Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 7: Discovered Secret

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

Xiao Zhao hid behind a tree trunk and peered into the clearing he had followed Wang Shi Fu and his assistant to. The clearing was carpeted with green grass as sea-blue, indigo, and yellow flowers sprouted from the ground. He saw the two men: one was Wang Shi Fu who stood tall, commanding, and elegant. A ray of sunlight shone on him and reflected off his white robe, nearly blinding Xiao Zhao. The other man beside him had grayish hair and wore ragged clothing and brown trousers up to his knees.

From afar, Xiao Zhao heard the old man speak. "Wang Jing Ling! Ge Ge! What did you think of my acting skills? Didn't I seem like a grumpy old man?"

"You acted perfectly, Chen Ming, especially when you were talking to that boy! The one who was giving you a hard time," Wang Jing Ling Wang patted him on the shoulder. "Your acting skills are so advanced that even I thought you were an old man for a second. If I didn't know who you really were, I would've been fooled like the rest of the crowd."

"Really?" Chen Ming asked as he got closer to Wang Jing Ling. He stared into Jing Ling's eyes as he excitedly anticipated an answer.

Jing Ling flicked his wrist and the fan opened. He fanned himself and looked straight ahead as he said, "Of course. Why would I trick you? You're the best actor I've ever known."

Chen Ming snatched Jing Ling's right long sleeve and the fan fell to the ground.

"Unbridled!" Wang Jing Ling yelped as he tried to pull away.

Chen Ming clung on to Jing Ling's sleeve and started to sway it back and forth. "Now that I've played my part with you, don't you think I should get a reward?"

"Let go," Wang Jing Ling ordered as he tried to rip his arm away but without success.

"I won't. Not until you promise to get me food now."

"I said, let go. Are you not even going to listen to me now?"

"Wang Jing Ling, oh Wang Jing Ling. I only listened to you because you were my 'Shi Fu' but now that our acting is finished, I no longer have to listen to you."

"You!" Jing Ling, very angered, couldn't speak. Finally, he said, " Fine. I will buy you food. But first, you must wash off all that makeup we applied. Looking at you this way burns my eyes so much. Here," he said as he tossed a leather sack and a piece of cloth to Chen Ming. Then he bent down and picked up the fan and blew on it. After gently wiping it, he tucked it into his clothing.

Chen Ming caught both. Tipping the sack of water sideways, he let water trickle onto his hand and washed his face. Then wiping his face with his sleeve, he said in a muffled voice, "How about your hair? Are you going to dye it back to your normal hair color?"

"Of course. I can't let them recognize me. The orders were clear, we are to disappear. Plus, if they found out who we really are and what happened to the real martial artist..." He shook his head and instead took out a small bottle and opened it. Shaking out some powder, he sprinkled it on his hair and bit by bit, his hair started to change from a white color to a black. After a few minutes, his hair was completely black with no trace of it having ever been white.

"Chen Ming, is my hair completely black?"

"Huh what? Is your hair black? Oh... yes. It's black," Chen Ming answered, a little distracted as he stared at the black hair.

"This really is some good treasure," Jing Ling said as he stared at the small clay bottle. Tucking it back into his clothing he said, "Chen Ming, stop staring at my hair. I know you're amazed by it. But let's go get some food, shall we?"

The mention of food seemed to have gotten Chen Ming to focus again for he became animated. "Yes! Let's go get some food! I'm starving!" Chen Ming grabbed his arm and pulled Jing Ling toward the direction of the town.