Zhan's lips tightened, and he rolled his eyes until only the whites showed, staring straight into the other man's gaze.
"If you're a wizard, I won't allow you to eat my soul. Babiy and Mah always look out for me." With that, Zhan turned and walked away.
The same two mens from that day were with him again, and they clearly heard Zhan's words.....his voice wouldn't leave their heads anytime soon. They were the ones checking the books for the children, while the boss himself only followed, keeping his eyes on them.
One of the children pointed to a book Zhan had picked up. Since the two men were already carrying something for someone else, the boss himself moved to grab it before they could.
One of the men started to circle around toward Zhan, remembering his vow to slap him whenever he see him again. But the boss stopped him with a sharp look.
The other man, equally eager to cause trouble, called out to the first.
"Azaan!"
The man froze, clenched his jaw, and bit his lip. He knew the boss would make Hyun stop him. Worse, he could already see Zhan standing at the cashier. He had to give up, though he swore to himself that the next time they met without the boss around, he'd make sure Zhan ran away from him.....not the other way around.
Zhan had already paid for his book, which cost him every last coin..... leaving nothing for the taxi fare. He muttered under his breath about the price as he stepped outside, only to find the taxi driver waiting impatiently.
The man signal for his payment.
From behind his face mask, Zhan narrowed his eyes, the only part of his face visible. "Oh, come on. After all that waiting, you expect me to just hand it over? What if I tell you I'm not paying until we get to my stop?"
The driver glared. "Forget it, I'm not taking you. Give me my money now, and find another ride. And pay me for the time I wasted waiting here."
"Well, well, leader of the Beiping thieves, huh? I told you, If you take me home, I'll pay you..... if you don't, I'll just hop on another ride, and you can chase me if you want. I've got nothing on me right now; the money's at home."
"You're not right in the head," the taxi driver growled, stepping out of the vehicle.
For a second, Zhan's pulse quickened...the man's build alone was enough to crush him with one blow in the street. But he didn't back down. Instead, he locked eyes with him and said, "If your hand so much as touches my shirt, I'll break it. Try me if you think you can."
"Do you know who I am, boy?" the driver snarled, stepping closer. "Go on, try breaking my hand and see how I smash every bone in your body."
The bookshop security guards stepped in quickly. Zhan had only acted so bold because he'd spotted them nearby.
The driver was still huffing and muttering when Zhan's eyes shifted to that handsome stranger approaching from across the street. His walk alone was enough to unsettle anyone watching.
Zhan, however, kept his expression unreadable.....no one would see fear on his face. The man, dressed in a sharp black suit that contrasted perfectly with his pale, flawless skin, walked past with an air of authority.
The faint trace of his cologne.....the same scent from that other day..... made the air feel heavier, calmer. Just as he passed them, he stopped, slid both hands into his pockets, and turned around.
First, he looked at Zhan, then shifted his gaze to the guards still holding the taxi driver.
Azaan understood immediately what his boss meant. "Let him go," he said reluctantly, wishing the driver had been allowed to teach Zhan a lesson.
The guards released the man, who stood glaring at Zhan..... but Zhan turned his head aside, as if bored.
The suited man pulled one hand from his pocket, lifted his jacket slightly, and pulled out a thick stack of bills. He handed them to the taxi driver, who bent almost to his knees in thanks, stammering his gratitude.
Then the man turned to leave.....but his eyes met Zhan's again for a brief moment.
Zhan pushed his lips forward slightly, narrowed his eyes in mock defiance, then looked away.
The exchange made Azaan burn with frustration. Every one of the boss's men gave Zhan a glare before following their leader out of sight.
The taxi driver, grinning now, looked at Zhan. "Well, Mr. Big Shot, even if we had to drive to the edge of the Beiping Empire, you could've just told me you had connections in high places."
Zhan shot him a sharp, contemptuous glare, let out a long hiss of annoyance, and walked away.
With his usual composed stride, Zhan passed by their car just as it was about to pull out of the lot.
Azaan gave a faint smirk, secretly convinced that one day this boy would end up causing himself some serious harm. The handsome rich stranger, whose gut already told him that this kid was nothing but trouble, simply leaned back in his seat with deliberate calm, as if he weren't even inside the car.
By the time Zhan found another taxi and got in, his mind was already wandering. For the first time, he asked himself.....who exactly was that man in this city? From the look of him, he was clearly from rich family… or perhaps the kind of man who was wealthier himself, maybe a royalty becouse of his authority aura.
Deep down, Zhan knew he wanted to find out, not because he admired him, but because something about the man's presence irritated him. The annoyance had started back on that day when they'd nearly hit that kid, and it hadn't gone away since.
Or maybe he was something stranger. How else could he keep appearing everywhere Zhan went.... twice now, by coincidence?
People often told Zhan he was handsome, the best-looking in his family, but the man's refined features and solid, commanding presence were on another level, as if he'd personally chosen his own perfection. But trouble.....trouble clung to him.
When they reached his neighborhood, Zhan pointed out where the taxi should stop. By chance, Babiy and Huan had just been dropped off at the front of the house, clearly returning from somewhere.
They paid the driver before going inside, while Zhan stood at the gate with a wide grin, offering them cheerful greetings.
Inside, Babiy was telling Mah about the success of the goods they had sent to market. Zhan only half-listened, his thoughts entirely elsewhere. He was impatient for Babiy to leave and Mah to go to her room.
The moment the house grew quiet, Zhan moved.
He slipped out, holding the small paper bag from earlier.... the one he had been hiding. Quietly, he headed for Babiy's room. Luck was on his side; the jars of honey inside were new and full to the brim.
A grin tugged at his lips. For a moment, he almost wanted to shout from excitement. But instead, he quickly calmed himself, glancing around like someone committing a petty crime. He pried open the first jar and poured in nearly half of what was in his bag. Then he paused, thinking it might be wiser to use it all in case Babiy decided to take them all.
With the thin stick he'd brought, he stirred carefully until the contents were perfectly mixed. He was in the middle of working on the second jar when Mah's voice suddenly called his name from outside.
His eyes shut tight in reflex. Quickly, he capped the jar, shoved the remaining powder and stick inside his shirt, and peeked out.
Mah was heading into the kitchen. Zhan darted out of the room and into his own.
She called again, and this time he replied, stepping out while adjusting the ribbon that tied back his hair.
"Sorry, Mah.....I was studying," he said.
"And you couldn't at least clear your throat so I'd know you heard me?" she scolded lightly.
"My apologies," he replied smoothly.
Mah emerged from the kitchen, adjusting the scarf over her shoulders. "Go on, finish your studying. I just thought I heard something, but first check that Huan didn't leave the front door unlocked."
"Alright," Zhan said, heading toward the hallway with a subtle sigh of relief.
As soon as he was alone in his room, he leapt onto the bed with the giddy energy of a child. Laughing quietly to himself, he rolled back and forth, savoring his small victory. In his mind, it wasn't recklessness.....it was justice. It didn't occur to him that, whatever happened next, Babiy would be the first suspect, since the honey had come from him.
- - - -
That night, Zhan went to bed filled with excitement at the thought of dawn arriving. Babiy had prepared the honey to be delivered to the Palace.
Surprisingly, this morning Mah didn't have to struggle to get Zhan ready for school.....something unusual, as he normally loved to sleep in. Even Mah was astonished at how quickly he got up today. Huan, unable to contain his curiosity, finally asked about it. Zhan explained that there was a special program at school that day.
Even at school, Zhan wasn't entirely focused. Only half his attention was on the teachers; the rest was elsewhere, waiting for the day to end.
As for Babiy, despite the scars the Beiping Empire's Palace had left on his heart, he had never allowed anyone to harm them through him, nor had he used his position to cause trouble for them. Today, being Thursday, he carefully prepared three large jars of honey and set off for the Beiping Empire.
When he arrived, he couldn't take the honey directly to the Emperor. Meeting the Emperor was a privilege reserved only for the most important people. Instead, there was an appointed official who accepted such deliveries and passed them on to the Emperor's quarters.
After the usual round of inspections.....tedious and never-ending.....Babiy was finally allowed past the second gate of the Beiping Palace.
A dignified old man, whose appearance and fine clothing made it clear he was someone important within the Palace, approached Babiy. After waiting for nearly ten minutes, Babiy respectfully greeted him, even though they were likely close in age.
The old man returned the greeting with the arrogance of someone accustomed to holding power. He then ordered Babiy to taste the honey. Knowing there was nothing suspicious about it, Babiy didn't hesitate. Without overthinking, he picked up the spoon offered by the attendant standing behind the old man.
The first jar was sealed with banana leaves. Babiy untied it, scooped up a spoonful of the golden honey, and lifted it toward his mouth…
The sharp neigh of a white stallion and the pounding of hooves made Babiy drop the spoon he was about to put in his mouth. He sprang to his feet to save himself, just as the Elder and the attendants around him scattered to safety.
The three honey jars Babiy had brought were shoved aside in the commotion, their contents spilling. The Elder turned sharply toward the stable attendants chasing the horse.
"Who's the fool that let him loose?" he barked.
They all trembled. Summoning courage, the head stablehand dropped to his knees, shaking his head. "My lord, he'd just been washed and was about to be returned. He broke free.....I swear to you."
The Elder's jaw tightened in frustration. "You have ten minutes to get him back, you useless lot."
One of the Elder's own attendants bowed respectfully before hurrying off. Others were already trying to catch the runaway stallion, and more joined in, for this was no ordinary horse....it was the fiercest in the Beiping Palace, impossible to control except by King Yibo himself.
The stallion had been trained and brought back with King Yibo from abroad, stronger than any other in the empire. If it broke free, chaos followed.....people injured, even bones broken.....before it could be caught.
Once before, a similar incident had caused mayhem, leaving several attendants injured. Despite all efforts, no one could catch the beast until nightfall. But that day, when King Yibo himself stepped out, something remarkable happened. He simply called the stallion's name, and it stopped, trotting straight to him. With a shake of its mane and a snort, it stood perfectly still, as if it hadn't been terrorizing the palace moments earlier.
The sight left everyone kneeling in stunned silence, their heads bowed, though some couldn't resist glancing up at the magnificent horse...and the King whose half-hidden face carried an undeniable air of authority.
★★★
Meanwhile, Zhan's eyes stayed fixed on the door. His only wish was for Babiy to return and confirm that the honey had reached His Majesty's hands. But the silence stretched on until the sun had climbed high, and still there was no sign of him.
Mah tried persuading Zhan to eat, but he refused. Even Huan came to invite him for their usual shared meal, yet Zhan shook his head.
They let him be, unable to understand why he couldn't sit still.
Babiy finally returned home after four o'clock. Alarmed, Mah shot to her feet. "Babiy, what happened? Were you in an accident?"
Babiy shook his head wearily and lowered himself into a seat. "Just get me some water first."
Before he'd even finished speaking, Zhan.....his hands trembling.....hurried to bring him a cup. At that moment, Huan emerged from his room, dressed for a football game, and rushed to Babiy with questions.
Babiy set down the cup and looked at them all. "Calm down. Nothing happened to me. It was at the palace.....one of the wild horses broke loose. It was like a battlefield out there. Even the honey I brought was of no use."
Mah and Huan exchanged worried murmurs, while Zhan felt a deep, bitter knot tightening in his chest. Not only had he failed to succeed, but Babiy'd returned with injuries. In that moment, Zhan wished King Yibo himself stood before him so he could wrap his hands around the man's throat and squeeze until every breath left him.
Even as Huan finished tending Babiy's wounds, Zhan said nothing. At last, he retreated to his room, pacing back and forth, his mind consumed by what to do next. He had sworn he would never rest until King Yibo was brought down.....only then could he find peace over the loss of his family.
That night, Zhan barely slept, his mind tangled in plans for the next day. The thoughts weighing on him made up his mind.....he would leave the house early, claiming he was going to see Yao, whose mother was unwell, and that he wouldn't be gone long.
Mah acted as though she wouldn't let him go, but after he pleaded repeatedly, she finally agreed.....on the condition that he not stay out late, and that he cover himself fully, including his face. Zhan agreed to her terms; after all, he wanted to go.
He hurried through getting ready, quietly searching for Juan's phone among their belongings. Luckily, when he inserted the battery and powered it on, it still had a charge. Quickly, he loaded the number he needed to call, silently hoping there was enough credit left.
No such luck. He turned it off, slipped it into his pocket, then said goodbye to Mah before heading out, taking the taxi fare she had given him.
Once he was completely out of his neighborhood, Zhan stopped to buy a recharge card and tried the number again. This time, someone picked up. For a moment, there was only silence on both ends.....until Zhan broke it with a cautious, "Hello."
The reply came clipped and wary, as if the person didn't recognize who was calling. Realizing this, Zhan spoke first before they could ask.
"Sir! You're speaking with Xiao Zhan…"
"Seriously?" the man interrupted sharply, his voice betraying surprise before Zhan could even finish.
Zhan's lips twitched in amusement, though he kept his face neutral. Outwardly, he smiled faintly, letting the sound carry through the line.
Lowering his tone respectfully, Zhan said, "Yes, Sir. I need to meet you urgently.....how should we arrange it?"
"Wait… Zhan? Is it really you?"
"I won't have much time or....."
"No, no," the man cut in quickly. "That's not what I meant. I'm just… surprised. But I'll put my questions aside for now. I think I'd better come to your house to see you directly."
"No, Sir," Zhan replied firmly.
"Why not?"
"There's no need for that. Let's meet somewhere neutral."
The man paused in thought, then exhaled. "Alright… I'll send you my current address and you can meet me there, if that's alright."
"As long as it's somewhere that won't compromise my safety, Sir," Zhan said plainly.
"That's exactly what makes you different, Zhan," the man replied with an approving edge to his tone.
Zhan only gave a quiet hum in response.
- - - - -
The man's gaze, even through memory, was sharp.....carrying both curiosity and a hint of unease since their last long conversation. Zhan knew he would likely see more of this reaction, not just from this man but from others as well. Instead of reacting, Zhan simply gave him another faint smile.
Perhaps the man didn't even understand what he was debating in his mind, but he was clearly measuring Zhan's words against his age, as if deciding whether it was wisdom or youthful recklessness.
Finally, the man spoke again, his voice taking on a probing note.
"Zhan, how old are you?"
"Twenty one, Sir," Zhan answered, not seeing the point of the question.
The man nodded slightly, biting his lip before saying, "You remind me of something that feels almost like a dream. But I'll give you some advice suited to your age....focus on clearing the important challenges ahead of you, like the exams that will open the next stage of your life. Keep your thoughts to yourself, and let me be the first and last person you ever share this with. That way, you can continue building the good life you've started with your family… and perhaps, someday, I'll have the chance to be part of it too."
"The good life you're talking about ended long ago for me and my family," Zhan replied steadily. "Now I think only about protecting what's left for those who come after me.....including any children you might one day have yourself, Sir. And the fear I see in your eyes right now is proof enough of what I mean. Even if I'm no longer here, you'll live on and remember. Thank you for listening."
Before he could stand, the man stepped in front of him.
Zhan looked straight at him, his large eyes locking on his with an intensity that had turned their light to a deep shade of red.
"Zhan, you have to understand me. No matter what, I'm older than you. I have more experience with life, and I know the secrets hidden in every corner and alley of Beiping…"
"I know, sir. I truly know. That's why I came to you first. But please forgive me...none of your advice could fit into this stubborn head of mine, because what's in here is like a detailed manuscript, page after page. And once something is written inside, there's only one way to erase it...death. Only death could wipe away this determination of mine. I wish you well."
The man watched Zhan in stunned silence as he hailed a taxi and got in.
Somehow, Zhan seemed to grow in his eyes.....not just in years, but in a rare kind of dignity, confidence, and integrity. If young people like him could think this way about their society, what were the elders doing? His grandparents, his parents, his uncles and aunts, even his peers....didn't they see what Zhan saw? Or was it true that the fear Zhan spoke of was reflected in everyone's eyes? Did this mean even the other rulers, many of whom had lost their own children, lived under the same suffocating fear? Could the rumors be true.....that people whispered of the Emperor of Beiping as if he were the successor of an ancient tyrant whose legend had never faded?
Zhan… Zhan… you really are different, just as I've always said in class whenever you give an answer that silences the room…
★★★
It had been three days since Zhan confronted his teacher, without gaining support or encouragement. Yet, that didn't stop him or make him abandon his goal. Even if it meant walking toward his own death, he had promised himself that he would follow the trail of his two lost siblings.
Even if he didn't have the power to tear down the rule of the Emperor...a rule that mirrored the tyranny of the pharaohs...he would make sure his cry of grief echoed across the world. He believed that, at the very least, there would be someone after him to wipe away his tears.
The first path he had tried was the only one he truly thought could bring him victory easily.....but it failed. The second path he took was blocked as well, the door shut firmly because of the deep fear and power the tyrant's rule inspired. Now, he was trying to think of a third way, even if it too might fail.
He would keep trying, even if it meant taking a thousand, ten thousand different paths...until one finally worked.
He exhaled a heavy breath, shifted in bed, and reached for Juan's phone.....the one he still hadn't let anyone in his household know he was using. He stared at the screen, his eyes widening. It wasn't a mistake...there were dozens of missed calls from his teacher. The calls had gone unnoticed because the phone was on silent.
At first, he thought to ignore them, but couldn't. Right now, this man was his only mirror.....his only link to the opportunity he desperately sought.
As luck would have it, just as Zhan was about to call, the teacher's number appeared again.
Zhan answered, his voice tight.
"Sorry."
That was the first thing the teacher said.
Zhan drew in a deep breath and swallowed. "Sir, you haven't wronged me at all," he replied lightly, as if nothing had happened.
"Hmm," the man murmured. Then he added, "I want us to meet."
"There's no reason for that, sir."
"There is, Zhan. Don't be stubborn."
"Sir, you're my teacher. Why would I defy you? I'm only speaking my truth."
"In your truth, you've already decided to give up meeting my friend."
Zhan sat upright as if someone had shouted in his ear. "Sir...!"
"I've decided to introduce you to him," the teacher cut in quickly.
Zhan felt like yelling out in sheer relief, but he forced himself to keep his composure. "Sir, it doesn't have to be only him. I've even found someone else who could..."
"Zhaaan."
The way his teacher said his name made Zhan's chest tighten. He let out a slow breath, almost as if speaking to the man face-to-face. "Fine. Send me the address. But make sure it's somewhere my dignity won't be stepped on."
The man chuckled warmly, just as he always had in the past. "Zhan, you really are one of a kind."
Zhan's lips twitched into the faintest smile. He didn't say anything more and ended the call.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛