Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

After passing through the surprisingly crowded Heavenly City, the last obstacle between Vahn and the Jade Palace was an inordinately long bridge spanning a bottomless chasm. Falling here meant descending to the Mortal Domain below, and, due to the restrictions against flight, anyone without the ability to survive crashing into the ground at thousands of kilometers per hour would invariably lose their life.For reasons Vahn couldn't understand, many of the worlds revolving around the cultivation of Qi had no upper limit to the speed at which a person could fall. Concepts such as friction still existed, but, due to the layer of Qi that covered their bodies, Immortals, Daoists, and Cultivators would find themselves accelerating to the point that a relatively short descent of a few hundred meters might kill them.Fortunately, Vahn was far beyond the point that a fall could kill him. He could travel at such speeds that he could bore through entire planets without sustaining the slightest of injuries, so, if anything, the descent to the Mortal Domain would be a leisurely and nostalgic experience.Guarding the inordinately long bridge connecting the Heavenly City to the Jade Palace was a young man with predominately white hair that extended past his hips. The tips of his somewhat wild and free-flowing bangs were tinged with black, and, despite possessing a pair of humanoid ears on the side of his head, there were two, rounded tiger-like ears protruding from the top.As the wall dividing the Heavenly City from the rest of the Heavenly Domain ran from North to South, the gate most people passed through to enter the Jade Palace was the West. As a result, even without seeing the massive white tiger the man was lounging against, Vahn could already guess the man's identity. After all, the tiger stripes on his face and his glacial blue eyes made it pretty obvious..."Baihu."Hearing his name, the animalistic God ceased staring off into space long enough to acknowledge the existence of Vahn and his party. Instead of responding to Vahn's address, however, he focused his gaze on the disguised Erlang Shen, asking, "What are you doing here, dog breath? Weren't you punished to guard the Mortal Domain after attempting to bribe Yue Lao?"(A/N: Yue Lao is the God of Marriage that ties people together using the strings of fate.)Snorting through his nose, Erlang Shen undid his transformation before answering, "I was asked to receive and escort one of the Jade Emperor's guests. Move aside, stupid cat."Turning his attention from Erlang Shen, Baihu stared at Vahn for a brief moment before furrowing his brows when he saw Fenrir. Then, noticing the bulge near Vahn's belly, he groused, "Another dog lover..." before asking, "What are you trying to sneak into the Jade Palace?"Producing the same invitation letter he had shown at the Gate of Heaven, Vahn calmly explained, "I was allowed to bring along two companions. One of them is currently asleep so I would appreciate it if you kept your voice down and retracted your aura..."Recognizing the spiritual imprint on the invitation letter, Baihu cupped his hands together in a lazy gesture of respect before sitting back down and making himself comfortable against his bus-sized animal companion. This caused Erlang Shen to shake his head in disapproval, but, instead of going out of his way to antagonize the legendary beast, he just looked towards Vahn and said, "Let's go." in a slightly exasperated tone.Though he was half-tempted to invite his Baihu out, Vahn just smiled and waved towards the lazy-looking God in passing. The man furrowed his brows in response, but, rather than saying anything, he just snorted through his nose while his tiger companion exhaled through his nose in a manner remarkably reminiscent of a sigh.........With Erlang Shen and the Howling Celestial Dog leading the way, it wasn't long before Vahn and Co found themselves in what appeared to be a completely different, extremely ancient world. They had been walking in a straight line, yet, as if they had stepped through time and space, the bridge led to a fantastical rock formation covered in glistening runes and lush vegetation."Once we pass through the Cavern of Reflection, we'll be at the western entrance to the Jade Palace. I should warn you. Those with malicious intents or wicked hearts will find themselves unable to pass the trials ahead. If you would like to return, now is your last chance..."To emphasize the severity of his words, Erlang Shen pointed to a few lines of runic text engraved in a nearby stone tablet. It was a little unorthodox, but, even at a glance, Vahn could recognize it as a type of Geass Roll. Instead of being a one-time use item, however, it was of the perpetual variety. In other words, entering the Jade Palace required consenting to and completing a Gift Game...------------------------------------------------&lt;Cavern of Reflection&gt;[Win Condition]Complete the trials within the Cavern of Reflection.[Hidden Conditions]None[Rules]1: Participants must enter alone.2: Participants are unable to lie within the confines of the Cavern of Reflection.3. Participants may forfeit the game at any time.[Restrictions]1: Participants cannot leave the Cavern of Reflection before completing its trials.2: The use of Gifts is strictly prohibited.3: Destroying the Cavern of Reflection is strictly prohibited.[Reward]1: Entrance into the Jade Palace.[Penalty]1: Expulsion from the Heavenly Domain.[Time Limit]Unlimited------------------------------------------------Though he wasn't fond of the idea of entering alone, Vahn had innumerable ways to get around it. Instead, he gave Mikoto a gentle pat, stirring the mouse-like Pokemon awake before asking, "Feel like participating in a Gift Game?"Poking her head out of Vahn's tunic, Mikoto briefly looked around before spotting the stone tablet. After reading the rules and restrictions listed out, she issued an adorable yawn before climbing out of his tunic and answering, "Sure. Now is as good a time as any to participate in my first game."With that said, Mikoto jumped off of Vahn's shoulder before scampering over to the Cavern of Reflection. Since the rules stated they would need to enter alone, she didn't see in point in idling around. She was also pretty competitive at times, so, with Fenrir lagging behind, Mikoto intended to be the first to complete the trial.Understanding Mikoto's intentions, Fenrir furrowed how brows before spontaneously transforming into her human form. This caught Erlang Shen and the Howling Celestial Dog by surprise, as, in preparation for the banquet, Fenrir had worn a rather stylish yet form-fitting gown that matched the sensibilities of the Eastern Gods. It left her shoulders and part of her thighs exposed but it was still an extremely tasteful garb that resembled white and black martial arts apparel accentuated by an ornate teal sash, detached sleeves that vaguely resembled flowers, and a stylish purple cape."I take back my previous statement. Human or not, you're a lucky man to have captured the heart of such a beautiful woman."After recovering from his brief stupor, Erlang Shen surprised Vahn with a toothy smile and a thumbs up while the Howling Celestial Dog adopted a remarkably human expression of regret. Both he and his wives also possessed human forms, but, compared to Fenrir, even his most beautiful wife would fall short.With an uncharacteristically haughty expression on her face, Fenrir's chest swelled with pride as she stared down at the Howling Celestial Dog. Before she could say anything unnecessarily antagonist, however, Vahn gently urged her forward by gently pressing his palm just above her tail. This caused her ears to twitch and her back to straighten as he said, "Go on ahead. If anything happens, be sure to contact me."Nodding her head in understanding, Fenrir cast one last taunting look towards the pouting pup before picking up her pace and dashing into the cavern's entrance. It didn't even take a full second for her figure to disappear completely, as, the moment anyone passed the invisible barrier covering the entrance, they were immediately teleported to an isolated dimensional space.Having followed Fenrir's departure with his eyes, Erlang Shen returned his attention to Vahn, asking, "Seriously, how did you tame a woman like that? She gives off the same impression as those high-brow women who seclude themselves in all-female sects. It's no wonder she caught the attention of Little Moon."(A/N: FYI, Xiao Yue and Little Moon mean the same thing.)Though he was tempted to say he hadn't tamed her, Vahn knew that wasn't exactly true. There had been a time when Fenrir was basically his pet, and, even to this very day, there were moments when he had to give her guidance in response to her behavior.Running his hand through his hair, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he chose to answer in the most honest manner possible, asserting, "I'm not gonna lie. I was, and continue to be, one of the luckiest men in the world. Fenrir is just the tip of a very large iceberg when it comes to my luck with women. In fact, I often have to go out of my way to avoid increasing the size of my harem..."Not expecting such a braggadocious remark, Erlang Shen stared at Vahn as if the latter was pulling his leg. With his Golden Eye of Truth, however, he could ascertain that Vahn was, indeed, telling the truth. This caused a bit of resentment to swell within the three-eyed God's chest, as, despite being one of the most famous Warrior Gods affiliated with the Jade Palace, his luck with women was truly abysmal. He had even started to assume that someone had cursed him, as, despite proposing to a total of 937 women, every single one of them had refused his courtship...Placing his hand on Vahn's shoulder, Erlang Shen's countenance became uncharacteristically serious as he said, "Brother...you must teach me your methods. Each of my brothers and sisters has already found a Daoist partner. I'm tired of eating dog food..."Blinking in surprise, Vahn stared Erlang Shen up and down before briefly exchanging glances with the Howling Celestial Dog. In response, the ivory-white canine explained, "This fool is beyond hope when it comes to romance. He believes normal courtship practices are too roundabout so he ends up proposing the first time he meets a woman he likes. I even attempted to set him up with one of my daughters but he ended up complaining about how everyone in the Imperial Court would make fun of him for settling down with a dog..."Turning a resentful gaze toward Erlang Shen, the Howling Celestial Dog adopted a gaze similar to a father who had all but given up on his son. In response, the three-eyed god nervously averted his gaze before softly muttering, "I at least want my first time to be with a beautiful fairy..."Though the man had spoken in a voice that was clearly meant to be inaudible, both Vahn and the Howling Celestial Dog were able to hear him. As a result, Vahn was genuinely surprised, as, despite the moderately oppressive aura that radiated from Erlang Shen's body, the man was actually very handsome. He was also the son of the Jade Emperor and possessed tremendous power. These two traits, alone, should have had women lining up from the Silver Bridge to the Jade Palace in an effort to become his wife...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn shifted his attention to the fiery third eye at the center of Erlang Shen's forehead. He suspected this was the true reason the God hadn't been able to find a partner. People didn't really like having all their secrets exposed, so, even if there were women who harbored intentions toward him, they would be too afraid of being seen through. As for the women he had proposed to...well, Vahn would have to see it to understand how the man had erred...Placing one of his own hands on the desperate-looking God's shoulder, Vahn returned a friendly smile as he said, "Sure. Once the banquet has come to an end, we'll discuss the matter over a few drinks. I can't promise my advice will ensure you a wife but I should be able to correct the mistakes in your approach. Just promise me you'll invite me to the wedding if things go well."Since he was always looking to increase his number of male companions, Vahn didn't mind offering Erlang Shen a bit of advice. The latter could also tell he was being sincere, so, despite feeling more than a little awkward, an excited smile developed across his face as he threw his arm around Vahn's shoulders and stated, "Of course!" before issuing a boisterous laugh.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Lazy tiger...','Fenrir being haughty-naughty (O w O)...','Howling Celestial Dog be like, "What's wrong with dog food...?"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though the inscribed Geass Roll mentioned completing trials, the Cavern of Reflection was more of a formality than anything else. So long as the participants didn't harbor evil or malicious intentions, it was actually a rather beautiful and scenic detour filled with jadeite frescos, mossy ruins, and lakes that glowed with a radiance reminiscent of starlight.Simply put, the Cavern of Reflection was more of a tourist attraction meant to mesmerize visitors rather than deter them from entering. After all, the Jade Palace wasn't exactly wanting for powerful experts. If someone were to invade, they would have to contend against dozens of gods and one of the most powerful forces comprising the East Side's Divine Army.Unfortunately, while the Cavern of Reflection was an attraction for most, it was an obstaince for a certain type of person..."State your purpose..."Staring up at the twin jade statues, each resembling an amalgamation between a lion and a dragon, Fenrir took a moment to consider her response before confidently declaring, "I exist to support and provide comfort for my Master."Though the two beasts resembled statues, both leaned forward to get a better look at Fenrir before asking, "If your Master were to order you to kill a member of the Jade Palace, what would you do?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Fenrir answered, "I would kill them. My Master is a good man. If he deems someone deserving of death, they have brought it upon themselves.""Hmmm...." x2Detecting no falsehoods in Fenrir's words, the two statues, colloquially known as Guardian Lions, briefly exchanged glances. They could appreciate Fenrir's loyalty, but, at the same time, their duty prevented them from letting her pass freely.After a moment of silent deliberation, the statue on the left looked towards Fenrir and said, "Your loyalty is commendable, young one. However, blind faith is rarely a good thing. Even the Gods are not infallible. If your Master commanded you to kill an innocent, it would weigh upon your soul for the rest of your days."Radiating an aura of confidence, Fenrir raised her head to meet the Guardian Lion's gaze as she stated, "I am well aware of that. It doesn't change the fact that my Master is a good man. There are times when both of us make mistakes. Whenever that happens, we support one another and do our best to ensure a repeat incident never occurs."Playing off Fenrir's words, the Guardian Lion on the right raised one of its brows before muttering, "Your statement indicates that both you and your Master have wronged the innocent. Can you tell us how many...or, perhaps, has the number increased beyond your means to recount?"Furrowing her brows, Fenrir paused for a brief moment before answering, "My Master is a God, an Emperor, and a Dragon. His actions have an impact on the entire Order of Creation. The number of innocents he has allowed to die is beyond even the God of Wisdom's ability to recount. However, it was never malicious intent that drove his actions. He has always acted in the interest of the world as a whole..."Detecting numerous falsehoods in Fenrir's statement, both Guardian Lions stated, "You're lying." in a firm, rebuking tone. At the same time, their eyes began to blaze like fiery orbs as the runic pattern lining their bodies began to illuminate.Though she was unable to prevent the fur covering her head, ears, paws, and tail from becoming noticeably more rigid, Fenrir managed to appear relatively calm in the face of the duo's accusations. She wasn't lying to them, or, more specifically, it hadn't been her intent to lie to them. Thus, instead of immediately attacking, she took a moment to reconsider her statement before muttering, "Ah....I think I understand where I erred..."Finding the faults in her argument, Fenrir ignored the increasing auras of the duo as she raised her head and appended, "My Master has always acted in the interest of those who long for a free and unfettered existence. He cares intensely for his family, friends, and loved ones, but, no matter how much he loves them, they will forever take a back seat to his desire to grant freedom to those who sincerely yearn for it..."Having seen her Master fail, time and again, to mind his own business, Fenrir was confident that he would never abandon those who seek freedom. He might not go out of his way to save them in the beginning, but, after seeing the countless injustices that existed within the world, it was only ever a matter of time before he did something about it. This was one of the reason so many people loved and respected him. It didn't matter how great the burden was. If he could help people and provide them with greater freedom, he would shoulder the weight of reality itself...Hearing the conviction in Fenrir's words, the two guardians began to calm down as they sat atop their perches. Then, after a moment of silence, the one of the left asked, "If your Master was to lose his life or succumb to corruption, what would you do...?"After a moment of incredulity, Fenrir confidently asserted, "There isn't a force in Creation that can kill my Master..." before adopting a far more serious expression and stating, "If he were to succumb to corruption, I would remain at his side until he returned to his senses. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how poorly he treats me. I will persist so that he does not lose himself to regret once his awareness has returned. That is my duty...my pride..."Placing her paw over her chest, a phenomenal aura spontaneously erupted from Fenrir's body. The two guardians, wholly unprepared for this, were effectively powerless to resist as a wave of icy cold energy washed over them. In its wake, the cavern was covered in a layer of pristine white ice as the hair atop Fenrir's head gradually shifted from a midnight blue to a lighter, icier blue...Exhaling a large plume of white mist, Fenrir opened her eyes to reveal icy blue irises that matched the color of her hair. When she saw the state of the cavern, a look of confusion briefly marred her face before quickly turning into an apologetic and slightly fretful look as she quickly dissipated the yin and ice elemental energy that had pervaded the statuesque creatures' bodies.Under normal circumstances, the twin lions, Fu and Fuu, would have immediately retaliated if the person undergoing the trial dared to attack them. When they sensed the pure, unblemished, and divine aura exuding from Fenrir's body, however, they hesitated. This ended up being the correct decision, as, the moment Fenrir experimentally flexed her paw, now covered in bluish-white fur, the medium supporting the sub-dimension began to crack as if the void had suddenly become frozen solid and on the verge of shattering.Fortunately, all of the negative emotions Fenrir ordinarily had to keep in check had vanished along with her change. She felt more in control in this one moment than she had throughout the entirety of her life, so, after noticing the strange phenomena, she quickly got it under control. Then, as if to emphasize the significance of her change, particles of golden light began to appear from the void before promptly coalescing into a luminous golden Gift Card."Fragment of Origin...!" x2Recognizing the phrase, Fenrir promptly snatched the card before placing it against her chest. She could always check it later. It was far more important to prevent others from doing the same. After all, while there were innumerable benefits to having your identity more clearly defined, it also made your weaknesses easier to exploit. A notable example of this was how the Norse God of Light, Baldr, was imperverious to harm. However, the moment he was exposed to mistletoe, he became as weak and vulnerable as a normal human male. (A/N: Fun fact. Many have speculated that this is the origin of Superman's weakness to kryptonite.)Seeing Fenrir place away the golden card before they could get a good look at its features, the Guardian Lions adopted remarkably humanoid expressions of discontent. Unfortunately, while it was well within their right to question Fenrir's identity, they couldn't force her to reveal personal secrets. Their duty revolved around exposing a person's purpose and ascertaining whether or not they could be trusted to enter the Jade Palace. Prying too deeply into a person's secrets was more than enough justification for a war between Communities and the factions backing them.As that thought crossed their minds, the Guardian Lions were prepared to proceed with the next phase of the trial when Fenrir's ears suddenly perked up. Then, before either of them could utter so much as a single additional syllable, she vanished into thin air.........Having passed through the Cavern of Reflection with considerable ease, Vahn was waiting outside the entrance to the Jade Palace with Mikoto, Erlang Shen, and the Howling Celestial Dog. They were just making small conversation until Vahn sensed a subtle shift in the connection between him and Fenrir. When he focused his attention on it, he felt an unbelievable chill, but, at the same time, there was a sensation akin to 'serenity' that compelled him to remain calm.Surprising the increasingly friendly God and his animal companion, Vahn spontaneously raised his hand to interrupt the former, stating, "One second..." before promptly linking his senses with Fenrir. He could feel her excitement the moment the connection was established, but, unlike the times he had linked with her previously, it was comparably subtle. Instead, the moment prominent emotion she was currently experiencing could best be described as contentedness.Just as Vahn was contemplating sending her a message, Fenrir's Fragment of Origin manifested into existence. This was more than enough reason to extract her from the trial, so, the moment she drew the Gift Card into herself, he pulled up her Status in his Unit Management tab and teleported her to his side. Then, before anything else, he pulled her into his embrace, a massive grin on his face as he squeezed her tight and said, "Congratulations on becoming a God..."Hearing her Master's praise, Fenrir's tail began to waggle as she nuzzled her face against his chest. This caused Vahn's smile to turn notably more affectionate, but, feeling his hand freeze the moment he grazed Fenrir's tail, his brows immediately perked up as he looked down to see a subtle, icy glow radiating from the interior of each individual bristle. He could also feel a frigid chill seeping into his body from Fenrir's paws. The most surprising thing about this was the fact his body wasn't breaking it down like it would other foreign energies. Instead, it seemed to absorb the icy energy, almost as if it was happy to have it...-----------------------------------------------[Status]Name: Fenrir MasonAge: 108, AgelessRace: Vanargandr, Primordial Ice Spirit, Pure-Blooded DragonParameters: [Transcendental Path to Heaven]Strength: 304,292BAgility: 711,419ADexterity: 118,567BIntelligence: 39,873CLuck: 77,003ASpirit: 504,108AWisdom: 6,228DCharisma: 1,004,617SDivinity: Primoridial Ice(S), Wolf(B), Moon(C), Hunt(C), Severing(C)Authority: Sage Dragon Emperor's Most Trusted Companion(???)Soul Tier: 4Karma: (-)Innate(s): [Insatiable Hunger(Innate):(-)], [Heaven Devouring Wolf(Innate): SS], [Queen of the Pack(Innate):S], [Fenrir Mason: SSS]Gift(s): [Sage Dragon Emperor's Most Trusted Companion: ???], [Unchained: ???], [Queen of the Frozen Abysss: S], [Primoridial Ice Spirit: S], [Apex Predator: S], [Lunar Cry: A], [Freezing Roar: A], [Huntress: S], [Severing Claws: B], [Gleipnir: A], [Blessing of the Moon: C]Talent(s): [Ice Elemental Manipulation: S], [Archmage: S], [Mimicry: B], [Singing: B], [Dancing: C], [Etiquette: C], [Spearmanship: C], [Archery: B], [Flexibility: B], and many more~-----------------------------------------------......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fenrir is the goodest girl','Fenrir is the goodest girl','Fenrir is the goodest girl')(A/N: Important things should be said thrice.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was only ever a matter of time before someone stopped him, Vahn hadn't anticipated that the people stopping him would be a group of young girls with ornate hairstyles resembling rabbit ears."Pardon me, Elder Brother. Might I inquire as to the origin of your companion? I have never seen a creature with such a pure Yin constitution. If possible, I would like to purchase her from you. Please, name your price."Scratching Fenrir's head to help her remain calm, Vahn adopted a smile that wasn't quite a smile as he answered, "Fenrir is my most trusted companion. She isn't for sale."As if she was genuinely surprised by Vahn's response, the young, princess-like girl placed a hand over her mouth as she replied, "Oh my..."Reacting to their mistress's words, two of the girls in her entourage, appearing nearly identical to one another, stepped forward to synchronously state, "Lady Xiao Yue has shown you tremendous favor by allowing you to name your price. Who are you to refuse the Moon's Grace?"After briefly exchanging glances with the disguised Erlang Shen, Vahn stared down at the two girls, answering, "I am known as Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor and Leader of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. Tell me, daughters of Changxi, does your Venerable Mother approve of this kind of behavior?"Not expecting Vahn to mention their mother, the twins visibly paled as the other ten girls in the entourage promptly averted their eyes. The only person who still appeared completely innocent was the young girl they were escorting. Her dainty little face morphed into one of curiosity and confusion as she asked, "Have we erred in some way...?"Resisting the urge to pat the girl's head, largely because of the ornaments contained within, Vahn's expression softened as he said, "It is unbelievably rude to expect someone to part ways with one of their companions. Tell me, if I were to make a similar offer for the girls following behind you, would you be willing to sell them?"Furrowing her brows, the rabbit-like girl, Xiao Yue, briefly pursed her lips before muttering, "I see..." in a disheartened tone. Immediately afterward, however, her expression immediately brightened as she proposed, "Then I will simply purchase both of you. That way, you can always remain together."While Erlang Shen was issuing a rather creepy sounding laugh from the sidelines, Vahn was doing his best to resist facepalming. He could tell the girl was naive and innocent by the way she carried herself but this was bordering on the ridiculous."Listen...you can't just go around trying to purchase people..."Tilting her head to the side, Xiao Yue appeared genuinely confused by Vahn's words as she lightly furrowed her brows and repeated, "I see..." in an even sadder tone. This earned him a number of scary looks from the people observing the events from the periphery, but, not caring about them in the slightest, Vahn pulled out a candied golden apple and said, "Cheer up. We all make mistakes. So long as we learn from them, there's no problem."Staring at the shimmering apple covered in caramel, Xiao Yue's brows raised as she leaned forward, nose twitching ever so slightly as she attempted to capture its aroma. This caused her to resemble a rabbit even further. The ears atop her head even twitched slightly, almost as if they were alive."This is...?"Though wild apples were remarkably common in Heavenly Domain, Xiao Yue couldn't correlate the object in Vahn's hand with the fruit she was familiar with. The variety they produced, Malus Sieversii, was typically fed to livestock or consumed by the poor. It wasn't something the wealthy consumed. Rather, depending on the circumstances, offering an apple to a wealthy and affluent deity could be seen as a tremendous insult."It is a candied sweet from my homeland. It combines the Golden Apples of Avalon with caramel manufactured by Wood Nymphs and Dryads. They are remarkably popular among men, women, and children alike."While she wasn't particularly learned in the stories and myths of other Districts, Xiao Yue had heard numerous tales pertaining to Golden Apples. They were often directly compared to the Peaches of Immortality guarded by the Most Revered and August Matriarch, the Queen Mother and wife to the Jade Emperor, Lady Xiwangmu.After a brief moment of consideration, Xiao Yue extended her dainty, jade-white fingers to grasp the stem supporting the candied apple. Then, despite the concerned looks she was receiving from the members of her entourage, she lowered her head to gingerly nibble the unbelievably fragrant and appetizing treat.Though the caramel met her expectations, Xiao Yue's eyes began shimmering like starlight as she took several additional bites of the apple. She wouldn't be able to describe its flavor in detail but it was easily the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. It was almost like ingesting pure happiness, and, much like genuine happiness, it was gone before she knew it."Ah..."Staring at the emptied stick, a feeling akin to melancholy washed over Xiao Yue as she directed a rather pitiable gaze towards Vahn. Fortunately for her, he had already anticipated this, so, as a kind of toll, he produced an entire tray filled with candied apples as he said, "This should be enough for everyone to have two. Unfortunately, I need to be on my way so you'll have to enjoy them on your own. I suggest you find a shop that sells cinnamon-flavored tea. They go remarkably well together."Hearing Vahn's words, a wide range of emotions presented themselves across Xiao Yue's face. She went from pleasantly surprised and grateful to somber and melancholic in less than ten seconds. It made her appear remarkably adorable, but, with an entire litter of kittens back home, Vahn had no intention of looking after another baker's dozen...Understanding it would be rude of her to continue barring Vahn's passage, Xiao Yue reached up to the golden, branch-like ornament twining around her head. It had golden leaves and several berry-like gems growing along its length, and, the moment she reached up to pull one, even Erlang Shen came forward to shout, "Princess Yue...!" in his actual voice.Shifting her confused gaze to the disguised Erlang Shen, Xiao Yue briefly lowered her hand, asking, "Uncle Shen...?" in a slightly doubtful tone.Exhaling a sigh, Erlang Shen surprised everyone present by dropping his disguise and affectionately replying, "Little Moon, you should not be so quick to part with the buds of your Ginko Tree Diadem. There is a difference between returning a favor and placing yourself at a disadvantage..."Furrowing her brows, Xiao Yue's face scrunched up adorably as she rebutted, "The Revered Mother told me that acts of kindness should be returned ten-fold. I inconvenienced this Elder Brother, yet, in spite of my careless words and actions, he has gifted me with the most delicious offering I have ever eaten. I do not believe our favor is too much as compensation..."Without waiting for Erlang Shen's reply, Xiao Yue plucked one of the sapphire-like buds from her diadem before proferring it towards Vahn and explaining, "Elder Brother, this seed allows you to make a single request of me. You need only crush it between your thumb and index finger and I vow to do everything in my power to grant your request."Though he was tempted to refuse Xiao Yue's offer, Vahn ultimately accepted the Ginko Seed with a smile. He knew she would most likely pout if he refused, so, with the intention of never using it, he placed the seed into his Inventory before cupping his hands together and saying, "Thank you. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my days."Smiling radiantly in response to Vahn's words, Xiao Yue promptly stepped aside before offering a polite and courteous bow. Then, along with her sister-cousins, the twelve moons sired by Changxi, she departed with uncharacteristic haste in an effort to find a tea house serving cinnamon tea...Seeing Xiao Yue scamper off, a tired sigh escaped Erlang Shen's mouth before he walked over to Vahn and said, "You possess the luck of the devil. It's rare to meet the Moon Princess in the Jade Palace, much less wandering the streets. Make sure you protect that seed with your life. If it falls into the hands of someone with malicious intent, the Jade Palace will spare no effort to hold you accountable..."As the daughter of Chang'e, the most beautiful Goddess in the Heavenly Domain, Xiao Yue was nearly as famous as her mother. She was also the personal disciple of Lady Xiwangmu, and, more importantly, a dear friend of Sun Wukong and Karyou, two of the Seven Great Demon Kings. Once it was discovered that a man from outside the Jade Palace possessed the right to request Xiao Yue's favor, they were bound to cause an uproar.With Loi-chan conveniently narrating Erlang Shen's thoughts, the smile on Vahn's face became increasingly wry as he replied, "Relax. I stored it in a location beyond the reach of even the most powerful deities in the Divine Realm. I also have no intention of asking for the Princess's favor so it won't be an issue."Catching Vahn by surprise, Erlang Shen actually glared in response to his words. Then, in a heavy and ostensibly threatened tone, he asserted, "You shouldn't do that. When a female Daoist gives their favor to another, they will ruminate on it every day until a request has been made. You might not care about such things but it will burden Princess Yue's heart and mind if you never make use of the right she has bestowed you..."Understanding better than most how fretful women could be, Vahn exhaled a mildly exasperated sigh of his own before answering, "I understand. Once I have come up with something suitable, I'll be sure to make a request. Now, I believe we have an audience to attend? I can't imagine the Jade Emperor enjoys being kept waiting."Snorting through his nose, Erlang Shen continued glaring at Vahn for several seconds before easing up and answering, "Along with the title of Jade Emperor, the old man is also known as the Greatest God of Benevolence, Fairness, and Mercy. He is patient enough to tolerate that troublemaker, Sun Wu Kong, trashing the Imperial Court. He isn't going to get upset over something as insignificant as a delay in arrival. Rather, he is the type that genuinely believes that people appear at the exact time they are meant to."Not expecting Erlang Shen to go on a moderate tirade that effectively amounted to him praising his father, Vahn's wry smile turned into a light chuckle as he mused, "I see. Your father is, undoubtedly, a great man. However, my words were just a polite way of suggesting we ditch the crowd. I believe you said something about wanting to avoid garnering too much attention~?"Blinking in surprise, Erlang Shifted his attention from Vahn to the rather sizeable crowd forming around them. The moment he did so, a few of the bolder members of the audience came forward, smiles on their faces as they shouted things along the likes of, "Erlang/Brother Shen!" before asking for his autograph. This, somewhat amusingly, caused the proud warrior god to blush, as, despite his previous claim about not being shy, he actually had a fear of public speaking and large crowds.........While Vahn was enjoying the sight of Erlang Shen failing to disperse the crowd, a woman with long, smokey grey hair was watching him from afar. Her golden eyes glistened with fierce intellect, but, if anyone were to spot her, the first thing they would notice is her remarkably curvaceous body veiled behind a skintight, predominately white bodysuit. She also had an inordinately large and armored petticoat, but, juxtaposed against her phenomenal figure, even the sun overhead seemed to pale in comparison."Vahn Aldrnari Mason...you will have the honor of being my 109th kill..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's curse is still going strong xD...','If a girl gives you her number, you better call back...','New chapter. 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Chapter 2150: Bridge