Returning Before Nightfall

The twins puffed out their chests, basking in their accomplishment, their faces shining with triumph.

Chin Chin folded her arms. She nodded, solemn as a victorious general surveying her troops.

"See? I told you we could do it."

Kim Kim carefully adjusted her sleeves. She moved as though she wore the flowing robes of a legendary healer.

"Yes. Our medical knowledge has proven reliable."

Shi Min stood a step behind, watching the twins with a combination of pride and weary amusement.

A faint twitch at the corner of his mouth revealed a muted battle. He struggled to remain composed.

He fought back the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he settled for a patient sigh.

The Azure Dragon noticed immediately and laughed quietly.

"You two are quite confident."

The twins smiled brightly.

Before the moment could linger, the Azure Dragon turned to the eagle who had brought the wounded snow leopard.

"You may carry him back to recover."

The eagle bowed respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

A flash of spiritual light shrouded the young man, and in an instant, he became a magnificent eagle once more.

His wings unfurled, feathers gleaming as polished bronze beneath the fading rays of sunlight.

With deliberate precision, he grasped the injured snow leopard in his talons, mindful of its wounds.

The snow leopard remained calm. Trust shone in its pale eyes as it allowed itself to be lifted.

With a single, powerful sweep of his wings,

The eagle rose into the air.

In moments, he became a dark silhouette. He glided across the golden sky, vanishing toward the secret valleys of Mystic Mountain where spirit beasts found their healing.

The Azure Dragon watched him disappear before turning back to the group.

The sun slipped behind distant peaks, brushing the sky with strokes of amber and rose.

Soft orange light flowed through the bamboo groves. Long, swaying shadows swayed in the twilight wind.

A gentle chill slipped into the air. Twilight spread across the mountain slopes.

The Azure Dragon clapped his hands lightly, the sound crisp in the tranquil dusk.

"Alright."

His voice drifted easily across the gathering.

"Let us return before it gets dark."

The children sighed in gentle protest, but soon their footsteps joined the others along the lantern-lit path.

The path to the palace curved through clusters of lantern flowers, their petals unfolding to shine as twilight deepened gently.

The mountain slipped from the brilliance of day into the calm of a mystical evening, shadows spreading long beneath ancient trees.

By the time they reached the palace courtyard, the sky had deepened to indigo, and the first stars pricked through the velvet dark.

There, waiting for them, was the warm promise of dinner.

Dinner and Quiet Politics

The evening meal at Mystic Mountain unfolded alongside even greater splendor than the midday feast.

The outdoor dining pavilion shimmered beneath dozens of floating spirit lanterns, their sunlit glow bathing every table in gentle radiance.

Nearby, the waterfall glimmered like gleaming silver in the moonlight, its music weaving smoothly through the night air.

Fireflies floated lazily through the garden, their tiny lights flickering in harmony with the lanterns above.

A peaceful hush settled upon the gathering, as though the mountain itself ceased to breathe.

Nonetheless, beneath the tranquil surface,

something much more serious waited in the shadows.

The children clustered together, laughter swelling as they recounted their adventures with mystical beasts.

At the main table, the adults gathered in quiet conversation.

The Azure Dragon poured himself a cup of tea before looking at Ling Li thoughtfully.

"So, you'll return to Shanghai?"

"You will return to Shanghai from here?"

Ling Li shook her head slightly.

"No."

She lifted her glass with calm composure and sipped her water.

"We need to stay in Beijing for a while."

She paused. The hush settled.

"Otako has an order."

The Azure Dragon's brows lifted.

Four Eyes also narrowed his eyes slightly.

Even Mushu, sitting nearby, became attentive.

The Azure Dragon leaned back slightly in his chair.

"May I know what his order is?"

He raised one hand politely.

"Only if you do not mind sharing."

Ling Li shook her head calmly.

"Not at all."

Her utterance remained steady.

"Otako wants to change the leader of the country."

Her words fell softly. Yet their weight remained in the air.

Their meaning extended outward, vast and unsettling.

Even the mountain breeze seemed to catch its breath.

The Azure Dragon's golden eyes sharpened slightly.

Four Eyes looked directly at Ling Li.

"Change the leader?"

Ling Li nodded calmly.

"The current Chinese president has a son."

She turned her gaze toward Shun.

"His name is exactly the same as Shun's."

Shun blinked.

Everyone slowly turned toward him.

Ling Li continued.

"Otako wants him to take the position."

A thoughtful silence spread over the table.

The Azure Dragon studied Shun carefully.

Then he nodded slowly.

"Hm."

His voice carried both curiosity, eagerness, and interest.

"That will not be easy."

He set his teacup down.

"Staging a national election requires influence."

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"You will need to infiltrate the PPC and the Politburo."

Ling Li nodded.

"Yes."

She stayed calm.

"We have one year to prepare."

Her words were steady, but a subtle tension crept into her voice. Everyone felt the gravity of that statement. One year was barely enough time, and the risks were tremendous. If they failed, the opposition would crush their movement and the delicate hope for change. The fate of the country hung in the balance on their ability to move quickly and quietly, and any mistake could threaten not only their plan but their lives. Outside, the mountain wind murmured warnings, duplicating the urgency in the room.

The Azure Dragon leaned back slightly, tapping the table with one finger.

Then suddenly—

He smiled.

"Then you should take some assistance."

Ling Li looked up.

"Assistance?"

The Azure Dragon signaled toward the mountains beyond the palace.

"Take some of the smaller spirit beasts."

His tone was matter-of-fact.

"They are excellent at infiltration."

He grinned slightly.

"Tiny creatures go where humans cannot."

"Walls do not stop them."

"Secrets cannot hide from them."

Four Eyes raised a brow slightly.

Ling Li's smile widened.

"That would be wonderful."

Her voice conveyed genuine satisfaction.

The Azure Dragon nodded once.

"Then it is settled."

He lifted his teacup.

"Use whatever resources you need from Mystic Mountain."

The conversation eased, tension melting away like haze.

Servants appeared with fresh dishes, their aromas mingling alongside the night air.

Spirit wine flowed into waiting cups.

At the far end of the table, the children's laughter rose like bells in the night.

And yet,

Even as the evening lingered, warm and peaceful,

The plan quietly forged at that table would one day alter the fate of an entire nation.

Far above the clouds,

Heaven was already watching in silence.