ROAR OF THE JADE DRAGON

AFTERMATH

Liu Chang and Chen Jun immediately set off for the neighbouring village at a brisk jog. The man running ahead of them leading the way. As they ran through the forest.

The man suddenly slowed down to a walk as they entered a new stretch of forest where the trees had all been cut at the same height as though by design. The man held up his hand for caution as he proceeded.

Confirming that they were entering a potentially dangerous area. Liu Chang and Jun slowed down to a walk, keeping a sharp lookout. Chen Jun drew his sword and held the hilt tightly with both hands in front of him as they advanced cautiously taking care not to make any unnecessary noise with their feet.

As they emerged unsuspectingly from the forest, their ears were suddenly assaulted by loud screaming. A mob of peasants rushed at them from several different directions wielding clubs, machetes, pitch forks and hoe handles threateningly.

Chen Jun instinctively positioned himself protectively in front of Liu Chang and the man just as an angry peasant savagely swung his machete to strike. Chen Jun's reaction was swift, the blade of his sword slicing through the night air.

The blade clashed so violently with the machete that the peasant was driven backwards by the force of the impact.

"Stop it! They are here to help!" the man shouted coming forward from behind Chen Jun. As Chen Jun swung his sword, once again and the sharp blade would have met with the peasant's exposed neck.

"Chen Jun, stop it!", quickly shouted Liu Chang. The intended blow froze in mid flight only inches away from the peasant's neck. As the peasant held his breath, his eyes wide with fear staring at the blade which was too dangerously close for comfort.

Chen Jun withdrew the sword from the peasant's neck, immediately eliciting audible sighs of relief. It was as if the peasants had collectively realised how dangerous Chen Jun was with the sword and had held their breath.

"You know them?" one peasant asked the man.

"Yes", the man replied. "They came to help."

"So why did he attack us!" asked another peasant angrily.

"I apologise for my son. Please forgive him", said Liu Chang. He thought I was in danger and only acted to protect me."

It was all that Liu Chang could say, without telling the truth. He could not reveal that Chen Jun was actually a seasoned celestial warrior. Who had fought countless battles in the celestial realm. The swordsmanship they had witnessed was only a small glimpse of what he was capable of.

"But why did you attack us?" asked Liu Chang.

"A witch had attacked us earlier. We were scared That is why we attacked."

"We though you were with her," said another villager.

"It was a witch?", asked the man who came with them in surprise. "I thought the village was attacked by a madman?"

"It was a witch in disguise. We saw her face after she uncovered her face," said another peasant.

"Yes", confirmed another peasant. "That's how we found out after a stranger confronted. He saved us."

"A stranger?", repeated Liu Chang. "Can you describe him, what he looked like, his dressing?"

"He was tall, handsome. His dressing wasn't anything special", replied one of the peasants.

"Of course, Wang Wei would have taken care to disguise himself", Liu Chang realised thinking to himself.

"There was something about the way he carried himself," replied the peasant. "Yes there was a sense of peace around him. It was as though it was radiated from his personality."

"It was definitely Wang Wei", Chen Jun whispered to Liu Chang.

"There were a couple of girls with him," the peasant continued .

"The girls we met earlier at our stall", Liu Chang whispered to Chen Jun. It' is clear, they lied to us. They were not looking for any lost cousin they were referring to Wang Wei.

"Of course they lied they share no relation with Wang Wei," Chen Jun whispered to Liu Chang.

"It is possible the crown prince is in danger," Liu Chang whispered back to Chen Jun.

"Where is the stranger?" asked Liu Chang turning to the peasants.

"He left together with the girls after he assured us that the witch would not come back," another peasant replied. He insisted on leaving even though we begged him to stay."

"We were scared the witch would return to attack us after he left", explained another villager",

"Which was why we attacked you".

"He was right", said Liu Chang "You have no reason to fear, that witch will not return."

"We shall take your leave," respectfully announced Liu Chang.

Liu Chang and Chen Jun turned around a started walking back at a leisurely pace.

"We had assumed that Li Yan would send through her executioners from the celestial realm. It seems she had come herself."

"What I still don't get is the roll of those two mortal girls have in the matter?", Liu Chan contemplated out loud.

Chen Jun understood that crown prince Wang Wei was finally living out his dream of being with Zhang Mei.

He was secretly happy for his master and was hoping they would meet soon. So that he could also be with Wang Li. Wang Li whom he had only ever imagined being with.

Some good had come out of the crisis, it had brought him close to her. It had presented him with the opportunity to be with her.

The thought was giving him a warm feeling inside such that he began to smile before he realised what he was doing.

"Chen Jun, do you finding something amusing about this situation?", Liu Chang asked curiously noticing the contented grin on Chen Jun's face.

"I am only glad the roar has begun to manifest. Once we find Crown prince Wang Wei we will soon be able be able to return to the celestial realm. It will be good to see jade heaven restored to its former glory", replied Chen Jun.

"It is good sign," agreed Liu Chen. "Though the roar only activated this time, it is further proof that it is within him. It may take some time for it to manifest as it should. As well as for him to master it."

"What do you mean it only activated?", asked Chen Jun with genuine curiosity".

"A menifestation would have been longer, it would have been more sustained. He would have been able to end the reign of the red dragon there and then".

"At least the flame of hope has been re-ignited," said Chen Jun.

"Yes", agreed Liu Chan. "Though the question of when we will get beyond that hope is a totally different matter altogether".

"Why the pessimism, Liu Chang ?", Chen Jun asked.

"I 'm just being practical", replied Liu Chang. "The best hope for the roar to manifest was over the moment crown prince Wang Wei rejected Li Yan".

"Are you saying he should have married Li Yan even though he has no feelings for her. How would that have worked?" asked Chen Jun.

"A loveless marriage, it wouldn't have had the desired effect either", Liu Chang acknowledged sadly.

"But maybe there is still a way", Chen Jun went on dreamily thinking of crown prince Wang Wei and Zhang Mei. Maybe it can still happen."

"Chen Jun, Is there something that you are aware of that you are not telling me?", Liu Chang asked looking at Chen Jun with suspicion.

A subtle smile played on Chen Jun's face, thinking about crown prince Wang Wei and Zhang Mei.

"That thing which you did was powerful", Wang Li exclaimed excitedly sitting on Zhang Mei's bed.

"You mean the roar," crown prince Wei replied calmly sitting on a chair beside the bed.

"What is it?" asked Zhang Mei.

"It is an ancient power belonging to my lineage," said crown prince Wang Wei.

"Wow! what exactly does it do?", asked Wang Li excitedly.

"It is a force for good that we only call upon in times of trouble", calmly replied crown prince Wang Wei.

"Like you did with that witch?" Wang Li said excitedly.

"Something like that but I have not fully mastered the ability control it", calmly replied Wang Wei.

"But you were able to use it", insisted Zhang Mei. "Even the witch fled."

"Only I did not summon the roar. It activated on its own in response to the immediate danger to my life", said crown prince Wang Wei."I have a feeling that she must have realized the same."

'What is it capable which made her flee?" asked Zhang Mei.

"The roar can completely end her and her evil. But for that I will need to be in full control of the power", said crown prince Wang Wei.

"If she knows you are not fully in country of your power why did she run away. Why didn't she stay and fight you?", asked Zhang Mei.

"In my present condition, the roar of the jade dragon is unpredictable. It might have kill her if she had provoked it. Li Yan must have realised that as long as she does not threaten me directly. She would be safe", explained crown prince Wang Wei.

"Can you not provoke this roar thing against her?", asked Zhang Mei.

"I would have to menifest the roar of the jade dragon. I would have to be in control. Li Yan knows that without being able to control the power of the roar, there is not much that I can do. Much as I would like to act against her", said crown prince Wang Wei.

"What will it take to make you menifest the roar, to have you in control of it?" Zhang asked.

"A union of the heart based on true love?"crown prince Wang Wei replied.

"Haven't you haven't met with a potential partner?" asked Zhang Mei innocently.

"Maybe I have ", replied crown prince Wang Wei, gazing lovingly into Zhang Mei's beautiful eyes.

"Have you told her, how you feel about her?" Zhang Mei innocently asked.

"I haven't been able to bring myself round to it?" crown prince Wang Wei replied gazing into Zhang Mei's eyes.