Evil Spirit - chapter 19

Chapter 19

“Sorry, Li Jiaojiao said what she likes can only be unique.” Duan Qinglian smiled faintly, his fingertip tracing the rim of the cup before him.

The three young ladies had long been left befuddled by the conversation between the two. Even now, as Duan Qinglian spoke, they still looked utterly at a loss.

“But I’ve thought of a way.”

“Have you seen Cricket Fighting? You put Crickets into a Fighting Box, and the one that survives is the unique one. What do you think?”

This time, not only the three girls, but even Li Jiaojiao was baffled. What new realization had his convoluted mind produced now?

“Hehe… Young Master, please don’t joke, how can a Cricket be compared to a human life?”

One of the young women tugged at the corner of her mouth, her smile stiff. The young master before her had gentle eyes and a soft tone, yet his smile began to make her feel uneasy.

“Killing a Cricket only requires a pinch; killing a person is the same. Why can’t they be compared?” Duan Qinglian tilted his head, picked up his teacup, and gently swirled the cold tea inside.

His smile was calm, perhaps even softer than before, like mist drifting over endless waterfalls. Words so cruel seemed, at that moment, as gentle as a dulled sword.

“Y-Young Master… I just remembered there’s something I need to attend to at home today, so I’ll take my leave first.”

The woman who had just invited Duan Qinglian to go boating suddenly stood up, her movements a bit flustered, the round stool beneath her knocked over with a muffled sound.

The noise was like a signal; the other two young ladies snapped out of their daze and stood up as well.

They all realized it: this young master looked as if he had the face of an immortal carved from jade, but inside he was entirely different. At first, they merely thought he spoke a bit strangely, but now, seeing how serious he was, maybe he really would pinch them to death like he said he would with a Cricket.

The three had just taken a few steps when their feet could move no further. Looking down, they saw several fine Sword Lines had somehow wound around their ankles, tightening in circles.

“What are you doing?!”

Li Jiaojiao grabbed Duan Qinglian’s wrist, afraid that if he used any more force, the Sword Line would sever the girls’ ankles.

“I’m listening to you. You said what you like can only be unique, so I’ll make sure there’s only one left among them.” Duan Qinglian smiled, lips pursed, twisting the Sword Line around his fingers and pulling the girl in the middle back.

Heavens… She meant you should only like one, not that only one of them should survive!

That girl’s legs stiffly stumbled backward, and as she turned, her waist struck the edge of the table with such force that her expression twisted in pain. Even so, she held back tears and pleaded for mercy.

“Young Master, I beg you, let me go. I overstepped, I shouldn’t have disturbed you.”

“Weren’t you just asking if I’d go boating? If you win against them in Cricket Fighting, I’ll go with you. How about that?”

Her pleas for mercy were simply ignored.

“Duan Qinglian, let go of them!” Li Jiaojiao tried to tear at the Sword Line binding the girls, but it was pulled so taut and straight that it sliced her finger open in an instant.

“Hiss…”

The wound was rather deep, and a bead of blood immediately welled up from her fingertip. But more than that, Li Jiaojiao was concerned about the tea guests in the main hall-such a commotion was already drawing the attention of the upstairs patrons.

“Ah Qing, let them go.” Li Jiaojiao softened her voice as much as possible, coaxing him as one would coax a child.

Duan Qinglian frowned slightly, his gentle face tinged with distress. “What exactly do you want?”

…Shouldn’t I be asking you that?

Her blood pressure rose again, but Li Jiaojiao still held back her temper and continued to coax: “You still don’t understand what I just said. Look at how frightened you’ve made the girls. However much they liked you, you’ve scared them away.”

“I don’t want their affection.”

“…Then what are you doing?”

The Sword Line twisted around his fingertips quivered, and the vibration traveled along the line to the girls’ ankles. That light touch immediately sent another wave of terror through them.

“Of course, to play Cricket Fighting.”

Duan Qinglian, pleased by the girls’ frightened expressions, gave another low laugh.

As expected, she should never have normal expectations for Duan Qinglian’s logic.

“Then I’ll play with you. Let them go.”

The pad of Duan Qinglian’s finger paused on the Sword Line. He tilted his head, as if considering, and after a moment, replied, “No.”
“Why?” Refused so decisively, Li Jiaojiao couldn’t help but feel a little indignant.

“They have three people to play with, and you only have one.”

Thanks, that really pissed her off!

“But they can run. I can’t.” Li Jiaojiao suppressed the urge to smack him, forcing herself to continue.

At last, the Sword Line wound tightly around his fingertips loosened. Duan Qinglian turned to her, his clear, icy pupils reflecting her face.

“Absolutely not.”

“Fine.” As if weighing which was more interesting-Li Jiaojiao or the three girls-Duan Qinglian chose the former.

The Sword Line released, and the girls immediately turned and stumbled out in a panic.

Like wild horses let loose…

Li Jiaojiao let out a long sigh of relief. Not only her-everyone in the Teahouse did the same. Once the danger had passed, the patrons turned back to their tea, and the low hum of idle conversation quietly resumed.

She couldn’t help but marvel: This world is really tolerant of perverts, huh.

“I’ve kept my word and let them go. Now, you should keep your promise. How do you want me to play with you?”

?!

Li Jiaojiao jolted, quickly turning to cover Duan Qinglian’s mouth.

“Keep your voice down!”

A moist, whispering breath pressed against her palm. His uncovered eyes blinked gently, filled with pure innocence.

“Why? You clearly promised me earlier-you’d let me play…”

“Accompany you to play! Accompany you to play!” Li Jiaojiao pressed her hand even tighter, afraid he would blurt out something even more outrageous.

But it was too late. The gazes that had just shifted away from their table swept over again, and Li Jiaojiao could only force a couple of awkward laughs.

Help! How can he say such suggestive things with such a pure face!!

Li Jiaojiao released her hand, fanning her flushed cheeks. The faint, cool fragrance left on her palm made her already burning face even hotter; she felt even the tips of her ears were melting.

Duan Qinglian smiled, gathering the scattered Sword Line back into his palm, segment by segment. “So, have you decided how you want to play with me?”

Li Jiaojiao slapped her cheeks, dizzy from the heat, and shook her head vigorously.

“You haven’t decided yet,” Duan Qinglian murmured.

After a moment’s pause, he tilted his head, those beautiful eyes fluttering lightly. “Then use candy as a substitute. I want to eat candy.”

Li Jiaojiao blinked, stopped fanning, and leaned in to study that face, more flawless than jade. “Are you really Duan Qinglian?”

If Duan Qinglian had just said, “In that case, how about you accompany me in a game where you try not to get your neck twisted by my Sword Line,” or “Let’s play a guessing game-guess when I’ll strangle you,” Li Jiaojiao would actually have found him more normal.

“Is there a second Duan Qinglian?” Duan Qinglian didn’t seem to mind at all.

“No, no, no.”

Li Jiaojiao shook her head repeatedly. One was terrifying enough.

With that, she unfastened the little pouch of candy at her waist and was just about to take out some sweets when Duan Qinglian spoke again. “I want all of it.”

“All of it?” Li Jiaojiao clutched her candy pouch. “You just said my candy was too sweet. Aren’t you afraid of a toothache if you eat so much?”

Duan Qinglian said nothing, only cradling his chin and smiling at her.

The main doors of the Teahouse were wide open. Horse carriages bustled past outside; wheels and hooves stirred up dust that swept inside, lifting the locks of hair at his cheeks. The sunlight filtering through the paper windows painted a soft glow over his arched brows and smiling eyes.

He looked kind and approachable, but only Li Jiaojiao knew what lay beneath that smiling mask.

She chose to yield.

“Fine, I’ll give you all of it.”

Untying the pouch’s drawstring, the glistening candies rolled inside with a tempting sound.

But Duan Qinglian showed no intention of taking them.

“You’re not after my candy pouch too, are you?!”

Li Jiaojiao hugged the pouch to her chest. The golden embroidered tiger on the red silk shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

“My father asked the best embroiderer in the palace to stitch this, based on my zodiac. It’s been with me a long time-I’m attached to it.”

…

“Don’t tell me… you’re also a tiger?”