The market is just as crowded in the evening as it is in the morning, with lots of people walking along the bustling streets. The more people walked past them; the more Yul continue to think, the more he feels U-ri would be safer outside the chessboard with the crowd than inside as a chess piece.
Yul said, "U-ri, I know you want to go into the library, but you can't this time."
U-ri said, "Depriving scholars of their pursuit of books is equivalent to depriving the king of his throne." He patted Yul gently on the shoulder. "I am willing to bear this loss."
"Hey you!" Abrafo and Bong came back with a piece of paper. "Although I can't understand it, the people at the table told me that these are the rules of the game." He handed the piece of paper to Fufu.
Fufu took the paper and said, "Let's go back and I'll read it to everyone." She stuffed the paper into her belt.
The four Tanzanies, Bong and Fufu began to walk towards the inn that Bong had booked for them.
Bong was deep in thought, and Abrafo put his hand on Bong's shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" Abrafo asked.
Bong came back to his senses and said, "I was thinking, among the four people we met, who is more suitable for us."
Michio asked, "Oh, did you two find a candidate for us?"
Abrafo smiled and nodded. "We found a lot of people who were willing to join our team, but only four looked promising," he said.
Yul said, "We need to talk to them again tomorrow if they are willing to protect U-ri while we are in the game."
Bong turned to look at Yul and said, "U-ri will join us? I disagree. This game is too dangerous for U-ri."
Michio said, "While they have promised to help us, it does not necessarily mean that they will be as willing to protect U-ri as we are, so it would be better if U-ri does not participate."
Abrafo said, "I don't agree with U-ri participating. We found that many people did die while participating in this competition, so U-ri will not participate."
U-ri stopped, looked at his concerned friends and said, "Everyone, I know you are worried about me, but I believe that as long as you are still standing on the chessboard, I will not fall." He sighed. "I believe you will protect my fragile life. You must have more confidence in yourself."
Bong said, "Old man, what if they target you?"
U-ri said, "How did you know they would target me?"
Fufu said, "In any battle, the enemy will get rid of the weakest people to surround their leader."
U-ri said, "That is true, but if we are two steps ahead of the enemy, we won't lose."
Bong crossed his arms on his chest and was about to speak when he saw a familiar figure walking into the inn in front of him. "Abrafo... the issue of our candidates has been resolved, U-ri may not need to participate," he said with a smile.
Abrafo looked at Bong and said, "You are quite confident."
Michio asked, "Who?" He looked around.
Bong pointed in the inn in front of him and said, "That person or persons is in the inn in front of us."
Abrafo asked, "Is this the inn you booked this morning?"
Bong said, "Yes." Bong rushed into the inn quickly.
Abrafo shouted, "Hey! Wait for us!"
The four Tanzanies and Fufu quickly chased after Bong. When they arrived at the front door of the inn, they found Bong with his arms folded over his chest, looking at the ten people sitting at four tables in front of him.
"What's wrong with you?" Abrafo asked breathlessly. "Do you have to run?"
Bong looked at Abrafo with a smile and then turned to the two people eating at the table. "What do you think of this candidate?" He asked.
Abrafo was shocked when he saw the two men. "Lixin! Shi!" Abrafo's loud voice sounded in the small dining area of the inn, and everyone eating inside turned their attention to Abrafo.
Hearing Abrafo's voice, Lixin, Jin and Shi turned to look at the front door. They saw four Tanzanies and Bong looking at them. Lixin rolled his cold eyes at Abrafo.
"Oh, Sir Abrafo," Jin said with a smile, stepping forward to greet the Tanzanies. "This is?" He turned to look at Fufu.
Yul said, "Lady Fufu."
Jin looked over the shoulders of the four Tanzanies and Fufu. "Where... where is Hajime?" He asked.
Yul said, "Hajime didn't come with us this time. He...he was very busy."
Jin sighed sadly, "What a shame. Oh, come on...come sit next to us."
Bong walked directly to the table and sat next to Lixin. "So, why are you here?" he asked with a smile. "Is it because you miss me?"
Abrafo was about to go to the table when Jin grabbed his arm and Michio quickly pushed him towards the table where Jin and the others were sitting.
"He's just teasing you," Michio said.
Lixin put the soup bowl on the table and said, "Your letter has been delivered to his Majesty. His Majesty ordered us to come down and bring you back."
"Oh... I thought you missed me that's why you came here," Bong said with a smile.
Shi smiled and continued eating without interrupting Bong's teasing. Although Shi didn't like seeing Lixin uncomfortable, he always liked it when Bong teased Lixin.
Bong took Lixin's bowl of soup and started drinking. He said, "Oh, I have something to discuss with you after dinner."
Lixin said, "We can discuss it now."
Bong said with a smile, "I miss you so much that I forgot everything. Let me tune down my excitement and talk to you privately in your bedroom." He leaned closer to Lixin. "Just the two of us." He giggled and continued eating.
Abrafo sat at another table with U-ri, Michio, Jin and others, staring at Bong and Lixin. "Shameless shemale," Abrafo said through gritted teeth as he stared at Bong and Lixin.
U-ri grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into Abrafo's mouth. He said, "Eat something to lower your murderous rage."
Michio looked at Bong and at Abrafo and said, "U-ri is right, we often get angry because our stomachs are empty." He picked up a chicken leg and put it into Abrafo's hand.
Fufu, who was sitting at another table, looked at Bong and started giggling. "Sir Bong truly has a larger-than-life personality," she said, turning to Yul. "Are these your friends too?"
Yul said, "They are friends we met along the way." He looked at Lixin. "We have fought side by side several times."
Fufu smiled and said, "It's amazing to have friends who fights alongside you." She looked at Yul. "If he fights alongside you, then his fighting ability must be good."
Yul said, "Not only him, but his nine subordinates are also knowledgeable. Their fighting ability is better than the average subordinates."
Fufu said, "Would he mind if I challenged him to a friendly match?"
Yul chuckled and swallowed his food. "Are you serious?" Yul asked with a smile.
Fufu said, "I'm serious. I saw his sword and my hands were already itchy." She looked at Yul then at Lixin. "If he has such ability, I am willing to exchange a few sword slashes with him."
Yul said, "I guess you'd have to defeat nine of his men to have any chance of challenging him."
"If this is what I have to do, so be it," Fufu said confidently.
Yul said, "I admire your ambition."
Early the next morning, Bong opened the door to the room and was surprised to find Abrafo sitting at the table. "What are you doing in my room?" he asked, stretching his arms and yawning, and continued walking into his room. "Go and call the others, I have something small to announce." He walked past Abrafo to the bed, and slowly backing up. He looked at Abrafo's gloomy expression. "What's wrong with you? Why haven't you gone get the others yet?"
Abrafo looked up at Bong and asked, "Did you sleep in Lixin's room last night?"
Bong said, "Mm..." Looking at Abrafo's expression, he felt a little guilty, knowing that Abrafo might be waiting for him. "Are you waiting for me?"
Abrafo did not answer.
Seeing Abrafo angry, Bong said, "I was talking to him about the chess game. He agreed to help us."
Abrafo gritted his teeth and asked, "Why did he suddenly agree to help?"
Bong said with a smile, "That's because I forced him too. I took advantage of my royal status."
Abrafo sighed madly and said, "Oh..."
Bong turned Abrafo to face him and said, "Alright... I admit it. He was annoyed by my nagging and decided to help us." He put his face close to Abrafo's. "Heh... I didn't expect you to be so handsome when you're jealous."
Abrafo looked at Bong angrily, grabbed Bong's throat, and pushed Bong to the bed.
"Hey! What are you doing!" Bong struggled to break free from Abrafo's grasp. "How dare you. Ah..." He fell on the bed.
Abrafo jumped on Bong, pushed Bong to the bed, and began to remove Bong's clothes.
"Stop! You idiot buffalo, good for nothing, ah... stop," Bong yelled before his mouth was covered by Abrafo's.
In the room next to Bong's, Michio was sitting at the table and U-ri was still sleeping, but the loud noise from Bong's room woke U-ri up.
U-ri sat up in bed, feeling annoyed. "Seriously, are they going to ruin my sleep?" U-ri frowned angrily. "I am going to give them a piece of my mind." U-ri closed his eyes and clenched his fists tightly, trying to control his anger.
"Amitabha," Michio muttered, then began to recite the morning prayer.