The demons of Night Vigil City never had to worry about winter. Some would sleep all winter, some revelled in the cold. A simple stove, a warm coat and a little wine were more than enough for the people here.<\/p>\n
Mie\u2019er sighed. He knew their humble stoves and fur capes wouldn\u2019t cut it if Lingzhu was to survive the coming winter. In a community meeting, he asked the residents to come up with something better:<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping warm? I vote for more drinking parties!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody\u2019s gonna haul your scaly ass home if you pass out drunk on the street!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, how about hotpot parties every night?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s going to volunteer to work at the restaurants all night? You?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s simple, just build bigger stoves!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr wear more coats!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour stupid suggestions will just create more work! All we have to do is huddle together for warmth. Isn\u2019t that right, ladies?\u201d grinned a cat-faced demon.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a chance, you thieving cat!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mie\u2019er watched with some satisfaction as the lazy cat got his ass whooped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s it going to be, young master?\u201d asked the eager demons.<\/p>\n
Mie\u2019er sighed and massaged his temple.<\/p>\n
\u201cI quilted a blanket for my child and have lots of down left, quack<\/em>. I\u2019ll make one for you too, young master!\u201d offered a woman.<\/p>\n \u201cI got an interesting hot water bottle from my last trading trip. I\u2019ll bring it to you later!\u201d said a merchant.<\/p>\n \u201cFinally, people who have something useful,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, rolling his eyes at the others.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Lingzhu got increasingly busy these days, especially after visits from Lady Xilian. Mie\u2019er knew it was regarding his little sister\u2019s medical condition but his parents refused to tell him more, saying that he needn\u2019t worry about it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou spend so much time here that I\u2019d think this was your room,\u201d chuckled Heigou as he watched Mie\u2019er walk right into the guest room.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er placed a hot water bottle on the table in front of Lingzhu and then went around the room, measuring how much wool he would need for extra curtains and carpets.<\/p>\n When he turned around, he saw Lingzhu blowing on his fingers, having scalded them on the hot copper.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have medicine?\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n Lingzhu nodded.<\/p>\n They stared at each other for a while. Lingzhu tilted his head slightly, wondering if Mie\u2019er had wanted something.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is it?\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n Lingzhu pulled open a drawer, took out a medicine bottle and held it out for him.<\/p>\n \u201cNot for me, silly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive me your hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu watched curiously as Mie\u2019er took his hand and poured some medicine over the reddened skin.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er thought Lingzhu\u2019s hands didn\u2019t match up to his smooth, expressionless face. There were calluses and newly-formed blisters on his palm from all kinds of work; his fingers were thin but strong. This hand looked like it belonged to a dextrous craftsman than a swordsman.<\/p>\n He pouted slightly as his eyes followed the shallow and crack-filled lifeline on Lingzhu’s palm. Lingzhu hesitantly pulled his hand away.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, I\u2019ll leave and let you get back to your work,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, suddenly feeling a little awkward.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n As winter approached, Mie\u2019er became more anxious. He peeked into the window and using an enhancement hearing spell he\u2019d mastered, he was able to clearly listen in to the conversation between his mother and Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter looking at the other options, this is still the best way for Little Sister given the time constraints,\u201d said Lingzhu, handing some papers to Lady Xilian to peruse. He had a quiet, mild voice that was almost as bland as his expressions. It wasn\u2019t unpleasant, but it didn\u2019t stand out, either. It was annoying that he had no problems talking to his mother.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er scowled at how Lingzhu said \u2018Little Sister\u2019 so casually. It was a pet name and no one outside of the family was supposed to use it.<\/p>\n His younger sister had a poor constitution and his maternal grandparents insisted she should not be given a proper name until she was cured. Lady Xilian wouldn\u2019t agree at first, but grudgingly gave in when they told her that it was to avoid the attention of gods and ghosts so that her daughter wouldn\u2019t be \u2018whisked\u2019 away to the afterlife.<\/p>\n So to this day, Mie\u2019er\u2019s younger sister didn\u2019t have a name and the family would just call her \u2018Mie\u2019er\u2019s little sister\u2019, or \u2018Little Sister\u2019 for short.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if we could find a way for my husband to transfer his spirit core to her, we need someone proficient in aura channelling to draw the demon aura out of her or her condition won\u2019t be stabilised,\u201d said Lady Xilian.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Guishou has far better skill with demon aura than I do,\u201d said Lingzhu. \u201cIt would be preferable that he did this himself. The problem is that Lord Guishou\u2019s dual cores were created in tandem with each other. If we removed one, there\u2019s a high possibility he\u2019ll go into aura deviation from the sudden imbalance. We have to prepare for that before we can go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Xilian handed him a lacquered box and asked, \u201cI have the high-grade spirit crystals and the ingredients you requested. Are these enough?\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu looked through the items and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMie\u2019er has been pestering me to let him help,\u201d said Lady Xilian. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing much he can do and I feel bad about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d he shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, if there\u2019s anything you need, let Heigou know and I\u2019ll have it brought to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have enough ingredients,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not talking about ingredients,\u201d said Lady Xilian. \u201cIs there anything you would like for yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n You are not obliged to do that,\u201d said Lingzhu, looking a little confused.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not out of obligation,\u201d said Lady Xilian, a fond but slightly exasperated smile on her face.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Lingzhu, going back to his table to continue working.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, I won\u2019t bother you,\u201d said Lady Xilian. \u201cI shall come again soon.\u201d<\/p>\n She left the room and beckoned Mie\u2019er over.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mother?\u201d chirped Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cI assumed you overheard us,\u201d said Lady Xilian.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d shrugged Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing all we can, so there\u2019s no need for you to worry too much,\u201d she said, patting his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry your father and I aren\u2019t free to keep you company.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cI have tons of friends outside the castle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s reassuring,\u201d said Lady Xilian.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Some days later, Mie\u2019er was greeted by a piece of paper pasted on the closed guest room door:<\/p>\n Do not enter.<\/em><\/p>\n Mie’er walked over to Heigou who was in the courtyard doing some training on the job. \u201cHey, what\u2019s up with him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLady Xilian sent a message to update him on the young miss’s condition. He\u2019s probably busy working on that,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er opened the window to the guest room a crack to take a peek. Lingzhu wasn\u2019t at his table, but standing in the middle of the room gathering\u2026demon aura?<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d called out Mie\u2019er from the window. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu shook his hand to disperse the gathered demon aura and went to the window, staring at the culprit who interrupted him.<\/p>\n \u201cYour sign on the door said \u2018Do not enter\u2019, so I\u2019ll stay right here,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, opening the window bigger so he could get a better view.<\/p>\n Lingzhu tilted his head and huffed. Mie\u2019er thought it sounded almost like an amused laugh.<\/p>\n Lingzhu walked up to the window and raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, are you going to hit me?\u201d said Mie\u2019er, with a blep.<\/p>\n Lingzhu shook his head. His hand hovered just an inch away from the head of silver hair.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to touch my hair?\u201d said Mie\u2019er. He lowered his head a little and gave him permission. \u201cGo ahead, I know I\u2019m plenty cute.\u201d<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er felt the weight of a cool hand press down on his head, exploring the texture of his braids. He was used to being patted on the head, but this felt different. It wasn\u2019t the firm pats he\u2019d get from his parents, nor was it the ruffling way Heigou would do it.<\/p>\n Lingzhu was gentle as he ran his fingers over the braids and stared intently as if figuring out the texture of his hair and the shape of his head.<\/p>\n \u201c…you\u2019re plenty cute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut of course\u2014\u201d Mie\u2019er paused when he realised Lingzhu spoke to him. \u201cWait\u2014did you just speak to me?\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu jerked his hand back.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, you can continue,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, grabbing Lingzhu\u2019s hand and pressing it firmly back onto his head.<\/p>\n \u201c…\u201d went the both of them for a long while.<\/p>\n Lingzhu slowly drew his hand away, then creaked the window shut.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, don\u2019t just close the window on me!\u201d came Mie\u2019er\u2019s voice on the other side of the closed window.<\/p>\n Lingzhu tapped his fingers on the window sill, slightly flustered.<\/p>\n \u201cFine, go be busy or whatever,\u201d came Mie\u2019er\u2019s voice from outside. \u201cI\u2019ll come by again tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing that, Lingzhu huffed in amusement. It wasn\u2019t that long ago that Mie\u2019er seemed angry at him being an unwanted guest and all.<\/p>\n He looked at his hands, thinking it would be nice if he was allowed to touch that soft hair again. It stirred up a spark of curiosity within him:<\/p>\n What does Lady Xilian\u2019s ferret fur cape feel like?<\/em><\/p>\n What about Lord Guishou\u2019s horns?<\/em><\/p>\n And\u2026Heigou\u2019s paws?<\/em><\/p>\n Lingzhu\u2019s hands shook just thinking he might get the chance to find out if he could get his work settled.<\/p>\n With a lighter feeling in his heart, he went back to his papers. Looking at the trajectory of their progress, he knew they wouldn\u2019t make it in time. Lord Guishou was part-human and had a spirit core to spare to give his daughter; but the aftermath would be messy and complicated. The success rate of this was too low without Lord Guishou.<\/p>\n There had to be a better way. Perhaps one that didn’t need Lord Guishou to give up his spirit core at all.<\/p>\n He took out the stack of papers he\u2019d put aside, figuring it was time to go with his alternate plan.<\/p>\n He held up a diagram he\u2019d drawn of his meridians and mulled over it. If he could just move his main core to somewhere less risky to extract, he’d have a good chance of crystalising it with minimal damage.<\/p>\n His limbs were not a choice\u2014they were too far from his spirit core. He pondered, checking through all the options from his guts to his spleen, and for a moment considered the risk of sacrificing half a liver. He shook his head. It was still far too risky. If an accident happened, he wouldn\u2019t be able to finish his work.<\/p>\n That left him just one option…<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n He heard knocking on the window and lifted his head from the table where he\u2019s fallen asleep at. He took a quick glance at his papers and was relieved he didn\u2019t smudge his drawings with his face this time.<\/p>\n Rubbing his eyes, he pushed the window open to see Mie\u2019er pouting at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re finally looking at me,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cYou\u2019ve been cooped up inside for three days. Come out of your stuffy room and take a walk with me outside before the sun sets.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu looked at the work that was pretty much done. He supposed he could take a short break before the last stretch.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, you don\u2019t have to if you really don\u2019t want to\u2026\u201d added Mie\u2019er as an afterthought.<\/p>\n His parents were always gentle with Lingzhu. Even that guy who came with him\u2014Qing Lingfeng, was it?\u2014was also a kind-looking guy with a gentle voice. Maybe a softer touch was needed to get this strange human to open up to him.<\/p>\n He watched as Lingzhu went to a chest by his bed and started pulling out a bunch of crumpled clothing, looking for something warmer. Everything was dull and black. There wasn\u2019t the slightest hint of accessories.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er realised in horror: \u201cOh my heavens, you have nothing to wear.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu was halfway undressing when a set of clothes fell in from the window.<\/p>\n \u201cWear this,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, out of breath from having dashed halfway around the castle and back. \u201cIt\u2019s my father\u2019s old set. It\u2019s soft and warm. It also looks much better than anything you have in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need it,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cI need it,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, firmly.<\/p>\n Lingzhu tilted his head and thought for a while, then nodded. \u201cAll right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome out once you finished changing,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, shutting the window to stop the cold air from seeping in.<\/p>\n Lingzhu emerged from his room after a while, his collar crooked and his hair left unbound.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you know how to\u2014nevermind,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, trying his best not to criticise how poorly tied the sash was. \u201cLet me help you with your clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…\u201d went Lingzhu. Then he added quietly after seeing Mie\u2019er’s dramatic frown, \u201c…if you really want to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I really, really want to,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, fixing his clothes.<\/p>\n He left Lingzhu’s hair as-is since wearing one\u2019s hair unbound was considered acceptable in Night Vigil City. Still, he made sure to quickly comb it out with his fingers. Lingzhu froze.<\/p>\n “Ugh, fine, I’ll leave it as it is,” said Mie’er, giving up.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going out, I\u2019ll accompany you,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cI\u2019m not paying for your food, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHahaha, good try, as long as I\u2019m with you, I can claim work expenses,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n \u201cAll you do is stand here all day instead of patrolling,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, sticking out his tongue. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna get fat over winter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA fat dog is a happy dog,\u201d grinned Heigou, slapping his belly.<\/p>\n \u201cEating out?\u201d said Lingzhu, softly, sounding a little uncertain.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cYou\u2019re not that fond of meat, right? I know a place that makes good radish cakes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo money,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d grinned Mie\u2019er. \u201cJust make sure to stay close to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn.\u201d<\/p>\n It turned out to be harder than they thought.<\/p>\n Like a child fascinated by new sights, Lingzhu would stop and stare, then walk away to look at something else that grabbed his attention. It was hard to keep up with him.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the way you\u2019re looking around, I\u2019d think you\u2019d never seen shops before,\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t there a pretty big town at the foot of your Border Mountains? Surely you must have gone there.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu shook his head, then went over to a shop selling dried fish and squatted down to take a closer look.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this really that\u2026interesting?\u201d said Mie\u2019er, wrinkling his nose as he caught a whiff of the dried fish up close.<\/p>\n Lingzhu stood up and looked at the lanterns hanging at the shop front.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, slow down,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. He was beginning to regret this.<\/p>\n \u201cThe restaurant has many things to see too,\u201d said Heigou, ushering Lingzhu with his big paw-like hands. \u201cLet\u2019s go eat first, then you can continue exploring afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm?\u201d said Lingzhu, twisting around to look at the big furry hand on his back.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, sorry,\u201d said Heigou, taking his hand off.<\/p>\n Lingzhu stared at the paw leaving him.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, holding out a hand. \u201cTake my hand.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu blinked, looking lost.<\/p>\n \u201cFine,\u201d sighed Mie\u2019er. He grabbed Lingzhu\u2019s sleeve instead. \u201cCome on, follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n They went to a restaurant and ordered some vegetarian dishes. Somehow, nosy demons began to congregate around them.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that the human guest from the Border Mountains? He looks disappointingly normal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, so that\u2019s what he looks like! I didn\u2019t get to see him the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYoung master Mie\u2019er looks good today as usual! Is he here to eat his favourite roast chicken?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Heigou is telling you to keep it down!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go upstairs?\u201d suggested the owner of the restaurant. \u201cWe\u2019ll keep the second floor clear for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMuch appreciated,\u201d said Heigou, standing up and shielding his two charges from nosy, prying eyes.<\/p>\n The second floor had a clear view of the street. Mie\u2019er sat next to Lingzhu and showed him the menu.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve ordered a dozen different dishes, so you can try and see what you like. I recommend their sour and spicy soup. It good on a cold day,\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never eaten at a restaurant before,\u201d said Lingzhu, picking up the chopsticks and attempting to hold it correctly. \u201cI might\u2026offend you.\u201d<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er blinked. The more answers Lingzhu gave him, the more questions he got.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how to, uh, use chopsticks?\u201d said Mie\u2019er, wondering if it was a rude question to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but I\u2019m clumsy,\u201d said Lingzhu, who didn\u2019t look like he minded such questions.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d said Heigou. \u201cI\u2019ve got big hands, so I\u2019m not good with chopsticks either. You can always use a spoon or your hands. Whatever gets food into your mouth\u2014that\u2019s the way of us demons.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s not a demon,\u201d pointed out Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d said Heigou, slapping a hand over his mouth. \u201cMy bad, my bad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c…maybe I should\u2019ve been born a demon,\u201d said Lingzhu, sounding a little wistful and not offended at all.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that something a human cultivator should be saying?\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cAh, the food\u2019s all here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre these all the dishes?\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it not enough?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s the roast chicken?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t like meat so I didn\u2019t order any,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cI\u2019ll order one if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn,\u201d nodded Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cCome, eat before the food turns cold,\u201d said Heigou, nudging at their bowls to get started.<\/p>\n Lingzhu crossed his chopsticks and started eating. He was a little clumsy but it wasn’t catastrophic.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should eat more,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, scooping out another bowl of soup for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m almost full,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n At that moment, the roast chicken finally arrived. Lingzhu clumsily used his crossed chopsticks to pick up a drumstick and dropped it into Mie\u2019er\u2019s bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cYour favourite,\u201d said Lingzhu.<\/p>\n Mie\u2019er blinked and stared at the drumstick, then looked at Lingzhu with an incredulous look on his face when he realised that the roast chicken was specially ordered for him.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the look on your face,\u201d snickered Heigou, helping himself to a cut of the chicken as well since his young master was served.<\/p>\n \u201cStop teasing me,\u201d growled Mie\u2019er, throwing a spoon at Heigou. So much for table manners.<\/p>\n Heigou batted the spoon away easily and chuckled. A waiter came to serve them dessert, a simple fare of cut fruit and jellies.<\/p>\n \u201cTry this osmanthus jelly,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, scooping it up with a spoon and passing it to Lingzhu.<\/p>\n \u201cSweet,\u201d said Lingzhu as he took a nibble. He then sipped at his tea.<\/p>\n \u201cToo sweet?\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n Lingzhu shrugged and continued eating.<\/p>\n After a while, he looked out at the street. The sun was setting and some people went about their shopping. A few children in warm coats played in front of the toy stalls as some people sat around a stove in the restaurant across the street drinking heated wine. It was cold as winter set in, but it didn\u2019t seem to deter the people from going about their business.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty quiet today,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, looking at the street.<\/p>\n \u201cQuiet\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s usually much busier than this,\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d said Lingzhu, pointing at a stall displaying some animal-shaped lanterns.<\/p>\n \u201cThey’re just lanterns. It\u2019s really your first time in a shopping street, huh,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. He put down his spoon and stood up, holding out a hand for Lingzhu. \u201cCome, you should go see it for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n This time, Lingzhu didn\u2019t hesitate to take his hand and let the silver-haired boy lead him back to the dusky streets of Night Vigil City.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t mind me while I finish up the food and put the bill on your tab,\u201d chuckled Heigou as they left, raising an amused brow when he realised his young master was too preoccupied with their guest to argue.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n \u201cSell me that one,\u201d said Mie\u2019er to the shopkeeper selling lanterns.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t think of taking your money, young master,\u201d gushed the shopkeeper.<\/p>\n \u201cBusiness is business,\u201d said Mie\u2019er, putting the coins on the table.<\/p>\n Lingzhu had moved on from the lantern stall and was staring at some dolls.<\/p>\n \u201cJust give me whatever he lays his eyes on,\u201d said Mie\u2019er to the shopkeeper.<\/p>\n By the end of the street, Mie\u2019er had a bag filled to the brim with toys and candies.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll carry these,\u201d said Heigou, taking the bag from his young master\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cHow was dessert?\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cDon\u2019t think I didn\u2019t see you signalling to the waiter for another three bowls.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHeheh,\u201d said Heigou, patting his filled stomach. \u201cPity I\u2019m on the job. A little wine on this fine evening would be perfect\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou could let one of your men take over for a few days,\u201d said Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n \u201cLady Xilian insists that I take care of sir Lingzhu personally,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t understand what Father and Mother see in this stone-faced human,\u201d sighed Mie\u2019er. He jerked his thumb at said human squatting down staring at a drain cover.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at him. He\u2019s probably wondering where the drain leads to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can tell what he\u2019s thinking?\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n \u201cWho knows?\u201d said Mie\u2019er. He skipped over to Lingzhu and squatted down next to him.<\/p>\n Lingzhu felt someone next to him and turned to see the silver-haired boy with a playful grin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you looking at?\u201d asked Mie\u2019er.<\/p>\n Lingzhu pointed at the sky and then at the drain cover.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t rain often, but when it does, it\u2019s a freakin\u2019 storm,\u201d said Mie\u2019er. \u201cIt was Father\u2019s idea to build a drainage system in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Lingzhu hummed and his eyes quietly sparkled at the mention of Lord Guishou.<\/p>\n \u201cFather might be the most powerful and beautiful demon around but you don\u2019t have to be such a fanboy\u2026\u201d grumbled Mie\u2019er to himself.<\/p>\n They continued down the street until the sun had set and the air turned colder.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, let\u2019s head back before you catch a cold,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n Crossing your chopsticks is an incorrect way of holding it, but it’s pretty comfy… after typing this chapter out, I feel like having a bowl of sour-spicy soup myself…<\/p>\n
\n
\nTranslator\u2019s Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n