One thing after another

Lai Yiteng once again woke up in bed alone. He could hardly believed that Xian Wu insisted they still share a bed at night, and that by some miracle of the heavens he'd slept through Xian Wu leaving, going off to wherever to do his boring sect duties.

Or, perhaps he'd just been tired. Who knows.

Lai Yiteng shifted his gaze around, seeing the shifted porcelain vase and the dresser in one corner of the room. His knife was on the small nightstand next to the bed.

It all seemed in order.

With that, he stood, stretching out his arms above his head, when he felt a slight itch on his back. Lai Yiteng had not bothered bathing yet, even though he certainly needed to take one soon. He reached a hand behind the collar of his dress and went to scratch, when he felt something hard and prickly hit against his fingertips.

He froze.

He moved his hand, but it wasn't the dress. It went over his skin on his lower neck. It was smooth there save a few scars, but it when it went down further his skin became hard and tough…and spiney? It was actually a little painful to the touch.

Of course, this was highly disturbing. Like having a kind of skin disease or rash.

Lai Yiteng slid the clothes of his shoulders and stepped in front of a large, bronze-lined mirror on the wall. He twisted his shoulders to have a look.

Well, that sensation had been…something that looked like scales. They were blue and iridescent, interlacing like a snake or lizard's.

Lai Yiteng was stunned a moment, then swore a few times. His first thought was that the medicine Xian WU made him wasn't that effective. Although he didn't feel as short of breath lately—but still, what about these fucking scales?!

Out of curiosity he pried one up, feeling a sting run through his nerves. Grabbing it between two of his fingers, he ripped out the scale. It had been rooted fairly deep, and a line of blood ran down his white skin, past the small of his back.

"…huh."

Needless to say, Lai Yiteng didn't believe that pulling out the scales one by one would solve anything. He was just curious if it would grow back quickly, or what it was even made from.

The scale was flat on one side, pointed at the tip, and only the size of his pinky finger. He held it in his hand then tried to break it, but the material it was made from was too strong.

Hmph. He would see how strong!

Lai Yiteng reached for his dagger right beside him on the nightstand.

His hand came up empty.

Now he was even more rattled. He shoved the thought of the disturbing scales out of his mind as his head twisted to the side. He stared at the place the dagger should have been, a spot he'd seen it mere minutes ago. Something or someone was in this room must have taken it, even when he was standing only a foot or two away! How was that even possible? But it was either that, or he was insane. 

There were too many tables and decorations to hide behind in the room, this unknown person could be anywhere. Lai Yiteng once again cursed Xian Wu for his vain tastes.

He'd only taken a step back to look around more thoroughly when a blur shot past his feet.

"You—!" he chased after that thing immediately, pulling up his clothes as fast as he could. Whoever it was must be the culprit who took his knife as well.

Outside he saw that shadowy figure stop under a tree.

Yes, stopped and stood…leaving themselves wide-open for attack, strangely. Lai Yiteng's first impulse was to crouch down and pick up a rock. He'd throw it at that culprit's head then get his knife back!

Oh. Then Lai Yiteng glanced at the piece of parchment that hung on the door. It was the contract he'd signed just yesterday. 'Attack no one unless you are attacked first'.

"…" Lai Yiteng thought that he'd been foolish to sign that contract, but nevertheless took a few steps forward, putting a sharp gaze to the culprit under the tree. He then squinted his eyes in disbelief.

That person was short and small in stature.

It was a child! A girl perhaps eight or nine years of age, hair tied up in a big messy ponytail like some kind of street hooligan. Although she did have Graceful Dragon Sect's robes on her. 

"Give that back to me," said Lai Yiteng coldly.

The fact this girl would move so speedily and avoid his watch was remarkable, he wasn't going to underestimate her. At the same time, she was just a child and did not seem particularly strong.

That girl took out Lai Yiteng's knife and unsheathed it, taking a look at the blade.

"What an old piece of rubblish," she said, giggling. "I thought since it was yours' it would be worth something. Not this piece of scrap with a dull blade. What does it even cut? Hehe."

…Lai Yiteng felt partially offended. It cuts a lot of things! Just recently it cut into ghouls and monsters alike! But he was also just outright confused.

He asked, "Why did you steal my knife?"

"To see if it was a good blade, obviously!" 

Lai Yiteng frowned. He only just got back his knife. Why did it keep getting stolen away?

"You can see it's just a common knife," said Lai Yiteng. "So give it back to me."

That girl paused, then grinned. "No~ I don't want to to." She hopped up on a boulder in Xian Wu's garden. "Catch me if you want it back!"

Now a vein throbbed on Lai Yiteng's forehead.

First Xian Wu forced him to make a promise not to attack annoying things like this girl, second was that awful medicine, then the scales on his back…and now…his poor knife was stolen again! It was one thing after another since he woke up. 

He stared at the little girl murderous, his mood abysmal. "I'll do more than just catch you, I'll make you regret ever pestering me."

The girl stuck her tongue out at him, then leapt to another boulder, that astounding speed from before had returned. She was using the martial technique of 'light steps', something Lai Yiteng himself had improved his from training with Xian Wu, but this girl must have a lot of innate ability. She was nimble and quick.

Lai Yiteng went right after her, 100% aggroed.

Sure, she was just a young girl, but he'd never had a good temper. Especially not now after everything that happened and knowing that Xian Wu wouldn't let him train his martial arts anyway.

His feet rushed over the wooden hall panel of Xian Wu's abode. He ended up near the corner of the house as he chased her parallel to the garden.

The girl knew that her abilities would be no match for Lai Yiteng's at such a young age. Lai Yiteng was gaining on her quickly, so she ran out the arched gate of Xian Wu's private mansion with a big smile.

Lai Yiteng cursed again, his breath growing shorter as he ran.

He just wanted his knife back! That knife he'd used to stab so many of Lushang Sect. It was irreplaceable.

Outside the gate stood two guards, both with surprised expressions.

Once Lai Yiteng ran past them with a demonic expression, they were afraid.