Chapter 7 - Pleasant Surprises



The family of three deities had bid adieu to their relatives in Quingqui and taken the magical boat to Bihai Cangling. Dijun and Fengjiu had both managed to handle their respective duties and arranged for messengers to visit them here at their new place of residence, actually their real home, for the next few months. They were all very excited about it.


Feng Jiu was remembering their last visit fondly. The last time she had been here, she had spent some magical time with Dijun.


Dijun was also remembering his last visit. But there wasn't any fondness in those memories for him. He had been there to build the Star Light ward. He had hardly expected to come back alive to this place, much less to come back alive with his wife and son. He looked at Xiaobai and marveled at her. It had been her who had saved him and saved his home. She was the best. He lovingly played with her hair.


Gungun saw that they were about to reach a beautiful landscape, the likes of which he had never seen. "Father, your home is so beautiful. It's even better than the Sky Kingdom!", he exclaimed clapping excitedly.


"Gungun's reaction to Bihai Cangling is just like yours when you came here for the first time.", said Dijun smilingly to Xiaobai. "It's your home too, Gungun. It's our home.", he added. He liked the sound of that very much.


Xiaobai noticed that a lot had changed since she had last visited. Rows of fruit trees and vines had been planted - grapefruits, pears, and grapes. There was a long corridor with an artificial hill. The hill really looked like a real rocky mountain, just smaller than a mountain. On either side of the corridor, there were beautiful trees of foiling flowers. Spiritual birds danced to 'paying homage to the Phoenix' nearby.


Then there was a pavilion overlooking a lotus pond. White and pink lotuses swayed gracefully in a cool breeze there. White sandalwood on each side of the pavilion gave the seating area a perfect cover from the sun.


Xiaobai recalled her own words from the last time she had visited. Dijun had done everything she had asked for. She was transfixed.


When they walked a little further, her jaw dropped to the floor. Sitting atop a slightly raised platform was a house. Not just any house - the bamboo house she had drawn! Oh, Dijun!!!! She stood dumbfounded with tears in her eyes.


Dijun realized she had stopped walking and turned around. When he saw her face he asked with worry, "What's wrong? Did I mess it up?" Forgetting about Gungun watching them, she ran forward and hugged him. She buried herself in his arms and said, "No, Dijun. No mess up. This is perfect. You made our home. Our home!" She choked on her emotions and couldn't say anything else. Dijun smiled and planted a kiss on her head.
Gungun was watching all this and came running. "Mother and Father are kissing again. I want a kiss too.", he giggled. Dijun picked him up and twirled him high. His happy giggles and Dijun's throaty laughter filled the space. And Xiaobai's heart. They were home.


When they went inside, Xiaobai realized that all the basic things they had planned for, had been done. There was a study, a living room, and a well-lit, well-ventilated kitchen. The large kitchen window overlooked the fruit trees. There were two identical rooms - one for Gungun and another for his little brother/ sister, as Dijun explained, his eyes hinting mischievously. It made Gungun very excited to think that he would have a playmate. Then there were a couple of guest rooms. Dijun and Xiaobai's room was a spacious suite with a large bed. A foiling flower tree was the headboard of that bed. They even had a nice little hot spring next to their room.


"Dijun, the house is great, but there's still work to do. We have to set up the kitchen, the wardrobes, and such.", began Xiaobai. "If I do everything myself, what will you do?", he interrupted her, pretending to be arrogant, and tapped her forehead. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ears "But I have already done so much work here. You owe me big this time. I will collect my dues from you at night." Seeing her cheeks instantly color up pleased him a lot. There was a balcony behind their room. It overlooked a large playground with targets set up for practicing archery, an open space for sword plays and martial arts. On one side was another building. "That is a workshop where we can forge weapons. I have also placed all the weapons I have made or collected in a room in there. I am sure you will like it.", said Dijun. She looked at him with pride in her eyes. Dijun felt that all his efforts had been totally worth it.


"I am so hungry, mother. When can we eat?", asked Gungun. "You and Father can put your things in your rooms. I will quickly get food ready.", said Xiaobai patting him. They all went their separate directions and got busy.


After some time they all got together in the dining room and ate a simple but delicious meal. Fengjiu had found that right next to the kitchen was a vegetable and herb garden. She had picked some fresh veggies to prepare rice porridge and mushrooms-vegetables stir fry. Some lentil cakes rounded up the meal. She had always been good at cooking. Her years in the mortal realm had helped her perfect the art of making do with whatever was available.


After they cleared up all the food, Fengjiu wanted to go to her room and take a nap. But Dijun insisted they go to the lotus pond and catch some fish. She almost suspected that he wanted to keep her away from their bedroom. "Maybe he has made a mess in there with all the stuff. I better not go in there or else I will end up cleaning everything myself.", she thought to herself as she followed her guys to the pond. When they got there, she rested her head in Dijun's lap and dozed off happily.


She woke up a little while later when tiny hands were trying to tap on her head. "Mother, wake up! Look I caught a fish!! My first ever fish!!!", Gungun was showing off with eyes wide with excitement. She couldn't help by smile at him. "I will make sweet and sour fish for dinner tonight with this. You both like it, don't you?" She said. Two heads full of silver hair nodded in fervent agreement. "Like father - like son", she chuckled.


She completely lost herself in cooking dinner. In addition to sweet and sour fish, she also made sticky rice and soup. "For Dijun and Gungun. They need this nourishment.", she told herself. All this was gobbled up pretty quickly between the three of them.


After dinner, they took off for a long walk that led them back to the weapon forge. Dijun took them in and Fengjiu was like a kid in the candy store. She enjoyed designing and creating mechanical weapons. Among other things, this was something she and Dijun had in common. Gungun was quite curious and looked around with amazement. But he was slowly beginning to get tired and needed to get to bed. So they all returned homewards.


"You take him to his room and get him ready for bed. I will bring him a glass of milk. He will sleep well with that.", said Dijun. Fengjiu nodded and walked away holding Gungun's little hand. In his room, she helped him bathe and change. They both were happy they didn't need to dye his hair anymore. As she was settling him in his bed, Dijun came in with a glass of milk in his hand. He made sure Gungun finished it up. Then they both dimmed the candles, kissed Gungun sweet dreams, and left the room.


When they reached the doorstep of their bedroom, Dijun gestured for Feng Jiu to stop. "What's wrong?", asked Feng Jiu puzzled. "Close your eyes.", ordered Dijun. "Why should I?", replied Feng Jiu more puzzled. "Please, Xiao Bai. Do as you are told.", Dijun coaxed her. So she sighed and closed her eyes. "You are acting very weird tonight.", she said.


She found herself being lifted in his arms. She felt the door opening and he walking in with her.


"Can I open my eyes now?" Feng Jiu asked. "Not yet, just a little bit longer.", Dijun replied. She could feel the smile in his voice.


"What's going on? I am opening my eyes now." She nagged him anxiously as she felt herself being lowered on something extremely soft.


"Wait. Just a few more moments.", Dijun replied as he adjusted her clothes. "Okay, you can open your eyes now.", he said.


She was so not ready for what she was seeing. The room had been transformed. It looked like a bride's chamber on a wedding night. There was an altar placed for heaven worship ceremony. Gold, white and purple lanterns adorned the ceiling. Matching candles, flower arrangements, and curtains hung everywhere. Every seat in the room and the whole bed was covered in foiling flower petals. She was draped in her wedding gown. And then as she turned towards Dijun she saw that he himself was looking extremely handsome in his wedding attire. Nothing in the room was nearly as mesmerizing as the sight of the regal man himself. He took her breath away and she could not help but stare at him open-mouthed.


"I never gave you a proper wedding. I have regretted that very much.", he said huskily as he walked towards her with a purple veil. "Tonight, let's get married, Xiao Bai.", he said softly as he came close and arranged the veil over her hair. She didn't know what to say or do. She was completely under his spell.


He led her by her hand towards the altar. They kowtowed to heaven and earth. They remembered her parents and kowtowed for them. Then they bowed to each other. Very carefully he lifted her veil and took her hands in his.


"In all three eternities, you are the only one who has moved my heart, Xiaobai. You, little fox, will always belong to me.", he looked deeply into her eyes and promised possessively.


She smiled with stars in her eyes and promised him back, "In any eternity I will bring you in my life. Because I love you the most Dijun, you will always belong to me."


He leaned in and covered her lips with his. He felt her respond to him and deepened the kiss. She trembled and moved closer to him in arms. Slowly he moved to her ear. "Ever since I have had this dress made for you, I have imagined so many ways I would like to undress you from it.", he teased huskily. "Um? So you got this elaborate and extravagant dress made only so that you could undress me from it?", she asked pulling back and squinting her eyes at him. "HHmm.. ", he pursed his lips and nodded solemnly. "You are so... ", she started to say, but completely lost her train of thought under his hot, hungry gaze. He claimed her lips and started undressing her slowly.




{Image Sources:
Dong Hua: https://daydaynews.cc/en/entertainment/419895.html
Feng Jiu: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1196337391276429/}

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