li flicked the wet hair from her face to regard the infuriated god. Wishing to beg forgiveness, there were only fearful tears to arise from the corners of Jing Li's eyes as she knew that the words of an apology could not cross her lips. Shui Long's form, changing back to that of a human as he stood over her pitiful figure. The anger in the god's features did not diminish as he yelled, "How dare you try to end your life!" His irises still ignited with the extent of his fury, Shui Long continued, "You are my bride, it is for me to decide whether you live or die!" 

The god's brow furrowing, and jaw clenched in anger, Jing Li reached out timidly in an attempt to calm him. However, finding that this gesture was not to be appreciated by him at this time. Jing Li's hand was to recoil in pain as Shui Long slapped it away in anger as he said, "Perhaps, I was too lenient with you from the start, but make no mistake only I decide if you are to leave this place." Rubbing the spot on her hand that now stung from the god's out lash towards her. Jing Li felt helpless to his wrath as she sat silently gazing up at him from the puddle of marsh water left on the floor. 

The other members of the household alerted to the god's presence in the Lotus Pavilion by the severe reprimanding that was heard from outside the chambers. There were a few maids seen lingering in the doorway behind Shui Long. However, the water god paid them no mind as he continued to growl, "I don't care if you are to loathe me, you are to remain here at my pleasure." Certain that it was not entirely true that Shui Long did not care if their relationship was to disintegrate into one based solely off of contempt. Jing Li attempted again to offer the god some assurance that her intentions for leaving were never to injure him. 

Clear that Shui Long had said all that he wished to disclose to her at this time. Jing Li sprung up from her position on the floor as he turned to leave. Her ankle throbbing with a fresh agony, there was a faint grunt to cross Jing Li's lips as she lunged forward. The desperate attempt to detain the god, only succeeding once she had managed to catch hold of one of the long sleeves of his robe. Shui Long's fury would prompt him to turn back on her fiercely. His glare set on Jing Li as she removed something from inside of her sullied clothes. Her small palm extended towards him with trepidation, before Jing Li placed the dark seeds from the golden lotus into his hand. Unsure what was meant by this strange present, Shui Long stared at the seeds within the open palm of his hand for a while, before a whisper was heard from amongst the maids in the doorway. 

"I can't believe she actually found it?" Xiao Yu said softly. Hardly realizing that the words had slipped from her mouth, until the others in the room turned their attention towards her. The water god's glare turned onto the little maid now as he demanded crossly, "You! Explain to me what the meaning of this is?" Xiao Yu bowed sheepishly as she stepped forward. 

"Courtesan Lu Qi told the Mistress that the seeds from a golden lotus could help you to recover your strength, Master." She replied respectfully. Considering this new information solemnly for a minute, the ferocity held in Shui Long's golden irises gradually began to fade as he came to understand Jing Li's misguided motives. However, the wrath that he had felt, not subsiding easily. The god was to observe Jing Li's watery eyes and injuries once more, before issuing a final reprimand, "Don't ever do something like this again."