Bloodline of the Forgotten Emperor

As I got to the foot of the mountain — which took time, both from how tired I was and from the feeling of descending through the clouds, refreshing in its own way, and the natural wonders around me — I took in the view properly for the first time. At the western part I saw a waterfall flowing through the estate, and at the northern side of the east, another mountain surrounded by nine others, floating in the sky, connected by a golden bridge. I saw a few auspicious birds that looked like they carried a trace of qilin bloodline, and some beautiful peacocks drifting through the air. Looking west, the setting sun painted that distant edge of the world in a bloody, ominous kind of beauty. To the south stretched ridges of hundreds of thousands of mountains, some vast, some modest, and among the clouds above them, huge dragons lounged alongside smaller ones — clan members who preferred not to hold their human forms all the time. It made me wonder when I'd manage my own transformation, or whether I'd end up like the ones who'd never learned to take human shape at all. Most remarkable of all was the immortal qi saturating the entire sky, cooling and serene in a way that settled straight into the mind.

After a few quiet moments taking it in, I realized, almost without meaning to, that I'd already reached the foot of the mountain.

"Young Master." Mei's voice was quiet, catching me still half in a trance. "Huh, Mei. Is my bath ready? And lunch — I'm starving," I said, already heading toward the middle ring where my courtyard was.

"Yes, Young Master, everything's ready. How was your training?" Her eyes swept over me, checking for injuries without being obvious about it.

"Not bad. Did I get any letters from the clan?" I didn't bother hiding the anticipation in my voice — Elder Mo Xuan's earlier words had been sitting in the back of my mind all this time.

"Well, Young Master... you did get a letter. I'm not sure if you'll be angry about it or not." Her voice trailed off as she spoke.

"Just tell me already. Don't leave me hanging."

She took a deep breath. "Princess Xue will be arriving at the clan tomorrow. According to the two family councils, the two of you not knowing each other well enough is why no feelings have developed between you — so in their wisdom, they've decided that spending time together will let those feelings grow naturally."

"Huh." Part of me wanted to laugh out loud — finally, an opening to make my move — but the reflex died fast under the weight of etiquette, especially with clan members nearby. I coughed. "Okay." Coughed again.

"Are you all right, Young Master?"

"I'm fine. You know what — let's head to Long City. I feel like walking for a while."

"Are you sure, Young Master? Won't the Patriarch have something to say about it?" Worry crept into her voice.

"Isn't the city under the clan's jurisdiction?"

"It is."

"Then it's decided." I said it with enough finality to end the conversation.

She looked at me, helpless, then blew a whistle sharp enough to make my eyebrow twitch. "What was that—" I didn't get to finish the sentence.

"SCREESH!!!"

What landed beside her was enormous — a hybrid, somewhere between a Heavenly Peacock and something carrying a trace of Vermilion Bird bloodline, the mixture giving it two small, tree-shaped horns. Snow-white fur covered every inch of her, striking enough that I found myself staring.

*This must be albinism, or some kind of immortal resource, I think.*

She landed beside Mei, who turned to me. "Young Master, climb on her back."

I studied the creature for a moment, already picturing myself astride something like this, sword across my lap, a few beauties fawning over me from somewhere nearby. "Can I have one of my own?"

"Well, Young Master, you have plenty under your name already — cooler than mine, honestly." Mei smiled.

I giggled. "That's more like it." I climbed onto her back, catching the look she shot me — clearly annoyed — though I was too caught up in the moment to give it much thought. "What's her name?"

"This noble creature is Lei," Mei said, patting her once.

"That's a nice name."

"Are you ready to fly, Young Master?" Something between joy and embarrassment colored her voice.

"Just go already." I was too impatient to wait any longer.

Then — whoosh. I genuinely don't know what happened after that, only that I was screaming like a lunatic within seconds.

"TAKE IT EASY, MEI! SLOW HER DOWN, MY LUNGS ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE MY THROAT!" I shouted, clutching Lei's fur hard enough that my knuckles probably went white. I could hear Mei's faint laughter over the wind — she was absolutely doing this on purpose, and enjoying every second of it.

"Young Master, she's already slowing down. This isn't even a hundredth of her full speed," she said, clearly delighted with herself. She waved a hand, and the violent rush of air around us broke apart, letting me finally catch my breath.

"Mei. Take me home. I don't want to see this city again," I said, fear still very much present, trying to put as much distance as possible between myself and this menace of a maid.

"But Young Master, we're already close by." She pouted.

"I don't care. Home. Now."

"Okay, Young Master."

The moment we landed back at my courtyard, I threw myself off Lei's back and bolted for my room like some big demon was chasing me.

"Young Master, wait!"

I didn't look back. I threw the door shut behind me and stood there catching my breath for a long moment.

Eventually I showered and ate — lunch turned out to be mouthwatering, savory enough that it almost made me forget the sheer humiliation of that flight.

Author's note while there are some changes is because the novel not being standard to my taste. I promise there won't be another changes thanks for understanding.

Both are still a little bit the same, thanks once again.

Hope you don't mind commenting and dropping reviews or reactions thanks