Chapter 30: Volume 1_Chapter 30 How to Capture the Proud Ghost King? (11)

Volume 1_Chapter 30 How to Capture the Proud Ghost King? (11)

What she said wasn't to deceive him; since she knew how to stay, she planned to stay and help him.

Before Zhan Wu Jin departed for the battlefield, Jiang Zhi wanted to give him a beautiful memory, at least so that he wouldn't be so perverted even after ten thousand years.

Supporting him into the room, Jiang Zhi said seriously: "Little brat, from today on I will train you and teach you martial arts."

Zhan Wu Jin's eyes, covered with black cloth, drooped; his small frame stiffened, and he whispered: "But, but my body."

He now cannot see with his eyes, and his body is extremely weak. Practicing martial arts with Fairy older sister, he fears disappointing her expectations.

Jiang Zhi stepped forward, half-squatted, took his hands, and said with a bright smile: "Don't worry, I will cure your eyes; besides, you are very capable, I believe in you."

The girl's clear, pleasant voice sounded like a mountain spring, emanating infinite power.

When his hands touched her soft fingers, Zhan Wu Jin paused for a long while, then suddenly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"Why, why are you so good to me?"

As those people said, he is a monster, destined to bring misfortune and disaster to others.

Everyone wishes to stay far away from him, but why, why does she treat him so well?

Jiang Zhi raised her eyes, gazing at the boy before her who was sunk in inferiority and negative emotions, she lightly sighed and said: "You deserve it."

As soon as her words fell.

The boy's black cloth over his eyes was soaked with tears, which seeped out and trickled down the corners of his eyes, drop by drop striking the back of his hand.

This was the first time he cried since he became aware; even though everyone feared him, bullied him, insulted him, and even came close to killing him hundreds of times.

Jiang Zhi's gaze fell on his tears, she froze for a moment, then soothed: "Don't cry."

Zhan Wu Jin raised the back of his hand and wiped away his tears haphazardly; through the black cloth, his blurred eyes could faintly see the girl's facial contours before him, and his pale lips twitched slightly upward.

He restrained himself, pulling back his fingers and placing them on the bedside edge, nodding in response: "Fairy older sister, I will practice martial arts."

When Jiang Zhi saw the smile at the corner of his mouth, she was stunned for a moment, then realized how handsome his smile was, like an angel's.

The palace was desolate and dilapidated; moreover, Zhan Wu Jin was avoided by the palace people like a plague god, so even the eunuch who looked after him rarely came here.

Over these months, Jiang Zhi improved his diet and applied medicine to his eyes, and his injuries have largely healed.

Having taught him some basic moves to adjust his frail physique, during this period the boy's body visibly became stronger.

On the contrary, Jiang Zhi grew increasingly lazy, sleeping until late morning; upon leaving her room she saw the boy practicing his moves in the sunlight.

After these months of conditioning and training, compared to when he first arrived, the boy had grown considerably taller, no longer frail, standing tall like a pine, his physique now that of a normal youth.

Jiang Zhi smiled satisfactorily.

She continually stole large fish and meat from the Imperial Kitchen to bring back for him to nourish him, just to see this effect.

As Zhan Wu Jin was training, his peripheral vision caught her silhouette; he stopped his movements and walked toward her.

His eyes had already healed, but having not been exposed to sunlight for so long, he was somewhat photophobic, so he still kept the black cloth wrapped.

Jiang Zhi took out a handkerchief, reached up to wipe his forehead, and asked: "How long have you been training?"

Zhan Wu Jin felt her soft fingers; his body stiffened abruptly, his face flushed red, and his smoky-blue eyes, visible through the black cloth, stared fixedly at the approaching girl.

"Three double-hours."

Jiang Zhi was astonished.

"Six hours? That means he started training before dawn."

"Strong."

Jiang Zhi thought, the last fish in the palace had been eaten last night; she got ready to go out to the Imperial Kitchen.

The Imperial Kitchen had a wide variety of food, with stockpiles so abundant they couldn't be finished; the palace staff wouldn't check every item, so she could steal easily without arousing suspicion.

Zhan Wu Jin saw her out of the Palace Gate, watching her distant silhouette disappear.

His peripheral vision caught a shadow lurking in the corner; he narrowed his eyes and walked over.

Hiding in the corner was the eunuch responsible for looking after Zhan Wu Jin; he hadn't come to the palace for a long time, but today he made a trip and saw this scene.

If an imperial concubine and a prince were living together, and this reached the Emperor's ears, that monster would surely be executed!

Just as the eunuch, elated, wanted to tell others this news, his vision went dark; the boy had somehow appeared before him.

The eunuch wasn't afraid either, crossing his arms and glaring at him, he jeered: "Sixteenth Prince, you really aren't afraid of death, daring to fool around with the Emperor's concubine!"

Zhan Wu Jin's face showed no emotion; his eyes, bound with black cloth, made him look even colder, his features revealing no trace of innocence, yet covered with a hint of settled gloom.

"Do you know who she is?"

The eunuch, thinking he was afraid, sneered: "She is the Ninth Princess of Qingyang Kingdom, bestowed in marriage to Your Majesty and ennobled as a Noble Person. Her appearance is not outstanding, her status low, so naturally she receives no favor. But even so, if Your Majesty learns of this, not only she but you too will be put to death!"

"You say you're a monster who, even before death, drags others down—indeed, as the National Preceptor said, you are a Demon King reborn."

Zhan Wu Jin suddenly tore off the black cloth covering his eyes; a pair of smoky-blue eyes like glass beads were revealed, the dark malice lurking in the depths of his pupils sending chills down one's spine.

"Yes." He said nonchalantly, "I am a Demon King reborn; I will kill everyone in this palace, including you."

The words fell.

The eunuch didn't even make a sound as the blade pierced his heart; his eyes shut and he collapsed to the ground.

Zhan Wu Jin stood where he was, carefully wiping the blood from his fingers; after a moment he reached out, grabbed the eunuch's legs, and dragged him away.

Jiang Zhi returned carrying food; as she passed the Palace Gate she caught a faint scent but couldn't identify what it was.

She quickly dismissed it, entered the Palace Interior, and saw the boy holding a broom, sweeping the floor.

"I just realized tonight is New Year's Eve!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, setting the food on the table and walking to his side: "Let's spend the night together to welcome the new year!"

Zhan Wu Jin stared blankly, obviously not understanding the meaning of her words.

She always says things he doesn't understand; that must be her native language.

Jiang Zhi saw this, thought a moment, and repeated it in ancient speech.

Zhan Wu Jin nodded in agreement.

"Keeping watch."

Those festivals were all the same to him.

But this time, it was different.

Keeping vigil with the fairy sister, Zhan Wu Jin's pupils, hidden behind black cloth, were flecked with a glimmer of light.

They pasted upside-down fu cut-outs on the Palace Gate, and Jiang Zhi made him a set of clothes from fabric, and made one for herself as well.

Without that full-length skirt, Jiang Zhi felt much more at ease.

She prepared a tableful of dishes, abundant and complete in color, aroma, and flavor.

Early spring.

The sky was dyed a dark bluish-black, the night was silent, there was no moon tonight, and everything between heaven and earth was a uniform, deep darkness.