When Sung Wu sits back down under the tree leaning back lost in his memories. A man with black hair woven with strands of silver and a long black braided beard, languidly strolls up to the tree. He is wearing a white brocade robe embroidered with a golden dragon. Hanging from his waist is an intricately carved jade pendant. His handsome features are breathtakingly beautiful as though created by the gods.
His purple eyes have a strange glint in them. "Is it done? He tosses a purple velvet pouch containing seven dragon beads to Sung Wu.
" No one saw you hand the box to him?"
Sung Wu opens one eye and squints from the man's bright aura. " We were alone, I gave him the bracelet as you ordered".
The Immortal has a faraway look in his unfathomable eyes, disappearing into the distance he has a slight smile, "Good...Very Good.."
After receiving the bracelet from Sung Wu, Feng Tian decides to find Zhang Yu to finish getting the needed supplies. He wanders around then sees Zhang Yu down a busy street buying herbs from a vendor.
Feng Tian walks over and recognizes the man selling the herbs as his friend Hong Bo's father. He hasn't seen Hong Bo since he accompanied Feng Li to The Purple Dragon Kingdom to meet the King's daughter for an arranged marriage.
"Hong Daan"
The man sorting herbs perks his ears up when he hears Feng Tian's voice, "Feng Tian!"
He raises a tanned muscular arm and grabs Feng Tian into his embrace holding Feng Tian's head in a headlock, rubbing his hair. "How long has it been? The last time I saw you, you were running down the street with my son Bo. He lets out a hearty laugh, "Your scorched robes ..flying, drunk, boasting you had a Dragon tooth from that Old Dragon", He doubles over in laughter picturing the scene while still holding Feng Tian.
Feng Tian struggles and slides out from the Hong Daan's iron grip. "Age hasn't lessened your strength at all". He massages his neck. "How is Hong Bo? Let's all go have a round at the Drunken Dragon Court."
Hong Daan's eyes cloud over thinking about his son. "I guess you didn't hear."
"Hear what? Did he marry that girl from that scholar's house and reform?" Feng Tian laughs remembering his friend chasing the pretty red headed girl. Hong Bo was unruly but he would act very noble and restrained when he courted her.
Hong Bo would pick rare Crystal Gold Roses from in between the jagged crevices on the Celestial Cloud Cliffs for Zhao Hua so he could watch her eyes light up. The unsuspecting girl didn't know several times he almost fell to his death for one rose.
Hong Daan sits on a stool suddenly looking much older, he begins coughing to choke back his tears. Hong Bo was his only son, his mother died when he was three so for all the years it was just father and son. They had a closer bond than most.
"He disappeared about a year ago."
When Zhang Yu realized this could be a personal matter for these two men, he interrupted for a moment, "Feng Tian, while you two talk I will go to the next street and get the prices for the horses we will need.
Feng Tian nods in his direction and tosses him a pouch filled with gold.
Feng Tian lightly grabs Hong Daan's arm. "What do you mean disappeared? He wouldn't leave Zhao Hua or you!"
"He went to the island to cultivate, he said he wanted to reach the next stage before he married Zhao Hua. Bo wanted to be a shadow guard for your brother Feng Che. You grew up with him, you know how he was...he loved fighting and that girl."
Bo told him he thought it would pay well, he got along well with the Chen brothers, the other shadow guards. " I'm just an herb merchant, her father looked down on Bo because he wasn't a scholar. Although I do well in my business I am just a merchant in that arrogant scholar's eyes.
My business was too boring for Bo, he loves adventure, he didn't want to run the herb business. He felt being one of your brother's people, Zhao Ge would have to accept him."
" He does love danger and adventure, I know that well!" Feng Tian recalls their times with that ugly One Eyed Falcon of Bo's that was huge and fast as the wind. How many times did he hold on for his life when he slid off, grabbing a talon.
Bo laughing that deep laugh of his and pulling him up.
"Didn't he take the One Eyed Falcon with him when he went to protect him while he was cultivating?"
"He did but the Falcon returned four days later without Bo. He was missing half a wing and his talons were stripped off one of his feet. His one good eye was almost swollen shut."
"I gathered up some friends of his, you were in the Purple Dragon Kingdom at the time, went to search for him at the cave beyond the Mystical Plains. His friend Chen Jue said he used when he went there to cultivate.
Chen Jue? "Why didn't he tell me when I saw him, he knows Bo is my good friend.
"We couldn't find a trace of him. No signs he had even been there."
"Since then I have even hired men to go search for him, I believed I would only hinder the search. Every time they came back shaking their heads with nothing to report.
Zhao Hua's father forced her to forget about Bo and marry a man who came in first in the civil examinations, you might know him, Peng Yihong."
Feng Tian didn't want to disturb Hong Daan anymore than he was, he knew he cared for that girl like his own daughter. Peng Yihong was notorious for being a womanizer, he was devious like a snake.
Why didn't Zhao Hua come to me before she married that disgusting man, I could have convinced her I would find Bo. At the very least,I could have found one of my noble friends for her to marry.
Feng Tian looks at Hong Daan, Feng Tian's blue eyes redden with rage, his internal energy crushing the table he is leaning on. The thought of a sweet girl like Zhao Hua being with such a scheming bastard makes his blood boil.
"I have business on that island and I will find out what happened to Bo, he is like my own brother. I swear to you, I will find him or bring whoever harmed him, their head to you! I swear that on all my ancestors!"
Hong Daan stands and bows to Feng Tian, then hugs him, "Thank you!"
Feng Tian can't quiet the rage in his heart. Hong Bo is like a brother to him. How could this have happened. He was skilled in martial arts and his cultivation was only a stage below Chen Jue's. i can only surmise he fell into a trap set up by someone... a Beast Hunter? He went to cultivate not search for Beast Cores so typically their paths wouldn't collide.
Chen Jue what do you know about this!
Feng Tian knows he can't take the time to find Chen Jue right now, he needs to see the horses. He is having trouble controlling his rage. He takes a moment to control his breathing and regain a peaceful demeanor, before walking over to Zhang Yu
"Zhang Yu, how do the horses look?"
Zhang Yu points to the horses he has selected and Feng Tian is surprised. They are all the finest quality Xingjuan horses. They are brought here from The Still Water Kingdom, and are the best horses you will find in Four Kingdoms.
The only better horses are in the Far Northern Kingdoms, too far away to bring to Myriad Cloud City. These Xingjuan horse's hooves can withstand all conditions and they are very fast. The horses are so silent you can't hear them approaching which might be very useful if there are enemies along the way.
"Zhang Yu, you know about horses?
"Yes, on one of my assignments I had to befriend a horse trader who was dealing in Mystical Horse Hearts". Don't ask me about it", he shivers.
"It looks like we have acquired most of the supplies we need. Oh, what herbs were you getting from Hong Daan? Should we go back?"
"No, I had purchased them before you arrived. You said we will be going through a Forest of Illusions and three of those herbs when blended together can calm the mind into being able to see through illusions.
It's effects are temporary but might help. Your friend had many exotic herbs, I also got some for healing potions we might need."
"It's almost three we should go to the restaurant to meet LingLing"