WangXian Forever Book 8

Chapter 75 Solution

XiChen and Jiang Cheng both were shocked.

"If you're Rumi, where's the other one?" Jiang Cheng was the first to recover.

"Safe." Hui Gai replied.

There was no way he was going to give that information up, not even in passing. Oge had the means to protect them and keep them safe, and he trusted her with his life.

These two...however...

"I must say, that is quite remarkable." XiChen said, a note of awe in his voice.

"I don't know...I mean, what's your plan other than playing dress up?" Jiang Cheng said, thinking hard.

"We're gonna take it easy. See what happens and act accordingly." Hui Gai told him confidently.

"I don't think that's going to work." Jiang Cheng grumbled. "And what do you mean, we?"

Hui Gai kicked him. None too gently either, and when he scowled, Hui Gai grinned back. His strength was the same and he wanted to laugh out loud.

"What you gonna do, hit a kid? Everyone is watching you..." He looked around.

Jiang Cheng also glanced up and frowned, so that the people watching them curiously were intimidated enough to look away.

"Zago is coming with. We're going to be just fine." Hui Gai said, repeating the false bravado that he had told the children.

In reality, he did not know much more than the Sleeping Sickness Demon wanted Rumi for something. But since Wei Ying often had told him that he lived by the motto of attempting the impossible...Hui Gai wondered if it was going to work for him.

"But in the brothel...the Demon sensed Zago...that's why he attacked and took away Wei WuXian. Are you sure he won't figure it out?" XiChen said. "We're not picking holes in your plan...but the truth is, A-Xian sees you as part of his family. As he is not here, it falls to us to make sure you're safe...both of you."

"Do you have any better ideas? Because let me tell you, my ears are open." Hui Gai made sure to be gentle with his words now. He hadn't been expecting such a response from XiChen and it felt nice if a little hollow.

Another disciple came in looking frazzled, searching for XiChen.

"T-the D-demon...h-he's here." He mumbled, not looking anyone in the eye.

"Well then, it looks like our time is up." Hui Gai said cheerfully, grinning with a mirth he did not feel. "Are you going to escort us? Otherwise it'll look weird."

"Yes, of course." XiChen quickly put away his correspondence and stood up. He came closer to Hui Gai and crouched down.

"You have no idea how patronising that is." He remarked, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.

"I'm sorry...it's just that I have something I need to tell you...and I hoped you would see how sincere I am...not just myself but our clan. You are making a huge sacrifice and taking a big risk...I just wanted you you to know how grateful we are. And not just on this occasion...but the countless times you've helped us." XiChen stood up.

"Just for the record...everything I've done, everything I'm doing now...it's only because of my friend. But...thank you." Then Hui Gai snickered as another thought occurred to him. "Hey...are you being nice to me because you think this is a suicide mission and you're never gonna see me again?"

"What? No! What is wrong with you!" Jiang Cheng shouted.

"Kidding...anyway, shall we get a move on?" Hui Gai unrepentantly moved towards the door.

Zago became invisible and followed behind them but then, she had a brilliant idea.

"My King...you know how you lived in the knife handle for all those years? Would you be able to put me inside something similar? Would the Demon be able to sense me if you were wearing that artifact? Because I'm thinking the Sleeping Sickness Demon was only able to sense me that time because I was the only other Demon in the same room..." She spoke quickly before they had even walked a few steps.

"Genius!" Hui Gai exclaimed, thinking about it. "If I'm wearing the artifact, he'll just think it's me he can sense...that's amazing, Zago."

XiChen ran back inside the Great Hall and returned with a jade pendant.

"Here." He pressed it into Hui Gai's palm. "Will this work? We could pass it off as being something that all Lan Sect members wear...it won't seem funny if you're wearing it then. And that is a brilliant idea, Zago."

She beamed back at all of them.

"I'm not sure how my master did it back then...we were only children, my brother and I...and what he did was curse us to forever be tied to the onyx...but I would imagine it's the same process without being permanent..." Hui Gai tapped his nose. "Let's try."

He closed his eyes and explored the jade pendant trying to find a way in...because it couldn't possibly be as simple as asking it...right? If it was porous in some way, and he was able to shrink Zago enough for her to live in there for however long it took...maybe it was easier than it looked.

Once he'd figured that out, he pushed his palm out towards Zago and willed her into the pendant that XiChen gave him...and it worked!

Zago yelped as she was shrunk and simultaneously brought into the tiniest atomic space cavity within the jade.

Then he brought her out again, looking flushed.

"Well...that was interesting..." She mumbled, shaking out her limbs.

"If you want to come out, say this." Hui Gai whispered something in her ear.

She nodded.

"Does it work for getting inside it again?" She wondered.

"Try. And hurry." Hui Gai told her.

Zago vanished.

She did it a few times until she thought she was ready.

Hui Gai materialised an arm full of lollipops and gave them to her. When she vanished for the last time with an appreciative wink, Hui Gai turned to XiChen.

"Now...we're ready."