ShuîYuê planned to go back to her room when she felt someone following her, she stopped and looked behind to see no one, 'Someone or something is hiding from me,' she thought when she heard a thump, she went to see where the sound came from to find Jade on the floor hissing in pain.

"Jade?" She called. The maid looked up, her eyebrows frowning; ShuîYuê helped her up, "Are you okay?" She asked worried.

"I am fine; I saw you sneaking away, so I followed," she said, rubbing her arm.

ShuîYuê rolled her eyes, "I wasn't sneaking out, I was just going back to my room."

"Why don't you want to enjoy the crackers?" She asked confused.

"I don't like all that," she answered averting her eyes.

"Why?" Jade pressed on.

"I just don't and why didn't you go back to your family for the holiday?" Water Master asked changing the topic swiftly.

"It isn't convenient to leave and come back in the span of a night," she sighed upset.

"Take a few days off and visit them," Water Master allowed thinking about something.

"Really?"

"Hmm, you can go back tomorrow."

"Can I go back when I want to? Like, can I keep these few holidays for some other time?" she asked hopefully.

"Sure, whatever you are comfortable with," Water Master said, shrugging her shoulders as she walked back to the West chambers. Once again, she felt someone following her.

'Jade left in front of me. Who could this be?' She thought alert, she walked casually so that the follower didn't feel like she knew she was being followed when suddenly some curtains billowed.

ShuîYuê moved back as she disappeared, she waited for the right time as she lunged forward to attack, there was a metallic clink in the air, she stared into obsidian eyes as she held up her trident to the person's throat which was blocked by a sliver scimitar which was long and slender it was still in its scabbard, it's hilt had a closed sliver eye shape on it which was currently covered by Ghost King's hand.

Chéng Huá stared into the determined eyes of Water Master who was pointing her trident at him, the trident was silver with accents of turquoise on it, there also was a single pearl in the centre of its root dent, both of them stared at each other as Water Master pushed him against the wall, "Not bad," he complimented impressed.

"Why are you following me secretly?" She questioned, pushing her trident more towards him.

"I was just testing your abilities," he responded simply.

"Have you tested them yet, or do you wish to see more?" she asked firmly.

"I guess I know enough," he answered, pushing the trident away. Water Master was, of course, pushed back, too; she hit the wall with a hiss.

Ghost King trapped her from the front, not leaving a chance for escape; he held up his sheathed scimitar to her neck with a smirk; Water Master grabbed his scimitar with her left hand as she unsheathed it easily, "Careful, it's sharp," Ghost King warned.

"I am not afraid," she whispered, caressing the scimitar's edge, which was indeed sharp, "I heard that one slash from this and your enemy will be poisoned to death. If they do survive, you can order the healed wound to open again at your will and kill your enemy from a distance," she added.

"That's true," he admitted as he watched  Water Master who caressed the scimitar with such interest in her eyes that it was terrifying.

"How wicked," she smiled.

"Water Master it is dangerous ple-" Blood covered the scimitar in a single line as it slid along its length. ShuîYuê looked up into his eyes calmly; she looked the least bit in panic for someone who had just sliced their finger with a weapon that causes poisoning to death.

Ghost King put the scimitar back in its scabbard, which Water Master held; he grabbed her right index finger before glaring at her, who looked surprised, he sucked the blood out from her finger as he continued to glare at her, and she averted her gaze as a light blush covered her cheeks.

She pulled her hand back from his mouth, and he pulled it back to him as he observed it, the cut had stopped bleeding, he sucked it again his eyes looking around as his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, he swirled his tongue around her finger before covering the cut with a thin cloth, "Are you mental? Do you want to die?" He asked, enraged.

"I was just testing it," she replied simply.

"Water Master you are really..." Ghost King couldn't find words to describe her level of stupidity. She looked away her cheeks more red than before. He touched her forehead, which was warm too, "Why would you do that?" He asked in disbelief.

"No reason. I just wanted to see it for myself," she said, folding her arms stubbornly.

"That the rumours were true?"

"Yes,"

"You just couldn't believe it when I said it was true," he snapped, irritated with her stupid curiosity.

"Well I... forget it," she mumbled, walking away.

He grabbed her shoulders, pushing her against the wall, bending down to meet her eyes as she pushed him, but he didn't move, "Don't ever try anything like that," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Water Master was scared of Ghost King for the first time since she had met him. "I- I won't," she stuttered.

"Look me in the eyes and say," he demanded.

She turned her head up to meet his eyes. His face was only a few inches away, and she could feel her heart racing, "I won't," she said before looking away.

Ghost King stared into her eyes angrily, she wouldn't look at him so he told her to but when she did look into his eyes he saw fear, yes he was angry but only because he was worried for her, he could feel her hot breath on his face as she looked away his eyes slid down to her lips.

Huá gulped as he thought of kissing her but scolded himself mentally; he noticed he was quite close to her as she leaned her head against the wall, trying to create some personal space.

He was about to move back when there was a loud noise as a firecracker busted in the night sky; she turned her head back to her right, away from the sound, and at the same time, he turned his head to where the sound came from, their noses bumped slightly as they both froze.

ShuîYuê's eyes were wide as she stared into his eyes, and he slid down to her lips at how close she was; there was another loud boom when she flinched back, covering her ears.

Ghost King sighed before moving back; she relaxed once he was at some distance from her; his scimitar hung at his waist while she had summoned her trident back, "I am sorry for shouting at you," he apologised, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It's fine," she shrugged, sitting on the three feet boundary wall. Below it was the ground, she's scared of heights, so they had filled the ground level in Wudu Palace.

He observed her from where he stood. She flinched every time a firecracker burst; He leaned against the wall, staring at her, "Why did you do that?" He asked curiously.

"Well, I just wanted to experience it myself. You are too lucky to have such a nice weapon," she claimed enviously.

"Your trident is powerful too," he replied as he felt the spiritual power from it when it was pointed at his neck; if it weren't for his scimitar, that trident would have pierced anything in its way.

"It is, but it's not as cool as yours," she whined, pouting.

"Why? What does your trident do other than cause immense pain?" He asked as he remembered Zìxìn telling him what it felt like to have that wretched trident pierce his chest.

"Other than pain, it only causes the worst memories of the person in which it is embedded to feel them all again. It can also torture them with their worst fears," she answered airily.

Ghost King stared at her in disbelief. This five-foot-one-inch tiny little woman who looked like a total rice ball wielded such a terrifying spiritual weapon. Zìxìn wasn't exaggerating when he said it was the worst experience of his life in battle, "Water Master," he called, slightly worried for his safety.

"Hmm?" She hummed, turning her head to look at him.

"Please don't ever think of me as anything below the most caring friend," he requested, joining his hands in request.

She laughed,  "Of course, I didn't intend to attack you."

"No, don't even use that thing for threatening someone," he added nervously.

"Don't worry," she said, waving her hand around before she took off her outer robes.

Ghost King panicked, 'Why is she taking her clothes off?' He thought, confused. "Water Master this isn't your room in case you are drunk," he informed, stopping her from taking anything off.

She stared at him, confused, "I am not drunk. I have never had wine before, and secondly, I know this isn't my room, and thirdly, I am feeling super hot," she explained simply before taking off another robe.

'What if someone sees her like this? She is feeling hot because of the poison's effect, I did suck all of it out, but it still affects,' he thought, worried.

She sat carefree, kicking her feet in the air as she watched the fireworks from far away. They didn't make a loud, scary noise. Instead, lit up in various colours. ShuîYuê wasn't feeling as hot as before; it was nice. The weather had gotten much colder, and the night sky was lit by the moon; she loved the moon so much.

Ghost King stared at her quietly, her face glowed softly in the moonlight as she stared at it happy, a small smile on her face she looked serene like the moon, his eyes slid down to her delicate collar bones where a thin silver chain shined, it wasn't visible before but he could see it today.

Her robes swayed with the breeze as few of her hairlocks covered her face, she kept her hair usually in a braid or in a bun most of the time when she visited the Emperor's Palace, he felt peaceful at the Wudu Palace, it was so quiet that he could think without being disturbed, when suddenly Jīnyú came running to her, "Master! Master! I saw Gege," he informed quickly.

"Huh?" She asked, confused.

"I saw Gege entering the Wudu Palace from the main gate," he explained, worried.

"Don't worry, go back to your room, I'll see to him," she said, patting his shoulder as he ran back. She looked at Ghost King as they wondered the same thing, 'Why would he come here so late at night ?'

Just then, he entered quickly as ShuîYuê hid behind Ghost King. It wasn't like she wasn't wearing anything, but it was rude for women to appear wearing inner robes before men outside of their own family. Ghost King swiftly stood up in front of her as Crown Prince looked at Water Master, who was hidden behind Ghost King. Crown Prince moved to his right to go talk to Water Master, but Ghost King blocked him, and he glared at him irritated.

"I need to speak to her urgently, so move aside," GuānYû spat through gritted teeth.

"I can't... just speak from here. She's listening," Ghost King said coldly.

Crown Prince frowned angrily before placing his hand on Ghost King's shoulder to push him away, He did push, but Ghost King didn't budge, "Move," GuānYû warned threateningly.

"I won't," Ghost King replied, threatening back.

ShuîYuê's intuition told her these two would end up fighting so she placed her hand on Ghost King's shoulder before peeking from behind him, "Your Highness, Please say whatever you have to," she said softly.

"Water Master, I can't... in front of him," he responded, trying to look behind Ghost King, who leaned back in response.

"Your Highness will have to wait otherwise," she mumbled as she fiddled with her chain.

"I can't wait, I would not have come here so late otherwise," he sighed, tired from the delay Ghost King was causing him.

She conflicted with her mind, one side of her said to hear what he had to say because he wouldn't come barging in like this. The Crown Prince was a very respectable man and the other side told her to wear something first before appearing in front of him, she felt embarrassed as it how humiliating if he saw her like this, she was about to ask him to look away for a few minutes so she could wear her other robes but Ghost King spoke first.

"She isn't decent," he said simply.

The Crown Prince frowned as his eyes landed on the robes lying on the boundary wall. His eyes widened. The first thing that came to his mind was, 'What was he doing with her?' He grabbed Ghost King's collar roughly, "What did you do with her? Why are her robes here?" He inquired angrily, Ghost King glared at him.

Water Master panicked, "Your Highness, he didn't do anything. I took them off myself," she chimed in quickly.

The Crown Prince didn't believe the words, "Don't worry, Water Master, I am here, he won't be able to do anything, don't be afraid," he assured.

ShuîYuê sighed, "You think she needs your protection?" Ghost King scoffed.

"I'll kill you if you even think of hurting her," GuānYû threatened as he pulled his sword out.

ShuîYuê's eyes widened, 'I can't have them fight over a misunderstanding,' she thought before she stood in front of Ghost King, who had pulled out his scimitar, GuānYû was about to attack Ghost King when Water Master stood in front of him she was only wearing her inner robes as she looked worried and nervous, GuānYû put his sword back in its scabbard before he cupped her face firmly.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He asked gently as he leaned his face too close for ShuîYuê's personal space. She grabbed his wrist, pushing it, but he was too strong.

"I- I am fine," she stuttered uncomfortably, leaning back from his face.

Ghost King grabbed his wrist firmly as he pushed him back but GuānYû tightened his grip, among these two idiots it was the Water Master who was suffering she was holding the Crown Prince's wrist and Ghost King's hand was on top of her as GuānYû was crushing her face, "Ow!" she hissed, it was too painful.

Ghost King removed his hand quickly as the Crown Prince did too. ShuîYuê clutched her cheek in pain, and the Crown Prince grabbed her shoulders, worried, "Sorry, I am so sorry. I was just too worried," he apologised guilty.

ShuîYuê pushed his hand away, he was touching her only two layered covered shoulders. She was already in pain, and he didn't care about being respectful as he was worried; Ghost King grabbed his arm firmly, "Crown Prince, she was feeling hot, so she took them off. Nothing happened here," he said patiently.

"Water Master, please say something," he pressed on as he ran his hands along her arms, trying to comfort her; she was not feeling comfortable at all; she couldn't say something because her cheek hurt a lot, so speaking was difficult.

"Crown Prince, you are making her uncomfortable," Ghost King told as he moved Crown Prince away from Water Master who seemed relieved.

"I am only asking if she's fine!" GuānYû snapped, annoyed.

"I know, but the way you are touching her is making her uncomfortable, so please keep some distance," Ghost King replied calmly.

Crown Prince stared at Water Master before realising what his intention was and what it looked like, "Sorry," he apologised, looking away.

Ghost King grabbed her robes holding them up to her face as he turned away, The Crown Prince had his back to her too, She quickly put her outer robe on not caring if it was properly knotted or not she didn't have time for that, "Yes, Your Highness," she called as she was finally done.

"I can't in front of him," GuānYû said, looking at Ghost King.

"I'll leave you alone," Ghost King responded softly, as he looked at Water Master to make sure she was fine before leaving.

"Water Master, it's His Majesty," GuānYû spoke momentarily as Ghost King was out of sight.

"What's wrong?" She asked, concerned.

"He is adamant about crowning me and wants to do it while Ghost King is here," the Crown Prince explained.

"What's wrong with that?" She questioned, confused.

"Water Master, he is not well these days, and if Ghost King knows that he isn't fine, it will be a piece of cake for him to annex Heavens," he answered as he paced.

"But we have a peace treaty with them it was ma-"

"You think these filthy ghosts would abide by the rule?" He interjected, cutting off Water Master.

"Your Highness, but it's officially announced there is a peace treaty, and if any side breaks it, then the other is free to do as they wish," she assured softly.

"Water Master you aren't understanding. My father is sick, and I can't fight Ghost King," he said, grabbing her shoulders.

"You have us," she reminded, trying to assure him.

"You four elementals can't hold Ghost King off, even if you fought against him together by my side. He is too strong; it's only the Emperor who can fight him,"  the Crown prince replied in distress.

"Then, We'll follow his wish and crown you," she told softly.

"I am just worried about Father if he knows..." he drifted off.

"He won't, How many people know of this?" She asked seriously.

"It's only me and Ling Wen, now you too,"

"Then it's fine he won't know. We'll simply say that His Majesty wants to crown you, and so the ceremony is taking place."

"It won't be that easy,"

"Why not?"

"My father can't get off the bed. How will he even attend my crowning?" He asked, shutting his eyes closed.

"He's that sick?" She asked, unable to believe it.

"He is," Crown Prince said, falling to the floor.

"Crown Prince!" ShuîYuê panicked, He clutched his head in despair, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"How?" He asked distressed, "How will things be fine?" his hands trembled as he spoke.

"We'll keep it under wraps about his health and crown you as soon as possible," she consoled softly.

"If he finds out?" He asked weakly, running his hands through his dishevelled hair.

"He won't. He is staying at my palace for the time being, and I'll make sure he stays here till the crowning," she promised. The Crown Prince didn't say anything he was brooding. She shook his shoulders, "Everything will be fine, don't worry, I'll make sure everything goes smoothly," she assured.

He nodded his head as he tried to get up shakily. Water Master grabbed his arms, helping him up, "What will you say about me coming here this late?" He questioned, tiredly.

"I'll just say that you received some news which was important so you came," she answered as she helped him walk.

"I'll leave," he said as he tried to walk faster.

"I'll send someone with you," she added, worried.

"I'll be fine," he insisted.

"Go through the back door. You don't look fine at all," she told as she walked him out of her palace. She came back inside the palace, worried and nervous, 'If Chéng Huá does attack, we won't be able to fight against him without the Emperor,' she thought as she walked back to the West Chambers.

"What's the matter?" a deep voice asked, pulling Water Master out of her thoughts. She saw Ghost King standing outside of her West chambers.

"Nothing," she replied. As she quickly walked past him.

"Why the worried face?" He questioned, following her.

"It's nothing," she said as she walked faster.

"No, it's bothering you, so tell me, what is it?" He inquired, quickening his pace.

"It's nothing!" She snapped at him; Ghost King stared at her, surprised. She took a deep breath as she rubbed her temples, "It's nothing concerning, just something important the Crown Prince had to tell me, so he came," she explained tiredly.

"You don't want to tell me that's fine, but I only came back to bother you because of this," he said holding out a small bottle, "The poison from my scimitar causes high fever, even after sucking all the poison from your finger you felt hot and you'll have a high fever by the end of the night," he revealed grabbing her hand and shoving the small bottle in it, before leaving.

ShuîYuê leaned against the wall, shutting her eyes tightly as she clenched her jaw in anger, 'I didn't want to snap at him like that. He was only concerned about me and I just.' she said to herself as she sunk to the floor.

She rested her head in her arms, 'Why does everything have to be so difficult? I told the Crown Prince everything would be fine when it wasn't, The Emperor was sick, the Crown Prince didn't have his spiritual weapon and we three elementals couldn't keep off the ghosts alone, His scimitar was so powerful my trident couldn't even move it in the slightest, it was a full moon today but even after that my trident was so weak against it,' all these thoughts consumed her head and she didn't know when she fell asleep like that.

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A/n: Hey, Hope, you liked it.
I made up a lot of things for this chapter, so just bear with it. I know it's not the best of what I can do. Bye-bye!!

Word count:3700