Chapter One (concluded!)

Note from Kathryn: Milestone reached! This is the final installment of Chapter One, which puts us officially 43 pages into the book. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s slow-going to read and translate in a second language. I’m personally thrilled. Thank you for continuing to join me on this adventure. Now to start on Chapter Two…

Prologues and Chapter One in a single post, if that’s your fancy

Masterlist of posts and character list

The guards realized the dungeon cell had gone silent and hurried to check only to see Wen Xiao seated and head lowered over a sheet of parchment as she earnestly wrote something. On the desk was a small black dish of red pigment, whether cinnabar or blood was hard to tell. Zhao Yuanzhou sat on the ground, chin resting on his hand, posture lethargic. In other words, at this moment, nothing had happened.

But examining closely, a small cut on Zhao Yuanzhou’s finger still seeped blood. He paid it no mind as he shamelessly gazed at Wen Xiao while she wrote in very thin, fine characters. For him, seeing her like this was both familiar and unfamiliar. The hint of a smile showed on his lips.

Wen Xiao finally noticed his attention. Head still down and writing unceasing, she said, “You’re staring at me. Are you nervous?”

“I’m not, I wasn’t. Don’t talk nonsense,” Zhao Yuanzhou quickly denied.

She gave a snort, then stood up and held the finished page directly in his face. “If you’re not, then sign this. I have a friend who is a very powerful great demon. He says that a contract written with demon blood will, if violated, destroy your soul and scatter it to the wind.”

The corners of his mouth hooked upward as he accepted the scroll and examined it. That smile slowly faded as he read on, shaking his head. His expression turned bitter. “‘First item: Zhao Yuanzhou must not use the Baize power to perform evil acts, must not engage in conspiratorial activities, harbor evil intentions, cause misfortune in the human world, or harm people’—You wrote all the derogatory words you could think of, didn’t you?”

Wen Xiao fixed her eyes on him and said sincerely, “What, is this hard?”

Zhao Yuanzhou declined to comment. He curled a lip in a contemptuous sneer and continued reading aloud, “‘Second item: Zhao Yuanzhou must pass to Wen Xiao his demon beast knowledge, will say all he knows without reserve, use all his strength to assist Wen Xiao in investigating the Demon Hunting Bureau case while guarding her safety, and willingly work side-by-side with her as a colleague?’” Eyebrows knitted, he raised his head to cast a suspicious look at her.

Wen Xiao, expression open and honest, said, “This is the most important item. Remember it clearly.”

“Which item is most important? Do no evil or maintain a collegial relationship? Wasn’t…wasn’t I threatening you, how did this turn into you giving me so many conditions?”

She smiled and imperiously reached out to take back the contract. “Don’t sign it, nevermind. Let’s just part ways and not think about it anymore.”

Zhao Yuanzhou intended to sign the paper with a wave of his hand before deciding that was inappropriate. He rose and walked to face Wen Xiao. Bending close, he removed the writing brush from her hair.

He was too close; Wen Xiao’s body stiffened. Zhao Yuanzhou grasped the pen and sliced it across his palm like a sharp blade, drawing blood. He dipped the brush in his blood, carefully signed his name to the contract, and gave it to Wen Xiao.

She took it and looked it over. The demon’s handwriting was strikingly delicate and pretty. “‘Zhao Yuanzhou’…no good. Be prepared for all contingencies: You need to write ‘Zhu Yan,’ too.”

He blinked at her, then obediently add the two characters of ‘Zhu Yan.’

Wen Xiao looked over the contract that now bore two names. She still felt ill at ease. After thinking it over, she grabbed Zhao Yuanzhou’s bleeding hand and pressed his finger against the parchment until a bloody print appeared.

She now reviewed the thrice-marked pledge and finally felt satisfied, giving an easy smile. Maybe this time she could find the Baize power. Maybe everything could be restored to its original order. From now on, maybe so many tragedies could be avoided.

Zhao Yuanzhou stood with arms crossed and a crooked smile on his face. But there was no complaint in his eyes as he quietly watched Wen Xiao. It’d been a long time.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

Idioms that appear in this section:

毫无顾忌 (háowú-gùjì) – without scruples; have no scruples

胡说八道 (húshuō-bādào) – talk nonsense; sheer nonsense; rubbish

痛心疾首 (tòngxīn-jíshóu) – with bitter hatred; bitterness

图谋不轨 (túmóu-bùguǐ) – plot something unlawful; engage in conspiratorial activities

包藏祸心 (bāocáng-huòxīn) – harbor evil intentions; malicious

 知无不言，言无不尽 (zhī wú bù yán, yán wú bù jìn) – say all you know and say it without remorse

作恶多端 (zuò’èduōduān) – do all kinds of evil; steeped in iniquity

一拍两散 (yīpāiliǎngsàn) – (of marriage or business partners) to break up; separate

左思右想 (zuǒsī-yòuxiǎng) – think over from different angles—turn something over in one’s mind

心满意足 (xīnmǎn-yìzú) – be perfectly content (or satisfied)