Harker's eyes widened. "The one who sold you? Wasn't it that Mr. Xi and his men offered to give you help after that accident with the deep-sea miners?"
"Yes, but someone told him about us. Someone recommended him to do that." Princess Jinzhu said. "I am sure now. I have pretty good hearing too, you know. Not just my sisters. I have listened to the guards outside talking about it."
She clenched her fist, her sharp claws appearing and injuring her as her aggression was triggered just by the thought.
"Some demon sold information about us. I want to know who that is, and make him pay."
Harker was surprised, and didn't know what to say. Logically, it's not a good plan for a mermaid like Princess Jinzhu to look for a demon who lives on land. She doesn't even know a single thing about his identity, other than that he was a man and he had connections with Mr. Xi.
But seeing her filled with determination like that, he felt the urge to help her achieve that somehow…. She deserved justice for the wrongs done to her and her people.
Their conversation was interrupted when another tough-looking bodyguard rushed towards them from outside the factory.
"Mr. Jones! We have a problem! You need to communicate with Mr. Faust outside immediately!"
Harker squinted at this. He turned to Princess Jinzhu, who also looked confused and anxious by this news.
"What's wrong?" Harker picked up the walkie-talkie and went outside. "What did he say?"
He pressed the button to get connected to Roland. Instantly, he heard rugged breaths and gunshots.
"Harker! Mr. Xi and his other men are coming to the factory soon! Evacuate the area immediately as we would have to detonate the bombs faster!"
"What!?" Harker exclaimed. "But why? Weren't the bombs only supposed to detonate once you stole the Shard from him so I can fight him outside the factory?"
"Yes, but he suddenly made the gift-giving ceremony earlier! It's already finished, I already had the Shard. Then somehow he knew what's going on and had his guards aim their guns at the guests and tell us to stay still as he ran to the factory!"
Harker's heart went cold at this. He still somehow knew, even without hypnotizing Roland.
How…..
Then, he now spotted the figure of a long-haired man. His hair just grew longer and longer, until it became like thick black tendrils covering everything. It went to stretch all the way inside the factory—
And before Harker could dodge it, it took hold of him too. He brought Harker to him, and Harker quickly closed his eyes.
"Ah, it seems that you guys had thrown another party without me. Not good, son." Mr. Xi said…..
As he nuzzled Harker's face with his cheek. "If only you behaved…. I would have been like a Father that will give you my love and protection forever."
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Mr. Xi sip on his champagne while looking at the people surrounding him. So many people…..
He remembered the first time he got out of the well. He was surrounded by so many people that time too. Most of them were like him, with green eyes, long black hair and scales all over their body.
"You have grown now, my child. It's time that I train you and teach you how to attack our enemies." His father said. "We are currently battling the Bai clan. They are currently at war, and you are tasked to infiltrate them as they do not know of your identity yet. Find their weaknesses and information about the leaders of the Bai family."
That was on his real 69th birthday. He looked like a young man back then, about 19 years old. The Xi clan did not greet him or celebrated his birth. They simply gave him the mission, and what he must do to protect their clan.
In the Xi clan, family does not mean that you have to 'love' one another. Showing affection by greeting during birthdays, reading your children bedtime stories, that kind of thing.
Family simply means ensuring that every member does their part, that the clan's name was protected, and that all threats would be eradicated.
That was what love meant to them. Even if one may bear hatred or disagree with what the other had said, they cannot abandon family. Any traitors would not be banished, but instead imprisoned and kept 'safe' by cutting off their legs or being thrown into wells just like Mr. Xi was.
Mr. Xi had grown to believe that love was the most true love.
Especially when his dear Xiao Niao died. That bird who was his only friend.
Spending 68 whole years under a well, Mr. Xi only had Xiao Niao. Xiao Niao was small enough to fit into the gaps of the bars locking the well.
"Xiao Niao, what do you want to eat today?" He would ask the tiny bird, as he present the food thrown to him. "We have a deer for this morning, and some bamboo shoots. I prefer meat, so I bet you like it too!"
He tried to offer the tiny bird meat, but the bird did not eat it. Xi Jiaoshe was uneducated after all in his years stuck in a well, so he did not know that Xiao Niao was a sparrow and only eats fruits, seeds and insects.
"You don't like meat? You can have bamboo shoots then." He took small strips of it and fed the bird.
Xiao Niao nuzzled its small head on his cheek as thanks. It ate bamboo shoots, and the boy experienced joy for the first time. Taking care and protecting this bird was the first thing that genuinely made him happy.
But once Xiao Niao flew away, it died. And so, not having his protection in safety must mean death to all things that make him feel happy.
That's why, when another baby bird fell onto his lap…
"You want some bamboo shoots, Ni Niao?" He asked, smiling. "Here you go…."
Ni Niao went to eat the strips of bamboo shoot. While it was busy eating…..
His hair grew and constricted the bird, tying down its wings. It struggled, but Xi Jiaoshe had tied it tight. He took the little birdie to his palm and nuzzled its head on his cheek.
"Now you will be safe forever! Nothing can ever harm you while you're here by my side, Ni Niao!"
When he had a wife and child, he did the same thing.
He gave them food to eat, but also tied them down with constant reminders that if they did try to escape from him, he could easily find them just through his abilities and his followers.
"Don't touch me. I can sit by myself." Lady Aixiang took his hand off her waist.
"Haha, I knew that, dear. I just want you to be careful." Mr. Xi said as he went behind her chair. "Hua-Hua, stand properly, please."
The little girl with red pigtails scoffed. "Why can't I go to school yet? Why do I have to stay in this house for hundreds of years unlike the other kids?"
"Well, your body is too frail for the outside world. You have to grow up first before I let you outside." He said. "Then, you can go beyond Mt. Kunlun and bath in the Huang He river to get rid of your scales."
"It's not fair! I'm sick of living in this cave! I wanna see the sky outside!" She stomped her foot and tried to run towards the exit—
But hair constricted her, and brought her back to the living room.
"Not good, Xi Hua. I guess I should keep you inside the well too for a while."
Xi Hua's eyes widened. "NO! NOT THE WELL! I HATE THE WELL! NO!"
He just chuckled. "If you behave for this portrait, then I won't bring you down the well. It truly is too slimy and murky anyway, not a good place for a proper lady."
Xi Hua cried and cried. "I will behave now…. Just please don't lock me down that well, Father…."
He nuzzled his daughter's face just as he does with his birds. "That's my girl. Very good."
He set her down gently, and the snake-demon painter continued painting the family portrait.
Mr. Xi puts his hand over his wife and his daughter's shoulder, promising.
"If you behave, Father will love you so and will protect you forever."
He sighed as he was back to the present, done with reminiscing.
"And they broke that promise. Too bad. It seems it's not just girls who never learn their lessons, but boys too."
Mr. Xi just gave a smile as the blond boy walked out of the bathroom. He did not seem to notice the small bug that he had put on him today when they had their small talk. Just like how he did not notice the one he put on his first visit, when they hugged. That was how he heard Harker Jones' voice and learned about their plans.
His father did not pick him to be a spy on the Bai clan for nothing, after all.
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