"One problem ends and the other rears its head the next second. I wish I was dead right now so that I won't have to deal with this shit" Fu Hua really wanted to demand an extended vacation after dealing with all these problems.

When he had been a slave before he had hardly found time to complain. If one work finished then another reared its ugly head. Life as Xiao Lan's secretary had not been any easier either.

If it had not been working, then it would have been to look after the ministers and their interests which he found disgusting. Moreover, he had to maintain a neutral standpoint so that it did not look like he had been favouring any specific group.

The only relaxed time had been when he had defected and joined the opposition. While the workload had not lessened, the demand for perfection had not been that glaring. It was almost relaxing to his nerves.

God, Fu Hua missed those days. If not for these chains and spells, Fu Hua would have left long ago.

"Isn't this your kind's fault? Demonic practices are banned for a reason" Xiao Lan could not help but explode a little. What had Fu Hua been expecting when he had popularised such practices to the common public?

Unlike nobility, common people did not have the means to understand these things and could easily make mistakes.

Xiao Lan ignored the fact that he had made a mistake as well when handling it but that had to be expected. He had no real practice in such arts after all.

"Please don't generalise us all. Art is art and it depends on the user how it is used. And what does a kid like you know about 'my kind' exactly? You are still wet behind your ears to make such comments" What did the kid know?

The kid had so easily insulted all the demonic practitioners without even knowing all the facts. Most people who had learned these practices had no other choice. It had been a life and death situation for them and the kid had no right to speak like this.

Had he been insulting Fu Hua, it would have been no problem since Fu Hua had done really bad things but this hate should not be extended to normal people at all.

"I said what I said. Since everyone has a choice then they should choose any other way that would not harm others. What demonic practice does is twist one's heart and mind. It's disgusting and so are its users" Xiao Lan would know since it was what had changed Fu Hua.

Normally, Fu Hua would have laughed it off but not right now. For some reason, this kid got under his skin and irritated him. Maybe it was the face or the voice that was so reminiscent of Xiao Lan who had never really questioned him before.

"It even caused someone as loyal as you, 'The guardian of Hua' to deflect so what can you expect from the normal people?" the voice came out bitter, Xiao Lan's insecurities showing.

"Things are not as you think, kid. What happened was unavoidable and it was a long time coming too. Besides, it's not something you need to understand. We all made our decisions long ago" what did the kid know? It had been for the betterment of everyone.

In the end, even Xiao Lan had agreed that it would be for the better should Fu Hua no longer exist. Hadn't that been the reason he had been put into that hell? For Fu Hua to not sully survive?

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The other had understood him so well but had still come to hate Fu Hua in the end. This kid thought he knew nothing and he still reached the same conclusion as Xiao Lan had.

Maybe the apple really did not fall far off from the tree.

"Think what you want kid but this situation has already occurred. The beast of the mist has already been summoned and it will become a problem sooner rather than later" the beast was still shadowy in its look, not yet solid.

It would take time and energy for it to regain its original form and they only had that much time to deal with it.

"Fu Hua you...... Fine, tell me what you have planned" Xiao Lan had half a mind to kill the other for what he had done to him. Even now he did not seem apologistic at all.

Fine, if the other was not apologetic enough then neither was Xiao Lan. He would wait for this situation to be dealt with before he would finish the other once and for all.

But his curiosity still burned bright. How had Fu Hua come to be with noble Lee at all? Should he ask right now?

"Fu Hua, what had you been-" Xiao Lan could not finish that train of thoughts before he was cut off by a small hand wave. Fu Hua was signalling him to stay quiet and despite all the mistrust between them, Xiao Lan could not help but follow the military signal.

"There might come a time when I answer everything asked of me but it's not the time and you are not the person who needs to hear this from me. Also, let's take care of that monster first before anything else" Xiao Lan burned with curiosity.

He was not the one who needed to hear this? He? Xiao Lan? Not the one who needed the answers? Then who was the one who deserved them?

"Xiao Ran, do not space out" Xiao Lan did not react at first. He had not even realised that Fu Hua had called his alias. His mind was still in a raged haze and his hands clenched unconsciously.

"Xiao Ran" the shove came far too quick for Xiao Lan to react. His body jerked to the side as he lost his balance and his daze broke. His alias finally registered in his mind and his sanity came back to him in drops.

The rage did not lessen though.

"Fu Hua, what are you planning?" the prince could not help but be suspicious of the other. Since the fog was just setting in their present position, Xiao Lan could still see Fu Hua who had pushed him aside.

"It's nothing. I just felt like we were in danger and I reacted subconsciously. Though you are also at fault for not reacting when I called your name several times" the other's cloak hid most of his body but even the thick cloak was begging to show small wet patches.

Xiao Lan was willing to bet his position as the prize on the fact that it was no sweat. Fu Hua was bleeding and wounded from numerous wounds.

Fu Hua had amazing reflexes and instincts, Xiao Lan knew that much. The other had described it as 'being born talented' but the people at the academy master had once said something different.

'People like them are rare. Being constantly in danger has honed their senses a lot more than humanly possible. It would not be wrong to say that they are more beasts than humans at this point that had been a long-forgotten conversation Xiao Lan had.

It had originally enraged him. How dare the academy master say this about a human who had helped Xiao Lan so much. But thinking back, maybe he had a point.

"Do you have a plan to deal with the monster at least?" the prince could not help but ask the other. Xiao Lan felt a little helpless in this situation. Had this been his real body he would have had no problem killing that beast at all.

But who knew when he would lose the hold on his powers and put everyone in danger. If Fu Hua was a master of control and learning then Xiao Lan had been a tank full of uncontrolled power.

The control just lacked even more in his current form.

"About that. I was thinking that I could distract the beast while you repair the array. I assume that you have had a little practice in this thing since you decided to check this place out and this way you'll be safe as well. What do you say?" Fu Hua could not afford for the young master to get hurt.

He owed that much to Xiao Lan at least. To keep his cousin safe would be a big step in paying others back even a little.

"No" Xiao Lan refused.

"Great, so I'll go distract that monster now" Fu Hua completely missed the answer. In his defence, he had not expected the other to flat out refuse his proposal.

"Fu Hua, I said no. I have no practical knowledge and I cannot repair the array" the slave who was getting ready to fight stopped at those words and turned toward the kid with a deadpan expression.

"Are you killing me? What kind of situation have you forced me into?" Xiao Lan had no answer to it so he remained quiet throughout.