Pamella open her eyes and pulled herself up abruptly from the bed's pillow. Drenched in sweat she looked to her surroundings. She was again in the bedroom given by the empress dower. The candles were still lit, and Xián Leng was still resting with eyes closed and folded arms in the nearby chair next to the night table. She lowered her head, thinking about whether her past experience was either a dream, or if it had happened and she had actually went through a secret tunnel, found herself conversing with a demon king, and if he actually had her body, the things she needed to do to get that body back. She looked around for her bag, which as her eyesight adjusted to the dimness of the room, she saw it hanging from one of the ears of the chair Xián Leng was occupying. She lifted herself out from the bed and slowly reached for the bag's interior.

Xián Leng expression while he was pleasantly sleeping made one feel hovering over clouds.

He looks younger like this, than when he is all serious and grumpy. No one would even think about the fact that you were a merciless, murderous, and wretched person if you show this innocent side of you to them.

She was nearly reaching for the object she desired to look at, until Xián Leng vigorously tried to adjust himself on the chair. He accidentally pushed Pamella with a strong shove of his elbow making her tumble, and fall. Since the bag was wrapped tightly around the chair's ear and Xián Leng's push had quite a force, the chair and him also went down with Pamella.

Xián Leng's eyes sprung open immediately after feeling himself fall, but he hadn't been fast enough to realize he was mere inches from hitting the ground. Both cried out in pain.

Xián Leng still leaned down on whatever soft thing broke his fall, his eyesight took in what that "thing" was.

Pamella was petrified; both because of being bashful of the current situation, and how both their bodies were pressed together. She knew her temperature was rising, and her face was acquiring a reddish color; she could swear that the embarrassing position was going to be the next cause for a fever on her.

Xián Leng didn't understand how both got into the floor, and fell into such an awkward, and uncomfortable position, but one thing was for sure; he said with a serious face, and leaning a bit closer to Pamella's face.

- You should be resting. What are you doing walking around the bedroom in the middle of the night?

Pamella didn't expect him to be giving her a lecture which clearly was for sick little children.

- I wasn't walking around the bedroom. I was...

She was interrupted by his monotonous tone.

- Around the palace in the middle of the night?

She answered without thinking it twice, but immediately shutting her mouth because of her dumb move.

- How did you know I was walking around the palace?!

Xián Leng chuckled at her guilty expression.

- I didn't, but now I do, thank you very much for confirming.

Pamella glared at him, and if she could roll her eyes back into her brain, she would also glare at herself.

Xián Leng continued his lecture.

- You should rest by the meantime, until the party ends. Don't exert your Qi or else you won't even have strength to walk back to our bedroom at Master Weng's house.

As much as Pamella's heart inexplicably warmed, and her face softened at Xián Leng referring to the guest room at Master Weng's home as "theirs", she felt that if she slept for more than what she had already slept she would get a sore back, and numb feet. How then will she be able to walk to "their" bedroom as he said. She was resolute on not staying in that place any longer.

- I am fine now. Now if you just....

Xián Leng put his forehead on Pamella's, taking her by surprise.

- I don't see that your fever has gone down. Instead, it looks like you are getting hotter.

Pamella thought,

Trust me, that if you keep on touching me like this, and moving like that I'll be turn into ashes. STOP MOVING GODAMMIT!

Xiánd Leng was really not doing anything out of the ordinary, but apparently Wu Shu Chi's body was very sensitive to light movements on some parts of his body, that with even a slight touch Pamella would get a weird sensation hard to describe, but absolutely knowing its origin. As Xián Leng kept on trying to convince her to go into the bed, Pamella lowered her voice, and said,

- Would you move off being on top of me?

Xián Leng didn't here her correctly, and lowering his face as close as ever, he inquired,

- What did you say?

Just as he realized with eyes wide opened, that he was closer than the actual distance he should had been from Pamella, he himself started turning red and overheating.

Pamella couldn't take it anymore, and so she pushed with all her force the body on top of her, and grabbing her bag and putting it over her head, and avoiding eye contact said,

- WOULD YOU GET OFF ME!... I said I'm fine! I want to go enjoy the party! Would you also stop being all caring now!

Xián Leng laid sitting on his bottom, looking up at the startling man screaming at him from out of nowhere, also knowing that he himself had gone a little overboard.

Pamela huffed, sprang open the bedroom door, and started walking along the dark hall, but suddenly a fact hit her hard.

Xián Leng still was stupefied on the floor, trying to mend things over on his mind. Pamella had been angry with him because of the brothel thing with those girls, but now she would get irritated at the slightest of things that had HIM on it, or around.

How long is she planning to be mad at a misunderstanding, which only she took as being done on purpose! This man could get way too dramatic... I mean woman... Either way what's the deal with her?! Couldn't she at least give me her thanks on bringing her to rest here and helping her lower her fever?!

Xián Leng was trying to find many reasons as to being angry with Pamella but he surrendered on looking ways to make her be at fault. He didn't feel angry at all. No matter what she did, or how she acted, he had accepted anything she said, or done.

This is too complicated for a man like me... She is too complicate and yet...

The door from the bedroom sprang open. Only a ponytail, and two big shining eyes that showed both guilt, and innocence peeked inside it directing themselves at the confused man on the floor. A toned-down recognizable voice asked Xián Leng,

- Could you... Could you show me the way back...?

Xián Leng lowered his face, and after smiling for a moment, he stood, nodding with a serious face that hid very well his satisfaction. He walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

At least she is not that angry...

All the spectators were excited for the event that Lady Húli, one of the concubines of the previous emperor; Emperor Zhaozong, prepared for them all. The event started with a yayue, or traditional court dance led by the concubines themselves. The melodious, yet soothing traditional Chinese music generated by the unison of the , the , the , and the made the public whistle, applaud, and even ask for another round of such beautiful performance. Listening to those instrument play in synchronized harmony, Pamella's hairs on the back of her neck stood, and pleasant goosebumps ran along her arms, and legs. Her eyes shined, expecting to see and listen such mastery, and art.

Master Weng had left Hei Bao and Xián Leng in charge of Pamella, while he went over to speak with a colleague of his, and for them to also watch she wouldn't bring trouble to herself or them again. Pamella thought at that time,

As if I'd make a spectacle of myself. No one even noticed me begging for mercy, as I clutched my destroyed stomach! What other trouble did he mean?!

Putting her thoughts to a side, she watched the last dance given by the concubine dancers. As they bowed in thank you to the fervor given by the audience, the Empress Dower He took her turn to talk, and open the last event of the night. Concentrating her Qi at her vocals what was spoken resonated among the guests, and Pamella could swear it had to be listened at the town if it was that high of a pitch.

- Thank you all for attending this grand festival at our royal house and palace. Other than music and beautiful dances such as these are exquisite to the eye and ears, the Emperor, Lord Zhu , and I, desire to see exciting Qi techniques that are both pleasant to the eye and ears without the use of instruments of course.

Pamella's ears fixed themselves on the words being spoken.

- Who of our guests would like to give us the pleasure to experience his, or her amazing capacities in control the energy that flows among all living things?

From the crowd came forth two beautiful young women; twins to be precise, wearing the same clothing attire; colorful, with light blues, yellow, and luminous red. Their hair was mounted into what Pamella would call a beehive, but it was rather pleasant to watch in a funny way. Their robes had long sleeves that glided along the shining marble floor and their makeup was similar to that of a fairy clown, but it was better not to judge such face painting. Pamella was indeed in the ending years of the Tang Dynasty, and such things were part of the fashion and beauty culture. Women of high ranks would paint their faces paler than their normal skin color, dark eyeshadow, heavy tinted cheeks, and almost heart shaped lips, adorned with a final glimmering symbol on their forehead.

I would be sweating by now if I wore that much makeup. Too much clothe also...

Following the twins settlement at the center of the encircling audience, two handsome men descended the Imperial Stairs after detaching themselves from the side of Lord Quanzhong. They were the two-fellow which Pamella bumped and talked to earlier that night; Zhao Yinheng and Wang Yin.

Pamella hesitated. She wanted to go and test how much her spiritual power had developed. The Empress Dowager He resonated again with a last call to the audience for participants. Pamella thought that if she didn't at least give her thanks to the Empress, and the little Emperor for giving her a hand when she was feeling unwell, then what other way could she? This one was perfect enough. She'll make sure to make everyone remember who that beautiful tall maiden with the stained bag was.

Perhaps not the stained bag part, but... Yeah, forget it!

Xián Leng and Hei Bao were waiting to stop Pamella eyeing her every move, her every tensed muscles, the sweat sliding on her neck, her delicate curving tinted lips with a wicked exciting smile, and just as they as men absorbed into such satisfying to the eyes characteristics, Pamella whispered just in time before pushing herself out from the crowd, and settling at the center with the rest of the participants,

- Weeeeeeeeell~ I don't know about you, but... Enjoy the show guys!

When Xián Leng and Hei Bao processed what had just happened, Pamella was already bowing to her Highness in a not so suitable for a lady manner. She didn't know the etiquette to bowing to great characters as Kings, or Emperors, how else was she going to bow. The deal was she was already there, standing in front of a multitude of people, and the chiefs of Tang, she couldn't back out now.

Emperor Ai looked at his mother and whispered to her,

- Mother, isn't that the maiden we lent a room to rest, and was sweating with a high fever?

Smiling in gladness of the young woman getting better and having the courage to participate in such an important event, she confirmed nodding he head.

Lord Quanzhong looked amused by the sudden appearance of the young female man, he was awaiting to see if Pamella kept her word, and really won the contest. His eyes flickered from black to red, and back again.

The change in the Lord's eyes didn't pass unperceived by Pamella, and she immediately knew who that was, and that what she had passed through while thinking herself asleep wasn't a dream. She had to win this, for the sake of her body, her soul, and for Xián Leng. To let pass an opportunity to learn some secret hints from this "Devil King" would be a grave strike on her starting task of collecting the golden Wise Spirit's charms and winning the Devil's Game.

I HAVE TO WIN!

Just seconds after her last stated thought, the Empress signaled the twins to open the contest with their presentation. Pamella, and the two men next to her move aside, and watched as the twins made strange symbols with their bodies; contorting it into hurting to look at positions, that even made the Lord Quanzhong cringe. Their last symbol finished by them slamming their hands on the floor. The floor rumbled and shook. Everyone tried their best to maintain balance grasping into each other's shoulders while the others on pillars. The ground broke open and twisting trunk emerged from the crack, twisting, and twirling while it grew leaves, and it bent in between the pillars that reluctantly the spectators had to abandon. Buds of an amazingly smelling beautiful flower opened, perfuming the air with the delicacy of a sweet scent that reminded Pamella of baked vanilla honey cake. Maybe the best way to compare such smell was that of the Daffodil, but its appearance was nowhere near as low as the Daffodil. The flower had blue spines in the center where its stamens held to its rich golden yellow pollen.

Pamella stared amazed at such beauty, but then her stare shifted towards the big crack that remained on that expensive marbled floor. She felt a heavy aura on her that made her direct her eyesight towards the Empress. Empress He's eyebrows twitched as she wore a forced smile that if it widened further Pamella was worried the Empress's face would tear like paper. The Empress held her anger in, and only referred to the twins with,

- To such a ruckus I don't dare even to think as these flowers deserving of admiration. How dare you destroy private property! You shall work from tomorrow on in hard labor to pay off each tile cracked!

In utter horror the twins unexpecting such reaction from the Empress Dowager, only bowed asking for forgiveness and were seized by some guards signaled by Lord Quanzhong and taken away.

Next up were the two beautiful men; the one carrying a gigantic metal hand fan; beyond the size of Pamella both in height and width, and the other in red, three buckets with red, purple and blue ink.

threw one of the colors high enough to almost hit the sealing. The ink went falling directly on top from the place where Wang Yin had charged his fan with Qi and started to move himself in circles, creating a tornado to appear and catch in time the ink. Then the rest of buckets were thrown into the tempest, and summoning Qi strings, he held tight unto the color strings created by the dancing fan, which with the touch of the flowing energy glowed in vibrant lights the night. The complete opposite techniques, but their cinchonized movements, made the colored spectacle mouth gaping.

We just need to put on some Bad Bunny music, and all would feel like a discoteca.

Pamela inwardly laughed at the thought of actually putting reggaeton to the people surrounding her, wondering what face they would put if such music was put to them.

As their show went to its end, Wang Yin swished his fan shut and the colored tornado disappeared as if the ink itself had also transformed into spiritual energy.

Everyone roared and applauded, even flowers were thrown at them which they gladly smiled at and dodged just in time their beautiful spikes lacerated their young handsome faces. Both men bowed, feeling grateful that they could give an enjoyable act.

Zhao Yinheng turned towards Pamella and walked towards her. Xián Leng was looking the guys moves closely. He hadn't liked the guy from the very start he saw him at Master Weng's door, and now he was showing off himself to Pamella as if his intentions were to court her.

The only one left to show the strength of their spiritual power was, Pamella. Zhao Yinheng stood before her while his companion watched anxiously behind his hand fan from him to Pamella and back again. Yinheng extended his hand all five fingers stretched, waiting for something, but Pamella stared at both the opened hand and the owner of that extremity, in bewilderment.

All went silent and some whispers arose from the crowd. It only took seconds before she finally realized that she was offered to shake a hand for good luck.

She hurriedly stretched both hands and shook nervously smiling.

With a lowered voice she asked for forgiveness.

Yinheng chuckled and left her to be the center of attention.

Pamella looked around herself and started getting nervous.

I only came out on impulse. What am I supposed to do as an innovative "Qi technique"?

Pamella thought and thought again, but each moment she thought the whispers and looks around her became more apparent. There were various techniques she read she could do, in the books back at Master Weng's house, but none of them she practiced, or if practiced she still sucked at them.

Empress He cleared her throat, signaling Pamella that she was taking too long to come up with something interesting for them.

Well, **ck it! Let's do this!

Pamella exclaimed bowing with cupped hands in front of her,

- Your Imperial Highness I ask for a giant xuan zhĭ, the length and with of this clear, unoccupied floor. A máo bǐ, as big as both my arms together made of both of goat hair and silver wolf hair, and a handle made of a giant boar's horn I also ask of thee, your eminence.

The Empress nodded and waved her hand as a signal for the servants to bring forth the inquired materials.

How did Pamella know the Imperial Palace carried a máo bǐ of such materials, no one knew, but they were all curious to see what this unique maiden had to offer.

The servants handed Pamella the giant inked brush, a bucket of ink, and the calligraphy paper was unrolled on the floor.

Pamella threw to a side her bag, rolled her top garment sleeves, and lifted her skirt, knotting it to the side of her hips. This last action made her earn whistles, and insights from the masculine crowd.

She thought while chuckling,

If only they knew they were eyeing a man's lean thighs...

Hei Bao and Xián Leng listened to nearby comments at Pamella's exposing extremities.

- Who is that woman?!

- She acted rather bold and sexy right now!

- Those legs though...

And amused laughter followed.

Hei Bao whispered to Xián Leng blushing slightly,

- I don't know if my eyes fool me, but Master Leng I have to say that the body Pamella now possesses, its original owner really did a great job in maintaining his figure...

Xián Leng clenched his hands into fists. He didn't expect Hei Bao to be so shameless as to confide him his more intimate thoughts about Pamella. He didn't want to hear anything, and if Pamella was mad at him by no reason, he now had a reason to be mad at her. Inwardly he exclaimed,

You...OUTRAGEOUS!

Even though what Pamella did was a shameless act for Xián Leng, he had already seen Pamella's delicately toned masculine body whole and he couldn't help to recall it in his memories of the second day they spent together after meeting. He had to admit inwardly, that the body had been really taken care of, and that it was a blessing to the eyes for both women and men.

Slapping himself awake from his fantasizing state he attentively stared at Pamella's next moves.

Pamella breathed and exhaled slowly. She gripped tightly the blush and dunked it into the bucket of ink. Spiritual energy started flowing along the brush's body and the bucket.

She closed her eyes imagining what she wanted to represent and as soon as she opened them, in one swift movement she placed the brushes soft, and wet tip on the papers surface and started in an amazing speed the brush.

At leveled eyes, one couldn't see clearly what she was drawing, but from were the Royal court stood the image presented itself clear. The crowd saw how the paper glowed, as if many fireflies were about to emanate from it, but what really emanated from it stunned everyone. Some went pale, others started running, some fainted, and others praised her euphorically.

A dragon rose slowly from the paper. Lined in black, dripping ink as it rose high enough to bend and hover over everyone's figure.

Xián Leng looked up at it. Amazed at how much Qi Pamella had been able to cultivate in a short amount of time.

Master Weng on the other hand, knew the reason for her to be able to summon such entity with just a brush, paper, and some ink. He whispered to himself,

- The soul contract... it's starting to show its true nature...

Someone near him asked,

- What did you say Old Master Weng?

Master Weng coughed lightly, and just waved at that person who knew him but he himself didn't remember knowing.

- Nothing really... Hahaha...

The dragon roared and spit inked fire that even though it was a creation of an ink entity, it made the place feel like a hot oven.

With a raised hand Pamella created an X in front of her and signaled to the starry night sky.

The dragon roared again and with a gust of wind, glided as if going to the Heavens. As soon as it reached high enough, it exploded into thousands of fireworks.

The crowd, and the Royal Court gaped as they watched what was once a ferocious ink creature explode into beautiful colorful supernovas.

Lord Quanzhong smirked and thought,

Not bad~

When the fireworks ended Empress Dowager, He went running down the stairs of the Imperial stage, and ignoring the fact that Pamella had stained hands and face, hugged her and congratulated her in everyway she could think courteous enough to show her pleased state.

- I want to congratulate you Miss... May I have your name please?! I want to remember the name of such wonderful and talented person as you!

Pamella hadn't given her name to the Empress at the time she was feeling way to ill to think of courtesies. She smiled and answered while bowing her head,

- My name is Pamella your Eminence.

The Empress tried to pronounce Pamella's name but to Pamella's knowledge, her name for this Chinese period's people it was going to be hard to pronounce. Either way she was happy enough with a royal calling out her name, even if mispronounced.

The Empress continued.

- Miss I want to give you anything you desire as a reward for such a gift you have. Which thing do you most desire?

Pamella thought emidietly, on her Iphone, her laptop, her bed, her HOME.

Madam if you have the magic powers to throw me back to my time, I would gladly draw you as many dragon fireworks as you want!

But she knew clearly, she wasn't going to be able to get home as long as that dammed necklace remained disassembled.

The Empress suddenly thought of something and exclaimed happily,

- Miss, how about taking the brush in your hands as your reward? It is a rare brush indeed; fit to be grasped by someone as powerful as you.

Lady, you flatter me too much... My spiritual energy level sucks! Either way...

- Um... I am flattered and all but, this brush is to big to fit in my bag...

Lord Quanzhong interjected their conversation.

- Nonsense! Just shrink it to your heart's desire.

He grabbed the brush, and with a burst of Qi the brush shrank until it was the Lord's hand size. He handed it back to Pamella.

- You can make it bigger again if you want it doesn't ask for much spiritual energy.

Seeying that Pamella was glancing constantly to the Lord, the Empress decided to leave them, even if he was the one that invaded her wonderful conversation with the young lady.

- It was nice meeting your Miss Pa... Miss... Miss! Hope to meet you again!

She went away before Pamella could confirm with a bow.

Pamella stated in a low voice; almost a whisper.

- You are the "Devil King" aren't you?

Lord Quanzhong laughed, and abruptly brought her into a hug that both petrified her, and the person dressed in black and golden lined robes that was coming to congratulate her; both angry and happy for her. Now angrier with her than happy...

The Lord saw the expression from the person from a far, and while smirking murmured into Pamella's ears,

- My favorite dish is pure virgin souls like yours. They satisfy my inextinguishable hunger for souls. After having Wu Zhu Chi's and tasting yours...I'm getting hungrier again... You better do as I demanded, or else... You might end up... Somewhere else~

With that the Lord liked Pamella's ear, for no one, but one to see. Turned around and went to greet a "fellow" of his.

Pamella stood there wide eyed and crimson red from head to toes.

What... Wha... Wha...

Xián Leng grabbed harshly one of her arms and pulled her out of the place, until they were in front of the Imperial Palace's entrance gates.

When she freed herself after some hurtful tries, Xián Leng spun and pinned her into a nearby tree. With angry bloodshot eyes interrogated.

- WHAT WAS THAT JUST NOW?!

Pamella felt her soul go.

Wait... Shouldn't I be the one angry with you?! What did I do?!

[yayue]- Traditional Chinese dance.

[ , , , ]- It's easier to go Google this so you can get a better picture of the Chinese instruments.

[discoteca]- Spanish for Disco.

[xuan zhĭ]- Caligraphy paper.

[máo bǐ]- Caligraphy brush.