Short, Light, Free

Chapter 63: Mountain, Sea V: Pu Lao

Senior wasn’t in any serious condition and the woman, too, had woken up from her coma. She had absolutely no idea of the things that had happened.

There was no way of getting any information from her since she did not even recall working for Zhao Bayi.

Her last memory was of her taking a stroll.

She did, however, remember her name and background.

She requested to contact her family to tell them that she was safe and also to get them to bring her home.

The man over the phone, whom she called husband, shared that he had filed a police report two months ago and asked for the hospital’s address.

I was befuddled and so was Zhao Bayi.

According to him, other than the woman’s name, the way she spoke and her mannerisms were completely different from when they first met.

After reassuring Senior, I went over to the doctor to get more details.

He mentioned that while Senior was just minorly injured, it would be better for him to remain in the hospital under observation for another three days.

He then looked over at the woman and said that she could be discharged any time.

“I’ll pay for their bills. Give him the best examinations and amenities,” Zhao Bayi graciously said, hugging his family tight.

“Rest a little, Senior,” I encouraged him.

His body was probably still feeling the ache since he merely nodded before his eyes slid shut.

“Let him rest, let’s talk elsewhere,” I told Zhao Bayi.

After paying the remaining dues, Zhao Bayi drove me back to his villa.

His jeep was much more spacious now that there were two fewer passengers.

I sat in the front while his wife and daughter took the backseats.

“I’ll have to clarify a few things,” I started.

“Please.”

“It was a demon, a wind fox to be exact, that had invaded your home and possessed your employee. I simply scared it off, it’s not dead.”

“Will it come back for revenge, Master?” Zhao Bayi asked, concerned.

He drove somewhat anxiously now and the car started jerking a little.

“You’re driving, Bayi,” his wife reminded urgently.

“Don’t worry about anything else, I’ll finish the job cleanly,” I promised.

“My family’s safety is in your hands, Master,” Zhao Bayi pleaded.

I nodded before turning around to address his wife, “You must be his lover. Do you remember anything that had happened?”

She nodded. “A little. I remember the housekeeper boiling some fish soup for my daughter, Niuniu, and I. I do not remember anything else after, and the next person I saw is you.”

Zhao Bayi’s expression turned grave. “I don’t really like soup. It looks like we’ve found the cause, but what was the wind fox’s motive?”

“I’ll ask you some questions so please answer them honestly,” I said.

“I’ll tell you everything I know,” he assured.

“Where did you find that housekeeper?”

“I passed a park two months ago. She was waving a sign that said she was looking for a full-time job as a nanny. Our helper from the Philippines had asked for a raise prior to that and finding it unreasonable, I fired her and hired that woman,” he explained.

After some thought, I continued, “Did you offend anyone two months ago?”

“I work in a steel factory. Who could I have possibly offended?” Zhao Bayi mumbled.

“No, husband. Don’t you remember the thing that happened at the zoo? Didn’t the boss yell something about finding someone to deal with you? Have you forgotten?” she questioned nervously.

“The zoo?” I blurted out.

“That’s considered? I did think about that incident after and agreed that I was at fault. It’s only normal for him to have been harsh about it,” Zhao Bayi answered, lowering his head slightly.

Wind fox? The zoo?

I scrunched my eyebrows.

It can’t be that simple.

“Give me the details,” I urged.

“Our factory does skimp on the job and stint on materials at times. The zoo had requested for us to build them a cage. It was only later on that I discovered our cage wasn’t of the set standard. I only found out that there were issues with our agreement after sending it to the zoo. I have to admit that I’m to be blamed for not supervising my staff properly,” he narrated with a softer and gentler tone.

“I understand,” I responded faintly.

“What are your plans then, Master? Can you bless my house, please?” Zhao Bayi requested.

“Let’s go back to the house and search for clues first.”

My mind wandered to the real dragon the wind fox warned me about.

Perhaps the dragon was hiding in the zoo.

The jeep stopped.

We alighted and headed toward the villa.

All of us got a shock upon opening the door.

In the few hours that we were gone, the whole apartment had turned into a mess.

It was as if someone had ransacked the whole place.

“Must be the fox’s doing,” I mumbled.

“It’s not safe here,” Zhao Bayi’s wife said.

The next thing I knew, Zhao Bayi was on his knees in front of me. “You must help us, Master.”

Expressionless, I asked, “Are you sure you haven’t offended anyone else?”

He thought about it for a moment before nodding.

“Will you go upstairs with me, Master? I would like to see if the safe is still around,” Zhao Bayi pointed upward.

I followed him to the master bedroom on the second floor.

It was completely empty except for the big wooden bed.

Zhao Bayi pointed at the headboard. “It’s missing.”

“Call the police first while I make a trip down to the zoo. Move out within these next few days. Give me your contact number and wait for my good news,” I instructed.

Zhao Bayi nodded. He wrote his number down for me and slipped a thousand dollar bill into my pocket.

I left the villa, hailed a taxi and rushed to the zoo.

It was especially lively and packed that day.

I bought a ticket and entered.

There were all kinds of signboards introducing the different types of animals.

Penguins, lions, elephants, pandas...

Wait, pandas?

They’re considered to be national treasures. How could our small county zoo possibly get a hold of them?

I walked toward the sectioned area for pandas to check it out.

A stench invaded my nostrils the moment I stepped inside.

It was indescribably pungent.

There were about seven dogs kept inside the metal fence.

Excited visitors were observing and discussing the dogs.

“What’s the point of coming all the way here for these dogs?” I said out loud.

They looked over at me before a small voice rang, “This man’s nuts.”

“He’s mental.”

“Calling pandas dogs? Weirdo.”

“Go back to school if you can’t even tell them apart.”

I wondered what was going on.

I noticed someone photographing the dogs and I leaned over to take a look. The image he had captured was indeed that of pandas.

Oh my god.

I retrieved my mobile phone and launched the camera.

I snapped a photo of the dogs and they, too, transformed into charmingly naive looking pandas.

Have I gone berserk, too?

I rubbed my eyes and the dried donkey blood fell off my eyelids.

Oh. That’s why.

The donkey blood had opened up my third eye and allowed me to see demonic creatures.

I left the crowd and walked over to other exhibition halls.

All I saw were dogs but the images that I snapped were those of all kinds of animals.

Frustrated, I gave Senior a call.

After explaining the situation to him, he listed at least ten demonic beasts that could’ve been the cause of this.

Left confused and drained, I hung up.

Immediately after I ended the call, Zhao Bayi’s number appeared on my screen.

“What’s up?”

“Whose disciple are you?” he asked dully.

That wasn’t his voice for sure.

“Whose disciple?” I repeated.

“You smell foreign.”

“Smell? You can smell me? You know where I am?”

“We have similar smells. Whose disciple are you? My older or younger brother?”

Instead of answering, I surveyed my surroundings.

There was only one slightly taller building around.

I stared at it and answered, “You’re in there? You kidnapped Zhao Bayi?”

“Answer before asking.”

I let out a helpless sigh.

Similar smells... older and younger brother... mixed dragon and pure dragon?

After a short consideration, I tried my luck. “Tao Tie.”

“Fifth brother? I haven’t seen him in a long time. Come on up. Someone will lead the way. I have so many questions for you.”

I quickly made my way to that building and the person guarding the doors took me by surprise.

It was a wind fox disguised as a female employee.

“You guys kidnapped him?”

“Go up and you’ll know,” the wind fox replied laughingly.

Before I could ask another question, she turned around and entered the building.

I followed suit.

The elevator doors opened and she walked in.

Again, I could only follow her.

Inside the elevator, she started, “I had thought that you were of a mixed bred. Who would’ve known that you have the same blood as our master.”

I replayed her words silently, a rough idea of what was going on forming in my mind.

Same blood as Tao Tie? One of the nine sons?

The doors opened slowly and she made her way out.

I saw Zhao Bayi and his family, their backs toward me as they knelt in front of a chair.

I walked out and the man on the chair spoke up. “You tried to get them to hide? But to where?”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I was merely teasing them, I didn’t expect to attract such an important figure. Tao Tie’s disciple, why are you working for bad people?”

Bad people?

“I’m only helping whoever I believe deserves it,” I responded.

“Deserves it? Do you know how evil these humans are? I spent so much on the steel fence but they gave me a bunch of rusted trash,” he complained, repeatedly slamming his fist on the table with enough force to cause the room to shake.

Zhao Bayi cried out, “I’ve learned my lesson, I’ve learned my lesson.”

“He’s admitted his mistake. Why won’t you forgive him?”

“Whose side are you on, boy? Elbows bending outward? Tao Tie will be infuriated to have a disciple like you for sure. Wait a minute, you’re a human?”

He stood up and waved his hand.

I was dragged over to his side by a gush of air.

His hand was held firmly against my body.

He sniffed me for a few seconds and commented, “You’re strange, boy.”

“How so?” I managed to squeak out.

“I, Pu Lao, have never seen someone like you. A human without a soul.”

“Pu Lao?!” I exclaimed.

“I’m the dragon’s third son and the zoo is my business.”

“But they’re all dogs,” I said stupidly.

“What we see are dogs but humans would be able to see all kinds of animals. What can I do? Humans like me,” Pu Lao smiled.

“What are you going to do to Zhao Bayi? And what are you going to do with me?”

“It’s just a small matter, initially, but now that you’re involved... I’ll need to correct that attitude of yours and I don’t care if you’re human or not. Pass my test and all of you will be fine. Otherwise, I’ll add you guys to my pet collection downstairs,” he said with a malevolent laugh.

“Attitude? What attitude do I have?” I struggled.

He threw me onto the ground and said, “I’m not mad, but you’re still unsure of what you represent. To other spirits, you’re a dragon and not human. You have to correct yourself.”

I remained silent.

“If you refuse to learn, I’ll make you join the animals downstairs as a way to discipline you on Tao Tie’s behalf. It would also prevent you from getting into trouble elsewhere, shaming his reputation.”

Things weren’t good, I knew, but there was nothing I could do.

My body was aching from that slam.

“Write down the passcode of your safe and that will be the end of this matter. Tell anyone about what happened and you’ll die,” Pu Lao warned Zhao Bayi.

Zhao Bayi made a few bows before writing something down on a piece of paper. He then quickly pulled his family away, running and shouting, “I’ve learned my lesson.”

The wind fox came over and pulled me off the ground.

Pu Lao sat back down and looked out of the windows at his zoo.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“Rest first. There’s no rush,” the wind fox answered coyly with a grin.