Hong Luo carried the man for such a long distance that her entire body was aching and complaining. Simple exhaustion to the high pain threshold developed over several years. She groans of frustration and curses directed at herself, her words baffling then amusing the semi conscious man.

“Oh, Luo Luo you lazy fool, it's little wonder that anything can ever get done. Gosh, just a little fatigue and already aching for the forest floor.” She scoffs then nearly trips over a curved root. She glares at her feet and proceeds to grumble. “Even better, my feet have betrayed me as well. What would mom and dad think if they saw me now? In less time it would take to blink, mom would pummel me to the ground with no mercy! Two black eyes, a brushed butt, Ugh! Mother’s temper is so…”

“Oh!” Suddenly she pauses and tilts her head in amazement. “That mystery that befuddles Sheng’er finally has an answer. How could I not connect the dots that my temper came from my mother rather than my father? Extraordinary, aha!” In a better mood, she pushes forward ignoring her ‘exhaustion’ she misunderstood. At this point she still hasn’t realized her own body’s condition, the terrible shape that it's in, the injuries, the ravenous hunger, and more importantly the fever being kept in check by the chilling rain.

The man going in and out of consciousness had some idea towards her condition. Sadly whether this had any effect on him or not, he wasn’t sharing. How unfortunate. 

When Hong Luo comes into a large opening, with the sound of waves crashing against rocky shores, with the trees blocking out the rain, she decides to take a short break alongside Serpents Cove. Looking towards the center of the Cove she’s overcome with the desire to admire the solitary isle with its lone tree blossoming stunning white flowers, ones she naturally recalls the mind relaxing scent of. 

Simply breathtaking, shrouded in mystery and intrigue. A place gathering dust in the oldest of memories she cherishes close to her heart. The swing hanging from the tree full of laughter and smiles. Even now, through the foggy rain, the memories come into reality, appearing off in the distance, squeezing a yearning heart hoping for the impossible. But it’s too late, if this, whatever this is, is in fact real, then she’s come back far too late in life. How it kills her inside knowing this fact.

She wishes the rain would stop for a mere moment, only so she could smell that familiar, sweet, floral scent in the wind. A cup of warm milky matcha in hand, a few freshly picked berries, and with the sun hitting the water just right as her legs sway the swing. Yes, that sounds like a lovely enjoyable moment to rest and relax. Unfortunately even if the rain were to stop, the overpowering smell of wet earth, so bitter and cold, would not allow for this simple wish to come to pass, especially with how soft the scent of catalpa flowers are.

That’s it, she slaps her leg to stand. She must come back at a later time. Slowly she gets off the small ledge and continues on. Through the thick foliage, her and the man who had long fallen asleep, disappear.

The forest is calm but not at all quiet. The sounds of torrential rain hums from above the canopy, the crystal clear water droplets beat drums on the grass and brush below. A constant melody of rushing streams sing off to the right, finishing off the chorus with serene tranquility. 

Many miles walked and they’ve yet to slow at all. Not until a shadow passes by Hong Luo’s vision and something large lands on her head. The shadow runs in front of her and stops to look back. 

“Come on Luo’er, daddy’s going to leave you like a log in the mud if you keep lagging behind like that.” The large figure in a ripped shirt and muddy pants drops his outreached hand. He smiles broadly and with confidence he laughs as if amused by Hong Luo’s expression. 

“Da-dad?” Taking a step forward, an unbelieving look in her eyes. Ho-how could he be here? I thought…I shouldn’t be…I was at uncle’s not at…my memory, was it wrong? Or is this truly not…

Her heart beats a mile a minute. Her eyes brim with water threatening to spill. That doesn’t matter. No seeing him again, nothing matters!

“Ugh- Okay, okay.” Mo Hong Bao lifts both arms in defeat. He fists his hips, and hunches over, lovingly shaking his head. “Leave your grumbling looks behind else mommy will have both our tails. Let’s not get in trouble again so soon.” Peeking up with a smug grin he tempts, “If you hurry along, Daddy will carry you the rest of the way?”

Taking a larger step forward, Hong Luo’s heart leaps in glee, ready to rush into her father’s arms. How she’s missed him greatly. She longs for that loving pat to the head again. She yearns for those safe arms to wrap around her, telling her everything’s alright and all that she’s experienced was nothing more than a dream.

A lonesome, heart aching nightmare that felt so real.

“Daddy. Daddy I…” A rustling of grass behind her cuts her tearful words short. Her gaze blankly looks behind.

Another shadow, more tiny in size, passes by Hong Luo. When she looks forward once more, that shadow rushes into Mo Hong Bao’s arms, happily hugging his strong neck, “You promised Daddy, no take backs. And if Mommy finds out, it's not Luo Luo’s fault. Luo Luo is innocent!”

“Ahaha!” Mo Hong Bao bursts into laughter, his head pulled back, shaking free his messy hair, wild and unrestrained. “Of course of course! Daddy’s Luo’er is always innocent!”

The two laugh like mischievous squirrels finding a stash of nuts. The child mimics her father’s deep laughter as best she can and the father, startled wide eyed, laughs even louder at her adorable attempt.

“How is my Luo’er innocent? Do tell, hmm.” Unexpectedly a teasing voice full of heart trembling charm startles the father and daughter duo. 

“Ah!” Both jump out of their skins and turn to face a stunningly beautiful face. Her long hair tied in a valiant tail with two strands resting against her cheeks, stern hooded eyes, a strong curvaceous figure wrapped tightly in thick black pants and a maroon long sleeved kimono shirt hiked up at the elbows, caught in the crease of skin due to her fisting her hips. 

The tall muscular Mo Hong Bao grabs his bare chest, pushing aside his ripped to hell black shirt. Grievous eyes full of complaint fill with water, threatening to spill over to flood the world. “Good Heavens my sweet sugar plum, you really are planning to scare your husband so bad he soils himself, you can’t fool me, you can’t force my hand! God's my poor chrysanthemum is burning thanks to you!”

The woman snorts but inwardly feels helpless. She looks to the sky, crying in her heart at how cute this big loaf of hers is, those eyes, those damable eyes…she looks back down, her face still stern and eyes full of ridicule. “Where in lays my fault that you, a mountain of a man, can’t control his own bowels? Perhaps it’s hereditary?” She scoffs. “Those two old fools will have a field day with you, I’m sure of it.”

Mo Hong Bao, who hates dealing with doctors, unexpectedly completely ignored the last comment. “No. No! Zen Yue, no! Do not compare me to my damn father! That old bastard and I shall not be spoken of in the same breath, least of all his loose chrysanthemum! Ugh! Just thinking about him steams my soul and burns my heart with the heat of a thousand suns! Oh heaven’s help me, one of these days I’ll…”

“Darling,” Zen Yue, who knew she’d stepped on a landmine, pecks the side of those chattering lips, chuckling sweetly, “shush.” If he didn’t stay quiet, the mountains would flip tonight no matter how much complaining is voiced.

“Oh…okay…” Her heart flutters at his stumbling reply. So obedient she smiles against his lips. Her arms around his neck pull him down to her, making this oh so much more easier for her heart to dominate his.

“Mommy, Daddy?”

Pulled out of their pink bubbly moment, the pair stare deeply into each other’s eyes, and slowly collect themselves. After several unsteady breaths they look down at their daughter and respond.

“Yes, Luo’er?” “Yes Luo Luo?” 

The small child sandwiched between her parents does the most adorable head tilt, capturing the pair’s hearts’ instantaneously. “What is a chrysanthemum and why is it burning?”

Opps, now that just shattered the loving atmosphere into a thousand pieces. 

Mo Hong Bao felt the figurative shards dig into his back along with the angry nails of his wife in his neck. The poor man knew he was beyond the point of trouble. He cries in his heart, cursing the curiosity of his sweet adorable daughter who ratted on him! So cute but oh so damning! Why must you betray Daddy so naively?! Mommy had somehow ignored his slip and now his darling daughter brought it right out for him to be punished for! Heavens! He swears it was an accident! 

Unfortunately, unintentional or not, his sweet daughter is stolen from him, he gets a heavy punch to the gut and an uppercut to the chin for good measure.

A mist rolls in and surrounds the trio. The frog that had perched itself on Hong Luo’s head leapt off, then bounds forward into the mist, right through the couple as if to him, they weren’t there at all.