Chapter 2
His emerald eyes were overly eager, hesitating as if he had more to say. At twelve, she seemed to understand yet not, her cheeks flushing slightly with warmth.
“Elisa, I sneaked out to a nearby village last night and overheard some uncles chatting,” he said.
Seeing her frown, he laughed, “I was very careful, nobody saw me. They talked about people overseas, with skin as white as mine, some with green or blue eyes. They don’t all have black hair like me; there are redheads and blondes. If I went there, no one would think of me as a monster. Do you think such a wonderful place really exists?”
She nodded, “I’ve heard my mother mention that people in some countries overseas look quite different from us.”
“Is there really such a place?” His eyes sparkled with excitement, “One day, I’ll go there! There, I can walk freely on the streets without anyone pointing fingers at me, no one wanting to kill me! I can live in peace there, right?”
Fool, it’s not because of your eye color or skin color that everyone wants you dead, she thought with a sigh, unwilling to shatter his dream, looking around the dim forest. Her mother and the others would probably catch up soon.
“Then, you should go, to that overseas place you mentioned.” She gently withdrew her hand from his grasp, “Elisa, we can’t see each other anymore.”
“Why?” he asked, startled, “Are you sending me away? Are you mad at me for eavesdropping on the uncles?”
“No,” she shook her head, “My mother… has noticed you around here. I’m afraid she’ll bring people to search the mountains, and you’ll be caught.”
“But, I’m just hiding here, not bothering anyone!” he said urgently, “Those sorcerers drove me to a dead end before, I had to hurt people to survive, I didn’t mean it! After you saved me, I didn’t dare to hurt anyone anymore. If no one harms me, I won’t harm anyone! Why can’t I stay?”
He knew the Ji family was tasked with slaying demons and subduing evil spirits, but he just wanted to live, not to harm or be harmed. As kind as she was, she could understand his tiny hope, couldn’t her mother as well?
Seeing her silent, he gave a bitter smile, his eyes gathering a faint red mist, “So, you really want me to leave…”
He didn’t feed on human blood, surviving on wild fruits instead; he knew his appearance frightened people, so he always hid; he could cry, laugh, feel pain, and hate. He could also, like the love songs people sang, secretly admire a young girl. In what way was he not human?
Why can’t they accept him? Why?
Seeing his sorrowful and distressed expression, her heart softened, and she took his hand, softly saying, “I’m not sending you away. It’s too dangerous for you to stay now that my mother is suspicious. Listen to me, find somewhere else to hide for now. After some time, when my mother has forgotten about this, you can come back.”
“Can I really come back?” he asked, half in doubt.
“Of course.” She smiled, “I still have to make you a few new clothes, and I’ve memorized many new stories. When you come back, I’ll tell them to you. You love listening to stories, don’t you?”
Seeing her gentle smile, his heart gradually calmed; after staring at her for a long moment, he suddenly embraced her.
“Elisa?” She was startled, her developing figure pressed against his lean chest, her cheeks flushing even more, pushing him away in embarrassment and urgency.
“I just wanted to hug you, nothing more,” he held her tightly, his body stiff as wood, daring not to offend.
“You’re the first person to treat me as human, the only one who’s been kind to me. I don’t know how to repay you. If there’s anything you want me to do, even if it costs me my life, I’ll do it. I’ll never hurt you, I’m willing to protect you with my life, I…” His voice trailed off, unable to utter those four words. How could he, of all people, say those words?
She was from the Ji family, possibly a future female warrior, while he was a fatherless, motherless half-demon. She was the sky, and he was the earth; he never dared to harbor improper thoughts, he just wished… how he wished he were an ordinary person.
The Ji clan followed a matrilineal system, where women could choose their husbands freely. They ventured out for work while men took care of household duties. If she chose him, he could cook, clean, and manage the home, waiting in their small house for her return. He was willing to live such a life.
He didn’t want to achieve great deeds like the men in her stories; having her was enough to fill his heart.
“Elisa…” He inhaled the fragrance of her hair, his green eyes half-closed, quietly indulging in a dream that would never come true.
“What nonsense about sacrificing your life,” she had never been this close to anyone, her face blushing even deeper, quietly wrapping her arms around his slender waist, “Anyway, you should leave now, hide for a while. As long as you live well, we can still meet…”
Suddenly, she felt a burning sensation on her arm, something slipping out of her sleeve. Looking closely, it was the silver talisman her mother had given her, which fell to the ground.
She hurried to pick it up, but the talisman suddenly emitted light, transforming into a silver serpent that leaped up, coiling around his neck, and instantly burrowing into his flesh.
“Ah…” He clutched his neck, stumbling to his knees, the intense pain rendering him speechless, only able to stare at her with disbelieving green eyes.
At the same time, the sound of weapons clashing rang out, torches were lit, and the figures of a hundred women appeared in the woods, some with bows and arrows, others with swords and sabers. The silver weapons shone brightly, surrounding the young man and woman.
“Well done, Elisa,” a female warrior stepped forward with a silver sword, “You pretended to side with this demon, giving us time to prepare. You’ve done a great service.”
Great service? He struggled to breathe through the pain, the female warrior’s words still clear in his ears. He looked in disbelief at the girl who rushed to shield him.
“Mother!” She protected him, pleading, “Let him go! He promised me he won’t hurt anyone anymore. Or let him leave here immediately, never to return. Please, let him go!”
“Are you still saying that? After leading us here for your mother, don’t you understand the lesson I’ve taught you?” The female warrior said sternly, “Come here. Now that the curse serpent has bound him, he’s bound to die. Don’t let him take you hostage in his final madness, forcing me to exert extra effort. Come here!”