That's right. Last night, thanks to their buddy Li Jie for buying enough time for them, the two made it to the peak safe and sound. The problem began only when they arrived at disciples quarters where Li Qing lived.To reach the place of his buddy, prince Rong needed to walk into this quarter. But unfortunately, due to the fact that they arrived late, the quarter was already crowded with other disciples.
If it were other nights, by this time, this quarter might be as quiet as the dead with disciples already in their own chambers mediating or self-cultivating. But tonight was an exception. Those who came back early were sitting, gathering around benches and talked about what they did or how they enjoy the festival or maybe other utterly unrelated gossips.
The prince was having a hard time in finding a solution. If he went in directly, carrying this drunk friend of his, then it would be no different from admitting that tonight they broke the rules big time. Besides, he had already forgotten the exact location of his friend's chamber. This little Qing barely let him come to his chamber everytime he came for a visit, thus this current sitution.
"Little Qing.....Li Qing.....Qing ....what're we gonna do now? We're already at disciples quarters. "
The perplexed prince shook the drunkard on his back, hoping to get some practical solution from the nerd. But what this prince didn't know was that this action of his did the trick but with the opposite effect. The half-asleep, half-drunk nerd was awakened by his friend's question. And instead of giving a solution, the tipsy youth started to cause troubles as he got off the prince.
The baffled prince looked at him, having no idea what this bro was preparing to do. Patting the prince's shoulder, Li Qing said.
"Okay.....then I'm leaving. Thank you.....hiccup....."
Covering his mouth, Li Qing shook his head before walking straight to his chamber with those wobbly legs, passing by all the other disciples who were having their own lively chat. The startled prince immediately grabbed him from behind, stopping the wobbly buddy from taking another step.
"Little Qing...this prince will carry you. You won't make it to the chamber in this state. Show this prince the way. The more desolate the route is, the better it is."
Shrugging off the prince's suggestion, Li Qing denied his help. Removing those hands of prince Rong from his arm and waist, the youth waved him off as though telling the prince he could leave right now.
"No.....No...No...I'm okay. You...leave. No need to carry or support me. I'm not drunk....anymore...hiccup...hiccup."
Heaving a sigh, Ming Rong knew he couldn't control this stubborn buddy anymore. The prince scratched his head as he looked at the wobbly youth helplessly. Other disciples around were glancing at them with criticizing eyes. But the prince just couldn't care about opinions of others furthermore.
The only thing that was in his head right now was not to let this tipsy youth who was walking ahead of him slip or fall down. No injuries were allowed to invade this precious body of his little Qing. Speaking of the devil, here he goes. Picking up his pace, the prince caught the youth in time whose legs were threatening to give way in a matter of seconds.
Glowering at the prince who just wouldn't listen to his command, Li Qing shoved the prince off. This drunkard thought his aristocratic buddy had already gone. But it seemed like this naught prince had made up his mind to stalk him all along. What did he take him for? A patient?.....a disabled one?.....How many time did he have to tell this prince to get his words?
"Didn't I tell you to leave? You... Why are you still following me? Okay...if you don't want to leave, then as you wish. But.....hiccup....hiccup..... don't try to help me. I'm not drunk...."
" Little Qing....you can't...."
"Hush...hush....hush....don't say it anymore. Just listen to me."
Covering the noble prince' mouth with his cold hand, the tipsy Li Qing made a threat. This mischievous prince was just so unyielding. He didn't want to use this card though. But right now, it was obvious that he had no other alternative.
"Ming Rong! If ...hiccup....if you don't listen to me, then...I'm going to tell everyone here about all the embarrassing things you did in your whole life time..... hiccup....
What? Do you think I don't dare?...
Hey, seniors and junior over there.....do you know how that prince used to eat when he was little? As soon as nobody was watching and he was alone, that prince would start eating with his bare hands instead of using chopsticks. And what's more? When he sleeps, that prince likes to.....mmmm..."
Shutting his friend's mouth, the prince gave an apologetic smile at a crew of disciples who were looking in their direction in annoyance. Okay, he gave in. This card was his very weak point. And every time this nerd threatened to use this card, he just couldn't do nothing about it. Last time was his imperial mother and what? This time were these disciples? As a prince, nothing was more important than his dignity. So he gave in.
"Okay.....okay....I won't help you anymore. Just let me follow you, okay?"
Taking his hands off Li Qing, the prince raised both of his hands in mid-air, admitting defeat. Li Qing who still didn't fully trust his buddy words nodded his head but voiced his condition.
"But only if you agree this....follow me from a distance of twenty steps.....get it?"
Helplessly agreeing to his buddy's condition, the prince followed him in concern. Now that the distance between them had gone this far, if his little Qing were to tripped over something or collapsed, the prince was not even sure whether or not he would manage to catch him in time. Just look at those wobbly legs of his little Qing.
Even so, he could do nothing about this. That guy might be drunk but he was extremely cautious and wouldn't let him cheat even a step closer or whatsoever. Li Qing kept turning around and looking back at him, giving him that cute glare. At this rate, the prince bet his little Qing would slip in next to no time.
And he was right because just in next second, Li Qing tripped and lost his balance as he collapsed to the ground all of a sudden. The startled prince immediately dashed over but it was too late.
When he helped the sobbing big baby up, the prince noticed strains of blood on the robe of his little Qing around the place near his left elbow. Looking down, the prince saw a small rock which was stained with his little Qing's blood.
Out of shock, the prince picked up Li Qing in a bridal carry, hurrying for his buddy's chamber right away. And that was when not-so-loud sounds of sobbing came from the person within his arms. Concerned, the prince glanced down only to be met with that crying pathetic face of his little Qing.
"Wuwu.... Rong Rong... my elbow hurts. I think it broke..... what am I gonna do? ..... wuwu... "