4 four

Qiao Lis eyebrow twitched as he stared at the happily smiling Liang Shao. How could that idiot be smiling, sitting across the table of one of the most powerful demons of the ghost realm after being beaten severely by his best disciple, LaoHu Jun?!

Fei Mo quietly brought them tea. His presence was relaxing to Qiao Li, though he would never confirm that. In the world of the mortals, they were rivals from heaven and underworld, always fighting about everything, but in reality, they got along quite well.

Qiao Li was often in a bad mood and needed to blow off steam, so Fei Mo would fight with him.

But their disciples? They were basically the hardcore versions of their masters, actually rivals that could shake heaven and earth and whatnot with their fierce battles.

Fei Mo sat beside Liang Shao, giving Qiao Li a gentle look while sipping his tea.

„Qiao Li, your disciple won again."

„Did he? Good for him."

„You do not sound too happy."

„Of course not. That brat isn't half as old as we but thinks he can demolish my town!"

„You seem more worried about the hotel more than anything else…"

„Cause I live here! I don't have to pay for anything!"

„As demon king you still have to pay?"

„I do! Taxes!"

„Oh."

„Demons have taxes…?" Liang Shao asked.

„Of course we do! We're not that different from humans as you think… At least, we're in the east. To the north and west, there are more savage tribes. The strongest survives. They are… unpleasant."

„Oh, right. What was that celebration yesterday about?"

„Downgrading of a god."

„Oh."

A mortal had two ways: Up to heaven or down to the ghost realm. If one became an immortal and ascended, they became a god, but they could also fall from heaven if they violated the rules, and often became ghosts or demons after that, which was called downgrading.

If a god was downgraded, he would become a powerful rival to the other demon kings. Which meant war, and somehow, the demons loved war. If there ever was war in the mortal realm, the Demons would join, so would the gods to get rid of the demons.

„If I remember correctly, LaoHu is also a downgraded god." Fei Mo said gently.

Qiao Li nodded. „He willingly stepped down to help a friend, but you know how that goes…"

Liang Shao was shocked. „He became a demon because of that betrayal?"

„You could say that. He wanted power to get revenge, so he got it. Now he's fighting the gods - and you." Qiao Li shrugged.

At that moment, MiQian and Huang Hua entered.

„Sir, the items you requested." He handed Qiao Li a bag with writing utensils and other flowery stuff.

Liang Shao stared at them, irritated.

„MiQian, who is that girl?" Fei Mo frowned.

„Huang Hua. Can she work here too? She's really kind and hardworking, she'll be useful."

The girl nodded so much that Liang Shao thought her head might fall off.

After a moment Fei Mo just said „Sure" and continued sipping his tea.

„MiQian, can you get us cold tea?"

MiQian frowned. Cold tea? What the hell was that? Ice tea??

„I'll go look for it. Should Huang Hua…?"

„Take her with you, she might recognize it. It's quite rare." Fei Mo kindly added.

MiQiao and Huang Hua bowed, then left.

„Who are those two?"

„My friends."

„My rooms servant."

The two masters simultaneously took a sip of tea.

„I feel like he's familiar…"

„There's nothing to confirm. He lost his memory."

„He did? Hey, can I take him under my wing? He oughta have a lot of talent."

„Ask him. Though I think his level is higher than yours…"

„Oi!"

The two masters started to quarrel jokingly with each other.

Liang Shao quietly stood up and left them alone. He felt like he was seeing something he shouldn't see. They were way too close! Rivals? As if! Maybe in your dreams, but in reality more like a couple!

He went to the kitchen and found MiQian fanning a small fire to heat up water. The youth noticed Liang Shao and halted his leisure movement, staring at him with indifferent eyes.

„Is there something you need, young master?"

Liang Shao was once again startled. He was from a good family, but it had been a long time since he had been last called young master.

„Oh, I just…" he pointed into the direction he had come from, not finding the words.

„They're at it again?" The youth asked in a voice that indicated something beyond Liang Shaos understanding. „Well, just ignore them. They don't do any harm."

„I know, it's just… they are… very…"

„Shameless?" The eyes of the youth kneeling beside the fire lit up as he gave the other one a mischievous smile. „We don't know for sure, so how can we allow us to randomly judge them? That would be quite improper."

Laing Shao stared at him. That boy was very straightforward and kind, knew his way with words and didn't mind more exhausting work. No wonder that demon master wanted him! But how was this boy friends with the great master Fei Mo…?

„You really are friends with my master?"

„Apparently. Not like I remember, but he's always treated me very kindly."

„If you are his friend, shouldn't you be a guest?"

„If I don't have something to do, I'll wither away like a flower. And Master Qiao is also very kind, though a bit… grumpy. But he dosen't mean it."

That face full of smiles! If MiQian were a girl, Liang Shao would've already fallen for him!

And MiQian knew that, for the system told him that Liang Shaos weak spot was smiling and being a cute bun of cinnamon. And what was his first thought? You're testing my acting? Okay, let's see how far I'll come!

Liang Shao watched as MiQian made the tea and waited for him to come back. What the former one didn't know was that when MiQian entered the room, he was greeted by the following scene: Qiao Li was pinning Fei Mo down, their hands entangled and the knee between the legs, both looking like they didn't hate the situation they were in.

And fortunately, they didn't notice MiQian at all, so he could quietly put down the tablet with tea, sneak out again and close the door in consideration of passerby's. And probably himself too, he would've loved to watch that scene unfold into… more… probably… or a fight… Either way, he returned to the kitchen. Though he did hear something that made him grin in obscene satisfaction.

It was really a bit ridiculous.

Liang Shao was, to MiQians surprise, still there.

„What are you going to do now?"

„Me? Oh, I planned to go shopping with Huang Hua. She needs new clothes, and since she's a girl she should also have at least a pretty hairpin or something like that."

„Can't she go herself…?"

„She's a young lady with great potential, no way! What if something happens to her? Also, she isn't your standard girl caring for looks…" said MiQian with narrowed eyes.

„Oh…?"

„She has no idea about fashion or which colors fit each other! It's horrible! If I don't come with her, she'll either end up buying nothing or whatever. That would be such a waste, I would have to make something completely new for her…"

„Can I come with you?"

MiQian paused to think a while. He blinked blankly, then shrugged and said „Sure. Do what you please.", his face full of smiles again.

Liang Shao would've loved to cover his eyes or something, but instead he chose to remain aloof. This boy made him doubt his three philosophies, how was that possible! No woman had ever gotten this far, but now a young, very pretty boy?! Ridiculous! No way! It probably was just brotherly consideration.

They got Huang Hua and left after leaving a note.

Huang Hua was astonished when she saw Liang Shao. Her mouth was gaping open, her eyes big and round like… No, there was no comparison for it. But Liang Shao really did look good in daylight, though he seemed a bit too pale.

In MiQians mind, there were already plans on how to get Huang Hua and Liang Shao together. Ever since he had a younger body, his mind was back to that of a fifteen-year-old. It was somewhat odd, but as long as he had fun and did something „good" for the people around him, he would be happier than the sun in the sky.

And his own happy end? He was a side character with great support-qualities, he would somehow get by.

They went to the market and looked around the stalls. Even Liang Shaos eyes got big when he got the pleasure to get to know MiQians big vocabulary. He could describe anything - from color theory to which shapes would make a girl look like what and so on. And everyone understood! If MiQian had so desired, he could be someone that sells you anything, and as long as he found the right words, which he always did, you would buy it without even the slightest hesitation. It was almost like a magic trick.

But in reality, it was just his talent as author and someone who loved languages and cultures. And he wanted to be understood, so that meant for him: The more words, the more understanding!

… Which was not always the case, less was more and so on, but he didn't really care.

They quickly found things that suited Huang Hua, and Liang Shao was the echo that confirmed MiQians words when Huang Hua doubted her decisions.

MiQian felt like a parent trying to convince his kid to eat something it didn't want to eat. It was exhausting, but also a lie if he said it wasn't fun.

After a while of running around the market, MiQian gave Liang Shao the „duty" to take care of the wild bird named Huang Hua, swiftly disappearing into the crowd without a trace.

Liang Shao and Huang Hua stared at each other for a second, then the girl happily ran off to a stall with candy. Liang Shao could only follow her, fearing the girl would get lost and causing the youth that had just left to get a heart attack.

So Liang Shao had a good grasp on half of MiQians personality. The other half? Well, MiQian had spotted that tiger demon in the crowd and decided: My life won't be that short!

Also, MiQian was tired after playing mom for a whole afternoon, he wanted to sleep so desperately that he didn't notice the dawning presence of someone with bad intentions. Or to be more precise: LaoHu Jun.

„Oi."

MiQian ignored him. Two reasons: First, tired, second, the one you met at that celebration was a woman, not this very pretty boy.

„Oi, I'm talking to you."

„Why would you, I don't know you…"

LaoHu Jun stared at him. Somehow, MiQian wished that this guy would fuse with someone else to get himself a better personality and prettier eyebrows. They were fucking distracting!

And why did this guy spot him even though he had escaped just on time? Ah, yes, he was a demon… But so OP!

„Hm, but I remember seeing you somewhere before…"

„Huh." The „Huh" was so flat that it almost sounded like an insult, especially paired with the dark expression.

„Maybe not. Maybe you have a sister?"

„I don't remember." He felt like he would get famous for those words someday. How often would he have to say that, to how many people?

„Hm."

„What."

„You're interesting."

„Ew."

„No, really, there's something about you… Your powers, I mean."

„Powers??"

„Yes. You seem so weak, but your spiritual powers are very high. It's interesting."

„Huh."

„You have so much potential, why not cultivate? Why sulk in the ghost realms smallest town??"

„I'm not sulking you-!" - ass! He wanted to scream but didn't dare to. He sighed, massaged his forehead and continued walking back to the hotel.

But that tiger stubbornly followed him.

„Stop that! What are you, a stray cat?!"

LaoHu Jun made an innocent cat-face. But it really didn't help his situation. MiQian just stared more fiercely at him, almost freezing the air between them.

„Stop following me! It's so annoying, it feels like you're spying on me."

„Oh."

„Oh? Nothing more to say? Wow, how damn stupid!"

Following an impulse of his rarely showing anger, he made himself disappear with a gust of wind. Hiding behind a high rooftop, he peeked at the tiger that looked for him in great confusion.

Sadly, he found MiQian very fast.

„You run faster than others, but you're stupid enough to stay in place."

„Pff."

„What's your name?"

„M- Why should I tell you?"

The tiger thought for a bit, then picked MiQian up like a sack of rice. For a moment, MiQians brain paused. Then he started searching through his sleeve, trying to find anything that could help him escape, for he was physically way too weak to struggle out of this iron-grip!

What did he find? The fan - useless - and the brush - even more useless! No, wait, maybe this would work…

He wrote the character „heavy" on the tigers back. Nothing happened. He added a „very" to it. The tiger seemed to stagger a bit, and caught in this train of thought, he added more and more „very"s on the tigers back until LaoHu Jun finally fell down, being unable to bear the enormous weight on his back.

MiQian stood up, looked at the brush and almost burst out into laughter, wanting to shake his fists towards the sky in triumph. His weapon? The brush! How great, how fitting for an author and someone who drew the book covers himself!