"Good work." He nodded at both of them.
"This matter is over. Announce to the soldiers that they are to prepare for battle. We are heading to the mountain pass," General Li said to the Captains within Mulan's earshot as he turned around and left the training ground.
The Captains saluted in understanding.
Mulan quickly bowed toward him with her fist cupped.
Realising what was happening, Li Shang and the rest of the soldiers under him cupped their fists and bowed silently toward General Li as well.
Aladdin noticed General Li glancing in his direction.
The General nodded at him.
A soldier walked towards him and whispered in his ear before walking away.
"It seems my father wants to speak with you privately. I hope you can accept this invitation," Li Shang said, looking at Aladdin expectantly.
"Do you have any idea what he wants to speak with me about?" Aladdin asked, gently rubbing his chin.
"I can probably guess that he wants to try once more to convince you to sell the formula of that mysterious elixir to us or invite you to the capital," Li Shang replied with a sigh. "Anyone who has seen the results of the teacher's elixirs would, without a doubt, desire the same thing.
I think that there might also be other things that he wants to talk to you about."
"I will go meet him and see what he wants before I leave," Aladdin nodded.
He shifted his attention to Mulan, who had just arrived. "Good work. Your restraint over your strength has improved drastically."
"It's all thanks to you, Teacher," Mulan said, bowing with her fist cupped towards Aladdin.
Aladdin nodded at her. Then, he walked away towards the General's camp.
The soldier who had whispered to him was waiting for him at a distance. He walked away the moment he spotted Aladdin. Perhaps to inform the General that he had accepted his invitation.
Aladdin soon arrived at the tent and was guided inside by the soldiers waiting outside.
Aladdin walked into the tent and saw the General seated before a table, sipping tea.
"Please have a seat," General Li said, raising his head and gesturing towards the empty seat opposite him.
Aladdin nodded and sat down on the carpet.
"I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Mr Aladdin," General Li said with a smile.
"I saw no reason to refuse," Aladdin replied.
"I'm glad you didn't," General Li responded. "I will quickly tell you the reason I sent you this invitation."
He took the kettle nearby and poured some tea into the cup beside Aladdin.
"Can you tell me where you come from?"
"I'm not certain you know of the land I come from. It's far, far away from here," Aladdin responded.
"Try me."
"I come from the Land of the Seven Deserts. And I reside in the Empire of Ababwa," Aladdin answered.
"Seven Deserts? Empire of Ababwa?" General Li allowed the names to roll off his lips before shaking his head. "I must admit that I have never heard of such a place or encountered anyone from there despite my years of diplomatic missions.
For such an Empire to be able to produce someone like you, then it must certainly be more powerful than China."
"You flatter me, General," Aladdin smiled briefly.
"No, I'm telling the truth. Even among kingdoms, some kings reign above others. And among emperors, some are mightier than others. You call yourself a simple man, yet you have already shown that you possess the power to defeat Shan Yu, who has been a thorn in the flesh of our Empire," General Li pressed on. He set his cup down.
"So it's safe to assume that if the Empire of Ababwa were to take action, we wouldn't be having this war in the first place."
Aladdin remained silent. He calmly sipped his tea.
That was true. Forget about the Empire of Ababwa taking action. Even Agrabah was overkill for the Empire of China.
The forty thieves alone were enough to sniff out the Huns and cut them down one by one. Even the dead Jafar could turn them inside out.
Nonetheless, Aladdin knew that if magic was introduced to China and its surrounding regions, the Huns could become even more formidable foes.
Previously, he would have scoffed at such an idea. But with the Huns' strange movements and the conspiracy surrounding their disappearance, Aladdin planned on doing everything he could to stop it.
"I will be honoured if you could be the bridge that connects us to the Empire of Ababwa. Once the war is over, I wish some of the people you have trained to serve as an escort to Ababwa. Think of it as a pilgrimage to build ties with a faraway Empire. What do you think?" General Li asked.
"It's not a bad idea. But I don't promise much about how you would be received in the Empire of Ababwa. As I said before, I'm only an ordinary traveller. I don't have the power of an Emperor. Besides, I didn't get here in a day. Travelling back and forth might take years."
"That's fine. We faced much more while venturing into the ocean. We should attempt rather than sit back and watch this opportunity slip by," General Li nodded.
"Okay." Aladdin brought out a token and placed it on the table. "I will meet you once more after the war is over. You can use the token to find me."
General Li grabbed the token from the table and inspected it. It was made from copper, with the insignia of a lamp on either side.
"I will look forward to it," General Li nodded. He realised that Aladdin wasn't truly leaving but was stepping away so he wouldn't get involved with their war.
Still, he asked, "When will you be leaving?"
"Before the sun sets," Aladdin replied.
"You have helped us in more ways than we can imagine. I wish you well on your journey," General Li nodded.
"Thank you once more for your support." He stood up and bowed towards Aladdin with his fist cupped.
"I was only doing what I thought was right." Aladdin waved his hand dismissively at General Li.
General Li sighed in admiration at Aladdin's humility.
He sat down, brought out a small box, and placed it in front of Aladdin.
"Please take this as a show of sincerity from us."
Aladdin opened the small box. Within it was a small wooden token with a Chinese inscription written on it. He stared at it curiously.
"Whenever you wish to visit China, show this to the guards, and they will treat you with the highest respect. You wouldn't need to worry about anything. You will be treated as a guest in China."
"Thank you," Aladdin responded. There was no need for him to refuse such a kind gesture.
"Forgive me for asking, but there is one last thing that I would like to learn about." General Li hesitated for a brief moment before asking.
Already guessing what the question was about, Aladdin asked, "What would you like to learn?"
"The elixir? How much exactly does it amplify a person's strength?" General Li asked, unable to hide his curiosity.
Anyone who had observed the battle could tell that Li Shang and Mulan had held back their strength. Although General Li hated to admit it, he was certain he would also lose if he were to face either of them.
Not only was he no longer in his prime, but he didn't possess such explosive strength and speed when he was around their age.
"If I were to be specific, I would say it depends on who the soldier is," Aladdin replied gently, stroking his chin. "Think of it like a sack made of goat or camel skin. They each have a limit on how much wine they can carry or stretch. The human body functions like that as well. And the elixir only helps a person reach that limit quickly and master it."
Among the forty thieves, Sa'Luk was an ordinary man capable of tearing a shark in half with his bare hands, and Aladdin suspected that wasn't his full potential. Compared to Mulan and the others, Aladdin doubted they could achieve such a feat even with the amplification.
If he were to rate them based on his rough estimations, then Mulan was currently capable of taking down a hundred soldiers by herself. For Li Shang, who was already exceptionally strong, it was even more.
If someone like Sa'Luk were to drink the elixir, then all of China and even the Huns would be in trouble.
Even if Aladdin had the means to do so, he wasn't foolish enough to grant just anyone such power. It should only be enough to handle their situation.
"I see… Such an extraordinary elixir. You have opened my eyes once more, Mr Aladdin," General Li said. "Thank you for indulging me."
Aladdin nodded in response.
"Since we are done, let me escort you out." General Li rose from his seat.
Aladdin stood up as well. With one last nod, he walked out of the tent.
Once he was gone, General Li looked at the token Aladdin had given him and sighed. "What an interesting young man. It's a pity that he doesn't come from China."
Throughout the period he had spoken with Aladdin, it felt as though he was speaking with the Emperor of China himself. Even though he knew it was merely the disposition that Aladdin displayed, it made him even more certain that Aladdin wasn't an ordinary man.
Outside, the soldiers had already dispersed to their tents to prepare for their journey through the mountain pass tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Aladdin rejoined Li Shang and Mulan.
"I hope my fath— The General didn't make things difficult for you?" Li Shang stepped forward and asked.
"No. He didn't. He wanted to arrange a visit to Ababwa," Aladdin said. "I promised to take a few soldiers to the Empire I am from after the war is over."
"You did?" Mulan asked, surprised.
Aladdin nodded.
Mulan parted her lips, but she was unable to speak. She lowered her gaze and nodded.
"Thank you for all the support you have provided us. I will never forget it... I will never forget it. I wish you good luck on your journey."
She bowed towards Aladdin with her fist cupped.
"I also wish you well on your journey," Li Shang said, also bowing towards him.
"I want to see the others and wish them farewell as well," Aladdin nodded at both of them.
"I will call them right away," Li Shang responded.
He walked away to get the soldiers who had trained under Aladdin.
Only Aladdin and Mulan remained.
"So you are finally leaving?" Mulan rubbed the back of her hand.
"Yes," Aladdin shifted his gaze to the sky.
He could sense Abu and the others were currently above, watching.
"It will be a long journey?" Mulan asked, staring above as well. Moments later, she shifted her focus towards him.
"It is."
"…Can I …come along?"
"…If you want to." Aladdin withdrew his gaze and focused on her.
"…I want to." Mulan looked away.
"…That's fine, then."
"So, since you are married. Do you have any kids?"
"…"
Aladdin was stunned by the sudden question before he swiftly recovered his bearings.
Mulan remained silent, rubbing her arms nervously.
Aladdin breathed in and slowly exhaled before he replied, "No. I don't have any kids yet."
"…Expecting?"
"…No."
"Oh, I just remembered something," Mulan asked. "…You gave me your word that you would help me when it's time to reveal my identity?"
"I will be there when you wish to reveal it."
"How?"
"Close your eyes and make a wish. I will be there."
Mulan slowly closed her eyes. Just as her lips parted, Aladdin's voice cut through the silence.
"You only get one wish."
Mulan closed her lips and opened her eyes.
"I knew you would say something like that." She smiled.