Mei Deng had a feeling that someone was watching him, but he couldn't pinpoint their exact location. Nor could he phantom why someone would target him when he just got reincarnated into this world.
'Perhaps, their target is this uncle?.' he figured, pinching his chin, discreetly assessing the old man from the wonton soup shop. After he had saved him, Mei Deng insisted on walking him to his destination, making certain that he was in good condition.
"You should return to that shop, and leave this uncle alone, he can manage himself fine." The uncle halted his steps, refusing to walk any further with Yu Xiaoguang.
"I've already said, that I have to make sure you arrive safely. Don't make a fuss over it uncle, I don't mind it." Mei Deng insisted, attempting to walk forward.
The uncle held him back, pressing a nervous smile on Mei Deng. "Youngsters are too energetic these days." He chided, grinning from ear to ear. "Isn't this the uniform of the imperial college?." The uncle eagerly asked, changing the topic.
"Ah...yes, but I'll attend after I see you off."
"Are you sure? You aren't trying to use this old uncle to play hooky? Your studies should come first." The old timer advised, resting his hand on the younger man's shoulder.
'Even this uncle doesn't think much of me, fufu...and to think I just saved him not too long ago.' Mei Deng mused to himself.
"Don't forget uncle, that the reason behind seeking education is to help better the world. If I can help someone right now, then I'll seize that opportunity." His response interested this Uncle, so he smiled in satisfaction.
"Okay, tell this uncle your name, I shall surely repay you for the kindness you showed me."
"Mei Deng." He said to the uncle, forgetting completely that he was no longer Doctor Deng, but young Master Yu.
"Alright. My next stop is just over there, my brother is waiting for me. Thank you for the help, this uncle won't forget he is in your debt. Now go to school, and explain yourself to your scholars." He said, pointing at lined-up stalls.
Mei Deng smiled a weak smile at him, certain that he was defeated, "Just remember not to eat too fast next time, and drink a lot of water. At your age, you should be receiving plenty of fresh air and taking walks." Mei Deng lectured, keeping the uncle back with his doting.
"Yes, Yes, bye-bye now." He wearily told him, bidding him goodbye. The uncle walked away from the odd man, flinging his head over his shoulder to check if the youngster was still watching him leave.
'Why doesn't he leave? Does this youngster know my identity so easily? Was he planted by that stubborn General perhaps?.' cornered, he sat at the entrance of an acupuncture shop, waving Mei Deng goodbye.
Satisfied, Mei Deng took his leave, running in his white hanfu, in hopes to find someone to direct him to the imperial college. Mei Deng was not used to these restricting kinds of clothing, nor was he conversant with the roads.
He took a familiar turn, certain that his classmates had taken that route before making a stop at the wanton shop.
Little did he expect a carriage to pull over from nowhere and collide with him. He was quick to back away, but tripped against a stone and fell to the dirt.
"What's this?!. Huahua made me swear to return home clean. Who dares to put her effort to waste?." He protested, wasting no time to rise to his feet, wiping away as much dirt as possible.
The carriage rode away, with its nonchalant rider refusing to stop and take responsibility for his actions.
"Hey! Hey! You!. Come back here and give me an apology!." He cried out, running in front of the horses, his arms spread out to block their passage. The dust particles in the air caused him to cough wildly, Mei Deng almost even choked on it
"Come out and apologize for reckless driving!." Mei Deng shouted, ready to take a stand against hit-and-run drivers. The carriage rider pulled the horse's reins, bringing the carriage to an abrupt halt.
'In my last life, some of my patients were victims of hit-and-run drivers. And I couldn't make a difference to prevent that from happening. Now that life's given me a second chance, I'll be sure to put it to good use.' a sudden sense of selflessness and self-righteousness enveloped him, allowing him to carry out such audacious acts.
Little, did he notice the engravings on the side of the carriage, inscriptions that spelled out, "Wang Family."
"Get out of the way you fool, lest I draw out my sword to slice your neck!." The rider cautioned, resting his eager fingers on his sword, which rested on his waist. Making sure his threat reached the dirty-looking man in front of him.
"Do your worst, but till I get an apology and a promise from your master, don't expect me to budge so easily." He retorted, drawing attention to himself.
'Tch! Like hell, he would attack me in broad daylight, with so many spectators around. I can even play the victim and win sympathy from witnesses.' Mei Deng failed to realize, that his modern world civility was something this ancient setting lacked.
The rider flamboyantly drew out his sword and dismounted the carriage, charging straight at Mei Deng, to slit his throat!.
With no time to think, Mei Deng took to his heels, running amuck, barely able to move far with the attire he had on. A swift duck and a timely dodge saved him from certain death.
His pursuer did not relent and swung his blade with the utmost precession, twisting his body in the blade's direction.
Spectators who tried to intervene stopped the moment they read the inscription on both sides of the carriage. They took timid steps back, wanting as little involvement in the matter as possible.
'Shit!. He's the real deal!.' seeing as he had not too many places to run to, Mei Deng ran to the only place left to run, straight into the Master's carriage!
Spectators gasped in shock, whispering amongst to one another, concluding on the end of the youngster's life. For there was a rumor going about in the capital.
Anyone who dared to look at the sour-faced general of the empire would subsequently turn into a stone statue!
Mei Deng, who had no knowledge of this general or to whom the carriage belonged to, swiftly jumped inside, to plead with the master to call off his dog.
The rider stood in fear, for even he could not dare to make such a foolish mistake. Hence, he sat under the shade, waiting for the order from the General, to come and take the corpse to its family.
The supposed corpse, however, had turned into a statue of stone inside, completely paralyzed due to the shock of having his lips fall upon the General!
Amidst this crisis, all Mei Deng could think of, was how he betrayed the trust of his Yaoyao and gave his first kiss away.