“Are you sure you were not sleep-walking?” asked the sixth prince as they sat around a lounge area inside the Red Phoenix Pavilion. Xia Feng was sitting beside him and was acting like a small puppy in front of him. There were only three of them in the lounge. The attendants were dismissed.

“Big brother Chen, it felt like a dream but I really did drown! Big brother Hua saved me. Tell him, brother Hua, tell him how you found me,” Xia Feng turned to Bai Hua for assistance. It was obvious that Xia Feng was still bewildered about the whole affair and he could only trust Bai Hua.

“I believe, your highness— “

“Please, just call me Chen, Mr Hua,” the sixth prince smiled at Bai Hua.

“Brother Chen, I believe he was under a spell. He would have woken up the moment he jumped into the water if he was sleep-walking but he told me he couldn’t move. So I came to the conclusion that it could only be a spell. I found him perching on the branch of a tree nearly dead. I didn’t know that he was a young master of a privileged family.”

“The imperial family and the Xia family are in your debt for saving this young master of the Xia family. The Xia family is one of the most important families in this mainland. Our imperial Dong family quite pales in front of them. Brother Hua, please ask whatever you want and I will grand it as long as it is under my power.”

“Brother Chen, I don’t need anything. I am a content person. I have no desires in this world. And since little Feng has met you, I should continue with my travels as well.”

“No, brother Hua, you must stay with me. Even if you don’t want anything, stay with me and tour the imperial city with me. I know it’s a first time for you here as well. Please?” Xia Feng begged with huge round eyes. This kid was an expert in coaxing, Bai Hua realised.

“Yes, please stay with us. I am sure when Xia Sheng arrives he will scold me if I let you go without clearing this life debt. Stay with us, at least for Feng’er’s sake, please,” Chen added noticing that Xia Feng was looking for his support.

Bai Hua didn’t want to meddle too much with mortal affairs. But he had already saved Xia Feng, and there was something about this kid’s stormy eyes that intrigued him. He could feel that the child was not an ordinary mortal. And he wanted to find out more. He was on an adventure after all. Staying won’t hurt.

“I’ll trouble both of you then,” he stood and bowed to both of them. He knew his position. He was a travelling musician and the people in front of him were lords in this world. He could only flow with the currents of this world.

Both Chen and Xia Feng were happy with his replies. Both of them have been afraid that he would decline their invitation. Bai Hua looked too indifferent to them.

Chen then turned to Xia Feng and said, “I have sent out messengers telling your brother that you’re safe and that I’ll be escorting you to your family mansion. He will come directly to the mansion without coming here. It’s already late, why don’t you rest for tonight and then tomorrow you can visit the imperial palace with brother Hua here?”

“Okay, big brother Chen. Let’s go to our mansion. I knew we were meeting you here so I came here first and I didn’t have any money on me,” he said without hesitation and turning towards Bai Hua he added, “brother Hua, you will be very happy in our mansion. And I have many things to show you!”

Bai Hua smiled at him seeing his enthusiastic face.

“Okay then, let’s make our way to the Xia family mansion. Someone! Get the carriages ready!” Chen called out.

“Yes, your highness!” replied a voice from somewhere.

They all stood up and made their way towards the exit. It was now dusk and maids were scuttling around inside the Red Phoenix Pavilion to light lamps on the walls. When they stood at the threshold of the establishment they were greeted with a fine carriage big enough to carry more than six people inside. Four magnificent horses were reined to the carriage with a carriage driver sitting at the front. Chen was after all a prince of the East Mainland.

The three of them got into the carriage and when Chen knocked at the interior walls of the carriage it started moving.

“Brother Hua, so it’s really your first time in the imperial city?” asked Chen politely while Xia Feng looked out of the window whose curtains were parted.

Bai Hua smiled helplessly. It was his first time in the mortal world. But he wasn’t a stranger in the godly imperial palace.

“Yes, it’s my first time,” he managed to say.

“Feng’er, you were very lucky to have met brother Hua here. And you should thank the gods that he happened to be travelling near the stream and have not taken the common road.”

Xia Feng nodded profusely. He wasn’t even listening properly.

Chen sighed, “Forgive his lack of manners. He’s probably dreaming about the upcoming competition. His near-death experience has not even fazed him.”

“Competition?”

“There is a competition organised by our imperial Dong family. And both Xia Feng and his brother Xia Sheng were travelling to take part in it. Any unmarried man can participate in the competition either he may be a child or an old man. But he must have level 10 spiritual powers. That is the only condition. We haven’t announced to the public yet but families like the Xia family are aware of it.”

Xia Feng interrupted and said proudly, “I have level 12 spiritual powers!”

“A level 12 prodigy who nearly died drowning you mean. A legend,” Chen teased.

“I met brother Hua who saved me that means that even my luck is level 12!” Xia Feng retorted shamelessly.

Both Chen and Bai Hua burst out laughing at this.

“So, that means even the public can participate even those from other towns?” Bai Hua asked.

“Yes, if they can make it. An immortal is staying at the imperial palace as a guest and he had suddenly asked for this competition. He said he’d give out pills as rewards for the top 10 rank holders. To be honest with you, brother Hua, he does not care about the champion. Actually, he’s looking for a disciple. That is why Feng’er here is so excited. He’s a genius of the Xia family next to his elder brother Xia Sheng.”

Xia Feng turned slightly red when Chen mentioned him.

“Big brother Chen, I am not as talented as you and big brother Sheng.”

“You’re about to surpass us. You can’t say we are talented when your spiritual powers are about to reach ours at this age!”

"But, but... I have no battle experience like you and big brother Sheng!"

"That didn't stop you from beating the young master from the Wang family last month! I heard it all from your brother."

They went on bickering like siblings.

Bai Hua was listening intently. So, this little young master is a genius. Who would want him killed then? Two mortals I have both come in contact with have people wanting them dead, he mused. Mortals seem to crave power more than anybody else. Maybe it is because they are weak, to begin with.

Bai Hua heard a gate opening and then the carriage came to a halt. They alighted from the carriage and what he saw was a huge mansion with the moon casting its silvery glow on it. And there were many servants who had come out to greet the prince and the young master of the mansion holding white silk lanterns in their hands.