“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t laugh at me?” Zuko said, a little depressed.
Ren put on a serious expression.
“I’m a professional.
No matter how funny something is, I won’t laugh.
Unless I can’t help it.” As he spoke, Ren could not resist letting out another couple of quiet laughs.
Zuko turned his head away, looking even more gloomy.
“All right, I understand how you feel.
Azula’s personality really is pretty awful.” Ren patted Zuko on the shoulder and comforted him with a smile.
“Although you didn’t do anything wrong, have you ever thought about the fact that you and Azula are brother and sister?” “What do you mean?” Zuko truly did not understand.
After all, he did not have many friends, and no one had ever told him what he should do.
“Well…” Ren thought for a moment, organizing his words before saying, “You think you didn’t do anything wrong because you never looked at it from Azula’s perspective.
“As siblings, the two of you are naturally supposed to be the closest to each other.
In her eyes, you tattling on her was a kind of betrayal.” At that point, Ren gave another example.
“Think about it.
Some time ago, if I had gone straight to Master Piandao and told him about you stealing the chicken, would you have felt angry, or would you have thought I did the right thing?” “I already know I was wrong about that.
Can you stop bringing it up?” Zuko said, somewhat embarrassed.
But he also understood what Ren meant.
“Still, Azula really did go too far.” Ren was not saying this merely to stand on the same side as Zuko.
He sincerely felt that Azula had gone overboard.
It had already surpassed the level of ordinary children roughhousing.
Fortunately, she isn’t my sister, Ren thought.
Zuko scratched his hair and said in distress, “I really did have my own faults.
When we return to the capital, I’ll apologize to Azula.
It’s just that Azula probably won’t forgive me, will she?” This kid’s personality is way too good.
Ren increasingly felt that Zuko’s parents must be quite eccentric to raise such a well-meaning child in this environment.
Fortunately, Zuko wasn’t too far gone yet.
There was still time to keep him on the right track.
“Don’t worry, everyone is like that when they’re young.
In another couple of years, when everyone grows up, Azula will be able to understand you.” Ren smiled as he comforted him.
Zuko said somewhat helplessly, “Mother says that often too.
But Azula has absolutely no respect for me as her older brother.” “Time is the best teacher.
Azula’s nature isn’t actually bad.” Ren stroked his chin and thought aloud.
“She just wants attention too badly.” However, Ren’s words did not have much of a comforting effect.
Zuko was still depressed.
Ren stood, glanced at the brightly lit town not far from the manor, rolled his shoulders, and said, “A man must never give up the fight so easily.
Get up.
Let’s go out and eat some late-night food!” “At this hour, aren’t all the restaurants closed?” Zuko stood along with him and scratched his head.
“There are still taverns, aren’t there?” “Is it appropriate for us to drink at our age?” Zuko, who had rarely traveled far from home, was utterly amazed by the idea.
Ren’s grand ambition was yanked back to reality by Zuko’s single sentence.
He coughed twice to ease the awkwardness before continuing, “Well, taverns don’t only serve alcohol.
It should still be fine for us to get something to eat.” “Taverns are a little too noisy.” Zuko thought for a few seconds before continuing, “I know a night eatery in town.
Let’s go there.” Ren looked Zuko up and down, then reached out and slung an arm over his shoulder, teasing him.
“Didn’t expect this, Zuzu.
You’ve mapped out the area pretty well.” Zuko pulled Ren’s hand off and said gloomily, “Can you not use that name?
It makes me feel like a child.” “Then should I call you Your Majesty Zuko?” Ren asked, pretending to salute him solemnly.
“Just call me Zuko!” … In a small shop specializing in late-night food, the two of them sat on cushions on the floor.
Ren ordered two servings of egg fried rice and a few side dishes, then finally asked for two cups of hot water.
As for tea, what was commonly recognized as tea these days was just leaves steeped in hot water, used to wake the mind and sharpen the spirit, rather than treated as a flavorful drink.
Ren had no desire to make his tongue suffer.
“You seem to like drinking tea,” Zuko said, keenly noticing the detail behind Ren asking for a cup of hot water.
“I like cola more.
But since there isn’t any here, I can only comfort myself with tea.” Ren smiled.
Zuko had already gotten used to Ren occasionally tossing out terms he completely failed to understand.
“You’re a lot like one of my elders,” Zuko said slowly.
“He also likes tea very much.” Ren cupped the mug in his hands and took a small sip of hot water, driving away some of the chill of the night before speaking.
“You’re probably talking about General Iroh.” Zuko’s hands clasped together, and he said with some surprise, “You actually guessed it.” “It’s not that hard to guess.
As the Fire Lord’s grandson, you only have three elders: His Majesty, Prince Iroh, and Prince Ozai.
“His Majesty obviously doesn’t have a habit of drinking tea.
And with the two of us talking privately, you wouldn’t bring up your own father.
The only possibility left is General Iroh.” “…That is true.” ,” Zuko muttered, growing a bit absentminded as Ren struck a chord.
“Don’t look so down.
I brought you out to help you relax.
Tell me about General Iroh.” Ren sounded quite interested.
“About what specifically?” Zuko asked, somewhat puzzled.
“I heard Prince Iroh once slew a dragon.
Is that true?” Ren asked curiously.
Ren had read many ancient records and knew that the Fire Nation had once been a land of dragons.
Countless great dragons had soared among its mountains.
But after the Hundred Year War began, dragon hunting had become popular in the Fire Nation, and slaying a dragon was regarded as an honor.
For example, the current Fire Lord, Azulon, had only taken “dragon” as a suffix to his name after accomplishing the great feat of slaying one.
But the consequence of this craze was that ancient creatures like dragons gradually disappeared.
Only some sub-species of strange beasts with draconic traits remained, and Ren felt rather regretful about that.
“It’s true.” Zuko nodded, then continued, “Uncle Iroh hunted down the Fire Nation’s last dragon.
However, he refused to replace the suffix of his name with the honorable title of dragon.
“Because of that, out of respect for Uncle Iroh, the army also calls him the Dragon of the West, General Iroh.” Soon, the food was brought over.
Ren picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and chewed.
“Do you think that’s really true?” Zuko’s brow furrowed sharply.
“You suspect my uncle faked the matter of slaying a dragon?
Even though we’re friends, I can’t allow you to question his honor.” Ren pressed a hand downward, signaling for Zuko not to get worked up.
Only then did he slowly say, “Of course I’m not questioning whether General Iroh could accomplish the great feat of slaying a dragon.
“What I doubt is whether General Iroh, who has always been famous for his kindness, would truly kill the last dragon and commit such a cruel act.”