The moment Xie Qiang stepped in front of the three, he was greeted with a pretentious grin, a nonchalant shrug from ZhiYi, and a rabid blinking from a very confused monk. Sometimes, Xie Qiang wondered why he cared to make himself seen among these lesser beings. He stood there in silence. The two demons concentrated on drinking while MingYu stared at him with curiosity. The teashop was back to its regular chatter. Getting very annoyed that he, Xie Qiang of all people, was being ignored, he huffed, "You're not going to ask me to join you?"
"It's a free world." PingZe said without looking at him, afraid he might be blinded by all the yellow. Taking his words as a yes, Xie Qiang pulled the fourth chair out with his foot and sat on it gently after making sure the chair was clean. It was, or else he would have stood for the rest of the evening.
"Well?" Xie Qiang ushered.
PingZe groaned, "What?"
"Aren't you going to ask me why I sought you out?"
"You got tired of being naked, hairy, and on all fours?" PingZe guessed. Xie Qiang looked like he wanted to smack him for being partly correct.
"Well, no." It was a terrible lie.
"What caused the great wolf demon prince to grace us with his time and presence?" ZhiYi said.
"I want to know; what did you do that now all of us are sent out of our own sect grounds?" Xie Qiang's dramatic words didn't quite get him the reactions he wanted. ZhiYi and PingZe had exchanged looks, but that was it.
"You've lost us." PingZe said. Xie Qiang rolled his eyes.
"You weren't at the last meeting at the ZiWei sect." Xie Qiang stopped for dramatic effect. PingZe looked at him like one looked at an idiot. Amused, but with a pinch of pity.
"We know." ZhiYi said. He poured another drink for himself. He needed it when it came to talking with Xie Qiang.
"But- How?" Xie Qiang's dramatic entrance and topics were failing miserably. Even the yellow of his robes seemed to tone down with his wilting confidence.
"Zhu ZongYing already briefed us in HeHua."
Xie Qiang was snarling. "Well, did she tell you the reason why you were not invited?"
Their silence sparked hope in his soul, and he sat up straighter. "Hah! So even she didn't know!"
"What are you trying to tell us?" PingZe said irritably. If he was to endure this torture named Xie Qiang, at least make it quick.
After a dramatic silence in which Xie Qiang puffed out his chest and nearly choked on himself, he said, "You weren't invited."
PingZe almost died of internal bleeding from a popped artery. Of course, they weren't invited, they were granted leave! But it wasn't something ZhiYi had wanted the others to know, so PingZe held his tongue and merely grunted.
"Sect leader had sent out invitations to everyone but you. Father was also surprised about it, but we weren't supposed to find out about it."
"We know!" All three said in unison. Xie Qiang was smiling brightly at them.
"What was the meeting about?" ZhiYi finally asked.
"It's classified."
ZhiYi was famous for his rationality, patience, and kindness. He felt anything but the three towards the childe currently.
"But I can tell you why I'm here."
"Well, finally." PingZe mumbled.
"For some reason, the sect leader wanted me to follow you. I didn't think much about it at first, a regular stalk and report situation. Well beneath my capabilities - If I may say - "
PingZe snorted and coughed to conceal it. Xie Qiang shot him a poisonous look, then continued,
"But now supreme sect leader wants to see you two." Xie Qiang said slowly as his eyes drifted over MingYu. "He wants you to bring him."
MingYu was baffled at the request. Why would a demon overlord want to see him? To all these people's knowledge, he was but a mere monk. And terribly average at that. ZhiYi and PingZe tensed, shooting quick glances at each other before PingZe said, "Why would he need to see us?"
"That, I don't know." Annoyance was marring his strong features, as Xie Qiang continued, "But that is not all. I feel it my responsibility to tell you, Lan Guan-Yin's sect, Sheya, has been approved by the sect leader."
"That is ridiculous!"
"I wouldn't say that if I were you, although I share the disgruntlement." Xie Qiang said in a low tone.
MingYu wanted to tug at ZhiYi's robe and ask him what was going on but stayed silent. ZhiYi spared him a glance of assurance that calmed MingYu's mind at once. His body loosened the tightness MingYu had wounded himself in.
"Where he wishes to see us?" ZhiYi said, overlooking the rather pesky subject of Lan Guan-Yin.
"That you shouldn't worry about, Wang ZhiYi." Xie Qiang said, taking out his fan and waving it in his hand idly. "He and father are already in Lunan as we speak."
***
Meanwhile, FuFu and FenFen had wrapped up their shopping spree and were heading back to the inn. It was about time as FenFen barely saw ahead from behind all the boxes and packages FuFu had bought and made her carry.
"Dad isn't going to be happy as he sees this." FenFen complained from behind the mountain of useless items. "With the rate you are going, he is going to go bankrupt."
"I don't know why you are complaining. Pa always bought us whatever we wanted." FuFu said quietly.
"Pa is not here now, is he?" FenFen snapped and instantly regretted it as FuFu's bright eyes clouded over with tears. FenFen cursed herself silently. "Look, FuFu, I'm sorry. It's just that now we shouldn't spend so much money on things we don't need."
"I know." FuFu said, sniffing into her sleeve. "I just miss pa."
"Me too, FuFu." FenFen was blinking furiously to contain her tears. She was glad she was partly hidden behind all the packages.
"He always knew the best colour combinations." FuFu sighed solemnly.
"Really? I always thought they looked terrible."
"You-! Don't say that about pa!"
"What? I even thought he was colour blind for a while!"
The twins' bickering was interrupted by a ruckus at the front steps of the inn. The two hurried over, pushing through passer-by's that had stopped to watch the scene.
"You damn bastard! Do think you can live, drink and eat for free? This isn't charity!"
The man being kicked around like a mutt on the doorsteps was none other than the young man from before, the one that ran into FenFen! Three men were kicking and punching him like he was a piece of trash. A small crowd had gathered to look but nobody offered to help. They were just merely amused by some entertainment for the evening.
"Your nothing but a bastard that master Li took pity on. Don't think because you used to be under master Li's wing you can do whatever! If you had been a good dog and obeyed, maybe he wouldn't have kicked you out and cut your support!"
Seeing this, FuFu came over, running and screaming, "What are you doing?! Stop!"
FuFu hurried to speak with the innkeeper, offering the man some money to leave the childe be. With a huff, the innkeeper took the offered money and motioned his men to retract from beating up the heap on the ground. It was just in time, as the young man was now spitting blood, his pretty face was badly bruised and swelling up. FuFu was helping him stand up, but as soon as he got on his legs he pushed FuFu away and dashed into the crowd. Before FenFen could stop her, FuFu had already hurried after him.
FenFen cursed loudly and ordered the loitering inn workers over. "Take these items up to our room. If even one item is missing, I will know!" with that, FenFen bolted after the two.
***
Jiang Chen ran as fast as his hurting feet managed. He was absolutely humiliated and he wished a hole would open up and just swallow him. In his 19 years of life, he was used to luxury, adoration, people catering to his every need. This was the lowest of low. How would he have the courage to meet his father in the afterlife?
After zigzagging along the streets, he found an alley and sunk next to a pile of trash, out of the eyes of the public. The stench was unbearable but so was the ache in his bruised body. He closed his eyes and took a nosedive into self-pity. Soon, he could hear footsteps approaching and he groaned. He was not in a state for onlookers.
"Are you badly hurt?" FuFu said as she kneeled next to the writhing man.
Jiang Chen groaned. The least he had expected for was a beautiful girl to witness his state. He wanted to crawl in a grave and bury himself alive. He firmly kept his eyes close, he didn't want to see any pity or worst - belittlement.
"We need to take you back and check your wounds." FuFu's voice was like honey to Jiang Chen's ears and he couldn't help but crack his eyes open to gaze upon the refreshing sight.
"Cant. It's disgraceful to go back." Jiang Chen said and coughed. His ribs were on fire, and a burning sensation spread through his chest with every breath.
"If we leave you here, you could die. We don't know how badly you are injured." FuFu took out her handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat, dirt, and blood from the childe's face. He grimaced with every featherlike touch.
"Why do you care?" Jiang Chen watched as a blush spread over the girl's cheeks. She blinked her round eyes but said nothing. Jiang Chen seemed to have swallowed his tongue under her expression. The two were lost in each other's eyes until a voice identical to that of FuFu's echoed in the alley. Jiang Chen snapped out of it. The voice was similar, but the tone was harsh, commanding.
"What are you two doing over there? FuFu?" FenFen appeared before the two. Her eyebrows were drawn to each other, her lips a strict line. She looked displeased. Jiang Chen blinked between the sisters and FuFu hurriedly stood up.
"FenFen, we need to get him to the inn."
"I'm not going!" Jiang Chen said. FuFu eyes widened of concern. Jiang Chen gave the girl a gentle smile, but his smile was instantly shot down with a bucket of ice.
"Oh, we weren't asking for your permission." FenFen said as her round eyes shot pins and needles at him. Jiang Chen was starting to dislike this sister. The feeling was mutual.