Figures were moving about in the fog. It was clear that the assassins were being overpowered gradually by Prince Chen and his guards.

"Something is wrong, Captain!!" screamed one of the assassins as he was cut down by a guard.

"Retreat!" commanded someone from the shadows who seemed to have been the so-called "captain" of this group of assassins.

Without their spiritual powers, eventhough they had higher cultivation and experience, they were being pushed to their limits.

"Don't let anyone of them escape!" ordered Dong Chen.

"Yes, Your Highness!" came the unanimous response from his guards.

Dong Lok removed one of the arrows that had lodged through the carriage and peeked through its hole to see what was going outside. But she couldn't see anything with the fog and the darkness. She wanted to go out but she knew she would only be a burden to her brother and the others. So, she stayed inside the carriage with an anxious heart

"Brother Hua, what are you doing outside? Stay inside the carriage!" panicked Dong Chen.

"I am trying to help you," came the swift reply as Bai Hua effortlessly disarmed a nearby assassin and went to chase after the retreating assassins, and disappeared through the fog.

He could have dealt with the assassins without even lifting a finger but he didn't want others to know the extent of his powers. He had already raised doubts regarding his identity but he didn't want the matter to blow out of proportion. Nobody can blame him if he helped them by showing a little fighting prowess. And the fog and the little drizzle was also hiding his movements.

He counted a total of twelve assassins. Three were down but the rest were retreating. He made the assassins lose their co-ordination and made them run towards Dong Chen and his guards while they thought they were retreating. He hadn't killed anyone ever since he had descended in the mortal realm and so whenever he got close to an assassin, he sealed their movements hoping that the guards would take care of them.

The "Captain" of the assassins was having the worst mission of his lifetime. Never had he come across a mission where he had lost his spiritual powers and was made to abandon a mission in such a fashion: a dog running away with its tail between its legs. And, quite honestly, he was a big dog among his peers. If he came out of this alive, his reputation was going to be in the mud.

"Going somewhere without killing your prey," taunted a voice from in front of him.

A man was standing lazily by a tree. He didn't look like a fighter or a cultivator. He looked like more like a scholar.

This should be easy, the assassin thought, and dashed towards the man intending to pierce his heart with his dagger-like-hands, but before he could execute his action, he felt a presence behind him and the person beside the tree had disappeared. He felt a touch and then he realized that he couldn't move.

" An ant shouldn't hope to go against Mt. Tai," whispered Bai Hua as the assassin slowly crumbled to the ground.

Bai Hua removed the fog and also stopped the drizzle.

Dong Chen had made some of the guards stay behind to protect Dong Lok and had run after Bai Hua, but he did not see him even after the fog had cleared up. He was worried about Bai Hua because he had never seen him in combat or even exhibiting interest in fighting or cultivation. But just some time ago, he had single-handed disarmed an assassin that he was sure was more powerful than all of his guards and even him.

When he finally found him, he saw that he was standing near an assassin that was lying face down on the ground.

"Are you alright?"

"I was pretty lucky, he didn't put up much of a fight. I was able to seal his acupunctures before he could do anything to me."

Yes, it was odd. The assassins were pretty easy to handle, Dong Chen thought. Even those that he had apprehended before were all easy to deal with. It was like they had lost all their power to fight and were all running helplessly. And the funny part was they were even running in the wrong direction.

Only two assassins were caught alive including the one Bai Hua had captured. Others had committed suicide when they realized that they were going to fail. It was a good thing that Bai Hua was able to knock out one for questioning. the other one had bitten off his tongue.

Dong Chen issued orders to his guards to clean up the mess and alert the imperial guards. They quickly escorted Dong Lok safely to her quarters and brought the two assassins back to Dong Chen's manor for interrogation.

Dong Chen decided not to ask anything to Bai Hua that night. He wanted to wait for common sense to help him during the day when he talks to him.

The next morning news had spread all over the imperial city that Prince Dong Chen and Princess Dong Lok were attacked by assassins on their way home from a party given by the Crown Prince.

Xia Sheng and Xia Feng came visiting Prince Chen's Manor first thing in the morning. They hurried inside the manor to see if they were alright.

The moment Xia Feng saw Prince Chen, he demanded, " Where is brother Hua, did anything happen to him? He was supposed to be with you last night. Even if other people don't know, I know he was with you. Tell me he is fine."

"Greetings, Young master of Xia, I am fine. I didn't get killed last night and your brother Hua is fine. Thank you for your concern." replied a somewhat amused Prince Chen.

Xia Feng flicked his younger brother's ears and scolded him.

"Apologize to his highness, just because you call him brother doesn't mean you get to be impertinent with him."

"Ah, brother Chen, who can even kill you. But brother Hua is just a musician. He does not know how to fight." moaned Xia Feng.

"Who says I can't fight?" said a voice that was approaching from another room.

Bai Hua emerged looking fresh as Spring's first spray of flower buds. He didn't look hurt anywhere. Truthfully, he did not even look tired.

Xia Feng blushed for acting like such a worried mother hen.

"About that brother Hua, you must tell us today. I was quite surprised when you dashed off chasing the assassins last night. I was more afraid of Xiao Lok and Xiao Feng if anything had happened to you. You can see how Xiao Feng reacted just now. Your life is a priority."

"Your highness, I won't have dared to wander around if I didn't have any trick up my sleeves. I know enough to survive," said Bai Hua sincerely.

"But we can't feel any spiritual power from you. Nor you look the type to fight. you look so fragile," cried Xia Feng.

"Ah, so you missed last night's party because you had a breakthrough in your cultivation, am I right?" smiled Bai Hua ignoring his rantings.

"Wait, I was caught off guard when you rushed in like that. You really did have a breakthrough. That's why you couldn't come?" Prince Chen chimed in.

"Brother Hua, how can you notice my breakthrough when I can't feel any spiritual power from you? I don't know you anymore."

"I hide my cultivation with a sacred item not to get attention. You don't need to be wary. I mean you no harm. I am just traveling around to see the world."

"That means you're a cultivator too and not just a musician?"

"En," nodded Bai Hua.

"Are you sure you're not a spy sent by another kingdom?" questioned Xia Feng.

"Xiao Feng, just earlier you were worried about his life and, now, you are accusing him of being a spy. Make up your mind," said a bemused Prince Chen, while also thinking the same lines along Xia Feng. But, he was there last night. He had witnessed how Bai Hua had helped them. And also there had been a nagging feeling ever since the previous night. He felt that Bai Hua had helped them more than he had could have seen. So, he was sure that he meant them no harm or bore any evil intention towards them.

Xia Sheng didn't know what was happening. Even he was surprised at this new development.

A guard rushed in as they were bickering and reported, " Your Highness, The assassin still refuses to say anything even after we tried everything we could."

"Let me get my hands on him. He tried to lay his filthy hands on my brother Hua ..... "

"Ahem."

"...and also brother Chen. I'll make him talk with my two fists," promised Xia Feng, the youngest one in the room.

"I'll deal with him. Don't give him food or water. Let's see how long he can endure it," ordered Dong Chen.