Two months after Gióng's glorious victory over the invading army,

A guard approached Hùng Vương and respectfully reported:

* Your Majesty, we have received a report on the situation at the border.

* Keep continuing.

* Affirmative. The villages around the border area have been almost completely restored after the war. Gióng and his soldiers have devoted all their energy to assisting the people in rebuilding their communities. The border defence force has been further reinforced, erecting many observation posts. The residents have also greatly aided in providing food and a workforce. According to the intelligence gathered by our spies sent to the land of Hoa, they have suffered significant losses in the recent defeat. Coupled with the pressure from other powerful nations, they may temporarily refrain from any further attempts to invade our country.

* We haven't needed to worry about them for a while now.

After a moment of contemplation, Hùng Vương issued a command:

* Summon Gióng back to me!

* Yes, Your Majesty, your command will be obeyed!

****

The next day.

* This way, sir.

The chief steward escorted Gióng to Hùng Vương's study room. As he walked, Gióng admired the scenery. The room was nestled on the mountainside, offering a panoramic view extending to the valley's far side, where a narrow pass, the only entrance to the valley, could be seen amidst the cracks and crevices.

After passing through several long and densely packed corridors and countless stairs leading upwards, the chief steward finally stopped in front of a room. The door of the room was adorned with intricate patterns of flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, captivating to the eye.

* Please, sir, come in.

Gióng entered the study room, and the first thing he noticed was Hùng Vương dressed in ordinary attire yet sitting with a regal demeanour beside the tea table. Another person present was the chief bodyguard, Lý Thạch, who stood solemnly before Hùng Vương. Gióng approached respectfully to greet the king, while the chief steward bowed to both Hùng Vương and Lý Thạch before withdrawing from the room, leaving the three of them facing each other across the table.

After sipping the hot tea, Hùng Vương began:

* I've heard that the situation at the border, which I entrusted to you, has been resolved satisfactorily.

With a confident and radiant demeanour, Gióng replied:

* Your Majesty, you need not worry. Protecting the realm's peace is every citizen's duty in our country. With our current strength, this is undoubtedly a natural outcome.

* Hahaha! If you say so, then I can rest assured. I hope you can preserve and pass on the glorious flame of our nation to future generations."

After saying that, King Hùng set down the hot tea cup, his expression slightly solemn, with a hint of sadness gradually appearing in his dove-like eyes. Gióng seemed to have noticed this, so he asked:

* Is there something troubling Your Majesty? I was called here not just to enjoy good tea and scenery.

King Hùng swirled the tea cup and stood, walking towards the balcony. His eyes gazed down at the bustling streets and alleys below, then wandered into the distant horizon at the foot of the hill before finally looking up at the vast blue sky ahead. After a few long moments of contemplation, he turned back to face Gióng and spoke:

* I need your help with something. Head south, where there is a sacred mountain called Thái Sơn. My daughter is there. I need you to go and assess the situation and bring the princess back to me.

* South? Isn't that where natural disasters like storms and floods have occurred for the past few years? What is the princess doing down there?

* The princess was married to an influential figure there.

Lý Thạch replied, addressing Gióng's question before continuing the narrative:

* Two years ago, when the princess reached the age to marry, the king held a selection for suitors. On that day, the princess's extraordinary beauty echoed worldwide, attracting numerous distinguished figures who came to propose to her. However, she needed to be more impressed by any of them. Until one day, two men came to propose to her. The first man had a staff that could alter the terrain of mountains and hills. The other had a trident that could summon rain and wind. They identified themselves as Earth Spirit and Water Spirit. Both were great elemental spirits of the land and sea. They were evenly matched in power and ability; it was the first time we had seen such beings. Nevertheless, after discussing with the princess, the king gave them a task: whoever could bring back a rare and unusual item from their respective realms and arrive here faster than the other the next day would marry the princess. As Earth Spirit arrived a moment earlier than Water Spirit, the princess was married to Earth Spirit as promised. When the Spirit of the Sea arrived late, I vividly recall his face filled with rage. At that moment, the sky and earth seemed to darken, even though it was daytime. He stirred up a fierce storm in pursuit of Earth Spirit and the princess. Everyone was anxious, especially the king, deeply concerned for the princess's safety. That is also why the southern part of the country often experiences such natural disasters every month. It's all because of the conflict between these two forces of nature. No mortal being can intervene in this conflict.

Taking another sip of tea, Lý Thạch continued:

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* The princess has regularly written letters to the king for the past two years to reassure him. But there have been no letters from the princess for the last three months. This happened after the day of the most intense storm three months ago when, even within the palace walls, we felt the earth's and sky's tremors. After that, everything went silent, and there were no more storms or disasters. This made everyone in the palace worried. By the king's order, we sent someone to investigate, but we are still waiting for someone to return, so...

* Therefore, this time, I ask you. As a father, please bring my Ngọc Hoa back safely.

The voice of Hùng Vương sounded as if clinging, the worry evident on his aging face.

* I understand!

Gióng stood up:

* This is an urgent matter of great importance; the princess's life may be in danger. Please rest assured and await good news. I will be on my way right now.

Gióng stepped back out. Lý Thạch led Gióng down to the stables. Gióng remarked:

* I've never seen Hùng Vương lose his composure like that.

Lý Thạch replied:

* Since the queen's passing, the princess is the only close relative he has left. This time, I will accompany you. My father has just returned from a diplomatic mission to a country across the sea. I can leave this place in his hands with confidence.

* Your father is also a royal guard?

* That's right, he's a close friend and the first royal guard of the king. Hùng Vương trusts him and has been assigned to diplomatic missions, so he has been away from the country for over ten years. He just returned yesterday. Let's go then.

After saying that, both mounted their horses and rode swiftly southward.

After riding for more than a day, they were nearing their destination. As they approached the Thái Sơn mountain range, the landscape changed drastically. Trees were sparse, and many were broken; the terrain was deformed in many places, and numerous villages lay abandoned, with some areas flooded. They encountered a stretch of road so flooded they had to dismount and swim across.

Despite the challenging journey, by the dawn of the final day, they finally reached the foothills of Thái Sơn mountain.

* This mountain looks even taller than the last time I saw it.

* Are you getting tired, Lý Thạch?

* Not at all.

Lý Thạch calmly replied, brushing off Gióng's taunting tone.

They continued their ascent up the majestic mountain. After a while, both of them noticed something that sparked their curiosity.

* Have you noticed, Gióng?

* Yeah, this mountain, not a single animal in sight, just the sound of rustling leaves in the wind. Are you sure the princess is here?

* Absolutely.

* The princess usually communicates through what?

* A bright red hoopoe bird.

* But there isn't even a bird here...

Both Gióng and Lý Thạch understood that this was not a good sign.

They continued climbing until they reached the summit of the mountain. In a relatively flat area, they discovered a wooden structure. It resembled a palace, quite large, but it had been abandoned and covered in moss and weeds. After inspecting the area, they found no one there. They circled and spotted a large cave entrance. It seemed bottomless, and despite the bright sunlight outside, no light penetrated the cave. As they ventured deeper into the cave, they noticed the surroundings becoming illuminated. Upon closer inspection, they realized the blue light emanated from minerals around the cave. The further they went into the depths, the wider the cave expanded. They continued until they reached a spacious area illuminated by sunlight. It was more of a flower garden, with hundreds of species blooming in rows. However, they appeared to be gradually withering.

The other half of the cave was a space, and they saw a figure resembling a human sitting relaxed on a stone chair carved into the wall. Approaching the figure, Lý Thạch spoke up:

* Hello, Earth Deity. I am Lý Thạch, an envoy of Hùng Vương. We met once before when you visited the capital.

The Earth Deity slowly opened his eyes, glaring at Lý Thạch without uttering a word. Lý Thạch continued:

* The king has sent us with...

* You should leave!

The Earth Deity interrupted with that sentence before closing his weary eyes again.

* We're still going. Answer me! Where is our companion, and where is the princess...

Before he could finish his sentence, a stone flew from nowhere and hit Thạch's head, narrowly missing him but grazing his forehead.

* The Earth Deity, you?

Thạch growled, immediately realizing that another stone was flying towards him. Before he could dodge it, he saw a hand catch the stone. It was Gióng. He crushed the stone in his hand and said:

* I think the answer is quite clear already, Thạch. We might have to force him to speak with violence.

As soon as he finished his sentence, Gióng lunged forward with his sword. Stones of all sizes began to fly towards him. He swung his sword around, cutting through each one. A few stones hit him, but it was nothing. While defending against the stones, he charged towards the Earth Deity. Suddenly, a large stone pillar emerged from the ground, striking Gióng in the chest and knocking him back to his original position.

* Be careful; he's one of the Four Deities. You can't underestimate him.

Warned Lý Thạch as he stood up, drawing his sword towards the Earth Deity. Gióng dusted himself off and stood up straight. He glanced at Lý Thạch and smiled:

* Let's go!