Prince and His Fool

The incident at the market had Wu Yange in silence, he didn't want to see Rong Zian or even speak to him. Lucky for him, he had offended the moron that he also kept silent as the carriage carried on. The prince was satisfied with his actions that he didn't care for the fixed piercing gaze looking his way. Rong Zian had begged the prince to stay in town one more night but the man had put his foot down and frightened him into submission with his blue flame.

Wu Yange had not realized how stubborn Rong Zian was until they were confined in the same space. Besides the gaze burning through his flesh, it was peaceful enough for him to catch up with his reading. Rong Zian was infuriated with the prince but all he could do was gaze at him to death, 'if I was superman, you would be dead by now," he thought to himself with a dark expression.

Halfway through the journey, he couldn't take it anymore so he broke his vow of silence, "Why did you have rain on my parade? The only thing I have now is my imagination. I can only imagine what l would have done to that beautiful herb vendor," he said with a dreamy expression.

With his gaze transfixed on the text, Wu Yange asked, "Did you even know her name or you were just determined to ruin her reputation?"

"Pfft.....she would have told me her name while I smooched those beautiful lips and-,"

"If you are going to use obscene language then you might as well join Ying Tie outside! A good time in the sun will erase all those dirty thoughts out of your head," commanded the prince after rudely cutting him off. It was clear where Rong Zian was leading this conversation but he didn't think the stringent prince would kick him out.

In a desperate attempt to reconcile, he negotiated, "I will keep quiet from now on just don't kick me out," but the prince raised his hand as the flames danced on his fingertips, threatening him.

"Pick, which part of your body must I burn first?"

Hearing that a terrified Rong Zian jumped out of a moving carriage and sat alongside Ying Tie who was leading the horses. He cursed the prince in his heart a thousand times as the scorching heat descended upon his handsome face. Seemingly fed up already, he asked: "Ying Tie are we almost there?"

With a satisfied smile as though celebrating his misfortune, Ying Tie added insult to injury saying, "I would appreciate it if you shut your trap that is if you want to sit here."

A speechless Rong Zian jumped off the carriage, there was no way he was going to be able to keep silent the whole way so he decided on walking instead as he murmured, "Stupid Wu Yange, what's wrong with a man satisfying his burning desires? He must be eunuch that's the only thing that makes sense."

The rest of the way, Rong Zian had to channel in his cross country days and pull through ten kilometres. The first two kilometres were comprised of him singing annoying songs that Wu Yange threw his book through the curtain and told him to pick it up again.

Halfway, he resorted to throwing pebbles with a makeshift slingshot but his aim was so horrible, he accidental hit Ying Tie who didn't spare him. He chased him around the carriage but in the end, the strongest man wasn't fast enough, the prince had to intervene and pacify Ying Tie. By the last lag, Rong Zian had reached his breaking point with every muscle in his body aching, he just wanted a hot bath and a bed.

As he walked so sluggish up a steep hill, he soon realized they were surrounded by an entire village and the carriage came to a halt at the sight of village gates. The village chief came forth just as the prince was descending from the carriage. They seemed familiar with each other as they conversed in front of the curious crowd. The old man even went as far as embracing Ying Tie, it turns out it was his uncle but Rong Zian couldn't see the resemblance, or maybe it was because his vision was blurred as he tried to catch his breath with one hand on the carriage.

The village chief finally pointed at Rong Zian and said, "And who is the newcomer?"

The prince took a glimpse in his direction and said, "His a trainee, pay him no hid," with a friendly smile.

"A trainee! In what.....the Olympics?" he said in huffing and puffing but the two people ignored him and continued conversing.

"What are the Olympics?" asked the inquisitive village chief.

"Ignore him he says odd things like that sometimes," he replied giving Rong Zian a 'don't-embarrass-me-right-now' look. The gaze was so menacing that Rong Zian instantly straightened himself and saluted the village chief.

"Your Highness, the sun has reached the horizon so it would be best if we all get inside before the coldness of the night catches up with us," replied the village chief showing him the way. The prince smiled and walked past him followed by Ying Tie but as Rong Zian passed, the old man blocked his path with an ominous smile.

Perplexed with no understanding of what was going on, he slanted to the side and looked over to the prince, whimpering, "Uhm, Your Highness. Did you forget someone?" The prince reluctantly stopped and turned to face Rong Zian, almost simultaneously as the old village chief turned around as well to face the prince. Wu Yange seemed displeased but didn't immediately address the village chief who was proudly stroking his goatee.

"Now, you all know the rules since I am unfamiliar with him, I can't let me into my village without any knowledge of his strength. As it is our tradition if he wants to enter my village, he must fight one of my warriors," he said taking a glimpse of the terrified young man in his peripheral view.