Rebirth: A Woman With Frozen Heart

"...We need to talk."

As soon as Ming Yue said that, tension grew thicker around them. The three beasts' tension could be seen as clear as day and Ling Mao was fidgeting nervously. Only one was calm, no.. too calm in fact. It was Xuan Wu.

"..Why did you lie to me?" Asked Ming Yue as she finally broke the thick silence between them, "...I am.. HER.. Aren't I?"

The three beasts became nervous, Bai Hu and Qing Long glanced at Zhu Que, waiting for her to answer. They couldn't speak for fear that they would say the wrong words. However as Zhu Que was contemplating the best way to answer, Xuan Wu opened his mouth.

"Yes." He said, "You are Chang'e."

"Xuan Wu!" Zhu Que turned around, wanting to reprimand him for answering carelessly but she stopped the moment she saw his expression. It was not the usual playful Xuan Wu.

Xuan Wu took a step forward toward Ming Yue, "You asked why did we lie to you?" He spoke in cold tone filled with anger as he took another step forward, "Isn't it because you wouldn't believe us if we told you that you are Chang'e?"

Ming Yue wanted to retort but she was quite stunned by Xuan Wu's behavior, it was not the usual him and it caught her off guard. Seeing Ming Yue didn't say any words, a twisted cold smile filled with sneer appeared on Xuan Wu's face as he took another step, "Do you think it's easy for us to lie to you? Having to see you forgetting all memories we had together?"

Ming Yue's lips trembled slightly, her brows furrowed a little, "But I am--"

"Not Her?" Xuan Wu finished her words as he finally stood close in front of her. Ming Yue wanted to step back because the man in front of her was a lot taller than her but her legs seemed to be nailed to the ground, didn't listen to her mind.

Before Ming Yue lifted her head to met Xuan Wu's cold gaze, he clamped her jaw with a little force and lifted it for her. His cold gaze met her fl.u.s.tered one, "It's easy for you, isn't? Playing the victim in all this without realizing that WE TOO are suffering because you don't have any memories about us."

"Xuan Wu, enough!" Qing Long grabbed Xuan Wu's arm that was clamping Ming Yue's jaw, however Xuan Wu didn't listen to him.

"..You will live?" Xuan Wu snorted coldly in mockery, "..If you die, we will find another master?" He repeated what Ming Yue said, his tone was so low and dangerous that it sent shivers down Ming Yue's spine. However, despite the coldness that was radiating from Xuan Wu's body and his eyes, Ming Yue couldn't look away from his penetrating gaze.

"Xuan Wu!" This time, Bai Hu took action by gripping his shoulder hard. Yet, Xuan Wu didn't yield.

"Don't say such words so carelessly without knowing how we felt about it!" Xuan Wu burst in anger as he abruptly let go off his hand from Ming Yue's jaw and flew away toward the Moon Lake in silence.

Ming Yue exhaled a heavy breath slowly, her lips trembled even more as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to come out. Zhu Que took a few strides toward Ming Yue and touched her face gently. "Are you okay, My lady? I am sorry about Xuan Wu. I will talk to him later." She said, trying to ease Ming Yue's feelings.

Ming Yue shook her head, a faint smile was on her face. "No... He was right." Ming Yue replied, "..I was being foolish for saying such words.."

"Qing Long, Bai Hu, Zhu Que and Ling Mao.." Ming Yue stared at them, "I am sorry for saying foolish words without considering your feelings." She said and focusing her gaze at the little girl in front of her.

"Mao Mao, I am sorry for being cold to you."

Ling Mao's eyes became teary, "S-So.. Master.. doesn't hate.. Ling Mao?"

Ming Yue putting her knees to the ground and spread her arms wide, "Silly Mao Mao, how can I hate you. Come here." She said, a soft smile was on her face.

Ling Mao dashed forward, rushing into Ming Yue's embrace and started to cry. "Waaaaa! Ling Mao thought.. Ling Mao thought.. Master hates Ling Mao!"

"I am sorry, Mao Mao." Ming Yue embraced the crying little girl gently, c.a.r.e.s.sing her long, silky hair. "I will never hate Mao Mao. Mao Mao is one of my family."

As Ming Yue said this, Ling Mao's cried even more. It took a while before the little girl calmed down, her cries reduced to sobs. The moment was touching and filled with heart warming feelings until someone broke it with his clueless remark.

"Master, I want a hug too." Bai Hu spoke, speaking in spoiled tone.

Qing Long gave him a scowl while Zhu Que gave him an -Are-You-For-Real?!- look. However like usual, Bai Hu was shameless enough to ignore those look. Ming Yue chuckled softly and Ling Mao broke free from her embrace, wiping her face with the sleeve of her ancient clothes. Her face became as red as tomato.

Ming Yue stood up and opened her arms wide, "Come, I will give you a hug." She said.

Bai Hu looked excited and he was about to step forward when Qing Long quickly grabbed his collar from behind and pulled him so hard as he stumbled to the back, landing on his bottom. "No need to pay attention to this shameless lame cat words." He said in cool tone.

"You damn stinky lizard! Who the hell you called lame cat?!" Bai Hu stood up, took a few strides and stood in front of Qing Long whose face was calm but his eyes were cold.

"You missed a word there. I said.. SHAMELESS.LAME.CAT" Qing Long retorted calmly.

"You damn lizard! Come out and fight with me! I will shred you to pieces!" Bai Hu growled in anger even more.

"We are already out, Stupid lame cat." Qing Long replied, unfazed by Bai Hu's anger as he locking glare with him.

"I am not stupid!"

"You missed two words there now. I said Stupid.Lame.Cat."

"That's it! You're dead! This time I am going to--"

"Zhu Que." Ming Yue's cold tone was heard, cutting the words Bai Hu was about to say and..

*Wush!* *Wush!* *Wush!* *Wush!*

Pillars of flame surrounded the two beasts like a cage. Both Bai Hu and Qing Long turned their head slowly, feeling murderous aura coming from Ming Yue.

"Are you guys going to keep fighting? You can fight in that cage, I can even order Zhu Que to increase the heat." Ming Yue said, crossing her arms beneath her bosom. Her eyes filled with warning.

Both Bai Hu and Qing Long stood in silence, didn't say any words. Ming Yue nodded in satisfaction before nodding at Zhu Que. Zhu Que released the pillars, made it disappear. "Now then, I am going to have a talk with Xuan Wu. Don't fight anymore, okay?"

"Yes, Master." Bai Hu and Qing Long said in sync then they glared at each other before looking away with a humph sound. Ming Yue rolled her eyes and shook her head before heading toward the Moon Lake where Xuan Wu was.

As Ming Yue arrived at the pavilion that was located in the middle of Moon Lake, Xuan Wu was standing with one hand behind his back. His eyes was staring into space, looked so distant. Ming Yue took a deep breath before taking a few strides toward him and stopped her feet as soon as she was not too far from him.

"Xuan Wu.." Ming Yue called out to the man, "..I am sorry."

There was a silence before Xuan Wu replied with a question, "..For what?" Xuan Wu turned his gaze to meet hers, "..That apology.. what did you say it for?"

"For saying foolish words without considering your feelings, no.. without considering you guys' feelings." Ming Yue answered, "I promise I won't say such words again."

Xuan Wu stared at Ming Yue who just made a promise solemnly before taking a few steps closer to her. "Don't say things about your death so easily.." He said in a soft husky tone as he lifted his right hand and touched Ming Yue's face gently. Xuan Wu stared at Ming Yue's face with eyes filled with deep sadness and misery.

Ming Yue was caught off guard by Xuan Wu's action, she thought he was going to be angry, saying some harsh words again. Ming Yue prepared her heart for that, but.. she didn't prepare for this..

"I spent thousand years, suffering from misery and sorrow after your death. I don't want to feel that again, ever." Xuan Wu said as his right hand reached the back of her head, pulling her closer and leaned toward her.

Ming Yue didn't expect this from Xuan Wu, her eyes widened when she saw Xuan Wu leaned closer, his lips moving closer and Ming Yue held her breath. However as she thought that Xuan Wu's lips were about to meet hers, he shifted slightly and those lips brushed the corner of her lips softly. It moved toward her cheek, then to her ear and before Ming Yue knew it, she was already in Xuan Wu's warm embrace.

"..I may not show it but I am not THAT strong.. If you die once again.. I would rather accompany you than staying in this world.." Xuan Wu whispered softly to her ear, his tone filled with deep sorrow that it ached Ming Yue's heart.

There was only silence between a man and young girl. The man was holding the young girl within his embrace tightly as if she was a beacon in stormy sea while the young girl just stood there, frozen, her expression showed how baffled she was.

Soon a chuckle came from Xuan Wu, "..Saying those words, now you realize how twisted I am. Do you dislike me now?"

True, among the four beasts, only Xuan Wu who had a hidden personality. Maybe because he was the embodiment of two creatures, a turtle and a snake. His wise and calm personality came from the turtle while his playful and twisted personality came from the snake. Both were different yet they were one.

Ming Yue's eyes became dilated as a flash of memory appeared in her mind.

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(Insert Theme : Cherished Memories - Yisa Wu)

During the night of full moon.. at the garden of North Palace in Heaven Realm..

A beautiful woman was drinking a wine, sitting at a long couch that was placed on a beautiful garden. Sitting not too far from her was a man whose face was divinely handsome, wearing yellow ancient attire and in his hand was a book. Next to the couch they both were sitting on was a square table with short feet.

"Xuan Wu, I heard many complains about you from the maids in Zhu Que's palace." The woman said as she took a gulp of her wine before taking the jar on the table and pour the wine into the empty cup.

"Oh? More complains?" Xuan Wu asked in amused tone but his eyes still fixed on the book, "May I know what the complains about, my dear Lady Chang'e?"

Chang'e scoffed seeing his reaction, "They said you are playing with their hearts."

Soft chuckles escaped Xuan Wu's lips, "I was just playing around yet they took it seriously. Now they complained?"

"Who told you to be so playful toward women, Zhu Que is so enraged, you better stay away from her palace for a while. This is what you got for being so twisted." Chang'e retorted and took another gulp of her wine and poured more into it.

"Twisted, yes.. I am a twisted person." Xuan Wu turned his gaze to meet hers, "Do you dislike me now?"

Xuan Wu leaned closer toward Chang'e when she poured the wine from the cup to her mouth. Watching Xuan Wu's action, her hand froze. Xuan Wu stopped leaning closer when his face was close to Chang'e, close enough to feel each other's breathing.

"Because you know I am twisted, maybe I should lock you in my palace." He whispered as twisted smile appeared on his face. But..

*BFFFTT!*

Chang'e sprayed the wine in her mouth to Xuan Wu's face as she laughed while coughing slightly. Xuan Wu froze when the wine was sprayed to his face, didn't expect the situation to turn this way.

"HAHAHAAHA!! Oh your face! Sorry, I just.. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Chang'e kept laughing and she stood quickly when Xuan Wu tried to grab her arm.

"Wa-Wait! You can't blame me for that, your action was so funny that I couldn't hold back!" She said while giggling.

Xuan Wu wiped some of the wine on his face by patting his face with his sleeve. "You naughty woman, wait until I catch you then you will see what punishment I will give you." He said and started chasing Chang'e. Both of them were using qinggong and Chang'e who was about to get caught by Xuan Wu, used her internal energy to jump high to the tallest roof.

She turned around and gazed down at Xuan Wu, bright smile was on her face, "Xuan Wu. No matter how twisted you are, I, Chang'e will not abandon a friend."

Xuan Wu stared at the beautiful woman and her bright smile that could rival the full moon above, he was totally captivated by her words and her smile. Her figure that was standing elegantly on the roof, her black hair danced softly along with the wind breeze, it was burned in Xuan Wu's mind.

Chang'e waved his two fingers and flew away. What she didn't know, Xuan Wu stared at her back until she vanished from his sight. Xuan Wu touched his own c.h.e.s.t, gripped the cloth tightly in his hand.

How Xuan Wu wanted to lock the woman in his palace, in his embrace and never let her go.

How Xuan Wu wanted to tear her wings and caged her so she would only stay by his side.

How Xuan Wu wanted to keep others away from her. That way, he would be the only one in her eyes.

This twisted d.e.s.i.r.e.. Xuan Wu was the only one who knew..

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Ming Yue lifted her hands and returned the hug as her one hand patted Xuan Wu's back like she was soothing a child.

"Xuan Wu. No matter how twisted you are, I, ...Ming Yue, will not abandon a friend." She said in soft voice.

Xuan Wu's body stiffened and he pulled away from her. His eyes stared at her in disbelief, "..you remember?"

Ming Yue smiled apologetically, "Only one part.. Sorry."

"It's fine, it's fine.." Xuan Wu's hands were trembling as he cupped her small face, happiness were clearly shown on his face. "As long as you remember a part of our days together."

Ming Yue who now realized her identity, had a complex feeling about it. She still couldn't believe that Chang'e the moon goddess was her. Ming Yue still felt that they were two different people so her heart still couldn't accept this new identity.

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Meanwhile.. in Q City..

A young girl was walking at the school hallway with her friends by her side, the group was heading toward the school cafeteria. The girl stopped abruptly then turned her gaze toward the window, staring at the blue sky. Faint sad smile appeared on her face.

"Ying Yue, what's wrong?" asked one of her friend.

Ying Yue turned her eyes away from the window to meet her friend's puzzling eyes. She shook her head and gently smile, "It's nothing." she answered and continued her steps.

'...Another memory returns.'

'..It seems.. my time in this world will not be long..'