A Call to Eat

After a while, a warm, familiar voice passed through the garden.

"Children."

Red glided into the garden. Her scarlet hair captured the sunlight, shimmering like living flame. Each step radiated delicate warmth.

Her smile unfurled. It was warm and tender, like sunlight shining through after summer rain.

"Come on," she uttered gently. "Let's eat first."

She signaled toward the pavilion. The dining table awaited beneath the open sky, inviting them into a dream.

"After lunch, the mountain will be yours to explore."

The twins froze in place, mid-step, glancing at each other in surprise.

Slowly, they turned around to face Red, uncertain, still hopeful.

"Ah, really?"

Chin Chin's eyes dazzled like gems.

"We truly can?"

Red giggled softly.

"Of course you can."

She bent slightly, extending with one hand and gently patted Chin Chin's head.

"But first, you must eat."

She waved them toward the terrace.

"So come. Let us eat."

The lure of food and adventure proved irresistible. The twins darted away. Laughter surged up as they raced for the pavilion.

Their giggles trailed behind them like ribbons on the breeze. Merriment wove through the air as they ran.

"Food first!"

"Then exploring!"

Xiao Chi followed close behind, each step light with happiness.

Lily, Ren, Sisu, and Mushu soon drifted after, drawn by the warmth and the promise of sharing a meal beneath the sky.

One by one, they gathered, moving toward the elegant table as the sound of the waterfall and birdsong spun a pattern of sound through the air.

For now,

Puzzles of destiny, dragons, and prophecy faded into the background. Yet, beneath laughter and sunlight, longtime rivalries smoldered, and unspoken challenges lingered. They were like far-off thunder behind the birdsong. Even as children planned mischief, adults sensed that peace on Mystic Mountain was as delicate as mist floating over the valley.

For now, it was simply time for lunch on Mystic Mountain.

Mystic Mountain — The Luncheon That Turned Into Chaos

The outdoor dining pavilion of Mystic Mountain had been prepared with exquisite care.

Long sandalwood tables spanned the open-air pavilion, mirror-smooth. Jade plates and ivory bowls sat in perfect symmetry. Steam and rich aromas from elaborate dishes wafted upward. The feast could make even immortals pause.

There were golden mountain carp in honeyed spirit wine, bamboo rice in lotus leaves, lacquer-bronze cloud pheasant, and a delicate soup of thousand-year ginseng.

Nearby, the waterfall thundered softly into the valley. Its mist drifted ascending like translucent silk ribbons. Mystical flowers swayed and gently released sweet fragrance around the pavilion. These scents merged with the food, forming a symphony for the senses.

Above, colorful spirit birds glided from branch to branch, occasionally singing mild harmonies that resounded through the valley.

It was a luncheon fit for ethereal guests.

Everyone relaxed at last.

Even the earlier unease surrounding dragons, phoenixes, and strange manifestations seemed briefly forgotten as they enjoyed the feast.

Chin Chin and Kim Kim, Ling Li's twin daughters, sampled nearly every dish. Chin Chin, chatty and impulsive, dived in with excitement. Kim Kim, more thoughtful, tasted each with quiet scrutiny. Their differences made every meal an adventure.

Chin Chin grinned and exclaimed, "This fish is so sweet!"

Kim Kim glanced at the dish. "The sauce must have spirit honey," Kim Kim chimed.

Sisu giggled at their enthusiasm.

Ling Li's eldest daughter, Ren, was composed. She had to admit the food was extraordinary.

Even Shi Min, who normally ate quietly and sparingly, allowed himself to appreciate the meal.

For a moment, everything stilled.

The gathering appeared as a simple family luncheon.

Then the spell broke.

The twins opened their mouths again.

"Mom!" Chin Chin called, beaming.

"After lunch, we want to explore Mystic Mountain and see mystical beasts!"

Kim Kim confirmed with a vigorous nod.

Ling Li's hand halted mid-air, chopsticks quivering above a dish.

Her heart skipped.

A warning bell rang loudly in her mind.

'Oh no.

And so it begins.'

She slowly placed the food into her bowl and sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly.

Her twins were adorable—

But they were also disasters waiting to happen, always creative in their mischief.

Ling Li composed herself and spoke calmly.

"Let your brothers and uncles take you. Do not run wild," she instructed firmly.

The twins nodded vigorously.

But before the matter could settle, another voice spoke up.

The Azure Dragon spoke.

As master of Mystic Mountain and a great celestial beast, the Azure Dragon stood as both a regal host and a calm presence. It was said he once built a ladder of mist to the moon for a lovers' tryst, and that his laughter could shake ancient mountains. His centuries of wisdom and respected power gave him gentle authority. Beneath his composed exterior, he had ardor in his eyes and fatherly concern for the younger guests, especially his children.

"No need to worry," the Azure Dragon assured, warm and confident.

"They may enjoy the mountain as much as they wish."

He motioned casually toward Huang, Zhu, and Xiao Chi.

"My children will accompany them and guide them."

Ling Li glanced at him.

She understood his intentions.

The children were bonding.

And Mystic Mountain was indeed one of the safest places in the cultivation world.

She nodded calmly.

"Very well."

However, something else was forming.

Someone else at the table was scheming something more perilous.

Red, the mischievous phoenix, was the Azure Dragon's wife and an unpredictable divine creature. Earlier that morning, with a sly wink, she had swapped everyone's tea for sparkling plum wine, making elder immortals giggle while she pretended to look innocent. Last week, she changed the mountain's mist into rainbow clouds, startling the spirit carp as they leapt into colored air. Red's antics unsettled the table's balance of power. Elder immortals watched her with wary respect, uncertain whether to laugh or brace for her next trick. Subtle rivalries simmered whenever she was near. Her disregard for hierarchy provoked the elders or inspired the younger guests to challenge limits. With Red, even the quietest moment could flip into chaos at the snap of a finger.

Red had studied the twins for some time.

And suddenly, she could no longer contain herself.

"Ling!"

Ling Li's chopsticks stopped mid-air.

Her gut feeling shouted danger.

DANGER

She lifted her sight to Red.

"Yes?"

Red leaned forward with excitement twinkling in her flaming eyes.

"Ling, both your daughters are dragon guardians! Each has their own dragon!"

She clapped her hands together happily.

"Don't you think they are both perfectly suited for my two sons?"

An awestruck silence ripped through the pavilion; jaws dropped.

Ling Li's eyes grew wide in shock and horror. Her hands quivered, and her mouth opened, but she could not form words. Her face was stricken with amazement.

The Azure Dragon doubled over, caught amid disbelief and uncontrollable laughter. Tears rolled down his face as he gasped for air, fighting to regain composure.

They both coughed quietly, each breathing a deep breath and trying to regain their composure.

Four Eyes nearly snapped his chopsticks in half.

Under the strain of Four Eyes' grip, the wood of his chopsticks cracked loudly.

The Azure Dragon noticed immediately.

For the first time, the Azure Dragon saw real paternal hostility in Four Eyes' eyes. The glare promised more than words. The atmosphere between them crackled, hinting at a confrontation beyond the table. Martial energies and old pride rustled beneath the surface, as if a challenge had been declared with no blows exchanged.