Chapter Two (continued)

Masterlist of posts and character list

At the appointed time, Bai Jiu arrived at the Demon Hunting Bureau to report for duty with his medical kit and a bundle on his back. He wore the Bureau’s token at his waist where he could show it off. All his belongings clanged and jangled as he walked.

Bai Jiu stood before the massive doors, head tilted up to read the three characters on the sign. Heart welling with emotion, he said, “Wow, the legendary Demon Hunting Bureau.”

Zhao Yuanzhou noiselessly appeared behind him. He followed Bai Jiu’s gaze up to the character-inscribed board, expression dull with disdain—a damaged door and a damaged sign; what was so “wow” about that? A few days ago, the sign had been covered with dust and cobwebs. If not for him, it would still look downtrodden.

Bai Jiu was unaware of Zhao Yuanzhou behind him and whispered to himself, “I don’t know if I’ll see him or not.”

“Who do you want to see, little imp?”

Bai Jiu leapt in terror at Zhao Yuanzhou’s voice, jolting to suddenly find this smiling man at his side.

Demon! It was the demon who came to his clinic that day! Bai Jiu lifted his feet, ready to run, and then reconsidered in a flash. He stood at the front door of the Demon Hunting Bureau—what was there to fear? If anyone should be afraid, it was this demon in front of him. He touched the token at his waist and felt even braver.

Hands on his hips, he turned to interrogate, angered and anxious. “Why is it you again? Why are you walking so quietly?”

“Why haven’t you gone in?” Zhao Yuanzhou responded. “You’re dillydallying at the door.”

Bai Jiu rolled his eyes. “I wanted to observe the area first.”

Zhao Yuanzhou was unconvinced. “And what are your observations of the Demon Hunting Bureau?”

“Haven’t you heard? The Demon Hunting Bureau has a 1,000-year-old great demon with a green face and long teeth. It’s a hideous, ugly people eater. Maybe it even eats ordinary demons, too!”

This was true, but Bai Jiu mostly said it to scare Zhao Yuanzhou, a “little demon.” He noticed Zhao Yuanzhou seemed lost in thought and assumed, with some relief, that his words were taking effect. He was definitely a good fit for the Demon Hunting Bureau: being able to talk without lifting a finger was a useful skill.

But Zhao Yuanzhou was lost in thought wondering who, exactly, was supposed to be ugly. He looked at Bai Jiu and smiled all the more wickedly, licking his lips. “Mmhm, and I also heard he can eat a child in a single bite.”

Bai Jiu pointed proudly at his waist and the token hanging there. “That’s right, I’m from the Demon Hunting Bureau. I saw it with my own eyes! Back then, so many of the Demon Hunting Bureau’s greatest masters fell to the ground. I was the only one left and I was terrified, but I still bravely dared to advance on this Zhu Yan and fight fiercely. Ah…in the end, I can only say it was a narrow victory.”

Zhao Yuanzhou was dumbstruck. This boy’s age was so small and yet he talked so big. Eight years ago, a five-year-old had a narrow victory against him? How come he had no memory of that?

Seeing that this “little demon” had been awed, Bai Jiu tiptoed over to him and patted his shoulder. “Don’t be fooled by my short stature. Of course, because I’m only 13 years old…uh, don’t underestimate me because I’m young either. I’m very fierce! You should leave quickly. I won’t hold a grudge.”

“Since Commander Zhuo chose you, you certainly have many strengths,” Wen Xiao said as she walked out from inside the Demon Hunting Bureau.

Bai Jiu’s eyes went wide in shock. “Oh my god, Mr. Zhuo actually chose me! The hero I adore most chose me.”

Wen Xiao smiled warmly. “Come along. I’ll take you to meet Mr. Zhuo.”

All his belongings on his back and joyful to the tips of his eyebrows, Bai Jiu stepped toward her. “Thank you… Thank you, big sister. You’re so kind.”

Wen Xiao turned to Zhao Yuanzhou who stood rooted where he was, expression grumpy and dissatisfied. “Great demon, what’s the matter? It’s getting late.”

Hearing how she addressed him made Bai Jiu’s heart suddenly leap to pounding. “Great…great demon? Where?” His eyes darted fearfully in every direction.

Wen Xiao pointed at Zhou Yuanzhou. “Him. The great demon Zhu Yan.”

Bai Jiu turned stiffly to look at Zhao Yuanzhou, pulse thundering.

Zhao Yuanzhou flashed him a toothy, devilish smile.

Bai Jiu’s eyelids fluttered as his legs gave out. He dropped to the ground and rolled down the steps. And he kept rolling and rolling at the exact same pace. Step after step after step, he slowly rolled away… Once down the steps, he rolled and rolled further and further away from the Demon Hunting Bureau…

“His acting is even more exaggerated than mine.” Zhao Yuanzhou couldn’t stand it anymore. He strode over to grab Bai Jiu from the ground. He hefted the boy on his shoulder and carried him back inside the Demon Hunting Bureau.

Immediately, Bai Jiu began hollering and kicking his legs like a captured rabbit. “Let go! Let me go! Help! Help!”

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Idioms that appear in this section:

心潮澎湃 (xīncháo-péngpài) – feel an upsurge of emotional

磨磨蹭蹭 (mómócèngcèng) – to dillydally; slow-going

青面獠牙 (qīngmiàn-liáoyá) – green-faced and long-toothed—terrifying in appearance

若有所思 (ruòyǒusuǒsī) – looking pensive; thoughtfully

目瞪口呆 (mùdèng-kǒudāi) – gape; dumbstruck; stupefied

既往不咎 (jìwǎng-bùjiù) – forgive somebody’s past misdeeds; no censure somebody for his past misdeeds; let bygones be bygones; forgive and forget

过人之处 (guò rén zhī chù) – the things one excels in; strengths; one’s forte