However, that very second he felt a small presence in the back of his mind and it clicked - Fu Hua, he could feel him now and he was moving. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon and the other seemed to be moving toward the village!
"Hurry, we need to get back to the village" Xiao Lan cried out in warning before flames went up in the distance.
The village was burning the distance once again and no one in their company looked concerned. Well, why would they when it happened almost every day for a while now? But they were missing key details that Detective Song had not.
Like, how the night had not yet fallen on their persons and the smoke made its way through. Guaranteed that it was almost impossible to spot in the dark for their human eyes but still, it should have been able to be smelled if it had been here.
And detective song did not remember smelling anything burning the last time he had been in the village.
But he could see the smoke now, the huge cloud of black rising over the village canopy. It was burning without any remorse at all.
"Every villager should move back to the temple. We will check for any danger in front" Xiao Lan commanded and was met with the confused faces of the villagers. Most of them just looked as if he was a willful child who did not know the ways of the world yet.
"Don't worry child, it happens every day. We have our protective charms with us so the fire would not hurt us" the charms would not work since they are protected from the mirage fire, not this real one.
"They will not work, not this time at least. Please listen to us and go back to a safe space" Xiao Lan was almost pleading with those villagers now. He wanted them to stay safe and this was as far away from safe as it could be.
"Don't worry so much kid. At your age, you should study hard and have fun with your friends. Are they there? If not then I have a son your age who would love to befriend you" by this point even more people had joined their circle.
People were looking to take advantage of this poor noble child who did not have much sense at all. For common people like him, he was a perfect target to get higher on the social ladder - befriend them and then reap the benefit.
It also helped that they did not expect such tactics to come from the common people and as a result, - underestimated them quite a lot. This child was a prime target for them right now.
"We don't have time for this. Commander Yuhan, do something" some people froze at the name of the famous army general but then forced themselves to relax. No way this was the royal army's commander.
Why would someone renowned like that come here with a child? Shouldn't he be looking after the younger prince who was stuck inside his office? Surely this must be someone with the same name?
"I think it's time someone else proves his usefulness. Detective song, weren't you looking for an opportunity to prove yourself? I recon the time had come" the other wanted to curse but he could not do this in front of common folks.
The other had manipulated the situation masterfully to hide his own flaws in the process. Of course, commander Yuhan was as bad at non-offensive spells as Xiao Lan was without his control - utterly hopeless the lot of them.
That left only Detective Song as the person able to cats them since Fu Hua had been taken away. But it was also good for now. Detective Song might now give much power or fineness in his magic but he did have enough charms to stop a common human.
"I'm sorry you have to experience this" he did not feel sorry for the others but for himself. The spell was cast with the most concentration he could and the humans started to move back to the temple.
There was a barrier around the temple that would protect them as long as they stayed put. It would keep them safe and their lives would be well protected as well.
"Let's head to the village. I don't think the Hinoe uma would move as long as even a sliver of that village remained. Besides, there might be people there that will need to be rescued" they fervently hoped that they were not all dead.
The worst thing about going against a temperamental god was that you could never be sure what you will be facing next. A god is as likely to kill their victim as to raise them as pets.
The only reason Xiao Lan was not worried about Fu Hau (which was a lie since he was deadly afraid for the other) was that he knew the other could keep himself alive. If he had survived till now then he would likely live longer as well.
"C-Can I stay behind? I won't be any help to you after all" and of course Detective Song wanted to stay behind. Only this time Xiao Lan could not fault the other. He had been supplying his power to the protection spell and had to stay close to keep it functioning.
Xiao Lan was just irritated at his bond which was spread thin over the course of their distance. Every second Fu Hua seemed to be getting further away and the bond highlighted the same feeling.
The more he focused the more he felt angry.
"Fine, stay here you coward" it was uncalled for but the temper he had right now was not a good combination with his forced age. Thankfully, Detective Song was a wimp and did not reply back.
"You should not have said that. You are getting unstable in your temper and acting unlike yourself" Yuhan did not need to tell Xiao Lan this, he knew himself but if he said anything else then Xiao Lan really would explode. He was unstable like that right now.
So the silence was the best answer he could give. He knew he was likely acting out of character but Fu Hau always brought out this side in him. He could not help but imagine the what-if scenario where Fu Hua died.
He should not even care for the other after the events that happened and yet he ended up in such a situation after all.
"Look there, it's a horse" the silhouette was of a horse when Xiao Lan looked but there was a screen of fire and smoke in between which made it impossible to tell if this was their target or not.
But then another figure approached the horse, a more humanoid figure and Xiao Lan's bond sang with happiness which could only indicate one person - Fu Hua.
Then the horse must be Hinoe uma. The female likely had Fu Hau under a spell and that was the only way Xiao Lan could see the other following her around and not to come back. The thought of betrayal did not come to his mind surprisingly.
"Stop right there. I can't allow your rampage to go on any longer. Surrender now and face the consequences of your actions" Talk was of no use at this point but Xiao Lan had to give courtesy when courtesy was due. And it was very much due with a divine beast as an opponent.
He did not make the law but he had to follow it all the same. If he did not then he could also not expect anyone else to hold them as well. He had to be the model for them and as much as he did not like it, it was a necessary evil he had to follow through here.
"You again? Did you not already fail? And also provided me with such a lovely gift in exchange? Now go away since you are no longer needed by me" the female shed her horse form, her human form shining through.
She was still as fiery and beautiful as ever and darkness still clung to her steps but there was something different about her now. She looked happier and carefree, much more than before which made Xiao Lan concerned.
His gaze moved to Fu Hua at her side who looked almost dazed. The bond he had with the other indicated nothing missing in the other's body which meant the female had not used any magic to ensnarl the other.
So he was betrayed? Just like that and Xiao Lan was betrayed by the other once again.
The sword lashed out in a matter of seconds and he only saw the ending tail of the attack miss Fu Hua by inches. Darn, he was still too soft on the other but it was concerning too.
The other had not dodged his attack at all, not even made an attempt to do so.