Chapter 4: The Proud Prince
Gently putting down the teacup, she said, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am the boss of this shop, Tianmiao. You can call me Boss Tian. So, have you decided now? Dear customer, do you wish to purchase a wish? What is your wish?"
"Yes! I want to purchase a wish! My wish is... is—to hope that a master can help me reclaim my kingdom." Prince De raised his voice and declared decisively.
"As you... wish." Tianmiao’s voice was no longer lazy, but ethereal and slow. This voice was like cold moonlight, gently blending into the silent valley, as if it was resonating in Prince De’s heart, striking his unsettled mind.
...
When the door behind him closed again, Prince De stood outside, bewildered and with a blank mind. He was holding a gigantic vase in his arms. Saying the vase was gigantic was an understatement, as it was almost half as tall as he was. The patterns on the vase seemed to depict a beast. He had no mind to discern what kind of beast it was. The whole situation was overwhelming.
The woman named Tianmiao, after giving him this gigantic vase, had the man named Dong Xiao escort him out the door. Then there was a clang as the gate was shut.
What happened to the wish he was supposed to purchase?
What connection was there between a big vase and fulfilling his wish?
His thoughts finally returned, when suddenly it was dark, then light again before his eyes.
Holding the gigantic vase, Prince De turned around abruptly, only to be astonished to find that the shop had vanished, as had that bright lamp, leaving the place dark once more. But it soon brightened slightly, as those hunting him had surrounded him with torches.
He had no way out, nor anyone left to protect him.
He slowly closed his eyes, gently exhaled, and then abruptly opened his eyes, filled with determination.
Even with no way out, he remained proud and unyielding.
The crowd watched his upright silhouette and cold gaze, yet at this moment, they all paused, a baseless fear rising in their hearts.
Why was there such fear? The man before them was hardly threatening. Just a prince, pampered and at the end of his rope.
"Go, all of you, go. Don’t forget, whoever takes his head will earn ten thousand gold pieces!" The leader, seeing the crowd hesitate, shouted angrily.
Upon hearing this, the crowd disregarded their fear. Each raised their longsword, charging at Prince De, aiming to claim his head worth ten thousand gold pieces.
Prince De’s gaze was cold, calmly watching these people rush forward.
He had grand ambitions yet no opportunity to fulfill them.
Although knowing he would certainly meet his end in the next moment, Prince De did not close his eyes, only watching everything before him with those pitch-black eyes.
His demeanor made the attackers shiver with fear. They roared fiercely, trying to conceal their unease and fear.
The air was filled with the sharp sound of slicing through space, murderous intent was overwhelming, and the sword had already arrived!
However, the expected agony and darkness did not come. Because Prince De had kept his eyes open, he saw clearly.
A scene he would never forget for his entire life unfolded clearly before his eyes at that moment.
The gigantic vase in his hands suddenly heated up, and an earth-shaking roar belonging to a Beast echoed in the sky, deafening. A ray of golden light shot up to the heavens, piercingly bright.