I'm glad I've left this mountain in one piece. It didn't disappear, it's still there, and the floral fairy is revitalizing it. I pat myself on the back.
I scan the sky, searching for my master. I spot him perched on top of the tallest tree, reading his blank book. Don't tell me he missed out on all that action.
I fly to him, floating beside him because he didn't leave any room for me.
Without looking, he hands me a parchment.
It reads:
"Courage: Level 53
Elemental Power: Level 53
Physical Power: Level 51
Strategy: Level 53
Agility: Level 50
Speed: Level 50."
"Yes! This time Strategy, Courage, and Elemental Power increased. What? My Physical Power only went up by one?"
"You only kicked the door down. You could have done that when you were three years old."
Fair enough. That is true. I didn't do much fighting. I mostly used my wits this time. I barely moved, so agility and speed were not affected.
"Ling Yue, well done on subduing the flower fairy. I didn't know you had a sweet side to you."
My cheeks burn up.
"Let's forget about this quest, shall we? You're not going to see that side of me again."
"It's a shame. It's a nice change from all the destruction and chaos."
"No thanks, sappiness is not for me."
"Are we heading off to Mirror Lake next?
I pluck out my quest list and check one of the glowing lines. It's on there.
"How did you know? Did you make this list with His Highness?"
He doesn't reply, immersed in his book again.
I eye him suspiciously. I reckon he made the list himself, and the Crown Prince just puts his seal on it. These two immortals must be in cahoots together.
The other quest sounds pretty mundane: "Pick up my belt." Seriously? Doesn't the Crown Prince have servants for that? I wonder if I can knock both quests off in one go.
"Master, I think there's a mistake on this list. It says, 'Pick up my belt'."
"No mistake. It's a rare belt."
I run a hand down my face and shake my head. Well, given that we came all the way here for his teacup, maybe this belt is special too. I'm beginning to think that the Crown Prince has a very peculiar taste in extreme conditions.
No wonder those two are great friends. They're just as weird as each other.
"Fine. I'll follow you as usual."
"I'm not leading the way."
"Why not?"
"You've got the map. You didn't see?"
I stick my hand into my mystical satchel and pluck out a random scroll. It is the map. Okay, this is getting suspicious. How does this satchel know what I need?
I study the map, compare it to the Celestial Compass in the sky, and get my bearings. Based on the map, it shouldn't be that far from north here. I roll up the map and tuck it away. Remembering how my master gracefully flew with his arms behind his back, I try to copy him. With my arms behind my back, I fly north, but I keep spinning. I'm getting dizzy. It's making me sick. I just let go of my arms and fly how I usually fly.
He gives me a questioning look.
My face reddens. I cover my face in shame. That was so embarrassing!
I dash through the sea of clouds and this time, I don't bump into any other immortals. I'm so proud of myself.
We arrive at a glacial mountain. This time I want to land perfectly to show that I have grown especially since I've just finished a quest.
I spot a shimmering patch of ground to land on. So I brace myself and slow down to land with grace. As I land, I slip off the ground and fall flat on my back. The ground is very slippery. He glides next to me and skids to a halt, pulling it off with suave ease. I try to stand up again and I slip again.
"What is wrong with this ground?"
"Ling Yue, out of all the places you could land, you chose Mirror Lake itself?"
I run a hand over my face and groan.
"Can you please help me up?"
"Sure."
I reach out for him and he flies away and perches on a tree.
"I thought you were going to help me up!"
"I am. I'm allowing you to help yourself."
How did he even manage to stand on this spot without slipping once, let alone stylishly glide across it?
I take a deep breath. This must be another test. He always does this. My hands don't seem to be slipping.
I lift my legs high, forming a handstand, then launch into flight.
I float beside him, waiting for instructions.
He flips a page.
"Aren't you going to tell me what to do?"
"No, it's your quest. I'm just spectating."
"You're not even looking!"
"What's there to look at? You're just floating there."
"I don't understand what I'm supposed to do."
"Have you tried reading the quest?"
"Of course I did, that's why we're here."
"Are you sure you read it properly?"
I roll my eyes. Typical, never gives me a straight answer. I pluck out the list, squint my eyes, and reread it. Oh, I didn't have two quests.
It was one running quest: "Break the Mirror Lake to pick up my belt."
"Wait, you're giving me the right to break things?"
A devilish grin spreads on my face.
This should be an easy quest. I flip back down, using my legs to break it.
BAM! My whole body vibrates with the impact, teeth chattering as I collapse.
Everything hurts! I have a feeling my strategy level went down.
I glance up at my master. He shakes his head as he reads his book.
Great, so the only time he is looking is at the embarrassing moment.
I roll over, looking at my reflection. I'm supposed to be good at breaking things. Why can't I break you? Something is glistening at the bottom of the lake. Is that a jewel-encrusted belt? This is a literal quest, with no metaphors. The Crown Prince is very straightforward.
I blast a water tendril at it. It just gets absorbed. I blast an air tendril at it. It gets reflected, whipping my hair back.
I sit up, resting a finger on my chin. None of my elemental powers work on it, nor my physical brute strength. There's no way this is within my level. That means I have to use a different method completely. This would be easy for my master, but he won't help me. Maybe his brother would?
When his brother, Long Yan visited me in prison, he mentioned the Phoenix Princess would be a stickler. The quickest way to get Long Yan here, without needing to plea, is to get her here.
I fly off in search of the Phoenix Clan's territory. I put my hand in my mystical satchel. Come on, help me out here. I take out a scroll. Unfurl it and it is the map to the Phoenix Clan. I knew it! This mystical satchel gives me what I need.
I fly to the top of the Phoenix Clan Mountain searching for my target and spot Long Yan talking to a pretty female immortal holding a red fan. I'm assuming she's the princess. I dart at her and snatch her fan, dodging her crimson flames as I fly back.
With fiery crimson flames trailing me, at the last second, I pivot. The crimson flame burns into the Mirror Lake, melting it completely.
The Phoenix Princess, billowing flames trailing her.
"Thief! Give that back!"
Long Fei, noticing her arrival, eyes widen, and disappear.
Long Yan, trailing her.
"Wait, that's Elder Brother's Guardian!"
Since the job is done, I float back to the fuming royal, laughing nervously.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for letting me borrow your fan. You can have it back."
I graciously hand the fan to her.
She eyes me curiously.
"You're Long Fei's guardian? Where is he?"
Her eyes dart around searching for him as she twiddles with her hair.
"Oh, he's right..." I turn back to the tree only to find it empty. "He's done his disappearing act again."
Her pretty face scrunches, disappointed.
"Nice to see you again, Long Yan," I wave to him. "You were right. The Phoenix Princess is very charming. She just helped me finish a quest."
He chuckles, shaking his head.
"Zhen Hua, let's go. My elder brother's not here, and she's still wet behind the ears."
She huffs, then says through clenched teeth, smiling sweetly.
"You're lucky. You're Long Fei's guardian. If not, you would have been turned to ashes."
Oh no, another smiling assassin. She is one scary immortal.
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness. I'll make sure I'll send your regards to my master. Bye, Long Yan. As promised I saw you in better condition."
The Phoenix Princess flies off.
Long Yan gives me a playful wink, then follows her.
I make a face at her. I really don't like her.
Now that the lake has melted, I dip my finger in the water. It's too cold. I don't feel like swimming. I send a water tendril down to grab the belt and bring it back to me. I run my hands over the gem-encrusted belt. So fancy! I tuck it away into my satchel and pluck out my list again. The quest has disappeared. Yes, the quest is complete. But no other quest has appeared.
Long Fei appears next to me.
"I see you brought help."
"There were no rules against it. Quest complete."
"I can't deny the results, but I do hope that you stay away from the Phoenix Princess."
"I think this list is broken. It's blank. Does that mean we need to head back to the Crown Prince?"
He nods and gives me a side glance. Without a word, he flies off, assuming to be heading back to the Celestial Palace. I follow him in silence.
Something tells me that he was not comfortable with the unexpected guests.