Penya poked her little sister who was standing behind the cashier just as the Dragon Prince and his bodyguard came out of the shop. She covered hee lips while whispering towards Tenya, her sister came closer.
"I have something interesting."
Tenya's bright blue eyes lit up. "Is it about the Dragon Prince just now? Wow, you got a chance to marry him?"
The spirit was immediately broken by the smack on the cheek. Her sister grimaced softly while holding her cheek.
"No, you stupid. Your thoughts are nothing to get married. I'm not getting married. Remember that. It's up to my mother to match me to anyone, but not with Elf the fish meat seller. What am I? I'm a scented plant picker. When compared to an Elf who smells like that, what will people say?"
"You are right. But you have to get married. You're thirty. After all, if the Dragon Prince was just seven years old, for example, you would only have to wait another ten years to marry—"
Penya knocked her sister's head again. "Stop talking about my marriage. There's something critical here."
Although Penya's marriage was also important, she felt that the bright blue crystal that the dragon squire was holding was more attractive. Earlier, when she accidentally saw his bodyguard holding the crystal that Han Zhong had given him, her eyes were instantly captivated.
"What is it, sis?"
Penya came closer and whispered again. Some new visitors are only greeted briefly and then the waiters will greet them directly.
"Believe it or not I saw his bodyguard holding a Lunar Crystal."
Tenya's eyes widen. "Are you sure it's a Lunar crystal? Isn't that crystal very expensive and antique? We can pray to Celena's Forest and get one wish. And—" Tenya got up so excited that she forgot to catch her breath.
As she guessed, Penya nodded. "I can ask the husband of the most perfect Elf in this forest," she muttered, making Tenya proud too.
Even so, she had other things to do. And she wasn't sure she could do that. "But how can I find information for the Folix Hole?"
It was Tenya's turn to pat her sister's shoulder. "Sis! What did you say just now? Folix Hole? You want to die?"
She clicked her tongue. "There is a price for goods. There are struggles, there are results. You think the Dragon Prince can be fooled just like that?"
"He's just a kid."
"Even though they are children, they are not just any children. Remember that. Are you really old enough to beat your own knowledge? Oh, I'm more worried about whether someone will marry you later." Penya turned around in thought. While secretly Tenya was also whispering in her heart, "I'm the one who's more worried about you. Who would want to marry an old Elves with such cunning thoughts?"
*
Before they actually left the Lune Temple grounds, Jing Lung let out a long sigh when he heard Han Zhong's decision.
"Naya's hut is very far from Old Elf's place! Are you kidding? It's between the West, and the East," Jing Lung pointed in the opposite direction. The lanterns hanging from the bridge that bordered the city and the forest glowed warmly. The water from the river below rippled gently. Reflects the night light from various directions. The buildings behind the bridge decorate the landscape.
"I know. Then we have to split up here," said Han Zhong as he glanced up at the sky. Finux followed him from up there.
"No, we can't. Gu Do and I have to make sure you're safe. I thought you had gone straight to Old Elf. But you stuck in another Elf instead. You really can't stay away from women, can you?" said Jing Lung with his hands on his hips. Made the sword on his belt sway. The dark blue robe that fitted Jing Lung's body slightly gleamed with silver stripes. Jing Lung's slightly long hair, accented by the bangs on the sides of his temples, resembled the tentacles of a dragon blowing gently in the wind.
"It's not a question of women or not. I just want to help. Unintentionally—and coincidentally, it was Naya who needed help. If I hadn't helped her from the fierce wood-selling Elf, she might have had a hard time finding wood for her mother."
Jing Lung narrowed his eyes. As Flinch, it was only natural that he would always question the sincerity of Han Zhong who was traveling alone. Without thinking about self-interest—in fact there could be other beings who want to kidnap him.
"Are you sure Naya's mother is sick too? You said yourself that Naya is not like the other Elves?"
"That's why I had to meet her again. This crystal is a little suspicious. It looks exactly like the crystal the Folix used and what's more, if anyone knows about Folix, we can immediately hear back from Penya. I think Elves are on our side."
"Don't use your naive brain in the Celena Woodlands, Han Zhong. You clearly know that Elves are smart and intelligent. No wonder they used that cunning to trick you who easily pity people."
Han Zhong's brow furrowed faintly. "What's wrong with me feeling sorry for other creatures?"
"You've been hanging out with that girl for too long."
"Which girl are you referring to?" as if the question was a necessity because indeed—basically, Han Zhong had many female friends in the human village.
Jing Lung rolled his eyes. "The girl you always visit in the human village. The stonecutter's daughter."
"Her name is Fuji. What's wrong with her? They're good kids."
"You can detect a bad feeling. I know it's great, but sometimes, that power of yours can be hindered by your affection for them."
Those words left Han Zhong speechless for a moment. He blinked twice to absorb Jing Lung's words. If Jing Lung could see from a distance, would Han Zhong be able to lie to himself?
"I know sometimes you feel alone and have no friends around. As the only child of a dragon, sometimes destiny is not easy. Moreover, grandfather always demands of you. But that's what's special about you. You can't depend on your heart to make decisions. If humans influence you—to change you—you make your own self unable to save them." Jing Lung's suggestion this time sounded like Finux. It made him sometimes forget that Jing Lung was actually a year younger than him.
"You are right. But this time… I'm not affected by anything." Han Zhong looked at Jing Lung straight. Bind his belief that this time he didn't feel that way. All this purely because he felt something odd in the hut. Apart from this strange crystal, he believes that Naya is holding something. Something bigger and… stronger.
Is that the reason why Naya lives in the Bluelit forest border hut?
Jing Lung sighed. "Ah, it's fine if you still insist. I will send Gu Do to follow you—"
"No need. I'm with Finux only. It's you who should be accompanied."
Jing Lung's eyebrows rose to the side. "Please, don't be stupid. I'm the liveliest Flinch. Who can beat me? An old Elf can't even face me."
"It's not power that beats you," said Han Zhong with a smile, "but brains."
***