Crane in Flight From the Lotus

Wang Lei felt a tight tug at his heart, his breath hitched. He had to look away from her sight to calm his breath. He did not understand this strange nervousness. Behind his back, he had pinched his own palm to remind him not to turn back like a coward. What is this strange feeling? His neck was damp with a sheen of sweat.

Wang Lei was told by General Li that the person he called "river spirit", was a youth named Li Na. His superior had taken "Li Na" under his personal guardianship. The brat that came out of the desert, even lived in General Li's quarters. Very little was known about Li Na, Wang Lei had already needled and bribed the guards and the maid Mudan for information, but it all came to nothing.

So why not ask the brat himself while he's alone? Ridiculously standing, barely dressed, vulnerable in the orchard. As Wang Lei came closer, Wei Li Na's features became more clear. Wang Lei had never seen a prettier boy. A face so clear and translucent, one can only be reminded of the reflected light of the moon.

Wang Lei found it difficult to gaze so straightforwardly at Li Na. At the capital, there were some select rich men who kept pretty, young boys as companions. These boys often prettier than women, competed with mistresses and concubines. Does General Li have that kind of taste, as well? Wang Lei's face unknowingly flushed, his heart momentarily clenched.

Wang Lei took another quick glance at Wei Li Na, she had tied her cloth in a knot over one shoulder, fully exposing her other shoulder and arm, like an ascetic monk. She very much looked like a monk, with her shaved head. He saw her bare head and clear face, she batted her long, fan-like lashes, Wang Lei felt like time had stopped.

At the age of 14, Wei Li Na's figure had yet to reveal any feminin charm. She was a late bloomer. She wasn't worried at all about revealing her gender, even when she was so scantily dressed. Her best defense was to act like a shameless male, that does not mind being undressed in front of another male. That way, her male identity would be even more believable!

"Does General Wang want his jade back?" Wei Li Na's tender voice broke Wang Lei's trance. He silently watched her pull a string from underneath her clothes. "This one has kept it safe for young master. Is it very special?"

The jade was tied on a string, next to it was another identical jade token. Wei Li Na brought both jade pieces close to her face, trying to determine which one was hers and which one belonged to Wang Lei. The one created by the 3D printer belonged to her, but the 3D printer was very good at replicating the original. Did this mean that the one that belonged to Wang Fei was actually the original? She could not see any difference at all!

Even with the highest skill, hand carved jade items were always unique. Even if the design was stencilled or traced, it was still impossible to replicate a carving completely by hand. Wei Li Na flipped both jade pieces, where she finally found the difference. The original still had the maker's mark discretely carved. Her own fake jade, the 3D printer only printed the front part but not the back!

Wang Lei stood, slightly swaying. Li Na's brows were furrowed, her expression in complete focus as she inspected the jade tokens. He had fallen enchanted, he forgot to ask about Li Na's relation to General Li. He forgot to be angry about her stealing his things. He forgot about being self righteous about her pawing his body that day, at the side of the river. It was very far from his mind, and no longer relevant.

"Is it very important?"

Somebody was compelling him to reply. Wang Lei felt the solid stone, the jade was already placed in his palm. "Yes, it was given by my mother for a safe journey."

"Do you have any more? Is it a common design?"

Wasn't Wei Li Na just holding an identical jade carving? "Mother did say it was made especially for my journey, but I suppose she was deceived by the craftsman, as you also have a similar jade tablet."

"No, General Wang's mother is not wrong. The Crane in Flight from the Lotus was made only for you. This one that I have is a counterfeit."

Wei Li Na had already asked all the questions she wanted to ask. She spied Mudan approaching, behind Wang Lei's shoulder. She politely bid Wang Lei to leave first and followed Mudan back to Li TengFei's rooms.

Wang Lei remained standing under the pear tree for a long time. Long after the figure of Wei Li Na's figure could no longer be seen. Feeling the familiar surface of the jade charm between his fingers, he kept it inside his sleeve pocket and left.