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Huli picked up the cup Kai refilled for him and stared at the brownish liquid. “I don’t feel like a good huli jing. I think I’m evil. At a young age, I made a selfish bargain with her. Now Gege has to pay for my stupidity.”

“What bargain did you make?”

He shook his head violently and drained his tea a second time so he couldn’t speak.

“Very well, but you need to tell Xiao Dan, so he can deal with this Min.”

“I can’t. He’ll hate me. I’m evil.” His fingers tightened on the cup almost to the point of shattering it.

“Shixiong cares very much for you. I don’t think he would give his heart to someone who was evil.”

“Maybe I tricked him.”

The dragon huffed out a dry laugh as he stood. With a wave of his hand, the table and the tea set vanished. The only things that remained were the bench and the cup in Huli’s hand.

“Do you really think you could have tricked him for all these years?”

Huli’s ego thrust up its meaty fist and shouted, “Yes!” But the most realistic part of his brain sighed. No one could trick his beautiful, perfect gege.

Kai didn’t need an answer to that silly question. He’d already moved on.

“Will you return with me? Xiao Dan is anxious about you. I don’t like for him to worry.”

“No,” he mumbled. “Not yet. I need to think some more.”

“Shall I stay with you?”

“No, thank you.” That time, he meant it. “I don’t believe Min will hurt me. Go back and tell Gege that I’ll return to the manor soon.”

The dragon didn’t linger another second. He disappeared, leaving Huli with the bench and the cup.

Why hadn’t he returned with Kai?

Xiao Dan needed to know what he’d done and why. Not that the why seemed to matter now after all these years.

Why was he hesitating?

Was he afraid Xiao Dan would get so mad that he’d cast Huli aside? No, not really. Xiao Dan was a patient and forgiving human. He always believed in the best for Huli, even if he didn’t deserve it.

No, he was afraid Xiao Dan’s clan mates would finally convince him that Huli was a worthless soul and didn’t deserve one more gram of Xiao Dan’s patience and understanding.

Deep down, he was afraid they were all right.

1 Gege – older brother, denotes familiarity and not necessarily a family relation. Can sometimes be added to a name such as Zhang-ge

2 Yupei – jade pendant (Narrator note: ??, Yùpèi)

Chapter 3

Zhang Xiao Dan

“Do you think that woman would be stupid enough to sneak into our home?”

Xiao Dan nearly jumped out of his skin. He hadn’t even heard Ming Yu approach him from behind. It took him a moment to overcome his surprise and replay her question in his mind.

“No, I don’t think she would. Huli jing are known for being intelligent and crafty. I’m sure she would never have approached me if I hadn’t been alone.”

Ming Yu made a small noise of agreement as she stepped past him and peered out the front door. But no one was there. Xiao Dan had been pacing the house for what felt like hours. Kai had reassured him that Huli was safe and would return soon, yet he couldn’t relax. Not until he saw Huli for himself.