Tao Hua blinked a few times at Li Zhou, unsure whether this man was serious or messing around. But he seemed entirely convinced that Suo Han and Tao Hua were genuinely playing a child's game!
When Wan Mie and Suo Han mentioned Li Zhou, they made him out to be someone hardworking, sensible, and a bit of a pushover.
Looking at him now, leaning against the shovel and staring off into the distance...well, Tao Hua didn't know what to think. For starters, he didn't seem at all bothered by the makeup on his face, nor whether someone grimaced at him, and on the large list of people who either hated Shan Si or were terrified, he seemed completely indifferent.
Tao Hua couldn't get a read on this man; he could only hope his calm demeanour was nothing more and only harmless.
Just as he leaned against the tree, the voices over yonder increased in volume. They were now loud enough to hear exactly what was being said.
"I'm sorry? Old man ears, I can't quite hear you," said Wan Mie. "SPEAK LOUDER."
Curious, Tao Hua decided to give the two servants their space to bicker, or discuss, or whatever. He wasn't sure exactly what to call their conversation, truthfully. It didn't matter.
Turning and slowly peeking past the tree once more, Tao Hua remained as still as possible and held his breath.
Wan Mie wasn't looking at them any longer. Though his aura was completely different—rather than looking like a man bored, dealing with someone unreasonable, excitement fired in his eyes, and he had on a playful smile.
The Daoist Master jumped back, his fingers tightly wrapped around the horsetail whisk.
"Need you yell so loudly?!" he asked, now shouting with the same intensity as Wan Mie. "You'll blow out my eardrums!"
"Yes, you clearly need those," Wan Mie continued. "I just wanted to make sure the spirits you speak about could hear us. Wouldn't want to leave them out, y'know? One and the same, painted two different shades."
The Daoist Master paused. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Make fun of our dear priest? I would never. Heavens repent."
"You're changing the subject again! Cut it out!" Hands scrambling in the air, the Daoist Master angrily said, "Why are you sneaking around my yard?! Answer me, guard dog!"
"If that's what you want to call passing through, then I suppose I was sneaking around it, huh? I do that a lot—earlier it was the outer courtyard. Later it'll be your bed."
The Daoist's Master's entire stature vibrated with utter disgust.
"Foul! Disgraceful! Demon! Since when did you have business on this side of the palace? If it's Lord Shengkai you're looking for, you're only adding more effort to your hike." The Daoist Master pointed his whisk toward Tao Hua, and with a gasp, Tao Hua's shoulders lifted, and he slid behind the tree once more. However, the Daoist Master only continued to complain, "The path is that way! Right next to the Gate of Heavenly Purity! Your excuse makes no sense."
He whipped the whisk right in front of Wan Mie who didn't seem bothered by it in the slightest. "Begone, demon. Your presence makes me sick."
Looking over his shoulder, Tao Hua indeed saw the gate. It was much bigger than the one he and Suo Han entered through, which meant it was the primary path and led to the outer court of Chuhen Palace.
Which is exactly where they needed to be.
Hearing a small groan, Tao Hua looked over to find Suo Han pouting.
"Are the imperial baths really worth this much of a struggle?" he grumbled.
Next to him, Li Zhou was now squatting, drawing circles with a branch he had found on the snow. At the mention of the imperial baths, his eyes lifted, and he peered at the other two.
"I didn't clean it yet. It's been years since anyone cared to use it, so I never bothered." He hummed. "There must be mountains of snow there."
"See?!" Suo Han held out his hands, gesturing them frantically. "We'll just be wasting our time, Young Master. It's safer if you bath back in your palace."
Frowning, Tao Hua's hand slowly slid off the trunk. "I guess you're right—"
"They still work." Li Zhou said, his attention now back on the snow. However, instead of circles, he was now drawing squares with three squiggly lines above them. Tao Hua assumed this was his rendition of a bath. "I'll just carry you both there. Easy job."
An unlikely ally! Seemed Li Zhou was on their side after all!
"No!" Suo Han said, before clasping his hands to his chest and stuttering. He awkwardly smiled, looking away. "I mean…no. That's not necessary, Elder Brother Zhou. The Young Master is in my care, so that should be my job."
"I said both," Li Zhou replied. But he stalled, looking up for a moment. "On second thought, I don't think I'm strong enough to carry you, Han."
Tao Hua let the two drone on and turned back to the tree. Just like the Daoist Master, he was also curious as to why Wan Mie was roaming around. Not that he was suspicious, but if he were going to Shan Si, then did that mean he was awake?
"If you keep dancing around the subject, I'll have no choice but to assume you're up to no good!" The Daoist Master exclaimed. "I'll inform Lord Shengkai of your shameless misdoings!"
"I'm so scared." Wan Mie, eyes half-lidded, looked up and squinted. The sun had made its way halfway across the sky, and was now beating down on them. "Fine. If it's imperative that you must know, I'm on my way to see the new boy."
"New boy?" asked the Daoist Master, almost offended.
New boy? Does he mean me? Tao Hua repeated the thought. He furrowed his brows, looking away from the two momentarily. What would Wan Mie want with me?
Though Tao Hua didn't quite mind it. He was just glad someone other than Suo Han wanted to see him—that never happened. From his first encounter with Wan Mie, he didn't seem like such a bad guy. Sure, he was a bit playful and pushed boundaries, but Tao Hua knew what worse felt like.
This was fine.
His lips curled into a small smile, and his body subconsciously inched toward the tree. For being a captive and taken against his will, his life was only improving by the day.
"Don't just go silent! Look at me, Guard Dog. I can tell you're not paying attention." The Daoist Master yelled. "What boy?! Since when did Lord Shengkai allow others in without my blessing?!"
Just how much authority does this guy have…?
"Oh, you worry too much," Wan Mie lowered his head, staring straight at the Daoist Master. "That rule hasn't been used in two hundred years. It's time to retire it."
The Daoist Master stuttered, shocked, unable to gather his words until he finally blurted, "Just because we haven't had a chance to use it, doesn't mean it's obsolete! Rule and necessity don't always go hand-in-hand, either. Not when the world is overrun with spirits and ghosts."
"I fear even ghostly beings want nothing to do with our city." Wan Mie smiled, shaking his head. "One look at Shan Si and they'd go off running with their tails between their legs. Animals do—though the same can't be said for rabbits, apparently."
Wan Mie's eyes shifted toward Tao Hua, causing Tao Hua's breath to hitch. He tried to make himself look small, and as soon as Wan Mie's eyes returned to the angry Daoist, Toa Hua let out a relieved breath.
But he wasn't sure if Wan Mie was aware or not; however, his curiosity would get the better of him.
"What…there are spirits?" From the sound of the Daoist Master's voice, it was clear this man was becoming more and more frustrated. "You're speaking folly! Can't you just answer my question for once? Not everyone wants to play your nonsensical guessing games!"
This time, Tao Hua had to agree with the Daoist Master on it being nonsense. If a rabbit were to run into Shan Si, it was, without a doubt, likely they'd hop away terrified.
"You know, for such an ethereally blessed speaker of the heavens, you really are a clueless brat," said Wan Mie, unfolding his arms. "Perhaps that perception of yours would be better if you just opened your damn eyes for once."
"…Why would I do that?" The man took his horsetail whisk and patted it in his hand a few times. "Answer me, who's this boy you speak of? Don't you know how to answer questions! This! This is exactly why the spirits do not favour you! You're oozing with bad energy…abundance!"
"I'm so happy you noticed! I've been saving it all for you, my dear priest. You've been such a saint; a pinnacle of the heavens; I felt that purity needed to be brought down a notch." Wan Mie smiled. The Daoist Master's hands balled into fists, and it appeared he was ready to lose it on Wan Mie but Wan Mie beat him to the punch. "You know, for such a divinely blessed man, you're clueless to any changes in the surrounding spiritual energy. I'm sure the others would also agree. Right Rabbit's Foot?"
Tao Hua froze, his nails digging into the bark of the tree. So he was actually aware this entire time?!
From back at The Bookstore, to now, Tao Hua was zero to two with his skulking skills.
His eyes sporadically shifted down, nearly spinning as he tried to come up with an excuse. Should I tell Suo Han to leave? He'd just refuse if I stayed…Fuck...
"Rabbit's Foot…? What…Oh, nevermind!" The demanding Daoist lifted the whisk in his hand, and just as he was about to whack Wan Mie with it, Wan Mie grasped it, locking the Daoist Master's arm in the air.
Gritting his teeth, the Daoist Master demanded, "Just answer my question already!"
Nudging his head toward the tree, Wan Mie said, "A gift, Weng Jing. Use your eyes."
Weng Jing finally went quiet, soon turning around and facing Tao Hua. Suo Han was still hidden behind the tree, almost hyperventilating as he nearly crushed his own head with his hands.
"My eyes only work for what's in front of me. Your harassment is futile. You know, Elder Wan, my least favourite thing about you is how you never explain anything," he said as he turned, stopping as soon as he saw Tao Hua.
Finishing off his last words, they dripped like the last few drops of a safari lake. "It's…aggravating…"
Weng Jing pursed his lips, ripping his whisk out of Wan Mie's hand. Holding it over his shoulder, the corners of his shut eyes creased the longer he faced Tao Hua.
In all that was pure and holy, Weng Jing tilted his head and asked, "Who the hell are you?"
Chapter end.