Chapter 108: The Persistent Princess

"Jiechen, how dare you insult my master!" Xu Hua, hearing this, could not help but fly into a rage.

Jiechen smiled faintly. "Master Zhou saved your Wutai Mountain disciples in the lands of Zhuolu, yet those very disciples repaid his kindness with enmity, framing him in return. Do you know who that disciple was?" As Jiechen spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly; in his view, that man, Zhang Zuozheng, was a despicable villain, and he held him in utter contempt.

Hearing this, Xu Hua was left speechless. "I only bring Master Zhou back to Wutai Mountain on the orders of my honored master. As for past grievances, they have nothing to do with me. We have another hundred miles to go. Let's move."

Having said this, Xu Hua tugged hard on the chain and led Zhou Yi out the door.

"Hey, you bald donkey, Xu Hua, I haven't finished my meal yet! Why the rush? Wait for me a moment," Zhou Yi said, popping another piece of greens into his mouth.

Beside them, Jiechen heard Zhou Yi call Xu Hua a "bald donkey" and could not help but twitch his lips, instinctively reaching up to touch his own shaven head.

Zhou Yi, realizing his blunder, gave Jiechen a sheepish grin. "Uh, Master Jiechen, I didn't mean you. I was talking about that bald donkey, Xu Hua." As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it sounded wrong, but he knew any attempt at explanation would only make matters worse.

Jiechen waved a hand to show it didn't matter. "Brother Xu Hua, is it really appropriate to leave so abruptly?"

Previously, Jiechen had spoken harshly to Xu Hua, and now, hearing him speak, Xu Hua ignored him entirely, giving the chain another firm yank. "Move quickly. The night air is cool and perfect for travel."

Princess Fu glanced at the shackles on Zhou Yi's ankles and spoke up. "Master Xu Hua, please wait. While I know there is some bad blood between you, it is quite improper to keep Young Master Zhou bound like this. Why not remove the shackles?"

Though Princess Fu’s tone sounded like a suggestion, it carried the weight of a command. Because Wutai Mountain had long been supported by imperial patronage, she frequently visited to offer incense. Even though the Qing Dynasty had fallen, she remained a princess in status and had bestowed much charity upon the temple.

Xu Hua looked troubled. "Amitabha, the Princess does not understand. This Master Zhou possesses Daoist arts and is incredibly swift of foot. If I let him go, he will surely run away, and where would I go to find him then?"

Princess Fu covered her mouth and chuckled. "Rest assured, Master. I will personally stand as his guarantor. If he runs off, you may come to me to settle the account."

Zhou Yi turned to look at the Princess. He dared not accept her favor, for it was a debt he could neither repay nor afford to carry.

"I thank you for your kindness, Princess, but let it stay. It doesn't bother me. Master Xu Hua, let's go." With that, Zhou Yi walked out of the shop.

"Young Master Zhou, why can't you see the Princess's heart?" Xiao Cui, seeing his attitude, could not help but interject anxiously.

"Xiao Cui, be quiet! But Young Master Zhou, I must ask you this: in what way is a fallen princess like me unworthy of you?" Seeing his indifference, Princess Fu could not help but voice the question in her heart. However, the restaurant was full of patrons, and with two monks and two young women in their party, they were already drawing attention.

The other diners began to whisper and point.

Zhou Yi hated being the center of attention and could not help but frown deeply. "The weight of Princess Fu's affection is too heavy; I cannot bear it. Master Xu Hua, let us go."

"Master Zhou, I am a monk of Shaolin, and it is inconvenient for me to go to Wutai Mountain. If you do not wish to go, you and I can join forces—this Xu Hua is no match for us." Although Jiechen did not know why Zhou Yi had suddenly agreed to go to Wutai Mountain, he could tell from his expression that it was against his will, so he offered to help him escape.

Having heard from Xu Hua that Zhou Yi had killed Zhang Zuozheng, Jiechen had already made up his mind. He felt Zhou Yi had done a good deed; though killing was the greatest prohibition in Buddhism, since he himself wasn't the one doing it, he was perfectly happy to applaud Zhou Yi for eliminating Zhang.

Furthermore, Wutai Mountain was wealthy from imperial support, while the Shaolin Temple was much more ascetic. People often harbor resentment toward the rich, and monks were no exception, so Jiechen had no love for Wutai Mountain.

"Many thanks, Master Jiechen. If I manage to return alive from this trip to Wutai Mountain, I will owe you a favor." Since Zhou Yi had given his word to follow Xu Hua, he would not go back on it. Even if Xu Hua were to remove the shackles now, he would not run.

Xu Hua glanced back at Princess Fu, pressed his palms together in a gesture of respect, and said, "Amitabha, I am bound by my master's orders and cannot stay long. I must take my leave."

With that, the two men set off into the night, heading straight for Wutai Mountain.

This was the third time Princess Fu had stared blankly at Zhou Yi’s receding back. A moment later, she pouted and stomped her foot. "Xiao Cui, let's go."

"Princess, are we still following them?" Xiao Cui, who had been trekking across the country for days, was already exhausted and could not help but complain.

"If you don't want to follow, you can go back to the palace. I will go on my own." With that, the Princess hurried after them.

The pace was not fast, as the Princess kept a distance behind. Whenever the men stopped to rest, the Princess and Xiao Cui would do the same.

Though Zhou Yi and Xu Hua said nothing, they felt uneasy; the Princess was a delicate flower of nobility, and she had never walked such distances in her life.

Three days later, the four of them stopped in the shade by the road. Zhou Yi looked back at the Princess. She had taken off her shoes, and her socks were soaked in blood.

Throughout the journey, her feet had worn into blisters, and the blisters had burst. The pain must have been agonizing, but she simply blew cool air onto her small feet, stubbornly enduring the pain without a sound.

After a short rest, Xu Hua stood up and said, "Let's go. We will stay at an inn in Laiyuan County tonight. At this rate, it will take another five days to reach Wutai Mountain."

"Let's rest a bit longer." These words seemed to leave Zhou Yi's mouth before he could even think.

The Princess was resting not far away and heard him clearly. She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with a faint smile.

After resting a while longer, the Princess put on her shoes and socks, and the four continued their journey. Along the way, Zhou Yi could not help but look back at her petite figure, his heart aching with bitterness.

He slowed his pace to wait for her, but because the chain was still in Xu Hua's hand, Xu Hua was forced to slow down as well.

Zhou Yi wanted to wait for the Princess to catch up so they could walk together, but as they slowed, she slowed as well. Zhou Yi had to stand still and wait. Seeing them stop, the Princess stopped too.

Zhou Yi curled his lip, walked back, stood in front of the Princess, and asked, "Why are you following me? You are a princess—why are you suffering so much?"

Princess Fu turned to Xu Hua. "Master Xu Hua, please remove the shackles. I have two words to say to him."

This was the second time she had asked. Xu Hua could not refuse; after spending many days together, he had come to trust Zhou Yi's character.

Xu Hua lowered his head to unlock the chain. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi suddenly surged forward and kicked Xu Hua right in the face. Xu Hua never dreamed that Zhou Yi would attack him, especially while he was being released. Caught completely off guard, he was knocked unconscious by the blow.