Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Tian Chen touched down and strode off. His feet tapped with authority, echoing down the long entry hall. Waterfalls flanked the hall, rushing down into the lake far below. Flowers grew out of the gem walls, glittering in bright blue, red, and yellow. Through the gem floor, the sparkling lake glittered. Carp swam around.

Hui glanced around, hesitant to touch the floor. Er, am I allowed to touch that? It looks way too fancy for me… If I break it, I can’t repay you, Senior!

Tian Chen looked back. His eyes narrowed.

Hui quickly touched down and hurried after him. Right… let’s just obey our tyrant CEO right now.

Servants with red, blue, or yellow hair with dragon horns pushing through their locks came up to Tian Chen, offering him tidbits and taking excess. One offered to take Tian Lan, but he waved his hand, sending her away. She turned and vanished without another word. Another two servants fussed about Tian Lan, fixing her hair and cleaning her face, until she waved a tiny tyrannical hand and waved them off, the same as her father.

The servants ignored Hui. Quietly, he let out a sigh. Phew. I think I would die if I had people waiting on me like that. I wouldn’t know what to do. I’m more suited to waiting on people than being waited on.

Under the hall, the lake gave way to the lily pad. The palace swallowed them up, bright blue light pouring down like water. Images of Tian Chen’s heroism, carved directly into the hallway’s walls, depicted one fantastic act after another—Tian Chen slaying a monster, Tian Chen saving a maiden, Tian Chen besting a mausoleum, one after another, seemingly endless. The walls stretched just thick enough to not let light through, the gems just a bit occluded in their depths so that outsiders couldn’t see through to the palace’s heart. Massive hallways stretched in all directions, large enough to fit a three-lane highway, leading to school-gym-sized rooms. Treasures, richly upholstered furniture, tapestries, carvings, gems, statues, and wall scrolls filled each room, so lavishly covering the walls

Stunned, Hui stared with big eyes, afraid to even speak in the face of such luxury.

Tian Chen led Hui to a small room in the palace’s depths, though the room only counted as small compared to the rest of the palace. A dining room table, large enough to seat twelve, stretched down the center of the palace, and didn’t even fill a quarter of the room. A portrait of Tian Chen stared down from the far wall.

“Sit,” Tian Chen ordered Hui, pulling out the chair at the head of the table.

Hui glanced around, then picked a chair near Tian Chen and smiled. I’ve never understood why people talking to tyrannical CEOs always pick the opposite head of the table. It’s easier to talk if we’re closer together. Who’d willingly sit on the other side of the room?

Tian Chen blinked at Hui.

Hui gestured for Tian Chen to go ahead.

Snorting under his breath, Tian Chen adjusted his hold on Tian Lan and nodded at Hui. “Should we send the little ones to go play in the next room?”

Zhubi hissed ferociously, baring his snake fangs.

Hui patted his head. “Er, I’m not sure it’s a good idea…”

“I’ll have the servants watch them,” Tian Chen said, his tone suggesting it wasn’t an offer that could be refused.

A pair of blonde servants appeared from the wings. Tian Chen handed Tian Lan to one, and the other offered her arms to Zhubi.

Hui glanced at Tian Chen, then nodded at Zhubi. For some reason, he wants Zhubi out of the room. Hopefully it’s not to take a hostage… but from the look on his face? It’s something else. “Zhubi, will you go? Or would you rather fly around outside?”

Zhubi looked at Hui, then jumped out of his arms. Pointedly walking by himself, he followed the servant away. At the door, he turned back at Hui and hissed.

“I’ll be careful,” Hui assured him, waving a goodbye.

Zhubi hesitated one more second, then nodded and walked away.

Tian Chen waited, his fingers knitted, elbows on the table. He stared over his fingers at Hui, completely silent.

Hui stared at the table in cowed silence, equally waiting. Er, is he waiting? Is he waiting for me to say something? What should I say? I don’t know why he brought me here! Senior, I can’t speak if you don’t tell me what you want me to say! Give me a hint. I’m begging you. A clue! Anything!

More silence. Tian Chen stared at Hui, and Hui stared at the table. Sweat ran down his back. Senior… Senior, pleas. Is this some new form of torture? Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just tell me. Waiting here is the worst.

Wait, he sent the kids away. Does that mean he’s about to commit violence so extreme that he doesn’t want his daughter or Zhubi to see? Is he going to kill me viciously? Hui shivered. He swallowed, eyeing the exit. There’s no way I can get out of here before he attacks, is there? But maybe if I run for it, then play dead, then run for it again, I’ll be able to get far enough to have a shot at running.

But he’s so much higher realm than me. There’s no way I could escape. I’ll just have to commit to playing dead and hope he doesn’t have evil in mind for Zhubi!

Tian Chen turned toward Hui. He opened his mouth.

“Spare me, Senior!” Hui cried, ducking in his seat.

“What?”

Hui peeked up. “What?”

Tian Chen squinted at him, lost.

Oh, wait. Is he not going to kill me? Hui sat up and quickly straightened his robes. He gestured kindly toward Tian Chen. “Senior, please go ahead. Ignore this small cultivator.”

Clearing his throat, Tian Chen drew himself up to his full height. “That child you brought… he is no dragon.”