Chapter 115: Silver Flame

Luo Xu stared at the open chest, becoming pensive.

The chest was not only adorned with gold and jade on the outside but it's inside was also filled with treasures. However, this alone was not enough to capture Luo Xu's attention. What really caught his eye was the person curled up among those things. The person had been quietly sobbing, but when the chest was opened, he fell silent, shrinking even smaller as if he wished to disappear entirely.

“I’m not your mother,” Luo Xu said, lifting the palace lantern. He didn't shine it directly at the other person but instead asked, “Where does it hurt?”

The person wore a loose palace robe, its crimson fabric embroidered with intricate patterns exclusive to the Yin clan. The designs resembled clusters of white roses blooming on jewels. He had a childlike, petite figure, almost buried under the robe’s embroidery, with only a pair of crossed wrists exposed. Upon hearing Luo Xu's voice, the embroidered roses on the robe seemed to shiver and tremble as if caught in a violent wind.

“...Go away,” the person mumbled, “Don’t haunt me...”

Earlier, the sound of crying had been faint and unclear, but now that Luo Xu was closer, he noticed the voice was young, like that of a child. He asked, “Do I haunt you often?”

The person ignored him, muttering to himself. Luo Xu listened for a while and realised the person was reciting incantations to ward off evil spirits, although none of them were accurate—clearly the teachings of an incompetent Shifu. Luo Xu said, “You’re chanting exorcism spells, so you're not a ghost. Then why are you hiding under this robe? Come out and let me have a look.”

Feeling lost in the exotic fragrance around him, Luo Xu knew everything he saw and heard here was orchestrated by the Fragrant God, so his patience was wearing thin. He reached out and lifted the robe.

The light from the palace lantern flickered, and the pile of agate and jade lost its lustre. Beneath the robe, there really was a child! The chest was so small that even a child had to curl up with their legs tightly drawn in. With the robe lifted, Luo Xu could see clearly that the child, like a jade figurine, had his legs bent and his wrists crossed, locked in chains. The iron cuffs on his wrists were linked by chains that also bound his neck, curling him into a shape resembling a shrimp.

The child was originally quite bright and beautiful, more delicate and charming than a snowball, but now he was chained up, his face covered with dark red curse marks. Luo Xu’s heart ached sharply. Before he knew it, he had dropped the palace lantern.

“Get lost!” Little Ming Zhuo seemed terrified of the light. As soon as the robe was lifted, he began to struggle violently. The chains clattered, and his wrists and neck bled from the constriction. He screamed, “Get lost, go!”

Luo Xu grabbed the robe and wrapped Little Ming Zhuo back up. The child shivered all over, unable to break the chains, so he bit Luo Xu. His amber eyes, veined with blood, glared at Luo Xu with fierce determination, as if he’d only feel safe after tearing apart everything near him.

Using his arms skillfully, Luo Xu cradled him in his embrace. Still in a state of panic, Little Ming Zhuo bit wildly, paying no heed to anything. Luo Xu wasn’t afraid of being bitten, but the child’s frantic struggling risked him biting his own tongue. Luo Xu gripped his jaw to control him.

Little Ming Zhuo fought with all his might, his cries hoarse. The chest was kicked over, his clothing reeked of sweat and blood, the sleeves long torn from pain-induced clawing and gnawing.

Luo Xu spoke softly, “I’ll remove them, I’ll take off the chains. Ming Zhuo, I’ll take off the chains and let you go, alright? Ming Zhuo, Xiao Zhuo.”

Suddenly, Little Ming Zhuo struggled even more violently. Luo Xu quickly added, “I’m not a ghost, and I’m not Ming Han. Look, look at me, I have fire.”

A manji symbol glowed faintly, like a ripple in a sea of shadows, without any real menace. His fire was silver, blossoming and fading like a flower before Little Ming Zhuo’s eyes. The child’s pupils contracted slightly, seemingly captivated by the silver flame.

With his head lowered, Luo Xu summoned another silver flame. Like a snowflake, it vanished with a flick. He repeated this, again and again, until Little Ming Zhuo's screams finally ceased. Luo Xu gently brought the flame closer to the child. “Hold it. I’ll take off the chains.”

Little Ming Zhuo didn’t reach out, so Luo Xu blew softly. The flame turned into a thin silver light, swirling through the air before landing gently on the child’s hand. The light dissipated like raindrops, silently easing the pain caused by the blood-bound curse.

At that moment, the chains broke. Luo Xu didn’t take them, but instead opened his arms, loosening his grip around Little Ming Zhuo. His broad shoulders and height seemed to carve out a safe space amid the eerie surroundings. His tone remained lazy, without any hostility, “I did as I said, did I or not?”

The palace lantern had long gone out, and the jewels in the chest lay scattered aside. The robe that had covered Little Ming Zhuo shifted slightly as if someone else, besides them, was about to wear it.

Little Ming Zhuo’s eyes were wet, his face still streaked with tears. He looked up at Luo Xu and said, “They are all here... It’s coming to eat me!”

The Author Has Something to Say

(Tang Shifu frantically fanned the fire)

Thank you for reading.