Chapter 7: Just a Child

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Sensing hope, Zhe Huo hurried to agree with the grandmaster. "Yes, indeed! His eyes in particular, how blue they are… and so big and beautiful!"

The grandmaster nodded, chuckling. "Tianjue, it's your move."

But Chu Tianjue had lost interest in their game of chess. He addressed Zhe Huo sternly, "Lavender Mountain is no place for demons. Get rid of him at once!"

"Master, I swear Qinghan won't be any trouble to us!"

Tianjue sneered at this. "And you'll swear this on what?"

"Um…"

"I won't cause trouble." Luo Qinghan gazed levelly at Tianjue, his voice firm and clear.

Before Tianjue could reply to this, the grandmaster tapped on the chessboard. "Tianjue, play on!"

With a grunt, Tianjue callously set down a piece, then returned his attention to Zhe Huo. "Listen to me: We don't collect trash here at Lavender Mountain. Keep your own feelings in check."

Nan Lingye roared with laughter. "Tianjue, I've put you in checkmate again."

This did not improve the master's mood.

Zhe Huo saw that she couldn't win this one. She had only been thinking about the grandmaster's mood, and had forgotten to consider that if the master wasn't in good spirits then she would be shut down all the same.

However, it was at this point that Qinghan stepped forward and picked up a playing piece. His brilliant blue eyes sharpening to an edge, he calmly placed it down upon the chessboard.

A moment passed, and then Lingye's smile froze.

Tianjue gave the boy a look of startlement. His face lit up with delight. "Looks like I've won, Grandmaster."

Lingye folded his arms and rose to leave.

"Ah, grandmaster! What about Luo Qinghan?" Zhe Huo anxiously cried out.

Without even looking back, Lingye disappeared from sight.

Zhe Huo had no choice but to turn back and gaze pleadingly at her master. "Master, look…"

Tianjue examined the child closely, as though finally seeing him for the first time. "Give me your hand," he commanded.

A little hand was obediently placed into his.

Fingers pressed upon his veins, Tianjue yanked hard on the boy's arm. Tears flew from the child's eyes, and he whimpered at Zhe Huo, who could feel her own heart breaking. "Master, he's only a child…"

Tianjue grunted and shoved the boy aside. Dismissively, he declared, "Not too bad, for a demon with no training whatsoever. Clever lad, he is."

From his point of view, anyone who could beat the grandmaster at chess was an intellect to be reckoned with.

Zhe Huo realized that this was her master's way of granting permission to keep Qinghan with her. Her eyes shone brightly. She led the child into a display of gratitude, but Tianjue's attention had returned to the chessboard. "This is a rare opportunity," he muttered. "I ought to press the attack." And with that, he left.

...

Fei Zhao had cooked up some vegetables: some carrot and radish, along with a bowl of tofu pudding¹.

He beckoned the child over cheerfully. "Come here, Qinghan. Look, I've made you all these good things to eat!"

Paying him no heed, Qinghan approached the table and stood up on tip-toes to see what he'd been served. He sniffed disdainfully, and without saying a word, he turned to leave.

Fei Zhao flew into a rage. "I worked so hard to prepare this for you, and this is what I get?"

But Qinghan had no attention to spare for him, and went straight out the door. Moments later, he returned with Zhe Huo, but now he'd assumed a completely different demeanor. Gone was the aloof frigidity from before, replaced with raw, red eyes brimming with tears. He sniffled, and his lip trembled faintly, as though something awful had left him shaken beyond words.