There were four figures under the light of one old oil lamp hanged at a crooked, oxidized hook at a corner of the dark room they were occupying. One of the figures took some steps forward, making the stranger's face perceptible. Warlord was directing emotionless towards Lăo and Lù Dǎn Xiǎo. He inquired,

- So, you have found him you tell me?

Hŭ Tòng didn't feel intimidated at all by the ruthless and cruel tone used on them. He had confronted worse characters than this one, and even if this was a warlord, and had far more authority and strength than he, the guy needed to show his respects. Hŭ Tòng answered in the same way.

- Yes... We did, but...

The Warlord's ears twitched by the last word, and towards them two.

- But ...? But what?

Hŭ Tòng tensed up with the menacing stare he threw them. Dǎn Xiǎo tried to cover his face by his almost to fall, trembling hand fan. Hu Tong thought,

This guy is... not human...

Hu Tong breathed in some air and sighed before finally answering.

- But, he is not alone... He is accompanied by another man, and a high leveled Qi one at that.

The Warlord lifted one of his brows, showing some interest.

- Who is the man; what's his name?

- I don't know, and if I don't know, lesser would he.

Hu Tong signaled to the sweating in anxiety Dan Xiao.

The Warlord remained thoughtful for a moment. He smiled and directed towards the other person with them.

- General Lu! I want to know when is the Peony Festival Celebrated at Luoyang Zhèn.

General Lu, almost had loosen his balance when such an exclamation was given by his master.

- My Lord, it is already mid – April, and the peonies are in full bloom; many of the neighboring towns are already celebrating it, and in some places of the capital as well.

remained silent until he again started his question and answer speech.

- So, the only one left are us; the Imperial Palace? Well; that won't do us any good would it?

General Lu was curious as to why suddenly, his master showed interest in a petty matter, as it was the Peony festival. Since his passed majesty, in the Imperial Palace, no such thing had any importance, why would Warlord Quanzhong want to know about the festival? Warlord Quanzhong continued with his monotonous playful conversation.

- Well, General Lu! We should get preparations going for tomorrow day and night!

General Lu was estranged.

- Excuse me my Lord, but do you mean...

Exasperated because his plans weren't processed by his foolish servant.

- I mean, that tomorrow we will celebrate the so called...

Everyone was expecting to finish, but the sentence remained in the air, as if he had forgotten what was called.

- ...

- ..

- .

General Lu finished for him.

- The so-called Peony Flowering Festival my Lord...

Warlord Quanzhong, exclaimed without giving his "thank you".

- Yes! That!

Everyone rolled his eyes. He continued.

- Everything needs to be ready for the people invites from the distinguishable partners of the Imperial Palace, also those who serve, and show their respects to hid Highness and his well being ought to be invited!

Everything was being decided so fast, General Lu was stoic, but Hu Tong and Dan Xiao were more shocked when the Warlord asked of them a favor.

- You two!

They straightened themselves at the commanding voicer.

- You at least know where they are right now?

- ...

The Warlord looked annoyed at their momentarily silence, but Dan Xiao suddenly remembering something, he stated,

- No, my Lord, but... I know where their guide lives.

The Warlord asked, with a raised brow.

- Guide?

- Ye, my Lord. His name is Hei Bao, he is a student of Lăo Wēng Zhé , the well known Taoist scholar and healer. Hei Bao is the former capital patrol officer from the past incident with the new capital patrol Officer, Wēng Lǐn. Hei Bao resides with the old scholar.

Warlord Quanzhong was overjoyed.

- This is perfect! Then, you and your friend there, go to that Scholar's house and invite him and his guests to our celebration. I'll later write the invitation letter signed by his majesty the Emperor and call for your assistance this evening.

Hu Tong said concerned,

- But... my... my Lord, me and Dan Xiao do not have a good relationship with Hei Bao. He is a tough guy to deal with...

He was stopped by the Warlords raised hand.

Annoyance rose from the deepest parts of his self-control, but he wasn't going to ruin his possibility to get a place at the royal court, so he shut up and listened.

Seeing the annoyed, and constricted face of Hei Bao as a result of him having to maintain himself low even if he didn't want to, Quanzhong laughed to his inners.

This one has the character of burning iron and flesh! It's being long since I've seen such a character. Not since...

The Warlord stopped his venturing thoughts and went back to business.

- You won't have any problem, because you'll go in your human forms.

Dan Xiao and Hu Tong looked at him incredulously and almost laughing from the statement. Dan Xiao spoke,

- Excuse me my Lord, but that's... that's not possible, you must be well informed that lo Qi Beasts can't make a high energy consuming transformation.

The Warlord chuckled.

- Well, my fellow gentlemen, who says we can't change that.

With Qi charged palms, he hit their chest, and for them, everything went pitch black.

Master Weng's study was filled with the smell of rice boiling and roasting mushrooms.

Master Weng was reading about soul transmigration on his ancient teaching books, seeing if he could find something that could help Pamella with her soul related problems. She as well has taken a book dealt with "merging souls". She had read about an interesting phenomenon that happens rarely, but it had happened; based on the testimonies from the book of course.

The "merging of souls" was a process that both required the blood, and Qi from the two individuals whose souls aught to merge or unify. It was a process that required far more spiritual energy than self-transformation, o it made it extremely exhausting. If the Qi levels were not high enough during the process of the merge, one or the two souls, could chatter and seize to exist. That's why it was rarely done. The Qi levels needed were preposterous; even Master Weng wasn't sure his Qi would do just enough to merge with another's soul.

Things got more interesting. If the merge was successful, then both individuals become one entity; individual bodies, but the Qi level between the two acquired a similar level, and what happened ton one's body, happened to the others; sometimes emotions and dreams could be witnessed by the other person.

Master Weng saw the matter important as well. Maybe it could also be of use for Pamella, and Xián Leng's blood contract. Since Xián Leng' s awakening did have some relation with Pamella getting cut and the tree absorbing her spiritual energy through the blood left on it. Master Weng had said to her the night before,

- Dear, there is no "soul merging", or better to day "soul contract" if blood is not involved.

That is assuming that the bond between the two was far from simple, but far from awful; that is, excluding the fact that she, or he could die, or get hurt if the other did so.

Master Weng continued.

- Look at the bright side! You'll get to know in full detail the character from that paper you needed to write for your teacher! You'll write a FANTASTIC one at that! Plus, maybe you two needed to find and know each other.

She contradicted,

- I hope you are not giving me the "destiny" speech, because...

Master Weng brushed it off and shrugged in response to her obstinance.

- Suit yourself then. The Universe always finds its ways.

Trying not to be rude, Pamella restrained herself from rolling her eyes

Since she gave Xián Leng's identity to Master Weng, and explained how all came to be the way it was now, he had re read the legend of the "Lord of Darkness and the Emperor of Jing" over and over again, putting aside Xián Leng's evil deeds in the past, and the irony of him liking having him at his house, both because Xián Leng was a historical enigma in the both mortal, and spiritual World, and also because he and Pamella with their noisy arguments made in just two days the silent home all lively. Why wouldn't he help them? The young man had lost his memories what bad could he do now anyways?

Master Weng read as well other literature which Pamella was ignorant of, so to make her get clearer conclusions, or answers to her questions, he had insisted that she learnt more about the subjects that dealt with pacts, contracts, mortality strings, etc... All that was related, and included the word souls in it, and that's why here she was, looking through a bunch of old, yellow, and dusty books. Not to mention, that Master Weng has as well come to a theory that Pamella and Xián Leng's souls were merged, which for a person in whose time most people didn't even believe in the God they so prayed to, was a little absurd. Those things only happened in sci-fi movies and books, but then again, she remembered what had happened to her, and were she was right now, suddenly giving Master Weng's statement credibility points.

Now that she was reading books about souls, and such things as "blood tied contract strings" she wasn't so sure about how destiny worked. She was never a believer of it anyways, since life always functioned by her decisions and actions, not by any other divine factor as DESTINY.

How can one know if something is destiny if one doesn't find facts, or accurate information on the subject? If I say, destiny is a pain in the...

A loud slam on the study table startled her back to reality; even Master Weng, Hei Bao and Jiti had cursed, followed by the pray for forgiveness of Master Weng.

- CAW! CAW! What the Hell is wrong with you all of a sudden?! I almost shit myself!

Hei Bao muttered,

- Disgusting...

And he continued to cook their breakfast. The table was full of various papers which had the same "thing"; if it could be called a thing, illustrated on them.

Master Weng picked up a piece of paper, reading it out loud as if he was a news radio program.

- WANTED! Wú Chù Zhī, Thief of the Golden Red Pendant Necklace harbored at the Imperial Padoga. Head prize: 60, 515 BRONZE COINS.

NO MORE. NO LESS!

Jiti cawed in annoyance.

- The Imperial official's system is way to barbaric for my taste. How come they always want the head of someone and even offer riches for the unfortunate soul.

- Disgraceful!

Pamella took a piece of paper, and looked at it up and down, and asking the stupidest question of all, said,

- And... What is THIS supposed to be?

Xián Leng suddenly got a surge to smack her on the face but remembering that the he in front of him was a she he remembered his values as a man, to never raise a hand at a woman, and restrained himself from acting unreasonably.

- Pamella, this is not a joke. Take the matter seriously!

- But I am! Seriouslly what is THIS?! Better to ask, who is THAT?!

Looking at the illustration, it depicted a little chubby face, undulated hair like hers, two small things that were supposed to be the eyes, her clothes and in more detail, the artefact that had been stolen. She thought for a bit until the fact got into her. She answered incredulously wrinkling both her nose and brows.

- Don't tell me this is supposed to be ME?

Hei Bao inspected the papers and said,

- It does look like you in some way...

Pamella snorted.

- How in the World, does this THING that bearly assimilates to a human be me?

Master Weng,

- Well dear, it does have your clothing and hair...

Pamella's critical perspective was to stubborn. She continued to argue.

- This is way to ugly to be me. It looks as if I'd put one of my friends to make a portrait of me, and instead of me he drew some unproportionate mutant from "Attack on Titan"!

Hei Bao,

- What's "Attack on Titan"?

Pamella answered the way a wise anime otaku would when speaking of his, or her favorite manga addiction.

- It's an anime, and manga where giant human mutants eat other tiny screaming innocent normal humans who lived like cattle inside walled cities ready to die any moment. The best thing of all is when the teeth of the "Titans" gnash at their flesh and it stretches like when one bites into a hot mozzarella stick.

Everyone, except Jiti who was laughing non stop at her comment, looked at her with a "WTF?! And you like to watch that?!" expression. Jiti exclaimed,

- CAW! CAW! I don't know what you were talking about, but still...

He couldn't finish because his laughter took the best of him.

Xián Leng sighed, grabbed one of the WANTED fliers and put it in front of Pamella' s face.

- Listen to me, O.K.?! It doesn't matter if for you this doesn't resemble yourself, but other idiots will notice, and you won't be able to find your body, or go back to your "home" if the Imperial officials get a hold of you. Do you understand? I know more than you on how the system works! You can't go out and when we do, try to make yourself unnoticeable. Got it!

Master Weng gave reassurance to Xián Leng's statement.

- That's right! Now you must be cautious of your outing plan. The best the two of you could do is move out from the city, but... Your body is somewhere here, so you won't want to go am I right miss Pamella?

Even if it was impolite to ignore Mater Weng's question, Pamella felt depressed, so she remained sulking, looking down at the dozens of papers scattered on the table. She sadly mumbled,

- Now, how am I supposed to find out who has and where is my body?

Xián Leng this complicated things both for him and Pamella, as well as the ones who had taken in for a rest the fugitive being persecuted by Imperial forces. It pained him to look at such a melancholic expression on Pamella's face so, to ease the grim mood he assured her that they would think of something, and that all they needed to do was to be patient.

Master Weng started to pick up the papers from the table, as well as the books on souls that Pamella was reading. He said,

- Ok, everyone! Let's not fret, let's eat! Maybe, after eating, things would be clearer for all of us, especially for you dear.

Pamella remained in silence, and before she could take the first bite from the food, a knock at the front door made her and the others lower their chopsticks on the tables. Master Weng was skeptical. He didn't have any appointments during that whole day; especially to knock at this hour; so early in the morning.

- Who could it be...?

Hei Bao stated,

- I'll go.

Signaling to Pamella.

- You go and hide in the guest room. We must be careful from now on. We never know when...

Another knocked sounded, and Hei Bao hurried her up.

Pamella nodded and went to hers and Xián Leng's guest bedroom. Xián Leng was about to accompany Pamella into her hiding, but Master Weng stopped with a hand on his shoulder.

- You stay. Just in case. It's better to be prepared than nothing. One never knows when unwelcomed people decide to make one of your days a Hell.

Xián Leng wouldn't argue that. So, both gave a chuckle, and waited for Hei Bao to open the door and see who it was. Jiti had shut his beak and hovered unto his resting corner of the room.

Hei Bao went to the door and opened it slightly revealing two strikingly looking young men with the appearance and air of coming from a distinguishable family. The taller one wore a black robe, covered by another piece of garment colored red, which shoulders were covered by orange Bengal tiger fur. Some gold accessories adorned his get up. A distinguishable tattoo on his face and neck made his factions dangerously alluring.

His companion, which was some inches smaller than he, wore a beige animal hair cape which went over a darker shaded robe with black leathered hems. He carried a black fan which he used to some way cover his face. This one was trembling slightly.

Hei Bao blinked twice before inquiring what both "gentlemen" asked of his Master.

The smaller one of the two strangers, went forth and handed Hei Bao a letter. In a low voice, he said,

- You, your Master, and present guests are kindly invited by his majesty the Emperor and Lord Quanzhong to the Royal Peony Festival at the Palace's peony garden. Food and beverages would be offered as well as other kind of entertainments. His Majesty and my Lord would be awaiting your honorable presence.

With that said, the individual bowed still hiding his face behind the fan, he turned and started to walk towards the direction of the Palace but had to turn back because his companion had remained in a trance looking straight into the eyes of Hei Bao. Hei Bao could feel, and even see in the tall stranger's eyes that he wasn't happy to be there, but in them he could also see joyful mockery. He thought,

Do I know this man? There is something from this two that seems familiar, but I can't get a grasp to what it is... The way they act, I've seen these personalities before... But where, on in who?

Hei bao squinted his eyes, as if he had some X-ray super power and could look in and through of the person in front of him; as if like that he could find out who these strangers were in reality.

The smaller individual pulled softly on the others robe and whispered in his ear something even the sharp hearing of Hei Bao couldn't pick up. The taller one nodded and both started walking towards the direction of the palace, still looking from time to time behind them, until their figures were out of sight.

Hei Bao put his un answered suspicions to the back of his worries for now and closed the door. He handed the letter to Master Weng.

Jiti couldn't wait for a moment to speak about the strangers that visited them. He exclaimed,

- Goodness, I mean... Did they descended from the Heaven's to bless our eyes?

Master Weng couldn't agree more.

- Yes, Jiti; indeed, it's a rare sight to see too many of beautiful men days in a row.

Here, Master Weng refers to the time when Pamella and Xián Leng arrived too his home, lighting the place both with their personalities, and their beauty. Never he had seen such people before, so indeed once again looking at people who didn't appear Earth made was a mind shocking thing of course. He laughed at the thought.

Pamella came out from the room, clutching her chest. Her face was flushed, and she wore a big smile on her face. Xián Leng already having an idea as to why her bright smile, asked anyways with a sour tone.

- You... And why do you have that expression plastered on your face? Has something great happened that I'm not aware of?

Hei Bao ignorant to what was wrong with Xián Leng's manner of interrogation, asked innocently,

- Yes Miss Pamella. Weren't you moments ago worried and sad about how you needed to plan in another way to get your body back?

Pamella interrupted them both,

- You mean you don't know what happens to a person when godlike looking people appear in front of them? Here Feel my heartbeat! I swear to you that I am going to have a heart attack! You know, one of the good things about coming to this place was I've got the opportunity to admire such splendid beauty gifted men. Yes, yes...

She said while nodding with one hand on her waist and the other on her chin.

Master Weng opened the letter and started to read it to himself.

Meanwhile, Jiti said in an amused tone,

- Miss Pamella sure has good eye for men doesn't she, or should I say HE? CAW! CAW!

Pamella giggled and winked at the bird, granting her with more praise from the bird.

Hei Bao was thinking that even in a man's body, the soul of Pamella brought out a beauty upon it and one could confuse her with a real woman, if only she wasn't so tall, or flat chested, and her jaw less prominent, then one could really take her as a woman both in body and soul, but... then again her present body even with all those changes, had THAT between her legs. Now that changed things.

Xián Leng was annoyed to the point his eyes started to change from dark red to crimson.

- What good thing did those two have? Other than looking good, you don't know if they are the enemy, or even the ones that have your body hostage?

Pamella eyed him... Looking at his eyes and noticing the change in color, she realized that Xián Leng's eyes changed with his emotions, and that by the way he addressed to her, he was jealous.

Jealous of what?! And why?! Why would he be jealous by some strange men? Sure, my eyes are adventurers, and love exploring all types of man body built, but it wasn't something to be angry about. Anyways why should he care! Who was he to limit my wonderings and visual pleasures?!

She smiled wide, feeling inexplicably amused.

- Xián Xián~

Xián Leng's eye brows twitched as she said such an embarrassing and insulting way of addressing someone she just recently met.

She continued.

- Ok,ok... You don't have to look at me like that~ Also... You don't have to be so jealous about such a fact. Don't tell me you didn't feel stricken, or dizzy with such handsomeness thrown upon you?! I Won't believe it if you do?!

Hei Bao watched the clenching Qi charged fists. Worried that Xián Leng would lose his temper and did something he would later regret. Pamella and Xián Leng were already face to face, with the latter's eyes blazing as crimson red as that confusing, violent and scary night they first met. Pamella loved the color of his eyes, especially when they were accompanied with some wildness. Pamella inched closer, still bringing up whatever thing she could to make those eyes burn more, and Xián Leng inched closer twice the distance. Hei Bao Inched trice towards the two, just about to pull Pamella from Xián Leng's grasp, but Master Weng interrupted their ridiculous kid play.

- All of you, listen up! We were invited by his majesty; I don't know why, but for whatever reason, we were also invited in the name of Lord Quanzhong, to the Royal Peony Festival held at the palace tonight! It's been long since I've gone to a royal party. I think I still have my elegant robes somewhere among the books.

Pamella turned abruptly, laughing at her inners and confused at what Master Weng was talking about. Hei Bao also turned towards him and stated in worried confusion,

- But, Master, we can't go with Pamella looking like she does now.

Pamella exclaimed, faking being insulted,

- Hey! I look better than when I originally possessed this body!

Xián Leng sighed and loosing his patience, grabbed the side of her arms and spanned her to face him. He raised her from the floor, as if she was a toothpick.

- He is talking about the fliers, and people looking for you. You can't go out looking as you do now. You either have to cut your hair, change your clothing, or something! And even with that I think the people that had close encounters with you will recognize you, so scratch any possibility of escaping capture!

Master Weng calmed him.

- There must be something we could do...

Jiti curiously asked,

- Am I included on the list?

Master Weng said,

- Pets are not allowed it says here.

- WHO IS YOUR PET?! CAW! CAW! You... I'm out!

And with that he disappeared, leaving a small cloud of black smoke behind.

Hei Bao remembering something, whispered it to Master Weng.

He gave a satisfied smile.

Pamella eyed him, and asked,

- So, do we have any idea in how am I going to be "transformed"? You're not planning to really cut my hair, right? Although... it's a little hot, so maybe I could...

Master Weng, still smiling stated,

- I've got just the thing...