"You're still here." Yang Zi Huo's dumbfounded expression is discouraging as I remain in place.
"I'm trying! It's not working." Trying to concentrate again, I envision removing myself into the image of Yi Fei's chambers.
It doesn't work.
"Something's not right. Your dark aura is suppressing my ability to use inner energy." I accuse him, pointing my finger at his face.
Clearing his throat, Yang Zi Huo stares at the ground. "Then I guess you'll have to stay."
"What-- Did you purposely use your inner powers to trap me here?"
"I didn't! I wouldn't want you to stay here." He quickly refutes, "It's not safe."
"Well, I can't use my powers right now. Why don't you just fly me out of here?"
He bites his lower lip, his eyebrows furrowing. His serious face is handsomely annoying while I wait for an answer.
"You're right. The best thing is to first get you out of demon city but not right now."
"Why?"
"I am currently disguising myself as a low level demon trying to penetrate the ranks of Wicked Mist to find out what they're up to. I cannot leave as I wish, but I will get you out."
"Why didn't you just have the Night Ravens spy on Wicked Mist?"
"Most of my men stationed here have gone missing. That is why I've decided to come myself."
Hearing that he has put himself in harm's way, yet again, I can't help but feel anxious.
"You have to stay with me at all times until I bring you out. Would... that be all right?" He asks.
Yang Zi Huo avoids looking at me. He still thinks that I hate his guts. It's true that I have only proven to him that I hated him. My heart now has not completely forgiven him as well. It's confusing because I can no longer feel that passion of intense hatred. Somehow I've become a stranger to my own feelings or that I don't want to admit certain things. Things that I want deeply buried and to never surface again.
"Well, it's not like I have a choice," I tell him.
Two gentle knocks on the door makes me jump. Yang Zi Huo quickly pulls me by the arm to his side. His body is still as warm as when we were on the bed.
He's mentioned before that his temperature always increases drastically when he's around me... What... does that mean?
"Kai Xiu, are you in there?" A delicate voice calls out to someone named Kai Xiu.
I poke Yang Zi Huo's side. "Are you Kai Xiu?"
He strains his lips as if telling me to be quiet. Then with a cheerful voice, he says to the women, "Ah, Zi Xue Jiejie! I'll be right out!"
"Oh, all right then. Please come have some breakfast before you leave, okay?"
"Ok, ok! I got it. I'll be right out."
I didn't realize my face was pulled back all the way to my neck. Frowning, I can't stomach the boyish persona Yang Zi Huo was mimicking.
"Don't look at me like that," he finally says before turning around to put on his outer robes.
"What was that?" I almost let a mocking laughter out my mouth.
"Here, I am Kai Xiu. A hundred-year old bug demon. I cannot be like my normal self."
"There's been so many versions of you now. I can't even point out which is the real you."
He doesn't respond, quickly getting dressed. I look around the room, finally having time to observe the surroundings. It's a small, typical tavern room with wooden furniture. Yang Zi Huo must have stayed here for awhile since he's been gone for a year from Bleak Night, although the place is quite empty.
He finishes getting ready and walks to the door but not without intertwining his fingers with mine.
"Uh, what are you doing?" I ask, showing him our clasped hands. He removes the wooden lock from the door, ignoring my question.
He opens the door to the second floor of the inn. Turning to me, he says, "What do you think others will say seeing you come out of my room so early in the morning?"
I don't force my hand out of his hold, but am skeptical of his plan. "Demons really care about that sort of thing?"
"You think us demons lack morals? There is still a mutual respect when it comes to being male and female. I am Kai Xiu, and you are my... wife."
My eyes grow big hearing that. Something gets caught in my throat, and I can't even refute the forced labels he has put on us.
"Wouldn't-- Wouldn't they find you suspicious?! You've never had a wife before and all of a sudden one appears?"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of the details."
"But what if they ask me questions? How am I supposed to answer?"
"Listen to what I tell them, and follow along. Come, I can't delay any longer." He pulls me through the door.
With Yang Zi Huo's hand firmly grasping mine, I don't feel as nervous, but I'm still shaken up. If demons here are anything like Wicked Mist, they hate humans and would want to conquer any mortal soul they come across. Naturally, I would be able to take on a few demons with the powers of the Marvel Sphere, but Zi Huo has suppressed my inner energy too heavily in order to hide my non-demon presence.
We walk down the wooden stairs to the outdoor courtyard. A wall fences the courtyard in, and the tavern's main hall is towards the inner center.
The weather in demon city is gloomy but not chilling. I can see the sun's rays through the clouds.
Approaching the tavern hall, I see a couple of demons eating and drinking. They look rather normal, not resembling demons at all.
They're in demon city, and they still hide their forms?
"You're finally here! Uh-- Who is this?" The young guy from earlier notices me and his excitement turns into curiosity. Eyeing our hand holding, he tilts his head with a look of bewilderment.
"This is my wife, Yong He," Zi Huo calmy explains.
"Wife?!" The young guy almost pulls out his hair. He is surprised, exaggerating his dropping mouth.
Yong He? Why'd he named me that?
"Hi..." I greet the man. Slighted by his character, I don't care to be courteous.
"Kai Xiu, you're here? Have some breakfast before--" A beautiful woman with pale skin comes from behind the curtain. Her nose is sharply broad, eyes large with curled lashes.
"Zi Xue Jiejie, this is my wife, Yong He." Yang Zi Huo smiles warmly.
Are you still acting or what?
"Uh, hello." I bow my head.
"Greetings..."
"Kai Xui Gege... So sister-in-law was what you were hiding earlier! Ha... You never mentioned a sister-in-law before."
"We... weren't together for awhile, but now we've worked out our differences."
Is he trying to tell these people our real story?
"Our families knew each other living inside of Yechuan City, and we grew up together. We quickly married as soon as we were old enough. I then realized my passion to join Wicked Mist after and departed. Yong He has come to reunite with me." Yang Zi Huo shines his proud eyes on me.
I smile and nod along to his story.
"That's great! Sister-in-law, you're going to join Wicked Mist too?!" The young guy asks.
"Ha? Uh..."
"She cannot at the moment," Yang Zi Huo sternly reveals, "She is with child."
Loud thumping infiltrates my ear drums. I resist shutting his mouth with my free hand. Squeezing his hand in my grasp, I dig my nails into his skin.
From the corner of my mouth, I whisper, "What are you doing?"
He plants a kiss on the side of my head before leaning into my ear, "Doing my part to keep you safe."
"You idiot. How can you keep me safe if I can't follow you around while you do assignments for Wicked Mist? You made me pregnant?! How does that make sense?!"
He rubs my head, attempting to soothe my anger. "My wife seems to be hungry. Zi Xue Jiejie, you have anything for her? She's in a very fragile state, so anything mild on the menu will do."
"Um, sure. I can make something for her." Zi Xue disappears back behind the curtain.
Yang Zi Huo sits me down on a stool facing the counter. He instantly pours some tea into a cup. Sliding the hot tea in front of me, I refuse to drink it.
"Yong He, drink the tea please. You must be tired after last night--"
"Shut it. I'm drinking." I pick up the cup and drink a few sips.
He really is enjoying this...
The young man is staring at us the whole time. Leaning against the counter, he asks, "So how is it that sister-in-law is pregnant when Kai Xiu Gege has been living here all these months?"
Unable to swallow his question, I spit out the tea causing a mess.
Yang Zi Huo uses his sleeve to wipe my mouth. The tea drips down my chin, and he skillfully dabs to clean. I swat his hand away.
He lectures the guy, "Yan, you are really crude. You can't ask a married couple what their mating schedule is."
Mating? Schedule? Please... end this.
"Oh, sorry, sorry! Excuse my vulgarity, sister-in-law. I have much to learn." Yan bows over and over seeming to be very apologetic.
I would be curious too. Yang Zi Huo has been here for at least a year. Suddenly, a pregnant wife shows up not on the verge of giving birth.
Perhaps, demon babies are different?
No! Don't think about demon babies. The thought scares me too much.