Aunt Gu Ju came out of the house she was offered to stay. She was living with a small alchemist family who was working with Physician Lu, the young boy was a bit naïve yet brave and his father was a mere grumpy. While the mother was dead when she gave birth to her child, this part was sad about them.
They had given her a room and the best part was the man had an obsession and didn't let aunt Gu Ju cook, gladly his cooking was heaven, even better than Cahoxiang.
"Where are you going sister Gu Ju!"
She sighed and looked back at the boy who was holding a basket in his hand.
"What about yours, Zhang Bo? Are you following me?"
The boy shook his head and smiled nicely, "sister Gu Ju can protect herself. I am on my way to buy supplies for our trip!"
"Ah, that! We will have so much hardship, I heard from people that Da Mountain is rough and dangerous."
The young man nodded, but it seemed he liked that as for the wide smile on his face, 'ah pity! Why is he like this with this pretty face and smiles even at this miserable journey he will confront soon!'
"Sleeping outside is a disaster but also fun!"
Zhang Bo stated when he caught the dismay on the woman's face.
Aunt Gu Ju shook her hand and sighed, "okay, I am coming with you! What do you want to buy?"
"Two sharp daggers and some rice. Father will make Onigiri for eating faster."
"Ah, we must eat warm food, the mountains are cold."
The boy nodded but it seemed sister Gu Ju had no idea that they had a residence in the skirt of that mountain. He wouldn't tell her, she might become surprised.
Aunt Gu Ju's eyes ran to the handsome merchant who was talking to a man near them, asking for the address. He didn't look from around here! Ah, what a perfect man!
"Zhang Bo, Do you know that man?"
Before the man would be melted into the crowd, she snatched Bo's arm and followed him.
"What are you doing sister, you are pulling me!"
Ouch!
She squeezed his arm and dragged him after her. "That man, do you know him?"
He gazed at the zone she was directing, "how should I know who is he? Is he familiar to you?"
The woman paced until getting close to him, she could hear him asking for smithy.
"You said you want to buy daggers?"
"Yes, but why do you stare at that man?"
"Ah, he reminds me of my niece! Li Shu!"
Zhang Bo itched his head when she released his arm, "Li Shu? This man isn't even similar to Li Shu!"
"Ah, he could make a good pair with her! That stupid girl could marry a rich merchant like this with her face, thus blessings could shower us. She chose to be a maiden, such brainless fool those siblings are."
Zhang Bo pouted, why was she so greedy at all? Zhang Bo saw Li Shu who this woman used to talk about today in the bazaar with Princess Xing Huan, they looked like sisters, not a maiden and her empress. All people were looking at them, indeed!
"This is wrong, why are we stalking him?"
"Because I want to know who he is!"
While she was trying not to approach and go overboard, Zhang Bo rushed forward.
"Excuse me, sir!"
He approached the man, the surprised merchant was even more fascinated by the close-up.
Aunt Gu Ju cursed and turned her face but merchant Raz Long Sheed's eyes turned to her, smirking at her reaction. She was trying to hide behind the thin textiles but they were too poor for her to conceal. Even the lantern light was serving the place, unlike her longing. Her shadow looked funny!
"How can I help you, young master?"
"Sir, you are new here, right? I am Zhang Bo, the son of alchemist Zhang."
He introduced himself, the merchant peeked at aunt Gu Ju, she didn't recognize him, right?
"Yes, I am Raz Long Sheed, here to visit your land."
The boy itched his head, peeking back then he neared his mouth to his ear, covering his mouth with a hand not to let people read his words.
"Are you married, sir?"
The Merchant laughed at the funniest question he had ever heard, only aunt Gu Ju could change his mood, to make him happy or burn his temper.
The boy blushed, was it that funny?
"Oh, please accept my apologies. It was so sudden! Who is the poor girl who would want to know the answer?"
He teased, why not have a bit of fun, also realizing what aunt Gu Ju was doing outside?
"Well, sir! She is not here. But her aunt wants to know whether you are married or not."
The man nodded but strode toward the woman, she was slouched, seeing him coming in her direction stilled, she peeked at a textile, looking over it, pretending as a buyer.
"How much is it!"
The draper scanned the woman who didn't seem to be a customer. He didn't pay attention to her and began to talk with a real one.
The man beside her coughed to bring her attention to himself, "I heard that you have a beautiful niece lady!"
"Ah, oh! Zhang Bo speaks too much!" She laughed, not a real one, a disturbing one out of remorse.
The young Bo was near the merchant, his mouth hung when she pretended like that! Wasn't she the one who brought this topic up? He made it just easy for her as she was making it twisted. They could have been caught as being stalkers.
"How old are you sir?" She asked, suddenly.
So amusing! The way she was staring into his eyes was exactly like the reaction Princess Xing Huan showed, it seemed aunt Gu Ju loved Li Shu so much but she was hiding her affection behind her greedy skin. She found an aura similar to Li Shu.
The only thing that didn't change about prince Wu Xiuying was his aura. The heavy dark aura that came from his soul.
"I am twenty-three-year-old, but don't you think asking a stranger such questions is dangerous?"
The woman winced back, she wasn't even sure what she was doing, all she wanted to comprehend was why this man sounded similar to her Li Shu.
"Ah, yes, sir you are right! We must leave."
The woman grabbed hold of Zhang Bo's arm and flashed out.
'Alchemist Zhang!' He knew that she was about to go to Da Mountain but wasn't it dangerous? What was in the zone of thieves and assassins that she was going to take a risk? Herbs?