The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

Petrified by fear, Jing Li's legs were moved out from under her by an unforeseen force in an instant. The impact of the unknown agent, enough to hurl her backwards. Jing Li let out a surprised yelp as her back met the wall behind her with a brutal thud. The air pushed from her lungs by the coarse rocks, Jing Li emitted a series of distressed gasps as she slid down onto the floor of the cave. The struggle to recover the air that had escaped her, unheard over the cascade of debris that was to rain from the ceiling shortly afterward. 

The violent descent of rock and crystal, sending a rumble through the cave. There were small shards of rock that ricocheted to pierce her skin and a thick veil of dust to obscure Jing Li's vision as she endeavored to peel herself from the ground. Wincing mildly from the sting of the stone's impressions upon her skin and the spasm of pain felt from her spine. Jing Li lifted herself enough to gaze over at the pile of rock and crystal that now occupied the place where she had stood seconds ago. Confused towards what had prevented her from being crushed beneath the rubble. Jing Li's eyes searched over the jagged outlines slowly, until they were to finally identify the individual responsible for her extrication. 

Her bright pupils, growing wide as they spotted a hint of red fur caught between the rocks. Jing Li clamped a hand over her mouth as she took in the horrifying sight of Xi Yang's limp body laying amongst the debris. A red liquid gleamed grimly beneath him in the dim light of the cave. Jing Li rose from the floor, only to stumble down beside the broken fragments of rock and crystal that had fallen from the ceiling. Hot tears rising to prick at the corners of her eyes, this moisture was only to accumulate further as Jing Li sought desperately to recover Xi Yang from the rubble. 

Laboring to push large rocks and brush away small pieces of debris from his soft coat with her delicate fingers. Jing Li finally uncovered enough of the fox's mutilated form to reveal a bright plume of blood that now flowed freely from his side. The liquid, creating a small puddle around him as it dripped from the strands of Xi Yang's red fur onto the cold ground. Jing Li suppressed tears as she attempted frantically to stifle the wound with the long sleeves of her attire. 

The creature's shaking diaphragm felt beneath her quivering fingers. Jing Li was not sure exactly when Shui Long had regressed back into his human form or for how long he had come to stand silently over the defeated form of his opponent. However, she chose not to acknowledge the look of cold indifference that could be observed amidst his features as he addressed her, "You needn't shed tears for him. It was his own flawed scheme that was his undoing." Providing further gravity to this statement by placing a heavy hand onto her shoulder. Jing Li was to brush away Shui Long's weighty palm as she recovered Xi Yang's flaccid body from the pieces of rock that remained scattered on the floor instead. 

Cradling him in her arms as round droplets of moisture trailed down the graceful arch of her cheek onto his fur. Jing Li smoothed the fox's coat in gentle apology for the injuries he had been made to suffer due to her own ineptitude. Xi Yang's efforts to remain true to the original conviction that no harm should come to her, moving the bride of the bride to find compassion for him. Jing Li hugged the creature's small listless frame to her chest as streams of sorrowful tears continued to slide from the rims of her eyes. 

The moisture, sparkling like the beads of dew observed on blades of grass in the vague morning light. Shui Long was finally prompted to emit an agitated sigh as he was to succumb to the whims of his bride's tender heart once more. 

"Would you still cry for the Zhu Nou, if he were to recover from his current state?" the water god asked. The tone of his voice becoming more annoyed now as he made this reluctant offer, Jing Li turned to regard him. 

Looking at Shui Long through the mist of tears that clouded her vision, there was an inquisitive fold between Jing Li's brows that prompted him to extend a partial explanation. Unwilling to promise Xi Yang's indefinite survival from his injuries, the god muttered a grudging suggestion, "There might be something to be done for him if we bring him back to the estate." Nodding an eager response towards Shui Long's proposal. There was a spark of cautious optimism ignited in her, which compelled Jing Li to stand from the pile of debris she had been kneeling beside. 

However, looking between the light in his bride's eyes and the bloodied creature that Jing Li still held in her arms. There was a severe line of discontentment that formed in the crevice of water god's lips. The thin band, eventually parting after a moment's consideration, Shui Long grumbled, "Give me that thing, first." This instruction, emphasized further, by the stern hand that was presented to her shortly afterwards. Jing Li hesitated to comply with the god's command directly. 

Recalling the vehement ire that the god had displayed towards his brother just minutes ago. Jing Li could not help but to question the motives behind Shui Long's desire to remove Xi Yang from her care at this time. However, deciding that she trusted the water god enough to honor the wish for no further harm to befall the defenseless creature she had recovered from the floor of the cave; Jing Li came to place the bloodied fox in Shui Long's outstretched hand.

Xi Yang's pitiably form hung from the crook of god's arm as he reached back to take Jing Li's hand. Shui Long's long fingers, intertwining resolutely with the digits that were still sullied with the blood of his younger brother; he pressed their palms together firmly as he began to lead Jing Li back through the narrow corridors of the cave. The vexation of being made to submit to her unreasonable request, transferring to the agitated pace of his strides as they walked silently through the darkness. Jing Li nonetheless felt a reassurance in the god's rapid gait and the strong grip of his hand on hers as they walked once more into the light of day.

Greeted by a forceful wind, which threw clumps of red dirt into their eyes and mouths as they traversed the jagged foothills. Jing Li spat and panted but issued no complaint at being dragged along behind Shui Long's broad steps. Droplets of sweat forming on her soft brow, they were to gradually slide from Jing Li's temple as they arrived at the banks of the river. The expanse of its coursing red waters drumming dauntingly in her ears. Jing Li was granted no time to become fearful of the concept of the water's unnerving force, before being thrust into the river's steady flow. 

Holding on to Shui Long's hand steadfastly as they trudged into the deep fault carved by the rushing waters. Jing Li's knuckles turned white from her conviction not to be swept away by the river's crimson tides. Closing her eyes as they were to sink below the water of the vast stream. Jing Li remained blind to the tumultuous flow that engulfed them, for a while before there was a moment of calm to descend upon them within the river's depths. The disorienting sensation of time and space shifting around them as they passed through the portal, it threw all concepts of direction or day into disarray in an instant. 

Until, finally, the uncomfortable feeling was to subside as quickly as it had arisen. Subsided into the vague dizziness that Jing Li was now marginally accustomed to as they returned once more to the tranquil waters of the coy pond in her chambers. Their sudden appearance there startled the fish into action. Their vibrant orange and white fins, flitting away from them as they floated up to the surface. The inhabitants of the pond appeared not to be the only creatures that had been disturbed by their presence. 

The maids of the Lotus Pavilion, seen to be whispering amongst themselves when they emerged on the surface of the pool. The group shrank sheepishly away from them along a far wall as Shui Long assisted his bride from the pool. The women evidently resigned to accept the water god's wrath as they bowed their heads submissively in his direction. They were to receive a small grace in the form of the other, more vexing matter that currently concerned him. 

Still occupied by the grudging task of saving his brother. The god merely cast a critical review over the furnishings and floor around them, which now gleamed with a layer of fresh polish. The carved table and elegant lines of the carpet restored to their rightful position before the settee; all objects in the room seemed to occupy the positions they had kept prior to the incident. All, excluding the vase that had once been perched proudly on the table, of course, as this was no doubt beyond hope of repair. 

Not offering a word of praise towards their efforts, Shui Long shot one last withering look in the maid's direction before marching from the room. His hand refusing to release Jing Li's fingers from their entanglement, she was made to fall in line with the water god's long strides as they strode through the halls of the Lotus Pavilion. Puffing after him as they departed the building, Shui Long's annoyed gait was still to offer Jing Li no respite in the outer walkways of the estate. The sound of their hurried steps trailing behind them in the courtyards and between buildings. They were to eventually arrive at the threshold of a grand residence. 

The structure, in keeping with the traditional aesthetic of the estate, encompassed by a broad moat. The dark tiles of the water god's mansion towered impressively above the surrounding rooftops. Their overlapping forms, glistening like inky black scales after the rain. Jing Li craned her neck to peer up at them in fascination as she was made to cross between the majestic columns that stood on either side of the tall doorway. The couple greeted instantly by stares from the curious staff of the main residence as they passed over the veined slabs of marble that lined the floors of the main residence.

They had barely stridden three meters from the door, when the outline of a familiar lean figure proceeded towards them. His forehead wrinkled with worry, there was a note of concern that Jing Li had never discerned in Shan Yu's voice before as he said, "Is that -?" Anxiety, seeming to prevent the attendant from completing the sentence as he gazed down fearfully at the wounded fox hanging from Shui Long's arm. The god responded at first with a blunt, "Yes." However, obviously feeling that this statement was likely to provoke further questions from Shan Yu, he added with equal terseness, "I'm handling it."

The attendant's face, remaining contorted by the severity of his distress. Shan Yu was to say nothing else as he hopped alongside them through the entry hall. The god's attendant accompanying their hasty procession through the distinguished halls of the residence, he was eventually instructed not to continue beyond the thick barrier that led into the god's chambers. 

"Leave us." Shui Long commanded. The cold dismissal issued as they arrived in front of a pair of carved wooden doors. Shan Yu regarded Xi Yang's limp body and shallow breathing one last time before he allowed them to cross the threshold, and ultimately from his view. 

The water god's chambers, wide enough to accommodate a sitting area and an ornate desk for him to work at peacefully. There was a light breeze that traveled through the floor to ceiling windows, which extended along the opposite wall. The fresh air, stirring the delicate curtains that enveloped the regal four poster bed centered between the openings. Jing Li was escorted through the lofty portals and onto a private terrace, before she was finally released from the guidance of Shui Long's unyielding grip upon her hand.

Supported above the glassy surface of a secluded pool, Jing Li walked out along the edge of the terrace. Pausing to observe the quivering reeds and the somber faces the lily pads that bobbed upon the water. Jing Li's eyes grew wide in wonder as they spied the bright buds of a few lotuses rising from the pool. Their golden petals shimmering shyly under the clouded sky. Jing Li drew in a little inhalation as she came to realize that these were the product of the seeds that she had secured from the Forgotten Marshes.

Believing that Shui Long had simply thrown the seeds away due to the bitter memories that the past incident might evoke. There was a warmth that spread to Jing Li's heart as she saw that the lotuses were thriving now in the water god's private quarters. Their young blooms, a tangible expression of the gradual blossoming of their love, Jing Li was warmed by this fanciful reverie. Until, she was to be interrupted by the sound of Xi Yang's body being unceremoniously discarded amongst the round leaves of the water lilies.