The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree (TSPBT) - 10. Chapter 10

All around him, Hong Shen could see the monks kowtow, followed by the siblings and the civilians, but the Emperor remained standing, silent before the great beast. He himself was only standing due to his knees locking together, and his subconscious effort to keep his back straight. The power and wisdom this creature exuded was not unlike the fearful pressure the Hell Lords had possessed, and it made him nervous, though he would never admit it.

Behind Suan Ni’s head, brilliant red scales shone as if they were lit up from the inside, reflecting in the growing darkness with increasing radiance. His long, snake-like body moved and swayed far behind him, and his lion’s tail occasionally flicked up, a flame burning on it’s tip in place of fur.

After a moment, he realized the dragon was still waiting for an answer, and he scrambled to find one before Suan Ni grew impatient and just ate him instead.

I did, Hong Shen managed, attempting to sound commanding and unruffled by this blatant display of magic. At this point, it was painfully clear that ancient China was no ordinary place, to say the least.

Good. I knew you would remember me.

His voice had a musical quality to it, but sounded like a young man’s, which contrasted significantly with the age he must surely be. It also gave Hong Shen a strange sense of deja vu, as though he had heard this voice several times before-

Wait a moment, remember him? No, it was purely a lucky guess, but he did not dare to say that to Suan Ni as the dragon turned his majestic head towards the Emperor. He observed the man for a long moment before snorting, sending puffs of smoke up into the air.

Guan Taiyang, Suan Ni said thoughtfully. You look just like him.

The Emperor recoiled as if he had been struck, and Hong Shen glimpsed a brief flash of hatred in his eyes before he turned his face away. Judging by the sharp intake of breath from Master Long, he assumed the dragon’s words could be heard by everyone.

“Zhen thanks the great dragon for his wise words,” The Emperor said quietly, cupping his hands and stiffly bowing. Hong Shen could have sworn there was a smug expression on Suan Ni’s face as he turned to cast his fiery gaze over the kowtowing people, and he briefly wondered just who it was the Emperor resembled.

“Celestial dragon Suan Ni,” Master Long spoke from his position on the ground, raising his head and cupping his hands respectfully. “We are honored to be graced with your presence.”

The dragon made a strange wheezing sound, and Hong Shen soon realized it to be laughter. Cut the false pleasantries, old man. We both know you are anything but honored to see me.

Master Long’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit as he prepared to speak, but Suan Ni ignored him, turning back towards Hong Shen, who stood straighter at the sudden attention.

Reach out your hand, Guan Hongye. It is time we complete this contract.

Hesitating for the briefest second, he extended his hand, and Suan Ni lowered his head until his snout touched his palm. A bolt like electricity went through his body at the contact, and the veins of his arm felt like they had liquid fire running through them, burning up his arm with each heartbeat.

Before he could even cry out, the sensation stopped abruptly, rebounding back down his arm and out his palm onto Suan Ni, whose head snapped back in pain, hissing as smoldering embers fell from his mouth.

His rage was practically tangible as he drew close to Hong Shen’s face, the golden pit of his eye boring into his soul as the heat from the flickering flames licked his cheek. What is the meaning of this, boy? He repressed a shiver at the ominous tone; how the hell was he supposed to know?!

Suan Ni sniffed slowly, growling. Why does your heart not belong to you?

Ah, so that was why. Hong Shen clenched his fists as a wave of unease washed over everyone in the vicinity, the monks pressing their foreheads further to the ground. How would he react if he knew he now shared a heart with Zi Sheng Shou? Would it be game over, and he would get killed and sent to hell?

He couldn’t afford for that to happen.

“Celestial dragon,” a familiar voice rang out, piercing through the tense silence. Hong Shen whipped around, staring at the doctor as he rose to his knees, head raised as he looked Suan Ni in the eye. “The Fourth Prince shares a heart with me now.”

The dragon moved his head around Hong Shen’s shoulder to look at Zi Sheng Shou, moving forwards until he was face to face with the man, muscles rippling under his scales as his long body floated behind him. Well, aren’t you a bold one? Do tell how it is possible for two to share a heart.

He could see the doctor swallow hard, though his eyes remained steady. “In order to save his life, I used a rare Incantation known as the Twin Soul One Heart. If both the enchanter and the receiver both chant the spell, their hearts become one, with two separate souls united.”

Suan Ni hummed. And how have I never heard of this Incantation before?

“With all due respect, celestial dragon, it was a forbidden technique passed down to me by my master. I would never have used it if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

While he spoke, Suan Ni circled around the doctor, examining him from head to toe. Is it possible to break this technique?

Again, Zi Sheng Shou paused, and Hong Shen spoke up. “He said there was no way.”

Taking a long sniff, the dragon stopped in front of the man, still for a long moment. Did he now? How interesting. His lips pulled back, baring his teeth in a sort of sneer. Very sly of you, doctor. Very sly of you indeed.

But he elaborated no further, making his way back to his original place in silence. Hong Shen narrowed his eyes, positive they were both hiding something about the Incantation as Suan Ni drew close.

The sky had grown completely dark, and if it weren’t for the dragon’s glowing body, nothing would be visible on this moonless night. There was no breeze, only the deafening silence broken by the rustle of Suan Ni’s movement.

Very well. Since your actions were done with the intent to save Guan Hongye’s life, I won’t kill you. He stopped, and as Hong Shen watched, his body seemed to shimmer with some sort of light, contorting in itself until releasing a bright flash, blinding everyone for a few seconds.

Blinking away the black spots, he frowned, looking at the place Suan Ni had just been. There appeared to be some sort of figure, standing upright like a human, shaking out their arms.

There was a snap, and suddenly a flame ignited on the tip of a finger. With another snap, several balls of fire formed out of the air, rising into the sky and illuminating all underneath them, including their creator.

“Mm, this is nostalgic,” the man said, flexing his shoulders and looking at his fingers, which had suspiciously familiar long red nails on the ends.

Hong Shen felt all his muscles freeze up at the recognizable voice, the one that would haunt his newest nightmares for a time. A dark red robe was draped over his body, aureate flames burning in the curly lines of spirals upon the fabric, and it was the only article of clothing he wore, extending down to his bare feet. His hair shone like spun gold, swept back from his forehead like a wild mane, the ends barely brushing the ground. In the center of his forehead, the symbol of the dancing flame was tattooed in black, and his eyes were strange; the slitted pupils were the same color as his hair, while the irises were crimson, and the whites of his eyes were dark as the night.

There was not a doubt in his mind that this creature was Suan Ni, the same one who had tortured him a week ago. He dimly recalled his words as a chill ran down his spine. ‘You would dare speak to me like that? After I so kindly formed a contract with you?’

Hong Shen’s back ached with the memory of the pain, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he unconsciously took a step back. Suan Ni noticed, and a feral grin split his face, his teeth as sharp as knives.

“Come now, wo de gou, is that how you greet your contractor?”

How could he have ever imagined that the dragon was majestic and wise? This guy was a creep with an attitude!

Suan Ni sighed, his brows furrowing in irritation. “Although, I cannot complete the contract now that your heart is shared with another. The most I can do is give you half of my power, and reside within your mind.”

Master Long jolted as though he had been shot. “Celestial dragon Suan Ni, you cannot complete the contract?”

He cast a cursory glance at the elder, his lip twisting in barely concealed disgust. “Of course not, you fool. Not until they figure out a way to break the Incantation, giving Guan Hongye complete control over his heart once more.”

Walking forwards, he made his way over to Hong Shen, who tensed with every step. “Until then, the contract is temporarily suspended.”

Reaching out, Suan Ni extended a finger, lifting up his chin with a nail as Hong Shen flinched. “Close your eyes,” he whispered, as the scent of incense smoke gathered around them.

Hong Shen glared at the man as an amused smirk spread across his sharp features. After a silent standoff, he closed his eyes tightly, releasing a slightly shaky breath.

“Good boy.” He felt Suan Ni lean close to his ear to murmur. “I know you aren’t Guan Hongye, but you’ll do.”

A pang of alarm went through him, and he wanted to interrogate the arrogant son of a bitch, but his back erupted in an agony unlike any he had felt before, and he surrendered to unconsciousness with the strangest feeling of his soul leaving his body.