The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 26

Everything had gone almost exactly as we had planned, right till the point where I had incapacitated my aunt and dragged her to the tunnel where an unconscious Lung Chi and my two accomplices were waiting for me. The only deviation was that I had underestimated my aunt's strength and tried to go easy on her; she had almost managed to land a blow on my arm with her tiny dagger. Luckily I had ended up with merely a nick on my forearm.

I was feeling hopeful, thinking that the heavens had finally given us a break, that the almighty had sided with us for once.

"Did you encounter any trouble?" Zhan asks, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"I am fine, Zhan ge." No sooner had I reassured him than I feel a sharp pain in my abdomen; my knees give way, and I lean into Zhan.

"What's wrong?" He asks. In a voice laced with concern, he looks at Weredra. Her face clouds. "I can feel him losing his life force."

"What!!?" Zhan pulls me close, "Why?"

"It's not natural. It's magic." She closes her eyes and moves her palm over my chest, "He has been poisoned!"

The excruciating pain spreads to my limbs, and I pull in on myself. I try to hide the pain, but they see through me.

"Quick, wake her up," Zhan instructs, looking at my aunt. Weredra nods. She touches my aunt's forehead.

 My aunt groans and slowly opens her eyes. "Zhan?" She calls in a strained voice before looking at Weredra. A sinister smile graces her face, "And look at what we have here. A Weredragel."

As if scared, Weredra staggers back, "How... "

"Of course I know what you are, my dear, insecure friend. Did the loneliness finally get to you? How are your memories?" She asks, sitting up with her back propped up against the wall of the tunnel.

"You know nothing. Stop trying to trick me and tell me what you did to YiJun." Weredra growls. She still looks like a child, but her voice is deep and gravelly.

"Aren't you the real trickster here? I am just a witch." She smirks, leaning towards me as if to take a closer look, "What puzzles me is this boy here." She catches my eyes, "Who are you, how did you end up with them, and why are you helping them?" Her eyes fall on my sword, and she tries to reach for it. But Zhan grabs it before her filthy hands can taint it.

"You are the one Lung Chi spoke about, aren't you? If you tell me who you are, I will help you stay alive." She pauses and leans closer, "I will tell you how to get rid of the pain."

"I'd rather die than accept your help!" I spite out and cough.

"YiJun! Blood!" Weredra pulls me in her lap and closes her eyes.

"You won't be able to save him with your fading magic. Only I can save him."

Weredra takes her original form, "I can kill you."

The witch laughs, "No, you can't. You can't take a human life. It's forbidden."

"Then I will do it!" Zhan holds the sword to her throat.

Aunt shakes her head and directs a pitiful look at Zhan, "Yes, you can. But if you kill me, who will save everyone that I have poisoned, hum? And even if you don't care about others, what about your father?"

Zhan goes silent for a second then bites out, "I will find a way."

She gives Zhan a once-over. "No, you won't. Everyone who has had my potion will perish if they don't receive the next dose."

"You are lying. That's not possible."

"It is." She chuckles and narrows her eyes. "Just because you did not fall for my tricks... " She pauses, her eyes narrow, "By the way, once we are out of this inconvenient situation, I would love to know who helped you."