by Tony Tran
“There are my three beauties.” Zhang said with a chuckle.
“Your three beauties?” Yuying said teasingly.
“Who else?” Zhang replied.
As he got up front the ground and helped the three of them up.
“Let’s go return this armor and go to the reward stage.” Zhang said.
“Alright let’s go these clothes aren’t very comfy.” Ai complained.
However, before they left a voice sounded out from a bush behind them.
“Young Lord of Aurora.” The voice said.
As the group of four turned back they could see Shu Shang could out from behind a bush.
“Ah prince Shu Shang it is nice to meet you.” Zhang said with a smile on his face. He was not angry with Shu Shang ending up with four towers, rather he wished to befriend Shu Shang. It is better to befriend someone like this as a friend then an enemy.
Had this been an actually battlefield and not an arena then perhaps Shu Shang would have come out victorious.
“You can just call me Zhang and forget about the formalities.” Zhang said to Shu Shang.
“Ah then you can call me Shu Shang. “Shu Shang said.
“Alright Brother Shu Shang what gives me the honor of meeting you here?” Zhang asked.
“I wanted to thank you for leaving me that tower rather than taking it back. Although you shouldn’t have I appreciate the gesture.” Shu Shang said.
“Consider it a gesture of friendship. Your performance was very marvelous, had I not sneaked in extra soldiers then you most likely would have dominated the arena.” Zhang said.
“We can stand here and talk about what’s and ifs all day but that won’t change the outcome of what has already been decided. You had the foresight to do what you did and I applaud you for that.” Shu Shang said to Zhang with a faint smile on his face.
“Perhaps prince Shu Shang would like to accompany us to the reward stage together?” Ling asked as she stood beside Zhang.
“Sure why not.” Shu Shang said.
As Zhang, Ling, Yuying, Ai and Shu Shang headed for the reward stage after returning their armor and weapons they ran into a familiar face. A bit away from them was Huang Zu dressed in an expensive looking white and gold robe with dragons sewn on it.
“Brother Huang Zu how are you.” Zhang said as he saw Huang Zu.
“Ah you guys, congratulations on dominating the tournament.” Huang Zu said in a somewhat awkward tone. Although he stopped trying to woo Ling after losing the bet Huang Zu still felt awkward when around Zhang and Ling so he tried his best to avoid them. Even though he would keep to his word and give up on marrying Ling a part of him still liked her very much which made it very uncomfortable to be around her and Zhang.
Zhang noticing the awkwardness in Huang Zu’s voice decided to take the initiative in breaking the ice. He still felt that Huang Zu was someone worth being friends with. From the fact that Huang Zu kept to his word and stopped pestering Ling to marry him was a testament that he kept his word.
These kind of people although numbering many in the world are often hard to meet.
“Brother Huang Zu how about you join us and head to the reward stage and along the way tell me about some of the treasures in the treasury that are worth picking out. Also feel free to tell me one item you want also I’ll pick it for you.” Zhang said to Huang Zu. He knew full well that despite being a prince Huang Zu most likely was not permitted to just take whatever he wanted from the treasury of the kingdom. Thus Zhang hoped to use this to be on friendlier terms with Huang Zu.
“Hmmm treasures in the treasury. Well I’m not exactly sure that are many different treasures in there and each has a different use. But if I have to point out something unique then it would have to be this one item.” Huang Zu said.
"Also I'll have to decline on your offer of picking out a treasure for me." Huang Zu added.
“What item?” Zhang asked since Huang Zu’s words peaked his interest.
“In the treasury there is a scroll made of some material I’ve never seen before. It is said this book was personally created by the first king of our Heilong Kingdom. This book has no name and no one know what’s written inside.”
“No one knows what’s written inside? Is it in some lost language?” Zhang asked.
“No it’s not that, it’s the fact that no one is able to open the book. My ancestors have passed the book down for generations but no one has been open it. It is said that when our founder created the book he said only if someone is fated to know the contents of the book will it open for them.” Huang Zu said while looking at Zhang.
“That’s interesting, but I would take it that book would not be something we can pick as a prize.”
“Actually on the contrary if you picked that book some people would be very happy. As many people see it that book is somewhat useless and since no one can open it there is little use for keeping it. And if you took it they would see it as you wasted a prize and took a useless book instead of some other treasure.”
“Maybe it will open for me. I’ll be sure to check it out when given the chance to enter the treasury and if it opens for me then I’ll take it, if not then I’ll pick something else. Also let’s start heading to the reward arena.” Zhang said to Huang Zu as he placed a hand on Huang Zu’s shoulder.
Huang Zu sighed knowing that Zhang would not let him go so he resigned to his fate.
"Ok I guess if it can't be helped, I'll accompany you guys to the reward stage." Huang Zu said with a sigh.
As the group headed toward the reward stage they conversed and soon The awkwardness around Huang Zu was somewhat reduced. This of course was thanks to his personality. Huang Zu naturally was not a schemer and was very easy to get along with.
Shu Shang on the other hand had a very reserved personality. This was mainly influenced by the fact that his brother being the crown prince. Due his brilliance many people in the Shu kingdom tried to push Shu Shang into the position of crown prince over his brother.
However, Shu Shang did not wish to fight with his brother or cause civil war so he tended to avoid people and had only a few friends who he seemed were worth of becoming friends with.
Thanks to Zhang's outgoing personality he was able to bridge a friendship with Shu Shang and Huang Zu.
"Your highnesses please follow me." A man walking toward the group while they were heading to the reward stage said.
"His majesty King Huang He wished to speak with your highnesses in private." The man said.
"Father wants to talk with us?" Huang Zu asked.
"No your highness, his majesty wished to speak with the two winners of the tournament regarding some important matters." The man replied respectfully.
"It's alright brother Huang Zu you might as well come with us." Shu Shang said.
Thus the group began following the servant as he led them through the halls of the coliseum. Soon they were led up a flight of stairs and into a room. King Huang He could be seen standing at a balcony looking outside.
"Your majesty they are here." The servant said as he bent on one knee.
"Alright you may leave." Huang He said.
"Your majesty Zhou Zhang pays his respects." Zhang said while bending on one knee.
"Shu Shang pays his respects to King Huang He." Shu Shang said.
Soon Yuying, Ai and Ling also paid their respects. As for Huang Zu he did not do so since the King is his father.
"As ease. You may all stand." Huang He said.
"Ming Jiang come in here." Huang He said. Shortly after a door that led to another room opened and Ming Jiang walked in.
Once he walked into the room he shot a glare at Zhang and Shu Shang.
"Your majesty." Ming Jiang said.
"I called you three here to help resolve your differences. As a part of the alliance I do not wish to see some of the future leaders of it at odds with each other. Now is the time when we have to band together to face a common foe not fight with one another." King Hu
ang He said sternly.
"If brother Ming Jiang is willing to forget about the past then I am willing also." Shu Shang said.
"Likewise for me if he is willing to then I am also. And as a show of good faith I'll even let him pick out one item he wishes from the treasury in my stead." Zhang said. Although he did not like Ming Jiang very much Huang He did have a point now was not the time to be at odds. The Siwang empire could attack at any given moment and the only thing standing in its way is the alliance.
"The less enemies one has the better I guess." Zhang thought. His relationship with Ming Jiang was not the point where it was unfixable like with Jin Chang so why not give it a shot.
"Ming Jiang do you wish for your kingdom to fall because due to some small insignificant disputes?" Huang He said while looking at Ming Jiang.
"If you two are willing then so am I." Ming Jiang replied. Although he did not like Shu Shang and Zhang the king had a point. He definitely did not want his kingdom to fall due to some silly arguments. Also Zhang was enticing him with the chance to pick out a treasure from the treasury.
"Then everything is settled. I hope that you three will at least try to get along. Now let's head to the reward ceremony."
Chapter 49: Treasures
King Huang He led the group through the halls and directly to the reward stage. By now a large crowd of thousands had formed waiting to see the two victors on stage.
"I would like to present to you the future of the alliance!" King Huang He said as he gestured at Zhang and Shu Shang.
A loud applause broke out and lots of cheering can be heard.
"Prince Shu Shang please marry me!!!!" A few young women in the crowd yelled out.
"Lord Zhou Zhang I'll be waiting for you tonight!!!" Some other women yelled.
"I'm ready for you any time you two!!!"
However, when Shu Shang and Zhang looked over from up on stage they felt a gagging sensation in their throats. The person who had listed yelled toward them was a very worth looking old lady.
"Brother Shu Shang I think I'll pass on that but you go ahead." Zhang said as he grinned at Shu Shang.
"I have some matters to attend to after this so I'll have to pass." Shu Shang said after he was caught off guard by Zhang.
"Without further ado I will now personally lead the two victors to the royal palace so they can pick their prizes." King Huang He said.
Afterwards rows of knights and carriages broke through the crowd and stopped in front of the stage.
"I will meet you at the palace shortly." Huang He said to Zhang and Shu Shang as he stepped off the stage and on a carriage that looked much more extravagant than the rest of the carriages.
Seeing this Zhang and Shu Shang both walked off stage and headed for their respectively assigned carriages.
"I'll see you at the palace brother Zhang." Shu Shang said as he boarded his carriage. When the door to the carriage opened Zhang could see that a two young women who seemed to be Shu Shang's wives were waiting for him inside.
"Same to you." Zhang said as he entered his carriage and behind him Yuying, Ling and Ai filed in one by one.
Once everyone was aboard the carriages began heading for the royal palace. Inside of Zhang's carriage there was a cheerful air present.
"So once we get in the treasury everyone can pick one item for themselves. And we will pick out the last item together?" Zhang said.
"I'll let you pick something out for me brother." Yuying said.
"Me too. You can pick something for me brother." Ai said in a cheerful tone.
"I already know what I want." Ling said. Her goal had always been and still is to obtain the string of fate.
“I think it would be best for you guys to pick out your own items. Something I think is good may not suite you.” Zhang replied
"Ah yes Yuying here is Silky back. Zhang had kept Silky in the Ruler's Domain for the duration of the final stage of the tournament and now it was time to return Silky Yuying.
After a short while the carriages stopped and the doors opened. As Zhang and the three beauties walked out they saw a marvelous palace. This would be the first time Zhang, Yuying and Ai had seen the palace that the King of the Heilong kingdom lived in.
"It's decent." Yuying murmured.
"Well nothing can really compare to the palace you grew up in." Zhang said to Yuying with a silly smile on his face and a chuckle. You can't really compare the kingdom of the dead that has been around for countless millennia to a small kingdom that only had roughly a thousand years’ worth of history.
Once they got out of their carriages they could see Shu Shang get out of his carriage and behind him two young women followed.
"Brother Zhang I almost forgot to introduce you to my two wives Sou Mai and Ao Lin." Shu Shang said to Zhang.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." Both of Shu Shang's wives said to Zhang.
"Likewise." Zhang said courteously with a smile.
Soon in another carriage Ming Jiang got off and in yet another carriage King Huang He and Huang Zu exited. Once Huang He got off groups of soldiers came and walked in rows behind him. These soldiers were his personal guard.
"If you would follow me I will lead you all to the treasury so you can pick out your prizes." King Huang He said after getting out of his carriage.
King Huang He led the group through the marble halls of the royal palace and eventually to the front of large solid iron gates.
Upon seeing Huang, He arrived the guards who were standing guard bent on one knee and saluted him.
"We pay our respects to his majesty lord Huang He." The guards said in unison.
From his robe king Huang, He pulled out a medallion with a dragon carved into it and placed it into mechanism on the middle of one of the gates.
As he slowly turned the medallion clicking sounds could be heard. Soon mechanical sounds rang about and after a while a large clang sounded out and the large iron gates slowly creaked open.
Soldiers who were standing guard quickly came and pushed the two large gates open.
As the gates creaked open and the sunlight shot inside a dazzling light can be seen. The inside the treasury of the Heilong kingdom like many other kingdoms was filled with gold and jewels.
"I would think they none of you would be interest in these things so let's move forward." King Huang He said.
"Of course." Zhang said agreeing with Huang He.
Everyone present besides the soldiers were extremely wealthy. Shu Shang and Ming Jiang are both princes. Zhang could be considered a prince himself so gold and jewels did not peak their interest.
"Indeed your majesty please lead the way to the more unique items." Shu Shang said while standing beside his two wives.
"Yes lead the way your majesty." Zhang said with Yuying, Ai and Ling beside him.
Ming Jiang did not comment because he did not actually have permission to pick a prize.
" Follow me." Huang He said as he began walking on a path through the piles of gold and jewels.
After a short distance a smaller but more solid looking gate was in front of the group. From his robe Huang He pulled out a jade key and stick it into a keyhole in the gate. With a click sound the gate opened.
Once the door opened Huang He led the group inside while his personal guard followed in front behind.
The gates led the group into a long hallway.
"What a long hallway." Ai said as she stood beside Zhang.
As the group continued on the hallway got narrower and narrower until only roughly four people or so could stand side by side in it.
At the end of the hallway was a flight of stairs that descended into the ground.
"Watch your step everyone." Huang He said. As they descended the staircase it spiraled around a large seemingly bottomless pit.
"One fall off that and it would ruin anyone one's day." Zhang said.
"Yea would not survive that fall." Ai added.
After some more walking down very long set of stairs th
e group finally reached the bottom. At the bottom of the stairs there was yet another gate to which King Huang He opened.
"We are here please pick out the treasures you wish to take as prizes. If you have any questions regarding these treasures, feel free to ask." King Huang He said.
Once the group entered the room behind the last gate they could see many pedestals with items placed on top of them in glass cases. There were many eye catching items in the glass cases and some not so eye catching ones. However, all of these items were placed here because they were considered rare treasures.
