The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

The light of the candles, seeming to dance on top of the warm waters of the bath. Shui Long became entranced by their movements as they began to fall still. The sound of Jing Li's uneven breaths, fading into blissful sighs as she slumped down onto his shoulder. The water god was not to move from their entangled position upon the pool's platform, whilst the excited thumping in his chest persisted to defy its normally staid rhythm. 

The only movement, that of Jing Li's breasts as they savored each shallow breath of air. Shui Long watched their soft mounds bob calmly in the water as he began to caress her hair. Their bodies, feeling as though they were melded together in the waters of the bath. They continued to adhere to one another as the tempo of Shui Long's hand started to coax his bride to drift off into the tender tides of sleep. Too anxious to move for fear of breaking the enchantment that had bewitched them or awakening his sleeping beauty, the god remained in this attitude for a while. 

Reveling in the sublime peace that was to pass over them in this moment, after the tumultuous storm of events, which had transpired as of late. The unfortunate demise of this peace was to come at the hands of Shui Long's own troublesome musings. Disturbing him from the dark and chaotic places, where they usually lurked to sow the seeds of discord amidst his thoughts. The god's earlier elation of receiving Jing Li's acceptance to his proposal, now turned once again to doubt and dread for the arduous path they had chosen. 

Frustrated that all of the careful deliberations that he had made until now, had ultimately been upended by Xi Yang's untimely appearance in his life. Shui Long regretted that his own agitation and insecurities had led to the completely impromptu proposal in the baths, which posed implications for the estate's dubious equilibrium. The prospect of his happiness, quickly becoming eclipsed by concerns for how the announcement of Jing Li's ascension might inspire a revolt amongst his Consorts and supporters. Shui Long grew pensive as he contemplated how best to rectify the situation, so that it was to result in the least amount of damage to his standing.

Finding himself at least somewhat fortunate to possess a bride that was not likely to advertise the new advancement to her position. Shui Long knew that it was still necessary to inform the other Consorts of his plans. Aware that this news would upset Lu Qi, who had basked in the light of her status as First Consorts for centuries. The water god was less anxious towards the potential retaliation of one of his courtesans, than he was of the political backlash he would suffer for promoting a human offering over his oldest and arguably most influential Consort.

His mind, still burdened by thoughts of rebellions, yet to be quashed and battles to come. Shui Long tenderly took the slumbering woman from his lap. The god's mind eased mildly by the countenance of his bride resting contentedly as a cat upon his shoulder. Shui Long bundled her up within his arms, whilst he proceeded from the pool. Careful not to jostle her as he mounted the stairs that led out from the pool's warm waters. He was almost tempted to wake Jing Li once more as he observed an alluring steam waft from her dewy body in the humid air of the baths. 

However, this impulse, quickly subdued by his most irksome thoughts, Shui Long strode away from the bath. Neglecting the clothes that had been discarded by the edge of the pool as he wove between the glistening waters contained within their carved basins. The water god eventually arrived back at the dimly lit corridor that led to his chambers. Advancing down the somber hallway at a measured pace, until they were finally to reach the double doors at its end. Shui Long paused, whilst waiting for the portal to glide seamlessly apart in front of them.

The doors, opening to reveal the ornate furnishings that adorned the room once more. Their silhouettes were tinged in the dark blue hues of the night that encroached upon the chambers. The darkness creeping in through the tall open frames of the windows, Shui Long regarded them with some sobriety as he approached the bed. Laying the sleeping Jing Li down amidst the ample fabric that covered the mattress's wide expanse. Her delicate physique appeared to be like a solitary island in the sea of endless sheets for a moment, before Shui Long finally reached over to pull a corner of the coverings over her naked body. 

Wishing to lay beside his bride as he observed the enduring rise and fall of her chest and the slight flutter of her eyelids as she slept. Shui Long pulled on a robe, when his mind could not be persuaded to allow him the reprieve that sleep might bring. Regretting that the woman, who now slept peacefully in his bed, should be made to suffer the consequences of his affections for her. Shui Long ran a hand through the lengths of white hair that began near his temple as he turned from her slowly. Emitting a long sigh as he took up a jug from a nearby table, his brooding did not permit him to regard Jing Li again as he walked out of the room. 

Exiting through one of the imposing openings, which stood tall on either side of the bed, and out onto the terrace. Shui Long's neck craned upwards slightly as he noted the faint light of a few distant stars twinkling overhead. Sparkling brilliantly amidst the dark tapestry of a cloudless night, the god envied how far removed they were from the concerns that grounded him to the terrace. Admiring the cold glint of their orbs and the sliver of a waning moon, which accompanied them, for a quiet moment. The water god was then to look down onto the feeble impression that they cast upon the pond. 

Their reflections wavering on the water's surface as he sat on the edge of the platform. Shui Long observed the timid beauty of the golden lotus buds and the chirp of a few grasshoppers as he pried the cork out from the jug he had taken from his chambers. Hoping to find a solution to his problems, the god lifted the container of liquor to his lips somberly. However, discovering, as per usual, that the first drink did not provide him with any useful answers. Shui Long had begun to take another swig of the wine, when he noticed a tremor shake the clear waters of the pool.

Ripples, originating from where the water god had previously thrown the limp form of his injured brother. Shui Long glanced over to see Xi Yang transform into the shape of a man once more. His robes saturated with the water he had been soaking in for several hours, Xi Yang groaned as he stood amidst the lily pads. The man's brows, knitting together in confusion as he stared around at his surroundings, he finally received some clarity once he saw that Shui Long was observing him from his perch upon the terrace.

A grimace of agony, disturbing the otherwise handsome features of his face as Xi Yang waded towards where his brother sat. There was another more grievous groan that escaped from him as Xi Yang hauled himself up onto the raised platform. Obviously exerting himself in carrying out this action, Shui Long's young brother panted mildly as he plopped down beside him. However, the water god, unable to be moved by the dramatic display of his agony, he remarked coldly, "It lives." 

The comment saturated with the vexation that Xi Yang's presence inspired within him at this time. Shui Long's younger brother was entirely too preoccupied with his pain to provide the god with the overt reaction that his sarcasm possibly meant to arouse from him. Holding onto his side as he laid dripping on the boards of the terrace, Xi Yang answered, "I heard there was a drink to be had up here." The smirk that might have otherwise graced his lips, hindered by a wince of pain. Shui Long took another gulp from the jug in his hand, before averting his gaze from the pathetic display.

"If a drink is all that was required to summon a person from the brink of death, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of bringing you here." replied the god as he set down the container of liquor between them. Acknowledging this gesture to be the closest semblance of an invitation that he was likely to receive from his brother, Xi Yang prized himself from the boards. Taking the bottle up in the hand that did not hold the wound on his side, the Zhu Nou groaned moderately as he raised the bottle to his lips. Nevertheless, he persisted through the pain to finally draw a long sip from the jug that was offered. 

Emitting a sigh as the bottle left his lips, Xi Yang said, "I suppose, I should thank you for saving my life." The comment, made somewhat reluctantly, even with the aid that alcohol had provided him. Shui Long was still not to regard his brother as he answered, "It was Jing Li. If it were up to me, you would have perished in that cave." Not seeming at all surprised by the god's contempt after his plots of revenge had ended in disaster. Xi Yang drew in another sip of the strong alcohol that was shared between them before responding, "You always were severe with your punishments, brother." 

Handing the jug back to Shui Long as he wiped some of the liquor from his lips with the thick pad of his thumb, Xi Yang added, "You should be cautious not to let your justice become cruelty though." The prudent warning provided by the younger brother he had always known to be impulsive and immature, provoking one of Shui Long's eyebrows to arch in marked disbelief. The god gulped down another portion of the wine, before answering, "Cruelty runs within my blood, the same way chaos runs in yours."

The bleakness contained in these words, prompting the two brothers to gaze into the pool in abject reflection. They allowed the alcohol to numb their pain for a time as they stared out at the image of the stars dancing tranquility upon the surface of the pool. Until Xi Yang at last felt the need to play the optimist among them. 

"Maybe there is hope for us both." he said. Still looking down into the pond as he considered the hope contained in his brother's words. Shui Long contemplated the gentle buds of the golden lotuses, which he had nurtured from the seeds Jing Li dredged out from the Forgotten Marshes.

"Perhaps." he answered. Possibly allowing himself to share in a sliver of the hope that Xi Yang possessed, Shui Long passed the container back to his brother this time as they continued their conversation. However, the alcohol, seeming to have already begun to dissolve some of the Zhu Nou's inhibitions. The water god was soon to recall why his brother had not often been his preferred drinking partner in the past. 

"You really care for that human woman, don't you?" Xi Yang said after taking a large swill of the liquid in the container.

 Immediately placed on edge at the mention of the woman, who occupied a great deal of his thoughts and was the source of most of his concerns. Shui Long considered the dizzying heights of his sentiments for Jing Li and the contemptible confines of the realities that they faced as he responded, "So much that it will be my undoing." Xi Yang emitting an exaggerated hiss after downing more of the wine, he said, "As much as I would like to see that. I feel that I am now obligated to help you, brother." Made skeptical by his brother's sudden change of heart, in case it was yet another one of his schemes to undermine him. Shui Long turned towards him now as he replied dubiously, "Is that so?" 

"Don't get me wrong, we have unfinished business between us." Xi Yang said, sloshing the contents of the bottle around as he spoke, "But Jing Li doesn't deserve all of the hassle that you're putting her through." Remaining silent to the fact that Xi Yang had contributed a great deal to their trials as of late, Shui Long eyed the man that had begun to sway along with the stars in the pool as he continued to speak. Draining the container of the last of the last remaining vestiges of its contents, he declared, "I'll stay just to make sure no one else is able to slip past your defenses in order to steal away your precious human." 

Although made suspicious that his brother's promise could not be entirely relied upon by the moderate looseness observed within his movements and speech. Shui Long could not help feeling that the sentence of being made to keep a watchful eye over his bride, served in some way to justify the crime of her abduction. The poetic justice of this proposal, eventually leading Shui Long to accept Xi Yang's offer. The water god's thin lips curled vaguely into a subtle smirk as he responded, "I'll hold you to that."