16. bite her down

Wang Yi scratched his head, awkward.

"Alright, okay. I was just...well- I, uh, I felt really wronged, okay?! That's why i..."

Taking a breath, he pronouces the next,

"I came to prove myself capable of handling this case without much thought about how dangerous it might be. All I know I was angry, that's why I hurried here through the west lake."

The teen begins explaining as he recalls:

It started this afternoon right after the  meeting ended, when Wang Yi's and Na Zan's incident got closed to further discussion. At that time everyone has  separated their ways, doing their own thing before the hunt begins.

That was the time when Wang Yi approached the only man he could ask help from, it as no other than the general that despises him the most, Xie Hun.

"...you can show up now. I know you're here, stinky fish."

The discovered boy who was hiding near the door, eyebrows twitches in annoyance,

Gosh, I shouldn't have come here it's so freaking shameful to ask this dog general for help!

"I assume no one saw you or else you would be punished by now."

Wang Yi sighs, entering the room.

"I'm very careful."

"Well, what could this kid want me to help him with?"

...Tch, how did he know?

"Oh, don't tell me, let me guess. Could it be..."

"That you want to join the mission!"

The werewolf acts in fake excitement as he points at the young lad, though deep down he had it coming.

"...That's right. Didn't you want me to as well?"

Then the general and the disciples's eyes met.

"I also can't help but wonder why back then when I was eavesdropping you didn't even expose me? You could get me beaten to death if you'd just speak. Why are you doing this?"

Xie Hun ignored the last questions,

"I admit I wanted. But who would've thought you'd mess up your little demon self and turn into what people are afraid the most?  So you're in no capability to come along this mission nor show up your fish face anywhere else."

Wang Yi feels disappointed in himself that everything the general said was right and for the good.

But he wasn't gonna give up yet. He sought not to let this general get any closer to his foster mother, especially on this kind of mission where he is missing out!

He needs to be the one to face Xiao Xiao and let her know how much the boy has been hurting of her sudden attitude.

Just when the disciple thought his teacher likes him, she turned out to be a devil!

"...Besides i'm not that kind of guy to let an injured dangerous boy to go on a suicide trip. That would make me cruel."

The boy's eyes widen with delight,

Oh I know how much it would be of a pleasure for you to see me disappear, alright!

Then he began wickedly laughing in his brain before spouting,

"But it wouldn't be your fault nor your responsibility if the boy insists himself, now would it, general? I promise i won't get you in trouble, it will be all on me. It's not like teacher can do anything to you anyway... "

He mutters the last part, pouting, which the general failed to hear.

"Also did you forget I'm a merman? These wounds won't affect my performance, I tell you that."

Xie Hun stays silent, seemingly considering.

" Come on, don't you want this disciple to participate in his first ever hunt? How can you sleep peacefully later knowing that you've taken away my dream from me! That is what  the cruelest person would do. However the most strongest and powerful general that I know isn't cruel, now is he?"

The teen walks closer to the wolf, looking forward.

"Despite being a ruthless general, he's also merciful to his nation, isn't he not? So how can you do this to me-"

"Ugh, won't you shut up already!??"

" Go get yourself killed for all care! Tch. Such an eyesore, honestly."

"Is that a yes-"

"Just disseapear already!!"

The general angrily throws the map at the boy, who caught it with excitement.

Before the teen was about to run off, Xie Hun warns,

"Have someone put on a disguise on you. Changing your hair to black will do, or else you're very recognizable thanks to your mom."

Wang Yi stiffly nods at the mention of his parent, turning to leave again but,

"...sister in law's disguise would be pure white hair and clean face with no scars. I don't want you freaking out and screwing our every afford if she catches you, got it?"

"Got it."

"Now leave and get there first before any of us does."

a/n: check my twt for illustrations

https://twitter.com/imnewtothefando/status/1624489132985577472?s=20&t=M0ocLnbtF-m8shYUP8lk9w

Wang Yi of course didn't expose the general so he made a lie as a finishing up of his story.

"....so I stole the map. But I really didn't expect that I'd be here alone with you ! Where are the others, teacher? How's Yufeng and Zhen Yi!?"

Quick change the topic to distract her  lest I'll get scolded to death!

While her disciple was telling how he got here through the mind communication, Xiao Xiao took this opportunity to study this bridal chambers. Mainly noticing how it felt way different than when she had a wedding night with her husband, Xie Yun.

"What, well, they're okay I guess, they have brother in law with them."

"Worry not, he won't let anyone get hurt."

Her eyes particularly landing on the prepared tea that's on the table.

It's odd that there are few bubbles on it. Could they have poisoned it? They probably expected us to do the tea ceremony but was this their plan of killing us? By poison?

Meanwhile the boy was,

Surprisingly she's not scolding me! Okay, I can breath now.

"That's a relief! I was worried they would encounter human eaters while I rushed here..."

Wang Yi sighs, feeling low of merman hydration.

Xiao Xiao then turns to look up at Wang Yi,

"Hey, you see this tea over here? Something might be in it so don't-"

She paused for a moment, witnessing the younger pouring the whole tea from the teapot on to his mouth on one go. 

"...Drink, okay?"

Xiao Xiao finishes her sentence in a daze.

She then immediately runs up to him, screaming.

" DID YOU DRINK ALL THAT !??"

"Y-yeah...Why?"

He looks at her confused, seeing how she was making water through magic.

"SPIT IT OUT SPIT IT OUT!!"

Xiao Xiao harshly shoves her hand on Wang Yi's mouth, forcing the boy to swallow the water she produced, hoping it would wash away the affect.

"If you were thirsty you should have said so, Wang Yi!! You will never know what those corrupted might have put in that tea!! "

Wang Yi chokes hard from her harsh force, eyes getting tearful.

"S-stop..."

He pleaded with a painful cough, hands coming up to hold onto her, that was on his chin.

She lets go of him, making him meet the ground with a thud, now on his knees.

"You...how do you feel? Are you okay?"

Not after you tried to choke me to death...

He wiped his tear while rapidly breathing.

"I don't feel anything about that tea, teach-, I mean mother..."

"A-are you sure? I could've sworn something was added on this."

"Look! I'm completely fine, r-right?"

Wang Yi quickly gets up, suddenly happy after realizing that Xiao Xiao was actually worrying about him, which was the first time in forever by the way!! In fact this must have been the longest time they've spent together alone after so many years.

"Alright, if you say so..."

Since we're alone here and those corrupted demons are feasting, should I try sneaking in downstairs and while they least expect it, try slaying them? That would work.

She shook her head,

Wait, how about this boy? I might... should I leave Wang Yi to wait for me here or what if I let him escape first since it's too dangerous?

There's not one, but several and I can't detect what they're capable of except for their weakness.

However there's no guarantee that they won't notice if he escapes. There might be more corrupted demons outside that I still haven't seen, then that would mean he will be in danger without me!

He has pretty average skills just like others for what I've seen, but this is a real hunt and it's his first time joining, so I'm sure he's more than what he seem if he put in his all. Sigh, but he seem non trust worthy, though surprisingly he succesfully played his role as a fake husband.

Maybe I should just try discussing with him first.

"Hey, Wang Yi, you have your daggers with you, right?"

Xiao Xiao walks towards him, who doesn't answer despite hearing.

"Since you've never slain a corrupted one before, I will teach you how. Show me your daggers."

The older one orders, but still not having her disciple respond a single word, who's elliptical pupils seemed to have turned even thinner than usual.

"Hey, what's wrong with your eyes? Have they always been...like this?"

Xiao Xiao goes even closer to him, analyzing his epicanthal folded bright green eyes, not realizing that the teen was biting on his lip to suppress his desire.

"No, I'm sure they weren't like this before. Also I wanted to ask the moment I saw you, who casted a spell on you to make your hair become black? You wouldn't have been able to do that yourself, would you?"

Still no response.

"You...Are you freaking ignoring me, stinky fish!? Answer me!! Speak!!"

Xiao Xiao grabs on the boy's shoulder in anger, who began shaking his head with a sweat.

"I said speak!!! HEY! Why aren't you speaking?"

She shook his shoulders,

"Talk to me, Wang Yi-"

"GO AWAY!"

He suddenly yells directly at her as his body starts to tremble.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!!"

She turns a deaf ear, only further tries to feel him up if there are any injures.

"Y-you, why are you shaking..!?? What happened!? Is it the tea???!!"

Why wasn't this woman even listening!??

"Ugh! J-JUST GET OUT OF HERE!"

Wang Yi tries to push her away, but she was persistent.

"It's me, your teacher!! Xiao Xiao!! Snap out of it-"

"DON'T FREAKING TOUCH ME!!!"

Finally te younger forcefully breaks free from her hold with too much impact to the point Xiao Xiao falls on the bed that was behind her.

If there wasn't a bed I could have died from hitting the floor with my head with this much force!!

"Yo-"

Before she could even utter a word, let alone get up, the younger jumps on her with his long tubular tongue out alongside his sharpened spiky tooth.

Did his teeth just get even more pointy!!??

Then his mouth lands on her neck, spiky teeth sinking in while his hands roughly pushes down on her both wrist.

"W-Wang Yi..!!??!"

She voiced out in worry, while having her neck bitten by her disciple.

"Get off me, Wang Yi-"

Sob.

Fat tears started to roll down the teenager's face out of nowhere.

I-i want teacher so bad...