"Master Ezio, how was it?" Li Long asked as he looked at the two of them with reverence.
"Ezio delivered the message," Yontu said, Ezio beside him nodded. "The letters on the clothes can only be understood by us. This is a language the Third Prince came up with, so without our deciphering, no one can read it."
"It was brilliant to sew them onto the dress, Master Yontu. You are truly wise." Li Long said with his head bowed. "Will our associates take the message?"
"They will. Ezio showed himself, and all eyes were trained on him all night." Yontu said as he looked at the cave full of disciples. "Your intel was valuable. Xiao Chen as predicted schemed against my disciple."
It was not long after he left the domain. He was invited to a banquet for people who successfully returned from the domain. He went ahead and showed his face. He would play along, for the time being, he had to. While he was silently drinking, a little girl came to him. He didn't know who she was, but he was in no mood to entertain anyone.
The girl turned out to be the little Princess. She wanted to say her condolences. Ezio thanked her and was about to leave, but for some reason, the girl jumped on him and kissed his lips. He immediately realized the girl's eyes were looking foggy. She was being controlled. But the deed was done. She was the Royal Princess of the Kingdom, and he was no one. He would be killed if it wasn't for his master's backing, but since the deed was done, he was forced to be engaged.
He found it funny. Xiao Chen wanted to pull him to his side, but he didn't mind. He wanted to find a way to enter the palace anyway. In the grand scheme, the palace was one of the key points. What if the Third Prince hated him, what if everyone looked at him in disgust. He didn't care about any of them. His mission was simple. His plan was simple.
"Today we start the operation ATG, Against the Goddamn Rapist!"
With these words, everyone fell to their knees. Even Ezio beside him.
————
Ezio, after leaving Demeter's Blessing Sect, walked around the city. Unknowingly, his feet brought him to the home he lived in ever since he came to the capital. He walked to the forge and looked at the items. The hammer, tong, furnace, and metals. He learned everything he knew from Aodhfionn and now he was gone.
He touched the hammer and remembered the struggle he first had when he tried to forge. He walked into the warehouse, it was empty now. His master took everything as if he knew he wouldn't come back. Not even shelves were left. He left and walked to the garden.
Two lines of tears dropped from his cheeks, as he looked at the dark garden. Sounds of Singer Gamut Trees were reverberating in the forest. At night, under the full moon, they were playing a sorrowful melody. It was as if the forest was crying with Ezio.
He felt cold and alone as he listened to the night. He didn't have many people who cared for him in this life, and he lost one of them. He swore at the same spot that he would kill Xiao Chen, but there he was, crying helplessly again. Not only did he fail to kill him, he even allowed his master to get killed.
"It is all my fault." He shouted. "I could have helped others while they were battling. I could have helped them to kill him. But I was too focused on saving my ass. I was too selfish, and that brought me to this."
He crouched down to punch the ground while shedding tears. A metallic sound rang in his ears. He opened his blurry eyes and saw a ring. The ring Grandma gave. His master's parting gift fell from his pocket. He reached out to take it but pulled his hand back. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve the parting gift. He disappointed his Master.
After struggling a little more, he took the ring. He let his Qi enter the ring and looked inside. There were manuals on one side, weapons on the other. One corner was saved for herbs and the last was for metals, and in the middle, was a piece of paper. Ezio took it out and opened it.
"Lad,
I know you are upset. Don't be. I knew it would come to this. I had to try and save my best friend. If I didn't, I couldn't live with myself. So, don't get sad, little Ezio. I tried. I died trying, that is the best way of dying. Hiding behind excuses, running away from trials, avoiding troubles… a real man doesn't do that. A real man, face whatever life presents.
I would tell you to not go after that bastard, but I know you will. I will really be disappointed if you charge like an idiot though. So plan ahead. Check your plan. Check again. Don't trust anyone, and make sure you can walk away after everything is done. I trust you do the right thing, lad, but don't get yourself killed while you are at it.
I will leave everything to you. Too sad, I couldn't pass my forging technique. That is okay though, you have better techniques in your genes. One day, you will awaken them and will become an amazing Blacksmith. I will be watching. Take care.
P.S: Say hi to the damned old bald."
"Xiao Chen! I will kill you! I will rip you into pieces, then feed you to dogs. I will make sure, your soul never rests. Just you wait." Ezio swore silently, as he cried. He put the letter into the Mysterious Room with the Ring and got up. It wasn't time for crying. Mourning could wait. Everything could wait. Until then, he needed to plan.