eunoia | bl | tgcf

Chapter 3: Part One

Chapter 3
The man called Qian Limin

Part One
stranger

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"Hong-er?"

The answer from the child who has that name remains silent.

Xiao Lan looks at his side, hand caressing the bed. It is cold and empty, without a hint of warmth from the child he has been looking after.

He keeps silent, no longer calling for the third time. Xiao Lan knows that if he does, he will look for that child without rest and sleep.

"Oh," he mutters to no one but himself. "I'm already fond of him."

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Hua Yunlan has rarely spoken ever since they left Xianle Kingdom.

He does not know where Hong-er had gone nor how he is doing on his own. He wishes that he could have, at least, given that child a place to call home. Where Hong-er can sleep without fear of being hurt, of the cold, of being kicked out.

The first time he decides to speak again, it is on their way to Ying Kingdom.

The Hua Brothers take the forest path when travelling because it is faster and less of a hassle. After all, Xiao Lan knows the forest better than anyone. However, amidst their rest at night, after setting up a camp fire, they hear the sound of a bell tingling deep in the dark forest.

It keeps ringing at a slow, rhythmic pace.

Xiao Lan and Min share a glance but they remain in their places, acting as if everything is normal.

Xiao Lan. Hua Min's eyes convey his alarm. It's a heavenly official. This demon can feel that god's aura coming closer and closer. His survival instincts are yelling at him to run, to flee, because the moment that god's hand touches him, he may no longer be free to roam.

It's okay, Xiao Lan tries to calm him down. I will handle whoever that may be. You don't have to speak even if that official addresses you, Min-ge.

As soon as this nature's child finishes reassuring his brother, the heavenly official arrives.

This is the first time Xiao Lan has ever seen one and for Hua Min, this is not the first, second, or even the tenth one. However, this is definitely the first time he saw this official.

His eyes are a lot like Xiao Lan's– bright and clear but in obsidian black. His expression is just as calm but lacks the gentleness that Xiao Lan has.

"Your Highness," the stranger speaks, voice echoing in all directions. "Running away for so many years, it is a wonder how you have yet to become a Savage." His footsteps seem to echo in their ears–loud yet so quiet.

He smiles, sitting across the brothers with crossed legs, as if he is a friend who decided to drop by. "After all, you have devoured quite a lot of ghosts, have you not?"

Hua Min stiffens and instinctively latches onto Xiao Lan's arm. His body temperature naturally drops to freezing degrees and his healthy complexion turns sickly. "Xiao Lan–"