'Even her kiss was still felt on my lips. Her soft lips, also how she asked me to kiss her back. I might have trouble sleeping for a few days. But it turns out that she already has a man,' thought Prince Dwei, who was currently dressed in dark and simple clothes. He wore a black headband, while he tied a red fabric around his wrist.
Old Man Mo looked up to check on Ying Hua, who was currently still catching up with Skeleton Crow. He turned his head, inviting Prince Dwei to come out. "Maybe we can go out first, Prince," he said. "Princess Ying will catch us up."
"So her name is Ying?" asked Prince Dwei, suddenly delighted with sparkling eyes. "Which kingdom was she from? Is she from another contingent?"
Old Man Mo cleared his throat, looking confused as to how to respond. "Maybe you can ask her directly. So let's get out!"
Meanwhile, Ying Hua continued to argue with Skeleton Crow. They continue to curse at each other, while sometimes shooting moves to attack and take revenge.
"Did you know I had to ask the little birds to bring holy water from the temple?" Skeleton Crow protested. "They are cunning devils! They refused to help sincerely. Instead, they asked for a bowl of worms and caterpillars for each of them. Do you know how many there are?"
"I don't care!" Ying Hua said furiously, throwing fireballs at Skeleton Crow. When it hit something, then a small fire would occur in three seconds, until then it disappeared. "You started this all. You set me up and even acted rude to me. You also often mess up my missions on purpose. Just admit it! You were the one who put me to sleep when I had to be on guard to fulfill my promise to that pair of farmers?"
"I didn't put you to sleep, but you inhaled the sleeping dust I spread. I wanted to put the criminals to sleep as they approached the barn." Suddenly he screamed because he felt his ass heat up.
"Ha! You saw it yourself, right? That's your punishment for lying. You're good at lying! If you mess up my mission again, I'll shave your entire body! You'll be bald forever!"
"Run!" Skeleton Crow transformed himself into a real crow, then flew swiftly out of the cave, leaving Ying Hua who was furious like a devil.
She wanted to chase after him, but Old Man Mo stopped her.
"Princess, don't you still have business with the prince?"
Instantly her steps stopped as if she had an automatic button. When she turned and faced Prince Dwei, her gesture was graceful and understated. "You're right, Old Man Mo!" she nodded. "But it's too dangerous here. So we'd better get out first."
They passed the cocoon graves of human bodies, which Skeleton Crow had cleared up. All the cobwebs had been wiped out, and all the bodies that had been trapped earlier were instantly freed.
But not many of them were still alive. The dead were left alone. Meanwhile, the living had been moved by Old Man Mo with his power.
It wasn't long before they were able to get out of the cave, which Ying Hua had now closed with her inner strength. All energies and portals were completely destroyed so that only ordinary beings could pass through.
"I don't want that place to be used by demons anymore," she said. "Even though the energy there is too strong, and might attract more demons because it's uninhabited, but my seal can temporarily block that from happening."
"This is why grandfather hates demons so much," whispered Prince Dwei. "Because many of them often kidnap nobles to become allies or lovers."
"But not all demons are like that, Prince." Old Man Mo looked offended by the prince's words.
Ying Hua looked at him, not wanting to interfere. There was no one around them, neither the soldiers nor the bandits. "Old Man Mo, you may go to another point! Make sure this place is safe. I want to talk to him for a bit."
Prince Dwei's face immediately turned red. 'Does she want to talk about our kiss?' He swept his hand over his head. 'Ah, why is it suddenly like this?'
Old Man Mo nodded. "Alright, Princess." As his body had soared beyond the wind, moving more leaves and grass as he moved.
It was almost dusk, but the wind was still blowing quite intensely. The scent of summer filled their nostrils, reminiscent of a calmer stream and insects more active than usual.
"What do you want to talk about?" asked Prince Dwei, now puffing out his chest, not wanting to appear nervous. "I hope you don't go overboard. I'm still very busy anyway."
His brow furrowed when he saw Ying Hua raise her hand.
"Give back the hair accessories," Ying Hua said to him. "It's not yours. Even though I have to protect you, but that doesn't mean I'll let you steal something that doesn't belong to you."
"What?" he frowned. "This hair accessory is mine. I bought it. So you can't ask me for this, or ask me to return it to Princess Fan Ni because it's mine!"
"Looks like you don't know who you're dealing with," Ying Hua said, annoyed. She couldn't possibly hurt Prince Dwei. "I have a promise with her, which is to protect her from thieves. And that I can recognize by certain signs. The sign appears when you come out of the old shop carrying the hair accessory, while Princess Ren, I mean Princess Fan Ni said that you needed to return it. So you better give it to me so that I can return it to her."
"Before I give it to you, I'll tell you something. Maybe you'll be able to judge it," Prince Dwei said. "I was the one who bought the hair accessory, which I'm going to give to my future wife. A party was held recently, and I was drunk at that time. I didn't remember anything else. But all I know is this accessory is gone, and she has it."
"Perhaps you gave this to her while you were drunk," Ying Hua replied lightly. "Then that means it will still belong to her."
"I didn't even realize when I did it," Prince Dwei said, annoyed. "But why do you keep forcing me to give what is rightfully mine. This I will only give to my future wife. If Princess Fan Ni has it then everyone will think that I have made her my choice. Maybe we will get married. Do you know what it is? Are you realizing what you are doing right now?"
Ying Hua frowned, not understanding what he meant. "I understand. That's why you should return it immediately."
"So you let me marry her? You just dumped me?" Prince Dwei squeaked in disbelief. "Then why did you kiss me? Why did you do this to me?"
"It seems you misunderstood. I kissed you because I wanted to trick Zhumei. I have to prove that you are mine."
"So this is all a lie?" asked Prince Dwei, both embarrassed and disappointed. "How easy it is for you to say that. You may have lived a few decades, but you can't play with humans. Maybe you've kissed guys a lot and that's no big deal to you.
And that crow-like man may be one of your men. But did you know that in the human world all those rules don't apply? After all, I am a noble. I will be king one day. I have to protect myself, and also my chastity. So how could you… how could you…." He covered his chest, dramatizing.
"Then what do you want?" Ying Hua asked. "Do you want me to return the kiss?"
***