Fire Phoenix Chapter 17

The adults were in the antechamber, seated, their children sat on their laps. They led a luxurious life, and the shadow plays*, even though created for children, bored them. However, since this was Yun Canglan's birthday bash, and the Crown Prince was in attendance, they had no choice but to sit quietly.

(*TN: This is an ancient form of entertainment in storytelling, which uses a source of light, a translucent screen where flat articulated cut-out figures moved between them.)

Behind the screen, two strong men created the illusion of four figures fighting, using shadow and light. The characters danced on, but Yun Canglan did not see. He wasn't paying attention.

The children's play was boring him. At 30 years old, Yun Canglan preferred more polished entertainment.

The audience paid close attention to the dynamics of play; therefore, no one noticed a faint scent that wasn't in the air moments prior, except Yun Canglan.

Yun Canglan sat rigidly in his seat, straining to hear or see what was out there.

It was ruanjinsan*.

(*TN: Ruanjinsuan is a muscle relaxant.)

Yun Canglan kept a vigilant watch, as he looked around the dimmed room.

An attack such as this was formulated to be two-pronged and deftly eliminate all enemies. If the attackers poisoned the ministers in the General's House, Yun Yajun would appear the attacker, because no one would do such in his home. Yun Yajun appeared to be honest but sharp. He could undoubtedly consider this and devise a plan to protect them all. Of course, that meant he had to...

Yun Canglan opened his eyes wider.

The attackers wanted to ferret out where the secret forces were hiding at the General's House.

Nice try.

Only one man wanted Yun Yajun to be assassinated.

Yun Canglan looked at Huo Liuyun tenderly; he was watching the play and smiling.

'Liuyun, I can help you get the world, ' Yun Canglan thought, "if you betray me, though, I'll ruin your world."

During the play's climax, two clumsy characters fought in close quarters. The audience was captivated by the play, when the operators behind the screen shouted, "kill."

A voice boomed from behind the screen, "Time's up, you're all doomed." The audience thought it part of the play until the two characters disappeared, and the operators appeared on the stage, two broadswords each.

As a veteran general, Yun Yajun realized what was going on and rose to assist in defeating these scoundrels, but he discovered he was too weak.

"Hha." The laughter came from one of the tormentors, "General Yun, how do you feel? Can you move? Everyone has been poisoned with ruanjinsan, and cannot resist!"

Other guests tried to move to no avail, it finally sank in that something was wrong. Some tried to stand up as well, only to find the drug left them both paralyzed and weak. When the children all began to wail, that was when their plight was understood.

Yun Canglan cried.

He lay resting weakly in Huo Liuyun's arms as he cried bitterly in fear.

"Liuyun, why can't I move? Those men, they are bad eggs."

Huo Liuyun was too weak to wrap Yun Canglan up in his arms. He wanted to comfort and keep Yun safe.

"What do you want? Who directed this attack from you?" Yun Yajun couldn't move, but he could roar loud and angrily at the men.

"Hha." the attackers chortled, "We come here by order of the King of Hell."

"There is no way for you to get away with this!" Yun Yajun had indeed thought to say that. He also realized, anyone injured or killed here, would be blamed on him. Now he worried more about his wife and innocent servants in the backyard.

"Guards…"

Someone interrupted, calling out. "Wait." Yun Yajun was taken aback, heard the person, but looking around, he could not find anyone; he couldn't see the speaker and no one else to notice someone talking.

The man continued, "General, calm down, please. The device is a sound transmission, which allows only you to hear me."

Yun Yajun sat stunned. A what, sound transmission? Was it a form of some legendary kung fu? Was it a trick?

"You can challenge me all you want, however, what I have to say will impact on your family and Can Kingdom greatly. So please, listen to me and do not say a word." The voice coming from seemingly nowhere was dignified, and Yun Yajun could not disregard it.

"Someone incited the two bullies that come from Mount Kun. Please do not ask me who did; I am not able to inform you who the person is yet. Besides, even if I were to tell you, you won't believe me. Please wait and watch, do not dispatch your secret forces."

The voice that had been talking from in Yun Yajun's ear was silent and gone, as mysteriously as it happened. Yun Yajun, who had not had time to react was suddenly hearing laughter coming from outside. At that instant, two 13-year-old boys appeared from nowhere immediately subduing the two Mount Kun bullies. The teens used a bizarre method of attack, and beat their foes, even without engaging any vital spots.

Other people saw the boys clearly when they stood still. Unexpectedly, the pair were twins, and quite handsome as well.

"General, hello, you want to express your thanks for our help, yes? There is no need to; we did not come to help you." One of the two said wearing a wide happy grin. It all happened a split second quicker than Yun Yajun was able.

Yun Yajun felt numb. He had been stunned so many times over, and over the boys his sincere gratitude, "Yes, thank you."

The second boy piped up with, "No worries. We have been chasing them for a while now, it is just luck it was here that we caught them." Both boys seemed pleased with themselves.

"Well, what have we here." the handsome boys took turns inspecting various people. "The poison appears to be ruanjinsan, correct?"

Yun Yajun was hopeful, if they knew what it was, perhaps they had a remedy, "Do you have something to get rid of it?" How come Yun Yajun had not heard about these boys, and how did the boys come to know this poison?

"Easily enough, ." one brother tossed a white porcelain bottle to Yun Yajun, "Just smell it."

The ministers were overjoyed; the children looked confused. Yun Yajun thanked the two boys again, now that he was feeling more in control of himself again, "Thank you so much. May I ask your name? I will come to visit you another day."

"No need, we caught the two bullies from Mount Kun by order of our master." They exchanged a quick smile and continued, "We're Medical and Poison Sages, in case you need to call on us."

The four of them left, the twins rode off, taking two bullies from Mount Kun as their prisoners, which also earned them great admiration from the people present. The teens' qinggong* form was flawless, another admirable trait, in two at such a young age, and they must be extraordinary.

(*TN: Qinggong is a technique in Chinese martial arts. Martial artists have the ability to move swiftly and lightly at superhuman speed, and perform gravity-defying moves such as gliding on water surfaces, scaling high walls and mounting trees.)

The differences between the twin heroes and Yun Canglan could be seen clearly, as Yun Canglan was sitting and crying bitterly.

Guests were looking over the Young Royal Highness, crying and saddened, shook their heads slowly.

The toxin, Ruanjinsan, had been removed, so Yun wasn't crying because of that. Yun Canglan was in shock and leaned into Huo Liuyun, clinging to him tightly. "Liuyun, I'm scared. Please, don't let them kill me."

Yun Yajun sighed and resigned to the fact, that while the family had served as Generals for two generations, Yun Canglan was an obvious coward and made trouble, which always managed to humiliate the family.

Huo Liuyun soothingly wiped Yun Canglan's tears, "There, there, it's okay. They are gone, and cannot harm you. Don't be afraid; I'll protect you."

Many ministers were in a state of shock. Yun Canglan was crying, and now no one was in the mood for celebrating a birthday, so one by one the families started leaving for their homes. The many tragic and bizarre events ruined the celebration.

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Chapter end