Standing upon the embankment of a bleak marsh, the water god stared out at the barrier of thick mist that surrounded him. His stony gaze unmoving from the wall of fog in the hopes that he might observe even a slight change in the adverse conditions that had hindered their advancement. Shui Long grew numb to the sting of the frigid winter air and the frost, which crept up from the murky shores of the swamp as he contemplated his next encounter with warriors of the West Lake Clan.
Unsurprised to confront the dense barrier of fog that had always been known to shroud the village of his former allies. The water god found these conditions less concerning than the uncomfortable stillness that hung in the air of the swamps frosted shoals on this particular morning. However, his troops seeming somewhat immune to these worries, Shui Long could hear a brief burst of laughter emitted from behind him. The cluster of men, barely visible from where he stood upon the shore, the water god glimpsed back at their vague forms huddled around a tall fire briefly, before ultimately turning back to his brooding.
Whilst, mildly envious that his troops were able to divert themselves from the grim contemplations of war, which had plagued him constantly. Shui Long did not begrudge them from taking a well-deserved respite from the grueling demands of battle, but found that there was nothing that could ease his head apart from the thoughts of Jing Li that had been preserved liked cherished treasures in his mind. However, these pleasant memories of his bride only able to distract the water god, until he was to realize that he was not yet able return to her side. Shui Long would often experience a vexation brought on by his desire to see Jing Li once more.
Even this brief consideration of his bride, beginning to inspire some impatience within him now. Shui Long's thin lips formed a grave line of discontentment as he glared more sternly at the unyielding weather that hindered their advancement. The god's mounting agitation, provoking him to hastily contemplate employing what remained of his dwindling powers to clear the mist surrounding the village. Shui Long was forced prompted to temporarily abandon this thought as a figure distinguished himself out from the blurry cluster of men behind him.
His usually mischievous aura fatigued by the efforts of the previous days, there was none of the reliable ease in Xi Yang's manner as he came to stand beside Shui Long. "You should rest." Xi Yang said, his voice made dull by exhaustion, "The fog won't lift anytime soon." Remaining unmoving on the murky edge of the marsh, the water god's eyes were still fixed on the ominous mist as he eventually replied, "I will only think of her, if I am not to occupy myself with other things." Releasing a long sigh as though pitying his brother's helpless plight, Xi Yang replied, "We are all eager to conclude this battle. However, nothing good will come of rushing into things blindly, Shui Long."
Discontented that there was some reason to be distinguished in Xi Yang's unsolicited counsel. Shui Long once again directed his irritation towards the thick barrier of fog that marred the swamp lands a moment longer, before replied, "I suppose." This statement, announcing his reluctant retreat from his staring match with the unrelenting mist, Shui Long turned his back from the gates the village that would continue to elude him. Resigning himself to think of other things beside the light of a fire, until his mind would inevitably circle back to his steadfast yearning to return to Jing Li's side.
The water god had advanced only a few steps from the edge of the icy shoals of the marsh, when his progress was abruptly halted by the sound of heavy wings was heard travelling directly towards them. Their attention was directed to the mist, which hung above their heads, as both brothers grasped at the hilts of their long swords. Frozen in wary anticipation of an attack as the laborious beating drew nearer to them. The two men stood in tense silence, until they were provoked into rapidly unsheathing their weapons by an abrupt slash. The brothers, thrusting their swords towards the embankment where the sound had originated. They were eventually made to lower their weapons by the subtle shimmer of the object that had been unceremoniously dropped from the sky.
The slight metallic gleam of the delicate item, barely visible through the murky waters of the marsh. Shui Long maintained a cautious mindfulness of his surrounds as he crouched down to inspect the object. Something about the item's vaguely familiar form, inspiring the water god to reach down in order to retrieve it from the cold mud of the embankment. His fingers, digging into the dark sludge, before finally curling around the object that had been thrown down at his feet. Shui Long felt a shiver of dread ripple through his spine, before he had even pulled the slender article from the saturated soil.
This quiver of discomfort, ultimately culminating in a violent shudder, as the mud slid away to reveal the image of a silver snake coiled around the stem of an elegant lotus flower in full bloom. The water god was only prevented from toppling down into the water by the grip that he maintained on his sword. The blade sinking deeper into where it had pierced the turbid shoals of the swamp under his weight. Shui Long was barely able to recover from the shock of recovering Jing Li's hairpin from out of the cloudy marsh, when the glimpse of a light blue object fluttered down onto the surface of the water beside him.
Plucking the strand of fabric, before it could be tainted by the bleak grey hues of the marsh. The water god sank on to his knees as he detected Jing Li's soft warm scent on the bloodstained ribbon that he held. Clenching the wet blue ribbon and hairpin that his bride had obviously cherished during his lengthy absence in the palm of his hand, a grimace of despair felt overcoming the features of the water god's face. Anger, often known to be a tenant of his grief, both emotions emerged from his pained chest in a thunderous roar of anguish that caused even the dry carcasses of the reeds on the embankment to tremor.
Evidently, able to deduce that Jing Li had been harmed from Shui Long's reaction to the items that he had retrieved from the swamp, Xi Yang approached his brother guardedly. Uncertain whether he might be the unfortunate recipient of the water god's volatile anger, he placed a tentative hand on Shui Long's shoulder as he spoke. "Calm yourself brother, it is likely this is only a ploy to lure you into a trap." Xi Yang said, trying his best to appear composed, "It is likely that Jing Li has only suffered a few minor injuries, otherwise there would be more evidence than this."
However, the magnitude of his rage already enough to drowned out the rational words of his brother. Shui Long could feel the hot metallic taste of his ire rise within his throat as he responded, "Abandon me now brother, if you must. Vengeance is too powerful for the gentle mistresses of Prudence to overcome." Regarding the vindictive water god, whilst he recovered himself from the mud grasping the bloody trinkets of his bride in one hand and the grip of his unforgiving sword in the other. Xi Yang gazed out into the daunting unknown waters of the marsh as he considered his brother's offer to retreat.
Although, obviously burdened by the expectations of loyalty and the taxing efforts of a war that he did not wish to be a part of, Xi Yang shook his head slowly. His eyes, concentrated on the mist behind Shui Long, shifting slightly downwards to observes a subtle ripple that appeared upon the surface of the water, Xi Yang replied, "Whilst I appreciate your valiant offer, brother. I fear that escape may no longer be an option for either of us." This solemn remark indicating an attack that Shui Long's had not observed beyond his rage, both turned to perceive a foreboding figure looming in the mist.
The creature's skeletal form sloshing through the water as it lurched unnaturally towards the embankment, the soldiers from the encampment finally arrived. Summoned from alongside their fires by Shui Long's anguished cry to the edge of the water, they too valiantly withdrew their weapons to confront the enemy that approached them from the mist. Clear that the grim figure was not alone, there was a notable diminishment within the troops' morale as they observed other decaying hands began to claw their way up from out of the mud. However, neither the ghastliness of the ghouls nor the impressive numbers that made up their army enough to dissuade Shui Long's from manifestation itself, the god transformed into the formidable form of a giant serpent.
The soldiers' hesitancy mitigated by the sight of their fearsome leader lunging into the mist with the full length of his sharp white fangs bared. There was an explosion of harrowing war cries that escaped the previously petrified troops as they charged into the treacherous swamplands behind Shui Long. Screams and the harsh clanging of weapons quickly filling the once still marsh. Flashes of the water god's scales were seen through the mist as he crushed and tore apart his enemies with a wild determination that could be attributed to his desire for vengeance.
Freed from their rotting shells after some effort from Shui Long and his troops, each ghoul released a dissatisfying gargling sound as they fell back into the water. However, the numerous corpses of those who has once met their end in the swamp seeming inexhaustible, there was soon more that rose to replace their fallen comrades. Overrun by these gruesome ghouls even though Xi Yang had transformed himself into a red snake that was only a few heads shorter than the water god, Shui Long charged ahead through the mist.
The fog lifting mildly the nearer he came to the West Lake Clan, Shui Long could see its dark gates just ahead of him, when he was met by a cluster of troops. Headed by the female envoy that had so staunchly defended Lu Qi, they pointed their long spears in his direction. Threatening to impale the large serpent should he attempt to breach the walls of their village, the cluster of warriors with their flamboyant eye paint stood their ground defiantly before him.
The group, remaining unmoving despite the threatening hiss that he emitted from his broad fanged mouth, Shui Long swung his thick body around. The force from this violent motion tossing some of the soldiers down into the dense mud, he curved around to viciously flick aside those that came to their defense. Several of the clan's warriors, either injured or incapacitated as they were flung down into the misty marsh by the serpentine god, there still remained one that stubbornly refused to remove herself from his path.
The muscular woman from the group of envoys, persisting to stand her ground in front of the enraged water god. She pointed the sharp end of her spear directly at the colossal white snake as she said, "It will take more than bravado to get me to surrender, Lord Shui Long." Disappointed that the warrior was not reasonable enough to surrender, even though the pained groans of her colleagues could clearly be heard from the cold ground near to her feet. The god narrowed his yellow eyes on the obstacle that now hindered the swift conclusion of this wearisome and drawn-out battle.