The Luoyang capital streets were bustling with loud chatter; where one conversation surmounted the other, not letting others go along with the gossip. The smell of spices like cinnamon, clove, and star anise caressed the nostrils of every passerby. Tabaco came out from the bars, and high ranked brothels one passed, while woman with beautifully decorated cheongsam assured any man, or woman a night of blazing love and passion. The street vendors were offering their finest rice wine, and from the lighted restaurants came exotic, but delicious fragrances.

Pamella was looking extatically all around. Her head moved up, down, to the left, and to the right, and everything all over again. She had never seen such scene before; only in drama series, or movies. She and also read how Luoyang was the center of cultural, and economical progress of China; it was the source of the Golden Era for China.

Such amazing lighting! Everything looks so colorful I can't take my eyes from it!

There were also many people wondering on the streets; it made walking rather difficult. Not only people were walking, but non-human as well. It made one question if he, or she were really in China. Pamella was distracted enough to ignore her front footing and bumped unto a large, robust, and savage looking tiger humanoid who had been talking with his deer faced deer. He lowered his head, glaring at Pamella. Pamella's real body was only five feet, and her new man's body was only 5' 9. Basically, she was still smaller than most of the people and creatures they passed, and there was no difference in the intimidated feeling of someone impotently bigger than you, in comparison with her real body. She trembled at the sight of clenching yá gēn and protruding claws. She wanted to apologize for her clumsiness, but the man tiger didn't let her. He exclaimed,

- Are you blind?!

Pamella's couldn't bear to stutter.

- I...I... Huh? I'm... sor...

- So, you are also DEAF?! I dislike humans so much! Such shameless creatures! They think they are on top of the world, but without their spirit powers, they are basically worthless weaklings. So ungrateful!

The deer faced friend was snickering at the scene his companion was making. People watched in expectation as they passed them, but never did they silenced which made the tiger man's exclamations even louder.

- Didn't they teach you manners at the rot hole you came from?

Ok... what the hell dude? What rot hole?! I finally took a bath this morning, and smell to flowers! O.K. FLO. WERS!!

Get a grip Pamella. Look at those fangs! Think about the FANGS!

- Mute too huh? Maybe they never smacked that pretty face of yours, and spoiled you rotten.

Pamella blurted out,

- If... If you just let me speak!

She finally uttered coherent words, but they only fired up the tiger's remarks. Pamella wasn't a person that liked to tolerate injustice, or such ill manner of reference. She felt annoyed to the fact she couldn't put the bastard in his place. The one thing she was good at was shutting people up with words, no need for the fists, just some slapping and punching words would do, but right now she had to restrain herself. A tiger let loose was already dangerous enough in her world, but a giant, muscular, tiger man-human was at a whole other level.

The tiger's foul argument continued for over fifteen minutes. Pamella by that time had already blocked her listening ability and wondered of in her thoughts. Since she and Xián Leng had arrived at the capital, they had parted ways to look for some doctor, and scholar that could give us more detail on how the necklace worked; although Xián Leng was looking for more information than that one. He was trying to find someone, or somewhere where he could learn what happened to his past self. They had recently, in a store, seen what year of Earth they were in, and they had mixed feelings. Both were shocked, but Pamella was excited and in some way enjoying herself, while Xián Leng had taken the fact way too seriously. His cool face almost contorted into a painful, ready to cry expression. Pamella could put herself in his feet; to be someone who can't remember most of his past and need to try to accustom to his present state was something to feel dreadful for, but Xián Leng's case was different. It was even a miracle he could remember his name.

Thank God he doesn't remember he's a murderer that not only killed innocent people, but that also killed the emperor he so talks about in such a... caring way?

To be precise, thank God she didn't tell him about all his corrupted deeds, against the Heavens, humanity, and even the Underworld in her night outburst. It would have distraught him so. Xián Leng was in no position to process such information without knowing the source for such things to fall that way; so, it was best to let him get to know himself at time itself.

Seeing that Pamella was ignoring his blabbering, the tiger angry with her attitude, took in his big, hairy, and strong right hand Pamella's face and made her look up at his face.

- Hey wáng bā! Are you trying to piss me off?

Pamella unconsciously answered in a monotonous tone,

- More than you already are? Not really.

The tiger man fumed, and now had Pamella grabbed by the collar of her top stained garment. He picked the smell from the not so well washed clothe and rugged his nose.

- UGH! Disgusting! See what I told you?! They even smell like rotten meat.

His friend just laughed at his exclamation. That was only what he could do, he didn't want to get eaten by his "friend" just because he thought he was going a little too far with the kid.

Pamella already back to herself muttered,

- I took a bath, there's no way I can smell to rotten meat.

Pamella said that but in reality, she could also smell the still lingering stench from the rotten blood that had spilled on her thanks to someone who at the moment was not there to save her ass.

Xián Leng where the hell are you?! I'm going to get a bloody plastic surgery by this guy if this goes on any further.

Just as the tiger man shook her again, she was pulled back by two pair of strong hands. This time she had bumped into someone's tall figure, that smelled like he had been born by flowers, and had his arm securely on her shoulder; stating an obvious distance between her and the tiger humanoid.

The tiger man still had his arms hovering in the air, still processing what had happened. Pamella looked at him, and back up at the perfect looking Lord of Darkness that showed a serious unemotional stare. He stated,

- Excuse me, pardon my insolence dear sir, but what has my friend done to offend you, and your...

He looked questionably to the deer faced friend whose face was slightly covered with a not so fancy hand fan which if looked closely, it trembled in fear.

- Your companion...

The tiger man was out of words this time. How could he start a fight with such a man? People were starring at the out of nowhere appearing stranger who was speaking up for the young man harassed by the tiger man. He was so beautifully sculpted both at face, and body that even the tiger man, and deer friend gaped at his unholy perfect beauty. Picking up the Qi flow from this individual, the tiger man, and deer friend looked at each other, and answered in a friendly, but fake tone,

- No~ Excuse us for the misunderstanding. You see your friend here bumped into me, and...

Pamella exclaimed some words but was soon stopped by Xián Leng's tight grip at her shoulder.

- Bumped into you?! The one who bumped into someone was... OW!...

Xián Leng gave her a dark look of understanding but reprimanding. He was basically telling her to shut up and let him handle the situation. She sighed and looked down obediently avoiding anyone's eyes.

This is truly unfair! Now we need to listen to this cat's dumb excuses for bumping into me?!

Xián Leng signaled the tiger man to proceed with his useless explanation, but he couldn't get to even half the sentence while being mentally destroyed by Xián Leng's narrowing eyes and blazing red eyes; growing redder as the tiger man's lies became imperceptible.

- Is that all? I don't see a thing of value in your argument.

The tiger man raised his voice, forgetting the powerful Qi his opponent had, and was already sipping through his body.

- ARE YOU CALLING ME A LIAR?!

As he moved forward, instinctively protective, Xián Leng moved Pamella behind him. She didn't expect the tiger man would be so blunt as too make a move at them. His deer friend was trying to hold him, but to not avail, the tiger man slashed with his claws his "friend" s

Hands. The tiger man lost his reasoning and became possessed by his wild nature. Pamella thought that he was not different from a human, or even an animal; well, more animal than a human.

The deer friend laid at a side, with bloody mangled hands; crying.

There was clearly killing intent from the tiger, both his fangs and claws had grown larger than normal accompanied by Qi flares. The people around them immediately up roared, since it had been a week since a good fight had been presented. They all were like a Roman crowd at a gladiator show. They encircled both parties without letting either of them move out from the creature made cage. A young kid about twelve years of age was already running a bidding on who of the three would get their heads made into soup.

They eat HEAD soup?! Jesus Christ!

Pamella pulled on Xián Leng's clack cape, as to usher him to sprint them out from where they were. He ignored her pleading expression and continued looking forward. He was still not drawing his sword and his Qi level hadn't risen to it's full potential. Pamella deduced he wasn't planning to fight, but she wasn't ready to die because of him. She slowly went to one of the circle's individuals and told him she was not fighting, and that her companion would fight for her. They all laughed at her remark.

- Young man! Weren't you the one who bumped into the sir with the fangs showing? It is clearly your problem to solve. Both you and your friend should say you're sorry and...

- But HE won't listen! Do you know how many times I have said sorry?!

The crowd eyed him in a scornful manner. The huffed.

- Such and impolite human.

- Know your place human!

- ...

- ...

Those who were humans themselves remained silenced. There was no place for them in the fight between different species.

Seeing that her words were of no persuasion, she walked back to Xián Leng with watery eyes. She murmured,

- It's all your fault now we have to fight this cat!

He chuckled. He glanced at her without loosing the tiger mand from sight.

- I'm not the one who bumped unto him.

- Well I wasn't the one who gave him a reason to get angry at both of us!

Pamella was right. Xián Leng could have just said sorry for Pamella and continued their way to the scholar's place, but he had to tirar fuego, donde cenizas quedan. Xián Leng gave a mocking "tsk" and ignored her again. He was not going to fight, but he wasn't going to let the tiger humanoid harm them, so he tried to persuade again.

- Dear sir, if we have offended you by any means, we apologize for our rudeness.

Pamella murmured again.

- Xián Leng! This guy doesn't even listen, why bother?

- Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to calm the storm. Why must I fight when the circumstances don't call for it.

- True...

The tiger man had drool already moistening his hungry lips. He had already eaten but watching the small "lamb" behind the "panther" tremble in such an enticing way, we just couldn't help imagining ripping the flesh and crushing the bines with his teeth of that pretty "lamb".

Xián Leng knew that cat was interested specifically in Pamella. He didn't mind him at all. If he could he would get rid of Xián Leng and only harm Pamella. Xián Leng would not allow such a thing to take place. No one could harm her while he's alive. He had been having these feelings since the night he had met her in Wú Chù Zhī's body.

Despite the fact they were both men, technically he was the only man though, he had been having an urge to protect her, almost like an obsession of belonging. No scratch could come to her body, and every time she disappeared, or like before parted ways, he would get uneasy. It was strange indeed. What could all mean. How was it possible he felt the need to be by the side of this strange man who assured him she was a female, but not looked like one, and most of the time didn't act like one. Although, he recalled the girlish screams made by her while bathing in the forest pond. One because of the cold water, and the other because Xián Leng saw his, or her naked body, and refused to leave the place.

- XiÁN LENG! WOULD YOU JUST TURN AROUND?! HOW HARD IS IT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND?!

Xián Leng had just come back from gathering food for their "breakfast", only to find Wú Chù Zhī, let us say, Pamella, completely naked edging to get into the pond to bath. He normally continued his way towards the already burning woodfire.

- What are you, a woman? It's not like I've never seen a man's body before, and yours isn't that special.

How rude! Was that comment even necessary!

- That's not the problem here. I only asked for a simple favor, and you aren't being reasonable.

Xián Leng almost laughed. What did it matter if he was reasonable or not? They were both men, what difference would it make if he was or wasn't there.

- Come on you! You look ridiculous covering yourself up as if you had breasts, and a female's flower.

- Where did that attitude of yours come from Xián Leng?! You weren't like that when we met!

He rolled his eyes, asking the Heavens to help him deal with the drama in front of him.

- We have only met yesterday, how would you know how I was, or am like? Didn't you say last night you came from the future Pa. me. lla?

He's making fun of me! HE IS MAKING FUN OF ME! He is truly a heartless demon just as the legend said!

Pamella was red from shame, so she remained underwater for the rest of the time. Xián Leng tried to have some chatter and getting to know about this Pamella who was also Wú Chù Zhī, but he, or she was abstained to do so.

Something inside of him was rising. He felt warm, and... joyful? Either way, he wanted to make fun of Pamella some more, so he rose from were he left some nuts warming up, and slowly toasting. He started taking of his protective shoulder blades, letting them fall to the ground as so they resonated. Startled by the sound Pamella looked over to where it came from. The shoulder blades were already not of Xián Leng's concern. He was unfastening his outer garments when Pamella suddenly broke into a frenzied exclamation.

- What in the world are YOU DOING?! Put those back on.

Xián Leng looked at her with a straight motionless face.

- What does it look like I'm doing? I'm undressing. If you can't appreciate it well, I am also human, and had been sweating even since. Also, I had blood on me as well. I need to bath too.

She looked at him in astonishment, not believing a word uttered.

- BLOOD WHERE?! You fought those water things without even letting a hair out of that perfect pony tail of yours! You came out unbelievably cleaner than babies when they are born! You smell to FLOWERS! FLOWERS!

Xián Leng continued working in getting his undergarments off. Pamella quickly came out of the water and grabbed Xián Leng's hands which were about to get rid of the last piece of long garment of his lower body.

She was huffing and was almost chocking on the increase saliva in her mouth. She was nervous and flustered. She was cursing Xián Leng for being unfair. She barely knew the guy and he was acting all friendly, if the way he was acting could be counted as what a "friend" would do. If he wouldn't stop undressing, sues she had to stop him herself. But, involved in the matter at hand, she had forgotten the root of her embarrassment. Xiánd Leng reminded her,

- Wow~ It is truly amazing how shameless you can become in just a matter of time.

At first, she didn't comprehend his words, but soon she realized she had come out of the water without even thinking of getting dressed. She practically showed every inch of her man body to this tricky man. She ran towards her dried clothe and quickly, while trying to cover the most intimate parts of her, got dressed.

How could this happen?!

She could hear him laughing melodiously to her reaction, and her to unfruitful way of censoring her body. She knew what he was thinking. Sure, she was now a man, and she had the same things as him, except the perfect toned, and majestic built, or his beautiful manly face, but that didn't mean she was a man by soul. She was a woman; a virgin woman at that, how could she act normal when she herself has never been that close to a man; a naked man?

This is just embarrassing, that sly fox! Look at him smiling, all mighty, and acting like a winner.

Xián Leng did indeed feel triumphant. He felt proud and had no regrets of his actions. He knew it was childish of him, and never in his life as the strict, serious and most admired Imperial General had he imagined himself acting the way he was doing now. It felt out of the ordinary, and he knew something was off. Some memories of his past were blurry, and the way he had materialized at the lake made everything mysteriously brain beating.

Other than pondering on the ambiguous, he also took his time to do another unimaginable thing. He studied and admired the body that was mostly covered by undergarments.

How do I tie this up?! It looked so simple in the television!

She had already managed to put her kù zi, but do to her poor; very poor, knowledge in Chinese dress up she couldn't tie them with the rest of her top robes properly. Her appearance would bring pity upon any in sight, but would also made both women, and men tempted to ravish the poor frowning, manly maiden. Her body was completely soaked in water. Drips of water slid from her wet long dark eyelashes, over her thin, but slightly plumped lips, down her hard-looking chest; caressing the raw manuka honey dews. The drips slowly lingered at her lean muscled abdomen, glistening with the refraction of the sunlight. The top hem of the trousers was slightly opened and granted access to the curious drops to find out what laid beyond the thin now wet cloth.

A thirst had invaded Xián Leng's mouth and had dried his lips. Dripples of sweat has appeared on his skin, and his blood pressure had risen, giving him a ticklish feeling all over his body; like when one had drunk too much hard liquor.

Is it me, or has it gotten hotter in here?

The day's temperature was already warm, but with a fresh breeze. He had been savoring Pamella' s delicately toned, and smooth looking body structure, that he had unconsciously let out some of his Qi and had made his body temperature rise.

Pamella felt getting goosebumps, as if something, or someone was watching her. She peered her eyes towards the only presence with her now. Xián Leng cleared his throat, and just in time averted her gaze. She could be various things, but for one she wasn't stupid. She inquired.

- Were you sta... staring at me?

Xián Leng looked towards the pond, and ignoring her interrogation, got up from his kneeling position and having his back towards Pamella, in a swift movement he had disposed himself from his trousers, and dunked into the abysmal pond, leaving a wipe eyed, gaping, and blessed half naked virgin behind.

[cheogsam]- Traditional, decorated Chinese dress up robes. You've seen them both in movies and Chinese soap operas.

[wáng bā] – Chinese for "son of a b**ch"

[tirar fuego, donde cenizas quedan]- A spanish form of expression. In english is basically "to light up fire, where cinders still linger". Used for both inconvenient, and inconvenient situations, such as an unforgotten love, or a bad-tempered individual.

[kù zi]- Chinese for "trousers".