189 chapter 18In the middle of the night, Xia and Long got up and met up with the ghoul who was staying next door.
“Tomorrow they are going to parade Raijin. This might be our only chance to help him escape,” Long said with a serious look on his face.
The ghoul brought over cups of tea and neatly arranged it in front of Xia and Long. “hmm, your highness, I got the map of this kingdom,” he said and spared out a small worn out map. “In actuality, this kingdom is the size of Suikal and Juikal combined. I have seen all the possible routes that they might bring your friend and this seems to the most possible,” he said, pointing to broad roadway in the middle. “This road leads directly to the palace, and the brothel you guys visited is in the way. It might be easier for them to bring him out,”
Long peered into the map. The long roadway that the ghoul mentioned had many shops draws next to it. “How tall are these shops?”
“These are two and three stories building. One is a restaurant while the other is a magistrate office,”
Long nodded and glanced at him. “Attacking from the top might work. The thousand of sky level cultivators might follow behind and forward but only a few would be next to Raijin. So accessing him from the top would be most ideal.”
“Hmm your highness, you are right... even still it is too risky to attack just like that. I suggest that we have to separate the procession from your friend,” the ghoul suggested.
“How, though?” Long pondered. Their impeccable plan had run into the corner. At first Long had expected to meet the heavenly officials and deal with them. But it was already too late now. If they didn’t act tomorrow, then Raijin would be in a place where they could not access at all. “What about the cultivators from Juikal? When are they coming here?”
“I’m not sure. The last I saw, they were following us just a day behind. But your highness, it’s highly unlikely for them to help us.” The ghoul said with a sigh.
.....
Xia nearby, confusedly stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“The golden tribe has everyone convinced that your friend Raijin was the one who destroyed Suikal and the other villages. Even if they come here, they might help the golden tribe rather than help us,”
Long sighed as well. He knew that this would happen. “These bastards really know how to whitewash their actions. Even if the heavenly officials reach her, we might have to prove that Raijin is innocent,” he whispered with a frown.
“But Raijin is innocent!!” Xia exclaimed and stood up. He pranced around the room biting his finger nails anxiously. “We....we need proof that golden tribe is collaborating with the Rakshasas.....” he whispered.
Long pulled his anxious lover into his lap and softly patted his trembling shoulders. “Dear, we will find proof and prove that Raijin is innocent. But before that, we have to save him from their clutches. God knows what they might do if they could finish the taming mark on him,” he mumbled softly. When he peeked at Raijin in the brothel, he was tied up with a huge seal on his stomach. It was actually a beast sealing mark. Unlike Oli’s mark, this seal will have complete control over the beast. thankfully, it was only half complete.
A beast taming seal usually needs time to combine with the host. A heavenly beast like Raijin, he might be able to resist the seal for at least three or four days. After which, he will lose his rational mind and forever become a beast under their control.
“The parade might actually be a distraction. Its main purpose might be to take him to the enclosed space of their palace and break down his spirit. Only then would their seal be complete,” Long whispered while soothingly patting Xia’s shoulders.
Xia gasped and glanced up at him. “No way...Long do you think they are going to hurt Felia?”
“It’s possible. Felia and Raijin are in an intimate relationship. They might try to hurt her to break down Raijin’s defences.” Long said with a grave expression.
“then we need to plan to save her as well,” the ghoul said.
And so they stayed up the entire night and made an elaborate plan for the next day.
Morning came.....
Xia sat up swiftly. “It’s time. I will get ready,” he said and rushed over to the changing screen. He swiftly took off his clothes and changed into his next disguise.
Long and the ghoul stood on the other side of the screen for a long time, waiting for Xia to come out. “Are you done? Do you need help?” he shouted worriedly.
There was no sound on the other side. Hesitating a little, Long walked over to the other side of the screen. Seeing his lover, Long froze still.
“No! Get out I’m not ready yet!!” Xia shouted and hid himself with a towel. “This is so embarrassing. I would rather dress as a beggar than this,” he mumbled and peered up at Long. The stupid dragon had his mouth agape with his eyes wide open. “Long, don’t stare like that,” Xia mumbled shyly.
Noticing his stunned expression, Xia gained some of his lost confidence. He pulled the towel away and walked over to him. “Long...how do I look?”
“Ummm.....you look.....so beautiful,” Long Aotian stuttered, glancing at him. Xia was only wearing a red skirt and a small red bralette. His skirt was sheer exposing his white thigh and his bralette was strapless, taking his eyes to his skinny shoulders.
Xia chuckled softly. He coyly hiding his mouth with his golden gloved hand. “Really...do I look convincing? As a girl,” he whispered close to Long’s red ears.
Long growled loudly and gripped onto his delicate waist. He dragged him close, letting their skin rub against each other. “You look ravishing. I—I don’t want anyone else to see you like this,” he whispered, kissing his neck softly.
Xia rolled his eyes and pushed him away. “Don’t leave any mark. For goodnes’s sake your tooth marks are hard to hide,” he mumbled and walked out the screen.
The ghoul glanced at him once, then he took a second glance at him again with his mouth agape. “You....you are master Xia?”
“Hmm, I look like a girl, right?” Xia whispered, twirling his fluttering skirt around.
The ghoul blushed softly and nodded. “Looks like our plan might work,” he whispered.
Soon Xia pulled an overcoat on himself and wore a translucent veil on his face. Long pulled him closer and helped him tuck the golden reverse scale inside his blouse. “Make sure to keep it close. And your glove?” he said and glanced at the heaven ranked artifact. It was snug in Xia’s hands. “Be safe, okay,” Long reluctantly whispered, kissing him through his veil.
Xia waved at the dejected-looking dragon and went over to the direction of the palace.
To celebrate their great catch, the golden tribe had arranged a grand banquette at the palace. It was exactly Xia’s plan to crash it and save Felia.
Xia walked over to the side palace gate and showed the guard his face. “Sire, I am late. My performance is in just minutes. Please let me in,” he whispered softy. With his right hand he softly touched the guard’s nose, puffing out an unknown powder.
The guard sneezed and went into a trance. “Yes, yes, please go in,” he said and let him in.
Xia cheerfully fluttered in. He confidently strode over to the performers resting area are and joined the other dancers. Some gave him a questionable glance, but he just threw the hypnotic powder into their nose and convinced them that he was part of the new recruits.
Outside the palace, the ghoul and Long squatted on top of a three storey restaurant.
“Have you placed it?” Long whispered.
The ghoul nodded. “On both walls,” he said, pointing to the invisible looking marks on the walls.
Last night they had actually chosen this spot to ambush, but they knew it was going to be hard with so many cultivators. So they had Xia create some illusion spell and tucked them on both sides of the street.
“I hope this works,” Long mumbled, glancing at the palace.
The sun rose above their head and the small battle cry reached their ears. “The procession is here,”
“Let’s move,” Long whispered and waved at the ghoul. The ghoul swiftly jumped down and stood in the middle of the road, blocking the way.
Soon, little by little the front of the procession was seen in the long winding road. In the middle, a huge grey wolf was tied up to a huge chariot and was being dragged through town. Its hair was matted with red blood.
Long clenched his fists tightly. “Brother Raijin...” he whispered softly.
The wolf’s huge ears softly twitched at his direction.
“Brother, if you can hear me. I want you to act up when you get closer to this restaurant.” Long said softly.
This made the wolf’s ears perk up completely.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶