The tale of Chu Qie

Chapter 5

CHU QIE

Unexpectedly, General Mai Cui and Qil became famous to the male population. Meanwhile although Miss Mei Rou wanted me to bask on the same spotlight, I rejected the idea.

I didn't like the idea of being watch with every move I made, although the two tried to decline the offer, they couldn't decline since we were poor and have no house, although General Mai really doesn't need food strangely Qil and I needed food.

Thus, the two signed the contract, but I suggested to Mei Rou that acting wasn't their forte and since she discovered their lousiness first hand, she decided to make them stunt men, which she explained only does fighting scene.

Thus we are able to find a house, it was a one story house with a large yard. It was fine and since the only individuals that needed food was me and Qil, I learned how to cook food.

Although my first attempt in cooking made Qil looked at me in contempt and murder, it was then I realized  that when we sent him on the 'hospital' I found out that he had been poisoned.

Although he recovered he still didn't dare to eat the food I make.

Thus, the next day the two entered me in a cooking class. As days pass by in the mortal realm it felt peaceful and somehow although the house was filled with bickering, I find it much suitable to call it home.

It had been months and I started to notice the difference between Mai Cui and Qil.

Mai Cui is like a big yellow retriever, he is hugable, gentle, sometimes mischievous but silently sweet and he helps me in keeping the house clean.

Qil is like a chihuahua, he barks all day and complains on a lot of things, his mouth is too annoying if he tries to make a comment I would rather plug my ears with sharp woods. He is the reason why the house is messy.

I was hanging out our clothes that's when I saw Qil lying on the grass with his arms spread, somehow I was surprised  to see him.

"You didn't have any work today?"

"En."

"Are you hungry?"

He shook his head.

How weird, usually the occassions he doesn't run his mouth can be counted, however it is when he doesn't feel weird.

I hurriedly placed my hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

"Milady."

How rare! He already stopped calling me that name, so why did he start calling me that way?

"Qil, be honest with me," I hurriedly dip my head, my hair fell on his face, whilst my hand grabbed both of his cheeks.

"Are you feeling fine? Did you eat anything bad?"

My head spiraled in negative thoughts.

"Wait, let me call Mai Cui!" I tried to get up, but he suddenly grabbed my nape and I ended up being close to his face with a few inches as our gap.

His eyes opened and he met mine, for a few seconds we stared at each other.

"What-"

Then he suddenly used his palm to shove my face away, he then laid sideways and muttered, "Your face is too wide, it could cover the whole sky!"

In anger I pinched his waist and angrily muttered, "Scum!"

I hurriedly went inside and went to get a drink.

"Home," I heard someone spoke, I look behind and saw the healer of my heart, Mai Cui.

"Welcome back, you were gone for two days, how was the taping?"

I hurriedly pulled him inside.

He gave a smile and looked around, "Qil?"

I wonder if this two are already hooking up behind me, they are really inseparable.

"Outside, bathing on the sun."

"Oh, I brought you two special local food," he then placed a paper bag on my hand.

"Thank you, you work hard," I brimmed.

He smiled and gave me a headpat, which he usually does when he goes out to work and comes back home.

Ah, what a gentleman, my heart is healed.

I hurriedly went to Qil whilst holding the paper bag.

"Qil, food," and upon hearing my shout, he sat and rushed to eat.

Excited I started opening the plastic box of the food but I ended up cutting my hand with it's edges.

"Ah, I cut myself," I mumbled, however with a drop of my blood.

Blag!

I was shocked when I found myself pinned on the floor!

What more I was even surprised to see the eyes of Qil his iris was golden with a tinge of orange whilst the white area of his eyeball was all black.

"Mai Cui!" I screamed in panic.

Qil looked at me like I was a delicious food, he grinned and gave me a whiff.

Before he could bite me, Mai Cui appeared and gave him a harsh kick which threw him out of the yard.

He pulled my shivering body in a hug, "Qil, what happened to him?"

"I don't know."

However we were both surprised because in a few second he was in front of Mai Cui, and his fist came flying, landing flatly on Mai Cui's face.

But he didn't let go of me, thus the two of us got knocked on the wall, however Mai Cui cushioned our weights.

"Qil!" He angrily spat.

"Stop him," I implied and wriggled out of his hug, as I hid behind his back.

"It seems I need to use my powers," Mai Cui's eyes turned blue, his body was covered with blue flames and upon the  flames disappearance an armor clung tightly on his body.

On his right hand was a double edged sword.

"Qil, you better prepare yourself!" Mai Cui roared, the floor he was standing cracked and with lightning-like speed he attacked Qil, pushing him out of the house.

Their bodies flew straight to the sky, destroying the roof on the process.

I rushed outside and looked worriedly at them.

I couldn't see them clearly, but the color of their mana clashing, was how I recogize them. It was actually exhilarating and nerve wrecking experience.

They were indeed both strong, with each clash of their mana, it creates turbulence and it was hard for me, who is like an ant, to resist and protect myself from the strong harsh wind.

What more, with each swing of their weapons, the wind became fiercer it can cut the ground, pavement and of course even flesh!

I hurriedly rush inside the house to protect myself but I could still hear the harsh blowing of the wind.

I took a peek at the window, two mana could be seen on the sky, one was scarlet and the other blue, they were like lightning when they fight.

However my heart stopped upon noticing how the scarlet color slowly dimmed, until it disappeared.

A figure is falling fast on the ground, but the blue lightning caught up with the figure and within a moment....

..Crash!

Dust permeated in the air, the earth shook for a second and the wind blew harshly.

After everything was calm, I saw General Mai Cui standing on the yard, but due to the heavy force he caused the ground he stood to c***k.

On his arms was the unconscious body of Qil.

"Qil! Mai Cui!" I was relieved none of them died.

Though they were both injured.

General Mai's armor disintegrated into the air, we went inside the house and I started heating a warm water.

However upon plugging the kettle into the socket, I noticed the small cut on my hand.

I suck my breath, my chest felt heavy, my throat felt painful and tears threatened to fall.

It was all my fault!

I needed to find the truth, but the only person who knew my identity is Qil.

I hurriedly pulled out a basin and a hand towel, pouring the content of the kettle I douse it with cold water to control its heat.

My steps quickened as I went to the room of Qil.

His shirt was removed and I stiffened upon seeing the huge injury on his abdomen, it was an ugly s***h.

"Can you use your powers to heal him?"

However the basin I was holding fell on the floor, the wound closed on its own and what remained was a clean abdomen.

"This is-"

Mai Cui gave a sigh upon seeing her reaction, "Chu Qie, you seem to forget we aren't mortals."

I felt like a cold bucket of water was poured on me. I got too immersed and enjoyed the life of a mortal, when in truth I am the daughter of the deity of luck. And the two who accompanied me, one is a strong warrior who works for the King of Hell and the other a General in the realm of demons.

"Right," I mumbled.

I look around the room and realize this place, the two didn't consider it as their home... it was only me.

Mai Cui needed to get out to fix the aftermath of their fight, I sat down beside Qil.

Everytime they returned from work, their clothes were  sometimes damaged.

The two are inseperable at night, but sometimes when one disappears the other will always stay.

They would always check on each other.

I suddenly felt silly, they aren't going  to work, they were venturing to who knows where trying to find the way back to the otherworld.

For the past months, I became insensitive and self-centered, I never ask anything about how we're going to return to the other world.

Guilt slowly ate me up.

The two noticed that I had accepted life here, and they didn't want to crush it  so they would always play along.

It's like we were playing house.

"Hurr," I noticed the movements from Qil.

"Since when?" I ask with a small voice.

He stayed silent.

"At first, I thought General Mai was being polite when he helped us back at the demon realm. However he shouldn't have helped you fight that devil, he could have simply left you to deal with it since he was just a bystander. I remember now, when I threw the teleportation bead it was too far for him to enter, which meant he followed us willingly."

He sighed, "General Mai and I already had a tacit understanding when I introduced  myself. Soldiers under the king of the underworld are  called Warriors. We don't usually easily give our identities, but when I knew he could be trusted I bared my identity in front of him hoping he would assist us."

In the end we pulled him in our mess.

"Your work, how long have you been pretending?"

"From the moment we brought this house," he confessed, "I have been venturing around trying to find a possible backdoor back to the otherworld. In the end I would clash some local deities, demons and devils."

Did I really seem unreliable to the two?

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He looked at me and the moment I met his eyes I regretted it, he looked at  me like he  was telling me that I didn't care.

"With your strength you would probably be in danger if I told you. But don't worry-"

"Liar," I cut him off which shut him up. Due to my emotions I suddenly became flustered.

"i***t, why don't you tell me straight the truth," I mumbled, "Why are you trying to take the blame  for my idiocy?"

"..."

I gave a sigh, "Why don't you tell it to me straight that my thoughts were muddled and I have been immersed on being a mortal?"

He closed his eyes and gave a sigh.

"Besides I'm not worth such nice treatment," I muttered.

"How can I insult Milady?" He answered back which made me laugh.

This i***t had already been sharped tongue since when did he become considerate, "How unusual... It doesn't suit you."

He chuckled and suddenly remembered how he was out of control.

"Earlier-"

"Qil, what are you?" I looked at  him and I could see he turned pale.

"Milady, I am sorry for nearly hurting you, truth be told, I am actually a hybrid mongrel," he whispered.

My heart suddenly gave a thump, "You-"

"I am an offspring of a demon beast, dragon and a devil."

"D-dragon," I stuttered, "My mother came from the beast realm, as for my father--  I don't have any recollection but according to my mother he is a devil," he explained.

"Why didn't I feel any mana on you?"

He looked at me "I have a complex physiology and as for me attacking you... It's because of your blood, I usually control the rampaging devil in my body.. somehow I can''t."

Leaning on the bed his face turned even serious, "This is related to your identity, which means that I have to keep my distance with you, else I might hurt you. For now, I suggest that you'll be following the General."

I was suddenly reminded of another query I needed it to be answered, "What am I?"

"Forgive me, Milady. I can't tell you who you are because walls have ears and I would only be endangering you. I only have one favor to from you-"

Disappointed I looked away but still listened to his words, "I ask of you to trust me."

With a defeated look, I just nodded.

"Qil," Mai Cui entered the room, when both men give me a gaze that implies I am not needed in the room, it's actually hurtful.

I harrumphed and walk out of  the room, but I was determined, I squated at the door and leaned my ears on the door.

"I can't hear anything," I muttered whilst pressing my whole body on the door, however I was surprised when I was thrown on the floor.

I lay my head on the carpet and started squirming on the carpet whilst muttering a mantra...

..I am a rag ignore me.

...I am a rag ignore me.

... I am a broom ignore me.

"Chu Qie!" The raging tone of Qil woke me up from my embarassment, I hurriedly rushed out of the door with a red face.

I walk into the sofa and sat filled with worry, I closed my eyes in distress, lost in my thoughts.

"Chu Qie," Mai Cui's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, opening my eyes, I saw him sitting beside me.

He had always love moving lightly and with less presence, it would always freak me out but due to the excitement my response seem to be calmer.

"I'll be in your care," I smiled trying to lighten the mood.

However he looked at me then glanced at another direction, I could read his reluctance, he is really is an open book.

"What is it?" I probed.

"Qil," he paused and intently stared at me, "He said he'll be leaving."

My whole body froze, "Qil is-"

"Why?" I held my shaky fingers whilst trying to calm my nerves.

"He said it's for the best."

I stood as straight as a pole.

"Chu Qie," Mai Cui gave a worried look, "I also think it is for the best."

They both agreed, but did I?

With quick steps I walked back to his room only to find him wearing his old clothes.

"Why?"such word felt like a thorn on my throat.

But instead of answering he instructed, "I was able to create a teleportation bead, it took a long time and effort but it's worth it."

I opened my mouth to start an argument, but a pearl-like pill was forced on my mouth.

"Kuhh! Kuhh!" I cough violently and tried to swallow the pill in difficulty whilst my teary eyes were glaring at the culprit.

But he nonchalantly continued speaking, "Your mana was tainted by a devil, I notice this when you sent your mana on my body once. If we were on the demon realm, I would probably be able  to easily take it out of your body, however, it was very unlucky we're in the mortal realm. It  was difficult to find the needed ingredients and they are all low grade grass!"

"Don't go," I managed to blurt out despite the rising pain on my shoulder, which I remember where the arrow of that devil embedded when we first met.

He was silent and gave a grin, "I know this little one is good looking and I've already known your hidden desire for me, but I can't."

I tried controlling my response to roll my eyes in disdain at his narcissistic view of himself with a smile I rebutted, "I love men who are gentlemen, clean and doesn't love to boast much on themselves."

"Hehe," he snickered, "Such wishful thinking those men would probably find you unsuitable for them."

"Qil, can't you change your mind?"

"Milady, you wouldn't mind if I call you Qie'er, right?"

He usually doesn't call me my name, he would always call me 'Hey', 'You', 'Lady' or any random words that pops out of his head, which is why we always bicker.

"How unusual," I smiled but if I agreed would he stay? I nodded.

"Qie'er," his expression softened.

"It doesn't suit you," I bashed, he really suit best his brusque and rude character.

I shuddered in pain when I felt something came out of my chest, floating slowly into his palms.

The pearl-like pill turned dark.

"With this you would be saved."

"Don't go, who would eat the food I experiment on, Mai Cui only loves tea and wine."

"Qie'er, you should always listen to General Mai."

"Don't go, who would I tease and bicker with, Mai Cui couldn't handle any insults, he easily gets upset."

His face twitched but I was really honest.

"Qie'er, stay safe."

Before I could speak my lids became heavy, I felt my body limp and my consciousness dragged into darkness.

----------

Qil stared at her peaceful expression.

"I'll protect her even without your reminder."

He laughed at the General's statement, "My~ You are fond of her, since when?"

He turned red in embarassment but he dispersed it with a cough, "Your planning something outrageous, are you sure you won't need my help?"

His silence confirmed Mai Cui's suspicions, "She will not take this lightly."

"But you'll be by her side."

Mai Cui quieted and carried her, "Try to return."

Qil sniggered, "Duty is honor..." He peered at her, "Warriors place their honor before anything else, even if it meant exchanging their lives to achieve it."