AFTER THAT HARROWING night, Fu Jing had been perpetually on edge, jumping at the slightest sound. Yet, he refused to let his agitation show, determined to maintain the facade of his usual cool and composed self.

He didn’t want to give Xuan Qi the satisfaction of seeing him break.

But whenever the door to his cell opened, it usually wasn’t Xuan Qi. In fact, the demon hadn’t checked on Fu Jing once; not even to force him to eat. Instead, the palace’s yao servants wordlessly served him three meals a day, only to carry away the untouched food each time.

Fu Jing was absolutely fine with Xuan Qi not showing up. He had no desire to see the demon’s face, nor did he wish to hear his voice. To be perfectly precise, he never wanted to interact with that demonic bastard ever again.

Day after day, Fu Jing remained curled up on his bed, staring out the small, barred window. Unable to escape on his own, he clung to the hope that his companions would soon notice his absence and come to his aid.

He just had to wait.

And so he did.

With seemingly endless patience, he waited.

Until the creaking of his cell door shot another sharp jolt of panic through his body.

He silently cursed himself, knowing full well that it was just a yao servant bringing him his lunch. Or dinner. Fu Jing wasn’t sure. The perpetual dusk of the demon realm made it impossible to tell what time it was, or how much had passed.

Had it been days? A week? He’d lost count.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, but it caught in his chest when his gaze landed on his visitor: Xuan Qi.

Fu Jing’s face instantly paled.

When the demon entered the cell, Fu Jing immediately retreated, pressing himself against the wall beneath the small window. He took a defensive stance, his wide eyes glued to Xuan Qi, watching his every move with suspicion. Fu Jing’s entire demeanour resembled that of a caged animal—wary, tense and ready to pounce at any moment.

Xuan Qi stopped right at the door and made an offer which caused Fu Jing’s jaw to drop in disbelief.

“You can remain in this cell, or stay with me in my chambers.”

Fu Jing snorted a mocking laugh. “So you can torment me at your leisure?”

“I have no such intention. But if you want to explore this realm, you need my scent on you. For that, we must be close. Sharing a bed at night should suffice. My scent will mask your human stench, and others won’t question your presence.”

Fu Jing frowned. “I never had a problem with that before.”

“Dumb luck.”

Fu Jing crossed his arms and began to slowly pace back and forth beneath the window. “So you’re willing to let me walk around on my own when I sleep in your bed?”

“Yes.”

“And you won’t touch me?”

“We’ll have to be close, but I won’t harm you.”

Fu Jing contemplated this for a moment. If he was free to leave the palace, he could escape to the human realm! Sharing a bed with this demon was a small price to pay for his freedom. Having come to a conclusion, he nodded to himself. “Fine.”

Xuan Qi reached out to grab something—his wrist, arm, shoulder, Fu Jing didn’t know, but he immediately backed away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“…” Xuan Qi held his hand up in defence, then stepped to the side and motioned toward the cell door. “After you.”

Fu Jing was reluctant to pass him. “I don’t know where to go.”

“I’ll lead you.”

Xuan Qi’s bedroom was on the second floor, accessible by a grand staircase at the centre of the palace’s entrance hall. Fu Jing paused at the base, his gaze trailing up its elegant structure. He had visited quite a number of palaces in the human realm, but this staircase was one of the most magnificent he’d ever seen.

The black marble steps had the perfect proportion, not too steep, not too narrow; one could practically glide up and down. The golden banisters, adorned with intricate dragon motifs, gleamed under the moonlight, their craftsmanship exuding an air of graceful refinement.

The dragons were so cleverly interwoven that it practically melted into one cohesive banister, yet every minute detail, like teeth, scales and claws, could be discerned upon closer inspection.

The artist who’d created these must’ve been highly skilled. Fu Jing was utterly fascinated and could’ve admired this masterpiece for an eternity if it weren’t for Xuan Qi, who snapped him out of it.

“You coming?”

He was already halfway up the stairs when he noticed that Fu Jing had stopped moving.

At the top of the stairs, they took a right turn and made their way to the end of the hallway. They passed ornaments such as porcelain vases and small jade statues placed at regular intervals.

Fu Jing trailed behind Xuan Qi at a slow pace, turning his head in awe and pausing occasionally to marvel at the wonderfully crafted pieces.

There was only one door at the very end of this corridor—which could only lead to Xuan Qi’s bedroom. Xuan Qi patiently waited for Fu Jing to catch up before pushing the door open and motioning for him to enter.

At the centre of the room stood a large, curtained bed, spacious enough to accommodate more than two people. Fu Jing didn’t want to acknowledge it, trying to suppress the fact that he’d be spending the night in it, so he swept his gaze over the rest of the room.

The chamber featured a grand moon gate carved from dark wood, leading out to a balcony. It spanned nearly an entire wall, allowing ample moonlight to spill in and illuminate the room. Bathed in daylight, this space would’ve been beautifully bright.

Across from the bed was a simple desk with a chair, both made from wood. Apart from that, there was little else to note. Fu Jing didn’t consider Xuan Qi to be someone who indulged in fine arts, and his room was accordingly plain and unadorned. Clearly, the decorations outside the bedroom had been someone else’s doing.

No longer able to escape his fate, Fu Jing finally directed his attention to the bed. Its red gauze curtains were drawn all the way back on both sides. He placed his long, pale fingers on the dark, wooden frame, gently brushing across it as he sauntered from one edge of the bed to the other.

He sat down on the side that faced the moon gate and glanced up. Stars dotted the sky, so it could only be night. How clever of the demon to wait until it was bedtime.

Fu Jing turned his head to address Xuan Qi without looking at him. “One night in here and I can walk around on my own?”

Xuan Qi was leaning against the door frame with crossed arms, giving Fu Jing all the time and space he needed to sniff out his new quarters. “Three nights. The scent will wear off, though, so you’ll have to sleep here every day if you want to explore this realm in peace.”

Fu Jing nodded and faced the window again. The bedroom over-looked the roofs of the palace’s side houses and a broad street that was hung with red lanterns. There wasn’t a single soul on the street. With the lanterns swaying lightly in the occasional breeze, the atmosphere was oddly tranquil. Almost… peaceful.

The quiet was only interrupted by the gentle clinking of wind chimes hanging from the balcony.

Fu Jing removed his boots and lay down on the bed, facing the moon gate. When Xuan Qi approached with heavy footfalls, Fu Jing curled into a ball, trying to make himself as small as possible. As he felt the bed dip under the weight of the demon’s body, he unconsciously tightened the grip on his arms and squeezed his eyes shut.

Xuan Qi scooted closer and spooned him from behind, draping an arm over Fu Jing’s shoulder. In the same motion, he pulled a blanket over them both.

Even though Fu Jing was at once crawling with tension, his entire body as taut as a bowstring, the weight on his body felt strangely soothing, like an embrace he didn’t know he was missing. As the warmth of Xuan Qi’s body seeped into him, Fu Jing’s mind relaxed despite himself, and before he knew it, he’d drifted into a deep sleep.

When Fu Jing woke up, he felt well-rested and perfectly refreshed. He sat up, stretching his arms and yawning loudly. But as soon as his eyes fluttered open and he remembered where he was, a wave of dread washed over him. He whipped his head to the side …but the demon was gone.

Fu Jing was all alone.

By the moon gate stood a chair with a fresh set of white robes, his boots neatly arranged next to it. Fu Jing blinked at it in bemusement, then turned his head a few more times to make sure he truly was alone.

As he changed into his new robes, he caught the faint murmur of lively chatter drifting up from outside. Curious, he stepped to the window and peered down.

The street below was packed with all kinds of creatures, bustling with clamorous activity. Fu Jing thought it a bit odd—wasn’t this Xuan Qi’s private palace? Why were people visiting as if it were a market? There weren’t even any pedlars or stalls to begin with.

Drawn by the commotion, Fu Jing strode to the door. But as he reached out to open it, his hand stopped in mid-air. Despite knowing what awaited him on the other side, the thought of what else might lurk behind this door made his stomach twist.

But what else could he do? If he locked himself inside this room, wouldn’t he just admit to his fear? He couldn’t let the demon know that he was afraid. After swallowing down his anxiety, he steeled himself and, with a trembling hand, grabbed the handle.

He closed his eyes, tore it open, and…

Nothing.

He cautiously opened one eye. In front of him was the same hallway as the day before, long and empty save a few ornaments.

His heart, which had jumped to his throat, settled back into his chest. He breathed a sigh of relief and merrily walked out of the room. He had a light skip to his step when he descended the stairs.

The staircase was located right across from the palace’s entrance. Fu Jing confidently headed toward the door when a panicked voice suddenly called out.

“Sir! Please wait, sir!”

Fu Jing halted mid-step and turned around. A small, chubby yao servant was running toward him, sweating profusely.

“My Lord said you’re not to leave for another two days, sir.”

Fu Jing gave him an innocent look. “Can’t I take a stroll through the courtyards?”

“I’m afraid not, sir.”

“Why?”

“Lord’s orders, sir. Please refrain from going outside.”

“…” This annoyed Fu Jing greatly, but he yielded nonetheless. His entire contempt was directed at Xuan Qi; this little yao servant had no part in their feud. Besides, he didn’t want an innocent bystander, simply doing their job, to suffer the consequences of his insurgent actions.

With a disappointed sigh and a defeated nod, he dismissed the servant, assuring him he’d stay inside.

Later that night, Fu Jing was already in bed, his head pillowed on his arms, when Xuan Qi entered the room.

“Why can’t I go outside?”

Xuan Qi was in the process of loosening his arm guards. “It’s too dangerous.”

“As I said before…”

Xuan Qi paused and shot Fu Jing a piercing look. “Stop arguing or I’ll lock you back into your cell.”

“…”

To Fu Jing, the dungeon wasn’t a real threat. In fact, it was a lot more comforting than the demon himself. But it would also mean thwarting his only chance of escape. With a sigh, he rolled to his side, now propping his cheek up on his hand. “I’m bored.”

Xuan Qi resumed undressing. “What would you be doing in the human realm?”

“Patrol the area, help people in need, defeat evil creatures… y’know, something like you…”

Xuan Qi gave him a wry smile. “Any indoor hobbies?”

“Not really.”

“Nothing? No arts or games?”

Fu Jing hummed. “I’d play mahjong with my companions on a slow day.”

Xuan Qi smirked, his annoyance blown away all of a sudden. “I could keep you company.”

Fu Jing’s face contorted into a grimace at the thought, as if Xuan Qi had just offered him something disgusting to eat. “No thanks. I’d rather bore myself to death.”

Xuan Qi chuckled. “Be my guest, then.” Now only in his pants, he climbed into bed, wrapping himself in the blanket with only his eyes peeking out. “Sleep? Just two more nights and you’re free to go outside.”

Fu Jing’s eyes curved into a smile. The prospect of “exploring this foreign region” made him giddy with excitement. He slipped under the covers and let Xuan Qi drape his arm around him. Despite the vile deed the demon had committed not long ago, Fu Jing almost felt comfortable.

Since leaving the palace was off the table for another day, Fu Jing decided to explore the interior of the demon’s residence instead.

He had no reservations whatsoever, treating the palace as though it were his own home. He ruthlessly opened every door that was unlocked and investigated every room he had access to.

The palace had many rooms, some dark, some lit by candlelight, but only one was particularly striking.

It was a small study with no windows, packed with rows and rows of bookshelves that stretched from one end of the room to the other and up to the ceiling. The shelves were made of bamboo, and a wooden ladder leaned against one of them; otherwise, it’d be impossible to reach the highest shelf.

The floor was littered with stacks of books and scattered piles of paper. Amidst the chaos, Fu Jing could make out a desk and chair, both just as cluttered with books and scrolls as the floor.

He picked up a book at random and flipped it open, only to find it was written in an ancient script he couldn’t read. He tossed the book aside and grabbed another—same result. He tried a few more, but was out of luck. Not even the scrolls or papers were written in a way he could decipher.

Disappointed, he sighed and gave the room another once over. What a mess! Standing there with his hands on his hips, he was struck by a brilliant idea. Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

At night time, Xuan Qi’s furious bellow cut through the placid silence of the palace.

“HUMAN!!”

Fu Jing was lounging on the chair in Xuan Qi’s chamber, shouting back, “MY NAME IS FU JING!!”

Xuan Qi heaved an exasperated sigh. “Fine. FU JING!!” He barged into the bedroom, pointing out the door. “What have you done to my study?!”

Fu Jing beamed at him. “I cleaned it up!”

“Clean– it’s a bloody mess!”

Fu Jing’s face dropped. “Mess?! What do you mean it’s a mess?? It was in absolute disarray before, now you can sit on the chair and use the table again! I put a lot of work into it, show some gratitude.”

Xuan Qi’s hands curled into fists, and he took a deep breath. “It had a system. Now everything is all over the place. It’s not even sorted alphabetically—in fact there is absolutely no order to it all.”

“…” Fu Jing was quiet for a moment, then explained, “Well. I couldn’t read any of it, so I just sorted it by colour.”

“By colour…” Exasperated, Xuan Qi closed his eyes and massaged his throbbing temples with two fingers. “Maybe it really is best for you to just be outside.”

Fu Jing smirked. “Maybe.”