Lian Song and Cheng Yu were given the work of opening a gap between the shield which was blocking the path to go back to the heavenly realm. They both performed various incantations. In fact, they had been trying for days. One of the reason was they couldn't contact anyone in the upper realm, nor use many powers in the mortal realm. Thus the process was very slow. 

"Uh, I'm tired." Lian Song whined shifting over to Cheng Yu, who looked equally tired yet focused. 

"Di Jun is going to the cavern tonight. We have to focus on this. If we can break it, Tang Yin will be trapped there and Di Jun will bring back everyone. Just hold on a bit okay?" she said.

"I will if you give me a kiss," he said smiling at her.

"How can you even joke in this situation?" she said trying to show disdain.

"I'm doing this because it's this situation," he said with a chuckle. Cheng Yu looked over at him and sighed internally.

"Tang Yin. I've read about her in forbidden books. When she first used dark magic, she massacred a whole desert in a month on her own. According to Dong Hua, they are the ruins of the great ancient war. No one knows what they are doing in the mortal realm. However, the spells weakened because there is a legacy in there. If she accepts it and comes out..."

"I know. She won't. We just have to carry out the plan carefully and efficiently" Cheng Yu said clenching her teeth. Lian Song quickly bent over and kissed her cheek leaving Cheng Yu flustered and angry.

"I like you more like this," he said pretending to cry as Cheng Yu threw a punch in his face.

---

It was dark outside. The moon was full. The air was heavy. At least around Dong Hua. Feng Jiu and Dong Hua were coming back from a small date before the big date plans regarding the Qing Que festival. Feng Jiu was carrying a huge bouquet of flowers Dong Hua had surprised her with. Since morning she wouldn't part with them. She put a peach mochi inside her mouth and hugged Dong Hua, making him smile. She popped another peach mochi into her mouth and offered one to Dong Hua. But he leaned in to kiss her instead and then ate the peach mochi from Feng Jiu's hand while she was flushed. He liked to tease her.

"I think I've never eaten these many sweets in my life." Dong Hua said thoughtfully. Feng Jiu whirled around as they reached the hall and giggled.

"I haven't danced in so long. I feel like I'm getting out of practice," she said.

"Can you dance?"

"What do you take me for Di Jun? If you don't believe me I can show you," she said boldly moving towards him in a challenge.

"I'm not sure If I am a great judge," he said raising his arms in the air. She narrowed her eyes.

"You don't need to be biased. You can tell me the truth after I finish my performance," she said and kicked the shopping bags aside. A zither materialized in front of Dong Hua.

"Is that fine?" he asked Feng Jiu in an amusing tone.

"How boring. I've observed the dance of the mortal realm. We are really outdated now Di Jun. Although I'm quite good at the traditional dance too. I'll show you that some other day. For this dance I need you." she said with a mischievous light in her eyes. 

'Oh' was all he said. She took his hands in hers and placed one around her waist and the other on her shoulder. He smiled lightly when Feng Jiu bit her lip shyly. She was the one making all moves, he was doing nothing other than following her. Yet it was her who was blushing from ear to ear. She taught him the simple backward and forward movements and they slowly started dancing settling on a rhythm.

"Isn't this easy?" She asked excitedly. He nodded. He didn't care about any mortal's dance. But their intimacy in the dance was what made Dong Hua think highly of this type of dancing. He was happy and visibly relaxed. He was confident, but still, there was a level of uncertainty about Tang Yin. Dong Hua wasn't the type to underestimate enemies, but he wasn't one who took them too seriously either. But his boulder heart which had been trained for ages of war and peace kept giving him a bad feeling. But Feng Jiu had made him relax just by her presence. He wanted to spend every moment with her. 

// You smile at me, bustling world loses its colour,

The touching moment you gave me, let the past life continue,

Even if there is just a moment left, I will keep waiting for you,

Even if there is no possibility for us, you will forget me,

I am still waiting to be intoxicated by love.//

(Elod ost - Even if there is no possibility for us)

"Xiao Bai. Where did you learn it?"

"Haven't you seen in those movies we watched? All the couples were dancing like this" She giggled. Seeing her smile was another happiness for Dong Hua. Her smile automatically would put a small smile on the face of this icy god, in whichever situation he was.

"Is something up?" she asked looking up at him. "We are gonna go back to Qing Que. Are you afraid my father won't like you? Well, he is a little difficult but don't worry he loves me very much so he will have to approve of you."

"And why do you think your father will not be satisfied with me?" Dong Hua asked with amusement his arms tightened around her waist.

"First, you are not a three-generation heir. It's not a problem though. Second, he knows that I was your spiritual pet and what happened afterward. Not in detail, but..." she frowned. Dong Hua touched her forehead making her close her eyes involuntarily.

"Don't frown," he said softly. The corners of her lips turned into a smile. "I have an idea," she said with a glint in her eyes.

"If he doesn't agree. I'll say I'm pregnant. So don't worry." She said gleefully. Dong Hua chuckled at her words. He looked at her lovingly and grabbed her by her waist.

"It'll be fine Xiao Bai. No one can reject me," he said with an innocent smile. Feng Jiu narrowed her eyes at him knowing full well what he said was right. He was the emperor, unifier of realms, the previous heavenly king, and well the most respected god. Who could possibly reject him?

He drew circles on her knuckles and leaned in to kiss her. She kissed him back softly although it soon turned into a passionate and desperate kiss. Feng Jiu moved up to kiss him properly. Dong Hua pulled her up by her waist. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her again, more urgently. 

"Dong Hua..."

He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she lay in his arms, sleeping. She looked so peaceful, even happy. He gave her one last look before casting a lethargy spell and vanishing. Feng Jiu shifted in her bed as Dong Hua's warmth was vanishing. She crumbled inside her blanket. He appeared next to Lian Song and Cheng Yu who were outside the cavern. They had made a tiny gap. It was too small for a person.

Cheng Yu and Lian Song greeted him with cupped hands. He nodded at them. After a few hours, they had managed to make the gap bigger because Dong Hua had lent his hand. It was past midnight when Cheng Yu appeared back in Feng Jiu's and Dong Hua's apartment. She looked over at Feng Jiu and sighed.

"Sorry, Xiao Jiu." She murmured before vanishing with her. They appeared in the same spot where Di Jun was. The gap was now big enough for a person. Dong Hua nodded at her and so did Lian Song.

"Thank You, lord Cheng Yu." Dong Hua said calmly.

"Don't thank me, Xiao Jiu is my friend Di Jun. Then, I hope you guys manage to deal with Tang Yin," she said and cupped hands and without further ado left with unconscious Feng Jiu.

Dong Hua looked back at Lian Song.

"Be careful." The third prince said. "I know you are Di Jun but still. You are my friend." Dong Hua gave him a barely imperceptible smirk. But seeing that Lian Song was serious. Like serious, he nodded back.

Back in the Qing Que, it was peaceful. Cherry blossoms bloomed, the fox King and Queen, Feng Jiu's father and mother were in the Fox Den when Bai Zhen and Zhe Yan came.

"Second brother." Zhen Zhen said, "Xiao Jiu's back from Tai Chen Palace. Bai Qian is also coming with Ye Hua today. It's the empress ceremony the day after the Qing Que festival. Shouldn't you go and encourage her." 

Bai Yi, her father drank tea." She is back on time this time. Looks like she actually knows that she is gonna be the queen from now on." he said. 

"Don't be so harsh on her. I'm sure she'll do well. She only has a few days to spend without having any responsibility." Zhe Yan said.

"We've been spoiling her for her whole life. If the empress ceremony is near she should become more serious." Bai Yi said. Bai Zhen shook his head and internally called his brother a dutch uncle. While everyone in the fox family was a little naughty and free-spirited he was the only one who was somber and would explode over Feng Jiu's little acts. They would all have to jump in to save her from a beating. Even after all that Feng Jiu never stopped making trouble. 

"Oh, give our girl a break. And yourself too. She is your daughter and she will do well when she has to. She has been following her aunt from the moment she was born. Don't you remember how naughty Qian Qian was? Just like her, she will also come to become a great queen." Feng Jiu's mother chirped in.

Just as she finished Bai Qian and Ye Hua entered the Fox Den with Mi Gu the housekeeper and another servant, Mo Fan escorting them.

"Ah, second brother. You were really scary back then too. While Zhen Zhen saved me every time." Bai Qian said as they entered. Bai Yi glared at her for a second before turning to Ye Hua and extending greetings.

---

It was a little late in the morning when Feng Jiu woke up. She opened her eyes in familiar surroundings. But she remembered sleeping in the apartment in the mortal realm. It was utterly peculiar to find herself back in her fox den. She was not even in nine heavens and Dong Hua was not in her room either. At first, she thought she might be dreaming so she went to sleep again but then Cheng Yu came in. A worried expression on her face. She slightly woke up Feng Jiu.

She blinked her eyes twice and stood up.

"Why are we back?" she asked.

"Um...Feng Jiu, Di Jun has some work with Lian Song in the mortal realm. That demon lord and Prince are locked in a Cavern. He went to help them."

"What? Then why can't I go? It's not like today is my ceremony." Feng Jiu argued standing up. She really couldn't grasp what was happening. If you were explaining with lies at least explain so it would be believable. But Cheng Yu didn't want to lie too much. She knew Feng Jiu couldn't possibly go down to help Dong Hua right now. And Dong Hua wanted only that. He didn't want to risk Feng Jiu's life, or rather anybody's. He was fighting Tang Yin alone. After all once he had crushed her cultivation with a finger. However much powerful she became, he could defeat her. But Feng Jiu would without thinking step in and be a great burden to Dong Hua. And they all knew her personality well.

"Xiao Jiu, when Di Jun comes back, he'll explain everything." Cheng Yu said. Mo Fan entered the cave with food.

"Your highness, your breakfast has arrived," he said as he placed the food on the wooden table. Feng Jiu eyed him briefly but returned her attention to Cheng Yu.

"Tell me now." Feng Jiu said, impatiently. A very bad feeling had clutched her heart. She didn't want to accept what her mind was telling her.

"Is it all an excuse? Has Di Jun left me? Did he find out that we have no fate together? Is this nonsense an excuse?" She murmured to herself in a low voice. She felt as if she had become the same spiritual fox Dong Hua had abandoned for biting Ji Heng. 

"Feng jiu. Calm down, will you? How can Di Jun leave you? He cares about you so much." 

Feng Jiu calmed herself and tears formed in her eyes. She believed Di Jun. But what happened to Di Jun exactly? Why had he deceived her into returning to Qingque when he himself was in the mortal realm. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. 

"Are you telling me or not?" She asked Cheng Yu again. Mo Fan was still there enjoying the drama from aside. When Cheng Yu didn't say anything, Feng Jiu got up and left the cave. She suddenly caught Mo Fan and he jumped and bowed instantly. But she just ran out without any other word. Cheng Yu called behind her.

"Don't tell me. I'll go and ask him myself." Feng Jiu murmured to herself.

______________________________________

Hi loves, I'm dreading my results. Anyways...COMMENT BECAUSE THIS WRITER IS LONELY.