He began to realize what she meant when he turned to the red faced Yung. She dodged his gaze "Yung? Is it true?" she slowly nodded. He turned away feeling like an idiot. All this time, the Princess was right by his side and he never once knew.
"Don't feel too stupid, Im sure she fooled everyone else." Ping Yee said. It almost sounded like she was trying to comfort him. "I'll leave you two alone now." she left the room quietly.
"How could you lie to us like that? We trusted you! And Ga Lok, he couldn't be your brother, the King only has one daughter. Everyone knows that!" his voice showing hurt and distrust.
She looked at him weakly "Im sorry, Heung Dai Gor. I didn't mean to. I ran away from the Palace because I felt suffocated. I couldn't do anything without someone telling me how to do it. When I left, I didn't think it would cause so much problems. Then I found out my father was looking for me, so I knew my life would either be in danger or someone would eventually find me." she finish.
"You are still the Princess! Its dangerous for any normal girl to go wandering around the country let alone you." he scolded.
This time she looked at him angrily, after all she was still the Princess. He was to respect her at all times "Thats enough! I have enough people telling me what to do, I don't need you too." getting up from her seat as she turned away from him.
When she didn't hear him continue, she turned around and found him kneeling. "Im sorry, your majesty. I didn't mean to anger you." his voice monotone.
"Heung Dai Gor." she reached to pull him to his feet "Don't do that, we are friends after all." giving him a secure smile to show him she meant well.
Suddenly the door opened. "Now if you're done solving your disagreement, please follow me." Ping Yee said.
They followed her to the main room where they were first allowed to take off their blindfolds. When they got there, they saw other people that they didn't recognize. But Yung seemed to notice as she ran to a girl "Yuk Lan! You're okay."
Yuk Lan, Ga Lok, Yiu Fai and Hung Sing knelt down in unison "Your majesty."
Yung sighed, she was so tired of the courtesy stuff "Please, this is not the Kingdom, don't be so serious." The three got up. She noticed that Ching Ching was no where in sight "Ching Ching? Where is she?" her attention diverted to Ping Yee.
"She refused to eat, so we stopped giving her food a day ago. I believe she should be sick right about now."
"What?! You starved her?" Fei Lap asked angrily.
"No, we gave her food, she refused to eat it." Ping Yee repeated.
"I want to see her." Fei Lap demanded.
"Me too!" Yung chimed in.
Ping Yee smiled at them "Must I remind you that this is not the Kingdom, although you may be the Princess but in the White Demons' Palace, you are like any other guests."
"Guests? You call us guests? We're more like prisoners!" Yung's tone of voice rising.
Ping Yee's eyes shot back at Yung's challenging her "Well, do you want our help or not?!" the group turned to each other while her eyes softened and her lips curled up into a smile "Well then, how about I leave you all to talk amongst yourselves? Im sure you all have questions to ask." she looked directly at Yuk Lan and Ga Lok. She turned and began to leave when Fei lap blocked her way. "Yes?"
"I want to see Ching Ching." his voice softer this time.
She smiled "If you would have used that tone of voice, I would have been nicer. Please..." she held her hand out for him to walk.
The main room was quiet, Yuk Lan looked oddly at the guy that continued to stare at her. Wondering who he was, she saw Yung smiling secretly as she pulled her to the side "Who is this guy?" she had a feeling that Yung knew.
"Why don't you ask him for yourself?" her smile widened.
She didn't have to ask because Ga Lok had approached the girls "Kam Siu Jei, my name is Lam Ga Lok."
Yuk Lan gasp as she covered her mouth "Your...?" he was the guy that her father wanted her to marry. But how did he find her? she wondered.
Yung laughed "Lam Dai Gor went out looking for you when he heard from your father that you had left home." she glanced from the nervous girl to the handsome guy. "I'll let you two talk it out."
Yuk Lan was speechless and a little embarrassed "I didn't mean to cause anyone any trouble."
"I understand." he said quickly "I just wanted to tell you that if you don't want to marry me, I don't mind. Its your choice."
"But its not, my father and mother had already decided." she shook her head.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to my father." his voice with a touch of disappointment but it wasn't detected by Yuk Lan.
"Really?" she asked excitedly "Thank you! You're so nice!!" she gushed.
Yiu Fai stared at them from a distance, his eyes full of jealousy. So he was her fiance.
********
Ping Yee led him down the hall as she pulled out a key and gave it to him "Her room is the third one on the left. I have to watch my guests or they might wander off and I would be forced to torture them again." her voice was teasing while her eyes twinkled in the light.
He smiled thankfully at her. When she left, he mumbled to himself 'Strange girl'. She was nice then suddenly like the weather had changed and she became mean again. Counting the doors on his left as he approached it. He tried the lock but it seemed more difficult to open. After a few minutes, he got the lock to open. Looking inside, the room was quiet then he saw her. Lying on her bed, almost lifeless. Running over as he spun her body to face him "Ching Ching." he whispered loudly.
Her eyes fluttered and then she managed to opened them fully "Lap Gor?" she smiled weakly. She pushed herself to sit up while he gave her a helping hand.
"Ching Ching, why aren't you eating?"
She looked blankly at him "I couldn't, they didn't give me any food."
"What? Liu Gu Leung said that you didn't want to eat, so they stopped giving you food."
She shook her head vehemently "No, of course not. Why would I starve myself?"
"How dare she lie to me!" he said angrily. He turned back to the sick girl "Im sorry Ching Ching. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in this kind of situation." he stood up and sighed to himself "It seems that everyone is hurting because of me."
"Don't blame yourself Lap Gor. We all wanted to help you. No one put a knife to our throats." her words were reasonable.
He shook his head "I still feel responsible. Anyways, lets go outside, Im going to confront her." he held out a hand for her to take.
"No, Im too weak. I can barely move." she leaned back on the bed post.
"I'll help you." smiling as he pulled his arms under her and carried her off the bed. "I promised your Yeh Yeh that you would be safe and Im not letting you out of my sight again." She smiled and turned away, he thought he saw her blush. He kicked the door open as he took her outside to the main room. When he got there, he couldn't find Ping Yee anywhere. But there was the girl in the blue, he figured she was the next highest pupil. "Siu Jei, what are we waiting here for?"
"Dai Si Jei is picking up Si Fu. Her trip was cut short. She should be arriving soon. I was sent here to watch over you." her explanation was short.
"Ching Ching!" Yung was busy talking to the group and forgot all about her friend. She skipped over to her "How are you feeling?"
"Hungry." she said shortly "How about you, your majesty?"
Yung's face fell "You know too? Please don't be mad and don't treat me like Im any special."
Ching Ching smiled broadly "Don't be silly, Im not mad. How many girls could say that they made friends with the Princess?"
Yung giggled as she nodded "Thank you."
"My Princess, your father has sent for me." she stopped smiling at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. Turning around, she saw the mysterious guy that stared at her since they were taken into the room.
"You are?"
"Cheung Hung Sing"
"Cheung Gung Zhi." Yung nodded politely "Im afraid you will be disappointed. Im not going back." her voice more defiant than ever.
"The King ordered me under any circumstances to bring you back safely." his voice almost threatening.
"Well the only way you could bring me back is to kill me. Would you be willing to do that?" her voice twice as threatening.
He smiled "If the situation makes me, I will."
"How dare you!!!" her voice raising.
He turned away with a grin on his face, he wasn't the average guy that would fear royalty. Hung Sing had no fear. Ching Ching muffled a laugh, it was the first time that she saw Yung's face so red. This guy had guts. He turned to Ching Ching "You find it funny don't you?" suddenly he remembered, she was the girl that he saw at the restaurant "Ah...I recognize you."
She looked up at him curiously "Do you?"
"One cannot forget such beautiful eyes." Ching Ching turned away shyly. He didn't seem to mind her scarred face.
"Oh please!" Yung snickered at his flirtatiousness.
"Jealous I see?" he laughed when she glared at him evily "Don't worry, Princess, no girl can compare to you."
The girls giggled as they looked at each other, Fei Lap shook his head. This guy was sure full of himself. Suddenly they stopped when a person in a pale yellow dress flew in. "Im glad you're all having fun." her face also covered in a matching color to her dress "Welcome, I am Bak Kwai Gung Chu." suddenly her eyes darted to Hung Sing "Cheung Hung Sing, hmph! I didn't expect to see you here. What is there we can help you with?"
"Actually, I don't your help anymore, I found the person I was searching for." nodding his head towards Yung.
"Ah, the Princess. So I've heard about the King's search for his precious daughter. Well I suppose we won't keep you here any longer?" she seemed quick to kick him out. Her gaze bounced from one person to another until it stopped at Fei Lap "And you? What did you want us to help you with?"
He smiled kindly "My father."
"Oh, separated at birth I see?" her guess was always right on the nose.
"Not quite, he doesn't know I exist." his voice hardening at the mention of the man who left his mother.
"I see, sounds like you are looking for revenge?" He didn't answer her, instead he looked away. "How about the rest of you?"
No one spoke up. Yiu Fai nudged Yuk Lan to remind her that she too was looking for someone. "Im looking for my brother." she managed to blurt out.
"Oh? And who might you be?" Gung Chu asked curiously.
"Don't you people know everything?" Yuk Lan asked without thinking.
"We like to amuse our guests, Kam Siu Jei." she said smartly. "I will send out my people right away to look for your brother. Now then, you understand the rules of The White Demons'?" Yuk Lan nodded. "Alright then, please return to your rooms, while I think of what you could do in exchange for the help." She flew off before anyone else could say anything. The group looked at each other and they were escorted back into their rooms.
Chapter 11
The following morning, everyone was awake and ready to face Bak Kwai Gung Chu. Fei Lap was curious to know what she had in mind for them. They were escorted to the main room where Gung Chu was waiting for them. She nodded at her guests "Don't look too worried there." she was speaking to Fei Lap and Yuk Lan. "You won't have to do anything for me until we find the people that you are looking for."
"That sounds fair enough" Fei Lap spoke up.
"Good. I have assigned my people to go with you along this trip. Heung Fei Lap, my best female pupil will follow you. She is getting ready at this time and will meet with you later." turning to Yuk Lan. "Kam Siu Jei, I have assigned my best male pupil with you."
Yuk Lan looked around "Who?" she asked innocently.
Gung Chu smiled through her veil "Why don't you show yourself?" she spoke loudly.
Yiu Fai walked up to the front of the podium and knelt down "Yes, Si Fu." standing up as he turned to face Yuk Lan, who's eyes were round with shock.
"You? But...how?" she stuttered. She found out so many things in the past few days. Everyone is not who they appear to be.
Yiu Fai smiled "Suprised?" she nodded slowly. "I guess we'll be working closer than you think?" at the corner of his eyes, he caught Ga Lok glaring at him.
"Enough with the small talk. I have kept you here long enough, Im sure all of you want to see the day light." the group began to walk off towards their room once again. "Ching Ching Gu Leung, please wait." Gung Chu stopped her.
"What can I do for you?" Ching Ching asked politely.
"Actually, I want you to have a talk with one of my pupils. It seems you two have some misunderstandings?" waving her hand for the girl in the blue to come with her.
Ching Ching looked at Fei Lap for help, instead he tapped her on the shoulder "Go ahead, Im sure you won't be in any harm." his words comforting.
"Of course." Gung Chu said. Leading the girls down the hall and into a room while the rest walked back to their rooms in silence. Fei Lap put the last of his shirt into a large material where he tied it tightly as he pulled it over his head.
"Ready to go?" he spun around to find Ping Yee at his door.
"Yes, I have to wait for the others." he answered, forgetting about confronting her.
She smiled "What makes you think the others are coming with us?"
"What? Im not leaving them behind. Especially Ching Ching." suddenly he remembered "You lied to me."
Her eyes turned away from him guiltily "Sorry, I had nothing to do with that." her words were unconvincing.
"Why are you trying to hurt her?" he asked curiously. He's noticed she was especially crueler towards Ching Ching.
She turned her body away from him "I said, its not my choice."
He felt that she was telling the truth, "Okay, I believe you. But Im not leaving her here."
"She's not staying here. My Si Mui is escorting her back to Ha Chow right now."
"She's already gone?! Don't you people ever ask what we want before you decide?" he asked angrily.
Ping Yee laughed "You act like its your first day staying here."
He knew she was right, nothing they did was out of the ordinary for The White Demons. People always said they were strange people, they do what they like. Even the King couldn't control them.
"Come on." she motioned for him to follow her. Again, she had to blindfold him before they entered the secret passage. When they were in the forest, his blindfold was taken off. Shielding his eyes from the bright sun as he used his sleeves to block out the light. Ping Yee was able to adjust to the light quickly since she's done it all her life.
The two travelled towards the Kingdom, actually it was Ping Yee that showed him the way. He never knew where the Kingdom was located. They were fifty miles from their destination, when they stopped at a restaurant to rest. Eatin their dinner in awkward silence. Fei Lap decided to break the ice "Liu Gu Leung, so tell me a little about yourself?"
She glanced at him and returned to her dinner "Call me Ping Yee."
He smiled "Ping Yee. You can call me Fei Lap or whatever you want."
"I can call you anything?" her eyebrows shot up teasingly. "Piggy? Doggy? Kitty?"
He laughed "Sure, if that pleases you. Although I don't answer very well to those names." the rest of their dinner was lighter as they spoke casually about their lives.
*********
The three took off their blindfolds. "Okay, we can be on our way now." he said to Yuk Lan.
Yung, Ga Lok and Hung Sing looked at each other "What about us?" Yung spoke up.
"I never said you were coming along." Yiu Fai answered. "You are free now, go where ever it is that you please."
A smile crept up on her face as she realized that she was free. "Thats true."
"Your highness, you're forgetting?..." Hung Sing smiled when she gave him a sour face. "Im going to follow you and bug you until you come back with me."
"Hmph!!" she snickered at him. Turning to Ga Lok "Lam Dai Gor, how about you?"
He glanced at Yuk Lan "I don't know."
"Can you let my father know that Im safe?" Yuk Lan asked.
He smiled "Sure. Princess, take care of yourself." nodding his head one last time to Yuk Lan before he went on his way.
Her gaze lingered on him as she felt an urge to call out to him. "Its not too late to regret it." Yiu Fai's voice broke into her thoughts.
Yuk Lan shook her head "I shouldn't give him any false hope." turning to Yung "Princess, please be careful." her eyes darting to Hung Sing. She wasn't sure if he was telling the truth that the King had sent him. But she had a feeling that he had no intention of harming Yung.
"I'll be fine, go on, look for your brother." Yung said assuringly. When the two were at a good far distance, she turned to Hung Sing "Okay, you can go now. I don't want anybody following me."
He laughed "You think I was kidding? Im gonna follow you until you change your mind." he said seriously but with a hint of teasing.
She whipped herself around and walked off angrily. She knew there was no way to get him off her back. The only way she knew how was to torture him.
*********
After dinner, Fei Lap returned to his room and suddenly remembered to ask the waiter to wake him up early the next morning. Opening the door, he found Ping Yee standing in the garden staring at the moon. He couldn't help but think of when he and Ching Ching had that talk under the moon. "I didn't know a person like you would have anything to think about."
Ping Yee turned around and greeted him with a smile "Everyone has worries." she said shortly. Walking to a nearby gazibo as she sat down on the chair made from stone.
He sat down next to her "Thats very true. But you appear to me like the person that doesn't have any worries. I mean, you can protect yourself from any situation, you are smarter than you seem. I think the only worries you need is to fight of the men that hit on you."
"Is that a compliment?" she asked, her smile growing when he turned away shyly. "Do you know why we are called The White Demons?" He shook his head "Because white stands for angels. Demons are normally evil and sneaky. Either way angels and demons are beyond humans. People have said that we know too much to be regular humans. Hence the name White Demons. But you know, each one of us are unknown to the purital world. No one knows of our identity. Even I don't know my own." she sighed softly "I would like to know."
He listened intently as his interest grew "Why don't you ask your Si Fu. Im sure she knows all of her pupils' identities."
"Unfortunately, she won't tell us. To tell you the truth, no one knows who she really is. I've never seen her face."
"That reminds me, why do you show your face while the others hide it?" he asked.
She smiled slyly "It is a choice that I wish to make. I want to show the world that beauty isn't everything. Not all beautiful things are sweet, nice or kind. So don't be so prepared to trust me just yet. I still have the right to ask you to do anything."
"What if I refuse?" he asked the question that he has been pondering for a few days already.
"You will die with no trace behind. Just like our unknown identities, you will disappear from the world." her words gave him chills down his spine. She smiled gently at him "Although I've never had to kill anyone." she got up abruptly "Its getting late, I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night" he said without thinking as he continued to sit in the dark. His thoughts travelled from one person to another and it finally ended with his mother. Thinking about her made him angry, he wanted to revenge her death so bad.
Chapter 12
The next morning Fei Lap and Ping Yee woke up at the crack of dawn to continue on their journey. They walked for a few hours and came upon a deserted area. In the middle of the woods, they found a few empty homes and a little food stand that seemed to be open. As they sat down on the table, the waiter rushed out a hot pot of tea for the guests. Ping Yee felt her stomach feeling queesy.
Fei Lap brought the cup to his lips, ready to take a sip when he noticed that Ping Yee was glancing around uncontrollably. "Ping Yee, what's the matter?"
She leaned in closer to him "I have a bad feeling about this place. Did you notice the empty cottages earlier?"
"Yeah, but maybe its just abandoned?" he tried to convince her that she was just being suspicious.
"No, there was not an inch of dust on it, I think people just moved out of there." she said suspiciously.
"Don't be so paranoid. Im sure its just fine." bringing the cup to his mouth again.
Ping Yee looked behind the counter where the waiter was watching them intently. Suddenly she hit his cup and it flew out of his hands. "Its poisoned." just as she said this, the waiter pulled out a hidden sword near the counter as he charged towards them. Fei Lap pushed Ping Yee aside and began to fight with the waiter. He was skilled in martial arts, but still not as good as Fei Lap. Eventually, he was defeated. "Who sent you here?" Ping Yee demanded.
The guy laughed "You won't get away." with that, he pulled out a long cylinder like tube and opened the tip. A signal flew out as it exploded in the sky.
"Run!" Ping Yee grabbed his hand and pulled him into the forest. After a few minutes they stopped abruptly, surrounding them were at least 30 men. "Go first." she whispered to Fei Lap.
"No, Im not leaving you." he said honorably.
"NO one's leaving." one man cried out angrily. With a swift hand movement, the men attacked the two.
*************
Yung glanced behind her, Hung Sing was still following her. He was careful to stay at least 3 feet from her, it was his way of protecting himself. She was walking down the street of Fuk King when she stopped and spun around to face him. "Stop following me!" she said through clenched teeth.
He smiled broadly at her "I don't believe you own this street."
She walked closer to him until her face was a few inches from him. "You're going to regret it if you don't leave me alone."
His eyes hardened "What do you think will happen if I announce that you are the Princess? The prize is still open for those that can find you. I personally don't care about the money, but Im sure everyone here does." he whispered.
She glared at him angrily but turned away and continued on her way. "You asked for it." she muttered under her breathe.
Yung came upon a brothel, her face brightened into a smile as she thought of an idea. There was about three girls at the door that were tempting the men to enter. Pushing them aside as she ran inside, Hung Sing quickly followed her.
When they were inside, one of the guards stopped Yung "Im sorry, Siu Jei, only men are allowed in here."
She ignored the guy as she glanced around for the owner. She saw an lady around her forties that was introducing the girls to the guests. She knew she had found the person, she began to head towards the owner when the same guy stopped her. "Out of my way." she warned.
The guys stood their ground, she began to push them aside when they used force and pushed her back. Hung Sing stood behind as he caught her. "Don't you dare touch her again!!" he warned as he pulled out his sword and aimed it at the men.
They quickly backed down while a crowd began to gather to see the commotion. The owner walked over with a surupy smile "Gung Zhi, please don't get angry. Come over here, how about a few drinks? Its on the house."
Hung Sing retrieved his sword and turned to Yung "You okay?" she nodded sheepishly. "Come on."
"Wait!" she pulled him back. "Don't let free drinks go to waste." smiling as she began to walk to the table where the lady cleared it for them. She sat down and waited while one of the girls poured her a drink. She turned back to Hung Sing who stood behind her wide eyed "Sit down, stop acting like a rock. You can smile once in a while."
He slowly sat down, but his eyes still suspicious as he took a drink. "Why are you being so nice?" he asked.
Yung smiled and turned to face the owner lady "Have your best looking girls come over here and take care of him, I will take care of the bill." pulling out a few gold nuggets from her little bag that dangled on the side of her dress. She placed them on the table.
The lady's eyes brightened when she saw the money. "Yes, Siu Jei, right away." waving to about five girls as they approached the table and began to smother Hung Sing.
He gently pushed them away "What are you trying to do?" he asked Yung.
She giggled "Nothing, I just think we need to relax for a little bit. I see you're quite the ladies man." her head nodding to the girls surrounding him once again.
While the girls poured wine and fed it to Hung Sing, Yung took her chance as she pulled the owner lady to the side and whispered something to her. The lady quickly nodded as she went to the kitchen. "What did you say to her?" Hung Sing asked curiously, he saw her talking to the owner.
"She's going to prepare some dishes for me. Im a little hungry aren't you?" picking up a cup as she sipped it. She watched in humor as he tried to fight off the girls. After an hour the food came out. She sighed as she smelled the sweet aroma, picking up her chopsticks as she picked up a peice of beef. She was about to put it in her mouth when she turned to Hung Sing "Here, why don't you have the first bite?" reaching her hand to his mouth.
He looked at her slyly "Poisoned?" he asked smartly.
She laughed "Where would I get poisoned? If you don't want it, don't eat it." she put the beef in her mouth and chewed it. "Mmmm...delicious."
He eventually picked a chicken leg and began to chomp on it. Within fifteen minutes the two finished the food. Yung never touched the chicken dish nor the vegetables. Hung Sing had each of the dishes. Soon after he took a drink of the wine, he felt his stomache turning. His eyes began to roll behind his sockets and his head landed on the table, unconscious.
**********
Yuk Lan and Yiu Fai travelled for a few days towards the north, away from the Kingdom. She seemed to be in a daze as they walked up the hill. The sun beaming at them from above, lucky for them the wind was cool. "Kam Siu Jei, you okay?" Yiu Fai asked after she tripped over a little rock.
She looked up "Yeah." her answered was weak.
He sensed something wrong "You have any questions? If you do, just ask me."
She opened her mouth and then closed it, not sure how to put it into words. "How did you know I was looking for someone? I know The White Demons know everything but I never told anyone that I was looking for my brother."
He smiled "Is that all? Silly girl. I never knew you were looking for your brother, but I knew that you wanted to look for someone." her eyes questioning as he continued "Why would a girl from a higher class like yourself want to leave that lifestyle? At first I thought you were just bored, but when you asked me how to get to Ha Chow, I instantly guessed that you had bigger plans. Then I thought you were hiding from your marriage, but that was half right, correct?"
She nodded "Sheesh, you people are sneaky!"
"Thank you!" he said happily. "That's quite a compliment."
She laughed "Whatever you say." suddenly as if she was finally snapped out of her daze, she realized they were travelling over mountains. "Where is this place? My brother is here?"
He shook his head "Of course not! He lives in Ha Chow."
"We are far from Ha Chow though." she said nervously.
"We're taking a long route." her eyes widened in fear, wondering what he was planning to do to her "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I just want to spend a little more time with you. Since we're out, I want to show you the popular landmarks."
She shrugged her shoulders "It doesn't interest me."
"Really? Well then, Im gonna have to show you this place." pulling her hand as he rushed over the green hills to a hidden cavern. There was a tiny waterfall that ran down a stream and over the hills.
"Wow...." Yuk Lan gushed in awe as she looked at the beautiful scenery.
Yiu Fai laughed "I thought it wasn't interesting."
She smiled back at him "Things change." running to the stream as she pulled off her boots and socks to wade in the water. The cool stream tickled her feet. "Come over here, the water's cool!!" she waved to Yiu Fai, who stood by the shaded tree and watched her. Her smile was so innocent.
***********
Ching Ching walked for a few days and finally, she reached Ha Chow. 'Home at last.' she thought to herself. She walked down the street of the busy city and looked around at the people. It felt so long since she was back home. Her eyes moved to a run down cottage where she approached it slowly. 'Yeh Yeh, Im home.' she thought and knocked on the door.
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