The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 11

As we near the inner city gates, we are joined by more people, undoubtedly on their way to the inner city as well. All of them, however, look very different from what we had encountered previously. These people look to be from well-to-do families. Most of them are either on horseback or in carriages.

Further down the road, we are joined by more people who give us strange looks. Zhan seems to have noticed it too. For, he pulls us to the side of the road with Weredra in tow and whispers, "YiJun, why are there no peasants or regular village folk on this road?"

I try to recall my childhood (a time when I was not an orphan and used to accompany my father around the inner city disguised as common folk). Were things like this then as well? I was sure they weren't. 

"Gege, I was wondering about the same thing," I reply, not knowing that I would get the answer all too soon.

"Hey, you!" Someone calls, making the three of us turn. I look at a soldier approaching us on horseback and point at myself, "Me?"

"Yes, you. All three of you." He answers and dismounts. "Introduce yourselves and state your purpose of visit."

"Excuse me?" I raise my brow, and he shakes his head, "Don't try to tell me that you don't know the rules!" He exclaims, and looks over his shoulder, and yells, "I think I am going to need backup."

As soon as I hear the words backup, I realize what is about to happen, and my hand automatically lands my sword. Yes, my actual sword. But before I can do more, Zhan's firm hand lands on my shoulder. I look at him, and he signals me to calm down.

"Sir, " He addresses the rude soldier in a gentle, soothing voice, and the man in question looks a little taken aback. "Ummm, yes." He looks at Zhan and stands a little straighter.

Zhan smiles at the soldier and takes a few steps towards him gingerly, "Sir, we are extremely sorry if we have caused you trouble. Truth be told, we are indeed not from this land. And my brother's sense of direction is... Well, how do I put it... Hmmm, he is a little directionally challenged. Moreover, our Meimei was throwing a fit, so you see, that's how we ended up here." Zhan explains, leaning in.

If I hadn't known better, I would have thought that he was trying to flirt with the rude ass. Yes, I am referring to the soldier as an ass. 

Zhan gestures the soldier to come closer, and the other does.

WTF is happening!? 

Once they are as close as two men can be without actually touching each other, Zhan whispers in a soft, seductive voice, "Kind Sir, you look like you come from a family of great repute, so could you please excuse us this once? I promise that you won't regret it." Zhan finishes and steps away, but not before stroking the ass's forearm suggestively.

I blink a few times and pinch my butt just to confirm that I wasn't hallucinating before side-eyeing Weredra. Hoping that the magical creature can read my mind, I think as loudly as possible, "DID YOU FUCKING DO SOMETHING TO ZHAN GE!?"

A flash of anger crosses her innocent cherub-like face, and a moment later, my head feels like it has been forcefully rammed into a wall.

"Ouch!" I wince in a macho way and rub my forehead.

"Didi, what's wrong?" Zhan asks, still standing a little too close to the soldier, and I sway on the spot.

It has the desired result as Zhan immediately comes to my side and wraps his arms around my waist.

Yaaaasssss!

"Gege, " I moan and lean into him, "I think I am coming down with something." I croak.