Chapter? ?2? ?-? ?Flame? ?in? ?Water? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?stood? ?still? ?and? ?unmoving.? ?
?
It? ?was? ?only? ?after? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?walked? ?past? ?him? ?and? ?was? ?far? ?away? ?that? ?he? ?realized? ?he’d? ?
clenched? ?his? ?fingers? ?into? ?a? ?fist? ?and? ?marred? ?his? ?palm? ?with? ?red? ?marks.? ? ?
?
When? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?passed? ?him,? ?his? ?behavior? ?was? ?nothing? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?ordinary.? ?It? ?was? ?as? ?
though? ?he’d? ?passed? ?by? ?a? ?stranger.? ?On? ?the? ?other? ?hand,? ?his? ?female? ?companion? ?was? ?unabashedly? ?
curious,? ?purposely? ?turning? ?her? ?head? ?to? ?look? ?at? ?him? ?several? ?more? ?times.? ? ?
? ? ?
After? ?a? ?long? ?while,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?let? ?out? ?a? ?breath.? ?
?
With? ?great? ?difficulty,? ?he? ?finally? ?managed? ?to? ?stop? ?his? ?imagination? ?from? ?going? ?wild? ?when? ?the? ?
female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?responsible? ?for? ?on-site? ?coordination? ?hurriedly? ?walked? ?towards? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
“Xu? ?Yinian?”? ?The? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?had? ?only? ?just? ?found? ?out? ?that? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?Young? ?
Master? ?Xu? ?of? ?the? ?rumors? ?and? ?could? ?not? ?help? ?but? ?give? ?him? ?a? ?second? ?look.? ?“Go? ?to? ?Box? ?A1?8?? ?on? ?the? ?
second? ?floor.? ?The? ?VIP? ?in? ?that? ?box? ?wants? ?to? ?see? ?you.”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?heart? ?skipped? ?a? ?beat.? ?“Who? ?wants? ?to? ?see? ?me?”? ?
?
To? ?be? ?able? ?to? ?occupy? ?a? ?box? ?on? ?the? ?second? ?floor,? ?that? ?person? ?had? ?to? ?be? ?wealthy? ?and? ?
respectable,? ?but? ?none? ?of? ?the? ?people? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?familiar? ?with? ?that? ?satisfied? ?this? ?criteria? ?were? ?
attending? ?the? ?auction.? ? ?
? ? ?
“You’ve? ?already? ?guessed? ?it,? ?right?? ?His? ?status? ?among? ?the? ?demon? ?species? ?is? ?extraordinary,? ?
we? ?can’t? ?reject? ?him.”? ?The? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?couldn’t? ?hold? ?back? ?and? ?urged? ?in? ?a? ?whisper,? ?“If? ?
anything? ?happens,? ?shout? ?for? ?someone.? ?There? ?are? ?demon? ?slayers? ?patrolling? ?the? ?corridor.? ?
Moreover,? ?considering? ?it’s? ?broad? ?daylight? ?right? ?now,? ?not? ?even? ?he? ?can? ?do? ?anything? ?untoward? ?
here.”? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?hesitated? ?slightly,? ?then? ?nodded.? ? ?
? ? ?
“Hold? ?on.”? ?The? ?previously? ?silent? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?suddenly? ?asked,? ?“Even? ?if? ?he? ?yells? ?for? ?help,? ?do? ?
those? ?patrolling? ?even? ?dare? ?to? ?break? ?in?”? ?
? ? ?
The? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?laughed? ?awkwardly.? ?
?
“Don’t? ?go.”? ?After? ?finishing? ?his? ?sentence,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?turned? ?to? ?the? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer.? ?
“Just? ?say? ?that? ?you? ?couldn’t? ?find? ?him,? ?that? ?if? ?there’s? ?anything? ?to? ?discuss,? ?we’ll? ?have? ?to? ?trouble? ?Yu? ?
Huai? ?to? ?contact? ?him? ?privately.”? ?
8 ?包?厢:? ?A? ?kind? ?of? ?private? ?room? ?for? ?guests.? ? ?
?
“This…”? ?The? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?appeared? ?hesitant.? ? ?
? ? ?
“No? ?need.”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?took? ?a? ?step? ?forward.? ?“Let’s? ?go.”? ?
? ? ?
Chen? ?Ran? ?tsked.? ?“I’ve? ?never? ?seen? ?someone? ?like? ?you,? ?so? ?eager? ?to? ?serve? ?your? ?head? ?on? ?a? ?
platter.”? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?answered? ?carelessly.? ?“I’ll? ?let? ?you? ?broaden? ?your? ?horizons? ?today.”? ?
? ? ?
Chen? ?Ran? ?felt? ?that? ?his? ?good? ?intentions? ?had? ?been? ?as? ?good? ?as? ?fed? ?to? ?a? ?dog.? ?He? ?laughed? ?
coldly,? ?“Since? ?you? ?don’t? ?know? ?what’s? ?good? ?for? ?you,? ?then? ?go? ?ahead? ?and? ?see? ?yourself? ?to? ?your? ?death? ?
then.”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?turned? ?a? ?deaf? ?ear? ?to? ?his? ?mockery? ?and? ?ridicule,? ?walking? ?with? ?a? ?swagger? ?as? ?he? ?
caught? ?up? ?to? ?the? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer.? ?The? ?latter? ?was? ?afraid? ?he? ?would? ?back? ?out,? ?her? ?high? ?heels? ?
click-clacking? ?as? ?she? ?headed? ?into? ?the? ?auction? ?hall.? ?
?
Draped? ?over? ?the? ?booth? ?that? ?sat? ?in? ?the? ?center? ?of? ?the? ?hall? ?was? ?a? ?scarlet? ?velvet? ?curtain.? ?Tall,? ?
pure? ?white? ?pillars? ?stood? ?on? ?either? ?side? ?of? ?the? ?booth,? ?and? ?beneath? ?the? ?stage? ?sat? ?a? ?full? ?house? ?of? ?
guests.? ?Two? ?male? ?attendants? ?pushed? ?a? ?Japanese? ?woodblock? ?painting?9?? ?up? ?onto? ?the? ?stage.? ?With? ?a? ?
graceful? ?demeanor,? ?the? ?female? ?auctioneer? ?merrily? ?introduced? ?the? ?piece.? ?“Up? ?next? ?in? ?the? ?auction? ?
is? ?this? ?piece? ?titled,? ?‘?Sparrow? ?Beneath? ?The? ?Lamp’?.? ?The? ?scene? ?the? ?artist? ?is? ?illustrating? ?is? ?one? ?of? ?a? ?
noble? ?lady? ?from? ?ancient? ?times? ?giving? ?birth.? ?A? ?sparrow? ?demon? ?hides? ?by? ?the? ?beams? ?of? ?the? ?room,? ?
eyeing? ?its? ?prey? ?covetously,? ?watching? ?and? ?waiting? ?for? ?the? ?opportune? ?moment? ?to? ?devour? ?the? ?
newborn…”? ? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?unable? ?to? ?pay? ?attention? ?to? ?the? ?introduction? ?of? ?the? ?priceless? ?painting.? ?He? ?
was? ?not? ?actually? ?as? ?calm? ?as? ?he? ?appeared? ?to? ?be.? ?In? ?reality,? ?he? ?was? ?disconcerted,? ?his? ?demeanor? ?
dazed? ?and? ?distracted.? ? ?
?
Why? ?was? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?looking? ?for? ?him?? ?
?
Earlier? ?on,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?not? ?done? ?anything? ?unusual? ?in? ?front? ?of? ?so? ?many? ?people.? ?Had? ?it? ?
finally? ?come? ?the? ?time? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?settle? ?the? ?score? ?in? ?private?? ? ?
? ? ?
He? ?hadn’t? ?imagined? ?that? ?after? ?all? ?of? ?the? ?messy? ?things? ?that? ?had? ?happened,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?
still? ?as? ?composed? ?and? ?considerate,? ?not? ?forgetting? ?to? ?spare? ?him? ?some? ?face? ?even? ?in? ?such? ?a? ?
situation.? ?Once? ?he? ?thought? ?about? ?this,? ?bitterness? ?welled? ?up? ?within? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?heart,? ?and? ?along? ?
with? ?that? ?exasperation? ?came? ?a? ?feeling? ?of? ?anticipation? ?he? ?should? ?not? ?possess.? ? ?
?
9 ?浮?世?绘:? ?Ukiyo-e,? ?literally? ?translates? ?to? ?‘Pictures? ?of? ?the? ?Floating? ?World’.? ?It? ?is? ?a? ?style? ?of? ?Japanese? ?woodblock? ?
print? ?and? ?painting? ?from? ?the? ?Edo? ?period? ?depicting? ?famous? ?theater? ?actors,? ?beautiful? ?courtesans,? ?city? ?life,? ?
travel? ?in? ?romantic? ?landscapes,? ?and? ?erotic? ?scenes.? ??Source.? ?
If? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?wanted? ?to? ?get? ?even? ?then? ?he? ?could? ?get? ?even...? ?
?
At? ?the? ?most,? ?he? ?would? ?let? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?take? ?his? ?anger? ?out? ?on? ?him.? ? ?
?
While? ?that? ?was? ?his? ?decision,? ?when? ?the? ?female? ?demon? ?slayer? ?that? ?had? ?led? ?the? ?way? ?left,? ?Xu? ?
Yinian? ?stood? ?alone? ?and? ?hovered? ?outside? ?the? ?box? ?for? ?quite? ?some? ?time.? ?
?
He? ?took? ?a? ?deep? ?breath,? ?then? ?knocked? ?on? ?the? ?door.? ?
?
“Come? ?in.”? ?The? ?voice? ?that? ?had? ?answered? ?did? ?not? ?belong? ?to? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?but? ?to? ?an? ?unfamiliar? ?
female.? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?pushed? ?the? ?door? ?and? ?entered.? ?
?
Unexpectedly,? ?the? ?person? ?greeting? ?him? ?was? ?that? ?beautiful-looking? ?female? ?companion? ?
from? ?earlier.? ?She? ?did? ?not? ?sit? ?in? ?the? ?seat? ?opposite? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?but? ?had? ?instead? ?respectfully? ?remained? ?
standing.? ?
?
“Hello,? ?Young? ?Master? ?Xu.”? ?Nan? ?Zhi? ?greeted? ?him? ?with? ?a? ?smile.? ? ?
? ? ?
There? ?was? ?a? ?flameless? ?diffuser? ?in? ?the? ?box? ?and? ?from? ?that? ?drifted? ?the? ?faint? ?scent? ?of? ?
sandalwood.? ?The? ?space? ?inside? ?was? ?larger? ?than? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?expected;? ?there? ?was? ?an? ?armchair? ?
on? ?both? ?sides? ?of? ?the? ?long? ?table? ?where? ?a? ?porcelain? ?tea? ?set? ?rested,? ?and? ?on? ?the? ?empty? ?seat? ?was? ?a? ?
stack? ?of? ?cushions? ?that? ?was? ?clearly? ?soft? ?and? ?comfortable.? ? ?
?
After? ?he’d? ?come? ?in,? ?Nan? ?Zhi? ?took? ?her? ?leave,? ?closing? ?the? ?door? ?behind? ?her,? ?leaving? ?him? ?
alone? ?with? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?in? ?the? ?room.? ? ?
? ? ?
Curtains? ?hung? ?from? ?the? ?box? ?on? ?the? ?second? ?floor,? ?not? ?obstructing? ?the? ?VIPs? ?from? ?the? ?view? ?
of? ?the? ?auction? ?taking? ?place? ?on? ?the? ?first? ?floor.? ?Conversely,? ?those? ?on? ?the? ?floor? ?below? ?were? ?unable? ?to? ?
see? ?what? ?was? ?happening? ?within? ?the? ?boxes? ?above.? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?sat? ?by? ?the? ?window,? ?his? ?line? ?of? ?sight? ?
unmoving.? ?From? ?start? ?to? ?finish,? ?he? ?didn''t? ?turn? ?his? ?head? ?at? ?all.? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?couldn''t? ?help? ?but? ?draw? ?his? ?
gaze? ?towards? ?his? ?side? ?profile.? ?
?
The? ?eye? ?and? ?hair? ?color? ?of? ?demons? ?were? ?typically? ?bright? ?colors;? ?while? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?hair? ?color? ?
was? ?an? ?uncommon? ?deep? ?ebony,? ?his? ?eye? ?color? ?betrayed? ?his? ?demon? ?heritage.? ?
?
It? ?was? ?a? ?dark? ?purple,? ?like? ?an? ?elusive? ?gemstone.? ? ?
?
A? ?memorable? ?color? ?like? ?this? ?further? ?intensified? ?how? ?deep-set? ?his? ?eyes? ?were.? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?
was? ?untimely? ?reminded? ?of? ?that? ?joking? ?title? ?of? ?number? ?one? ?face? ?in? ?the? ?Demon? ?Realm;? ?looking? ?at? ?it? ?
objectively,? ?Yu? ?Huai''s? ?appearance? ?was? ?indeed? ?worthy? ?of? ?claiming? ?such? ?a? ?title.? ?
?
As? ?compared? ?to? ?five? ?years? ?ago,? ?he? ?seemed? ?to? ?have? ?grown? ?taller? ?some.? ?
?
His? ?disposition? ?had? ?also? ?changed.? ?Five? ?years? ?ago,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?just? ?graduated? ?from? ?
Maple? ?Bridge? ?Academy? ?not? ?long? ?ago,? ?and? ?he? ?had? ?still? ?carried? ?a? ?youthful? ?air? ?about? ?him.? ?Today,? ?
even? ?if? ?he? ?were? ?to? ?be? ?sitting? ?idly,? ?he? ?would? ?give? ?others? ?a? ?sense? ?of? ?oppression? ?that? ?could? ?simply? ?
not? ?be? ?neglected.? ? ?
? ? ?
While? ?he? ?waited? ?for? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?to? ?speak,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?secretly? ?observed? ?him.? ? ?
?
After? ?waiting? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?still? ?did? ?not? ?say? ?a? ?word,? ?as? ?though? ?he? ?had? ?forgotten? ?
that? ?there? ?was? ?someone? ?else? ?in? ?the? ?room.? ?The? ?waiting? ?game? ?made? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?increasingly? ?
uncomfortable;? ?he? ?chose? ?the? ?lesser? ?evil,? ?toughening? ?his? ?skin? ?to? ?take? ?the? ?initiative? ?to? ?ask,? ?“Why? ?
are? ?you? ?looking? ?for? ?me?”? ?
? ? ?
Yu? ?Huai? ?finally? ?turned? ?back.? ?
?
All? ?of? ?the? ?light? ?in? ?the? ?room? ?had? ?gathered? ?to? ?crash? ?into? ?that? ?pair? ?of? ?unusual? ?eyes.? ?Xu? ?
Yinian’s? ?breathing? ?paused? ?for? ?an? ?instant,? ?and? ?it? ?was? ?in? ?precisely? ?this? ?void? ?that? ?he? ?heard? ?the? ?
explanation? ?being? ?given? ?by? ?the? ?female? ?auctioneer? ?downstairs.? ? ?
? ? ?
“...? ?This? ?item? ?was? ?produced? ?in? ?Cangzhou?10?.? ?As? ?they? ?say,? ?‘To? ?the? ?south? ?of? ?Cangzhou,? ?a? ?
flame? ?burns? ?in? ?water.’? ?There? ?is? ?a? ?demon? ?race? ?native? ?to? ?this? ?place? ?that? ?specializes? ?in? ?setting? ?fires.? ?
After? ?they? ?die,? ?their? ?flesh? ?and? ?blood? ?will? ?burn? ?out? ?on? ?their? ?own,? ?leaving? ?behind? ?only? ?the? ?bone.? ?
Their? ?bone? ?is? ?the? ?ultimate? ?fuel;? ?after? ?being? ?set? ?on? ?fire,? ?it? ?will? ?continue? ?to? ?burn,? ?never? ?to? ?
extinguish.”? ?The? ?screen? ?behind? ?the? ?female? ?auctioneer? ?flashed? ?an? ?image? ?of? ?the? ?item? ?being? ?
auctioned.? ?“This? ?is? ?part? ?of? ?a? ?rib? ?belonging? ?to? ?a? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?.? ?It? ?has? ?been? ?sealed? ?in? ?this? ?glass? ?
ball? ?filled? ?with? ?water? ?for? ?twenty? ?years.? ?As? ?you? ?can? ?see,? ?it? ?still? ?continues? ?to? ?burn? ?in? ?the? ?water.”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?expression? ?was? ?blank.? ?
? ? ?
“To? ?the? ?south? ?of? ?Cangzhou,? ?a? ?flame? ?burns? ?in? ?water.”? ?The? ?teacher? ?standing? ?at? ?the? ?podium? ?
had? ?utilized? ?a? ?proverb.? ?His? ?explanation? ?managed? ?to? ?deconstruct? ?the? ?profound? ?phrase? ?into? ?simple? ?
terms,? ?and? ?when? ?matched? ?with? ?the? ?glistening? ?treasure? ?in? ?the? ?instructional? ?video,? ?the? ?interest? ?of? ?
the? ?students? ?was? ?unwittingly? ?peaked.? ? ?
? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?in? ?the? ?midst? ?of? ?fixedly? ?watching? ?this? ?sight? ?when? ?a? ?figure? ?leaned? ?close? ?to? ?his? ?
ear? ?out? ?of? ?the? ?blue,? ?whispering,? ?“Do? ?you? ?like? ?this? ?one?”? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?immediately? ?turned? ?his? ?head? ?around.? ?
?
He? ?sat? ?in? ?the? ?last? ?row? ?of? ?the? ?classroom,? ?in? ?a? ?seat? ?close? ?to? ?the? ?back? ?door.? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?
waltzed? ?over? ?to? ?his? ?side? ?at? ?an? ?unknown? ?time? ?and? ?was? ?currently? ?lightly? ?pulling? ?out? ?the? ?chair? ?to? ?sit? ?
down.? ? ?
10 ?沧?州? ?is? ?a? ?city? ?in? ?Hebei? ?province,? ?China.? ?I’m? ?unclear? ?if? ?the? ?author? ?meant? ?to? ?refer? ?to? ?the? ?actual? ?city? ?but? ?it’s? ?
an? ?interesting? ?fact? ?all? ?the? ?same!? ? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?lowered? ?his? ?voice? ?despite? ?the? ?happy? ?surprise.? ?“Aren’t? ?you? ?supposed? ?to? ?be? ?out? ?
on? ?an? ?assignment? ?right? ?now?”? ?
? ? ?
“It? ?ended? ?earlier? ?than? ?expected.? ?I’m? ?just? ?in? ?time? ?to? ?accompany? ?you? ?for? ?class.”? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?
asked? ?again.? ?“Do? ?you? ?like? ?the? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water??”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?answered? ?with? ?an? ?affirmative.? ?
?
Because? ?of? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?appearance,? ?he? ?was? ?in? ?a? ?good? ?mood,? ?with? ?traces? ?of? ?happiness? ?
lighting? ?up? ?his? ?eyes.? ?
? ? ?
Watching? ?him,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?felt? ?an? ?itch? ?in? ?his? ?heart.? ?He? ?mentally? ?calculated? ?his? ?remuneration? ?
from? ?his? ?latest? ?assignment,? ?then? ?rubbed? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?head,? ?“I’ll? ?buy? ?it? ?for? ?you? ?after? ?a? ?while.”? ? ?
? ? ?
But? ?that? ?promise? ?was? ?never? ?fulfilled? ?in? ?the? ?end.? ? ?
?
Not? ?long? ?after,? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?mother? ?died? ?tragically? ?and? ?the? ?Ghost?11?? ?race? ?had? ?been? ?
completely? ?annihilated.? ?The? ?only? ?one? ?to? ?survive? ?was? ?Yu? ?Huai.? ?He? ?went? ?on? ?a? ?massacre,? ?escaping? ?
to? ?the? ?Demon? ?Burial? ?Grounds? ?after? ?the? ?Demon? ?Slayer? ?Bureau? ?had? ?put? ?out? ?a? ?wanted? ?notice? ?for? ?
him? ?and? ?declared? ?him? ?a? ?fugitive.? ?At? ?this? ?time,? ?the? ?relationship? ?between? ?humans? ?and? ?demons? ?had? ?
reached? ?freezing? ?point.? ? ?
?
As? ?the? ?demons? ?had? ?mentioned,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?disregarded? ?their? ?engagement? ?and? ?broken? ?
up? ?with? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?after? ?the? ?incident.? ?To? ?have? ?pulled? ?away? ?when? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?was? ?experiencing? ?
the? ?most? ?difficult? ?time…? ?in? ?any? ?case,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?the? ?one? ?who? ?had? ?done? ?wrong? ?by? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?listened? ?as? ?the? ?bid? ?price? ?for? ?the? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?? ?continued? ?to? ?rise,? ?unable? ?to? ?
decipher? ?the? ?feelings? ?that? ?were? ?growing? ?inside? ?him.? ?
?
He? ?struggled? ?to? ?suppress? ?his? ?emotions,? ?but? ?his? ?voice? ?was? ?still? ?a? ?little? ?hoarse,? ?“You? ?came? ?
to? ?look? ?for? ?me…? ?Did? ?something? ?happen?”? ?
? ? ?
“What? ?I? ?owed? ?to? ?you? ?back? ?then,? ?I’ll? ?repay? ?it? ?back? ?today.”? ?Compared? ?to? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?who? ?was? ?
faking? ?his? ?composure,? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?tone? ?could? ?be? ?considered? ?rather? ?calm.? ?As? ?he? ?spoke,? ?he? ?pressed? ?
down? ?on? ?the? ?bell? ?on? ?the? ?table? ?to? ?increase? ?his? ?offer.? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?felt? ?like? ?he? ?had? ?been? ?stabbed? ?by? ?him,? ?his? ?heart? ?throbbing.? ?
? ? ?
The? ?female? ?auctioneer? ?paused? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?loudly? ?announced? ?the? ?bid? ?price,? ?“Box? ?
A1,? ?three? ?million!”? ?
?
11 ?Not? ?an? ?actual? ?ghost? ?but? ?one? ?of? ?the? ?demon? ?races.? ? ?
The? ?initial? ?price? ?of? ?the? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?? ?had? ?been? ?hovering? ?around? ?a? ?couple? ?hundred? ?
thousand,? ?and? ?this? ?time? ?it? ?had? ?been? ?directly? ?raised? ?over? ?twofold;? ?an? ?uproar? ?could? ?be? ?heard? ?
offstage.? ? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?reminded? ?him,? ?“The? ?price? ?has? ?already? ?been? ?inflated,? ?any? ?better? ?of? ?a? ??Flame? ?in? ?
Water?? ?would? ?only? ?set? ?you? ?back? ?a? ?million? ?or? ?so.”? ?
?
Despite? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?constant? ?cold? ?and? ?indifferent? ?manner,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?still? ?could? ?not? ?stop? ?
himself? ?from? ?talking? ?to? ?him.? ?He’d? ?already? ?prepared? ?himself? ?to? ?hear? ?even? ?more? ?piercing? ?words? ?
from? ?him.? ? ?
? ? ?
Instead,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?tugged? ?at? ?the? ?corner? ?of? ?his? ?lips,? ?his? ?tone? ?peculiar,? ?“Did? ?I? ?ask? ?you? ?for? ?
money?? ?What? ?are? ?you? ?so? ?bothered? ?about?”? ?
? ? ?
?? ?Something? ?didn’t? ?seem? ?quite? ?right.? ?
?
Caught? ?off? ?guard? ?upon? ?hearing? ?his? ?goad,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?left? ?dumbfounded.? ?He? ?couldn’t? ?
help? ?looking? ?in? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?direction.? ?
? ? ?
Yu? ?Huai? ?locked? ?eyes? ?with? ?him,? ?the? ?tip? ?of? ?his? ?brow? ?raised.? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?felt? ?a? ?sense? ?of? ?
foreboding.? ?In? ?the? ?next? ?instant,? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?gaze? ?shifted? ?to? ?his? ?thighs,? ?“Not? ?forgetting? ?to? ?stand? ?
guard? ?even? ?after? ?entering? ?a? ?box,? ?you? ?sure? ?do? ?enjoy? ?being? ?a? ?bodyguard.”? ? ?
? ? ?
“...”? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?been? ?ruthlessly? ?rendered? ?speechless.? ?He? ?thought? ?back? ?to? ?how? ?he’d? ?just? ?
minutes? ?ago? ?felt? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?demeanor? ?was? ?as? ?good? ?as? ?before…? ?
?
Good? ?demeanor? ?his? ?ass.? ?
?
The? ?rest? ?of? ?the? ?world? ?said? ?that? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?temperament? ?had? ?changed? ?greatly,? ?and? ?while? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?also? ?prepared? ?himself? ?before? ?coming? ?here,? ?he’d? ?never? ?imagined? ?that? ?his? ?words? ?
would? ?be? ?this? ?harsh.? ? ?
? ? ?
Being? ?mindful? ?of? ?all? ?that? ?the? ?other? ?party? ?had? ?gone? ?through,? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?endured? ?it,? ?silently? ?
pulling? ?out? ?the? ?armchair? ?to? ?sit? ?down.? ? ?
? ? ?
While? ?they? ?had? ?been? ?talking,? ?the? ?female? ?auctioneer? ?in? ?the? ?hall? ?knocked? ?the? ?gavel.? ?After? ?a? ?
short? ?while,? ?someone? ?outside? ?knocked? ?on? ?the? ?door? ?of? ?the? ?box.? ?
?
“Hello? ?there.? ?As? ?per? ?your? ?instructions,? ?the? ?Water? ?Fire? ?that? ?you? ?successfully? ?bidded? ?for? ?has? ?
been? ?delivered? ?here? ?directly.”? ?A? ?male? ?attendant? ?carried? ?a? ?dark? ?sandalwood? ?case,? ?bowing? ?as? ?he? ?
entered? ?the? ?box.? ? ?
?
Yu? ?Huai? ?signaled? ?towards? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?with? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“Place? ?it? ?on? ?his? ?side.”? ?
? ? ?
Seeing? ?that? ?the? ?male? ?attendant? ?had? ?immediately? ?left? ?after? ?putting? ?down? ?the? ?case,? ?Xu? ?
Yinian? ?hastily? ?refused,? ?“I? ?don’t? ?want? ?it.”? ?
? ? ?
Yu? ?Huai? ?took? ?his? ?reaction? ?in? ?stride,? ?speaking? ?with? ?mockery? ?in? ?his? ?eyes,? ?“What,? ?you? ?don’t? ?
want? ?it? ?if? ?it? ?comes? ?from? ?me?”? ?
? ? ?
“That’s? ?not? ?what? ?I? ?meant…”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?opened? ?his? ?mouth,? ?“Giving? ?me? ?such? ?a? ?big? ?gift? ?the? ?
moment? ?I? ?come,? ?it’s? ?not? ?appropriate.”? ?
? ? ?
“It’s? ?appropriate? ?as? ?long? ?as? ?you? ?return? ?what? ?you? ?owe? ?me.”? ? ?
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And? ?there? ?it? ?was.? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?felt? ?his? ?heart? ?sink,? ?inwardly? ?lamenting? ?that? ?there? ?was? ?truly? ?no? ?such? ?thing? ?as? ?a? ?
free? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?.? ?After? ?beating? ?around? ?the? ?bush,? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?finally? ?going? ?to? ?settle? ?the? ?score? ?
with? ?him.? ? ?
?
Three? ?million? ?to? ?buy? ?his? ?life…? ?It? ?wasn’t? ?an? ?unreasonable? ?deal.? ? ?
?
“Alright.”? ?He? ?strengthened? ?his? ?resolve;? ?there? ?was? ?no? ?turning? ?back.? ?“Whether? ?you? ?want? ?to? ?
kill? ?or? ?dismember? ?me? ?is? ?up? ?to? ?you.”? ?
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“Up? ?to? ?me?”? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?repeated? ?ambivalently.? ? ?
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“I? ?won’t? ?fight? ?back.”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?put? ?forth? ?his? ?greatest? ?sincerity.? ?“I? ?also? ?won’t? ?retort.”? ?
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Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?silent? ?for? ?a? ?moment? ?before? ?abruptly? ?laughing.? ?“Who? ?told? ?you…”? ?
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Without? ?waiting? ?for? ?him? ?to? ?finish,? ?there? ?came? ?a? ?knock? ?from? ?the? ?outside,? ?one? ?that? ?followed? ?
with? ?Chen? ?Ran’s? ?voice.? ?“Hello? ?there,? ?is? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?inside?? ?My? ?apologies? ?for? ?interrupting;? ?our? ?team? ?
has? ?met? ?with? ?a? ?bit? ?of? ?a? ?situation? ?last? ?minute? ?and? ?requires? ?his? ?assistance? ?downstairs.”? ?
? ? ?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?instinctively? ?turned? ?towards? ?Yu? ?Huai.? ?The? ?faint? ?traces? ?of? ?laughter? ?on? ?his? ?face? ?
from? ?before? ?had? ?completely? ?disappeared,? ?and? ?he’d? ?returned? ?to? ?his? ?earlier? ?cold? ?and? ?distant? ?self.? ?
“I’ll? ?forget? ?it? ?for? ?today.? ?You? ?can? ?go.”? ?
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He? ?was? ?letting? ?it? ?go? ?just? ?like? ?this?? ?
?
Xu? ?Yinian? ?wavered,? ?not? ?moving? ?for? ?a? ?long? ?time.? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?who? ?stood? ?outside? ?the? ?door? ?
was? ?still? ?cautiously? ?snooping.? ?Yu? ?Huai? ?had? ?already? ?withdrawn? ?his? ?gaze,? ?as? ?though? ?he? ?was? ?
uninterested? ?in? ?depleting? ?any? ?energy? ?on? ?dealing? ?with? ?him.? ?
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His? ?death? ?sentence? ?had? ?suddenly? ?been? ?deferred.? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?stood? ?up,? ?his? ?feelings? ?mixed.? ? ?
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“Bring? ?it? ?with? ?you.”? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?voice? ?echoed? ?from? ?behind? ?him.? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?faltered? ?for? ?a? ?moment,? ?then? ?accepted? ?the? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?? ?that? ?had? ?cost? ?an? ?arm? ?
and? ?a? ?leg? ?without? ?saying? ?a? ?word.? ? ?
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“Remember? ?your? ?promise.”? ?
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“Don’t? ?worry.”? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?didn’t? ?turn? ?back.? ?“I? ?won’t? ?go? ?back? ?on? ?my? ?word.”? ? ?
?
The? ?door? ?of? ?the? ?box? ?was? ?opened? ?from? ?the? ?inside.? ?On? ?noticing? ?that? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?had? ?
somehow? ?retained? ?his? ?limbs,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?froze.? ?However,? ?he? ?reacted? ?quickly,? ?putting? ?on? ?his? ?show? ?
till? ?the? ?very? ?end.? ?“Someone’s? ?making? ?a? ?commotion? ?downstairs.? ?We? ?don’t? ?have? ?enough? ?people? ?on? ?
hand,? ?come? ?with? ?me? ?to? ?provide? ?assistance.”? ?
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To? ?be? ?honest,? ?regarding? ?whether? ?or? ?not? ?to? ?get? ?him? ?from? ?upstairs,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?had? ?in? ?fact? ?
hesitated.? ?But? ?after? ?thinking? ?mulling? ?it? ?over,? ?even? ?though? ?he? ?didn’t? ?like? ?Xu? ?Yinian’s? ?hooligan-style? ?
of? ?handling? ?things,? ?he? ?still? ?didn’t? ?want? ?to? ?see? ?this? ?person? ?die? ?upstairs.? ?Furthermore,? ?they? ?were? ?in? ?
the? ?middle? ?of? ?an? ?assignment,? ?and? ?he? ?was? ?the? ?team? ?leader.? ?
?
If? ?the? ?news? ?got? ?out,? ?he? ?would? ?be? ?humiliated.? ? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?frowned,? ?pushing? ?the? ?limit? ?of? ?the? ?phrase? ?‘unable? ?to? ?distinguish? ?between? ?good? ?
and? ?evil’.? ?“You? ?came? ?looking? ?for? ?me? ?just? ?for? ?this?? ?Can’t? ?you? ?handle? ?it?”? ?
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“...”? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?was? ?almost? ?unable? ?to? ?breathe.? ?He? ?snapped,? ?“Idiot.”? ?
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After? ?finishing? ?his? ?sentence,? ?he? ?turned? ?to? ?go,? ?suddenly? ?feeling? ?a? ?pair? ?of? ?eyes? ?fall? ?on? ?him.? ?
?
Yu? ?Huai? ?was? ?sizing? ?him? ?up.? ?
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Chen? ?Ran? ?had? ?met? ?many? ?demons? ?before? ?and? ?had? ?even? ?personally? ?killed? ?numerous? ?
demons? ?while? ?carrying? ?out? ?missions,? ?yet? ?there? ?was? ?not? ?a? ?single? ?one? ?that? ?gave? ?him? ?such? ?a? ?
suffocating? ?sense? ?of? ?oppression.? ?What? ?was? ?even? ?scarier? ?was? ?that? ?he? ?could? ?feel? ?the? ?killing? ?intent? ?
emanating? ?from? ?Yu? ?Huai.? ? ?
?
Upon? ?realizing? ?this,? ?Chen? ?Ran’s? ?back? ?was? ?instantly? ?drenched? ?in? ?a? ?cold? ?sweat.? ?
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Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?totally? ?unaware? ?of? ?this? ?exchange.? ?He? ?swiftly? ?bent? ?down,? ?moving? ?deftly? ?to? ?
place? ?the? ??Flame? ?in? ?Water?? ?by? ?the? ?door.? ? ?
?
“I? ?won’t? ?go? ?back? ?on? ?my? ?word,? ?but? ?I? ?don’t? ?want? ?this? ?thing—”? ?After? ?speaking,? ?he? ?grabbed? ?
Chen? ?Ran,? ?tugging? ?him? ?along? ?and? ?running? ?downstairs.? ?
? ? ?
Having? ?his? ?wrist? ?grasped? ?by? ?Xu? ?Yinian,? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?felt? ?like? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?gaze? ?had? ?appeared? ?
to? ?grow? ?colder.? ?Something? ?supernatural? ?was? ?at? ?work;? ?he’d? ?turned? ?his? ?face,? ?wanting? ?to? ?see? ?what? ?
kind? ?of? ?expression? ?Huai? ?was? ?currently? ?wearing.? ? ?
?
Just? ?as? ?Chen? ?Ran? ?turned? ?back,? ?he? ?felt? ?a? ?chill? ?run? ?down? ?his? ?spine.? ?The? ?nerves? ?all? ?over? ?his? ?
body? ?had? ?gone? ?into? ?overdrive.? ? ?
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The? ?demon? ?who? ?had? ?remained? ?alone? ?in? ?the? ?room? ?was? ?looking? ?straight? ?in? ?their? ?direction.? ?
Due? ?to? ?the? ?angle,? ?half? ?of? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?face? ?was? ?blurred? ?within? ?the? ?shadows,? ?causing? ?one? ?to? ?feel? ?
exceedingly? ?oppressed? ?for? ?no? ?explicable? ?reason.? ?
? ?
The? ?intensity? ?with? ?which? ?Yu? ?Huai’s? ?eyes? ?clung? ?to? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?was? ?almost? ?eerie.? ?It? ?was? ?as? ?
though? ?he? ?wanted? ?to? ?confine? ?Xu? ?Yinian? ?within? ?a? ?square? ?inch? ?of? ?him,? ?never? ?to? ?ever? ?leave? ?his? ?side? ?
of? ?his? ?own? ?accord.? ? ?