Chapter 4 You are not alone

Siu's words had made the prince's heart leap with excitement. The fact that the girl mentioned what he was secretly seeking was something extraordinary that he truly didn't expect, and if he weren't so reserved, he would have shouted for joy right then and there, but that would only happen in his wildest dreams.

"Could it be possible that the Fenghuang is sending me signs and guiding me here? But what the heck! That sounds too fanciful and ridiculous. Calm down, Yun!" he thought, furrowing his brow subtly and looking down.

"Well, I didn't say it for any particular reason... I just wished you luck on your journey, grumpy boy," Siu smiled mischievously, winking at him.

"I'm not grumpy; I'm just cautious and curious," Yun replied seriously, sighing as he felt like an immature brat who gets carried away with illusions prematurely.

"That's another way to confirm it. You're too serious; smile," the girl began to laugh, and her parents contained a chuckle.

"Well... going back to the topic, in our little village, though it may not seem like it, we've never lacked fresh water and food. We owe it all to the protection of the Fenghuang," Siu's father replied.

"That's true, that's why we always bid farewell to honest people with those words," added the girl's mother.

"Above all, here in Yumai, we have strong faith that the Fenghuang roams these parts. The oldest person in the village tells stories of his grandfather having encounters with that divine being not far from here, but nowadays, such events haven't been proven. What I can tell you is that the impact of those anecdotes has been so great that on the highest part of the mountain, you can see a monument in honor of the Fenghuang erected by our ancestors. Decades ago, very few people visited that place, but now even the villagers of this village don't go there anymore; that stretch is too dangerous," the man added.

"I know that despite what we're saying, young man, you won't be deterred; I see it in your eyes. But you've been warned that going to that mountain is almost suicide, and you have to be aware of that," the woman concluded.

These testimonies he had just heard were not written in any of the history books Yun had read in the palace. Usually, ancient scriptures affirmed that this respected creature only manifested its power through prayers. That deity didn't go around villages parading to prove its existence, let alone perform miracles like the one he was seeking. Despite those warnings, Yun felt relieved, and deep in his soul, he held strong hope. Something told him that his dear mother would recover sooner than anticipated.

"There must be more than one way to invoke it, and I need to find out which one. I'm going to that monument no matter what," Yun's heart beat with determination.

"Thank you very much for sharing that information with this traveler," he responded with a subtle smile.

"It has been a pleasure, young man. Be careful of the beasts that roam the dark wilderness, and be cautious, for appearances can be deceiving," the lady warned, her brow furrowed.

"By the way, we have forgotten to introduce ourselves. I am Wu Fong, and my wife is Guen. Of course, you already know our daughter Siu," he said with a smile.

"Pleased to meet you, indeed, Mr. and Mrs. Wu. My name is... Yun," he muttered discreetly.

"That name sounds familiar," Mr. Fong pondered, but he was interrupted from his thoughts by his wife's voice.

"Oh, wait! Don't leave just yet! Wait a moment!" Mrs. Guen exclaimed as she went inside her house.

"Huh?" Yun managed to utter, seeing the smiles on Mr. Fong and Siu's faces.

Mrs. Guen gave Yun some food for the journey, knowing that whatever his mission was, it carried risks. Siu hung a canteen filled with fresh water around his neck, and Yun couldn't have been more grateful. After a couple of minutes, the couple bid him farewell with a bow and entered their home, leaving the two young ones alone.

"By the way, Siu, I want you to know that if I survive, I will come back to help you with whatever you need. It's a promise. See you soon," Yun inclined his body as a farewell.

"You've truly proven to be polite and very kind to our village. That's why I offer to accompany you, just in case you're lucky enough to encounter another ambush like earlier," the girl said kindly, touching her quiver full of arrows.

"Siu, I really appreciate it, but it's very serious that I must fulfill my journey alone. Otherwise, I'll never succeed. I hope you understand," he replied firmly.

"Oh, come on, Yun! Stop making excuses! If you want, I can hide among the trees so you won't even notice my presence. It's similar to traveling alone, don't you think?" she proposed energetically.

"Hey, I really don't want to be rude, but..." Yun couldn't finish his sentence as Siu interrupted him.

"And besides, what do you think?" she leaned closer to him to speak in secret. "I know those paths like the back of my hand."

"Do you think I can't take care of myself?" Yun stepped back a bit to look her in the eyes. "Remember that I've traveled alone to near Aldea Yumai. You're insulting my honor," he said, annoyed.

"Yes, well, those civilized towns are surely filled with warriors, and the ruler and his family live there too. It's obvious that it's not as dangerous. This area is unprotected, and venturing out like this is foolish," Siu added, irritated.

"I'm going alone, I've said it, and that's it!" he spat out his words without thinking.

"Fine... then go," she said seriously. "But don't say later that no one cared for you or wanted to help you out there," she stuck out her tongue, turned around, and entered her house.

"Siu... What a stubborn and immature girl, yet with a big heart. If only she understood," he smiled as he remembered how that rebellious girl stuck out her tongue in anger.

Yun adjusted his coolie hat, checked that he had his only weapon, and the blessed food. When he made sure everything was in order, he started walking briskly. He couldn't help but continue to think about how outgoing that cheerful young girl was, but at the same time, he focused on his mission. He knew that before long, the first sunset would arrive, and he still felt far from his goal.

With the riddle in his hand, he made his way through that desolate, dusty trail. He was grateful that at least they hadn't taken his coolie; it would be of great help to endure the intense heat in those lands. The path to the mountain was going to be quite exhausting, but it would be worth it, all in the quest to find the Fenghuang.

He gradually quickened his pace, not wanting to get exhausted too quickly. Desperation invaded every fiber of his being. He thought of his ailing mother. How was she doing right now? Did her pain worsen or ease? Was his father at peace? He knew his character well; he wouldn't sit idly by. Hopefully, that wise man wouldn't be another braggart seeking fame and money. So many questions and speculations that wouldn't have answers, remaining in the chaos of his thoughts.

With each step, the trail became narrower, and the underbrush grew thicker. The fauna raised its voice, hidden among the vegetation. The sun still shone brightly; that was a good sign, indicating that the sunset was still some time away. Walking on foot was undoubtedly more challenging, as fatigue began to take a slight toll on his feet, but he couldn't stop now.

Yun took a sip of water without slowing his steps and then securely closed the canteen's spout. A flash of orange light made him look up ahead, but perhaps the intense sun had played an optical illusion on him, as always, so he didn't pay much attention. What he did see in the distance, however, was a wooden house. Of course, there was a high possibility that people lived there, but it seemed abandoned, and that thought sent a shiver down his spine.

"How strange, the Siu's family didn't warn me about any people nearby outside of Yumai. Well... it's expected that people live far away," he reflected, trying to calm his nerves.

The house became more visible, and the silence around him started to become a bit unsettling. After a short time, Yun finally passed by the eerie house, seemingly emitting an odd vibe just for being in that location. However, what chilled him the most was the faint crying he could hear from the surroundings, uncertain whether it came from inside the house or from some other place.

He quickened his pace to leave that spine-chilling place behind; his haste overpowered any other sensation in him. For a split second, he looked back to see himself distancing from that gloomy house with each step he took. When he turned his gaze back to the front, he saw something in the middle of the path that made his heart race.

"For heaven's sake!" was what he managed to think before running to aid the woman who had collapsed in the middle of the road.