22 The Legend Part 4 (1/2)

”Hli Ja... Hli Ja is what my sister called me,” she replied.

Before he could say anything, the elderly woman interrupted loudly. ”Didn't I tell you to take it easy? Don't stand up and move around too much if you want to heal fast.”

He obediently went back and sat on the bed where he was seated earlier. He faced the girl. ”Where are you from?”

Hli Ja remained silent for a moment and hesitantly replied, ”Buffalo Mountain. The town has a big mountain that was naturally shaped like a buffalo's head and back if you look at it from the side thus the town was named after the mountain.”

Of course, the boy knew the town! He knew most of the towns in his country. ”Keep the pendant. I'm not sure how long I'll be here. I may not have time to teach you much if anything at all.”

Hli Ja's gaze was stuck at the pendant in her hand. It was a sapphire gemstone carefully wrapped around the edge with a golden dragon. It looked well crafted and expensive. Could he be a rich boy? What predicament was he involved in, that would make others want his life? She lifted her head to glance at the boy. ”What is your name?”

”Mua Kong, I'm 13 years old, I believe I'm older than you by a few years,” he replied, with a faint smile.

Hli Ja wanted to ask him what had happened and why the assassins were after his life but she felt that even if she asked him, he might not tell her. She did not want to pry into his problems so she tucked the pendant away.

Hli Ja took care of Mua Kong's wound and also her shoulder wound from then onwards. Every morning after waking up, she would attend to their wounds and cook food for the three of them. Hli Ja had been making soups and stews for the last several days but since Mua Kong's wound had closed up, she decided to make smoked meat sprinkled in herbal seasoning.

The change in the menu that day did not go unnoticed by Mua Kong. He noticed that all of her dishes tasted richly refreshing. They were simple dishes, and she only used herbs and spices, which made the dishes healthier for consumption. He stuffed a piece of meat in his mouth. ”Why is there so much meat today?”

”Well, it is to celebrate you for recovering so well. Haven't you noticed that I've been only making nothing but plain soups?” Hli Ja replied proudly.

”Mm... I know but your soups do not taste plain at all. They taste very good. Very much to my liking.”