(Part 9)

Xianwu walked outside the forest her eyes fixated on the ground "Xiao yin is just a human. But, he still guarded me. It was just like the time we faced the Human eating corpses. He didn't seem to fear anything. For a sixteen year old boy to face everything on his own like this… I don't understand. His hairs felt like I've touched them before and the time he stood in front of me his scent… his scent was like Red flowering Crabapples. So strange… but, he only protected me before just like he does. It's thanks to Senlin and Shijei the resentment ghosts stopped…" instantly her mind rang.

"Xianwu!" Shijei's voice startled her. "Ye-s?!" she asked back in her thoughts. "That kid…" suddenly he paused in between sighing. "That kid...!" his voice slightly raised which in turn hurt her mind. "We are going to check if he's a demon or not. Senlin from the start didn't feel right and now I also don't. If even after the check he doesn't turn out to be one, then it's all up to you." He added. Listening to his words even Xianwu had no choice but to accept. "Okay…" she replied ending the conversation. Somehow, even she seemed to be curious.

"Sister." Xiao yin called. The silence that had been created by the two of them was a little too much to bear. Xianwu turned around forgetting all her doubtfulness towards him. "Hmm?" she asked with a warm smile. Xiao yin halted in his tracks. "Sister… I'm sorry." He apologized. Xianwu who was caught surprised nodded her head in rejection. "It's alright… you don't have to apologize. At that time we were all in a dire situation. Of course you would be worried as well. So, no need to apologize." She smiled.

"But sister, you won't talk to me…" he complained. His expression was depressed and the light in his eyes felt as if it had faded. Xianwu who gasped at his figure walked over to him. Looking at him Xianwu explained "Xiao yin, it's not like that. There's a lot on my mind right now and we got out of something big right now, so I'm just a little bit confused. It's got nothing to do with you. Don't worry, for me you aren't a burden but a savior Thank you!" Xiao yin looked at her amazed. Soon, a big smile covered over his face as he nodded twice. "Just like a little wolf…" Xianwu thought.

"Were out now. It's gotten pretty late. We'll set fire here for now and take a rest." Shijei suggested. Indeed, it had been long. Their journey to reach the end of the forest took them midnight. It had become quiet dark and cold. Xianwu looked at Xiao yin. His clothes had become disheveled half clasps open and half closed. And his hairs had become a mess. "Xiao yin… it's going to get cold. Don't stay like this…" Xianwu advised as she closed his outer robe which showed his neckline and below. After setting his garments Xianwu felt relieved. "He's still a kid…" she thought.

Senlin in the, meanwhile had already lit a fire. "It's not too big. But help yourself with it!" she instructed. Shijei on the other hand had activated the protection talisman around the four of them. All of them sat down around the fire. Xianwu realized that they haven't had anything for long so she took out the raspberries she had prepared for in a small bag. "Here, you all might be hungry. Have some!" she insisted. Xiao yin had already started eating them but, the other two looked on two different sides not even giving a glance.

Xianwu laughed a fake smile "I guess… its fine…" Shijei looked at her as he blurted in his mocking fashion "We already had hunger replenishment pill. We won't be hungry for a week." Xianwu nodded. Senlin looked at Xianwu and Xiao yin as she suggested "And I think, you both should take it as well. The further we go the less food supplies we would have. Until we travel you won't have to worry about getting hungry."

What Senlin said was true. They can't always rely on hunger in such a place. Xianwu nodded. Shijei passed her a yellow pill. In an instance Xianwu realized "I remember, when we used to sneak the palace. The three of us would eat one each, so we won't get hungry in between our trips…" Xianwu smiled with her thoughts as she swallowed the pill with water. Senlin on the other hand handed Xiao yin a red pill. Xianwu looked at the two of them in shock. "The Demon cleansing Pill?!" she thought with a burst of smoke form her head.

"Why is it red? You gave sister a yellow one." Xiao yin inquired getting suspicious. Senlin looked at him annoyingly. "There is a difference of colours!" she argued. "Oh…" Xiao yin eyed her maliciously. "A difference of colour or a difference in the kind of pill?" he pointed out. "You!" Senlin was taken back. "If you don't want to take it then don't!" she snapped. Xianwu shrugged "Do you mean it?"

Xiao yin turned towards her "Sister, can I take this?" he asked with self-confidence. Xianwu in disappointed thought "Child, do you really trust me so much?! You know so much why can't, you tell the difference between two different pills? However, if I give him if turns out to be a human the pill will have no side effects, rather than suppressing hunger and rage…"

Xianwu nodded while passing him water. "If sister says so, then I take it!" he gleamed while swallowing it. Xianwu on the other hand cried in her thoughts "Xianwu, how can you break a child's trust?!" the moment Xiao yin swallowed, Senlin, Shijei and Xianwu stared at him curiously. Xiao yin tasted the pill his eyes twitching. "Is that it? Is he really a demon…?" Senlin thought accepting her victory however at the same time he uttered "Sister, the pill sucks. I don't like the taste. Tell your lackeys to add some flavour in it."

Senlin who had already accepted her victory looked at him with a stone faced expression in defeat. Shijei sighed rolling his eyes as he turned away. Xianwu beside Xiao yin sighed in relief. "Nothing happened. Just as I thought Xiao yin is a human. These days, maybe my imagination is running too wild. I'm finally relieved!" she considered in delight. Senlin who had faced utter defeat sat in regret "This brat! Even the demon cleansing pill didn't affect him?!" she wailed in her thoughts. "Who in the world is he?!" she thought not daring to give up till the very end.