Chapter 7 - Chapter 5

Ronald's earlier words continued to weigh heavy on Li Hung's mind, after taking his leave from their hidden room, he made his way to his private training grounds. His Great grandfather prince Gang Li Kang had built the grounds and other secret rooms around the palace for his son, who was Li Hung's grandfather. His grandfather was the first of them to have been cursed, with his father later inheriting, and thus he became the fourth generation trapped in a voiceless body. Being unable to talk was seen as a great embarrassment to the empire and one that needed to kept secret. therefore his great-grandfather went to great lengths to hide the truth from the Zoultanian people.

If one think logically, it's quite surprising that the 'Zhang Wu' family hadn't overthrown the empire from years ago on this basis alone. However, one favour remained in the 'Gang' bloodline and that was their wolf form, even if their fundamental birth ability was lacking, their wolf form was one of the strongest in the whole of Zoulta.

Gang Li Hung had tried tirelessly to bring on his transform, but was always fruitless in his conquest, a secret he had yet to inform his parents of fearing the outcome, but in return has continued to build on his current birth ability.

As he entered the training the grounds, the surrounding air was thick and foggy, early mornings in the Zoultanian lands were always rather chilly and frosty, with its heavy fog often blocking the rising sun. In a gentle motion Li Hung elegantly vacuumed the surrounding air into his hand, the once dewy fog disappeared, allowing the soft glows of sun to reveal itself, unveiling a large open ground with not much in the way of beauty but equipped with wooden frames and essentials needed for Gang Li Hung to train.

Making his way into the centre of the ground, he used the vacuumed air to gently ascend in the air, his body gradually rising higher and higher like an angelic god, too beautiful for this planet. The higher he ascends, so did a growing whirlwind circling beneath his feet, causing the ground to tremble. With his hand curled into a fist, he began to fire balls of compressed air at the wooden targets, shaking under the increasing whirlwind. The speed and force of his attacks increased with each passing moment, destroying each target into pieces. The more Li Hung thought of Ronald's words the more powerful his attacks became, with his targets destroyed, he began firing at the ground below him, till finally after two hours he had calmed his mind.

Realization dawned on him; it wasn't the fact that that person may in-fact be male that was the cause of his distress, but the fact they may not fall for him in the way he had envisioned. He hadn't known from what point he had developed such feelings but from long as he can remember he had had this unrealistic thought that the one meant his true love, "mother's right I need to put away childish thoughts, I have more important things to be concerned with, most important one being my wolf form", he thought to himself, as he gradually descends from the air.

One's wolf form holds great power, and when combined with One's fundamental birth ability, it will determine the level of strength at which an alpha ranks. At the next blue moon, the assessment of Gang Li Hung's wolf transformation will take place, if he's ranked low his title as crowned prince will be halted even worst removed, thus giving Zhang Wu XiaoSheng another reason he can use to convince the people of his incompetence as future emperor.

"Li….Hung" a sharp whisper echoed, startling Li Hung looked around the training grounds, trying to locate from what direction the voice had come. It was strange, it sounded like the voice came from within himself and not from around him, but that couldn't be. He had learnt from Ronald that his wolf which he called Mi Ling often times communicated with him telepathically, it was an ability that most werewolves had, and would use to also communicate with each other. However, though others can connect to Li Hung via this manner, Li Hung was still unable to communicate by this means, which alarmed his parents. His father though he was unable to communicate verbally was able to do so telepathically after ascending to wolf transformation, same with his grandfather, which made their curse somewhat bearable. Their only issued being unable to communicate with those who didn't possess this ability, hence Zhang Wu XiaoSheng was used to carry out such task on behalf of the emperor, standing at Li Hung's father's side doing the role he should.

This caused Li Hung an even greater pain, his fundamental birth ability can only do so much on it own, but he needed the power of his wolf form to make him even greater.

After failing to find anyone within the surrounding vicinity, Li Hung made his way back to his bed chambers, taking the opportunity to wander around the palace grounds taking in the breathtaking scenery.

"Do you think the prince will run away from princess Zhang Wu Shu again tonight?" the soft voice of a woman echoed from behind his door.

"Who knows…. The prince is strange… what husband with a wife as beautiful as Zhang Wu Shu refuses to lay with her... you never heard this from me, but I heard he likes the feeling of a different kind" another female voice answered.

"Uh! What do you mean… like… uh?" the voice asked in a shocking tone.

"Well… what other reason has he got for not touching his wife in three years, he may be a rare beauty, but that doesn't mean he's should treat her that why…. But then again it's not like he's a great with words" they both giggled.

Unaware of his presence, the two women, who were his maids, continued in a low tone to gossip about palace affairs. Indifferent to what they thought, Li Hung casually entered the room, and almost immediately the blood drained from the maids faces.

"Y….your Majesty" one stuttered hurriedly greeting him in a panic, both trembling at the thought that he may have overheard them.

Li Hung spared them no acknowledgment and continued to go about his business in changing his garments. The maids quickly got into action, carrying out their duties of assisting him, but their actions were halted when Li Hung glared at them, so dangerously a cold sweat came over them.

"We're sorry your majesty, we'll take our leave and send another two maids to assist you" the oldest one spoke quickly, having served Li Hung for some years, she needed no words in a situation such as this.

The two women quickly withdrew from the room, leaving Li Hung to notice that they had already begun preparing for tonight's event. The mere sight carried an uncomfortable feeling within him, it's not that he wouldn't lay with his wife, he didn't want to lay with someone he viewed as an enemy. As he recalled the images from various pornography he had reviewed over the years, he shuddered at the thought of having to perform those actions on Zhang Wu Shu, suddenly the image of a male body flashed through his mind.

"If he were a man, would his body be soft like a woman? Would he be delicate and refine? Or strong and built like myself... ahh god!! If he were like that, wouldn't it be like two forest beasts fighting if we were to bed?.... wait… would I be on the receiving end in that case? Would I even get an erection if I were with a man?", a million questions came to his mind, he debated whether he would be okay if the male was of a more feminine in body or sacrifice himself and become the main meal.

"Are you worried about tonight, my love?", a soft voice called out, awaking Li Hung from his thoughts.

Turning to face the now red-faced Zhang Wu Shu, a cold looked appeared on his face, Shu swallowed hard trying to hide her disappointment. It always pained her when he showed such indifference towards her, as she knew not of what she had done to bring such distaste to him.

"Have the maids caused you trouble this early in the morning?" she asked sweetly, expecting no response.

Li Hung rearranged his dishevelled garments merely glancing in her direction then taking a seat nearby, prompting Zhang Wu Shu to follow suite with her maids quickly assembling them some brew.

"m…. Mother thought it be a good idea if I were to come and spend some time with you" she continued awkwardly, however in reality she had asked this of the empress herself earlier the previous day. For three years, she had to endure the embarrassment of not being good enough to serve her husband, made worst by that husband being the future emperor.

As expected, Li Hung remained indifferent to her words, merely cradling the teacup delicately in his hands and tapping its rim gently, his eyes fixed on Zhang Wu Shu, with a look that could prier into One's soul. A cold shiver crawled down her spin, though she was in great discomfort, she was still mesmerized by Li Hung's beauty, his warm eyes that shined like the sun, were made brighter by his pale skin that was the image of perfection. How could she not want this man to passionately undress her and caress her body inch for inch. The thought alone made her private lips salivate, and her eggs beg for his soldiers to ambush her cave. But for now she must endure his indifference until he finally sees her worth.