656 General Song
âYour Highness, is that man going to join the competition? He is so strong, surely he will win so easily right?â whispered Bai Ying who was standing beside Luo Xiang. Luo Xiang took Bai Yingâs hand away from the crowds. He nodded.
âI guess soâ
The competition started. The crowds were so enthusiastic and even voluntarily give some coins to watch the event which was so exciting because of the endless cheers.
âYeah, you can do it!â
But that very sturdy rock couldnât be moved at all. No matter how strong the men are trying their luck.
âYeah yeah!â
Bai Ying, who had been standing there since earlier getting bored, even yawned a few times because of it.
âHoaa, Your Highness, should we wait for him to finish? Looks like it going to be so longâ
Luo Xiang looked at the large stone placed in the middle of the field. It was the size of a freight carriage not far nearby. The type of stone is a mountain rock which is very dense, of course, itâs so heavy. Donât know whether the man they thought was General Song could unseat it or not. The farthest he should move to win at least one foot. That, if he does it with all his might.
.....
Luo Xiang poked Bai Yingâs hand when it was the manâs turn to push the rock with his strength.
âYing Yingâ
Bai Ying widened his eyes. Here it is, itâs the manâs turn, he must be able to move the stone easily right? The kid got excited.
âCome on General Song, you can do it!â Bai Ying exclaimed. His voice drew the attention of nearby residents who saw a figure in a long robe that made its head jump with a loud sound.
âYing Ying, donât attract too much attention,â Luo Xiang said noticing a few people watching them.
Bai Ying lowered his hand, sure enough, his voice was too loud. He didnât dare to look at the residents who looked at him strangely because of the mask he was wearing. Some who were nearby even shifted their bodies away.
Bai Ying bit his lip. According to young master Xiao Ye, recently a strange disease had spread around Wah Ye, a skin disease that was contagious and even though it was cured many people were hiding their continued disfigured faces behind masks. The residents probably thought that he and the Crown Prince were also among the people who were sufferers of this skin disease.
Bai Ying just averted his eyes, when he looked back at the field and the man they assumed was General Song had already fallen down unable to push the boulder no matter what. He slipped his own feet.
âWow thatâs sucks!â cried the residents seeing the big man fall ridiculously.
Bai Ying frowned. Even a general with immense strength was unable to push away a very ordinary boulder. Was he really the General Song they were looking for?
âYour Highness?â Bai Ying asked.
Luo Xiang understood. Looking back at the young man who wanted to try for the umpteenth time but still didnât succeed. The young man looked very disappointed.
âAh! God damn it!â he curses.
Soon the crowds dwindled, for there were no more citizens wasting their money on the impossible.
Luo Xiang and Bai Ying were still standing in place waiting for the man to pass in front of them. The man stopped his steps, he clearly recognized the hooded man who was again blocking his way. This time out of frustration as his last coin ran out he finally stopped right in front of Luo Xiang.
âWhat do you want? I already have no money, so I wonât be able to help you anymore! Get away from meâ he shouted angrily.
Luo Xiang didnât move. Until he took something out of his pocket. Extending his hand in front of the man who was momentarily confused about what the man was going to do. He widened his eyes.
âWhat does this mean?â he asked.
A few gold coins which now in Luo Xiangâs palm. Its lustre almost made the young manâs eyes dazzle. He had never seen a gold coin before.
âWe need room to sleep tonight, can you help find it?â asked Luo Xiang.
The young man raised his head to see two figures in tightly cloaked and hooded robes. Canât even see what the two strangerâs faces look like. He saw Luo Xiang and Bai Ying over and over again, the two must be joking.
âThere are so many good inns around here, why ask me to look for them, with the money you have you can choose even the best oneâ
Luo Xiang shook his head, took the young manâs hand and placed a coin in his palm.
âAll the innkeepers are afraid of us because we are thought to be carrying a contagious disease, so, we ask for your help, is this enough?â he asked.
The young man swallowed his saliva whole. How could he refuse a gold coin that he never once imagined would be able to touch, but, the two people in front of him had skin diseases? Are they harmless? What if he gets infected?
But, who cares, he was a large man who had eaten mud even when he was starving, skin diseases would not faze him.
âOf course gentlemen, if you donât mind, there are still quite comfortable rooms in my ugly house, you can stay there as you pleaseâ he cried.
Luo Xiang looked at Bai Ying. Holding his hand tightly. Hopefully, they are not wrong.
âCome on my Ying Yingâ
Along the way into the village located on the outskirts of the large city of Pai Hua. There can be seen some beggars sitting by the roadside or even building tents to live in. Several houses were damaged and burnt to the ground behind them. Did this village just experience a disaster or did someone set fire to the houses on purpose?
âMaster, please be merciful, we havenât eaten anything for two days.â Several young children approached Luo Xiang and Bai Yingâs horses who was passing by with a young man walking in front.
Bai Ying couldnât bear to look at them, but the food they currently had was only boiled sweet potatoes which wasnât even enough for one person. He looked at the Crown Prince with sad eyes.
âYour Highnessâ
Luo Xiang pulled his lips. Will this continue to be their sight as long as they are in this era? He did not expect that Wah Yeâs current state, perhaps even Yue Yang not much different too.
Soon after that.
Luo Xiang and Bai Ying entered the grounds of a simple house with sandy soil that was almost difficult to grow anything there. The reddish dry land around the house with a few chicks walking with their parents. The young man immediately ran towards the door of the house which was almost dilapidated, with the condition of the house like that it was impossible for a crazed robber to even glance at it let alone get inside.
âMother, Yi er is back!â exclaimed the young man opening the door of his house wide.
Luo Xiang and Bai Ying were still standing where they were looking around the house, could there possibly be another room for them to sleep tonight? The house looks very small with only a few rooms. Bai Ying turned to the Crown Prince when the two heard an old womanâs voice from inside the house.
âOh my son, you home. How is today? Did a lot of people give you jobs?â she asked.
There was the sound of the young manâs chuckle.
âHehehe there is Mother, but the income is not much. um, here, Yi er bought grilled chicken and meat for us to eat later, and earlier Yi er also had time to stop by the drugstore to buy cough medicine for Mother, Yi er will cook for a while. â
âOuch, Mother already said you donât have to buy the medicine anymore, it is very expensive, how do we eat, later?â
There was the sound of items being placed here and there as if in a hurry.
âDonât think about it mom, Yi er is strong, and can do anything, every day someone will use Yi erâs power. And this is so good medicine, Mother, Physician said if mother keep taking it, your cough will healâ
âThis kidâ
âOh yeah, Mother, today we have guests, here, clean it first okayâ
âGuests? Where are they?â asked the mother.
There was a shrill voice of the mother.
âThis kid, why do you let our guests wait outside, quickly invite in, ouch, but, tidy up this room first, um, my clothes, please put everything into the cupboardâ
âMother, where should I put these clean clothes which just dry?â
âJust put everything in there!â
Luo Xiang pulled his lips. Did the two people inside not think their voices could be heard outside, didnât they? Bai Ying just couldnât help but be amused at this.
âHehehe theyâre so cute.â
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