Hui Gai walks back to Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, smiling.
“If the kids are busy, do you want to check out the First Prince?”
Wei Ying narrows his eyes at him. “Why are you looking so smug? What have you done to him?”
“I don't know what you mean!” Hui Gai grins impishly. “I just wanted to make sure his stay here is…interesting.”
“Perhaps there is no need to disturb the children,” Lan Zhan says, watching Rumi giggling with another child, a younger demon this time.
“Hm, you're right, but we should tell Li XiWang so she doesn't worry.” Wei Ying whistles low and true, and immediately, Little Rabbit looks back at him.
She comes running when he beckons her over.
“Are we going?” She tries not to look disappointed.
“Not yet. Hui Gai and us have to take care of something, but you can still just call for him and we'll come. It won't take long, maybe half a shishen?” Wei Ying looks over to both Lan Zhan and Hui Gai.
“Mn.”
“Sounds about right,” Hui Gai confirms with a suspiciously bright twinkle in his red eyes, and a naughty smirk gracing his lips. He licks them for good measure.
“So you can carry on playing.” Wei Ying encourages her.
“Alright. There's something fishy about him,” she jerks a thumb towards Hui Gai, who doesn't bother denying it, “and anyway, ManuJie said she's going to show me how to make scallion pancakes later, for dinner. Can we stay until then?” She asks eagerly, gazing at both of her fathers and trying to see which one agrees first.
“Probably, but let's see,” Wei Ying neatly sidesteps the attempt, as all children do, of extending their fun times.
Little Rabbit winks and giggles, running off to play with the other kids.
“Okay, Hui Gai. Take us to him.” Wei Ying requests, more than a little bit wary. Whatever is happening with the First Prince, he knows he would never want to be on the other side of Hui Gai’s wrath.
****************
It's hot. Unbearably so, is Wei Ying's first thought as they land in a desert. Golden sand dunes of various shapes and rolling sizes stretch out as far as they can see, and they themselves are standing on top of one. Looking down into the rapidly changeable valley below, they see four figures.
“Let's go down and take a closer look,” Hui Gai's voice has an underlying current of excitement.
They carefully make their way down, and Wei Ying can already feel the weight of the sun, its beams bearing down on his back. Sweat pools in the dimples of his spine and beads of it roll down his forehead, and they haven't even reached halfway yet.
He looks up, hoping to see a cloud, or any kind of sign that it won't be this hot forever, but all that he sees is the bright blueness of the skies stretching out equally far, empty and devoid of anything but the sun.
Lan Zhan reaches into his sleeves and pulls out a bamboo umbrella, shading them both. Hui Gai looks completely unbothered by the heat.
When they reach the other four people, Wei Ying sees three of the fearsome demons are wearing cotton wool in their ears.
The Prince is chained to a stone, a massive boulder that even the strongest person would struggle to lift. He glares at them, pausing his work to do it, and one of the three demons takes a switch to his legs. The Prince shrieks and continues working silently, though he must be suffering in this heat.
“Why are they wearing that?” Wei Ying asks the Demon King, motioning towards their ears and the fluffy white stuffing protruding from them.
“So they are immune to silver tongues,” Hui Gai replies, nodding his approval towards his demons, who look as if they're having fun.
“What's he looking for?” Wei Ying steps forward, and immediately, Lan Zhan is by his side.
He doesn't want Wei Ying to get too close to the unfilial child. After the latest attempt at taking the Emperor's life, he's not going to take any chances with Wei Ying's safety.
“This desert is famous for a particular bug, known as the Tiger’s Eye. It's the same colour as the sand, and tiny, and the First Prince must fill that bucket with them. He's a bit slow, though. Lor says he was reluctant to get started. Needed encouragement.” Those last words are menacing.
Wei Ying shivers, reminded of the fact that while Hui Gai is his friend and family member, they are not obligated in any way; and Hui Gai is the rightful ruler of the Nether World. In fact, he realises with no small amount of relief, Hui Gai can do whatever he likes as the King of this place, and no one can dispute his decision.
“We are here to observe only,” Lan Zhan says, as if he's thinking the same thing.
“One thing that continuously surprises me,” Hui Gai says loudly enough so that the First Prince can hear him clearly, “is that no one is free from the consequences of their own actions. And even knowing this, being fully aware of the difference between good actions and bad actions, people still choose the latter. I am not sure whether it is stupidity, or greed.” He shrugs. “But anyway, since you're only here for a limited time, let me show you the next part of this.” Hui Gai waves a hand at the First Prince and what he's doing. “Bring him.” Then he speaks in another language completely, and to Wei Ying's surprise, the three demons spring into action.
Two of them grab the First Prince, the third one dissolves a link in the massive chain binding him to the boulder, and picks up the little red bucket.
Then they all teleport outside a huge, gaping cave, the mouth of which stretches high up at least the size of six people stacked standing upon their shoulders.
There's a high pitched screech that goes on for a good minute, and the sound of pattering feet.
Lots of feet.
YOU ARE READING
WangXian Forever Book 10
RomanceWei Ying and Lan Zhan must step up to the new challenge that awaits them when they find something that was given to them in secret. What is it, and why is it so dangerous? They embark on a new adventure to find out.
