Headed to Xi'An

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The sound of swords clashing echoed from afar.

Screams and groans of pain are sometimes louder than the fight itself.

The once quiet valley was suddenly bustling with the sudden battle.

Bai He was still sitting on his stallion. Looked around at his men who were fighting against the mountain bandits, who attacked them in large numbers.

Bai He stood guard in front of his freight carriage.

The mountain bandits didn't know who they were dealing with, or whatever. They just care about attacking.

It didn't take long for the attack to be overpowered.

Sang Tao and his men caught bandits who failed to escape. Two big men in dirty clothes fell in front of Bai He.

"Lord"

Sang Tao approached Bai He while handing him something he was so familiar with.

"This, where did you get this?"

The man widened his eyes. He knew very well whose golden hairpin was that.

Sang Tao turns at the two bandits who already look helpless.

Bai Hu clenched his fist on the hairpin tight. Unable to contain himself he stepped forward and kicked the big man so hard to the ground.

"Where did you get this hairpin? Tell me!!"

Sang Tao held the man body back up. The big man was already wincing in pain but those people didn't seem like they would just let him go. The ugly dirty bandit opened his eyes which were already partially covered in blood to see the object in Bai He's hand.

"That, that, fr-from the pretty boy…"

Bai He was outraged to hear him say that. The man hadn't finished his sentence yet.

"Insolent! Do you say a pretty boy? How can you have this? What are you doing? Bastard!!" He kicked the man with all of his rage. Sang Tao tried to hold his master from killing the man with his kick.

"Master, please calm down"

It was certain where Fei got his temper from, where else if not from his Father, Bai He.

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Not long after.

Bai He was back and forth in front of the table with a restless face, still holding his son's hairpin in his hand.

Sang Tao opened the door and walked in,

"So? Where did that filthy person get Hong's hairpin, what happened to that kid? How can he get this?"

Sang Tao pulled his lips, trying to calm his Big Master by pouring him tea.

Bai Hu waited for his answer with his eyes big on him.

"They got it while looting the group at the border of Liu Yi City. But from the story, both Young Masters certainly survived, even making him and his gang flee here."

Bai He sat down. Swallowed the tea in one gulp. He tries to calm himself after being so worried. How come Hong's hairpin, the only custom hairpin from The Crown Prince got there in the first place? 

"Liu Yi, they are not far from Xi'an. But how did Hong join Fei? That kid is so young and weak. Tang Yuan, is so incompetent to keep Hong at home. What her doing as the beloved Mother of Hong, how could she lose such a big kid?"

Far away in the Jie valley.

"Hatchuu hatchuuu!" Tang Yuan who was sitting in front of the table doing her embroidery hobby kept sneezing, for no reason. Er Niang approached.

"Madam, did you catch a cold?" Er Niang closed the window. The air was getting colder.

"Ems seems so. By the way, why did that Old Man Chang not reply to my letter yet? Xiao Hei should have arrived at his house, right? Oh, I miss Hong so much. I wonder what he is doing there."

Fly to Xi'an, to the Chang family's residence.

The house is still empty since it was invaded a few days ago. The house was left empty fearing the attackers would come back again. At the main yard, right in the largest tree there, on the branch, two large pigeons perched. One is white, and the other one is black. At the black dove's small feet, there was still a scroll of paper resembling a letter.

Xiao Hei managed to arrive at the Chang family's house. But no one greeted him other than the beautiful white feather lady who was now leaning so close to him.

"chit chit chit chit"

They both get to know each other so well and Xiao Hei forgets to go home.

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The sound of the treads of a horseshoe.

"Sweets candied! Three for one tael!!" The candied seller shouted spiritedly.

Soon, the crowd sounded again.

Fei and Lu Yan's expedition group had already entered the border before the administrative city of Xi'an. The small town was just a marketplace where traders met from all over the country. It became bustling after Xi'an City was named the administrative city in the south.

Many officials came to visit the capital decades ago so travelers from all over the place made the barren land fertile and bustling. The locals got a good income, the taxes from the palace also seemed fair. The Palace had adjusted the income so that the poor would not be taxed as great as the wealthy ones.

Since the reign of Tang, Tang Lie, and now his son Tang Yau, this country has been prosperous and peaceful. Although it is undeniable crimes still occur anywhere.

"Stop! Thief !!"

A huge man chasing a thief of some street children who takes a bit of merchandise, nearly knocking Lu Yan and other horses that pass.

Lu Yan shook his head. The place was so crowded. Looked like the group had to find a place to have a quick break.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage.

"Hold still, I haven't done yet" Fei was busy fixing Hong's hair since he lost his hairpin by the bandits.

"Please be gentle, Brother"

"Don't move, if Brother Tang Yi finds out you lost the hairpin he gave you, he can pinch your cheeks with all his heart"

Hong puffed out his mouth.

"But it's not my fault, the bandits who took it. They probably have sold it by now. Brother, can we get it back? Brother Yi Yi is so scary when he is angry. He will pinch my cheeks until it is swollen. Brother, please help me" Hong pulled his brother's sleeve.

Fei didn't seem to care.

"That's your business Hong"

"Brother"

Song Er who rode beside Lu Yan occasionally glanced into the carriage. He could hear Hong's voice so clearly. That makes him can't stop his smiles.

While Da Huang was riding a horse in the rear of the carriage.

He won't bother to see let alone know the creature named Song Er. He might go mad again and hit him.

Lu Yan looked at the guard in front where they were heading first. The dines.

"We go that way"

"Candied fruit! Candied fruit!" 

The voice of the candied fruit merchant caught Hong's attention. He popped his head out of the window.

"Candied fruit! Brother, please buy it for me! It looks tasty" 

Fei pulled Hong Er in,

"Sit still, you could fall, Hong!"

"Please, Brother, I never eat it. We've been passed through many cities but I don't know how it tastes. They keep selling it everywhere. It looks delicious"

"You can't just eat whatever you want. It's not necessarily good for your stomach. Have you forgotten what Mother said, to not eat any food carelessly"

Hong pulled his brother's sleeve, as he always did when he begged him.

"Brother, Please buy it for me, just this once"

Song Er was busy looking at the sweets seller which had just passed them. He almost turned his horse when he saw Da Huang had jumped down and bought them.

"Thank you, Master"

Da Huang's horse soon moved to the front of the carriage and thrust the sweets inside the window. Hong's eyes lit up at the shiny red sweets that were now in front of his eyes.

"Whoaaaa"

He asked Fei's permission before taking it. Fei pursed his lips, but he nodded.

"Thanks, brother, it looks delicious"

Fei glanced at Da Huang sharply, but instead, Da Huang smiled and handed him a stick of sweets.

"Young Master, give it a try, it's tasty and healthy."

Fei was a bit kinda annoyed actually, but he grabbed it too. He's a young master, how did he know, whether this sweet was delicious or not? He never touched it before.

"Thank you,"

Da Huang chuckled, he got part one sweets out of three.

"Hehe, you're welcome, Young Master"

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