Chapter 24 -Qin Zuijia the artisan

Fu Yu dragged Qin Zuijia to learn the art of crafts and machine making from Bai Chenle. Bai Chenle didn't like being too close with Qin Zuijia, but he agreed that it was better for him to be an artisan and not cultivate lest another round of killing happen again. The most surprising thing to happen was that Fu Yu didn't feel frightened nor disgusted with Qin Zuijia, he was even glad to have him with him all the time. His eyes would shine as if fireworks had been set off in them. He was always ecstatic whenever he's with Qin Zuijia, and Qin Zuijia felt the same, as if them being around each other was a normal thing.

Wei Xiao, on the other hand, was feeling distressed. He knew that it would be best for Qin Zuijia to learn this way, but whenever he sees the two so close as if inseparable, he'd feel his heart squeeze and as if thousands of needles are pierced through them.

Xiao Ling was also feeling distressed. His pretty uncle was having fun with other people and ignoring him, but all those sour emotions he felt would be washed away whenever Aoki Enyo visits. If my pretty uncle isn't here, then I'd play with my pretty brother.

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In the mountains behind the Wind masters sect, lies a habitat for different demon beasts. There are low-level demon beasts to mid-level ones. Although most of them aren't able to transform to human form, they are able to form unbreakable bonds with them.

The highest level of demon beast was a level six Bakunawa at the deepest part of the galvanic river. The Bakunawa was only 250 years of age but was on top of the food chain amongst the demon beasts in the mountains.

Wei Xiao was hunting wild rabbits when he came across the Bakunawa. Usually it won't come out of the water when there isn't a full moon, but this time, the sun was hanging from the sky, and the whole place was bright, yet the Bakunawa was actually staring at him.

Wei Xiao silently backed down. He wasn't Bakunawa's opponent. The only people who are on par with this creature are those who are in the Human Immortal stage. It has been a long time since such a person existed, and the highest stage a cultivator could get to was the late stage Nascent soul.

The Bakunawa tilted its head and extended its neck closer to Wei Xiao. The big blue snake-fish creature stared at him in awe.

Wei Xiao furrowed his brows and moved back. The Bakunawa stretched its neck to follow him.

Wei Xiao was calm at this moment lest the creature attack him. He wanted to get away, but was afraid that the Bakunawa would eat him directly. He doesn't understand the thought process of the Bakunawa, but he knew that this demon beast could think. He raises his hand in an 'I surrender' posture.

The Bakunawa took head-butted Wei Xiao and rubbed his head on his body.

Wei Xiao was stupefied and a bit frightened. The Bakunawa wasn't hostile to him, nor did it want to harm him. The Bakunawa was rubbing him with his head as if pleased.

At this time, Enyo, with Xiao Ling following him like a tail, saw the horrifying scene. His eyes widened and he stepped back, but Xiao Ling crashed with his legs and fell. Enyo turned to the child and helped him stand up. "You okay?"

Xiao Ling nodded repeatedly. His eyes were bright and his lips lifted in a smile. "Xiao Ling Okay!!"

Enyo smiled and rubbed the child's head.

The Bakunawa took notice of other people's presence. He turned to the child and dashed in. He could sense that the person he has been looking for for years was near. He smelled that person's scent on the other man just now, but the scent was even more powerful from the two people who just came. He was ecstatic that he didn't notice the fear in the tall one's eyes.

Enyo was afraid of Bakunawa. It was a powerful creature and could easily kill him if he wanted to. Not to mention that he has a child with him, Enyo's attention was all protecting Xiao Ling.

When Bakunawa almost reached his target, His head was attacked by a horrible person who doesn't want his life anymore.

Fu Yu saw the scene of the Bakunawa charging towards the two people. His eyes were sparkling at that time and Qin Zuijia suddenly felt chill run down his spine. Qin Zuijia saw how the Bakunawa was charging towards Enyo and Xiao Ling and he froze. His body lost color, but Fu Yu's attack somehow took him back to life.

The Bakunawa looked at where Fu Yu landed and eyed him suspiciously. Where did this human get the courage to attack him?

Fu Yu turned around to meet Bakunawa's gaze. He raised his brows and said in a reprimanding tone. "That is not how you approach people!" He pointed towards Xiao Ling. "If you want him to like you, you have to be gentle. He's a child, Edgar!"

Edgar the Bakunawa was surprised. How did this human know his name? No one had called him Edgar for a very long time, he almost forgot that that was his name, yet this little human knew his name. Edgar became suspicious of Fu Yu and eyed him cautiously.

Fu Yu understood that Bakunawa was surprised to know his name. Fu Yu turned to him. "What? Don't like it? I could give you a better name?"

Edgar sighed inwardly, he had overestimated the human. It was a coincidence that he knew his name.

"Xiao Ling!" Qin Zuijia ran towards the baby. He checked his body over and over again, making Xiao Ling very ticklish. He laughed and his milky voice attracted the Bakunawa.

Xiao Ling looked at the Bakunawa and priced himself out of Qin Zuijia's arms. He walked towards the Bakunawa and Edgar lowered his head. Xiao Ling hugged the giant snake-fish, making the people near the area dumbstruck.

Qin Zuijia wanted to rush towards Xiao Ling but Fu Yu held him back. Enyo wanted to take the child away, but Fu Yu was grabbing his wrist. Wei Xiao was still confused on one side and was covered with water from the Bakunawa.

After 5 minutes, Xiao Ling laughed as the Bakunawa lifted its head along with Xiao Ling's whole body.

"What happened?" Enyo turned to Fu Yu and to where Fu Yu's hands are.

Fu Yu looked at him and his eyes twitched, seemingly irritated.

Enyo felt his irritation and was confused himself. Why would he be irritated with me, I should be the one who feels irritated with how he's grabbing my wrist.

"They've bonded." Fu Yu answered and let go of Enyo's wrists. He took out a bottle filled with colorless liquid that smells cold when wafted to one's nostrils. He poured some on his hands and gave Qin Zuijia some as well.

Qin Zuijia didn't know what that liquid was, but he found that it's scent was pleasing. He didn't refuse Fu Yu and openly displayed his jade white hands.

"You said they've bonded?" Enyo looked at the mysterious liquid and found it interesting. "What's that?"

Fu Yu looked at him and sighed. He shook his head and said. "A better cleaning product. Made it myself." He proudly advertised.

Wei Xiao walked towards where the people are. When he saw Xiao Ling playing with the giant snake-fish he frowned.

Qin Zuijia turned to him and waved. "Ah-Xiao, go get changed." He smiled and run towards him

Wei Xiao nodded.

Qin Zuijia handed him a new set of clean clothes. "Bakunawa seemed interested in Xiao Ling." He placed Wei Xiao's wet clothes on a space ring. "Then again, who would not love a beautiful child! So adorable!"

Wei Xiao raised his brows. "You're so proud of him? He's not even your child."

Qin Zuijia patted Wei Xiao's back. "Brother, You should be as proud as I am, he's your nephew!"

Wei Xiao rolled his eyes and turned to the Bakunawa.

Qin Zuijia laughed awkwardly and followed his line of sight.

"That ring." Wei Xiao said. "That doesn't look like any normal space ring."

Qin Zuijia looked at him and back at the ring. "This?" He scratched his head and puffed out a laugh. "Yeah, you could place magic herbs here without worrying that would wilt." He took them off and inserted them on Wei Xiao's fingers. "You could infuse it with spiritual energy and it would be able to store it and cultivate it on it's own. Kind of like a dimension, but you could only place small items at a time."

Wei Xiao inspected the ring in his finger and hummed in agreement. "Did you make it?"

"Y-yes, but I had help!"

Wei Xiao wasn't in the mood to hear who it was, he knew that it was that guy he wanted to murder, but he refuses to hear his name.

"That one I made for you. I would give another one to Xiao Ling when he grows up." Qin Zuijia said with a smile.

Fu Yu walked towards him and saw his actions. "Is that why you wanted to make the ring?" He crossed his arms and pointed at Wei Xiao with one brows raised.

Qin Zuijia looked at him and puffed out an awkward laugh. He scratched his head and turned away.

Wei Xiao looked at him and back at the ring. He felt proud for some reason. He snicker and raised his lips on a mocking smile.

Fu Yu saw him and narrowed his eyes. He rapped Qin Zuijia's head and turned away.

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When Wei Xiao and co. returned to their house, Qin Zuijia bathe Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling was covered with the Bakunawa's scent, he couldn't let the boy run around their home, smelling like fish. He scrubbed Xiao Ling clean until his jade white skin flushed red.

Enyo said his goodbye and left to do work, Xiao Ling was reluctant to let him go, but understood that he couldn't force him to stay. He was sulking whole afternoon, even after Qin Zuijia cooked a mountain of food to feed two gluttons living with him.

"The examination would be held in a month. You'll be taking the exam with me." Wei Xiao held his chopsticks and proceeded to gobble up a chicken wing. "That surnamed Fu would be coming as well."

Qin Zuijia rubbed Xiao Ling's head and placed a bowl of congee in front of him. "Guess I'll have to train?" He laughed and sat beside Xiao Ling

"Your third examination should be different from mine, but the first exam are the same." Wei Xiao grabbed two bowls of different types of soup and drank one bowl. He wiped his mouth clean and said. "They are locking us behind the mountain to find black pearls."

Qin Zuijia picked up some of the information laid out by Wei Xiao. He took a small bowl and filled it with soup and began to eat. "We have to make the Bakunawa stays in his home for the time being."

Xiao Ling tugged on Qin Zuijia's sleeves and showed him his empty bowl. Qin Zuijia filled it with another serving of congee which Xiao Ling begun to devour.

"They say the black pearls are inside the ghouls that they are planning on releasing. "

"Then we'll just have to go slaughter our way in!" Qin Zuijia laughed.

Wei Xiao looked at him expressionlessly and began to eat again.

The door of the room slid open and a petite man holding a white rabbit came walking in. Fu Yu sat next to Wei Xiao and chose several dishes and begun to eat.

"What's that?" Qin Zuijia asked. He could tell that the rabbit on Fu Yu's hands was Xiao Bai, but what he didn't understand was how the rabbit came here.

Fu Yu gave him the rabbit. "Breakfast."

Qin Zuijia showed an expression of confusion mixed with helplessness. He placed the rabbit on his lap.

"I modified that compass thing you were making." Fu Yu placed a circular object on the table. It has the same roughness as a rock, but the inside has an arrow that points in all directions. "You could use this one to pinpoint where the pearls are. Not every ghoul in the mountain has pearls."

Qin Zuijia nodded. He took the compass and handed them to Wei Xiao.

Wei Xiao took it and showed a confused look. The moment Fu Yu came barging in, his stomach started feelings horrible. He was secretly gritting his teeth and his hands were clenched into a fist. He wanted to stab the person sitting next to him and wish his life gone.

Fu Yu, on the other hand, had no idea that Wei Xiao was already planning his funeral. Even if he knew, he wouldn't care. Fu Yu didn't want to die, not because he's afraid of death, but because of something else.

Xiao Ling tugged on Qin Zuijia's sleeve . "Chicken." He retains his upset look. It was adorable, Qin Zuijia couldn't help but pinch his cheeks.

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Mini theater...

Lemon:.... A very important part of the story....... Xiao Ling likes pretty faces.

Wei Xiao:.... I can see why he doesn't like you. *points at Zhao Fu*

Enyo:....*blushing*.. I'm pretty?

Lemon:... Trust me, you're one of my fave.

Fu Yu: I'm her favorite, you're a part of it.

Lemon: What he said.

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Bakunawa: (Filipino mythical creature) I will have this small child as my master. *Forms a contract*

Xiao Ling:.. hehe. Ugly fish.

Bakunawa: Why did I do that.

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Lemon:.. Welp, I'm gonna try the TGIF mass release.

Qin Muyang:... No one likes your story.

Wei Xiao: I agree.

Lemon:... That's why I'm doing a mass release!!!

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Announcement and corrections..

I put Jin instead of Li clan and I would like to correct this because this is important in the future chapters.... I put Jin probably because I was thinking of the metal swallowing beast clans... they are the Jins not the humans.. I apologize.

also, I'll be releasing 5 chapters for TGIF. YAY?