They arrived at Tiāndì Town just in time. The sun had lowered itself and the light it gave out was somewhat mellow; mixed with a milky yellow and fiery soft orange.

Pamella had woken up after an hour of walking and seeing she was still being held by Xián Leng she stated she could walk, now that she had rested. Even unconvinced by her energetic attitude towards wanting to walk, he placed her down, eyeing her face expression change as the feeling of the ground returned to her battered feet. Hei Bao offered to carry her for at least some more time, since they were not that far, but not that close to town but she resigned on the idea of them carrying around a grown "man" around, as if he were a princess. She thought that the scene obviously looked ridiculous.

Even though Pamella's feet throbbed as soon as her feet touched ground, she remained with her stubborn idea to walk towards Tiāndì Town the rest of the way. Pamella would grunt, or lowly whimper sometimes here and there. She had tried to walk straight but the hurting feet could only make her walk in an anomalous fashion; almost as if her legs were disjointed and they were fighting to not get dismantled down by the gravity's force.

As soon as they saw the town's entrance sign, she sighed in relief, almost teary.

Hei Bao went ahead of them, and after glance fan into the gates, he confirmed that it was indeed Tiāndì Town.

And here I thought I wasn't going to walk anymore. Hahahaha~ YOU WISH PAMELLA! YOU WISH!

Even if they had arrived, they still needed to find a place to stay in the night.

No less than any other town at night, it was bright and loud, although less than the capital. It smelled wonderful; instead of spices this time the smell came from giant street cauldrons, each in front from each shop and which content, as they walked by, Pamella couldn't guess what it was. Xián Leng curiously moved towards one of the cauldrons, and given his luck with the ladies, the woman in front of him, whose age couldn't be determined just at a glance, but certainly showed the hardships of an exhausting day life, blushed while asking.

- Excu... Excuse me sir would you like to taste my tang?

Xián Leng,

- ... Is that what it's called...?

She glanced up and down to him while playing with her bandaged and stained fingers.

- Yes sir... I can assure you it's delicious! Incomparable to any other of the rest!

A little child, hugging her by the waist assured them with a high pitched and determined voice.

- Really! Really! It tastes so good! I eat it every day! Mommy makes it all with her two bare hands!

Everyone looked again at the poor woman's hands and their unkept state.

- ...

Jiti cawed shamelessly at the poor family, only to get two of hit tail feathers plucked harshly by Xián Leng.

- CAW! Kid, do you even realize how your mother's hands lo... OW!

Pamella and Hei Bao glared at him, also glad that Xián Leng stopped the bird from ruining the woman's night with his unthoughtful remarks.

Xián Leng turned back to the woman and child. He smiled and agreed to buy a bowl of the weird blackish soup.

- Oh no, no, ¡sir! It's free!

Xián Leng wouldn't take the honorable woman's soup without giving her money for what she made a living with. So, he insisted, and with trembling hands the woman got a hold of her money which was more than she had ever been payed for a mare soup. She bowed many times, making Xián Leng both thankful but bashful.

Pamella didn't know where did he got the money from but she hoped that by being to much of a nice guy, he wouldn't get soup poisoned

By Pamella's superficial judgement, the soup didn't smell bad, but its appearance was in many ways repulsive. Xián Leng smelled it twice and moved thee substance with the bamboo spoon which was given to him. He dipped and stretched out grabbing pisses of undefined things that were covered by the thick and condensed dark brown; almost black, "stock". He had a mouthful of it and gulped it down slowly. His eyes shot up, looking at the lady and her child, and then at Pamella.

- Hey! Is not bad at all!

The lady looked sadly curious at him.

- You thought it was going to taste bad...?

Jiti chuckled and murmured.

- And he plucked two of my babies just to be him the one throwing the insult. Xián Leng, Xián Leng~ How shameless can you be? HA! Ha, ha! CAW!

Pamella grabbed the second spoonful from Xián Leng and quickly commented before throwing it into her mouth.

- Ignore the bird Tàitai! It tastes just... MAGNIFICENT! What did you put in this stuff?!

Standing up in front of two gorgeous men, the woman shifted her head to look at her child and avertedly at them.

- No... Nothing special...

Pamela thought,

Lady, everything in this world of yours is special. Haven't you noticed I am walking with a giant cat with human limbs and a talking bird.

As she gulped another spoon, this time taking her time whatever chewy thing it was, Hei Bao took the bowl from Xián Leng and Pamella. He moved the contents around, and without taking Pamella's thoughts into account, he bluntly stated overjoyed.

- Oh! This is! I know what this is! No wonder it tasted so good! Ratsnake and Cave Giant Worms eyes are very rare to find around this areas Madam, how did you get a hold of them?

Pamela's eyes widened.

So, what... I am... eating... is...

Xián Leng fished out one of the various floating indistinguishable objects in the soup. And as the gooey stock slid off it, an eye appeared upon their sight. The eye dilatated and contracted its pupils, making Xián Leng quickly drop the spoon into the unfinished bowl, and offer it to Hei Bao, which he gladly accepted.

Pamella's face color turned from pale, to green and back again. Thinking about what she had chewed on and that it still held some life in it made her regurgitate the little food she had been able to have in that long day.

Xián Leng, Hei Bao, Pamella and Jiti found a cheap, but pleasant place to stay for the night. Hei Bao had once again transformed into his human form, since the door frame and the whole body of the building was to small for his Beast height.

The lady from the stay in and her three young, but already woman, daughters showed them to their rooms. Pamella waited for Xián Leng to reply. If he wanted a room alone then it was fine with her, but shouldn't they be as close as they could now that they shared souls. Also, she could watch out for those nightmares of his. Without getting strangled or killed along the way of course.

As she expected, Xián Leng asked for only one bedroom for both of them. Even after they had entered, both the daughters and the old owner, remained giggling and shushing at the sight of either her or Xián Leng; more for Xián Leng than for her. Anyways, Pamella turned and just as she closed the door she heard low cursing and reluctant noises of sadness. She almost laughed.

If they knew how stuck up and grumpy he was, maybe they wouldn't be all "dreaming of wedding bells". Just by looking at them, they most probably forgive his attitude.

She smiled and turned to walk towards the center of the room where lady killer, Xián Leng was.

I wouldn't.

The scanning around the room eyes of him landed on the nearing smiling Pamella.

Ok... My statement could be doubted as well... Guess I must be one lucky woman... man?... Woman-man?

Xián Leng remained silent for some time. Pamella asked,

- What is it? Is there something wrong with the room? It's not like we've never slept in one bed before, why so silent?

Answering her with a serious face that showed a little concern about the present situation.

- There's only one bī... You... Take a bath first. I'll wait outside.

And before he could go any further towards the exit of the room PAmella grabbed hold of one of his arms with her both.

- What are you saying? Now you are all flustered because another man is bathing. At first you tried whatever means to change that habit of mine, now you are the one getting all embarrassed!

Xián Leng tried to brush her off, but without any achievement. She continued.

- Sure, the bathtub is small, but you don't have to go as far as leaving the room. Maybe... You could turn around until I'm inside it, and then you can keep on doing whatever you need to keep on doing. We could even plan about what to do once we get to Jīnhuáng.

Thinking she had some reason in her argument, Xián Leng accented and turned around.

Pamella didn't expect him to remain all her bath time turned around. She had never bathed in one of those wooden soaking tubs from ancient times, so she was confused on what to do once she applied soap and took it off with in the same soap washed water. Wasn't she soaping herself again using the same water. When Xián Leng's turn to bath had arrived, he started to sispos of his upper garments. Unexpectedly, Pamella didn't turn around, both to Xián Leng and her surprise. She stayed staring intently to the eight lean mounds on his abdomen, admiring their dimensions and their perfection.

Xián Leng cleared his throat while covering some of him with the already discarded garments.

Pamella straightened up and turned immediately around. As she heard the water from the tub splash, she slapped both sides of her face and started reprimanding herself inwardly.

How brazen can I be?! That was way to bold of me, but I must congratulate Xián Leng for having such overrated abs. Even I wish this body had them! I wonder what other overrated "things" he has on himself...

Pamella's head unconsciously; maybe, maybe not, turned slowly towards her back.

Just a... peek... Nothing more...

Right then, the door from their bedroom slammed open, and a yapping bird flew directly unto her face. An angry Hei Bao came in with his sword drawn and ready to mercilessly cut some "chicken" up. He exclaimed, while Qi seeped from his body, making the room's pressure increase.

- I DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME AGAIN YOU FILTHY MINDED BIRD! I'LL RIP THAT BEAK OF YOURS!

Jiti cried out while grabbing hold of Pamella's head for dear life.

- I ONLY SPOKE OUT MY THOUGHTS THAT'S ALL! CAW! CAW! DON'T YOU GET CLOSER YOU ANIMAL! BEAST!

Pamella didn't know what was going on. Jiti was moving her head to all directions trying to evade Hei Bao's blows; making her hair a mess and throwing feathers all over the place.

Hei Bao,

- Next time keep your shameful thoughts to yourself!

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed hold of the top of her messy head and took Jiti off from her.

- Xián Leng... Ugh... Ca... Caw!... You're squishing me too hard...

Xián Leng inquired with a presentably annoyed tone. Jiti tried speaking, but Hei Bao beat him to it.

- Nothing important Master Leng. This bird just won't let me sleep in peace... No serious matter.

Xián Leng raised a brow, clearly not eating up his words.

- If it wasn't that serious why make such disturbing noise at this late of night?!

Hei Bao lowered his head, and Pamella could see his face was slightly a shade of pink.

- Ummm... Master's, Mother offers you these drinks as a token of appreciation for such payment you gave when you came. It was a lot of money, so...

Pamella's eyes brightened and surprising the three young women, exclaimed.

- YOU GUYS! Let's all give thanks to these beautiful lovely ladies for these drinks and enjoy what rests of the night as civilized friendly men! Thank you ladies I'll be sure to give that handsome man over there your cellphone numbers. Now, bye bye!

She closed the door to their room, leaving the girls wondering what in the world was a cellphone, but giggling at the cunning personality of the young prince like man.

- Now, let's get CHUGGING!

ONE HOUR LATER

- How would I know you guys didn't drink?! *Hickup*

Pamella laid down on top of Xián Leng's thighs; in one hand a newly filled cup of rice wine. The other one played with one of Xián Len's long locks. She laughed and wore a wide smile on her face, with a light pink flush over her nose and cheeks.

- Pour me some more wine Xián Xián!

Jiti and Hei Bao painfully contained their laughs.

- Pffthahaha! Xián Xián! Hey Xián Xián Pamella asked for more wine! Won't you pour her some more? Hehehe.

Xián Leng glared at the bird and with awe glanced at Pamella's complexion.

- I already poured you one and you haven't taken even a sip. Anyw2ays, that one will be your last.

Looking up at him, Pamella whined.

- WHYYYYYYyyyyyyyy?!

Xián Leng warned her.

- Stay still, or you'll spill the wine over you.

Pamella didn't listen and continued asking like a spoiled child to his mother.

Hei Bao smiled at the present Pamella. Who knew that the drunken Pamella would behave like a stubborn kid.

Jiti saw his smile and snickered.

- See that my thoughts were exactly right!

Hei Bao,

- Shut it!

Jiti,

- Fine by me. Don't be crying then because you acted upon the matter late!

- I will NOT!

As Hei Bao ignored Jiti's annoying rambling he watched as how Pamella moved over Xián Leng and how he looked at her. He knew something was up with those two, and maybe, Jiti was right. If he didn't act first another person will. Then he will be filled with excruciating regret.

Xián Leng held the bottle of wine on one of his hands and Pamella still held the filled cup on her hands. She exclaimed, already her voice coming out slurry.

- FINE! I won't fight for more of the wine. You can have it AAAAaaaall to yourself! Oh, wait you don't drink more than one cup. So, the rest serve it to the plants outside. They'll like it, I'm sure of it! *Hickup*

Xián Leng couldn't take in too much nonsense from her so he tried retrieving the cup from her hands.

- What are you... *cough cough*

Unintentionally when he tried holding the cup, Pamella shifted it with such force that large part of its content splattered on her face; entering both heir mouth and nostrils and making her cough endlessly.

Both Hei Bao and Jiti rushed towards the now worried to death Xián Leng and the whizzing Pamella. Grabbing her chest in place, she smirked discontent to Xián Leng.

- You...You did that on purpose! I'll choke you for that!

But instead of chocking she started tickling Xián Leng.

He looked at her as if he didn't know what she was doing. She looked at him disappointed.

- Huh? Whaaaaaaat? You only not drink but also aren't ticklish?! You are SOOOOooooo BOOOOOOoooooring Xián Xián~

Jiti couldn't contain himself and laughed out loud. Hei Bao looked to another part of the room, trembling while he held his laughter in sorry respect.

Xián Leng thought.

Again, with the damm Xián Xián... You just wait Pamella! I'll...

Pamella poke his face while pouting.

- I'm SOOOOoooo sleppy Xián Xián... Be my pillow~

And with that, the warm body of Wu Chu Zhi fell on top of its new human pillow. It laid there hugging the looking in disbelief at the ceiling Xián Leng. He had thought that shearing a soul with Pamella would make him able to control some of her actions, or even understand what she was thinking when she acted on her own. He didn't think things would be that complicated. Just by tonight's show, he already could feel his trip becoming a rollercoaster.

As he stroked her soft hair from the top of her head he murmured,

- You are really a handful, you know that...

[shén mì tang]- Chinese for "mystery soup" or "undefined stew".

[bī]- Chinese for "bathroom" but in this case, I used it to refer to "soaking tub" (wood cider tub).