20 INEVITABLE DESTINY (2/2)
The bandit leader only laughs and grab at Yuhuan to bring her away when suddenly sound of arrows could be heard as three arrows lodged itself at the bandit leader.
One stuck on his chest, another struck on his throat and the third arrow plunged deep into his eyes.
His eyes was bulging as he goes from happiness to despair. He perished without a sound. Yuhuan was stunned as her face was splashed with the bandit leader blood.
She was petrified and only shaking is visible from her body. The leaves sway and the wind blows as movement could be felt inside the forest.
'More people' Du Long surmised and he keep his guard up even though his body is telling him to rest.
His hand is trembling harder than before but he grip the blade tighter that his palm turns white.
Then a man appeared from the bushes with ten people behind him. Three of the ten men behind the men has bows behind their back.
Du Long was alarmed as he raises up his saber and pointing it at the young man. The young man has long black hair.
Clear blue eyes and a handsome face with charisma oozing from him.
He was wearing a white robe and look carefree and calm. On his back was a short spear tied on his back.
'This young hero, may this Old Man know your name?' Du Long asked. But it is clear while Du Long words were polite, his eyes was vigilant.
The young man smile.
'Senior do not be alarmed. I was passing by when I heard the sound. After hearing that these bandits intend to kidnap the young lady me and my attendants wanted to help. Please let us help.' The young man said humbly.
'What is Young Hero name?' Du Long asked.
He grew wary not because the young man seems to be telling lies but he could see that this young man possesses an Imperial Destiny.
Yang Yuhuan, could it be she destined to end up with Dragons and Tigers? Could she not live a peaceful life, have a child in some village and grow old happily?
'Grandpa' Yuhuan who was misty eyed and red in the eyes ran to her grandfather and hug his waist as she look at the entourage with suspicious eyes.
'Do not worry, young lady we mean you no harm.'
'I ask Young Hero name, please give me your name so I would be assured'
'You are rude to our young master!' one of the men behind the young man scowls as he was about to confront Du Long but the young man held up his hand and the man shut his mouth.
He hesitated at first but then he decided to be honest.
'This Junior here is a Fairhair.'
'Fairhair. No, you are a Hardstone.' Du Long instantly knows who this person before him.
'Sage Diviner Du lives up to his reputation. My father once had the honor to meet Sage Diviner Liu' And Du Long nodded as that was his teacher as the person continues talking
'And with his guidance, my father matters were resolved peacefully. I have always been wanting to meet Sage Diviner Du but Aeropa and Midgard is far away, separated by thousands of miles and Midgard is in turbulent times so I never step past the Dragon Pass. To meet Senior here, this is a form of destiny.' the young man said courteously.
'My humble name is Hakon Hardstone, the Second Prince of Norveg.' Du Long nodded like he was understanding something.
Du Long then sit down on the ground with Yuhuan beside him as he relaxes his body and muscle, his blade was let go from his hand as he could feel his hand nerve almost exploded but he regulated his breathing before the blood pressure on his hand swell down and calms down.
'A Prince of Norveg comes to Avillon? This is truly perplexing' Du Long said implying many things.
'These are turbulent times, everything is perplexing.' The Young Prince answered without losing a beat. Du Long nodded.
'This Old Man have long heard that the Second Prince of Norveg spearmanship is godlike and an honorable man that honored his oaths and promises. This Old Man is honored to meet Your Highness today. And this old man could not express gratitude for helping me and my granddaughter.'
'It is fate that we meet, it is destiny that I help.' Hakon said and Du Long smiles bitterly. Then looking at the severe injuries of Sage Diviner Du, the Prince looked at the many men behind him and gestured with his head for them to come forward.
'Men, help Senior Du.'
Then a few more men appears from the bushes and help pull Old Man Du as a few moments later a carriage even comes to escort the Prince.
It seems the Second Prince after hearing the commotion ventured out leaving his entourage alone.
'It is a delegation of some sort' Du Long surmises.
'Thank you, Your Highness.' Du Long said as he is slowly being brought to a private carriage with the people in the carriage before will share a carriage with another person.
'What is the name of this young lady?' The Second Prince asked and before Du Long manage to answer Yang Yuhuan replies.
'It is Yang Yuhuan, Your Majesty' she said cutely and try to curtsy like the cultures of Northmen when meeting royalty.
The Young Prince smiles as a servant came beside the Prince and the Prince order him
'Please put Senior Du and his granddaughter in the same carriage' and hearing this Du Long smiles gratefully and nodded at the Second prince.
'Please rest senior. When you are healed, you can leave anytime.' Saying this words the Second Prince return to his carriage and closes his door.
Old Man Du sighed as he sits inside his carriage. Beside him is Yuhuan, looking calmer than before.
'Grandpa, where are we going?' Old Man Du pats his granddaughter head but he did not answer.
He only sighed. This time he finally understands. This granddaughter of his was destined to live in the path of heroes and great men.
Yang Yuhuan, her destiny was always to be a calamitous beauty. In a play about heroes in this turbulent era.
A hero seeks a beauty. But gaining the beauty doesn't ensure you get the world.
Yang Yuhuan will get neither love nor the world. That is too tragic Old Man Du thought sorrowfully as Yuhuan snuggle and sleep on his lap.
'If I can't erase the Karma, then I will cover it up. If I can't erase Destiny, then I will dare to write a new one' Old Man Du vowed to the Heavens.
One destined to be a founding Emperor, while one is destined to be a great ruler. Both could contend for the Dragon Throne and unify back the lands….but in the end only one will sit in the throne.
The path to the Dragon Throne means to swim in the rivers of blood and to sit atop corpses and bones.
Old Man Du remembers the boy he met at the Inn in Dragon pass. Even now, he felt shivers. Since then he has gained information that the boy is a Martel.
The Jianghu people are not many here in Midgard but that doesn't mean that they are non-existent. The Hall of Wisdom has even reaches till here.
Old Man Du recognizes the man who he contends his internal energy with. There is only one hero in Jianghu who has a red saber and have such deep attainment of internal energy mastery.
Red Sword Lancel of the noble family of Wellham from Westhold.
And Red Sword Lancel only has one nephew from his younger sister, Joanna Wellham.
It is not expensive information that he buys since this information is common knowledge in Westhold and even Midgard.
Charles Martel is descended from one of the oldest nobility lineage from his mother and a Military General household family from his father side of the family.
Looking at his background no wonder his destiny pointed him to be a founding Emperor.
But the Second Prince of Norveg is known as the Golden Lion of Norveg and his spearmanship is known to be godly even at such a young age.
And he has an Imperial Destiny. With Old Man Du abilities he could sense it and see it with his naked eyes.
This kind of people always has a unique attribute that makes people want to follow them.
And he could see it in Hakon Hardstone.
If he becomes the Emperor, while he might not reform the world, he would surely let the people live in peace and harmony.
Founding Emperor destiny on the other hand, their path is always lonesome and always bloody.
Since they always seek to replace the old order and the only way to replace the old order is to uproot them.
As he was thinking of this, Old Man Du was startled by the sound of his granddaughter snoring. He smiles.
Looking at the peaceful sleeping face of his granddaughter, Old Man Du felt an ache in his heart.
'Destined to be a Queen but never an Empress. She will find a Dragon but will never become the Phoenix.'
And the Old Man shakes his head.
'Forgive me, Teacher' Old Man Du said as he looked upwards.
The only thing he could see was the ceiling of his carriage but he was reoffering to the Heavens above where his teacher would have been seeing right now.
'I could not let my granddaughter to walk such thorny path. I will cover that Karma with another Karma. Let it be tangled. Let Destiny and Fate go crazy.'
Saying this he looked downward and slowly caresses Yuhuan cheeks and hope for the best as the carriage slowly rides out from the forest and heading to Norveg.
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