Chapter 10 Cold Night, Broken Temple
"Too lacking in loyalty. You played at eloping and did not bring the two of us." Shen Yiluo ran up out of breath and pointed at the two of us, scolding. "I will not be friends with you from now on!"
Xie Linmu's face was dark. "Then stop being friends with us. The two of us want a world of two. What did you follow for?"
"Eh?" Shen Yiluo set her hands on her waist. "You still want a world of two? No. With me here, it has to be four people."
Xie Linmu started a fire and roasted a chicken while swallowing his anger.
The elopement had been a sudden whim. We had brought no money, and we had brought two burdens. Xie Linmu looked utterly miserable. A few unprepared people huddled in a broken temple, so cold we shivered.
"Out to play and you brought no money. I truly give up." Qiao Qingmiao complained while roasting the chicken.
I rubbed my arms and complained along. "Fine if Xie Linmu was dull and brought no money. Are the two of you dull too?"
Shen Yiluo said, "Did I not think the two of you had brought some?"
"Enough, enough." Xie Linmu broke off a chicken leg for me. "Chicken is fragrant enough."
I took it and ate with a muffled sound. I was not that angry after all. A rare outing still counted as new.
The moon was black and the wind was high. The night watch stretched on.
Shen Yiluo got another whim. She worked up a ghost story and, full of interest, wanted to tell it to us.
I was scared, so I did not want to listen. I did not know what madness had taken Xie Linmu. He would not let go of my arm. He sat upright beside Shen Yiluo, one brow tip raised, like a lecher. "Do not be afraid. Big Brother will protect you."
I guessed he was holding nothing good. I glared at him and still sat honestly beside him.
Qiao Qingmiao held Shen Yiluo and put on the look of someone about to be very afraid.
Xie Linmu turned back to look at me and freed a hand. "Hurry up and be scared."
"..."
I ignored him and propped my chin to listen to Shen Yiluo. That wretch Xie Linmu snatched the hand under my chin without warning, and my chin knocked straight onto my knee.
In a rush of anger I reached out and pinched him. He wore a wicked grin and tightened his hold on my hand.