Really Did Know You

A light breeze swirled around the streets as the sleepy Crimson City refused to wake up. It was almost seven, and yet the streets were still void of passers-by. The only activity seen were shops trying to prepare for another day, their owners washing windows and setting up signs.

Lai Mingjie and Xu Rouguang walked across the streets, the demon king looking around as if spotting traces of the hunt that happened in the midst of the night. They would be visiting the coroner again later, but for the morning, he wanted to take it easy. To be honest, he still had no idea how last night concluded.

The two strolled around, Xu Rouguang merely following Lai Mingjie around. He hadn't toured the city on foot before, and he had no idea where Lai Mingjie was taking him. Might as well look around to familiarize himself.

"We're almost there, don't worry." Lai Mingjie laughed out as he noticed Xu Rouguang began looking around. "Yeah, before we start eating..."—the demon king started walking backward, unaware of the incoming traffic behind him—"tell me what happened last night? How many did you manage to stop?"

"A lot, Jie."

Xu Rouguang made a helpless smile as he lightly waved his hand. Wind currents rose from behind Lai Mingjie and effectively created quite a soft wind wall to keep him from bumping into anyone. The first train had arrived, and the passengers had flowed into the lively island city. Upon feeling the strange wind, the people would either move without looking or be bewildered first before evading the person walking into them.

"Are we headed to the train station, Jie?"

"Yeah, but we're not boarding." Lai Mingjie could feel the wind circulating in front of him. He then turned around and walked properly, putting both hands in his pockets. He even took advantage of its feeling, letting the wind make his hair and coat flutter. It just looked weird since the passers-by couldn't feel any wind strong enough to make their hair and apparel dance.

"You're enjoying this." Xu Rouguang flicked both of his hands, attracting the cold winds to blow across the streets they were in. Controlling nature at will was something every other immortal envied of Xu Rouguang.

"Who wouldn't? Nothing says good life more than feeling like you're walking on air!" Lai Mingjie laughed out before noticing how Xu Rouguang walked faster to catch up to his side. He then turned his head to look at the gleeful general. "And the bodies?"

"Sent to the undertakers." The joy in Xu Rouguang's eyes dimmed. It wasn't something he thought they'd be talking about on a date. "I tried to make Miss Botangca help us out. The pills were being peddled in the streets, and that's all I know. Also, it wasn't Bloodvein... but it's a lot more potent."

"More potent? That's not more potent." Lai Mingjie sighed as he ruffled his awfully tousled hair. "That's not demon energy even. I know how other energies taste; that's not demon or even divine. It's something else... one I haven't tasted before." His brows began to knit again. "It's probably what adapted with Dunzhao's body. The thing that made him more awful than what I remember."

"...The Abyss?" Xu Rouguang murmured, but Lai Mingjie caught it.

Lai Mingjie only snorted before erasing the bad mood written all over his face. He then walked faster—even jogged—towards the high-end family restaurant next to the station. The establishment had three stories while having a lot of glass walls. Most tables in the first story were already occupied by couples or small families having breakfast outside before hitting the malls. Lai Mingjie quickly disappeared in the sea of people headed inside, but Xu Rouguang could tail him effortlessly.

With a push, the glass door opened like it was made with light wood. Xu Rouguang noticed kids and the elderly behind him so he held the door open for them. He received a few 'thank you' and one 'you're so kind' before almost taking his hand off of the door. However, some teenage girls raced to the door and smiled brightly at him while he was still there. He returned their gleeful smiles and finally let go of the door as they passed. Some more and he would feel like he worked here instead.

Lai Mingjie found him by the entrance and laughed when he saw the scene. He walked to meet Xu Rouguang and leisurely walked around with his arm on the other's shoulders. Upon being spotted by one of the waiters, the two were instantly walked to the top floor by the informed receptionist.

The fancy family restaurant was owned by Lai Mingjie himself; no wonder he could just walk in and be served with the utmost respect. Xu Rouguang took a table that oversees the entire second and first floor through the atrium, finding a little joy in watching the humans go about their early morning.

"This place was one of the first places I bought when I was allowed to buy businesses." Lai Mingjie leaned against the chair and joined Xu Rouguang in people-watching. "Not only do they make the best food, but they're also good with making pastries. Nothing compared to the taste of celestial fruits, but this is the first stop in my list.

"To be honest, the only one, haha." Lai Mingjie raised his hand to avoid meeting Xu Rouguang's gaze. "Even if I said we're going out and having a date, I didn't prepare for it. I just wanted to walk around with you. So if you have any places in Crimson City that you want to see, let me know."

"Can we go see the harbor later?" Xu Rouguang smiled at Lai Mingjie, readily helping him get rid of the awkward feeling. He asked for a date, but he had no idea what to do. Fortunately, Xu Rouguang was bewitched by the placid lake surrounding the city. He hadn't seen much when he first went to the harbor, and so he asked to be taken there.

Lai Mingjie's eyes glistened as he brought down his hand. His lips curled into a happy smile that he could barely keep—he's not the type to smile happily after all. "Sure, let's go see the harbor. We can't fish, and there might be a lot of couples hanging out in there... but lets' go see it."

Xu Rouguang leaned on his arms on the table before smiling, mischief glinting on his eyes. "Jie, is that a dating spot? Are you sure you want to go there?"

A rich laugh answered him. The demon king contented huffed and raised his chin as if getting smug for no apparent reason. "Hey, hey, we're not playing that game. You think I don't know what you're up to? I, the mighty Lai Mingjie, have a reason for taking you there—I mean since you seem to want to see the lake close up."

The general's head tilted to the side and used one of his arms to support his head. "I wonder what the great Emodao has in store for me. This princess is getting rather excited."

"Did you seriously call yourself a princess?"

Lai Mingjie laughed out again before staring at the Xu Rouguang who just kept on smiling at him. His eyes involuntarily twitched as he wasn't used to accepting anyone's advances. When was the last time he truly enjoyed someone's romantic company? It must have been too long that he even forgot no matter how good his memory was.

He then reached out a hand that Xu Rouguang received with both of his. His eyes descended to stare at those slender and snow-white fingers. A calm smile then lifted his lips.

"I don't know how to say this properly... but Rou, I'm beginning to remember the warmth of your hands and the softness of your skin." Lai Mingjie shifted his gaze at Xu Rouguang's shocked eyes as he laced his fingers with one of Xu Rouguang's hands. "I guess I really did know you before meeting General Xu.

"Can't wait to consult with your memories when we find them."