Chapter 305 - Stealth Missive (2/2)

The soldiers who were in the area also glanced at each other, confused, wondering if any of the others had been paying attention and seen that, each trying to verify that they were not hallucinating. But they all just looked at each other and then looked back to Prince Rui, now on high alert.

Men dressed in black on the surrounding roofs also glanced at each other in confusion and one of them asked, ”You saw that, right?”

”The soldier disappeared...”

”I had heard the reports but it is truly hard to believe...” Another responded. He had heard the reports of the fugitives that escaped the Emperor's grasps by disappearing right in the middle of the fight.

”There was someone else, a bald man right then behind the soldier and then the soldier was gone...” Another one shared his observation with a frown.

”Are you sure?”

”I'm sure. A bald man in white robes. It was just a glimpse but I saw him...” The keen-eyed man repeated with a frown.

The man who seemed to be their leader frowned and ordered, ”Go report this to General An. They must have something to do with the fugitives the Emepror is hunting. Double the soldiers on duty, the Prince is not to left alone like that again...”

The men nodded and the keen-eyed man turned and swiftly left.

Shortly after two soldiers approached Prince Rui and stood behind him, while another set of soldiers joined the watch in the area.

Prince Rui glanced at them but they simply bowed their heads and did not say anything and he also did not bother to ask. Even if he did, they would not have told him anything. An Hao had dumped in here with the entire unit ordering them to protect him and then left.

The men provided for him but they were definitely not under his command, they did not answer any questions besides basic ones and did not permit him to leave. But Prince Rui did not need to be told that something had just happened to warrant this increased level of security.

He would need to write to his father again.

***

Chun Hai suddenly found himself in a dark forest, he promptly turned around to find Monk Du standing behind him and then let out a sigh of relief.

”What are you doing?” Monk Du calmly asked looking at him with raised eyebrows.

Chun Hai sighed in relief and sat down on the ground and asked, ”...Isn't it a bit early for your return?”

”My master sent me on a mission to bring someone to him... I sensed you were in danger and so came to you. You would have died there... Why do you want to kill that man?” Monk Du asked, holding his hands behind his back.

Chun Hai sighed again and explained, ”Houyi is holding Huayan hostage, if I don't kill him, he'll have her imprisoned or worse...”

”I see...” Monk Du said with a nod, ”It seems you two have gotten yourselves in quite a lot of trouble. I have heard the rumors...”

”I'm sorry...” Chun Hai said, ”I didn't have much of a choice but to use it in public...But no one except Houyi knows about you - I didn't tell him but he figured it out.” Chun Hai swiftly clarified, he then frowned and said, ”Don't worry, he won't tell others either, he would hate for someone else to find you first...” He sheepishly finished. He was anxious that Monk Du would ask what he did with those crystals he had given him.

He was feeling ashamed about having to explain how he wasted them on his sister's stupid whim, he was disappointed in himself and he knew Monk Du would also be disappointed and may never trust him with such again.

Monk Du was quiet for a while and to Chun Hai's relief, he simply said, ”Even if they found me I would not be able to do much for them either...let's go find your sister.” He said with a sigh.

His master would understand a slight delay. After all, this may very well be the last time.

Chun Hai smiled and then promptly got up, there was hope again. Monk Du was here and so everything would be fine. Monk Du put a hand on his shoulder and then asked him to envision where he left Chun Hua and as stealthily as they appeared in the forest, they were gone.