The Abandoned Temple.
Gù Míng was lying on the cot, his back to the room. He tilted his head slightly, listening to Han Yuan bickering with their hostage.
"Why did you bring me here?" Yáo Jǐng demanded, her voice sharp.
She was still bound by Han Yuan's power, floating in her wheelchair.
"You will know in no time," Han Yuan replied, sitting down with his arms crossed.
To Gù Míng, their voices suddenly became faint, like echoes from a great distance. He tilted his head back, staring at the dusty ceiling.
It has been many years since we met. Yet the memories are still fresh... like it was yesterday. Han Yuan…
Flashback: The Heavenly Palace.
When I was a little boy, I once hid behind a large marble pillar. I peeked through a crack. The royal kitchen. Maids and chefs were everywhere, the smell of roasted meats and sweet pastries filling the air. My tummy grumbled. I waited. And waited. Finally, the chefs and maids left, carrying fancy trays and trolleys covered in food for a banquet. I sneaked in. The pots were empty. I searched everywhere, my stomach aching. At last, in the bottom of a large pot, I found it. A single, leftover piece of chicken. I grabbed it.
As I turned to leave, a group of other children, all dressed in fine silks, walked in.
"Gù Míng!" one called out.
"A royal prince, stealing food!" They all laughed.
PHEW! One of the older boys used his energy to blast the chicken leg from my hand, turning it to ash. They all laughed louder. I got angry.
"Oh look, the useless prince is angry," one of them provoked.
"What are you going to do, Gù Míng?" another sneered.
"Are you going to call your father to save you? But too bad, he doesn't care."
"Nobody cares about a dying person. What a waste to feed you."
It hurt, because it was the truth.
"Shut up!" I said angrily. With a raw surge of power, I lifted the children off the ground. They floated in the air, choking.
"My child!" a lady screamed, rushing into the kitchen.
"Stop this!" I dropped them. The children fell to the floor, coughing and crying.
The woman, a high-born lady from the powerful Léi Clan, ran to comfort her son. "You!" she shrieked, pointing at me.
"You are going to pay for this!"
She reported the matter to the King, Gù Tiānhé. He was furious. I had attacked the heir of one of the four great clans. "Beat him," the King ordered, his voice cold. "As much as you want. He won't die." The guards beat me harshly, until I could barely stand. Then they threw me into the Cold Prison.
I was unconscious for three days. I woke up slowly. My whole body was a dull, heavy ache. I was freezing. My vision was blurry. I saw a small figure across the cell, chained to the wall. My vision cleared. It was a little boy, just like me. But he was beautiful. His hair was white as snow, and his eyes... his eyes were shining as if they held the whole universe. He looked just as pale as me. He was just sitting there, staring.
I tried to stand up, my limbs screaming in protest. I finally managed to get to my feet. His stare was uncomfortable. It felt like a search through my soul.
"Are you Han Yuan?" I asked, my voice hoarse. The boy did not reply.
"I have heard about you," I continued, talking to fill the silence.
"You are just like me. The inheritor of the power of the Orb of the Universe." The boy just kept staring, his eyes seeming to glow in the dim light.
The cell door opened. A palace maid walked in with a single, steaming plate of food. She walked past me as if I were invisible and left the plate in front of Han Yuan.
"Here is your food for today," she said. "We will adjust the temperature so that it is warmer, since you look sick. You cannot die. Not yet." She walked out.
I had no idea what she was talking about. Nor did I care. Something else had fully caught my attention.
I looked at the plate. It was the best meal I had ever seen. Fancy. I was envious, and so hungry. Han Yuan's gaze did not leave me. Then, he pushed the plate across the floor, towards me. I was stunned.
"Are you... giving this to me?" Han Yuan nodded slowly.
I walked towards him. I didn't know what to think. A boy locked in a prison, who ate once a month, was willing to give his only meal to a prince. Maybe I was being pitied. After all, just like him, I ended up in the cold prison. The only difference is that he has been there he whole life. On the plate was a piece of chicken, potatoes, grapes, and an apple. I picked up the piece of chicken, watching him for a reaction. Nothing.
He should have been angry. Why wasn't he angry? It bothered me.
"I am going to take a bite," I said. Han Yuan nodded.
"I am really, really going to eat it," I said again, trying to get a reaction. Still, nothing but a nod.
I took a slow bite, watching him. Nothing. After I swallowed, I held the piece of chicken out to him. His hands were chained, but he could hold things. He did not take it. "You don't want it?" I asked. He opened his mouth. I fed it to him.
Things continued like that for 500 years. One day, out of the blue, the guards came. They unlocked the prison and grabbed me. I didn't know why. Was my punishment over? Was my blood at its purest? Was it time to be sacrificed? I had many questions. But one thing I was sure of: I was reluctant to go. I didn't want to leave the cold prison. I didn't want to leave him. I looked back as the guards escorted me out. It was something I had never seen before, something I had been wanting to see. An expression. He smiled at me. And said something. I could see his lips moving. I was too far to hear what he said.
What did you say, Han Yuan...?
"I said," Han Yuan's voice was soft, "what are you thinking about? You seem lost in thought."
The dusty ceiling came into focus. Suddenly, appeared Han Yuan, who was staring at him intently.
"Nothing," Gù Míng said. And he smiled. A tiny, genuine smile.
"Now I am more curious," Han Yuan said, leaning in.
"What were you thinking about that could make you smile like this?" He squeezed Gù Míng's cheeks together playfully.
"What? Are you guys just going to ignore me now?" Yáo Jǐng's voice cut in, full of outrage. Han Yuan flicked his fingers in her direction. Her voice stopped. She tried to speak, but no sound came out.
"You talk too much," Han Yuan said, annoyed.