Chapter Two: Going into a Dream

Masterlist of posts and character list

Inside a refined and elegant courtyard, beneath the interlacing eaves of a veranda, was a square room decorated with simple, yet exquisitely designed furniture. Back straight, Zhuo Yichen sat by a window carefully cleaning his Cloud-Light Sword with a white cloth. His expression was both concentrated and serene. The light pouring in through the window pooled against his blade, casting it in a white shine.

A Demon Hunting Bureau soldier entered and walked to his side. He carried a tray bearing three tokens. Reverently, he said, “Commander, Mr. Fan sent you three tokens.”

Zhuo Yichen set down his sword and stood. He picked up two of the tokens, discovering hand-written notes beneath them. The characters spelled out two names: Pei Sijing, Bai Jiu.

“You can go,” Zhuo Yichen dismissed the soldier. Once alone, he gently smoothed a hand over the Demon Hunting Bureau tokens, deep in thought.

Yesterday after he’d left the dungeon, he was again summoned by Fan Ying. He understood: Fan Ying was also trying to persuade him to let Zhao Yuanzhou join the Demon Hunting Bureau. Fan Ying spoke of his Zhuo ancestor who exterminated the evil demon Yinglong, and he gifted Zhuo Yichen an ancient tome he’d sought out.

According to those ancient records, Yinglong had the power to glimpse the future and he once had a prophecy: Every Bingyi Clan descendent who inherits the Cloud-Light Sword shall kill the greatest evil demon of their age. Yinglong’s prophecies were never wrong. To be precise, it was not a prophecy but rather a curse. So, Zhuo Yichen was destined to kill Zhu Yan, there was no rush.

Zhuo Yichen let out a bitter chuckle. As if getting his revenge on Zhu Yan was a curse. It was all he could have wished for.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps again, Zhuo Yichen turned his head.

Wen Xiao entered with an exquisite, lacquered food case. “I made a special trip to bring Qingfeng Tower’s dewdrop pastries—your favorite, Xiao Zhuo.”

Zhuo Yichen knew her purpose in coming here this time. After all, he noticed the gleaming token hanging at her waist. She’d made up her mind; she’d be joining the Demon Hunting Bureau’s new squad. Just the same, he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “You decided to join the Demon Hunting Bureau’s advance squad?”

Wen Xiao answered with a question of her own. “Is that bad?”

“Of course, it’s bad,” Zhuo Yichen said impatiently. “Demon beasts are ferocious. It’s too dangerous.”

Wen Xiao opened the food box and began to remove dishes one by one, placing them on the table. With each shining, delicate pastry she removed, a delicious fragrance wafted upward. She laughed. “With Xiao Zhuo here, what’s to be afraid of? You’ll protect me.”

“Of course, I’ll protect you, it’s just…” It was just that he was afraid. Afraid that accidents would happen and that he’d be unable to protect her from situations he couldn’t control. He tightened his grip on his sword. He found it hard to speak into the world this selfish wish he had that, this time, she wouldn’t join this case. He should be more diligent with his sword practice; if he did that, then he could protect her and let her come on this mission. No matter what dangers they faced, he could be her safety net.

Wen Xiao looked at him with a worried frown. Voice reassuring, she said, “We’ve been looking for the Baize power for so many years, we’ve worked so hard for so long without even a clue to show for it. Now Zhu Yan has appeared and he’s willing to help us. This is a great opportunity. Moreover, I had him sign a contract using demon blood. He wouldn’t dare violate it.”

Zhuo Yichen hesitated a moment, then asked, “Can he be trusted?”

“He can’t be trusted. The contract can be trusted. My friend told me about this method, and my friend can be trusted.”

Zhuo Yichen’s lips tightened into a sharp line, brows knitting. “The only one I trust in this world is you. You say it can be trusted, then I trust it.”

Wen Xiao swatted at his shoulder. “How old are you? Don’t always make this worried face.”

“I’ll be 24 next month.” Zhuo Yichen instinctively balked. “Besides, you’re only a few months older.”

“Even if you’re 42, I’m still your elder. Our fathers are from the same generation. It’s only out of respect that I don’t make you call me ‘auntie.’”

Zhuo Yichen opened his mouth, bumbling through an explanation. Wen Xiao stuffed a dewdrop pastry in his mouth to stop him.

He reticently chewed, then stood with his Cloud-Light Sword in hand. He walked to the nearby shelf to place it neatly on its stand. He stared fixedly at the long blade, anxious thoughts just as heavy as before.

Wen Xiao looked at his rigid back. She let out a sigh. “I know you can’t get past that gate in your heart. The person who murdered your father and brother, and yet you’re asked to travel together; fight beside him; spend your days, morning through night, face to face with him. Xiao Zhuo, no one has the right to demand you accept this token. You’ve already given so much to the Demon Hunting Bureau. This is your ancestral home, the home where you grew up, and you willingly donated it to become the new Demon Hunting Bureau—”

“My father and brother are dead,” Zhuo Yichen interrupted her. “This was just an empty house, not a home. Being here alone, I was muddle-headed and wasting time. After you all came, it’s full of people, livelier. It’s better. The one who should be saying ‘thank you’ is me.”

Wen Xiao couldn’t bear it. Just moments ago, she’d tried to persuade him to protect her, and he hadn’t argued. Clearly, he’d already made that decision in his heart. Even without asking, she could guess that. That was just like Xiao Zhuo. And it was easy to guess that he would disregard every danger and discomfort to join this squad for the Baize power. Precisely because she could guess all this, she couldn’t bear it. He’d made this decision. He’d certainly considered Mr. Fan’s plans, considered the hostile situation between the Demon Hunting Bureau and Chongwu Camp, and considered—only for her—whether or not it was too dangerous to join.

Xiao Zhuo was always like this, carrying so many responsibilities on his shoulders.

“I agreed to let him join the Demon Hunting Bureau.” When Zhuo Yichen turned, he seemed to have put his feelings in order. “You don’t need to worry. I thought about it a long time and this way makes sense. Now that he’s a colleague, I will temporarily put my hatred on a shelf, but I won’t forget it. If there’s an opportune moment, I will certainly kill him and have my revenge.”

Wen Xiao stuttered out a few words before quieting herself with a sigh. She put on a big smile and pointed at the dewdrop pastries. “Want another one?”

Xiao Yichen’s mouth went slack a moment, then he returned to his seat by the window and took a bite.

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Idioms that appear in this section:

毕恭毕敬 (bìgōng-bìjìng) – reverent and respectful; extremely deferential

求之不得 (qiúzhī-bùdé) – all one could wish for; most welcome

打定主意 (dǎdìnng zhǔyi) – make up one’s mind

说不出口 (shuōbuchūkǒu) – find it hard to speak out; unutterable; unspeakable

愁眉不展 (chóuméi-bùzhǎn) – with a worried frown; with knitted brows

愁眉苦脸 (chóuméi-kǔliǎn) – wear a worried look; pull a long face

心事重重 (xīnshì-chóngchóng) – be laden with anxiety; to have a lot on one’s mind

浑浑噩噩 (húnhún’è’è) – muddle-headed and ignorant