THE THIRTEENTH MASTER WENT OUT TO BUY AN APPLE?

On the roof of the Zhang Mansion, Chen Yi, together with another servant from the Northern City, crept stealthily with the moon bathing their back. Chen Yi is on the lead and the other servant follows him closely.

"This is it, Brother Chen."

"Are you sure?" Chen Yi asked.

The servant nodded. "I saw the Minister checked on the thirteenth master here earlier."

Chen Yi beckoned him to follow until they are directly over the thirteenth master's quarters. They placed their ears on the roof trying to hear something from inside. Unfortunately, the room seems to be devoid of any noise.

The two spies did as Song Xianlong told them. They didn't leave the roof even when the cool night breeze had been replaced by the heat of the sun burning their back. The two carefully check the figures entering and exiting the room. Nothing seems weird on the first day. Except for the servants who bring the dishes in and out of the room, no one else visited the master. The master himself hasn't gotten out of the room since he went in there yesterday.

In the early morning of the second day when the sun hasn't fully risen yet, the thirteenth master went out of his quarters. Just like in the Assembly, he is still wearing a black robe that covers every little inch of his flesh. But he is not wearing all black now. Inside the robe, he sports a gray ruqun pair.

At that time, Chen Yi and the other servant were deeply sleeping. They didn't notice the thirteenth master head out of the mansion. 

-

Song Xianlong admits that Jade is truly an enticing city. The people are lively, and the streets are always busy. The temperature is neither cold nor very hot.

Standing at the balcony of the Inn he was staying, Song Xianlong overlooks the view below him. People are either buying or selling something. Some are just passing by. Beautiful ladies are strolling with their maids. Some person in black is buying an apple. Children are playin—

He halted on his thoughts. Something seemed to be wrong. He went back to where his eyes had travelled. And there, beside the cart of an old man selling apples, a figure he least expected to see stood with his back toward him.

Song Xianlong gritted his teeth. Aren't Chen Yi and Guo Lei spying on him? Those two rascals are slacking off on their job again.

Luckily, he saw that damn master or else… who knows? Maybe he is trying to run away. Song Xianlong gracefully jumped off the balcony. Those women who saw him recognized him in an instant.

"Isn't that Song Xianlong!", "Oh my! He is so gorgeous!", "I  heard he's single. You! Go ask him to marry me."

On his way, Song Xianlong was met by a flock of women who want either to be his wife or concubine. He was surrounded and could not move. The Thirteenth Master is already going away.

It was only after a couple of struggles before Song Xianlong could set himself free from the imprisoning arms of those women who are still following him. He moved quickly and searched for the thirteenth master among the crowd.

Several feet ahead, some people have gathered around what appears to be a commotion. Tiptoeing and craning his neck, Song Xianlong was able to witness the scene. It was the young master of Iron City who roughly held an arm of a lady in red dress with embroidered white peonies.

"What do you mean you don't know where it is? I saw you that night!" Song Xianlong could hear them arguing and noticed the man's grip on the lady's arm getting tighter.

The lady said something and the man's face visibly flared up. He raised his hand, aiming for the girl. Then, something happened. Out of nowhere, a black figure appeared, holding the man's hand in place. On his other hand, he was gripping an apple.

"Oh, look who's here. The thirteenth master," the man from Iron City said. He tried to retrieve his hands but the thirteenth master's grip is surprisingly strong and sturdy. He gnashed his teeth angrily and kept trying to pull his hand away.

The people surrounding them murmured. All of them have something to say. At last, the thirteenth master let go of the young man's hand. He went on forward as if nothing happened. The lady too vanished in sight. The mortified young man rushed to the opposite direction. The scene left the crowd awestruck.

Song Xianlong followed the thirteenth master in a slower pace. After some time, he found himself back at Zhang Mansion. The thirteenth master bit on the crispy apple before going in.

"Did he really go outside just to buy an apple?" Song Xianlong asked himself while watching from not so far away.

Walking back, he passed through the old man selling apples in cart, and he bought a bushel. The man was grateful and offered to deliver the apples to Song Xianlong's room.

Back at the Inn, Song Xianlong lays on the bulk of his bed, biting on his fifth apple. He had just finished writing to his father. He read it repeatedly to make sure every detail is correct. It is the first time he is going to report since he arrived at Jade City.

'To General Song,

Father, this the first time you're hearing of me now that I am in Jade City. I will report to you in this letter what went on during the Assembly and the matter about the Golden Leaf.

First of all, I would like to tell you that I am in a good condition. Jade City is the way you told me it is. Beautiful and lively. But it still lacks the warm feeling I have for my hometown.

The Assembly was successful. The Twelve Masters, which are now thirteen, decided to hold a Selection of martial artists to pick who is going to join them on the investigation. It will be held the day after tomorrow. There are plenty of martial artists here, and many are still arriving, so the Selection would take several days to be completed.

Regarding the Golden Leaf, I have already found out who the arrogant thief was. It was the mysterious thirteenth master! He suddenly arrived at the Assembly with the same black outfit he had in the forbidden forest. That's why I recognized him. He is unpredictable. I still don't know if he is really capable. But rest assured, father. I will do all means to take the Golden Leaf back. That thief master should learn his lesson.'

Song Xianlong rolled the letter and tied it with a string. The door to his room suddenly opened, revealing his anxious and dishevelled servants.

"Brother Song, the thirteenth master went out of the mansion! We looked for him all over the city, but he is nowhere to be found," Chen Yi said, panting.

Song Xianlong picked up an apple and threw it, hitting Chen Yi directly on the forehead.

"Idiots! He went out but he was already back in the mansion. If you two weren't slacking off, you would know."

"Guo Lei, have someone to send this letter to my father."

"Yes!" Guo Lei hurriedly followed.

"Ah, I will come back to Zhang mansion to check on the thirteenth master." Chen Yi was about to exit the room.

"No need. It is only a day before the Selection. He will not try to run away."

"O-okay," Chen Yi said, his anxiousness started to disperse. He began to notice the unusual number of apples on the table. "Why are there so many apples here, Brother Song?"

Song Xianlong looked sideways, picked up another apple and bit it, before saying, "None of your business."