ROAR OF THE JADE DRAGON

REFLECTIONS

Zhang Mei set at crown prince Wang Wei's beside. Watching him sleeping peacefully, it seemed impossible that he was thousands of years old, as her father had told her. He looked more like he was in his late twenties. The youthfulness of the face before her and her father's claim did not reconcile.

That wasn't the only reason though why she could not stop herself from looking at his face. The attraction was undeniable.

She could at least admit to that much to herself, that he was quite good looking. She had come across many handsome boys in her life. All of whom had been full of themselves thinking too highly of their physical attractiveness.

There was something different about this one. Though he had not opened his eyes from the time she had found him in the forest while picking firewood. There was a sense of quiet dignity about him that was not outspoken. It was just there like a presence, a kind of peaceful aura that he carried around him .

Zhang Mei was trying hard to understand, to pick out what made him stand out.

At that very moment, crown prince Wang Wei was dreaming of, of that day when he had glided gently to Earth in the form of a fly. His gaze fixed on Zhang Mei's beautiful face. It was all he could see, not the conversation she was having with Wang Li between sips of the tea. Certainly none of the scalding hot liquid he was coming dangerously close to.Time might as well have stood still as he descended onto that cup of tea.

It was as though he had suddenly gone deaf. Her face grew bigger, more attractive with each flap of the fly's wings bringing him closer . His heart beat faster with each breath he took.

His whole mind was so focused on her beauty that at the crucial moment when he was about to land on the rim of Zhang Mei's cup of tea, he missed his footing and slipped into the hot beverage.

Zhang Mei was recalling at that moment feeling an overwhelming sense of concern. She did not realise the moment when she fell asleep. Her head on crown prince Wang Wei's chest .She had just melted in the moment feeling as though her heart would break if she could not rescue that fly.

That was the moment as she lost track of the difference between the thought and the dream. Zhang Mei carefully picked the fly out of her tea between the tips of her thumb and index finger.

When Zhang Mei began blowing on him, to dry him. It felt as though she was blowing the very breath off life into the fly, who was crown prince Wei

At that moment the crown prince Wang Wei opened his eyes. Zhang Mei had already fallen asleep sitting on a stool beside the bed her head on his chest.

Crown prince Wang Wei getting up, gently moved Zhang Mei's sleeping form onto the bed.

He looks down at her beautiful face and whispered softly, "sleep".

Satisfying himself that Zhang Mei would have the most peaceful sleep of her entire life, crown prince Wang Wei turned away and walked out.

"We can not go among the mortals, looking like we are," said Liu Chang. "We will have to disguise ourselves."

"There is a village nearby, we have seen it often, crown prince Wang Wei and I. While looking down from the celestial realm. We can disguise ourselves as peasants from that village," suggested Chen Jun. "We should fit in perfectly with them."

"That could work, but in a village people usually know each other. We will be strangers among them," Liu Chang pointed out. I suggest we disguise ourselves as travelling traders instead. That way we 'll be able to free engage with the villagers."

"I see where you are going with this, no one questions travelling traders," observed Chen Jun.

"Exactly at the same time we 'll be able to freely search for the crown prince," Liu Chang proceeded.

Liu Chang snapped his fingers and automatically their clothing changed. Along with the change in their clothing was a pouch of money and another larger sack.

"I believe we 'll need some money. We are no longer in the celestial realm. Everything here is paid for with money," said Liu Chang tossing the smaller pouch jingling with coins into the air once before catching it again in the same hand.

"What is in the sack?", asked Chen Jun

"Trinkets to sell'," replied Liu Chang. "They will help to establish our identity as travelling traders."

"You have thought of everything Liu Chang," Chen Jun observed appreciatively.

"We don't know how long we are going to have to be here. Therefore we shall pose as a father and son duo. It will justify our being together all the time.

"But for how long must we put up this pretence?" asked Chen Jun asked.

"Until the roar of the jade dragon menifests, for as long as we have to be here.

"Now let us find crown prince Wang Wei", said Chen Jun.

"It is late," advised Liu Chang. "I have a feeling, wherever the crown prince is he will be safe until tomorrow morning. Let us go into the village and find lodgings for the night."

"It has been a long day", Chen Jun agreed. ",We have an even longer day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Will you not carry the sack for your poor old father, my son?" Liu Chang turning to Chen Jun playfully teased.

"Very funny Liu Chang. I see you are already taking advantage of your new role," chuckled Chen Jun picking up the sack and slinging it over one shoulder.

"We should do nothing to raise suspicion neither by our dressing nor by our conduct," Liu Chang stressed as they set out for the village.

After a pleasant night's rest Zhang Mei woke up feeling refreshed and happier than she had ever felt before. Though she could not exactly put her finger on the reason, she was in such an excellent mood. Looking around the room everything still looked the same.

Then it hit her that she had given up her room to the celestial being whom she and Wang Li had found in the forest while collecting firewood.

Last time she had seen him, he had been the one lying on her bed. While she set on a stool beside the bed. So how had she ended in bed.

The thought scared Zhang Mei and lifting the bedding from herself felt a temporary sigh of relief. She was fully dressed. But then the question hit her again, where was the celestial being.

"Leaping out of bed, she nearly bumped into Wang Li in her hurry to get out of the door.

"Slow down Zhang Mei", Wang Li urged. "Where are you going in such a hurry Zhang Mei?" Wang Li asked

"We need to find the celestial being!" shouted Zhang Mei.

"You mean he's awake!?" Wang Li asked excitedly.

"He has run away from home," said Zhang Mei speaking with a sense of urgency. "Let's go find him", Zhang Mei dragging Wang Li behind her by the hand out the door".

"Wow! I would have loved to see him awake. I have many questions to ask him," Wang Li exclaimed excitedly.

"Even I didn't get to see him," replied Zhang Mei as they walked down the street at a brisk walk, looking about them furtively.

What exactly are we looking for?," Wang Li asked.

"Someone wearing expensive looking clothes that would make him look out of place. Which is why we have to find him quickly before more people see him," said Zhang Mei.

"What will we do when we find him, will we just ask him to come with us?" asked Wang Li.

"Let us find him first," said Zhang Mei.

"Ok," said Wang Li.

Liu Chang and Chen Jun set up a table in an open space and emptied out the contents of the sack onto it. Curious passers by came to look at the various items that were being sold. Liu Chen and Chen Jun busied themselves engaging the locals in friendly banter. Trying to find out if anyone else apart from the two of them had recently arrived in the village. Or any information that might lead them to crown prince Wang Wei.

Zhang Mei and Wang Li walked past their table.

It was obvious that the two girls were looking for something or rather someone. Chen Jun was happy to see Wang Li. In his excitement he could hardly control himself.

"Hey you beautiful ladies over there. Come see what beautiful trinkets I have just for you!" Chen Jun called out excitedly with a broad brimmed smile.

Wang Li walked over to the table to see the items being traded.

An impatient looking Zhang Mei followed closely behind her friend.

"Where are you going, Wang Li!?", Zhang Mei hissed closed behind her.

"I just want to look at the beautiful jewellery," replied Wang Li innocently.

"Yes it won't hurt to let her take a close look," Chen Jun urged Zhang Mei with a disarming smile.

"We "ll come back another time," said Zheng Mei. "We need to find my cousin first."

"Is he missing or something?" asked Chen Jun politely.

He recently arrived in our village and doesn't know his way around" explained Zhang Mei.

Liu Chang's sharp ears were quick to pick up the line '..recently arrived..." making him to begin to fill hopeful again.