Capítulo 7: The pest

Mount Hannu was not that far. They could reach it in a day's time on foot.

Zhang Wang focused his thoughts on the future. After all, wasn't the future most important?

He absently waved Xiao Meizi goodbye and planted a kiss on her cheek.

But wait! His mind was entirely stuck on the past!

Last night to be precise!

Why was he so stupid to drink more than his limit? Zhang Wang thought himself a calm and logical person but this wasn't entirely true. He was weak to all his vices and had a habit of overindulging even when he feigned having self-control.

Ah it was terrible. He almost wished that he had drunk more, so that his past idiocy could be wiped clear from his memories.

Alas, he was not so lucky.

Yu Yanlin was at his side and gave Xiao Meizi a polite parting smile, "Thank you for taking care of us." He said.

But wasn't it Yu Yanlin who took care of him that night? Zhang Wang was going to faint at the thought. He couldn't believe that he put his hands on a man…And that man was standing next to him, smiling pleasantly as if nothing had happened!

Ah…Zhang Wang sighed, overcome with a wave of melodramatic depression. To think he groped a man's ass. Seriously, what was wrong with him?

"Is something the matter?" the demon king asked.

He shook his head. If Yu Yanlin was going to pretend nothing happened then Zhang Wang would gladly save his dignity and do the same, "No, it's nothing, just tired." His eyes however, traitorously trailed down Yu Yanlin's back and saw the perky curve of a well-muscled ass.

'Uh. Snap out of it,' Zhang Wang chanted inwardly.

"Perhaps you drank a little much last night."

"Ha. Ha. Thanks for letting me know, mom." Zhang Wang scowled as he stepped outside. The air was moist with evidence of rainfall that happened through the night. Sunlight poked holes through the clouds and Zhang Wang wondered if there would still be rain later in the day.

The village was barely any more lively during the day as it had been in the middle of the night. There were a few elders walking about, trading odds and ends for fruits and vegetables. The buildings, now illuminated by daylight, were in sorry states and in need of repair. Wooden frames were splintered, paint chipped and dulled.

It was an understatement to call the place miserable but Zhang Wang supposed that this was pretty much the norm. Ater buying a few supplies and food, they made their way down the streets and toward the edge of the village.

"Mount Hannu's not too far. We should be able to get there tonight. Tomorrow at the latest." He thought about the hot springs there and the busy little town at the foot of the mountain with all those beautiful maidens he met last time he was there. They'd probably move on since, but it was nice to dream.

"So we're really headed to Mount Hannu." Yu Yanlin seemed to be referring to the lie that Zhang Wang sprouted to save them from Xiao Meizi's curious suspicion.

"Hah! Well you gotta mix in some truth if you want a lie to seem more believable," Zhang Wang shrugged casually. But then he was reminded of a startling point. "Ah, you!" He pointed at the demon king, who flinched at the finger that was suddenly pointed in his direction, "You're a terrible liar!"

Perhaps Yu Yanlin should have felt ashamed, after all, he was the demon king who was responsible for all sorts of evil and atrocities. And he…couldn't even lie! "Well…I've never had a need to do such a thing…"

Zhang Wang's mouth gaped open. No need to lie!? Forget a demon king, even a human king had need of lying! "Aren't you a little too naive!?" He accused. He didn't want to say it but he now felt that this demon king would have definitely have been betrayed one way or another! Even without Zhang Wang's meddling, it was certainly an inevitability. How could an honest person survive in the midst of politics? The answer was that they couldn't.

Yu Yanlin visibly bristled. His lips pulled down into a frown and eyes skewed. A light flush appeared on his white jade skin, "I thought my power was enough to keep my subordinates in check. It seems I have overestimated myself. I suppose you must truly see me as a pathetic person. Forgive me for being such a failure."

Zhang Wang's mouth flapped open and closed. He was simply at a loss for words! Ah, this idiot really used to threaten people left and right to avoid having to lie? Honestly, it was too much. This demon king was something else! "Don't apologize to me." Zhang Wang said bluntly.

"You are right. Then I shall be apologizing to myself."

…Was this demon king sulking in self-pity? For a strange delusional moment, Zhang Wang thought this person was kind of cute.

"Never mind," the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms waved his hand dismissively, "Don't think too hard about it okay? I was only surprised that's all. From now on, just leave all the talking to me. You just sit there and be pretty."

Yu Yanlin chewed his lips. He wanted to protest but found that he had neither excuse or arguments. "Very well."

They were about to make it out of the village bounds when the high pitched cackling of children's voices caught Zhang Wang's attention. He gazed into an alley, where the ruckus was coming from and happened upon the scene of two dirty little brats goading and sneering.

"Die, you damned demon!" One of them spat and kicked at something at his feet.

The other kid cheered vigorously, "Get her! Just kill her and put her out of her misery! Mommy told me bitches don't belong in our village and you're just a bitch!" This little kid decided to contribute to the beating and kicked the sorry figure on the ground.

Zhang Wang felt his gut churning in disgust. Without a second thought, he ran down the alley, "Hey you brats! What the heck do you think you're doing!?"

Yu Yanlin watched the scene play out. He was confused over Zhang Wang's sudden action and couldn't understand what was so important about a few dirty children. But he kept his mouth shut and followed after.

Zhang Wang's sudden appearance caught the kids' attention but they did not at all fear the approaching adults, "Hello misters!" One of them greeted casually, "We're just getting rid of the pest!"

Up close, he saw that the dirty brown lump at the kids' feet was another child. It was difficult to tell if the child was a girl or boy, their figure was slight and they looked no older than eight years old, curled up in a tight ball. The skin that was visible on the face and legs were coated with blue and purple splotches and ugly bleeding gashes as well. But this child had long given up on retaliation and didn't move a muscle, balled up on the ground.

Zhang Wang's breath caught, he wondered if this child was even alive, "What the fuck?" He couldn't stop himself from swearing, "What pest? This is a person you're beating to death! Did your mother never teach you any kindness?"

The children were a little taken aback by the loud scolding tone. One of them spoke, confused and pitiful and not understanding what was wrong, "No mister, this thing isn't a person, she's a demon! We need to kill all demons. Mommy told me that even if she looks like a person, she isn't one!"

Zhang Wang was at a complete loss for words. "Has this person you accuse of being a demon ever brought you any harm!?"

One of the kids perked up, "She threw a rock at my cat once!"

"As if that justified beating someone to death!"

"But she's a demon-"

"Shut up!" Zhang Wang roared. He towered over the kids, hands curling into fists. "Get out of my sight or else you'll be the ones getting a beating!"