The tale of Chu Qie

Chapter 2

CHU QIE

Qil's face suddenly turned pale upon reaching a river and his breathing turned erratic.

Don't tell me...

"Are you tired? I thought warriors under the King of Hell would be physically fit. Just a few li carrying me and you're like a donkey out of breath," I mockingly teased.

He glanced at me and gave a calm smile, "Milady, indeed our training under the Lord is very harsh, but carrying a pig isn't one of our trainings so pardon me if I was out of breath."

My lips twitch and I commented, "With each second I spend with you I feel like I'd rather float on the river."

He looked at me for a second and his body straightened, I thought that he finally regained his composure however upon seeing his bright smile that was brighter than the sun, I suddenly had a bad premonition.

Hualala~ Splash!

My body was thrown like a small rock into the river, I didn't know how to swim so I flopped like a fish that had been pulled out of the water.

"Qil!" I screamed in anger but his bright laughter was all I could hear, "Help! I am a toad not a frog!"

He even laugh at what I've compared myself to, "Qi-bleeh!"

"Milady, we should let the current cleanse your harsh mouth first."

The current of the river was not that strong but for a panicking tortoise like me everything around me was nothing but danger, even the smallest ripple of the river.

However Qil was surprised to see a big wave coming out of nowhere!

My eyes widened upon seeing the big splash of wave, according to my cousin Hua Chun Meili, waves only come from seas not on rivers!

"Qil!" I screamed even louder.

But we were both separated by the unknown wave.

I was pushed out of the river whilst Qil was practically running to get me, and we finally realize the cause of the big waves.

A bright laughter of a man echoed on the river, a beautiful big white fish appeared and on top of it was a youth.

With each part the fish touches it creates a big wave, which meant the fish was magical.

"Waahh!" I screamed when the big wave once again came and this time it hit me hard my head hit a stone.

I could feel the water pulling me deeper onto its lair, the air in my body was gone and my consciousness was starting to fade.

I could see a figure swimming towards me, before I could recognize him I was pulled by the darkness.

Qil hurriedly delve into the water upon seeing the large wave caused by the demon fish. However he was surprised because he was racing with another demon.

As they raced to the hurt Chu Qie, he was able to grab her but the demon snatch her on his arms. And the white demon fish appeared before him, he suddenly had a bad feeling when the fish started to attack him.

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I opened my eyes, only to find myself lying in a bed with a warm quilt and the scent of herbs permeated in the room.

I remember I was thrown by Qil the jerk! I sat and tried to find the hateful warrior, but I saw no one.

-It's just the two of us.

-I ask for you to only trust me.

I suddenly recalled Qil's words and my heart thump in nervousness. He was the only warrior I know in this realm, even though he is a poisoned tongued scum I still rather prefer his company.

I notice that I was only wearing a white robe underneath my innerwear. I stood and looked around, just the familiar type of room and atmosphere I knew I was at a noble's house.

I guess even demons have rankings.

I warily look around as I try to find that i***t Qil, but I upon turning to the right hallway, I bump into a hard chest.

"Ouch," I held my nose and felt them bleed, just what kind of chest did I bump into? Was it a rock wall!

I look up in annoyance only to find a sinful face, my heart thump in nervousness.

Wow, I didn't know such sinful face would appear in front of me, so healing!

"Um-" I was turned speechless.

"I'm sorry if my Bai had injured you."

Bai? Who and what Bai?

Upon noticing my confused face, he replied, "The demon fish I was riding earlier, he is actually my pet and I usually play with him on the river I didn't know that you were there."

I suddenly remembered the majestic white fish and nodded, "It's fine."

Then I remembered Qil, "Have you seen my companion?"

"I am General Mai Cui of the Mai clan," he smiled, it was too blinding I had to look away.

"Nice to meet you General, I am Chu Qie," I happily introduced back, but I couldn't let my guard down no matter how attractive the other party is.

"General, about my companion-"

"Your companion?" He gave me a questioning gaze.

"Yes, he and I got separated by the waves," I explained.

"He's fine," he replied briefly, I noticed that although he was smiling wildly earlier at the riverside, his attitude made hundred eighty turn, this time he answered in a short manner, like he had less patience on an unimportant matter.

"Oh," I simply nodded.

With a snap of his finger ten servants appeared before us, I nearly yelp when they appeared out of nowhere.

"Make her presentable," with those three words I felt embarassed as I tried to check myself, do I look like an i***t in front of him?

The servants bowed and hurriedly pulled her back into the room she was sleeping in, the servants hurrieldy flung all her clothes away, started pushing her into a tub, however upon seeing the tub her heart wiggled in fear upon remebering her near drowning experience.

Thus there was an intense battle  of her being bathed. the maids thought she didn't want to cooperate with them, so they became impolite and started pushing her to the tub to with all their might.

In the end she was scrubbed like a scared jumpy puppy that needed to be pulled back into the tub else she would slipped away from them.

Thus after the grooming of Chu Qie, she was pushed to eat breakfast with the General, she did feel hunger but she didn't know the purpsose of the other party.

Due to her growing environment of scheming and being schemed, she has a higher sensitivity on what is going on around her. The first rule to survive in such toxic environment, never eat anything that is given by the enemy.

Thus she was gazing at the garden on the window of the room, distracting herself from her hunger.

"Don't worry, there aren't any poison on the food."

She jolted in shock upon hearing his sentence, in embarassment  she fake a cough and thought of an excuse, "Actually, I was just- just" her brain tried to create a perfect lie, "Just very worried about my companion."

"Your companion-" my ears perked upon hearing an information about i***t Qil, "How does he look like?"

Before she could reply the roof on top of them was destroyed, the yummy food was crushed and the porcelain bowls were broke, whilst broken woods were scattered in the room.

"What do you want from her?"

My eyes twinkled upon seeing Qil in front, but was rather disappointed because the window in front of me was too wide enough to fit a lot of Qil, but the warrior decided to destroy a roof and even my food, I'm farmished!

I tilted to see what was going  between the two and I saw Qil was covered with small cuts and bruises.

Qil was pressing a dagger on General Mai's neck.

"Qil, where have you been and what happened to you?" I asked and pulled him out of the table.

He pulled me behind him as he kept on pointing the dagger to the General.

"I was left in the cold waters of the river fighting a demon fish for a night and was worried if you were dismembered, but I guess it was all for naught. Especially, seeing the disappointment in your eyes when I destroyed your breakfast moment with him. I think I'm a big inconvenience so I should probably leave," he mockingly implied.

"You are her companion," General seems to be unbothered by the violence Qil showed, "I apologize I thought you were a devil who had a malicious intent for this lost fairy so I let Bai took care of you."

I saw how veins popped out of Qil's hand, I secretly pinched his waist, "He already apologized, he meant no harm."

Qil rolled his eyes in disbelief, "Apology my foot, he attacked me!"

This warrior- I helplessly shrug my head.

I tugged his hand that's still maliciously pointing a dagger at the General.

"Qil, he is a General, maybe he could help us," I whispered.

He look at me for a few seconds, "Alright."

He turned to General Mai and cup his hands as he gave a respectful bow, "This little one meets General."

"Identity," General Mai snap his finger and servants appeared again out of nowhere and started to clean the mess.

"Warrior Qil," Qil simply replied.

After the disastrous breakfast, I pulled Qil into the courtyard set for me. Upon closing the door I started fussing around him.

"Do you have that golden orb?"

My hands searched for it on his clothes but he simply held my hands and gave a sigh, "You act."

My head burned in anger, I was showing genuine care but he thought I was just acting, he dares!

"Who threw me in the river?!"

He simply went pass me and laid on the mat, as he closed his eyes, exhausted.

"Milady, could you massage my arm I think I can't move them," with closed eyes he spoke.

I glared at him.

"Ah, my arms are sore and my body feels so weak. It's alright, since I am just a slave so my feelings are considered to be insignificant."

He really likes to guilt trip me, I hurriedly went to his side and started massaging his arms.

"Why can't you use any of those orbs to heal yourself?" I muttered.

"Those orbs are already gone," he muttered as he relaxes on the mat.

I hurriedly grab his wrist and search for his mana, but it was very strange, his mana is still depleted.

I tried sending a stream of mana but I was surprised because my mana disappeared, it wasn't absorb.

"You-" I look at the warrior in front of me, "You've been protecting me without any powers?!"

He opened his other eye, peeking at my huge reaction.

"I got you safely with sheer combat, right," he smugly implied.

"Aright? You have a lot of nerve! I was actually very much 'safe' in this whole journey," I sarcastically retorted.

Silence.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"Nothing," he replied and turned his back against me.

I stood and look around for any sign of life in the hallway. Luckily, a maid appeared and I asked her to bring some ointments.

As I returned with a small bottle, I found Qil staring deeply into the ceiling.

"Get up and take your robe," I hurriedly ordered, he glanced at me and gave me a sneaky grin.

"You really are a sneaky minx, you do have a hidden desire for me," he teased which earned him multiple whacking from me.

As he took of his robe, I notice that it had a lot of holes.

I slapped his arm so he would turn around, so I could check his back. But he was fussier than a child. Thus, I had to discipline him.

After rolling him on a bed of bandage, I was finally able to make him rest. I got out of the room with a sigh and I was surprise to see General Mai standing on the garden of the courtyard.

I hurriedly dash to meet the dashing demon.

"General," I was actually very happy to see a beauty up close.

Who hates beautiful things and demons, right?

"En," he nodded as if saying hello.

"What brings General here?"

"I came here to apologize," it was actually refreshing to converse with a real gentleman.

It really makes my heart fluffy, but I suddenly recalled the scum resting inside.

"...." that i***t doesn't need such courtesy.

I gave a bright smile and hurriedly wave my hands, "It's alright, it's fine, he is perfectly fine. He is jumpy and full of vigor."

I suddenly recalled about that fish and suddenly felt worried.

What if he ate that fish?!

With such thought my face stiffened.

"What's wrong?" General Mai seems to notice my weird behavior.

"Ohoho," I gave a nervous laugh and quickly excuser myself, "Apologies it seems I can't accompany General, as I need to tend to my companion's injuries."

I walked refinely but when I was out of his sight, I rushed inside like a hurricane.

Upon seeing the scum man's face I suddenly felt the wasted moment I should have with the General.

I rudely walked in front of him and give him light kicks!

He woke up and even glared at me, the nerve.

I sat down to meet his eyes.

"Tell me."

He gave an innocent gaze.

"The fish!" I said with widened eyes.

He scratch his head annoyed that I had woke him up to ask him about a fish.

"Eaten."

My hands actively smack his head.

"Wuw," he glared at me, "Milady, is this how you treat a patient?"

"That fish is General Mai's pet, how dare you eat it casually? Since you eat it, if General would want to play with that fish you be his fish and jump on the river!"

"It's his fault for attacking me, and I was farmished!"

Qil really was a hopeless case.

I sighed and tried to think of a way to bring the fish back.

"The fish is fine," I heard him mutter.

My eyes twinkled in delight and I hurriedly tap his back, "Really?"

He turned to see me and gave his brightest blinding smile, he nodded like a child and assured, "The fish is peacefully swimming in my gut fluids and if you want to see a memory of it-"

He threw a bag in front of me.

"This-"

"The carcass of the fish."

"....." This was the first time my hand itch to s***k him till he beg for mercy.

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