How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 23 - Protecting

A/N: This chapter contains gore, violence and non-con. Please don't continue reading if this is something that makes you uncomfortable.

⊂ (▀▿▀) つ

Understanding the meaning behind the words, Zhou Xu turns to meet those lethal eyes, "Why would they waste time on me?"

Taking his hand, Wen Ke Xing gently strokes the wound on his wrist with this thumb, "Ah-Xu, with the exception of me, no one has more power in Ghost Valley than you. I have just taken control as Guzhu, the Valley is instable right now."

Pulling his hand back to hide the goosebumps the cold fingertip had left lingering around his wrist, "So that was the meaning behind this charade? So you could assert your power and put me above them?"

Feeling like he somehow lost something, irritation flashes momentarily in his eyes, before transitioning back to his 'normal' self. "Ah-Xu, you will need to adjust to life here. It is kill or be killed, there is no in-between."

Suddenly very restless, Wen Ke Xing stands up and holds out his hand towards Zhou Xu, "Ah-Xu, let me show you around the rest of my place so that you can find your way when you miss me."

"..."

Not taking the hand, he stands up on his own. Straightening his back, sharp pain originating from his insides, shoot through his leg almost setting it on fire. A slight twitch in his left eye gives him away and he turns his head away from Wen Ke Xing and starts towards the door, "Let's go."

Seeing the first crack in that marble face of his, Wen Ke Xing contemplate what his husband must have been through in his previous life in order for him to be so skilled at hiding pain and emotions. Standing up, he hurries towards the door, "Ah-Xu, wait for me."

Wen Ke Xing spend two hours showing him around Jianchan pavilion. The spacious and luxurious bedroom, that was styled with a little bit too much red for Zhou Xu's taste. They spent probably half of the tour in the enormous library. Wen Ke Xing observing Zhou Xu with interest as he walks along row after row, tracing his fingers over the scrolls and books, trying to memorize which books he should come back for. The office, the guest rooms, a few smaller tea rooms, all would have been perfect if it wasn't for those horrid demon statues.

Zhou Xu can feel his legs starting to wobble from the pain of having moved around too much throughout the day. When his right leg gives in for the fifth time, he turns to Wen Ke Xing hoping that the other didn't notice anything. "Thank you for the tour, I will head back to Hua Men pavilion now."

Having seen right through Zhou Xu, Wen Ke Xing nods and turns towards the exit.

"No need to follow me. Just have some guards walk with me."

Without saying a word, he holds out one of the scrolls that Zhou Xu had seemed particularly interested in and puts in the others hand. "Here, you can come back and swap it for another when you have finished it."

"Thanks."

Watching Zhou Xu walk away, ten guards joining him as he steps outside, he looks to his right and immediately Ah-Xiang appears. "How did it go?"

"Everyone has left Jianchan pavilion for the guest pavilions. A few of the spies haven't come back yet to report in."

"Who were they tracking?"

"Tragicomic Ghost, Long-Tongued Ghost and Hanged Ghost."

Having a feeling that something is off, he suddenly turns, pushes off and flies out the window, heading straight to Hua Men pavilion. Not seeing anyone in the walkways as he skims down the mountain side, he touches down right below the steps and takes all thirty in one jump.