DESCENDANT OF THE DRAGON 3

Zhu Su told Hu Nayin, Zhu Youdun, Liu Ku, and Wu Qi about what he just discussed with Ava King. He waited for the absence of Gao Qing, and now it was at seven o'clock in the evening, when Gao Qing would spend about two hours to meditate. Since Gao Qing opposed his intention to return to Ming and fight with Zhu Yunwen so much, and the king did not grant his wish, he did not want to get criticisms and cynical look for this unrewarded intention.

"So, I've tried my best," Zhu Su ended his story. "Ava King is also facing great difficulty, we shouldn't force him to do the things beyond his capability, right? So." He shrugged. "It's not that I don't want to return to Ming. I can't return, that is all. This is Fate."

"That's right. Don't force Fu Wang anymore. Poor Fu Wang, being pinched in dilemma. After all, Ava King has promised to give us a noble title. We will endeavor to release those incarcerated and help you in supplying funds, but that is all, okay? Let it stop here?" Zhu Youdun joined in commenting.

"Don't mind it, Shi Zi. That's... um... that's just my reason in order to induce His Highness to return back to Ming. It's been our duty to sacrifice ourselves for our Lord! How can we instead selfishly force our lord to sacrifice for our sake?! My Heaven, the Ancestors will never forgive us!" Wu Qi replied instantly. He looked tell-tale.

"I agree with Youdun. We have to save those imprisoned team members. No need to worry. The delegation of titles at Ava is fast and hassle-free, we can release them in the near future," Zhu Su said.

Crickets were chirping when Liu Ku asked, "Would you like to tell us, why are you willing to return to Ming at last?"

"Because of Wu Qi's words."

Wu Qi blinked, "Really? Which one, Your Highness?"

"You said, our blood will never change wherever we go. Your words give me a strong rebuke. As if I am reminded by the Ancestors. Even though we have wandered all over the world, our blood will remain unchanged. Even though we have mingled with the natives, they still consider us as foreigners. That stigma will continue to stick on us until the end of our lives - or when we leave that country. The King and his relatives indeed appreciate me, and I'm also very grateful for their kindness... but not with other officials. I might still be able to live peacefully and properly, but how about Youdun, and my future descendants? If the natives hate them because of racism, because of sentiments towards them, how will they protect themselves, while at that time they have lost their own homeland since they've made that foreign country their homeland?..."

"Fu Wang..."

"You are too far-sighted." Liu Ku sipped his tea. "Nevertheless, it is a wise thought. No matter how awful our motherland is, it is still our motherland. No matter how wonderful a foreign country is, it is still not our country. After all, we are born and raised in our own country, we must try to dwell in our own country until the end of our lives."

Zhu Su laughed bitterly. "But it is ended up being a mere wish. We can't fight Destiny. Where we are born, where we have to live, where we will die, is something beyond our capability to predict and control..."

A sound of rustling leaves emerged behind them. They were all staring in surprise at the person who appeared from behind the grove of leaves.

"You are... Chief Courtier..." Zhu Su said.

The chief courtier bowed reverently. Now his attitude towards Zhu Su was far different from the previous time. "Lord Su, please come with me. I have been assigned by His Majesty to take you."

"Take me... to where?..." He soon got confused with the words of the chief courtier, since his appearance in this late evening inflicted so many questions.

However, the chief courtier eyes were seemingly enchanting him to quickly follow him and not to argument anymore.

He thus quickly left Zhu Youdun and others, headed for the mysterious place.

Three-quarter moonlight was not very bright since it was often covered with the evening dark clouds. The chief courtier carried him along a twisting path full of rocks and leaves and twigs scattered on the ground. Zhu Su had to walk very carefully so as not to trip over. The cracking sound filled the night silence when their shoes stepped on dead leaves or dry twigs. Sometimes there were dark trails they had to pass through, and Zhu Su had to examine carefully whether the ground in front of him was safe to tread on or not. The journey they were passing through gave him a sensation that it was taking him to a remote, inhabited place, since it took a very long time to go through.

Zhu's eyes caught a twinkle of light in front of him. It grew clearer and clearer. Those were torches. Lots of torches, lighted every corner, and dispelled the dark of night.

The chief courtier's steps stopped as they finally arrived at a barracks. The barracks was very spacious. But it was the person standing before him who made him totally surprised.

"Your Majesty!" Zhu Su shouted.

The king, accompanied by a group of tall, hefty men dressing in military uniforms, smiled kindly. "Good evening, Lord Su." It seemed that he also just arrived.

"I am so surprised to see Your Majesty here..."

"Look at our military training barracks. Very spacious, and also outrageous, right?" The king pointed to the barracks. It was indeed very spacious and crowded. The barracks was filled with tents. Zhu Su saw several soldiers were going back and forth, coming in and out of the tents. Some were drinking tea in the resting chairs, some were practicing martial arts. It was very lively here, just like the lively activities which were usually being held in the daytime.

The king clapped his hands. All soldiers immediately stopped their activities, and saluted the king reverently. "May we salute to Your Majesty!"

The king clapped his hands again. Then, Zhu Su heard footsteps stepping forward thunderously. The stepping sound was so boisterous Zhu Su guessed that hundreds of pairs of shoes were stomping on the ground in unison.

His guess was apparently correct. A few seconds later, a large number of uniformed, fully armed soldiers had appeared before him. They were all dauntless, assertive, and full of determination. Their sharp eyes looked straight ahead, like the eyes of eagles which were ready to annex their prey. Swords, spears, and other kinds of weapons were attached gallantly at each side of their bodies.

'Well, Lord Su, you ask for three hundred military soldiers, don't you? These are our Ava proud military soldiers, three hundred in total as you have requested. They are highly trained, and also well experienced on the battlefield. Let alone helping you regain power in Ming, they can even be told to fight against other countries."

Once again, Zhu Su got shocked. "But, Sire... don't you say you need them to fight?..."

"Yes, I do need them..."

"Thence, don't give them to me! I can't accept this if you need them!..."

"Now I have fully understood, what the most basic essence of helping actually is, and why if we help people then it means that we have made good karma," The king said in a serious manner, "To help means, we will sacrifice our interests for the people we help. It's true. So we will certainly sacrifice something we possess, otherwise, nobody will assume helping as a noble deed. From earlier I kept thinking, by giving you title and position here then I am not helping you, because you don't need it. It doesn't help you, it even shows my own selfishness. You won't be able to live happily because what you actually want is to return to Ming. And thus I do bad karma instead, whereas I should repay your kindness for healing Mother.

"Besides, giving you three hundred soldiers won't weaken Ava right away. I fully believe, Ava is very strong, our soldiers are all brave and talented, and many new seeds will be born and quickly replace these three hundred soldiers. Lord Su, don't worry about us anymore, just care for yourself!"

The king smiled, his handsome face was beaming with the glow of torchlight. Seeing him, a weird feeling suddenly infiltrated into Zhu Su's mind. He felt so touched, and at the same time, sad.

My own family is so cruel towards me, on the contrary, another person who has no kinship with me and I have only known for a while, is so kind to me...