Really?

Little Bone retreated to her chambers and Tom heard no news of her for hours.

"I'm hungry." He complained towards Zhu Ran who was trying to read some old manuscripts. Well, he wasn't actually reading, but thinking about the events of the day while using the reading as an excuse to be left alone.

Tom had put his brains to work with those manuscripts but he couldn't decipher a thing and eventually gave up.

"I'm not your servant. You can fetch the food yourself." Zhu Ran snapped, pretending to be caught in whatever he was reading.

"But there's no food to fetch," Tom answered.

"Then cook."

"There are no ingredients I can use to prepare something."

"Then go and catch something."

"What do you mean by "catch something"? Like hunting a rabbit?"

"Where do you think meat comes from? Now, let me read."

"What about the queen? Who will prepare the food for her?" Zhu Ran lifted his eyes from the book. He hadn't thought about that. In fact, he hadn't thought about what he was going to eat, least of all what he was going to serve Hu Qiangu.

" I doubt she feels like eating."

"But we can't let her starve, can we? What food does she like?"

"How am I supposed to know?"

"You are her servant."

"I deal with troops and fighting. Not food." Zhu Ran replied furiously. Then an idea crossed his mind. "Do you cook well?"

"I've never cooked."

"How did you get food then?"

"From the canteen. I don't have parents and I grew up in an orphanage."

"What's a canteen and orphanage?

"Orphanage is a place where children without parents are taken care of. They live, study, and eat. Do everything there. There are some people who take care of them, but they aren't very nice. At least, they weren't with me. The other kids have always gotten nice stuff. I hate that place. I can't wait to be old enough and to never have toreturn there."

"But at least you had food and a place to sleep." Zhu Ran commented. "I had none. Until I entered Chang Liu and became a disciple. I would have been happy there if I hadn't channeled all my energy into plot and revenge. The only reason I wanted to be powerful was to be able to kill Mo Yan. I was an exceptional student back then, but, in the end, it served me to nothing."

"Hogwarts was similar to me. I finally found a place where I was accepted and admired. I'm the top of my class. Most of my professors consider me brilliant. I even create some sort of order and I'm the leader, but…I want more. I want to see all those who'd made me suffer begging mercy on their knees. I want them to feel as humiliated as I did. That will make me happy."

"She won't allow us to have revenge."

"I know. She won't kill a fly. And they treat her like vermine. If only I had her power. I would teach them how to bow in front of a superior. What do you think she's going to do next?"

"Why did you save her?"

"Why did you?" Tom questioned back.

"Because you suggested it. "

"And you agree."

"If she dies, I'll be killed by Chang Liu. I'm safe here. What about you?"

"I'm not strong enough to rule the world and, I guess, I'm safe here. I can learn a lot from you and the others. Maybe, she will teach me so spells someday, if I play my role well."

"Do not think she doesn't know what you're up to. You better find another purpose or leave this place. She will never support you."

"What about you? Have you found another purpose?"

"Not yet. I'll wait and see what tomorrow brings. Any idea?"

"For the moment, you can help me cook. Maybe, if we surprise her, she… will get over that man and start to act like a leader."

"Do you care for her?"

"Of course not. She's just…"

"I think we are both lying to ourselves."

"What do you mean?"

"That we started to care for her."

"Maybe you, but…"

"Fine. Let's say I believe you."

"But.."

"I said I believe you." Zhu Ran ended the conversation.

When Hua Qiangu finally decided to leave her chambers, Tom and Zhu Ran were given their best to prepare something to eat. Maybe not their best as the two of them spent most of the time bickering and fighting. In fact, it was the noise that attracted the demoness's attention.

The smell of food awoke a hunger she didn't know to have existed inside of her, but the view was unforgettable. An octopus was stuck to the wall while some shrimps levitated through the air from one combatant to the other. Both seemed to be skillful enough to keep the shrimps far away from their faces, but not strong enough to defeat their enemy.

Hua Qiangu watched from the entrance from fear not to step into the sauce which flowed joyfully on the ground. She fought a laugh, the first in years.

She'd come to scold them for interfering with her plans, but ended up being amused by their childish behaviour. Who would have thought Zhu Ran knew how to have fun? Well, they didn't seem to consider it fun. They were very focused on getting the upper hand.

"Oops. My bad. It was meant to hit your head." Zhu Ran spoke calmly as something green flew in the air and stopped in the middle of the ground with a loud splash. Soon, Tom attacked, but he missed his target.

"My bad. I haven't expected you to go to the right. Maybe I should try a second time." Tom replied and another splash followed the first one. And then another octopus flew in the air and landed on…..Hua Qiangu's face. Both men stopped instantly and watched as the octopus slipped down her face. No one said a word.

"I've forgotten to buy some rice." Zhu Ran finally dared to speake.

"Are you hungry? We better buy some food from the town. We're going to bring it to you in no time. What do you prefer, Your…."Then Tom lower his voice "Zhu Ran..." Tom whispered "how do you address a queen?"

"Call me however you want. I don't care. But you two won't go anywhere until you clean this place. Together. People are starving in the town and you are playing with food. You better have a good explanation for it."

"Yes, Senior God. We'll do as you please." Zhu Ran promised as he finally acknowledged his actions.

"Yes, Senior God." Tom copied Zhu Ran.

"I'll go to town. You two, better find a way to work together." Hua Qiangu threatened them.

"Yes, Senior God."

They watched one another. None had the slightest idea how they'd ended up acting so foolish. It was out of their character, but….for a few minutes it had felt natural. Tom had commented something about Zhu Ran's cooking skills, Zhu Ran answered by throwing a bowl of water over Tom's body. Tom reciprocated by throwing the octopus and the fight began.

Despite being furious about the waste of food, Hua Qiangu couldn't hold back a smile as she remembered the way the room looked and how fiercely the guys were fighting.

"One of you, bring me some warm water for my bath!" She commanded as she decided to have a bath before going into the town. She had the slightest idea what she was going to do there or why she was going, but she felt she was going to explode if she was to stay inside.

She'd considered getting the sword and ending her life herself, but it wasn't the type of departure she wanted to have. In fact, she didn't know what type of departure she wanted.

"The boy likes you." Zhu Ran added as he brought the first bucket of warm water and dropped it into her bathtub. She said nothing. "Give him a chance. He is still too young and easily corrupted, but I think there's some kindness inside of him that only you can help him discover." Zhu Ran didn't continue as Tom appeared with another bucket of water. So, he retreated, leaving her alone with Tom.

"Zhu Ran likes you," Tom whispered as he was alone with her. "But he won't say it aloud. I think he's afraid you will send him away for daring to put his eyes on someone so high above him."

She watched him confused. The last thing she needed was that one of them fell in love with her. Or worse, both of them.