MIRACLE

The wind blew. The night turned darker and darker, the temperature went down. Stillness came.

Everything was a clear calm, a total serene - and took him to unify with nature.

"The enemies slander you, the people hate you, the riot ravage your city... those indeed offend the benevolent leaders who have put forth all their struggles for the people.

But... actually, all benevolent leaders also faced those same problems, didn't they? Emperor Song Renzong was once attacked by the rebels of Maitreya Sect, wasn't he?"

Yes... I remember that incident. Zhu Su replied to the question asked by his inner voice.

"So, only one question left; do you love your country? Do you love the city you lead?"

Of course. I have been tested to love another country, but I still choose my homeland in the end.

"Just like a man who loves a woman but the woman doesn't love him, yet the man still maintains his sincere love. The most important is your love and devotion for Ming, for Kaifeng. Your enemies just utilize the hatred, the ill-will, and the frustration of your people. Nevertheless, every government must have negative sides that trouble their people. No government in this world can perfectly satisfy its people, it's the same with no person who is perfect and can please everybody. Your enemies utilize this condition, reach their frustration, agitate it, and then let it explode after devising a shrewd strategy. Moreover, the human is vulnerable to pay attention to the dark side rather than the good side. Nevertheless, in every aspect, who becomes the winner is a strong one. As you are standing on the righteousness, then the righteous should help you to become much stronger!"

But, how to make the righteousness of mine so strong it can destroy those deceptions and seditions?

"I will help you."

Zhu Su's eyes opened automatically.

And his eyes widened as he looked something fantastic.

"That..." Zhu Su stammered. "Impossible..."

Not so far before them, a tiger passed through. But it was not an ordinary tiger. White-haired with black stripes and a very long tail, the tiger looked scary, but strangely it was chewing leaves. It was an odd scene since we knew clearly that a tiger would never chew leaves.

"Is that... Zouyu?..."

Wu Qi approached them. The three of them were now wide-eyed, watched amazedly at the scene. It was a fantastic sight for them since they were looking at a fantastic animal.

Zouyu is a well-know Chinese mythology creature. Like other legendary creatures, the existence of zouyu was always debated. The modern scientists agreed that zouyu did not exist, but not with the ancient people. Ancient Chinese people believed that zouyu really existed - it was just not easy for ordinary people to see it. Zouyu did not like to show itself carelessly. According to the myth, it was the same as the Qilin, just appeared with the imminent arrival of a great and benevolent ruler. Zouyu was a tiger with fierce and scary face, however, it was actually very gentle and extremely vegetarian since it did not kill weak creatures to be its food.

And the creatures they were watching at this time appeared very much the same as the description of zouyu in literature.

"Th... that is really a zouyu, right? Or I see it wrong?" Zhu Su rubbed his eyes, worried that his drowsiness and the darkness of the night made his sight become vague.

"You are right, Your Highness... I see zouyu, too..." Wu Qi nodded in agreement.

"I also see zouyu," Hu Nayin uttered.

The sound of footsteps came to Zhu Su's ears. Zhu Su and others pulled their gaze. "Chen Xinyi!"

Chen Xinyi and his men were ready to fight.

"Your Highness, we apologize for surprising you, but we are so worried about your safety that we decide to follow you silently. Your Highness, we will protect you from the enemies!"

All of them pointed their swords.

"Drop your swords!" Zhu Su shouted in panic.

"Eh... wh... why? Are the enemies going to attack you?!"

"No. You are instead shocking the zouyu!"

"What?! Zouyu?!"

Chen Xinyi and his men moved their heads forward. A second later, their eyes widened in amazement.

"Wow! That's really a zouyu!"

"My Heaven! Finally, I see it! Thank Heaven, I can have the opportunity to see that legend creature!"

"Then we must thank Zhou Wang! Zouyu only wants to show itself to a benevolent leader!"

"Exactly! We never heard a zouyu appeared in the previous era, or in other places. But now it appears in Kaifeng... incredible!"

"Zouyu must be touched by the kindness of Zhou Wang!"

They all began to hail, "Long live His Highness! His Highness has got the blessing from zouyu! Long live His Highness, forever and ever!"

Looking at his men hailing enthusiastically, Zhu Su felt his face flushed. Thanked it was pitch-dark now, so they could not see his reddened face. Their praise really made him embarrassed. He just asked earlier, whether he was really a good or a bad person deserved to be hated. And he was almost frustrated since Kaifeng people hated him so much and even set a rebellion against him.

Or... perhaps Zouyu is willing to show itself because of respecting Brother Di, not me? Because, if I were really such a benevolent leader it even makes the zouyu touched to come, then how come Kaifeng people fight against me?

"Your Highness! Zouyu is still standing there! Such a great opportunity! Let's catch it to make it as proof of your greatness!" Chen Xinyi expressed his opinion.

"Sir Chen is correct! Let us catch the zouyu!" All soldiers raised their swords again, ready to approach zouyu.

"Don't do that!" Zhu Su shouted. "Don't catch the Zouyu!"

The soldiers stopped, staring at him confusedly.

"Why not, Your Highness? It's too bad not to catch it. The symbol of Ming's greatness will disappear!"

"Just because it is a legendary creature then we mustn't catch it. Zouyu is a Righteous creature. How can I catch such a good creature just for my interest? No, I don't want to catch it just because of my selfishness."

Since Zhu Su uttered in strong determination, then although the soldiers disagree with him, yet they did not dare to oppose him.

But it was really beyond their expectation, Zouyu suddenly ran towards them - more precisely, towards Zhu Su.

And before Zhu Su gave any response, the legendary creature had been standing before him.