Xueyao's heart sank deeper at the thought that her Master also wanted her to be that hero that will rise to save the world.
''But Master, You don't understand. I am not strong enough for this task.''
''I know, you aren't, Xueyao,'' She said truthfully, holding Xueyao's hands in hers. ''But who said only the strongest could save the world?''
Xueyao thought about it.
''If the Great Formless Dimension believed that only the strongest could be heroic it would have picked the female white dragon to guide the immortal black dragon through tribulations or yet choose any red dragon randomly to save the world.''
Xueyao considered this as well.
''You are not the strongest but there is no other dragon in this fourth heaven that is capable of saving us except you and the immortal black dragon.''
Xueyao thought about it but still couldn't let go of the doubts about herself. She tried thinking of how she would ever try to convince an all powerful black dragon to go through tribulations with her without ending up dead in his arms. Xueyao turned to her Master and pleaded, ''Master, even if I decide to be heroic, how do I convince my wild partner to be heroic as well?''
Master Yun Xi considered it and smiled.
''Easy. The immortal black dragon isn't as scary as you all make him out to be.''
Xueyao's eyes widened a bit as her Master continued to say good things about that crazy black dragon.
''In fact, he is quite the opposite, my dearest, once you learn how to understand him.''
Xueyao couldn't understand why the master was so confident in this old, immortal dragon that threatened their lives yesterday. She leaned in to rest on her Master's shoulders and closed her eyes as her Master stroked her hair lovingly.
''Master, you sound like you believe so much in him,'' the girl mumbled out her observation. A small sad smile overtook Yun Xi's face as she brought her precious disciple closer to herself.
''I believe in both of you the most.'' Yun Xi confessed softly as her disciple gradually began to drift off to sleep in her arms. She raised one of her free hands to the air to conjure up a quarter of her precious demon bead floating above her palms.
'These is also solid testimony that you are more than unique, Xueyao,' she thought as she stared adoringly at the small dragon bead inner core. Her plan was to remain locked up in Temperance Hall the day her disciple should leave for her tribulation journey and began to force the cultivation of this little dragon bead inner core just in case the future proves to be unchangeable again. ''Not many really survive little parts of their dragon bead inner core taken from them.''
''Xueyao,''
''Hmm?''
''You agree to be the tribulation guardian to save Sheng Chong, right?''
''I will do whatever makes Master and Sheng Chong happy.'' She muttered as she drifted further into a deep sleep.
Yun Xi smiled down at her proudly before saying, ''And I promise to do whatever it takes to make sure you survive this, no matter what.''
☆☆☆
She watched from a distance as her beloved Master struggled to return to his sleep. She couldn't believe the selfish blue dragon hadn't come up here to try to convince him to save the world he once made even if it is just once.
Qing Yue cooked up more ways to deal with her later.
But the perfect sight of her Master couldn't help but summon up more painful emotions within her. He was exactly how she remembered—-but a thousand times better.
She wondered what was so important he was looking for that it had cost him one hundred thousand years of his immortality and even greater than the welfare of the soul he was once determined to train.
The white dragon placed her trembling hand on the rock formation she was hiding behind as she admired her Master from afar the twelfth time since this morning. She just couldn't help it—-the feelings—--it was bound to happen one way or the other.
He was the first powerful immortal she knew on her first day of reincarnation. She remembered those young days when she followed him everywhere he went like a lost puppy, caused so many troubles for him and thought she was the only thing he cared about.
But it seems like there was another thing in her Master's heart.
Those darn feelings that always haunted him!
If she hadn't been so focused enough to get rid of that possessed feeling that disturbed her Master both day and night, she wouldn't have lost him forever for one hundred thousand years.
She placed her other trembling hand against her fast beating chest and her red lips moved as she softly called his name to herself. She was still confident that his name was only known between them alone and it would remain that way forever.
''For how long are you going to hide behind that rock, Qing Yue?''
Her backbones shivered a bit, her eyes glossened with more tears at the sound of his ever–dominant yet cool voice. She gathered more courage to present herself before his majestic form alone, fell on one of her knees to greet him.
The immortal black dragon moved his head a bit as he noticed how shaky she was before his regal form. If the other brainless miniature versions of his race fear him…he believed he had never given her a reason to do so.
''Master,'' her voice said in the sweetest yet most trembling tone ever. ''Congratulations for finally breaking through the tribulation of sleeping.''
'The tribulation of sleeping?'
His perfect lips moved in displeasure as they were all so quick to call everything a tribulation. Or was that her understanding for why he suddenly disappeared from her life for so long?
His gaze then softened down on her a bit as he suddenly rose to his feet and came close to her. One hand firmly to his back as he reached down to bring her back to her feet. He sometimes despised how they regarded him as an indivisible god or he was some secret member of the five primordial gods of the formless dimension.
His golden gaze examined her from head to toe and he was glad that she was fine…even much better than he left her. Qing Yue stared up to lock eyes with her beloved Master…the smile on her face lasted as long as she got to stare longer at his god-like appearance…she was more than ready to let go of the little grudge she had of him disappearing from her life for so long.
''You have impressed me a lot, Qing Yue,''
She couldn't describe how her body responded to such compliments. That is how it was supposed to be in the beginning. A beautiful and perfect Master tutoring a lost soul like her and making sure that she was fine in his world he sheltered her in. She would do anything to bring those treasured days back.
''The fourth Heaven doesn't seem as empty and lonely as I remembered. I can feel all of them and I can sense a lot of me in them.''
''Forgive me, Master. In order to sustain their dragon beads, I seldom travel so close to the border of your resting place to draw as much Soul Nourishing Energy as I could get from you to sustain them.''
Those beautiful gazes reflecting like hidden pearls in the sea brightened in understanding.
''For..give me, Master, if I did so without your consent. But you were the one that taught me to do whatever I can to do whatever is right to do.''
The long eternal silver strands that cradled his pale beauty moved softly with the wind as he understood her intentions. After all, it wasn't her fault and he dared not blame her for doing so. He taught her everything she knew and she had developed so much on the powers he gave her. Which he was so happy to know of.
''There…is…one dragon I want so much to punish…'' his right hand slowly balled into a tight fist as he remembered the weight of her on him as he opened his eyes from his long slumber.
The immortal beauty came closer to his disciple and said under his breath as his gaze narrowed in determination.
''She ran away. Where can I find her so she could redeem herself before him?''
Qing Yue's heart broke the more knowing her Master's intention.
He still wanted to abandon everything just to seek answers to his darn feelings!
Is one hundred thousand immortal years of trying and still waking up unanswered not enough proof that he should fight to let go and move on?
Her silent disappointment broke through in a pained gasp as she stared deeply into his eyes and asked him this but with caution, ''Master.''
''Was the experience buried deep within your dreams more convenient than saving the very world you once created with so much love, care and shared its purpose of its creation with me?''
He remembered how very emotional she was when she was just this little dragon he worked so hard in taming. She found a way to love everything she believed he cared for and saw him as the most righteous, selfless immortal. But now his true nature had been slapping her in the face nonstop, she refused to erase that perfect image of her master.
''I have one thought that you seem to care about everything I left behind more than I do. Why don't I leave everything in your hands and you all leave me be to sleep forever?''
''Master!''
She snapped before she could control her feelings. Her hands tightened painfully at the sides of her dress as tear drops flowed down her trembling cheeks. The heartless immortal dragon just stared at her with arms crossed, face set firm and without emotion as he tried to understand why she was overreacting. He was going to give her everything either way and she could even take his place as the supreme god of the immortal realm while he searches for answers to this haunting feeling in his dreams.
''How could you…'' She swallowed the rest of her frustration before turning around quickly to wipe all the tears from her face.
The immortal dragon tilted his head a bit to the side as his lifeless, dark immortal clothes on him gave him the impression of a villain as his gaze darkened behind the white dragon.
''I want that dragon captured and brought to me now.''
Qing Yue's face also took on a darker look. ''Yes, Master.''
Then she began to walk out of that cave.
Master, forgive me for what I am thinking now. The dragon you hope could put you back to sleep would be the very reason you would be convinced to stay and save this world in seven days. And once that happens, I will chain you down to stay by my side forever and rule this world you have given me with you.