Chapter 3: Bath Time

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Naturally, Zhe Huo didn’t really expect much from a mere child. However, she couldn’t bear to turn down such a desperate plea. Whatever, it would just be another mouth to feed. Hunting down a couple more demons should take care of that, and then her master would have nothing to complain about. Thinking so, Zhe Huo agreed to take him in.

She picked him up in her arms, lashed out with her whip, and yanked hard, soaring up through the darkness. The child held on to her with both arms, and for a moment, his brilliant blue eyes flashed with a glimmer of cunning.

Having been held back for such a long while, there was no longer any point in her pursuing the Seven-Eared Deer. At first, she’d planned to just bring him home to Lavender Mountain directly, but when she turned back and saw the little fellow silently struggling to keep up with her, she realized he was still all wretched and grubby.

She scanned their surroundings. Outside the cave, there was a waterfall feeding a gurgling stream, crystal-clear water running over smooth river pebbles.

Zhe Huo’s eyes lit up with wicked design. Snatching him up as one would a chick, she stripped off his dirty robes in one motion. The boy yelped in alarm, his ears standing up pink and pointed, and his tail immediately wrapped itself around the exposed lower half of his body. His petite little face was flushed red. “What are you doing!”

“You’re all filthy. Obviously we have to wash you clean.”

Ignoring his protests, Zhe Huo tossed him into the water with a splash. The boy thrashed about, squealing for dear life.

“Stop making such a fuss. It’s shallow water. If you want to hang around me, you’ll have to get cleaned up!” Demonstrating no sympathy for him whatsoever, Zhe Huo dunked his robes into the water as well, and watched as the boy gasped and struggled in the water.

She reached over to him, and he immediately seized her hand as though it was his only hope of survival. His light brown fur was dripping wet, and he was sputtering water, gazing up at her pathetically.

Zhe Huo felt her heart waver. Sternly, she snapped at him, “Well, what are you waiting for? Get to washing!”

Choking for breath, the child sobbed. “I can’t swim, and my legs don’t reach the bottom.”

Zhe Huo stifled a chortle, and pulled the boy over to her. She splashed more water onto him, such that he couldn’t even keep his eyes open. Frustrated, he tried to push her away, but she would not be denied. More and more, she was coming to discover what fun it was to torment the boy.

When she finally pulled him out of the stream, he stood naked and dripping wet on the river bank, his tail wrapped around his modesty. His face was bright red, but he watched intently as Zhe Huo washed his clothes for him.

The young woman was clad in a brightly colored long yellow dress. The fine, delicate fabric, now soaking wet, clung to her body and accentuated her statuesque feminine form. The skirt of her dress floated upon the water’s surface, scattered with droplets here and there, catching the dappled sunlight upon the water.

Raven black hair cascaded down her shoulders, stray locks dancing in the breeze, along with the green silk ribbon tied around it. A ponytail bobbed gently about, and a few wet strands framed her face.

Beneath elegant arched brows, lightly touched with brown, her eyes were half-closed, but one could still see her clear, radiant eyes. From here, her face was only visible in profile, but cast in the sunlight reflected off the water, her features were as exquisite and fair as purest white jade-stone. Now and again, her delicate lips curved into a teasing smile—as though she’d thought of something amusing.