Chương 17: Suckling Babe
Biên tập viên: EndlessFantasy Translation
Because Luo Qinghan always put her clothes away neatly for her, it was swift work getting ready for the trip. Stuffing a few spare changes of clothing into her pack, along with various demon-hunting weapons and implements, she tied it shut, and then heard a crystal clear voice behind her asking in bewilderment, "Zhe Huo, what are you doing?"
She turned to look. It was Qinghan. "I'm packing. Where did you run off to?"
"I was bored, so I went out for a walk," Qinghan said, by way of an answer, his gaze still fixed to the pack in her hand. He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Where are you going?"
Zhe Huo related to Qinghan the process of receiving tasks at the Cloud Temple. "This time, I'll be away for maybe half a month or so. As for you—"
She was about to say that he'd obviously be able to look after himself. Instead, he interrupted her by announcing, "I'll come with you."
This caught her by surprise. Of course, he had mentioned before that he wanted to tag along on her next outing, but she hadn't taken him seriously at the time. All the same, bringing a child along with her to go hunting demons… it didn't feel right.
She tried to talk him out of it. "Qinghan, I'm going on a particularly dangerous quest this time. I can't risk bringing you along—"
"I'll be safe with you, right?" he cut in, looking up at her with eyes on the trembling verge of tears.
Those deep blue eyes, just gazing up at her, brighter than all the stars in the sky… each time those long, curling lashes wavered, Zhe Huo could feel her own heart doing the same. Lost in confusion for a moment, she had to blink to clear the fog from her mind. "Of course I'll protect you, but…"
Qinghan didn't allow her to finish that thought. Batting his beautiful eyes at her a few more times, he whispered, "Then that's enough."
Without waiting for her response, he gathered up some of his own clothes, and inserted them into Zhe Huo's pack as well.
The next day, the disciples assembled, all packed up and ready to set out. However, when Zhe Huo joined them with the little boy in tow, everyone exchanged looks with one another. Fei Zhao was the first to speak up.
"I say, Zhe Huo! You're going out to perform a serious job, not for a leisurely vacation! Can you afford to be dragging a helpless waif after you?" He glared at the pint-sized fox demon who was clutching her hand. "And you! You cling to her day and night—when will it end? Are you still a suckling babe?"
Without hesitation, Qinghan replied, "That's right."
Fei Zhao stood stunned, as though he'd been slapped across the face. There was nothing to be done about this incorrigible rascal.
Zhe Huo herself was evidently embarrassed by the situation. It wasn't as though she was eager to be doing this, but she just couldn't bear to leave Qinghan all alone. The boy could not be dissuaded from following through with this. There was nothing she could do about it…
Watching this from nearby, Wu Shan's amicable mood from earlier quickly melted away into brooding silence. He studied the desperate way that the child clung to Zhe Huo's hand, but he maintained his distance for the moment.
Sensing that ice-cold gaze upon himself, Qinghan turned and flashed him a faint sneer.
It was a declaration of triumph.
Coincidentally, Zhe Huo's first destination would be Frostsoul Peak, while Wu Shan was bound for a city near to there. As such, they would be traveling together.
-- Nhận quà