Faithful Heart (Flesh of my Flesh...Blood of my Blood 2)

Chapter 43

The death of Caspara Baba had been a shock to Zhe Yan who had teleported to the forest just as she disappeared in a mist of green light. Caspara was the last of the Old Gods, only Donghua was older than she was, and her death reverberate through the Universe in a long mournful groaning. The earth shook and the seas raged as a rain of meteorites came down from the grieving heavens. The animals cried in the forest and Mi Gu grieve as he hugged the black panther that had been stroke by Caspara in her dying moments.

Feng Jiu stood kneeling where Caspara had drawn her last breath, she wished there had been more time to speak with her, to ask her about Meifeng and the kind of woman she had been. "Did you know about Meifeng?" Feng Jiu asked Donghua.

"No, Caspara and I met a few thousand years before the manifestation of the Red Nine Tail fox. I briefly passed through this forest before leaving for the East. This was before my human face manifested." Donghua said and knelt to pick up Feng Jiu.

"We must put up a stone to allow everyone to mourn her passing." Zhe Yan said as he waved his hand and a white marble materialized with Caspara's name.

Donghua hugged Feng Jiu to his chest and felt a presence, looking up he stared into an owl hiding amongst the foliage of a tree. The owl seemed to nod, familiar power flowing form him, before taking off into the night, his wings flapping. It seems he would be expecting a visit from his adoptive mother at any moment.

"I was coming to report that Bai Lei had woken up. He is in perfect health and lucidity when I felt Caspara Baba passing onto the Realm of Nothingness. How can this be, Brother?" Zhe Yan asked Donghua who looked at him and shook his head.

"Caspara gave up her life energy to reinforce the sacred tree that died to seal Miao Lou." Donghua said and Zhe Yan startled.

"Miao Lou is indeed a problem." Zhe Yan said as he looked back on the monument, he had erected for Caspara. "Perhaps it is time I bring back my sword that is sealed in Kunlun Mountain."

"Yes." Donghua said heavily. "Also, you should tell Mo Yuan to ready his disciples. The spider sisters have broken into this Universe. They are to be vigilant."

A few days later...

It was the day of High Godess Bai Quian and Crown Prince Ye Hua's wedding banquet.

The Fox Palace was in state of chaos, for weeks on end flowers and tapestries depicting the most heroics of Qiung Qiu's ruler moments had been rolled out. Tapestries depicting the times when Donghua had been Lord of the East and had come riding a large white tiger striking the peace alliance that allowed him to crowned himself Heavenly Lord decorated the entrance to the throne room in the Fox Palace. Closer to the entrance a new tapestry had been rolled out depicting Bai Quian sealing away Qing Cang and ascending to High Goddess status as well as a tributary tapestry depicting Ye Hua heroically sacrificing himself to the Bell of the East Emperor in the opposite wall.

Feng Jiu had heard that there would celebrations in all the provinces of Qing Qiu and she craved going to the festivals, she had talked Donghua into going to a few of them already. Cheng Yu had descended to eat breakfast with her and Bai Quian bringing the latest gossip from the Nine Heavens and a table full of the best food had been laid down for them.

"I heard that First Prince Yang Cou got himself a new concubine." Cheng Yu said.

"How many does he have?" Feng Jiu asked innocently.

"All high-ranking officials are allowed nine women. One legal wife, four side consorts and four concubines to be styled as Madams. They can all be easily put aside if they are barren." Cheng Yu explained.