ROAR OF THE JADE DRAGON

MINDSET

"Let's follow them," Chen Jun urged deceptively beaming a friendly smile at curious villagers who were flocking to their table to admire their wares. As Zhang Mei and Wang Li walked off into the distance.

"Patience,";Liu Chang counselled. "We have only arrived here."

"Liu Chang did you not hear what she said?" Chen Jun asked gesturing to a woman who seemed interested in a pair of gold ear rings to take a closer look.

"I know what you are thinking," said, Liu Chang smiling warmly at another potential customer.

"We must go about it be discreetly. It is important the villagers not suspect of having any other motive for being here apart from trading. It is therefore crucial that we establish ourselves first in the eyes of the locals. They must come to accept us as genuine traders."

"Why wouldn't they?" Chen Jun asked.

"That won't happen if we pack up shop just as quickly as we have set up. Let us not make it too obvious that we are just putting up an act. If the villagers become suspicious they might ask us to leave. Keep in mind also Chen Jun that we do not know how much those girls might know about the crown prince, if indeed he is the cousin they were referring to. We shall be in a better position to ask discreetly about him if our true identities remain hidden".

"Very well, Liu Chang, you raise a valid point," said Chen Jun. "I have also observed while looking down from the celestial realm that traders will engage in business right throughout the working day. Surely you are not suggesting that we also do the same?"

"We must stay and trade trade a bit longer. If we leave too early in the day it may raise suspicion", replied Liu Chang smiling and waving permission at another woman to try on a gold necklace, to the admiration of the other women around her when she put it on.

Liu Chang pretended to clap his hands in admiration while feigning an appreciative smile.

"But those two might lead us to crown prince Wang Wei," subtly protested Chen Jun.

"We only suspect them, we don't know anything for sure", Liu Chang countered. "They might really have a cousin for all we know.It is also possible they might have been talking about the crown prince."

"If we are seen following those two girls, the villagers might not take such behaviour too kindly. Let us not compromise ourselves on the spur of the moment," advised Liu Chen

"But what if the cousin they were referring to really is Wang Wei and we have missed the opportunity to find him?," Chen Jun challenged.

"Until we know for sure that those two girls are Li Yan's assassins..." Liu Chen speaking softly beneath his breath so only Chen Jun could hear what he was saying, whilst smiling at the women admiring the jewellery laid out on the table top.

"They are not," Chen Jun promptly burst out with such confidence that he only realised what he had done when he saw the bemused expression on Liu Chang's face. He had not intended to give away the fact that he and crown prince Wang Wei had known Zhang Mei and Wang Li long before then.

"We have nothing to worry about then," said Liu Chang smiling knowingly.

Making Chen Jun regret having answered so quickly. But Liu Chang did not press him on how he knew with such certainty. Instead Liu Chang chose to change the topic.

"Li Yan must know that the crown prince is no longer in the celestial realm," reasoned Chen Jun.

"I 'm sure she does," Liu Chang confirmed.

"Then why hasn't she sent over her assassins?" asked Chen Jun. "I would think that would be her next logical move."

"Oh maybe she must not be aware of the crown prince's condition," said Liu Chang. "I 'm sure Li Yan must want to avoid taking any rush action that might make the roar of the jade dragon to manifest this early into her reign. It could ruin her plans prematurely."

"We are also not aware of the crown prince's condition," said Chen Jun.

"Her condition is a much more precarious. The stakes are much higher for her. Li Yan's position is much more delicate. There is another matter to consider. Until now it has only been the fear of the roar that has kept the underworld at bay. In the absence of the jade dragon there will be nothing to prevent the underworld from attacking the celestial realm. Li Yan will need all her vast army to suppress the underworld. She will therefore not be willing to risk facing the roar of the jade dragon at the same time. Otherwise her forces might be quickly overwhelmed if they have to fight on two fronts at once." Our trump card is that she is not aware that crown prince Wang Wei has not began to manifest the roar of the jade dragon. Therefore she will not take any action that might provoke him to manifest."

"Which is why we have to get to him first," remarked," Liu Chang.

Another conversation relating to the one that Liu Chang and Che Jun were having, was taking place.

"Wang Li, did you notice the way the older trader reacted the moment you mentioned 'my missing cousin?" Zhang Mei asked when they were out of earshot of the traders.

"Maybe he was only curious," suggsted Wang Li. "Could that also be the reason why you keep looking back in their direction?" Zhang Mei asked sarcastically.

"If they had followed us, my suspicion would have been confirmed", said Zhang Mei not waiting to hear Wang Li's reply.

"Are you saying you no longer suspect them?" asked Wang Li.

"It's too early to say," replied Zhang Mei.

"The sooner we find the celestial being, the better."

"We are assuming that he will still be looking the same as when we last saw him," noted Wang Li thoughtfully.

"Are you suggesting he could have disguised his appearance?", asked Zhang Mei.

"It's possible", said Wang "The question to ask would be how then will we be able to tell him apart?"

"He will be only the third newcomer to the village. The only other person apart from those two traders who we do not know," said Zhang Mei.

"Oh Wang Li, I had thought today was going to be a beautiful day", Zhang Mei remarked.

"How would you know, can you now predict the future?" asked Wang Li.

"It's just a feeling thst I had from the time I got up this morning. Though I am not sure why. Maybe it could be because esterday I spent the whole of night with the celestial being", said Zhang Mei.

"Oh Zhang Mei", said Wang Li playfully teasing and making a face.

"It's not what you think", Zhang Mei playfully exclaimed seeing the mischievous expression on her friend's face.

"Uh hm! tell me," Wang Li proceeded playfully, the conspiratorial expression still playing on her face.

"Last night I set a long time at the celestial being's bedside. I was gazing intently at his face, trying to understand what he had been thinking before he passed out. I had meant to stay at his side for a short time only. I didn't even realise when I lost track of time."

"I 'm guessing that's when he woke up," remarked Wang Li.

"It wasn't but I didn't realise when my thoughts turned into the most beautiful dream I have ever had," Zhang Mei proceeded dreamily.

"In that moment it all finally became crystal clear. Everything that I had not understood before was revealed in stunning detail. All the dots began to connect together together," said Zhang Mei.

"Just from gazing at the celestial being's face ", Wang Li playfully teased.

All the times that I told you I felt, I was watched". said Zhang Mei as they walked along a path passing through the village.

"Yes I remember", said Wang Li.

"The fly that fell into my tea the other day. How I had felt the same sense of peacefulness. The same feeling that I had previously felt of being watched. Yet there was never any one in sight", said Zhang Mei.

"Wait are you trying to tell me the feeling was connected to that particular fly?",asked Wang Li.

"Only it wasn't a fly, it was actually the celestial being watching me from the jade heaven," said Zhang Mei.

"The celestial being was a fly?", asked Wang Li.

"I saw it all in a dream. The celestial being coming down from jade heaven in the form of a fly, just to see me. But in my dream after I picked the fly out of my tea and nursed him back to life with my breath. I saw the celestial being in the forest."

"There was a warm wave of gratitude radiating from him. He seemed so happy."

"So you are saying all those times, you claimed you felt you were being watched. It was the celestial being watching from up there", Wang Li remarks pointing at the sky. Who became a became a fly, that drowned in your tea. Who you rescued?"

"He is a celestial being who has lived for thousands of years. I have had the oddest feeling that he is not a stranger to me. That we have been acquainted long before we found him in the forest," said Zhang Mei.

"What are you trying to tell me Zhang Mei?"

Wang Li asked with a bemused expression on her face.

"I honestly do not understand myself," Wang Li", replied Zhang Mei. "I just know that now he is awake, it is important that I find him. I feel only he has the answers to the questions that are burning in my mind".

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