The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

A string quartet found in prime position within the enormous garden of the thunder gods manor. Music floated amidst the bamboo and the tranquil rippling water over the stone features and manufactured streams surrounding the courtyard. The elegant melody obstructed by chatter of gossip and politics that swirled among the many deities that were gathered there. Shui Long sipped placidly from a goblet of wine that had been provided to him as he endured a miserable evening in the company of the gods. 

Resenting having been coerced into a social appearance by his mother, the malcontent within the water god's dark gaze was undisguised as he stood in a corner of the yard. Games and impressive culinary feats there to divert almost everyone's attention in the garden. Shui Long chose instead to pass most of the event making insignificant small talk with those few deities who wished to approach him; and contemplating what might be an acceptable time for him to fabricate an excuse to return to his agreeable bride. Looking out over the sea of familiar faces disinterestedly for a while, the water god's thoughts of Jing Li eventually turned to his risky ploy of sending her back to the Mortal Realm and its nearly disastrous end. 

Shui Long, left to pace for hours before Shan Yu was to arrive back at his estate with Jing Li. He had not expected for them to be detained at the grave site for so long as to return at the last possible moment. The water god's anxiety surrounding the late retrieval of his bride, primarily due to the information he had withheld from her when proposing the plan. Shui Long knew that if the shower were to cease and Jing Li's feet were to be met with dry land; that it would be impossible for her to come back from the Mortal Realm using the same methods which had been employed to send her there in the first place. Nervous that the realm she had hailed from seemed determined to keep her, Shui Long was relieved when his attendant and bride finally did wash up upon the embankment of the decorative pond found within the estate that day. 

Considering the chances of failure in this scheme he had concocted to prove himself the benevolent benefactor of his human bride to be marginally slim. Shui Long could admit now that he was remiss to allow Jing Li to visit her village without first taking the necessary precautions to ensure she could return to him easily. Most mortals, only given the chance to cross realms once at death. The Other Realm would need to stake some claim over Jing Li, if she were to travel between the domains freely in future. The easiest way to accomplish this feat, being through marriage to a god. Shui Long acknowledged that he would have to name Jing Li his official wife, if he was truly to be invested in the future of their relationship. 

However, this task, not as straightforward as simply declaring their mutual affections for one another and holding a ceremony. Their union would first require the approval of the Celestial Court. The Court, composed of deities from noble titles and infamous origins, chief among them was the Supreme God of the Heavens, Tian Gong, who ruled them all. The King of the Gods, being a wise but prudent man. Shui Long thought that it was unlikely for him to gain Tian Gong's blessing without first securing the support of his peers. The difficulty of proving his devotion to Jing Li, when he himself did not know the depth or longevity of the relationship, appreciated more so now as he stood amidst the relentless insipid chatter of his contemporaries. Shui Long eased the agitated throb in his temple with another sip from the goblet in his hand.

Considering this to be a mere foray into the insurmountable feat of gaining approval from the egotistical and condemnatory deities that were to be considered his peers. Shui Long had not bothered to trouble Jing Li or his consorts with the knowledge of his intentions to name a wife. Knowing that these events were not likely to be the only cause of his headaches in future as the water god imagined his First Consort's reaction to this news. This was to pale in comparison to the fear that Jing Li would reject his proposal entirely or the distress she might feel should Shui Long fail to gain the Court's approval for their marriage. However, resolving not to burden Jing Li with this decision, until it was absolutely imperative that he should receive an answer from her. The thought of this conversation possibly occurring at some point in the future, filled Shui Long simultaneously with excitement and dread now as he sequestered himself to a quiet corner of the courtyard. 

His mood steadily deteriorating, there was only a moment's reprieve before the water god was made to justify his relationship with Jing Li again. The gods' curiosity provoked by Hu Xian's relentless tittle-tattle regarding himself and the happenings of his estate. It was only in due time that a group should seek him out in the garden. The small cluster of gods headed by his mother, assembling around him. They were to first exchange pleasantries and trivial remarks regarding the nature of the event, before the focus should inevitably turn to the water god's human bride. 

"I heard you have managed to keep hold of one of your offerings, Shui Long." A lesser known deity inquired. Gathering from their conversation thus far that the bearded man had something to do with the crops and profitable yields in a western region. The water god did not consider the other god worthy of his contempt as he managed to display a tolerant smirk in response to his question. 

"Has she not succeeded in escaping you yet?" chimed a goddess from beside the bearded man. The deity's gaudy clothes and makeup unbecoming of her horse-like face. Shui Long could only endure to look at her for a short time, before responding placidly, "She has chosen to stay of her own accord." 

Unsurprised that he should be portrayed in this monstrous light by the other gods, who had heard stories of his rise to power and of his fabled father. Apprehensive of what Jing Li might think of him were some of these anecdotes from his past to come to light. The water god was glad that his bride would not hear of these tales until she had come to know him better; or if he was very lucky, not at all. Shui Long, vowing internally to himself to keep Jing Li from these tedious events as much as possible in the future. This solemn introspection was to be displayed clearly on his face, whilst the other two deities were to raise their eyebrows dubiously. Exchanging a glance with the goddess beside him before they were to continue the conversation. 

The god of bountiful crops emitted a nervous chuckle in an attempt to disperse some of the tension surrounding them. The god's beard still wagging in this strained expression of amusement, he remarked, "She must be quite something if she puts up with you, Shui Long." Although, knowing the comment to be a jab at his own difficult nature, the water god could not help but adopt a more genuine expression of contentment as he considered the other god's words. Thinking of Jing Li's astounding beauty and ability to find compassion in her heart despite the cruelty that the world had thrust upon her in life. He smiled as remembered the trust and affection that was found in her mesmerizing blue eyes when she looked at him, and hoped that one day he might be deserving of it. 

The solace that this mere memory brought him, causing Shui Long to forget his agitation momentarily. He replied, "I am fortunate that Jing Li chooses to overlook my flaws, yes." However, the goddess, seeming to be more cynical of Shui Long's affections for the human. She was to remark skeptically, "Could she tell you otherwise? I heard that she is quieter than a dormouse." The goddess's lip curled up in one corner of her mouth as she was still convinced that the water god's motives were not entirely pure. Shui Long's brows began to twitch in a mark of his minor annoyance at this quip, when his mother interceded with a witticism of her own. Arching an eyebrow towards the other goddess, she replied, "Some might see silence as a virtue." Hu Xian's lips puckering as she expressed her distaste for the goddess's tactless comment. Shui Long was too grateful to have her support in this argument to point out his mother's hypocrisy at this time. 

"A human does not belong in the Other Realm, Shui Long." Stated a deep voice rigidly from behind them. The group, all becoming quiet as they turned to regard their host Lei Gong and his wife. The water god returned the man's strict gaze with obvious contempt as the two entered into their circle. The god of thunder considered an honorable, yet unforgiving deity by many in the Celestial Court. It was no secret that the grouchy and judgmental stickler abhorred the serpentine water god of Xilian Lake. Not surprised that the thunder god should show staunch objection to his relationship with Jing Li. Shui Long tried not to let this aggravate him into saying something that he might regret as he replied, "I am not the only deity here to have a human bride, Lei Gong."

"But you are the only one that shares a bloodline with Xiang Lui." argued the thunder god pointedly. The accusation of Shui Long's inherent evil saturating the god's words and condemnatory gaze as he spoke. The water god had accepted that he would likely never be redeemed of the curse of his lineage for as long should live. However, he had never quite detested the serpent's blood which flowed within his veins more profoundly than he did in this moment. Jing Li and his intentional withdrawal from society, allowing Shui Long to forget for a time that he was a monstrous existence born from the vicious serpent that had nearly succeeded in reducing the world to waste. 

Xiang Lui's venom, being so vile, that even his lifeless corpse polluted the ground and water where it was laid to rest. His father's burial place was in a pond near Mount Kun Lun and sealed beneath a temple in order to deter any other evil creatures from aspiring to gain his destructive powers. The serpent that had long since departed from the world, leaving only one sole heir to inherit his legacy of his devastation upon the world. The other gods, who had fought to vanquish Xiang Lui, constantly suspicious that Shui Long should share commonalities or allegiances with the father that he had never known. The water god had met with their scorn and multiple attempts on his life since infancy.

However, holding no filial sentiments towards the legendary beast, that was his father. Shui Long tired of these baseless assumptions as he sighed a response, "Lei Gong, have I ever given you cause to suspect me of foul play?" Thinking on this point for a moment, the thunder god replied, "No, but I'm afraid that you have your mother's craftiness to thank for that." His dark irises, moving towards the cunning shape shifting goddess beside Shui Long. Hu Xian pouted indignantly as she huffed back at him, "Be kind now, Lei Gong. I'm sure that not even an old stick in the mud like you could find fault with the girl's character, if you were to meet her."

"What an excellent idea, Hu Xian." boomed the jovial voice that approached them. 

His eminent stature and shining aura instilling dread within him, long before Shui Long could distinguish the god's face. Tian Gong appeared among the group of gods in an abundance of shimmering golden robes. His face, deceptively young despite his existence seeming to predate time itself, the King of the God smiled at the astounded expressions which greeted him amicably. The group, bowing in acknowledgement of his lofty rank, Tian Gong continued to address them, "Why don't you bring your bride with you next time, Shui Long. So that we might resolve some of this curiosity and heedless gossip that seems to have overwhelmed my Court." 

Hoping to be granted a longer period in order to ease Jing Li into her life in the Other Realm, before subjecting her to the irksome politics of the Celestial Court. Shui Long knew that to deny the Supreme Ruler of the Heavens request now would not only be considered treasonous but would also stink undeniably of his desire to keep Jing Li to himself. Fully aware of the predicament presented to him, it seemed that the water god had no choice but to answer, "If that is your command, my Emperor. I would be happy to oblige."