Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

Chapter 42: Ripples on the Water

"The Emperor!?"

Xianying just got out of her call, and the revelation of who the person is that was inviting them to the dinner was enough to surprise even Xing Cai.

"Y-yes. O-only if it is alright with you and Lord Viel", Xianying stuttered. The hand that was holding her phone was still shaking.

"No. We can't not answer the calls of Emperor Cha. We must come if we are summoned", Xing Cai quickly stood firm as she fixed her robes. "Tch. I just hope that fat cow Jin-ri isn't there"

"E-emperor Cha? W-who is that?"

"Hm? Our Emperor, who else? Didn't you say it was the Emperor who called?", there was visible confusion in Xing Cai's face.

"N-no. Well, yes The Emperor of Shenzhou, our Emperor Han"

"What are you-", Xing Cai then looked at Viel. Things have been happening way too fast so she has forgotten. They were in a different realm, perhaps even a different world. Viel kept calling it a 'dungeon', but Xing Cai was having a hard time relating that word to this world, so she keeps forgetting.

"No, do not mind me, Lieutenant. I was thinking of a different place", Xing Cai cleared her throat. "Still, we must go and pay our respects to the Emperor since we were invited"

Xing Cai then looked at herself in the photo that was taken earlier. Then she also looked at Viel who seemed to be oblivious to what was happening.

"We don't have any formal clothes", said Xing Cai as she looked at her embroidered golden robes.

"N-no, I believe t-that is enough", Xianying could not help but smile awkwardly. If Xing Cai were to dress up more, people would surely mistake who the sovereign of this country is. "Perhaps, a bath then? I think I may still have some towels here"

When Xing Cai heard the word 'bath', her ears perked up and she looked at Xianying with approving eyes. With all of the things that have happened, it really has been a while since she last took a proper bath. She only dabbed herself with water, and what she assumed was soap, when they were in the palace of the winged people, and that was definitely not enough for a woman in her prime.

Xianying handed her a towel and pointed her to the bathroom. Xianying was about to leave when she heard Xing Cai calling her.

"Lieutenant, there is no water in the bath"

"W-what do you mean, Master Xing Cai? There should still be water, I'm still paying for this apartment", Xianying entered the bathroom and rotated a knob near the tub. "Oh, there's still water, Master Xing Cai"

"!!!", Xing Cai was visibly perplexed.

"C-could it be that Master Xing Cai does not know how to operate the shower?", Xianying scratched her chin. It was as if the beautiful lady in front of her really lived in ancient times.

Xing Cai looked away, her face blushing a little bit. She hesitantly nodded her head to confirm Xianying's suspicion.

"O-okay. I'll show you. You use this to control the heat"

Xianying proceeded to explain of how the tools in the bathroom worked. It took a good quarter of an hour before Xing Cai grasped everything and finally proceeded to ready herself to bathe.

As soon as Xianying left and closed the door, she undressed herself and folded her robes neatly to the side.

Xing Cai looked at her figure in the mirror. It has been a while since she last took a long glance at herself. She untied her long black hair, causing it to completely slide down on her skin. Some strands, however, stopped sliding as they hit the huge scar on her right arm. She shook off the hair, completely revealing the long scar that started on her wrist and all the way through her shoulder.

Considering that her whole arm was mangled and could have been completely amputated, she chuckled awkwardly as she considered herself lucky.

Xing Cai slowly dipped her body in the tub, starting with her slender legs. She sat down until most of her body was submerged in the water.

The water was warm and just at the right temperature, which made her feel so relaxed that she released the deepest breath she could. She started to gently wash her legs as she lifted it, making a cup with her hands to drizzle on her legs.

She slowly worked her way up, gently wiping her nether regions, then her hips. Carefully massaging her bosom, making sure she does not miss any dirt that might have stuck on it.

She rubbed her left arms then proceeded to massage her neck as she slightly dipped it in the water.

And then, she got to her right arm. She slowly ran her fingers through the scar, careful not to press on it too hard as it was somewhat sensitive.

*sniffle*

However, before she can even reach to her right elbow- her whole body began to shake.

She slowly pulled her legs close to her body, hugging it as she almost curled herself into a ball.

*sniffle*

Small droplets started to fall on to the water as she could no longer contain the feelings that she was pushing back all this time.

She almost died.

Once again it started to sink in to Xing Cai's mind. She almost died, that was an irrefutable fact. She even has the scar to remind her of that. And although the scar may disappear someday, Xing Cai will never forget.

She was strong. She climbed to the top of her sect almost unbeatable. Being bestowed the position of Elder, the youngest to achieve so at 30 years old.

A title that might as well be worth scrap right now. Fighting the drakel champion made her feel like she would actually be able to protect Viel. But when the winged people came, she realized that her strength was not even enough to stand behind him.

Her body once again trembled when she remembered the impact of the winged-man's attack. It was as if her soul was being pulled from her body as she rolled over the ground again and again.

The shield she was so proud of was also broken into pieces now.

She had nothing left.

Her pride literally flicked away by the truly strong.

She quickly covered her mouth, preventing the sound that wanted to howl from within her.

Once again, the tears she poured like rain as the emotions overwhelmed her.

The tears, leaving ripples on the water.

She knew, this was something that she should go through alone.

Yes, she was alon-

"Viel Bomb!"

Suddenly, Xing Cai's self-wallowing monologue was interrupted by a shout that came from the bathroom's door.

Xing Cai quickly turned to the direction of the voice. But what welcomed her was a fully naked Viel, limbs widely stretched, somersaulting his way to the bathtub upside-down.

Xing Cai was completely caught off guard. She did not even think to dodge the incoming Viel.

It took a while before things started to register in Xing Cai's mind. However, it was too late, Viel's butt was already right in front of Xing Cai's face.

Xing Cai's head flinched back as it was directly hit by Viel's soft butt. Viel then rotated in the air before diving in the tub.

After his whole body was submerged in the water, he quickly stood up, causing his long golden hair flinging the water everywhere. "Saaafe!", said Viel as he raised his hand in victory.

Xing Cai, who was now on the edge of the tub, trembled once again. But this time, it was her fist that was trembling the most.

Her eyes twitched as she looked at the golden-haired boy cackling in front of her.

"VIEEEEL!"

It took a good amount of time before the chaos in the bathroom settled. Leaving Xianying, who was waiting for her turn, to doze off. Causing her to almost not be able to take a bath before leaving to meet the Emperor.

---

"Woah, this is so tall"

Viel, Xianying, and Xing Cai were now in front of very huge and luxurious building. Viel's eyes were as wide as they possibly can be as he looked at the colossal infrastructure in front of them.

"This is the most luxurious hotel in the country, Lord Viel. I wouldn't even dream of stepping inside if it weren't for the Emperor's invitation", Xianying was no longer wearing her combat armor, instead, she was wearing a set of uniform used for formal occasions.

Xing Cai was also astounded by the tall building, however, it was not showing on her face as she was still pissed of how Viel hit her face with his butt.

Excited, Viel was about to go inside the building when he was blocked by men in black.

"Sorry, little miss. The hotel is currently closed to the public due to a VIP meeting", the guard said as he looked at Xianying and Xing Cai.

"I-it's okay. We were invited by Emperor Han", Xianying placed her hand on Viel's shoulder, preventing him from doing anything drastic.

The men in black glanced at Xianying from head to toe, as if judging her. The other man slightly paused when he saw Xianying's pair of mountains.

The guard cleared his throat as he asked for Xianying's name.

"It's Lieutenant Xianying. These are my friends, Master Xing Cai and Lord Viel. We were invited by the Emperor to come here earlier this morning"

"Okay, please wait while we confirm your identities. Thank you", the men in black bowed as they entered the hotel.

The three stood outside the entrance of the hotel as they waited for the guards to come back.

"Agh so hungry", Viel planted his face on the glass window, looking at the sweets that were displayed inside.

"But shouldn't you still be full, Lord Viel? You ate more than us earlier", Xianying could not help but chuckle as she watched Viel drool over the delicacies.

"Being full is relative, Miss Xianying. Grandpa Ling taught me that one must eat when they can, for they might not be able to tomorrow"

"II see, your Grandpa Ling really does have a lot of teachings", Xianying scratched her chin.

"Tch, A great appetite yet still so small in many areas", Xing Cai said mockingly as she snickered at Viel.

"So old and yet Miss Xianying has bigger boobies than you", quickly retorted Viel as he covered half of his face with his small fingers.

"Y-you!", Xing Cai's eyes twitched as she could not return with a comeback.

Xianying could not help but chuckle as she watched as the two bickered with each other. Looking like this, they really did look like brother and sister. Disregarding Viel's long golden hair, of course.

"Yo yo yo, if it isn't our lovely Xianying"

Suddenly, a nasally voice called for Xianying from behind.

"General Meng", Xianying saluted as soon as she saw who the man was. However, it was obvious in her face that she was irritated and displeased, as seen on her furrowed eyebrows. Of course, this did not escape Xing Cai's eyes.

"What are you doing here? And who are these people you are with?", General Meng smiled as he checked on Viel and Xing Cai. But beneath his smile was a mocking tone.

"We are here to have dinner, General Meng", Xianying said with a straight face.

"Ohoho, I see you have earned a lot from the last drakel wave for you to splurge it here. But I am afraid you would need to change venue, Lieutenant. Only people of actual importance are allowed to dine in tonight due to a meeting with very important people", General Meng said as he opened the door to the hotel, "Ohohoho, maybe if you accepted my deal, you would be able to go inside".

General Meng's cackle reverberated the air as he entered the hotel.

Xianying gritted her teeth. Her fists were shaking as she watched the General leisurely walking away.

"Who was that boorish man?", Xing Cai placed her hands on Xianying's trembling shoulders.

"General Meng", Xianying mouthed as she released a deep breath, "He was the officer in charge when my brother died in training"

"I see", Xing Cai knitted her eyebrows.

Xianying's attitude, the obvious tension between the two, a deal, and her dead brother. Xing Cai would be blind not to see that those things were related. But before she could as further details, the two men in black returned.

"We are very sorry for not letting you in sooner!"

The two men quickly bowed towards the three of them.

"Yeah, you should be!", Viel pointed at the two bowing men.

"N-no, it is fine", Xianying awkwardly waved her hands.

"It is not fin-", before Viel can even finish his words, Xing Cai lightly hit him in the head.

"P-please, let me assist you", one of the men in black hurriedly opened the door and signaled for the three to go inside.

"I-it's okay, you can just point us to-"

"I insist, madame Xianying. Please, follow me", the man once again bowed as he guided the three inside the hotel.

'M-madame?', Xianying could not help but let out a weird laugh due to being addressed as madame. Viel, however, was nodding in satisfaction with the royal treatment.

The three of them then took the lift up to the upper most floor of the hotel.

The dining area in the top floor, was in a word, luxurious. There were statues made of gold scattered throughout the hall, there was also a gigantic fountain in the middle of the hall.

"Hmm, I suppose it's okay", Xing Cai nodded in satisfaction. The aesthetics of the room was something that would fit the Golden Pavilion sect. If there was a chance, then she would surely buy one of the golden statues that were erected in the dining hall.

"The sweets, where are the sweets!?", Viel looked left and right, searching for sweets.

The three garnered the attention of almost all the people in the dining hall. The people that were inside were mostly the elites and wealthy of the world.

But even then, almost all of them were astounded by Xing Cai and Viel's appearance.

Even through her robes, it was obvious that Xing Cai had a very good figure. Viel's long golden hair also shined, as if she was a princess of some western country.

"What? Who let you inside, Lieutenant!?", once again, a nasally voice interrupted the air.

"General Meng, it is you again", Xianying's mood once again sullied.

General Meng had a haughty expression on his face, it was only a few minutes ago that he said that only the most prestigious of people are allowed inside. And yet here she is.

General Meng then stared at Xing Cai from head to toe, then back to Xianying. Staring at her huge breasts.

"Tch, could it be that you are here as an escort, selling your body? And yet you dare refused my deal!?"

Xing Cai, who heard the General, clicked her tongue and slowly approached him. This pig has been mouthing for a while now, Xing Cai thought.

But before she could twist his mouth, Xianying blocked her path and refuted the General.

"Apologize", Xianying said with a cold voice.

"What did you say?"

"Apologize to me and my friend, General Meng"

"W-what!? Why you When did you learn to talk back to your superiors!?", General Meng raised his hand. But before he can hit Xianying, a husky voice echoed through the hall.

"It seems you have a problem with my guests"

"Hmph, don't you know only the elites are allowed here? How dare you invite escorts to-", General Meng snickered as he mocked the owner of the voice, however, he instantly paused when he saw who it was.

"How dare I?", the voice belonged to a handsome man with his hair pulled back. He smiled at the General, who was now sweating from head to toe.

"Y-your Majesty"

It was his imperial majesty, Emperor Han.