Chapter 3: Chapter-2

The morning had everyone running about frantically with errands. Zhuzhi-lang, full of beans, was adjusting the bed covers on the fluffy mattress. His movements, though accurate repetition of following the same regimen every day, were a little distracted. His uncle didn't need to ponder twice to know what was going on in his head.

"You're still thinking about that boy aren't you?"

Zhuzhi-lang paused, not even surprised by the transparency of his emotions to his uncle. After spending years of sticking together, they were as obvious as an open book to each other. No one in this world knew him as well as his uncle did. Likewise, no one in this world knew his uncle as well as he did.

"Junshang that boy... I hope he is doing alright. No child should be subjected to the kind of treatment he has received." Zhuzhi-Lang resumed his work with a heavy heart.

Seated opposite him, his uncle reassured him, "He'll be fine." It seemed to work like magic. Because when his uncle said it, a sense of relief and coolness washed over him.

___

Zhuzhi-Lang and his uncle, Tianlang Jun once again set their feet in the busy market and accidentally happened to come across that boy (Zhuzhi-Lang wasn't looking for that boy at all, he said).

He wasn't fine at all. His body had been marred with an increasing number of injuries since they last saw him.

Sharing a look, they agreed to follow the boy. The two men (inconspicuously, thanks to their increasing number of fangirls) tailed the boy wherever he went. It was pretty simple. He was just running some errands to buy vegetables and fruits.

A man suddenly stopped him in the middle of his shopping. He was shady-looking with a stoop. The stick in his hand could be used as a weapon. Crisscrosses of wrinkles ran down his face. An ugly hat covered the upper half of his visage. Red signals blared in Shen Jiu's head upon encountering him. A few metres away, a duo was prepared to take down the man if needed.

"Sir? Is there something I can do?" Shen Jiu asked cautiously. His senses tingled to run.

The man didn't say anything. His hand fetched something from his pocket. The fist faced the endless blue sky. Shen Jiu's keen eyes observed the item with alertness. He held his breath in anticipation.

The fist turned slowly, everyone watched with halted breath. Underneath the wrinkled fingers was...

"Here have this candy."

The impending danger in Zhuzhi-lang and his uncle's heart didn't end there. Instead, it amplified tenfold.

"He isn't thinking about poisoning the child is he?"

"How malevolent are these filthy humans! Truly, they have deceived this venerable one. Zhuzhi, we cannot take a chance. We must act now."

The two sprang up from their hiding places and sprinted to stand behind the old man. To Shen Jiu and the old man, the two seemed to have conjured up from nothing, suddenly sprouting from the earth.

"You old fogey! Don't even think of harming the child."

"How dare you think of harming that child you crusty old fart!"

The allegation sparked an outcry among the public. People began noticing and gathered to yell profanities at the man.

"Who let this geezer wander around? Take him and beat him up."

"Harming a child? How inhumane."

"SOMEONE SET HIS ASS ON FIRE!!"

"YA GET HIM."

The old man struggled under the hands of countless people manhandling him. He yelled at them to defend himself. The candy got crushed to bits personally. Many spat on its crushed remains. The street was a dog's breakfast with people screaming their lungs sore.

Shen Jiu stood frozen, unsure of what to do, as he watched the scene unfold before him.

Zhuzhi-Lang and his uncle hurried towards him to check up on him. He looked like a deer in headlights in the commotion. Not to mention, he was quite jiggered to see the duo. He nodded at their concerns and questions. The nostalgia hit him, and he felt a little touched by the concerns. Not many have shown him benevolence before.

In a blink of an eye, someone ran past him. A girl few years older than him, (Song Cuifen, the daughter of the local chemist in their village) struggled to move past the crowd of people gathering around the man.

She shielded the old man behind her and cried out "Stop. He's my grandfather!"

Instantly, the crowd began to retreat. Some covered their mouths in shock while others guiltily looked away. Few fled the scene.

The chemist's father had always been a sick man. He had an allergic reaction to the sun, so he never stepped out. Hence, no one had ever seen what he looked like. But he was quite notorious for donating medicine and toys to children. Today, he dared to step outside.

Upon hearing this from a lady next to them, Zhuzhi-Lang and his uncle's face immediately contorted into remorse. Song Cuifen and her grandfather approached them. Grandfather Song limped with the help of his granddaughter. He was beaten and bruised. His robe was utterly ruined, torn and marred with dirt.

Song Cuifen glared at the duo with all her might "You too! How do you plan on making it up to him?" He placed a hand on her hip angrily and squinted her eyes to a line. Lines spread across her pale forehead. It made her look years older than she was.

Tianlang-jun spoke apologetically "We apologize, young miss and sir. My nephew and I misinterpreted your intentions. We regret the misunderstanding." he offered a guilty smile. Zhuzhi-Lang bowed to show his sincerity. Shen Jiu too, although, none of this was his fault, kowtowed lowly.

Song Cuifen still wasn't convinced. She demanded compensation. Behind her, her grandfather sneered and agreed with her. "Children these days... you think with your knees. Do anything and everything that you want without considering anything else."

Tianlang-jun was ticked at being called a 'child'. He nodded at his nephew, who took out a sack of gold coins from his clothes. The grandfather and granddaughter duo gaped at them. Within a second, Grandfather Song flipped his personality and snatched the sac away.

"But grandfather, you can't settle everything with money-"

"Shush A-Fen! Do you not see this gold? Look how heavy it is."

He grabbed Song Cuifen and left with a look of 'I won't say thanks because this is the least you should offer me'. At the shift in behaviour, Zhuzhi-Lang and Shen Jiu scowled simultaneously.

But everything wasn't over yet. "Come with me." Shen Jiu ordered the two. He didn't glance back to check if they were trailing him as he pivoted and strode away.

The three walked into an alleyway. He turned around furiously and questioned them "What is it that you want from me?"

"Pardon?"

"Why do you keep saving a mere slave like me? I can't give you anything in return and we don't know each other. What is your motive? What do you want from me?"

Zhuzhi-Lang bent down to his level "We don't want anything from you. We just wanted to help you. No intentions involved."

"Well, you've helped me enough. That day you saved me from that man. Today you had someone beaten up because you thought they could harm me. What are you going to do next? Take me in and raise me?"

"Well, in you insist so..." Tianlang-jun put a finger on his chin and looked deep in thought. "The palace is big enough for hundreds of us and it is certainly entertaining to have a kid in the mix."

"Wait!" Shen Jiu sweated profusely with tension. "You're going to adopt me? For real?" He thought this was a sick joke and they were just teasing him. Who in their right mind would adopt a slave?

"Yes, if you let us." Zhuzhi-Lang supported. No amount of searching and glaring could spot a lie in their commitment.

Shen Jiu bit his chapped lip in annoyance "Why me? There are so many beggars and orphans on the streets, that you can spot them even without looking. Why is it that you chose me?"

"It is simple. Luck is on your side today. It might not be their day or maybe they'll end up living the entirety of their life as subordinate to others. Shouldn't you be relieved that you get to leave that place?" The uncle spoke wisely like he was a few decades years old that he showed.

His words had Shen Jiu in a dilemma. Today, if he goes with these two, who knows for how long he can stay? What if they leave him once they find out how selfish he is? It isn't about being wealthy or showing him an ounce of kindness that he'll pack his bags and follow them. The Qius are wealthy, too, and Qiu Jianluo was also a benevolent and gentle master before he bared his fangs.

When he thought about it carefully, he wanted to escape the Qiu manor. Unless he tries to come out of his comfort zone and takes a chance, he cannot. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

The two had given him many reasons to trust him. He will gamble and see. Just this once.

"Fine. I want to leave. Far far away from here. Take me with you." he spoke, determined to move ahead without looking back. He'll leave everything behind and start a new life. Sounds nice...

This made the duo in front of him smile. Their easiness softened to joy. "Alright. At midnight, we'll come to pick you up. Be ready."

___

Today, Shen Jiu didn't visit Qiu Haitang. He said he had to run an errand tomorrow early in the morning, so he needed to sleep early. She went back, dejected, not knowing that when she woke up, A-Jiu wouldn't be here anymore.

Qiu Haitang will be fine. Qiu Jianluo won't let his sister get hurt in any way possible. He attended her every whim. Spoiled her and was very protective. He'll provide her round-the-clock support. When she needed a companion who could be by her side every time she asked for it, he chose Shen Jiu, a lowly slave, because he was the only child in the manor around her age. Why did he make him her fiance? He doesn't know.

Shen Jiu cared for the girl. And Qiu Jianluo cared more. 'I don't need to worry at all.'

He stood in the backyard with nothing in his hand. Slaves aren't supposed to own anything. Or they get selfish. He could've stolen a jewel or any expensive antique item, but judging by how casually the man he met had given away a bag of gold like it was a drop of water from an ocean, he needn't worry.

He paced a little, imagining how his new life would be. He's getting a new family. Then he'll make new friends. He'll practice cultivation like every lucky child his age. Hunting demons and saving lives would earn him respect. People will look up to him. Just imagining made him giddy with joy; what would happen when he finally achieved it?

The sound of footsteps made him turn around; Zhuzhi-lang and his uncle approached him. They were dressed differently. Like nobles from the tales he heard Qiu Haitang recite.

Zhuzhi-lang's uncle walked like he ruled heaven and earth. He pranced like the backyard was his throne room. Even the Jade Emperor would kowtow to him. Handsome and royal, the man bent on one knee to sit on the ground and extended his hand for Shen Jiu to hold.

"I reckon that we finally introduce ourselves now that we're going to be family." He smiled kindly. His eyes softened at the boy. "I am Tianlang-jun. It isn't my name because I'd like to keep it a secret, trust me, even A-Zhi doesn't know." He winked.

"A-Zhi?"

"That would be me," Zhuzhi-lang spoke. "My name is Zhuzhi. Zhuzhi-Lang is what others call me, but you can address me however you like. Since Junshang is going to adopt you, we'll be brothers." Zhuzhi-Lang, in his soft green robe, looked like a prince. Ethereal and gentle. Like the spring breeze that ensnares Shen Jiu every year.

Something stings at the word 'brother' but he ignores it. They welcomed him with open arms. So he must do the same. "My name is Shen Jiu." He doesn't know what else to add. There is nothing in his name.

"Jiu, as in 'black jade'?"

"No. Jiu as in 'nine'." No one questions the meaning when they see that he immediately gets visibly dejected.

"One last thing, we'll tell you beforehand." He suddenly gets serious. "Shen Jiu, A-Zhi and I are demons. And not any normal demon, many wish upon our downfall. If you come with us, you'll be in danger. Do you think you can handle living among demons and in constant danger of death?" he held both of his hands. Even Zhuzhi-lang looked conflicted. Both anticipated his answer.

He had already made up his mind. He wouldn't turn back now. "Humans and demons are alike, so how does it even matter? Also, since now we'll be family, you'll protect me, so I don't have to fear death when I have you. I accept."

Tianlang-jun chuckled and Zhuzhi-lang visibly relaxed. "Humans and demons aren't similar at all but if you're talking metaphorically, then yes, maybe."

Tianlang-jun picked up Shen Jiu in his arms, surprising the boy, and frowned " Hm... you're very lightweight. We'll have to fatten you up when we go home." Shen Jiu wriggled in anger upon hearing that but at the same time, the word home made his stomach do some summersaults.

He wonders what Tianlang-jun's palace looks like.

With a last glance, he bids a silent goodbye to Qiu Haitang and the city where he has lived eleven summers of his life.

This chapter of his life, where he was struck with poverty and lived as a slave is over. In his new life, Shen Jiu is the son of a powerful demon. It is the genesis of his new beginning.

_____

ZZL: I have seen this kid only twice and I'm ready to throw hands if something happens to him.