"Xiao Jiao!" Xue Tuzi scolded, his voice firm but gentle. The child only buried his face deeper into his robes, tiny fingers still curled tightly around the fabric.
Ye Hu exhaled slowly, retracting his hand from Xue Tuzi's cheek. "It's alright," he murmured, his tone measured. "He is, after all, still a child."
Xue Tuzi knew Jiao Jiao's temper could be soothed with something sweet. He plucked another piece of candy from Ye Hu's hand, unwrapping it before offering it to the boy again. This time, Jiao Jiao took it greedily, shoving it into his mouth with a soft grunt. His tiny jaw worked furiously as he chewed, but his wary eyes remained locked onto Ye Hu, still unconvinced of his kindness.
The moment was brief.
Ye Hu's gaze flickered, catching something unexpected.
"That gem on your tongue…" His voice dropped, his sharp eyes widening in realization.
Xue Tuzi tensed. His breath hitched. His Gege was as perceptive as ever—nothing escaped him. He averted his gaze, lips pressing together as if searching for an excuse. But he found none.
Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "It was also part of the slave contract," he admitted. The lie sat heavy on his tongue, but it was safer this way. Ye Hu bit his lip, his head tilting down as he clenched his only fist. His entire body trembled with the effort of controlling his fury. He had spent years searching for Xue Tuzi, only to find him bound in shackles he could not see, bearing marks he could not erase.
"This is my fault," Ye Hu whispered, the weight of his own words pressing down on him like a crushing tide. "I failed to protect you."
His breath was unsteady, but when he lifted his head, his gaze burned with determination. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
"But I promise you…" his voice steadied, low and resolute, "…from now on, I will always be at your side."
Xue Tuzi's heart clenched. Still, Ye Hu reached for him, longing to pull him into his arms, to cradle him as if he could mend all that had been broken.
But the little pest in his arms prevented him.
Ye Hu's sharp gaze flickered toward Jiao Jiao, his lips tugging into a thin line of reproach. The child was still stubbornly nestled against Xue Tuzi, his mouth slack from exhaustion, his small head bobbing as he fought to stay awake.
A faint smile ghosted Ye Hu's lips as, at last, Jiao Jiao surrendered to sleep, his tiny fingers still gripping Xue Tuzi's robes even in his dreams.
"You are not planning on taking that child with you, are you?" Ye Hu's voice was measured, but his phoenix eyes held a glint of disapproval as they swept over Xue Tuzi, who cradled the sleeping Jiao Jiao protectively in his arms.
Xue Tuzi hesitated, his grip instinctively tightening around the small body nestled against his chest. "Eh…" He looked down at Jiao Jiao, the child's tiny fingers still clutching at his robes even in sleep, as if refusing to let go.
"Xiao Tuzi," Ye Hu's voice sharpened, cutting through his hesitation. "That child isn't yours, correct?"
"That is correct, but—"
"Then it belongs with its father." Ye Hu exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "Humans should not interfere with demon affairs. I'm sure its father will be looking for it."
His gaze flickered toward Jiao Jiao, his nose wrinkling slightly. "No matter how much you nurture a demon, it will always be a demon. It's in their nature. You may not think of it now, but one day, that child will turn on you. It's best you leave it behind."
The words were cold, slicing through Xue Tuzi like a blade. His fingers trembled as he held Jiao Jiao closer, the thought of parting from him gnawing at his heart. The child still slept soundly, unaware that he was on the verge of being abandoned.
"Now that it's asleep, we should depart at once." Ye Hu reached for Xue Tuzi's arm, but he did not loosen his grip on Jiao Jiao.
Feeling the hesitation in his bones, Ye Hu pulled his hand back, studying Xue Tuzi's pained expression. His gaze softened, as he murmured, "I understand…" His fingers trailed along Xue Tuzi's cheek, brushing away the silent tears that had begun to spill. "It has impaled your heart."
He leaned in, his breath warm against Xue Tuzi's ear. "I only wanted to save you," he whispered, his fingers gliding down to Xue Tuzi's trembling lips.
Xue Tuzi choked back a sob. His mind was clouded, his body numb. This was the right choice, wasn't it? He kept repeating that thought like a prayer, as if it would make the pain bearable. Slowly, he stepped toward the bed, lowering Jiao Jiao onto the bed with painstaking care. He tucked the child beneath the blankets, his fingers lingering as they smoothed down his soft hair one last time. The warmth in his arms was gone now, replaced by an unbearable emptiness.
Ye Hu's smile was subtle, but it was there—a small, fleeting satisfaction as he carefully guided Xue Tuzi out of the room. They descended the stairs in silence.
Then—
"A-Tuzi."
Xue Tuzi barely registered his name before he saw Xue Laohu standing at the inn's entrance, blocking their path. Ye Hu's expression darkened instantly, his arm curling protectively around Xue Tuzi's waist. Xue Tuzi didn't react. His body moved forward, but he felt nothing. His round, doe-like eyes were hollow, stripped of emotion, emptied of everything that made him who he was.
"Don't bother," a voice scoffed.
Shudu.
He leaned lazily against a pillar, arms crossed, his presence alone enough to send a ripple through the air. The moment Xue Tuzi heard him, something in him nearly cracked—nearly. If not for Ye Hu's firm grip keeping him still, keeping him caged.
"Ignore him," Ye Hu whispered into his ear, his tone sharp and laced with venom. "It's best not to provoke him. Who knows what other offspring he has lingering around."
Xue Tuzi's fists clenched. There was something storming inside him, something wild and unrestrained, but it was trapped—sealed behind an invisible wall, leaving him with nothing but unbearable numbness.
Ye Hu's gaze flickered toward Shudu again, his expression twisting with disgust. "If you dispatch him, his offspring might come seeking revenge." His nose twitched, as if the mere thought revolted him.
Shudu said nothing at first, but his crimson eye gleamed, watching Xue Tuzi carefully. His gaze was piercing, unwavering—as if daring him to wake up.
But Xue Tuzi couldn't.
He wasn't sure if he even knew how anymore.
Xue Laohu refused to move aside, his figure blocking the exit like an unshakable mountain.
"A-Tuzi, please listen to me," he pleaded, his voice desperate.
But Xue Tuzi gave no response. His lips refused to part, his throat seized by an invisible force. No matter how much he wanted to scream, to cry out, he was trapped within his own silence. Ye Hu, standing firm at his side, draped a heavy cloak over Xue Tuzi's shoulders, shielding him from the cold. His expression darkened as he stepped forward, his body a barrier between Xue Tuzi and the others. With a single fluid motion, he attempted to shove Xue Laohu aside.
But before he could push past him, a strong hand caught his arm.
Li Zhameng.
"A-Tuzi! A-Tuzi!" Li Zhameng called out, voice laced with panic. His grip on Ye Hu tightened, his knuckles turning white, but Xue Tuzi remained unresponsive.
Ye Hu's patience thinned. With a sharp twist, he yanked his arm free, his qi surging like a storm within him. In an instant, he sent a blast of energy forward. The force of it tore the inn's doors wide open, sending debris flying.
The wind howled.
The rain lashed through the shattered doorway, a furious downpour turning the night into a blur of gray and black. The storm raged, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. Xue Laohu and Li Zhameng shielded their eyes, momentarily disoriented by the sudden burst of wind and rain. Ye Hu wasted no time. He tightened his grip around Xue Tuzi's wrist and, with a powerful push of his qigong, disappeared into the night.
Xue Laohu snarled, cursing under his breath. Rain pelted against his face, soaking him instantly as he struggled to see through the storm. Great. With the system down and visibility near zero, tracking them would be nearly impossible.
"Fuck! A-Tuzi! Come back!" he roared, his voice barely carrying over the wind. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword, stepping onto it before launching into the sky, chasing after them.
"Shizun!" Li Zhameng called out hesitantly, shielding himself with his sleeve as the wind whipped against him.
"If you have no means, don't follow," the innkeeper advised, his tone calm despite the chaos. He glanced at Li Zhameng, then at the storm raging outside. "I wouldn't recommend going out in this weather. Besides, if you leave now, that's one more person your Shizun has to worry about."
Li Zhameng hesitated, frustration knitting his brows. He wanted to go, wanted to chase after his Shizun and Xue Tuzi, but the truth of the innkeeper's words weighed heavily on him.
Meanwhile, at the staircase, Shudu scoffed.
"I hope the rain never stops."
His voice was laced with mockery, but beneath it was something deeper—something unspoken. He made his way up the stairs, Xiao Zongzi perched lazily on his shoulder.
Arriving at the bedroom, he glanced down at the sleeping Jiao Jiao. A part of him was relieved—relieved that Xue Tuzi had left the child behind. And yet, another part of him… wanted to follow. He reached out, his fingers brushing against Jiao Jiao's soft tufts of hair. His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible over the storm.
"See? I told you," he murmured. "He doesn't care."
His fingers curled slightly before pulling away.
"He left you without even saying goodbye."
The storm carried on through the night.
Xue Laohu hovered beneath a large tree, his soaked robes clinging to his body as he cursed under his breath. He had lost them.
Grinding his teeth, he lifted his wrist, summoning the system's interface. A neon screen materialized before him, but the moment he tried to activate the tracker, an automated message flickered across the display:
ERROR CODE: #BUG-404-SYSTEM-FAIL
Xue Loahu let out a growl of frustration, his fingers tapping furiously at the screen. "Fix it! Fix it!" he shouted, hammering the reboot button.
A small loading bar appeared, along with a countdown.
SYSTEM REBOOTING…TIME REMAINING: 7 MINUTES, 7 SECONDS
He had no choice but to wait. His grip on his sword tightened as he glared into the storm, silently praying that Xue Tuzi hadn't gone too far.
—
Deep within a secluded cave, the glow of firelight flickered against the damp stone walls. The storm roared outside, but inside, it was quiet, save for the gentle crackling of burning wood. Ye Hu knelt by the fire, peeling off his drenched outer robe, steam rising from the wet fabric as he set it aside to dry. His gaze shifted toward Xue Tuzi, who sat motionless, his shoulders trembling, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.
Ye Hu moved closer, his voice soft yet unwavering. "Xiao Tuzi, do you resent me?"
He reached out, his fingers tilting Xue Tuzi's face upward. His skin was damp, cold beneath his touch. A tear slipped free, tracing down the curve of his cheek.
"Do you hate me?" Ye Hu whispered, his thumb brushing against Xue Tuzi's trembling lips.
Hate? Resentment?
How could he ever feel that way toward the man who had once been his entire world? Yet… something about this love felt twisted. It strangled him, smothered him, left him gasping for air.
"Gege…" Xue Tuzi finally choked out, his voice breaking. His tears spilled freely now, his body racked with quiet sobs. "I—I want to go home…"
Ye Hu exhaled, his fingers gently threading through Xue Tuzi's damp hair. He stroked it slowly, as if soothing a frightened animal.
"Tell me… where is home?"
Xue Tuzi's breath hitched. His lips parted slightly, but no words came.
Where was home?
Was it Sect Mount Dingbu?
Was it Qingyu Cun Village, the orphanage where they once lived?
His breaths grew rapid, his chest tightening. He didn't know.
Ye Hu sighed deeply, I was suppose to wait when the fruit was ripe but I see another man has taken a bite. His gaze flickering toward the fire, the flames danced, their warm glow casting shifting shadows across the cave walls.
"Xiao Tuzi," Ye Hu murmured, turning back to him. "You're drenched." His voice was calm, almost coaxing. "Strip, or you'll catch a cold."
Blah Blah Blah:
Xue Tuzi you make this so difficult. I make it so difficult for you ha ha ha. This was frustrating to write mainly because I know what I want but had a hard time getting there. Xue Tuzi might be the most hated character. I hope it wasn't frustrating to read as it was frustrating to write. I hate it here. Bring back the humor!