10:: Just Like Anyone Else!

The rest of the day passed smoothly, and the two sworn brothers listened to an account of the island's history directly from King Du Hui, most of which Zhan Peng was not oblivious to, and Yang Tian was finding difficulty understanding because of his dense nature. Yuxi involuntarily stared towards Zhan Peng's way, but inhibited herself from further stares when Zhan Peng became aware.

It didn't occur to her why Zhan Peng's eyes were a little downcast, though he appeared normal this morning when he arrived at the meeting hall. Yuxi decided it wasn't her concern, and she had more worries on her mind to fret about. Du Hui had cleared those doubts in her mind and, like he said, it was up to her to decide about her marriage and her discomfort about going on the mission.

Other than her, Du Hui had nobody he could trust and was capable enough to go on the mission. Because Xima's eyes and ears were all over the island, he had no choice but to entrust such a severe task to his old friend, and he believed in her. Du Hui also admitted to liking Zhan Peng, although it was the first time they had met.

After the incident the night before, Yuxi wasn't sure if she still hated Zhan Peng, since he had aroused her in such a way that she now felt butterflies in her stomach when he approached. But thinking about her engagement with Lang Juan and the mission, she hesitated.

'It's probably your mind acting up. Because he saw you in the nude and helped you out twice,' she told herself. But that moment of intimacy couldn't escape her mind. She still remembered clearly how she had almost given herself to him. It was wrong on so many levels, but she had wanted it. Just as much as he desired her, she felt horrid that she felt the same.

She rejected King Du Hui's offer to break her engagement, because she was too fearful of losing herself and falling into Zhan Peng's trap. She determined she had to honour the promise of marriage that her family owed Lang Juan's family, but with no memory of the man, her future was still hazy.

It was then that Du Hui suddenly rose and took a few steps towards the altar in the middle of the hall, giving a little bow. Yuxi hurriedly grabbed a few sticks of incense and lit them with the flame of a burning candle in the altar's corner, presenting them to Du Hui.

Du Hui muttered a silent prayer and stuck the sticks into the golden incense pot. He sent away the other guards, so only the three of them remained in the hall with the king.

Yuxi fathomed it was time for the king to go into the secrets behind the mission. Up to now, the other guards would only know Du Hui sent Yuxi on a mission with two mercenaries but did not know what was behind the purpose of her travel. Perhaps she was just heading to pick up some desserts for the king's young wife, or even retrieve some unimportant documents, nobody knew.

Du Hui solemnly announced, "You must wonder what is the occasion and why I have sent away the others. Because what I have to announce next will be about the future of Shang-Yi and the secrets behind the mission."

Yuxi saw Zhan Peng look at the king blankly. It made her reconsider whether he was really from this kingdom, from the confusion on his face. Yang Tian didn't act any differently from his sworn brother. She assured herself that they had to be from this land, otherwise where could they even come from?

Du Hui gulped down a mouthful of water from the goblet on the desk beside him. He continued, "Fifty years ago, following the curse of the island by the witch concubine Xima, my great grandfather sent for ascetics and hermits to find out the solution to Xima's curse. But no matter how much they tried to connect with their powers to seek a way out, they found nothing. But nineteen years ago, on the fifteenth lunar day of the ghost month, a prophecy was told."

Yuxi sensed an icy shiver plummet down her spine. The date the king had just mentioned was no other than her birthday, and she was nineteen years old this year, so-

Did this prophecy have something to do with her birth?

The question roamed about her head. Everyone was silent following the king's announcement.

Du Hui paused and added, "The prophecy told of two men from a different place, and a woman of unordinary abilities. They will be the one who will save Shang-Yi from disaster. And this is the true reason for this trip. The three of you are to head down and eliminate as much as you can those evil underlings of Xima in fifteen territories around the island. I prayed and will continue to pray that during your quest, you will meet the three mentioned in the prophecy."

Though she had heard of a prophecy, the shaman hadn't told her of its full extent. All she knew was how it told of a woman and two men. But after Du Hui had revealed the secret behind it, she realised she was being thrown into a suicide mission. Their fate was unknown. Whether they would live or die, succeed or fail, it depended strongly on how paramount their lives were.

The shaman had even mentioned that this 'strength' had something to do with one's horoscope. She being born during the ghost month, and on a day the moon was at its fullest, contributed to how harsh her horoscope was. She was just as strong mentally as her horoscope, and she suspected this was the reason Du Hui had selected her for the mission, without telling her the actual reason for sending her.

Were all those years of friendship nothing compared to his love for his kingdom? She reflected on that amiable hug he had given her back in the flower garden and then watched Du Hui's grave face.

A king had to do what he had for his people, in the end. She felt selfish thinking of herself and her survival. She reminded her she was the destined Imperial Advisor after all, and of use was an Advisor if she wasn't selfless?

But like anyone else, she was human. And she was fearful of death. After her near-death encounter in the bath chamber, it made her realise one thing.

She was just like any of the other people in Shang-Yi.