A sizable gust of wind blew across Ying Hua's figure, who had just felt better after eating something. The strength in her body was slowly recovering, although not completely.
"Where is the Crow? I'll pluck all his fur if he keeps going out without knowing when to go home!" Old Man Mo paced in front of the hut, while some of the birds had left after being interrogated.
"Don't put too much pressure on him, Old Man Mo," said Ying Hua, emerging from one of the rooms with her weak body. "Maybe he is too bored to be in the hut. After all, we usually travel, right? Surely, he wants to find a new atmosphere."
"You are right, Princess!" He immediately approached her to help her sit in front of the hut, on a large log that was used as a base on the ground. On top of the wood, there was a table made of wood as well. "But he should remember the pact he made in the past when we saved him from the crows who wanted to kill him. He swore allegiance and also followed our rules if he survived."
"Honestly I don't mind if he leaves us," Ying Hua whispered, squinting in the distance, feeling her body still aching. "Because maybe that's what he wants."
"Of course, that can't happen." Old Man Mo insisted. "Because he already knows your identity. After all, I asked him to leave from the start, but he insisted on coming along and even deliberately sought information to find out your identity. Now that he has more information, his attitude has become very bad and even rebellious."
Ying Hua sighed, not much to reply to Old Man Mo's scolding. She was still thinking about the image she caught from Skeleton Crow's brain waves. And even though she was very curious about his identity, but she still had more things to prioritize.
"Sorry, if I'm being too talkative, Princess!" Old Man Mo bowed after noticing his bad attitude. "I shouldn't have said much when you haven't fully recovered. Does your body still feel pain? Do you still see the shadow of Emperor Heng tormenting your fourth soul?"
"I didn't see anything," Ying Hua shook her head. "And maybe he doesn't want it. He allows me to see my fourth soul only so that I can immediately return the White Qin Stone to him. But he never wanted to believe me that I really couldn't give this back to him, at least until I figured out a way to get it out of my body."
"Even Emperor Liang can't come up with a solution other than you having to reincarnate, Princess. I wonder if Emperor Liang didn't tell Emperor Heng that information?"
"I'm sure he didn't." Although Ying Hua also felt unsure. "Because his decision to revive me when Father wanted to kill me was certainly not based on mutual agreement. So, it looks like they are going according to their respective plans."
"I will never know how the life and thoughts of the gods are. They rule the celestial elements according to their respective levels, but sometimes look indifferent even though they already know a great sin is going on."
"Perhaps they still value the role of the universe," Ying Hua whispered, clutching her chest, feeling the movement of the White Qin Stone within.
"Or maybe they just suck." Suddenly Skeleton Crow appeared in the blink of an eye. Though he could only appear after transforming from a crow into a human.
"Good grief! How did you come? Why can't we hear your flapping wings?" pointed Old Man Mo in annoyance, pointing the wooden stick in his hand at Skeleton Crow, as if ready for battle.
"You are the deaf. I flew from behind your backs and then appeared like a supreme god!"
"Shut up!" Old Man Mo smacked Skeleton Crow's head, causing his arms that were fluttering like wings to suddenly droop down.
"Where have you been?" Now it was Ying Hua who asked, giving him a suspicious look.
"Of course, busy with the females." Skeleton Crow pulled a jug closer to him, then made it float and made it easier for him to drink. "You won't be able to understand it." While wiping the mouth. "What about your wound? Have you recovered? You should immediately meet Prince Dwei to return the favor right? So, prepare yourself!"
"Looks like it will be difficult to meet him again," Ying Hua whispered. "So, I'll wait until he comes out of the palace while looking for another reincarnated soul."
"Why do you have to wait?" Skeleton Crow tilted his head. "You can approach him at the palace. You can penetrate walls, you can teleport, you can cheat with your cunning brain. Why did you have to wait? Argh!"
Old Man Mo hit Skeleton Crow back. Turning to Ying Hua, he smiled very gently. "Perhaps you can follow his suggestion, Princess. It seemed that approaching Prince Dwei in the palace wasn't such a bad idea. He and I will help you to find Prince Dwei even easier."
"I might be able to meet him easily, but that will make it difficult for me to return the favor. In the past, he asked me to save his life. That means I have to wait for him to be in danger."
"If you are too confused, I can become an assassin to kill him. Then then you will save him. Woosh, like a hero in a fairy tale. Then you two will fall in love, get married, and be happy forever." Skeleton Crow stretched out his arms and then embraced his own body.
Ying Hua cleared her throat, ignoring Old Man Mo who was hitting Skeleton Crow again. Hearing things that smelled of romance instantly reminded her of the image she saw when she kissed Prince Dwei without clothes. She got goosebumps all of a sudden.
"Don't talk nonsense!" snapped Old Man Mo. "If we arrange this assassination, then Princess Ying won't get the light of kindness on her necklace. It's a waste. Haven't you seen it? You messed up Princess Ying's rescue of a couple of poor farmers. After all, you are a part of us. But the universe didn't approve of that kind because it wasn't Princess Ying who did it, and it wasn't the universe that naturally controlled it."
"Oh, if that's the case then I suggest you go to the palace and become one of the servants there," said Skeleton Crow to Ying Hua, a very serious face. "You could be one of his servants or maybe his guard. It's easier for you. Moreover, I heard that the situation in the empire is very chaotic as several parties are fighting over the position of the crown prince. Prince Dwei must be in danger."
Ying Hua pondered. 'If that is indeed the case, then how far do I have to go to save Prince Dwei so that the light on my necklace is lit? Do I only need to save him once? Or many times until he feels safe?'
She glanced at Old Man Mo, who was currently deep in thought. Meanwhile, Skeleton Crow turned to her, raising two eyebrows many times. Then came a scream not far from them, and that's when the necklace around her neck lit up.
"A reincarnated soul!" Old Man Mo got up to help with the evacuation process, Ying Hua was the same. Meanwhile, Skeleton Crow sat doing nothing.
"What are you doing?" snapped Old Man Mo, who had already seen Ying Hua disappear first to save someone. "Quickly get up and help Princess Ying!"
But Skeleton Crow yawned, laying down in a model-like fashion. "I've done my job well. She will soon get what she wants." And he was right!
***