PRECIOUS PRINCESS

NINETY-NINE

Xuan Lan kept her eyes from getting closed. He felt that everything was safe and there was nothing to ignore. Xuan Lan could stand guard until morning even though he was keeping watch in a sleeping position. As he felt prince Zhan start to wake up, Xuan Lan hurriedly closed her eyes to make him look like he was still asleep.

"This child is like a baby" prince Zhan said as he stroked Xuan Lan's cheek as he looked at the sleeping Xuan Lan in his arms.

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Prince Zhan then woke up from his sleeping position and woke Xuan Lan and grandfather up. He went around looking for something to eat. Soon he returned with some fruit in his hand.

"It's fruit for you" said Prince Zhan as he gave fruit to Xuan Lan and the grandfather.

"Oh, yes we have been almost three days together but we do not know the name of grandfather" said Prince Zhan while eating the fruit.

Grandfather looked up at Prince Zhan. Then he answered.

"Call me grandfather Shi" he said.

"Good grandfather Shi. Introduce my name Zhan and this is my brother, Xuan Lan" Prince Zhan said.

"Yes, I already found out yesterday when you guys called each other" grandfather Shi said with a laugh.

After breakfast fruit that tastes a little bit and sour it they then continue the journey again. Prince Zhan and Xuan Lan were still loyal by leading their horses with grandfather Shi who was on the horse belonging to prince Zhan.

As they were walking, Prince Zhan was like hearing the sound of the footsteps of the approaching animals. He sharpened his hearing and then turned his body. It turned out that there were already some wolves following them even though the distance was quite far but prince Zhan could still see them clearly.

"Lan'er get on your horse" said Prince Zhan.

"Huh? What's gege for?" xuan Lan asked confusedly.

"According" said Prince Zhan while slightly pressing. Xuan Lan then complied with prince Zhan to climb onto his horse even though he was still confused.

After making sure Xuan Lan was comfortable while on his horse, Prince Zhan then took the horse that the grandfather had ridden. He was already indifferent to any sight that Xuan Lan and grandfather Shi would see the most important now was their safety.

Prince Zhan then held the horse harness tightly. He then looked at Xuan Lan who was also already holding onto his horse harness.

"Xuan Lan, do you believe me if I see some wolves following us?" ask prince Zhan.

Xuan Lan turned her gaze towards prince Zhan. He almost looked back but Prince Zhan's arm broke his intention. He then nodded his head in a sign he believed in Prince Zhan's words.

"Run!" said prince Zhan who made Xuan Lan hurriedly spur his horse as well as prince Zhan.

The wolf that had been hiding now began to show its fangs. They were chasing the horsemen. Prince Zhan preferred to run because he did not want to take the risk of fighting these wolves.

They continued to run from the wolf chase until they arrived at a fairly steep ravine. Their horses stopped abruptly making the person riding them feel shocked.

They descended after observing the surroundings where the wolf pack had no longer followed them. They then descended from his horse to neutralize a still irregular heartbeat.

"Aooo" turns out the wolf was still chasing. If they want to get back on the horse then they will not be able to so they choose to climb a tall tree. Their horses had actually also left when they heard the roar of the wolf earlier.

After a long time, the wolves finally gave up and went somewhere. Xuan Lan scanned the surroundings hoping that the wolf had already completely left. Tired of being in the trees, they finally came down.

"Haiss, the horse is gone" said Prince Zhan.

"It's okay gege, can't we still walk?" xuan Lan said trying to comfort Prince Zhan.

Grandpa Shi just smiled. He then patted Prince Zhan on the shoulder.

"I'm well again thanks to the herbs your sister gave me" the grandfather said with a laugh.

"I am still strong if I have to walk towards the mountain of hope" he said again.

Prince Zhan was somewhat glaring. He still did not believe that the grandfather in front of him had healed within three days. But indeed Xuan Lan's treatment did not need to be in doubt.

"Well, then where should we go?" ask prince Zhan.

"We will cross this abyss first" said Shi's grandfather.

Prince Zhan and Xuan Lan looked at each other. They were still worried about Shi's grandfather's condition but unexpectedly Shi's grandfather had already jumped over the ravine before him and he had already reached the other side.

Prince Zhan and Xuan Lan finally believed that grandfather Shi had indeed recovered. They then followed Grandfather Shi's steps to jump over the precipitous abyss earlier.

"I've already said that I've recovered" grandfather Shi said with a smile. They walked together to the mountain of hope.

In the scorching heat they accidentally found a stream. Xuan Lan, prince Zhan and grandfather Shi then headed into the river washing his face, hands and feet to refresh their minds.

Xuan Lan told grandfather Shi and prince Zhan that he wanted to cleanse his body so that he would head upstream. On the other hand, prince Zhan and grandfather Shi chose to catch fish to serve as their lunch meal.

The smell of the roasted fish made Xuan Lan who was soaking immediately finish her affairs. He put on his clothes and walked towards the smoke visible from where he was standing.

"It's fresh?" prince Zhan asked as Xuan Lan was already before him. Xuan Lan simply nodded in response.

Prince Zhan then gave Xuan Lan the fish he had already burned. Then they eat together. After they ate, Shi's grandfather asked them to wait for him for a moment it turned out that Shi's grandfather wanted to make a drinking container for the three of them.

He then filled the bamboo container he had made with water flowing from the river. He then gave two bamboo containers to each person. Now they started walking again to get to the mountain of hope as well so they could find a resting place for tonight.

"It looks like we need to rest here" Shi's grandfather told the two brothers before him.

"That's right" prince Zhan agreed.

"Is the mountain of hope still far away?" asked Xuan Lan curiously.

"Maybe tomorrow afternoon or the day after tomorrow we will be there" said Shi's grandfather.

"You go to sleep, now I'll take care of you both" said grandfather Shi again.

"But cake-" said prince Zhan cut off as grandfather Shi shook his head.

"You've been on guard for two days now it's my turn to stand guard" grandfather Shi said unwillingly to be denied.

"Alright" said Prince Zhan who was feeling very tired from a few days ago.

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updated at 10:13**