Mysterious Shender
⁇ : Emerging Characters

'Why is it so calm?'

Xi Wei relied on her sharp sense of hearing to observe the circumstances around her and Ying Yue. He was surprised because it was so quiet there.

Opera is done. However Xi Wei and Ying Yue discovered that no soldiers were chasing them.

'Oh? I think I already know who.'

Xi Wei looked calm as if he knew who had distracted Zixuan and her subordinates.

Ying Yue herself was still worried because there was Luansha in the opera. Even though he and Xi Wei had already walked out of the open-air inn that displayed the opera, somehow he was uncomfortable because it was noticed continuously by Luansha― in between recognizing Ying Yue or being interested in the Princess because she was beautiful.

"Huang Luansha doesn't recognize you. He doesn't even know about your engagement."

Ying Yue looked in surprise at Xi Wei.

"How did you know? You're an outsider?"

"So, you think outsiders shouldn't know anything? I am indeed from the martial world, Little Sister. But, I almost knew everything. Including the contents inside your palace."

"How can you?"

"Try asking General Wang yourself when you arrive in Yongheng."

Ying Yue was astonished by Xi Wei. The mature-skinned youth just smiled.

Out of nowhere it came from, a forest owl that had been floating in the sky swooped down and landed, perched on Xi Wei's shoulder.

Ying Yue was not the first time seeing the forest owl. Yet somehow he was interested in Xi Wei's property.

"Name Gaohei."

Xi Wei stroked the head of the forest owl. He looks mysterious in a hooded robe and an owl. That is typical of a Shaman. People can misinterpret that a mature brown-skinned youth is a Shaman.

"You look like a Shaman. Who carries a sword and a big chest."

Ying Yue sounded mocking. But Xi Wei did not care much about what the Princess said.

"Gaohei, give my message to that person."

The forest owl named Gaohei immediately flew away, disappearing from sight after being given an order by Xi Wei.

"That guy?"

"Later you'll know who."

"That's not important."

Ying Yue shook her head.

"So, what's important?"

"I want to marry you!"

Xi Wei instantly stopped walking and looked at Ying Yue blankly. He did not understand why the Princess was so stubborn as to choose a young man who was toying with life.

"You've been betrothed."

"I can petition so that I don't get betrothed to anyone."

"I can't get married first to anyone, Little Sister."

"I know."

"When you know why you insist?"

"I don't insist! I don't care how long I have to wait. I'll wait for you, Swordsman Xi Wei."

Xi Wei sighed.

"Watch I promise you."

Ying Yue's face was blushing heavily.

"If you want to file a petition, you should be able to hold General Wang and Ziling in fifty moves."

Ying Yue was instantly lunglai.

"I'll teach you how to avoid their attacks."

Ying Yue's eyes twinkled. Showing suspicion at once.

"How good are you?"

"You think?"

"You are the one who will rank one on the Taiyang Sacred Temple Silat Expert list, in my opinion."

Ying Yue did not understand what was inside Xi Wei's head. But, he could understand that Xi Wei's ambition was not to become the number one Silat Expert.

"Why is the atmosphere so calm? Did First Brother just let go of me? It's not like him."

"He's been taken care of by someone else. The Emperor would naturally not be willing to lose his Great Princess."

"You mean ...?"

Somehow Ying Yue was getting more confused and more suspicious of Xi Wei. The Princess felt that the young man in tanned skin was not an ordinary person.

"just ignore. You're obviously safe tonight. For the next night as well. If you wish to petition not to be betrothed to the Emperor, you must train diligently to hold back fifty General Wang's moves."

"It's too hard."

Ying Yue complained about how difficult it was to withstand the fifty moves that General Wang would use.

"I can only hold ten of his jurors."

"Ten is good."

"Stay ...."

"I promised I'd teach you. Now come with me. You never sleep and always get lost in your thoughts every night."

Ying Yue glared at Xi Wei.

"Even that you know?"

Xi Wei shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"Why not? It's written clearly on your face."

***

In the remote Qiufeng Palace Residence belonging to Prince Xiao Ziling, Seventh Brother of Ying Yue, a young man walked quickly as if in a hurry. He entered a room that was Ziling's reading room.

"I went to the Prince and wanted to report."

Ziling who was reading instantly looked towards the young man.

"What do you want to report, Feng Sha?"

The young man named Feng Sha immediately stood up and relayed a report.

"Our men have managed to trick the Crown Prince. In accordance with the Prince's guess, the Crown Prince wanted to kill the Great Princess."

"Good then."

"But ...."

"But what?"

"There is an unknown person who is aware of our existence. He was also the one who had helped the Great Princess to come out and enter the inn as freely as possible. We're trying to figure out who he is. But, even the Inn Owner near Major Bajie's Residence did not want to tell. We don't have any information about him. He's like a ghost."

Ziling thought for a moment.

'As ghosts? The Great General once mentioned that there was a Senior Brother of his who was like a ghost. Is that him? Xi Wei's? Eternal Swordsman? Why did he interfere in the affairs of the Kingdom? I have to ask the Great General about this. Perhaps the Great General knows something.'

"alright. You can go. Let me know if there's any other information."

Feng Sha saluted and immediately left to continue his duties.

Ziling took a long breath. He did not know Xi Wei. But based on the testimony from General Wang, Xi Wei was a person that should not be faced at all. The sapodilla-skinned youth was too strong.

'I have to go see the Great General.'

Ziling packed a few items and went through the secret passage in his reading room.

The secret passage connects Qiufeng Palace with General Wang's Residence.

Ziling knocked on the entrance to the General's residence.

Shortly after, the door opened and revealed the face of the person Ziling was looking for.

"I salute the Prince."

"The Great General need not be confused. Whatever our status used to be Teachers and Disciples."

Ziling hurriedly brushed off the respect given by Wanqian.

"Don't know what brought the Prince to my place. But, surely the Prince wants to ask about something."

Wanqian guessed right on target. Or maybe it wasn't a guess?