The tournament’s reward had been released and it was said that whoever ranks in the top ten could go into the treasury of the Heilong Kingdom and pick one item. Ling knew that in the treasury there was one item called Yue Lao’s red string. The story of the Yue Lao’s red string goes like this hundreds of years ago there was a young girl who was waiting for her beloved to come back home from war.
One day a man by the name of Yue Lao happened upon the sight of this girl weeping in the rain. He had heard tales about her from his travels and true to their words she would come every night and cry while waiting for the young man that left for war to return.
“Young maiden waiting in the dark, tear no more, wait no longer, for this string will guide thy.” Yue Lao said to the young maiden as he handed her the string and flew up into the sky toward the moon.
After many months of following the string it led her into a deep forest in a remote valley and then to a small cottage. Once she opened the door she could see the young man that had left her laying on a bed wrapped in bandages.
“It was a miracle that this young man even survived the fall. There were many arrows sticking out of his back when I found him and it seemed like he had fallen off the cliff above. But amazingly he was alive and kept on mumbling someone’s name before he went unconscious.” The hermit said. The hermit decided it was fate that they met so he took care of the unconscious man.
Ling had found out from her father that the Red String of Fate was within the treasury of the Heilong Kingdom. Her father had tried to acquire it for her but the king rarely gave out such mystical items so all was in vain. But if she placed in the top ten then she would have a chance to enter the treasury and pick one item.
“Hello there I’m a bit lost can you help me find my way?” The voice said.
The second she saw his eyes a face flashed through her mind.
She always believed the he did not die and waited for him to return to her however seeing him in front of her was an entirely different story. It had been so long and for him to suddenly appear her mind could no process everything.
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As he stood there he could see the tears rolling down her eyes which made his heart clench.
Thus he began slowly walking toward her. It also seemed that Ling had recognized him and got up from her chair and slowly walked toward him. The slowness soon began to grow quicker and eventually turned into full on running. Well of course they weren’t running more like speed walking because who runs in this sort of situation.
Zhang had taken off his helmet and tossed it into the air where it turned into white light and was stored into his interspatial ring.
Zhang pulled off one of his gauntlets and used his hand to wipe away the tears on her face then went back to hugging her by the waist.
Ling and Zhang stood in the middle of the hall embracing in their own little world until a voice rang out from the door.
When everyone turned and looked to the door they could see Huang Zu standing there with a stunned look on his face.
“Your future wife? I’m sorry but even though this is the first time I met her it seems she has taken a liking to me.” Zhang replied trying to make it seem like he did not know Ling.
“Bu-but you already have two wives.” Huang Zu said.
“Who are they?” She murmured.
“Don’t worry even though I believe love at first sight is for lonely people I feel that we can spend some time to get to know each other and perhaps then we can marry.” Zhang said while turning back and looking at Ling with a wink.
“See? I’m sorry brother but she doesn’t mind.” Zhang commented. As he saw it Huang Zu was his equal in terms of status. Although Aurora was not big enough to be labeled a kingdom it was still a force to be reckon with so the king of the Heilong kingdom would not get involved in something such as this. Also this was the Aurora of the past the current Aurora could most likely consider itself a small kingdom after Zhang had taken Red Mist city.
“Welp glad he’s gone.” Zhang said with a shrug.
“My second and third wives after you of course.” Zhang said as he hugged Ling once more.
“Who who said we are going to marry you brother!” Yuying yelled along with Ai.
“Who said? I did.” Zhang said while laughing as he used his free hand to pull Yuying and Ai toward him by the waist and then hugged them with Ling. Physically Zhang was stronger than the three beauties so they could not break out of his embrace and after a while just went along with it.
Once everyone sat down Zhang began telling his tale. He started off from when he fought the general in golden armor back in Blue Tear city and how he had died. Then he went on to talk about the underworld and how he had tried to escape but failed. His encounter with Xin Tao was also spoken of.
Then came Jian Wei and the pirate raid at sea which almost costed them their lives. From there Zhang went on to talk about Red Mist city, and the ruins of the Sai empire.
She found some parts hard to process, other parts to be very exciting, and listened quietly. From the story Ling could tell the Yuying and Ai had been through thick and thin with Zhang which made a part of her somewhat accept their being around him.
After completing his story Zhang asked Ling no to tell anyone of his identity. He did not want to cause unwanted trouble for his family. He still thought that it would be better to secretly meet his family then to do it publicly. Because as the next ruler of Aurora people will find it odd that his father is a minister in the Heilong kingdom. That would then make the king suspicious of his family and that wouldn’t lead to anything good.
“The king had made arrangements for us to stay in a private villa. Do you perhaps want to stay with me?” Zhang said with a grin on his face.
“Yea then we can go sightseeing together, I’d much rather you take me around then that other guy. And you get three can get to know each other better. Since I’m going to marry all three of you.” Zhang said in a playful tone while getting up from his seat.
“Who’s going to marry you!?” All three of them yelled.
Had lots of fun with the first part with the red string :D.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and wooooo 4th in weekly a bits away from 3rd hehe.