'Why does he keep gulping when he looks at my lips?' thought Ying Hua, unable to stop to observe Prince Dwei who had a suspicious gesture. Unable to stand her judgment, she finally asked him, "Prince, have you never dated at all?"
Ying Hua's question naturally took Prince Dwei by surprise. 'How did she know? But if I confessed she would laugh at me for sure. Besides, I don't want to be seen thinking about our kiss.' He cleared his throat, put his hands on his waist, and lifted his chin which was covered by a black cloth.
Before answering anything, an old man bumped into him from behind. The old man was carrying firewood that he was going to sell.
"S-sorry, Master. I didn't mean to," said the old man, ignoring his firewood and choosing to kneel before Prince Dwei. "Don't hit me, sir! I didn't mean to. I swear." He even started to cry, tears running down his cheeks.
Ying Hua frowned, then glanced at Prince Dwei with an accusing gaze.
Prince Dwei glared. "I am not doing anything." His voice was very firm. He bent down, helping the old man to stand up. "I won't hurt you." His tone was very dignified, very different from when he spoke to Ying Hua. His eyes radiated wisdom, from a creature of quite old age.
'Even though he died when he was very young,' thought Ying Hua.
Prince Dwei reached into his trouser pocket and took out some money in the form of coins. "This is for you, Old Man, the compensation I gave you for accidentally bumping into you."
'Wasn't it the old man who bumped him?' thought Ying Hua frowning.
"I'm the one at fault, sir!" The old man was still on his knees and reluctant to accept the money from Prince Dwei. "I walked carelessly and hit your back."
"If that's the case, then I forgive you," nodded Prince Dwei in a very mature tone. Who would have thought that he was only twenty years old, who usually still had a mischievous and childish look in his eyes? "We both forgive so that our lives will be easier in the future."
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. May you be blessed by the gods, sir." The old man prostrated himself at the feet of Prince Dwei until he stood up with the help of the prince.
"You are very healthy and young, sir. But your mind is mature. Usually, many nobles like you spend their youth having fun. But you do useful things. And even though you don't believe in the existence of gods, we believe that you'll be happy someday."
Prince Dwei frowned but said nothing. 'How does he know that I'm a noble?' The coin in his hand was handed to the old man. "I bought your firewood. So you can go home now and rest, old man. Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it."
The old man received a coin from Prince Dwei's hand. "May my words be more than just words. And may you always be protected. My message is to keep your eyes open even when you sleep. Maybe it will be very useful in the future."
Then he turned to Ying Hua, and tilted his head while combing her appearance. "I wonder why you're still wearing those tattered clothes. Yet the little ball in your heart looks so pretty."
She stared, glaring at the old man. But he didn't say anything, other than to mingle with the market-goers, and then disappeared.
She nervously tried to find the old man, but he seemed to have disappeared into the crowd.
Unknowingly Prince Dwei spoke to her, "That old man is strange. I didn't say that I don't believe in gods. But how could he know that?" While looking into the distance. "I almost believed he was divine. But when he spoke about the little ball in your heart, I realized that my decision seemed crazy."
Ying Hua turned to Prince Dwei, silent for a while. After she dismissed some of the conjectures, she chose to ignore them. "What are you going to do with the wood?"
"I'll just leave it here," said Prince Dwei lightly. But it seemed Ying Hua had another opinion.
"Take the woods, and give them to someone who needs them. Because I'm sure the old man gave them to you for a reason." When she saw he looked at her skeptically, she again said, "Are you going to doubt the power of a white fire hair demon like me?" And the tactic worked.
Prince Dwei carried the firewood on his back as he continued to jostle in the crowd to find a place to make hair accessories.
On the way, she stopped him as they walked into a small corner between two very busy large shops. Now they entered a quieter and somewhat shabby area.
There was a girl in shabby clothes who was peddling various things. Beside her was a live chicken.
"Give the wood to her!" Ying Hua said to Prince Dwei. "Looks like she needs it."
"How did you know? What I see is she's making money by selling things. Won't it be better if I buy things that she is selling?"
"That's a good idea. But barter with your wood!"
"Isn't money more valuable than wood?"
"Look at the chicken she brought! It is her dinner. But she wouldn't be able to eat it without firewood. She lives in a wet area. You can tell by her clothes which are full of dry mud. Meanwhile, she has dry skin which is often had by someone from a humid area."
Prince Dwei gaped at Ying Hua. "How do you know all that? Apart from a white fire demon, are you a genius brain demon?"
She didn't say anything.
Finally, he crouched down to ask the little girl. "Little Girl, are you selling these things?"
"Yes, Mr. Handsome! I peddle all quality goods. And all have great fortune. If you buy it you will avoid bad luck. You can avoid calamity, and even mislead the assassins who are approaching you."
Prince Dwei laughed out loud hearing that. "Are you a fortune-teller? How can you read my life?" While stroking her hair.
"I'm just a small seller, sir. I need a buyer so I can buy firewood. Or if someone is willing to exchange firewood with me, then I'd be very grateful."
Ying Hua looked away as Prince Dwei turned to her with an astonished look.
"I happen to have firewood that I'm not going to use. If you really need it then you can get it."
"But I'm not a beggar, sir. I'm a small seller. If you want to give me the firewood, then take one of my merchandise!"
Finally, Prince Dwei agreed to the offer. "I'll buy the necklace with all the firewood I have!" he said while pointing to a necklace with a red pendulum. There were carved gold pillars and stars surrounding it.
The little girl nodded, then grabbed the necklace, and handed it to Prince Dwei. "Your choice is very right, sir. This necklace has the greatest luck of all. May all your affairs and all your dreams come true with ease!"
"Thank you!" Prince Dwei received the necklace and then put it on.
The little boy looked up at Ying Hua. "The price of the necklace is still too small compared to the wood that was given to me. Miss, choose one of the items I sell!"
Although reluctant, due to pressure from Prince Dwei, Ying Hua chose a bracelet made of a thin white chain, which had a jade pendant carved into it.
"Good choice. Isn't that pendant very similar to the stone in your heart, Miss?"
Ying Hua widened her eyes, seeing the little girl's face change to that of an old man carrying firewood. Then in an instant, she disappeared.
Prince Dwei looked in various directions, trying to find her. "Where did she go? Why did she disappear?"
A second later Prince Dwei's necklace and Ying Hua's pendant shone.
"She is Goddess Qingling, goddess of fortune," said Ying Hua.
But Prince Dwei squeaked. "Do you think I would believe it? There are no gods in this universe. Because if they did exist then the whole world would surely live in peace."
"If there are emperors, why is this city still suffering?" Ying Hua's question struck Prince Dwei.
***