They entered the gate of the imperial city without any hindrance. It was like the guards there didn’t even notice them. The boy was only thinking about food and didn’t even pay attention to his surroundings. He walked in front while Bai Hua followed him behind. There were many stalls lined up inside the wall. The boy was wistfully looking at all the food stalls. Bai Hua noticed his wistful expression and chuckled.

“Follow me, little brother, I’ll take you to a proper restaurant.”

He led him until they reached a moderate looking restaurant. Bai Hua wasn’t worried about the cost. But the little brother wore an embarrassed face when they stepped into the restaurant. He had thought that Bai Hua as a travelling musician would not have much money on him.

Some people looked up when they entered the restaurant. They saw a pair of two fine young men. Especially the younger one, he had a delicate face and he seemed to have a noble background. Once again, Bai Hua had retreated and made the boy take the limelight.

Bai Hua had a traveller’s appearance but he never looked dishevelled. His green robes were always clean even after travelling for a month. Anyone who looked at him would actually mistake him for a scholar rather than a musician. He had an elegant air even though his only accessory was his white jade crane. But the zither behind him made people register him as a musician.

The boy did not look bad as well. His robes were dark in colour with silver embroideries and with the jade pendant hanging down his waist he looked like a young lord. Bai Hua had arranged his hair into a bun at the top with a black ribbon that he had given to the boy.

Together they look like a young lord and his attendee travelling together.

They took a seat at an empty table and a waiter appeared.

“What will you have, young masters?”

“Anything he wants to eat,” said Bai Hua.

The boy’s eyes sparkled and he fired away a list of delicacies after looking at the menu. He was a bit guilty at the price of the food but he promised inwardly that he would pay back everything and even reward Bai Hua for saving him. He just needed to return to his home.

“Anything else, young master,” asked the waiter to Bai Hua.

“Ah, a pot of your best tea and of course, a bowl of your restaurant’s special noodle.”

After the waiter left with their orders, the boy spoke first.

“Brother Hua, are you just going to have that? Is it on my account? Have I ordered too much? Are you poor?” he asked with a little blush forming around his cheeks.

“Hahaha... I brought you here knowing that I could afford it. Don’t worry I was rewarded handsomely for my last performance. Have your fill. Don’t worry about the money.”

The boy was shocked at the carefree way Bai Hua dealt with matters. He was totally unconcerned about money. The boy knew that he was dressed well and anybody who found him would have used him to get a huge reward from his father. But Bai Hua had not even asked his identity. He was even feeding him now after saving him. He was truly grateful to Bai Hua and he had even come to admire him.

He sighed and said, “My name is Xia Feng. I am the youngest son of Xia Rong, the family head of Xia clan. I was travelling to the imperial city of East Mainland with my elder brother Xia Sheng. Last night we had camped near a stream to continue travelling today but I had a weird dream where somebody was calling me from the stream and I had gone to find out the source. The water was very tempting and the rest of the story is the same as I told you earlier. I couldn’t move and I was drowning. I thought I was having a nightmare and I would eventually wake up. I didn’t know that I was really drowning and by the looks of it I would have died, but you saved me, brother Hua.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

He had stood up and joined his hands and gave him a deep bow.

“Little brother Feng, you don’t need to do that, it must have been your fate to be saved. You don’t need to lower yourself in front of me.”

Bai Hua did not understand the position of Xia family in East Mainland but he understood that the Xia clan hold an important position from the tone of Xia Feng’s voice.

He stood up and made Xia Feng sit.

The waiter also arrived with their food on a huge tray. He laid all the food on the table and went back to bring Bai Hua’s tea.

“Eat. Your brother must be searching for you. After you’re full we’ll go and send him news about you.”

“Alright, I’ll go to big brother Chen, he will know what to do,” Xia Feng rubbed his nose and started eating.

Bai Hua had noted that this “big brother Chen” was the same one Xia Feng had mumbled in his sleep, and he was not his elder brother but another person. And it seemed that he was closer to this “big brother Chen”.

Bai Hua paid their bills and left the restaurant. Like he expected he could afford the mortal food with his mortal money much to the shock of Xia Feng.

Now that Xia Feng was no longer hungry, he was actively looking around and enjoying the red glow in the sky. Then suddenly, he whirled around.

“Brother Hua, we were supposed to meet up with big brother Chen here! The Red Phoenix Pavillion!”

“Ah, then we don’t need to wait around, we’ll just go to the pavilion and ask this brother Chen to send a message to your brother telling him that you are safe.”

His eyes sparkled. Xia Feng was obviously happy now. He had already forgotten his near dead experience.

Mortal kids, resilient and full of limitless hope, mused Bai Hua to himself.

Bai Hua asked the address of the Red Phoenix Pavilion from a passerby and found out that it wasn’t far.

They walked till they were in front of a huge establishment painted in red. It looked grand and there were even guards outside its huge doors. Just above the door, there was a board with the sign “The Red Phoenix Pavilion” written in gold. The building looked the most intimidating around the area.

Bai Hua thought, “This brother Chen seemed to be someone important.”

Xia Feng pulled Bai Hua and made for the doors. But they were stopped by the guards,

“Do you have reservations?” asked one of the guards rudely looking at both of them. He had just skimmed at Xia Feng’s face and focused on Bai Hua. He was looking at Bai Hua as if he did not even deserve to stand outside its doors.

Xia Feng’s face turned sour at the tone of the guard. Bai Hua didn't think that they would be blocked. He could have nullified their senses if not as he had done to the guards at the gate earlier.

Then suddenly one of the guards quickly shook the rude guard and whispered something into his ear while keeping his eyes on Xia Feng’s jade pendant. Then, the rude guard’s face turned white.

“My apologies, young master of the Xia family, this lowly one didn’t recognise you! I didn’t expect you would be coming with only an attendee! The prince has been waiting for you inside,” he quickly apologised while giving Xia Feng a deep bow. All the guards were bowing now.

“Rise, tell the prince I am here,” said Xia Feng with a commanding voice.

There was a glint of surprise in Bai Hua’s face but his face remained the same.

A guard rushed inside to announce Xia Feng’s arrival and after a few seconds, a young man came out followed by his attendants. He looked around Bai Hua’s age. He was wearing dark blue flower embroidered robes with a gold headband tied around his bun. A jade pendant was also hanging down from his waist with a tiny horse carved on it. He had an innocent face with brown intelligent eyes.

He looked at Bai Hua first and then at Xia Feng, then his eyes widened.

“Feng’er! Why are you alone? Where is your brother? Where are all your attendants?!” the prince asked, with a bewildered expression.

“Big brother Chen!” he said as he ran into Prince Chen’s arms. Chen patted on his head in a reassuring way.

“Let’s go inside and talk, is that your friend?” he asked Xia Feng looking at Bai Hua.

“That’s brother Hua, he saved me.”

“What? You were in danger? Tell me what happened to you!” he exclaimed in an alarming tone, his eyes were full of concern. He looked at Bai Hua and asked, “Why don’t you join us as well and tell me what happened to Feng'er, Mr Hua? Let me introduce myself, I am the sixth prince of East Mainland.”

Bai Hua joined his hands and bowed to the prince.

“Yes, brother Hua, stay with me until my brother arrives,” Xiao Feng asked beseechingly.

“Okay if you insist, little Feng,” assented Bai Hua as he followed the group.

After this, Xiao Feng started relating everything that had happened to him to Prince Chen (without giving any time to Bai Hua). Hearing Xia Feng's account, Prince Chen immediately sent out messengers to relay the news of Xia Feng’s safe arrival to the imperial city to Xia Sheng’s group.