Aladdin sighed in defeat.
"You got me. But I'm serious… make a wish, and I'll be there." He added.
Mulan snorted at him, shifting her gaze away.
"Don't break your promise, then."
"I won't."
They didn't utter another word to each other. They simply enjoyed the night sky, together.
Minutes later, Li Shang returned with the soldiers.
They halted before Aladdin.
"The teacher has something to say to everyone. Listen carefully," Li Shang announced to the soldiers behind him.
They nodded in understanding.
Aladdin looked at all of them. "I will be leaving right away. I just wanted to say my goodbyes to everyone. I wish you all well in your war against the Huns. I am sure that you will all emerge victorious."
His voice resounded across the surrounding area.
"We will miss you too, Teacher!!"
"Please take care, Teacher!!"
"I wish you a safe journey on your travels, Teacher!!"
The soldiers offered warm farewells upon hearing Aladdin's announcement. Some even began weeping profusely.
"…The teacher is leaving… I'm so sad," Ling cried, covering his face with the back of his hand.
"Don't cry! Don't cry! Be a man!!" Yao sniffed. However, a teardrop still rolled down his left eye.
They both leaned on Chien Po, hugging him tightly as he returned their embrace with a tight, affectionate grip of his own.
"Let it all out," Chien Po also wept as he comforted them.
At the forefront, Aladdin felt touched that the soldiers were all saddened by his departure. Still, he wasn't going to change his plans.
Aladdin cupped his fist and bowed at them. Then, he straightened his back, nodded at Mulan and Li Shang, and walked away.
Li Shang bowed with his fist cupped toward the back of the departing Aladdin. The soldiers bowed as well in the same manner.
Mulan walked to the soldiers' side and bowed with her fist cupped toward Aladdin as well.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Despite her efforts, she was unable to stop them. It was as though someone was tearing a piece of her being and handing it over to the wolves to feast on.
If she were to look at a reflection of herself, Mulan was certain that she would not see Ping, but a reflection of herself. The same one she had seen on the spring that day.
No one noticed her condition because they were all lost in their own emotions over Aladdin's departure.
However, because this had transpired in the middle of the camp, there were a few soldiers who had witnessed the scene, including General Li and a few other Captains.
"Should we dispatch someone to follow him?" a Captain asked.
"No. My decision remains the same," General Li shook his head. He glanced at the bowing soldiers before shifting his gaze towards Aladdin.
To have forged such close bonds with his son and his troops in such a short period further proved his belief that Aladdin wasn't an ordinary man.
"Besides, we will meet him again later. All we need to focus on is how to win this war," General Li added before walking away.
The Captain who had just spoken was stunned. He didn't ask any more questions, seeing as the General didn't explain further.
The Captain walked away with the others behind him.
As Aladdin vanished from sight, the soldiers slowly raised their heads one by one.
"Head back to your tents and rest for tomorrow!" Li Shang turned to face his troops and commanded.
The soldiers all dispersed to their tents to rest for the evening.
"Is there—" Li Shang reached out to speak to Mulan, but she immediately ran in a different direction. "I'm sorry, Captain. I need some time alone." Her voice echoed behind her as she vanished around a corner.
Li Shang withdrew his hand and shook his head, a sigh escaping his lips. He knew that Ping's reaction would be strong when Aladdin left, but it seemed like he had still underestimated it.
He couldn't help but wonder how deep their relationship ran despite having met each other for such a short time.
Li Shang rubbed the back of his head and walked away. He realised that Ping needed some time to settle his emotions. But if things remained the same tomorrow, then he would need to speak with him.
***
Aladdin continued walking until the Imperial Army's encampment could no longer be seen.
He scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was following him.
Sensing no one, he placed his index fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.
Moments later, the sound of an object cutting through the air reverberated from the sky.
Carpet tore through the clouds and swiftly halted before Aladdin.
On Carpet were Abu, Mushu, and Cri-Kee.
"Hey, Aladdin! Leaving so soon?" Mushu waved at Aladdin with a smile.
"Yeah. But I will be back soon after the war is over. Just don't tell Mulan that… Well, she knows… But it's complicated." Aladdin massaged his temples, realising how his relationship with Mulan might have ruined his plans.
Fortunately, he had left as soon as he could.
"Should I tell Mulan or not? I'm getting a little confused here." Mushu raised both hands and moved his index fingers sideways.
"Don't tell her."
"Okay," Mushu nodded.
He and the others had witnessed everything that had transpired in the Imperial Army's camp, all the way to Aladdin and Mulan's conversation. Although they weren't able to listen in on their conversation, Mushu believed that something fishy had transpired.
"What do you think of my Mulan?" Mushu asked, folding his arms.
Abu's frown caught Mushu's attention. But Mushu ignored it. Even though he was no longer afraid of Abu, he wasn't foolish enough to bring up the subject of Aladdin's secret identity.
All he wanted to do was to help his little Mulan.
Since Aladdin was an Emperor, then there must be a space for one more wife. Even the current Emperor of China had more than one wife. If Ababwa was greater than China in all aspects, then he might as well push his luck a little.
"What do I think of her?"
"Yeah. What do you think of my Mulan? And give me an honest answer." Mushu nodded with certainty.
Aladdin was unsure about why Mushu had entertained the question, sensing no harm in it.
"She's brave, confident, fearless, and hardworking. An amazing warrior and woman who doesn't fit into the stereotypes of her world. One thing that keeps holding her back is her perception of what people would think about her," Aladdin responded with a thoughtful expression.
"But I don't truly blame her. If I were in her shoes, I would probably have taken a similar path."
"Ahaan… Ahaan… Are there any other things that you want to say? Let's say certain… Certain somethings you like about her?" Mushu gently tapped his head with a finger.
"No." Aladdin shook his head.
"Oh, come on. I know you want to say something." Mushu walked to the edge of Carpet and placed his hand on Aladdin's shoulder.
"No, I can't. I don't want her to get the wrong idea."
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying that you suspect I would reveal our discussion to Mulan? I promise you that I would do no such thing. My mouth is sealed." Mushu placed his fingers over his mouth, pretending to zip it shut.
"Are you sure?" Aladdin raised a brow at Mushu, suspiciously.
"Of course I am!" Mushu pointed a finger at himself. "Aren't we pals? I will never betray our secret."
"Okay," Aladdin nodded. "I think that Mulan is one of the most amazing women I have ever met…"
"Who's the first?" Mushu looked at Aladdin with a hidden, knowing gaze.
"That's my personal secret."
"Point taken. Continue?"
"…If she had been born within the Land of the Seven Deserts, I have no doubt that she would have become a woman people both revered and feared."
"Is that so?" Mushu asked, surprised.
"You might not know the Land of the Seven Deserts well. But unlike China, it's incredibly diverse."
"If that's the case, then why don't you take her with you after all of this is over?" Mushu tilted his head to the side as though having a spark of an idea.
"We have already spoken about this. She will have to decide whether she wants to come or not herself."
"Okaayyy… Let me be more specific there. Why don't you take a more proactive approach and take her around on your travels? I can tell the ancestors that Mulan is flying internationally with a foreign, wealthy suitor and get you a pass." Mushu rubbed his pinky over his nails and blew on it.
"No, I can't do that." Aladdin stepped to the side, forcing Mushu to pull his hand back.
Mushu followed him and placed his hand over his shoulder once more. "Why?"
"Because I'm married," Aladdin sighed, revealing the information to Mushu.
"You are married?" Mushu exclaimed, stepping back and placing his hand on his chest.
"Yes."
"That's surprising. Now, I don't want to sound nosy, so I'm going to skip the details… Where were we?" Mushu stepped forward with one hand on his waist and the other rubbing his chin. "Is that the reason? Because you don't want to catch feelings for her because you are married?"
"Yes."
Abu turned to the side and slapped his hand over his face. It was as though he was watching two idiots speak with one another.
"That's a big problem. I didn't think it was that serious." Mushu snapped his fingers. "Wait a minute! Carpet has more than three seats. I think it can fit you, your Mrs Aladdin, and Mulan."
"Don't look at me like that. It might work."
"No, it won't," Aladdin refused.
"It will."
"It won't."
"It won't."
"It will," Aladdin responded before halting mid-sentence, realising he had just made a blunder.
"I agree. It will definitely work. I can't wait to see the results. Aladdin, Mrs Aladdin, and Mulan." Mushu stretched out his hand to the sky and said.
"I knew talking to you was going to be a waste of time." Aladdin shook his head tiredly.
"Love is never a waste of time, my friend. My Mulan seems to love you. And although I'm not a fan of marrying someone you just met, I have a keen eye, and I can tell that you are an amazing guy." Mushu placed his hands in front of him to form a telescope.
"And if that's the case, I don't mind helping her out a little."
"You will never know what's on the other side until you take a step forward." Mushu brought down his hands and winked at him.
Aladdin contemplated Mushu's words but didn't respond. He was conflicted internally. But it was only for a moment before he shook his head.
"It's too much of a problem. I already have other things on my plate to handle."
"Like what?" Mushu asked.
"Nothing."
Mushu's face twitched lightly. He sighed softly. He flew off the Carpet and landed on the ground.
Aladdin stretched out his hand toward Mushu.
Sensing Aladdin's intent, Mushu covered the ring on his right hand with his left and stepped backwards. "Don't take this away, man. We are pals, aren't we?"
He tripped on a rock and fell back on his behind.
"It's too dangerous for me to leave you alone with an item like this," Aladdin insisted.
"But I need this… It could help me properly take care of Mulan, keep up with my tasks… I get to be a proper dragon for once in my life. Please don't take this away from me!"
"I will give you a dragon's scale. Take it." Mushu attempted to pull out his scale. He winced in pain and pulled back his hand.
Aladdin furrowed his brows in thought.
Despite being unreliable at times, when Mushu set his mind to doing something, he was always someone trustworthy.