Chapter 5: Chapter 5

She racked her brains, trying to compel the memories to return, but that was all she could remember. Surely she could remember whether she and Fang Yiqi had a relationship? Yet, this was all she could remember.

Could she have fallen into such devastation that she had purposely forgotten her time with Fang Yiqi?

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Weeks passed, and she was idling on a hammock one morning when Tang Jing arrived. Tang Jing carried news of the blind date she had assisted to arrange for. Since she was a sprite, it was a small feat for her to make her entry into the Di immortal household; and pass Di Qing's servants unnoticed. She had come to face Di Qing in the study and cooked up some story that her mistress was burdened by her father to get married. She also lied that her mistress had an overabundance of suitors, triggering his fear of competition. Of course, Di Qing had to strike when the iron was hot. He had Tang Jing carry his message to Qiwan that he wished to meet her at the Stone Temple at midday.

Tang Jing described Di Qing as tall, dark and handsome. He had sharp eyes and a pointed chin and distinguishing facial features. Qiwan contrasted the sprite's description of Di Qing to how attractive she perceived Yingshang to be. She wasn't convinced that there would be anyone more appealing than Yingshang, and she was determined to see him with her own eyes to judge if he was more handsome.

She made sure to spread the news to her father through her servants so that he would not meddle in her affairs in the future. If she succeeded in causing his favoured suitor to dislike her, then the fault would no longer be on her shoulders, but that of Di Qing's.

"Why do you look so glum?" Tang Jing asked Qiwan as they made their way, seated in an open carriage flown by magpies, headed towards the temple where Di Qing was awaiting. The view outside the carriage was magnificent; brilliant six-coloured clouds enveloped the sky, but Qiwan was not in the least interested. To not attract too much attention, Qiwan wore a light pink veil over her face.

"Arranged marriages, blind dates, I do not like them," she said with a frown. "But do I have a choice? I am Lord Wen Chang's daughter. I do not have a say in my matrimonial matters."

Tang Jing understood. Qiwan had lived most of her life obeying and being filial to Lord Wen's wishes, but what was the point of marriage if she wouldn't be happy? If only there was a way she could help her mistress, she thought. Perhaps Di Qing would be willing to help, or even call off the marriage if Qiwan was persistent enough to convince him that she would never love him. But Tang Jing also knew that Di Qing was a very stubborn and ignorant young immortal. He might not let go of his fantasies in marrying Qiwan just yet.

At the Stone Temple, a young immortal with black dragons embroidered on the back of his robes stood watching the river. Though dark, he had a dignified appearance that would appeal to many fairies. He was adept with a sword, although having a scholarly background. Those days, it was often rare that a scholar was proficient in both martial arts and literary arts, 'wen wu shuang quan'. It was after ten thousand years of cultivation as a deity, that Di Qing was recognized as an immortal. Differences in ages meant little to immortals, and in reality, she was twenty-five thousand years older than him.

Tang Jing was earnest to know what it was that her father saw in this young immortal that he was so bent on making his son-in-law. She suspected that it wouldn't be long before she would be betrothed to the immortal by her assertive and strict father. Knowing her father too well, he would use the same words as he did for her older sisters: "It's for your own good". She was still young, and there was no hurry for her to get married now. She was still in the process of recovering her magic, and marriage would just slow down her prowess.

The immortal looked calm as the carriage came into view. She alighted from the carriage, flanked by Tang Jing.

"You are..."

She removed her veil. "I am Wen Qiwan. Are you Di Qing?"

"I am," the immortal answered assertively. "As I hear, you have many suitors?"

She gave him a firm nod. "I have something to discuss with you, Immortal Di."

He led her to the river, where a ceremonial boat was awaiting. "May I have the pleasure of inviting you to tea with me on the boat, Immortal Qiwan?"

Qiwan signalled to Tang Jing with her eyes, and the sprite hurriedly took her leave of them. Di Qing offered her his hand, but she rejected it outright and climbed on the boat on her own accord. Such a feisty woman, he thought.

Di Qing waved his hand, and the boat began to drift into the waters magically. Qiwan remained silent, and after some time had passed, she faced Di Qing and mustered all her courage to confront him with the truth that she did not want to be married to him.

"I am aware that my father wishes a marriage upon us," she said boldly. "Today I come to tell you that I already have someone in mind."

To her surprise, the immortal snickered. "I'd like to see who that person is, and how he can compete with me."

To think Di Qing was that shameless, she thought angrily. Di Qing waved his hand again, and the boat sped up, disappearing into a mist. She balled her fists and clenched them at her sides. He was going too far!

Almost instantaneously, the boat was already approaching into deep waters, and they were far from her father's radar of knowledge. If they proceeded further, it was highly unlikely that her father would know what happened. But what was the immortal up to by rushing the boat into an area that was oblivious to the others? Was he trying to abduct her?

Maybe he could read minds, because he then said, "Yes, I am kidnapping you now. But you have to remember that we are having a date after all."

She swallowed hard before courageously facing Di Qing. "What's the point when I have already mentioned I am not keen to marry you at all? Why waste time, when my heart is with someone else?"

"Wan'er, I will do everything in my ability to make you mine." He had a possessive tone to his statement, and the way he had called her 'Wan'er' just reminded her of Yingshang. She stumbled backwards on the deck, but he easily rectified her fall with a point of his fingers.

"How is it possible you have so much power?" Qiwan interrogated him. "You haven't been an immortal very long, Immortal Di." She found it unbelievable that this immortal, way younger than her, was seemingly endowed with more magic than she had in her, although she was trying to recover her lost powers. Still, he was only ten thousand years old!

"I don't wish to tell you," he laughed. He launched himself at her playfully, and she resisted him.

"I told you, I am not interested in you," she shouted irately. "Now, send us back to the Stone Temple!"

"I made a force field around us, Wan'er. Nobody will be able to enter, and I've also cast a shield of invisibility around the boat to prevent any disruptions. No matter how you shout, nobody can see nor hear us."

He wound his arms around her possessively, locking her so tightly she was immobilised by his strength. "Unhand me, Immortal Di!" she cried, and then she heard his voice change.

"I'm sorry that I have to resort to this, Wen Qiwan." She felt herself being released, and when she got to her feet she realized she was now staring into the mischievous and sexy visage of Yingshang. The God of Mischief had abducted her in the guise of her blind date, so what had happened to her original date?

"Brother Shang," she called out and surrendered herself to him, willingly allowing him to embrace her. There was no other place she wanted to be, other than in his arms. She felt at ease now that he had revealed himself to be her captor. She would willingly give herself up to him again and again because she knew that only he had that effect on her. Maybe she had an unfruitful fate with Fang Yiqi, but her heart lusted after Yingshang. She didn't want to care about what her father thought anymore and would be Yingshang's voluntary captive.

She saw a tinge of mischief glint in his eyes before he crashed his fiery lips on her wildly, at the same time she felt consumed by his dominance, as if a binding spell had been cast on her arms and legs.

A flash of lightning danced across the skies, almost blinding her...