"What are you doing?!" An accusing voice suddenly jumped out of the bush. Gong ShenGe's soul almost left his body due to surprise. He abruptly stood up in front of the sleeping Feng XiaLin with a sword on hand ready to attack at any time.
"Brother, don't be like that! I was just asking." the stranger's voice haughtily explained.
"Who are you?! Come out this instance!" Gong ShenGe spat coldly. Gradually a silhouette from behind the huge oak tree emerged. It was a young man almost in his twenties. He was wearing a smug smile on his face as he walked forward. He could be a Prince based on his elegant red robe with silver embroideries. He can also be a thief. No one can judge a book by its cover!
"Woah! Calm down! I was just passing by. I just happened to see your bonfire so I went here."
"What do you want?"
"Well" he trailed off as he sat down comfortably on Gong ShenGe's blanket, "I am traveling alone in search for a Princess. Mind if I tag along?"
"You are suspicious. How can I know that you're not after something?"
"Really, I just wanted to tag along. Traveling without a companion is lonely. If it is money that you want, I can give you enough. I'm a Prince after all!" he bragged while pouring his golden coins from the pouch.
"I don't need your money, take it back." Gong ShenGe warned coldly, he added "How should I address this Prince?"
The arrogant Prince smirked and answered, "I am Chang DiaoLang. I am from Cao Duo Mountain Peak. How about you and your sleeping companion?"
For an instant, Gong ShenGe almost thought that this Prince gave Feng XiaLin a brief malicious glance, he couldn't help but to narrow his eyes at him as he coldly answered, "I am Gong ShenGe, the Prince of Zhu Yang Mountain Peak. That noble and unsullied Prince right there is named Feng XiaLin. The Prince of Yun Ming mountain Peak" He made sure to emphasize the word 'unsullied' to warn this impudent Prince that no one was allowed to lay a Finger on Feng XiaLin's body. Not him as well. Not even in his dreams though.
The next day, Feng XiaLin woke up to find a new companion.
They started their journey along with the new recruit. But no matter how many times Chang DiaoLang tried to hit on Feng XiaLin, Gong ShenGe would always get in between! Forget about hitting on Feng XiaLin, he couldn't even speak with him.
After many days, they entered a dark and heavily fogged forest. They came to a forked road. In the middle of the three roads, a cursed old man was sitting atop of a dusty frog statue. The old man was too much wrinkled beyond recognition, his hairs all turned white as well as his messy beard, and his white robe has turned brown due to dust and dirt. When he saw the three approaching figures, his eyes immediately lit up. After 400 years of waiting, someone was finally going to replace him and take over the curse!
Chang DiaoLang was the first to approach, with few elegant strides he reached the old man. He asked haughtily "Hey old geezer, where are these roads heading to?"
The old man answered weakly, "Young travelers, if you need directions then you have asked the right person! With my 400 years of experience guarding these roads, I will never let you be astray!"
"I have no time to waste old man, tell me where can I find a Princess. A gorgeous one that is!" The arrogant Prince spat out as he grabbed the old man's collar.
"Chang DiaoLang. That is not the proper way of talking to an elder. Let go of him!" Feng XiaLin interrupted in concern. Feng XiaLin didn't notice that a certain someone was beyond happy about being scolded by him. Finally, Feng XiaLin talked to him and called him by his name!
He was blushing profusely then he stuttered, "R-Right. O-old man, may you direct us the way?"
The old man almost jumped due to happiness but his weak body won't allow him to, thus his eyes spoke on his behalf as they lit up while answering, "If you walk this road on the left, it will bring you to the City of Zhang where a Princess of fine beauty and etiquette resides. If you choose to walk this road on the middle, then it will bring you to the City of Yang where poverty arises and no Princess resides. However, if you happened to choose the road on the right then..."
The old man trailed off. Gong ShenGe asked impatiently without sounding being too rude, "What is it?"
The old man continued as his nose wrinkled, "A Princess is also there but she is in the captivity of a Sorcerer."
"What is about that Sorcerer?" This time Feng XiaLin was the one who asked. He was quite intrigued about this case. Maybe rescuing a Princess from a monster was actually true!
"This road leads to the Pavilion of the Sorcerer named Rong ZhanWu. He is known as the cruelest Sorcerer not only in the Yin Fang continent but in other places too! No one can get in his way. Anyone that would dare, he would trample on them." The old man silently added, 'Just like what happened to me.'
"Then how are we supposed to rescue the Princess in his captivity?" Gong ShenGe asked.
"Don't even think about it! He practices dark arts." The old man answered.
"It doesn't sound easy..." Feng XiaLin commented in dismay.
"Nothing in this world is easy" the old man said while patting his shoulder.
Then the three discussed and decided who will take which roads. Predicting that Gong ShenGe would fight for his own and Feng XiaLin's right to get the road with the Princesses, leaving him to take a road that has no Princess to take, Chang DiaoLang sneakily approached the old geezer. While the two are arguing which one will take the most dangerous one, he used the chance to inch closer to the old man and asked, "Old man, do you know any other places that has a Princess? I'll give you enough sums of gold coins if you help me."
The old man snickered and answered, "There is." Chang DiaoLang beamed up, then the old man added, "If you stay here at my post, a Princess with ethereal beauty and a master of music will come."
He asked suspiciously, "A Princess? How are you so sure? How can I believe you?"
"How do you think did I manage to survive 400 years of guarding this spot without leaving? Of course, she would bring me water and foods every day ah!"
Upon hearing this, the Prince immediately changed his mind and let the other two leave the place immediately. The moment the two left, the old geezer made him sit on the huge frog statue. Unbeknownst to him, he will never be able to leave that place again. And there is no Princess that will come.
Before leaving, Feng XiaLin asked, "Before I forget, Master, is there a way to defeat that Sorcerer?"
The old man answered solemnly, "That, I do not know. But what I know is that he is somewhat generous."
Feng XiaLin "..."
Using a toss coin method, they determined that Gong ShenGe would take the road to the City of Zhang, while Feng XiaLin would take the road to the demonic Sorcerer's den.
After that, the two walked their separate ways. But before they turned completely, they said their gratitude, good-lucks and farewells to each other. Gong ShenGe was hesitant to leave Feng XiaLin's side but the other insisted that they walk their own path from now on. Before going their separate ways, he even tried to give Feng XiaLin a kiss on his cheeks only to be slapped by the other's long ink blue hair when he turned around to leave.
After a few hours of traveling, the sun was already setting down. Feng XiaLin stopped in a nearby lake and reined his horse for it to take a drink. The water was cold and quite good to the touch.
He learnt so many things from Gong ShenGe in just short period of time that they were together. Now, he knew how to set his own fire and catch fish for food. He was about to lay down his blanket on the grass when he suddenly heard a bristling sound that came from the bush. In a defensive stance, he grabbed his sword and raised it in front of him. His eyes vigilantly scanned through the surrounding. Suddenly, five huge black shadows emerged from the bush!
They were giant black wolf beasts!
The five wolves surrounded him and they were snarling at him like crazy! Without waiting any further for the prey to move, they pounced on him in unison!
That instance, Feng XiaLin realized just how dangerous the outside world really was. But he didn't cower; instead he raised his sword and swung it to them. One of the wolves cried out in pain causing the other four to be enraged. Their attacks became fiercer as Feng XiaLin's movements became sluggish due to exhaustion. They would pounce on him and continue to bite him everywhere while trying to tire him out.
Few moments later, Feng XiaLin couldn't hold up any much longer and he collapsed onto the ground. The pack encircled and loomed above him as drool flowed from their mouths. His vision turned out of focus, blood flowed from every wound on his body, and his robe turned into a tattered rag that it could barely cover most of his intimate parts.
Exhaustion washed all over his body and he felt light headed due to blood lost. But suddenly, he heard some light footsteps coming towards him. With his barely focusing eyes, he managed to glimpse out a silhouette of a tall being before unconsciousness engulfed him completely.