Ji Bai pulled out the dagger that was stuck in his lower back.
“Swosh!” The sound of rustling wind arrived behind his body and the old orphanage head was knocked to the ground by a dagger thrown at him.
Ji Bai walked over and put one foot on the old orphanage head’s back, preventing him from escaping.
“Aren’t you supposed to say something?”
“Mighty and benevolent ancestral god, please forgive this worthless old believer…” Prattled the old orphanage head.
“Who came up with these contraptions?”
“Cough, cough… I’m just human, a knight won’t harm another human, right?”
“So, what’s it going to be?” A cold, muffled voice resounded out of the iron helmet’s crossed visor.
“Cough, cough, cough… Haa. So Mr. Knight wants to know how these two toys were created, right? Very well, I might as well tell you.1”
“These toys are a type of artificial lifeform. Well, artificial might be the wrong term to describe them. After all, if one wants to create such a toy, they need to utilize the life of living beings… These two in front of you? Hahahaha! In reality, these are combat-type toys that were created from sacrificing living children, and using their skulls-…”:
Ji Bai suddenly looked to the side. The black head on the ground that he had chopped down had an incomparably puerile appearance. It resembled a child with a blossoming innocent smile on its face.
“They operate on the life energy of these snotty-faced brats. In other words, Mr Knight has murdered two small children with his own hands, hahaha! …But you can’t kill me, a knight mustn’t commit murder, aagh, agh…”
White foams incessantly bubbled out the old orphanage head’s mouth as his body entered into a series of convulsions.
“You really make me sick to the stomach.” A large sword ferociously pierced the old orphanage head’s heart. Following a twist of the weapon’s hilt, his organs were incessantly grinded.
“E, ugh, ugh…” The old orphanage head’s eyes rolled inwards, revealing the whites within as he spat out a bloody foam. When his head dangled downwards, he had already stopped breathing completely.
Ji Bai flourished his long sword all while his leather boot trod onto the old orphanage head’s shoulders, causing a plump “ball” to roll onto the ground.
“Uuuu…” The bloody scene caused Xiao’an to hold her breath.
“Close your eyes.” Ji Bai carried some corpse parts out of the stone room.
Xiao’an blankly looked at the sea of crimson on the ground and felt her stomach churning. Following Ji Bai’s words, she covered her mouth and nose, then closed her eyes.
“Clack, clack, clack…” After some time, Ji Bai returned.
“B-Big brother Knight… The orphanage head, is he dead?”
“Mhm.”
“Then, everyone at the orphanage…”
“Someone will replace him…but you can’t stay here anymore.” Answered Ji Bai resolutely.
He wasn’t sure whether henchmen of the old orphanage head were still around in this orphanage. He would have to return to investigate later, but the most pressing matter was to relocate Xiao’an.
“B-But where could I go other than here? …There’s no one who would take me in…”
“We’ll find someone who’ll treasure you with their heart.”
“Mr Knight, your wounds… are they okay?” Worried Xiao’an upon seeing the wounds on Ji Bai’s waist that were profusely bleeding.
“I’m alright.”
Saying which, Ji Bai walked out the stone room, carrying Xiao’an in his arms.
…………
Inside the first floor’s toilet of Starlux building.
“Why did you bring me here, Mr Knight?…”
“Close your eyes.”
“Oh.” Xiao’an obediently followed suit.
Ji Bai took out an identity token from his pocket and tapped it against the cubicle’s door.
In an instant, the scenery around changed rapidly.
…………
“Ehehe~ Now I’m done bathing~ It’s time to get into my blanket and catch up on old shows~…” Lil’ Sha had a bath towel wrapped around her as she exited her mist covered bathroom while humming a cheerful tune.
“Ring, ring, ring…”
“Wa-uu… Who’s that? Who’s disturbing this beautiful moment of me catching up on shows??” Lil’ Sha grabbed her phone. The number was from that of the front-desk.
‘? Why is the front desk calling me?’
Lil’ Sha accepted the call with a face full of doubt.
“Hello? May I ask how I can help you?”
“It’s me.” A stuffy voice lacking any emotion resounded.
“Oh?? Obscene middle-aged man? How did you get my phone number?”
“I asked Lin Tuo.”
“And why do you need to use the front-desk’s phone?”
“I’ve given mine to Ke’er.”
“Oh, do you want something from me?” Lil’ Sha stroked her hair. Judging from his tone, she roughly guessed that he was up to something big again.
“Can you come down for a chat?”
“Speak. What exactly happened?”
“Xiao’an, she’s currently here with me.”
“Huh? You brought her into the branch?? That’s too reckless.”
“Come down first. I’ll slowly explain it to you.” Ji Bai continued to have an insipid tone in his voice.
“You-…”
“Toot, toot, toot…” The call was cut off.
“Thank you.” After hanging up the call, Ji Bai gave the receptionist his thanks.
“You’re welcome.” Answered the receptionist with a smile.
“However, student, the brass above had stipulated that one isn’t allowed to bring outsiders inside the campus. If any student is caught doing that, they’ll be expelled.”
“Thank you for the reminder. However, before you expel me, do you mind letting me stay for a while longer?” Ji Bai crossed his arms as he leaned at the counter and fell silent.
“Uhm… I’ve brought trouble to Big Brother Knight, have I?” Draped in a piece of rag, Xiao’an dejectedly buried her head beside him.
“No, you did not.” Ji Bai bent down and tightened the cloth that covered the girl’s body.
“Are you cold?”
“No, I’m not.” Xiao’an shook her small head like a rattle drum.
“I see.”
“Huff, huff… Xiao’an?” Wearing a set of thick pajamas, Lil’ Sha panted heavy and leaned against the wall.
“Big sister Sha?” Xiao’an brightened up and ran towards Lil’ Sha.
“Big sister Sha…” Like a pigeon returning to its nest, Xiao’an threw herself into Lil’ Sha’s embrace as her voice grew softer and softer. Her head was like an ostrich’s as she buried it into her chest.
“Silly kid. Why are you dressed like this? Your face is so red… Did your fever flare up again??”
“Mhm…” After suffering from fright and fever at the same time, the road here had consumed Xiao’an’s entire strength.
“Xiao’an… What exactly happened, obscene middle-aged man??”
“Let me summarize it briefly.” Ji Bai walked over.
“…”
“Y-You, what did you say?? The orphanage head is a baddie?？Are you sure that you aren’t just making up stories for me?” Lil’ Sha looked at Ji Bai in disbelief.
“…” Ji Bai silently returned her gaze.
The truth was indeed hard to believe, but Lil’ Sha knew that Ji Bai wouldn’t crack such a joke under these circumstances.
“…So, he locked Xiao’an into a stone room?? And all to cover up his underhanded secrets?”
“Mhm.”
“In that case, what are your plans? Have you thought about how you’ll justify bringing an outsider into the moon knight’s magic dimension?”
“Mhm.” Ji Bai expressed his resolve.
“And, how?”
“By being expelled.”
“You must be trying to spite me to death, am I right?”
“But let’s not mention this for the time being. If the orphanage really is a tiger lair, then everyone there…”
“Don’t worry.”
“???”
Ji Bai turned around.
“This incident will be settled tonight.”
“Hold on a moment.” Lil’ Sha gently brought Xiao’an to the side, moved towards Ji Bai and grabbed his hands.
“Mhm?” His iron helmet tilted to the side in doubt.
“Raise your arms up.”
“?”
Ji Bai did as asked.
The sight of the waist section of his brigandine armor dyed scarlet with fresh blood appeared before Lil’ Sha’s eyes.
“What is that?” Lil’ Sha expressionlessly looked at Ji Bai.
“The enemies.”
“Are you treating me like a 3 years old?”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Hehe! See! You’re dripping blood all the way!” Looking at the patch of bloodstains near the reception entrance, Lil’ Sha laughed in rage.
“Dummy, you big dummy! Do you really disregard your life that much!”
The man behind the iron helmet turned silent.
“Follow me…” Saying which, Lil’ Sha pulled Ji Bai’s hand, dragging him out of the reception area.
“Where are we going?”
“To my home, I have to help a certain pig bandage his wounds!”
Ji Bai remained motionless.
“You’re not going?”
“I still have things to attend to.”
“Don’t even think about it. If you don’t follow me home, you can forget about going anywhere!”
“I can’t enter.”
“I’ll allow it! I want to see them try and stop me!”
“…”
“If you don’t follow me, I’m going to yell that you’re molesting me right here! Hmph~ Are you going or not?”
“…” Today, Ji Bai finally realized a problem: To pet a thoroughly infuriated kitten was an extremely difficult task indeed.
…………
“Come in, there’s no need to change your shoes.” Lil’ Sha carried Xiao’an in her arms as she entered her apartment.
“…” Standing in the doorway, Ji Bai went silent for a moment before he followed suit and stepped inside.
Technically speaking, this was the second time that Ji Bai had visited Lil’ Sha’s home.
Warm air instantly wrapped around him as a refreshing aroma, accompanied by the unique body scent of a catgirl, assailed his nostrils.
“What are you standing here for? Sit down.” After she had settled Xiao’an down, she walked out of a room, carrying bandages and all kinds of ointments in her arms.
“…” Ji Bai remained silent and looked at the dirt-stained brigandine armor on his body.
“Sit down, will you? I haven’t shunned you, so why are you shunning yourself?”
“…” Ji Bai didn’t say a word, as he obediently sat down on the soft sofa.
“Here, take off your clothes and armor.”
“…”
“Are you still unwilling to part with your precious helmet?”
Without saying a word, Ji Bai unhurriedly removed his iron helmet, then swiftly took off his blood-stained brigandine armor.
“And you still claim that these injuries aren’t serious… Your injuries are so deep that they nearly reach your bones, alright??”
“It just looks frightening, nothing more.”
“Shut up.” Lil’ Sha said with a calm look on her face while taking out a tweezer.
“…”
She picked up an alcohol-moistened cotton bud with the tweezer, and carefully wiped at the flesh that was sticking out from the wound.
“Don’t move, alright~” Her beautiful amethyst eyes were filled with seriousness.
On closer introspection, Lil’ Sha was truly beautiful; Fair skin resembling white jade, violet pupils having a lustre akin to precious stones and pearls, as well as thick, long eyelashes like a cattail-leaf fan. The otherworldly aura she exuded was as different as heaven to earth when compared to women covered in conspicuous makeup.
‘Or should I rather say that the royal bloodline of the Asiatic cat race is something else indeed?’
“What were you looking at that made you so entranced?” A sudden voice broke Ji Bai’s line of thought.
“I didn’t really expect you to actually be this skillful.”
“You’d be surprised at the things you don’t know yet. Don’t move~” After she was done wiping with alcohol and medicine, Lil’ Sha twirled some bandages between her fingers.
“Mhm.”
“…”
“Mhm??” Gradually, Ji Bai felt that Lil’ Sha’s way of tying bandages was approaching a unique trajectory that he knew less and less about.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, just tying a bowknot on the outside for you~”
“…I don’t want that.”
“Hmph~! A bowknot from this missy isn’t something you can reject~”
After wrapping up Ji Bai’s wounds, Lil’ Sha used the remaining bandages to tie a bowknot.
“Ehe~” Lil’ Sha finalized the knot, before mischievously sticking out her tongue.
“Hiss…” Ji Bai, on the other hand, sucked in a mouthful of cold hair in shock.
“Eh?? Did I tie it too hard and hurt you? I-I’m sorry. Pain, pain go away! Do you feel better~” Startled, Lil’ Sha hurriedly tended to the wound.
“It’s fine.” Ji Bai expressionlessly shook his head.
“I faked that.”
“You basta-…!”