Chapter 336 - Forbidden Inclinations (1/2)
Doctor Lou promptly stopped and then squinted up at the Emperor again and then turned to Lei Xing and Prince Yi, who were both curiously looking at him. He blinked at them for a moment and then narrowed his eyes, ”Frol.i.c.k.i.n.g is not allowed in my cave...”
Prince Yi immediately lowered his head, while Lei Xing snorted and said, ”Frol.i.c.k.i.n.g? It seems your old age is finally getting to you -”
”Scavenging is also not allowed... I'm onto you.” The old man cut her off, squinting even harder at her. Lei Xing quietly scoffed and rolled her eyes as she mumbled, ”Like I'd want anything here...”
Doctor Lou smiled and then walked over to her and nudged her arm a bit, ”Although, if you were MY~ student, I would naturally be willing to gift you a few~ but unfortunately... Still, I am magnanimous so if you ask nicely enough, this great one might just conside-”
”I'm leaving.” Lei Xing cut in and swiftly turned around and walked off as the old man called out, ”Hey! I am trying to help you here!... Tch, stubborn brat.” He mumbled and then turned his attention to Prince Yi, ”And you?”
Prince Yi immediately cupped his hands and bowed his head with knit eyebrows, ”I apologize, I did not know that cave belonged to you. I just...”
Doctor Lou studied Prince Yi for a moment before sighing and saying, ”You know, you remind me of myself when I was younger...much, much, much younger.....”
”Oh?” Prince Yi went, his face lighting up with welcome surprise.
”...I didn't like myself much then either...” Doctor Lou added, promptly bursting the bubble that was Prince Yi's face as the old man stroked his long beard frowning at the ground.
”Pardon?” Prince Yi went, knitting his brows.
Doctor Lou turned to him again and chuckled, ”Don't worry, you'll grow out of it too~” He said patting Prince Yi's back, ”But I will say this...You should let go while it's still early, some things just are not meant to be. Life gets much easier if you learn how to let go early... Trust me, it's a vital skill for survival. Look at me, I have less white hairs now~” He finished with a smug smile.
”What won't work?” Prince Yi asked with a frown, obviously not amused.
Doctor Lou blinked at him for a few seconds and then shrugged, ”If you don't know then I don't know~...But you know I could help you, if you were my student. There are a great many things that I know, that not even the suns and stars know and of course, I am a great sharer too~”
The Emperor who was finally recovering from being the shock of being air heard himself scoff at the old man's statement. That scoff again was not his but it brought his mind back to the scene ahead and he realized that Lei Xing was gone and Prince Yi suddenly looked troubled under the old man's squinting, smiling gaze.
Prince Yi averted his eyes and cleared his throat before cupping his hands and bowing, ”I-”
”Nevermind, I am also very busy... Too much to do already!” Doctor Lou interjected, pulling at his beard, ”Buuut...since I like you, I'll be magnanimous and I'll offer some wisdom~”
Prince Yi's ears perked up and he looked at the old man with an expression that seemed eager to receive said wisdom. But rather than looking at him, Doctor Lou narrowed his eyes at where the Emperor stood and said, ”Can a stalking hunter who cannot even see his own shadow outwit a meandering prey?”
Prince Yi knit his brows in thought and then seriously responded, ”I don't know... Can he?” Even the Emperor looked at the old man with a curiously raised eyebrow, also wanting an explanation.
”How should I know?” Doctor Lou exclaimed, turning to Prince Yi with an incredulous expression.
Prince Yi frowned, ”But you're th -”
”Students these days are so lazy...” Doctor Lou said with a weary sigh, stroking his beard, ”My job is to make up stuff and yours is to make sense of it! You can leave.” He said waving Prince Yi away and retuning his squinting gaze to where the Emperor stood.
Rather than leaving, Prince Yi turned his gaze to where the Emperor stood and curiously asked, ”Is there something there? You keep looking that way, not to mention yo -”
”Didn't I say I busy?” Doctor Lou cut in with a pout, before kicking at Prince Yi's legs, ”Hurry up and leave! How many times do I have to say it? Go ponder out my wisdom words or go pacify Xing Xing, I'm sure she's pouting somewhere or thinking of how to steal from me, she better not take anything or I'll blame you. Anyway, shoo! Shoo! Goodbye!” Doctor Lou finished, finally kicking the dodging Prince Yi into the passageway, ”Hurry away before I stop being polite!”