15 Chapter 14: A Love Rival Has Appeared?

New characters in this chapter:

Prince Zi Long: Second son of the Sky Emperor and Empress. Little brother of Quan Liang.

Xia Mei: Daughter of the most respected general of the Sky Clan. A High Deity1. She may seem like a sweet and friendly immortal, but she is cunning and arrogant. Has a one-side crush on Zhan Luo.

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When they were about to depart, Zhan Luo explained to Ruo Yin that celebrations that only the members of the Sky Clan could go to were for one day only.

"So, why did you order me to pack?" Ruo Yin said angrily.

Zhan Luo shrugged. He then used his powers to put Ruo Yin's suitcase back in her room.

"That..." Ruo Yin pointed toward the direction to where her suitcase went, "doesn't solve the situation."

"So, what should I do to make you happy?" Zhan Luo said.

"Here, eat more pastries," Ruo Yin then made her pastries appear. "I know you are sharing them with Si Ming so you don't get fat!"

Zhan Luo was already regretting playing that joke on Ruo Yin.

Ruo Yin then grabbed a red bean pastry, but Zhan Luo was faster and before she could hand him the pastry, he already lowered his head and ate the pastry from Ruo Yin's hand.

"Much better," Zhan Luo said as he cleaned the crumbs from his mouth.

"Let's go. We are going to be late," Those were the only words Ruo Yin could say as she put the pastries back.

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Si Ming was in his study finishing his writing about a man who was going to have a horrible death by being drowned in an icy lake in the middle of winter.

"Last one from today. Finished!" Si Ming said as he stretched out his arms.

He then started walking towards the main plaza where all the Sky Clan members were reunited to see the newborn prince. It was basically a replica of the reunion hall (without the chairs) but bigger so all clan members could gather.

The Sky Clan's territory was pretty vast. Even though, most of the free territory was used as training centers or mock battlefields since most of the clan members were warriors. The other great percentage were servants in the palace.

To maintain balance with all the clans, they divided all responsibilities among the clans. The Bird Clan was in charge of all living things that flew. The Flower Clan was in charge of food supply and plants. The Water Clan was in charge of tides and rain, and every living creature underwater. The Shape-shifting Clan was in charge of the animals on earth, and so on. Then there were immortals like Zhan Luo and Si Ming, himself, who had special duties. They were considered part of the Sky Clan since it was the ruling clan in the Immortal Realm.

People had already gathered around trying to be on the first line to see the Sky Emperor and Empress parade with their newborn son. Since Si Ming was considered part of the royal family, he did not need to struggle with the people. They had a special place reserved for him which was close to the stage. Just as he was about to walk to his place, he feels a hand touch his shoulder.

"Hi again, annoying friend!" Ruo Yin greeted the deity.

"I have told you that my name is Si Ming! Zhan Luo, do something about this."

"Ruo Yin, Si Ming may be annoying but you cannot call him that in front of him. Here we brought you some gifts," Zhan Luo then made Ruo Yin's pastries appear.

"Zhan Luo said that we should share it with you since you also liked it," Ruo Yin said to him.

"This guy brought these pastries as a form of revenge. They both are a match made from heaven. They were made to torture me!" Si Ming thought. Zhan Luo knew those pastries were not edible. Yet, he was bringing them to him.

"Thank you to both of you," Si Ming said trying not to cry.

"Si Ming, could you take care of Ruo Yin for a moment," Zhan Luo asked his friend.

"Um... sure, but where are you going? The Sky Emperor should present his newborn son soon," Si Ming asked him.

"Nothing important. There is just something that I need to speak with someone," Zhan Luo said.

"And you, stay close to Si Ming and don't go causing trouble," Zhan Luo said to Ruo Yin.

"I will stay so quiet that no one will notice me!" Ruo Yin replied.

Zhan Luo then started walking toward the crowd and was lost from sight.

"So, how are things going between you two?" Si Ming said playfully.

"Sh... don't speak about this in public!" Ruo Yin told him.

"Fine..."

Just as Si Ming said, the first-born son soon step forward to announce the arrival of his parents and little brother.

"And now, I present to you, my little brother, Zi Long!" said Prince Quan Liang.

The crowd applauded and cheered.

"Long live the little prince!" everyone said.

The Sky Emperor and Empress then gave a few words and thanks to the crowd for attending and immediately left. Soon the crowd also went back to their day-to-day activities.

"So, that was all?" Ruo Yin said.

"Yes. It is more about decorum than any other thing," Si Ming told her.

"So, where is Zhan Luo. He still hasn't come back," Ruo Yin started searching for him in the dispersing crowd.

"Oh no..." Si Ming managed to say.

"What?" Ruo Yin turned back to ask him.

"Nothing, my dear princess. Do you want to see my study where I write the mortal's fate?" Si Ming said nervously.

"What? No. Did you see Zhan Luo, I cannot see from where..." before Ruo Yin could finish she saw the War Deity, and beside him was a beautiful goddess.

She looked regal. Almost as beautiful as the Sky Empress herself. Zhan Luo did not look uncomfortable either. He spoke something to her and the goddess laughed. Even laughing, she looked regal. The both of them together looked as if they were heaven-matched.

"You know her, don't you?" Ruo Yin asked Si Ming.

"..." Si Ming stayed quiet.

"Answer me!" Ruo Yin shouted to him.

"Yes. She is Xia Mei. The daughter of one of the most respected generals in the Sky Clan. You could say she is your Sky Clan counterpart minus the adoption and dead parents part. The Sky Emperor and Empress dote on her a lot... or so gossips say. She has still not reached the rank of High Goddess, but she has already passed her heavenly trial, so she is a High Deity," Si Ming said as if he was reading a mortal's life record.

"So, she is the one you love, uh?" She knew Zhan Luo kept her at a safe distance since he still suspected that You Xie had ordered her to spy on him. Which was true. Yet she never had the intention of doing it. She just wanted to get close to him to see if he had anything to do with her parents' murder.

She also knew that their marriage was fake. But she thought that as the Sky Empress had told her, maybe love could surface after some time. Even so, seeing that scene made Ruo Yin's heart painful.

"Hey, little princess," Si Ming said putting one of his hands on her shoulder "Don't cry. Xia Mei has known Zhan Luo for a long time. If they were in love with each other, they could have just asked the Sky Emperor. And... rumors say that she is engaged to someone from the Shape-shifting Clan," Si Ming tried to comfort her.

When Ruo Yin was about to speak up, Si Ming nudged her to tell her that Zhan Luo was coming in their direction with Xia Mei.

"Are you okay, little princess?" Si Ming asked her.

Ruo Yin nodded.

Zhan Luo then spoke, "Did you enjoyed the event, Ruo Yin? By the way, this immortal here is Xia Mei. Since you don't have many friends, I thought you guys could have something in common."

Xia Mei then greeted Si Ming and Ruo Yin.

Ruo Yin nodded. Trying not to look into Zhan Luo's eyes.

"Sorry, Zhang Luo, she just felt unwell in the middle of the cheering," Si Ming intervened.

"I can take her to rest in the pavilion that is close by. So you guys can catch up," Xia Mei offered with a smile.

"Thanks, Xia Mei," Zhan Luo told her.

Ruo Yin silently followed Xia Mei to the same pavilion where she and Zhan Luo had spoken for the first time. Trying not to cry.

"So, you are the infamous Princess Ruo Yin from the Demon Clan," Xia Mei said changing completely her demeanor.

"Yes. Nice to meet you, Xia Mei," Ruo Yin said back.

"I won't be saying unnecessary things. Don't you want to know why your husband left you with his friend and was with me the whole time of the announcement?" Xia Mei provoked her.

Ruo Yin tried to appear calm and said, "It is his business. He is the War Deity, so it wouldn't be weird if he had something to speak with the daughter of a general who is also a trained soldier," Ruo Yin tried to maintain her composure, giving a small smile at the end.

This ticked Xia Mei.

"Well, this daughter of a general has many things to speak with Zhan Luo. Do you know he was going to propose to me, but my dear father decided it was better for me to marry someone outside the Sky Clan," Xia Mei said. She knew she had hit the mark when Ruo Yin did not speak.

"Just between us, you may be his wife, Demon Princess, but I will always be the one he couldn't get," Xia Mei smirked and left.

Ruo Yin wanted to cut Xia Mei into pieces and throw her into the River of Lamenting Souls in the Demon Clan. Yet, she knew that even if she did that, if what Xia Mei said was true, then Zhan Luo would only hate her more.

Si Ming then appeared.

"Are you okay little princess?" Si Ming asked her.

"Yes... No... I think I need some time alone. Don't tell Zhan Luo what happened. Just tell him I'm going back to the Demon Clan for a few days," Ruo Yin told him. Her tears already hanging in her eyelids.

"Okay... Take care. Please, don't put importance on what Xia Mei said. I have known Zhan Luo for many years, and he is not or was in love with that girl," Si Ming said.

"Thanks. You are not so annoying after all," Ruo Yin replied to him before leaving to the Demon Clan.