Evening at the Central Palace

ShuîYuê had to come again to the palace why because Jun Wu told her that she needed to go over the funds for the common people whose farming land was destroyed, she had met the Emperor and was returning hurriedly, when she ran into someone, dropping the important scroll Jun Wu had given her, she was about to fall when the person she bumped into held her by the waist, she stared into obsidian orbs which stared in her dark brown ones.

The person was very handsome, he had a good-looking face and his hairlocks tickled ShuîYuê's chin who flinched as the scroll she once held fell on the floor with a loud thump, his hold on her tightened when she flinched, she pushed at his chest, stepping back, he withdrew his arm at the same time, she was embarrassed to run into someone like that when she remembered the scroll as she was about to pick it up, the man in front of her held it up to her face, 'When did he pick it up?' she thought confused.

She took the scroll back from his hand gingerly, "Thank you," she said softly.

"You are always welcome," came the reply; his voice was deep and calm. It had a nice tone to it.

Ghost King ran into her by fate or chance whatever it was he didn't care, he was slightly surprised though, not expecting to meet her so soon, but now that she was here he wouldn't let the opportunity which had walked more like run into him walk away without having his way, she was very clearly nervous. Huá had that figured by the way she was avoiding eye contact, the way her knuckles were white from holding onto the scroll in her left hand, and the quick breaths she was taking, he smirked to himself, what was the use of being the most feared Supreme Ghost King if he didn't make anyone nervous by just his presence?

ShuîYuê's eyes were stuck to the floor she didn't want to look into his eyes again, she was embarrassed as it is why invite more humiliation to herself and look at the person she bumped into, that was her philosophy avoid the thing, if you can't just look in a different direction and if that didn't work just close your eyes.

Ghost King stared at the girl; she was trying to avoid eye contact, "You are the Water Master who fought Zìxìn," he stated simply. It got the girl to look up at him, her brows knitted in confusion.

"Sorry?" she asked, tilting her head.

"My General Yông Zìxìn, you fought him,"  Chéng Huá clarified, her face changed to that of realisation as she understood what he meant.

"Yes,"

'She didn't like to speak much, did she?' he thought to himself, "Well, I wanted to personally see the person who fought him," he mentioned, trying to stir up a conversation.

"Why?" she asked carefully.

"Water Master, there aren't many people who can hold a candle to Zìxìn when it comes to fighting," he responded, leaning against the wall.

Water Master looked away, not knowing what to say, 'Will it seem too arrogant if I say yes, or should I not say anything at all?' she thought, wondering what to say.

"You have my respect," he added, staring at the water which flowed in a narrow stream; this was the only part about the palace ShuîYuê liked, a narrow stream flowing throughout the palace, small cute plants growing at the side; it made the palace more inviting.

She stared at him; Ghost King was handsome; she had imagined a scary-looking person with disfigured features, but here she was, staring at the handsome young man.

Sharp almond-shaped eyes and obsidian irises were staring at the water, his hair locks were curling near his ears and one of them was poking his high bridged straight nose. His eyebrow, the right one had a small cut near the end, two small moles on his left cheek, a small mole on his angular sharp jaw, and his lips seemed soft too.

The infinite amount of rumours she had heard of his gruesome appearance faded in the beauty of his whole being; her eyes glanced down at his crossed arms; he wasn't holding his scimitar as he did in the morning. ShuîYuê wanted to see it up close; that scimitar had her curiosity, but it wasn't there; maybe he didn't carry it with him all the time.

"Umm, thank you?" she mumbled, unsure; this made the man chuckle. He turned his head to look at ShuîYuê who was looking at him.

"It wasn't a compliment," he stated, his eyes observing her face, she had averted her gaze with her cheeks dusted pink.

ShuîYuê looked away embarrassed once again, 'Why did you have to assume he was complimenting you? Couldn't you assume something else?' she scolded herself internally.

"Sorry," she apologised. Hopefully, this would end their awkward conversation.

"It wasn't a compliment but a fact instead," he remarked amused by the girl.

ShuîYuê didn't know what to say. Once again, she would probably embarrass herself more, so it was better to be quiet; Ghost King wondered why this girl was so, well, difficult to talk to. Yeah, that would be the right way to put it, but he wasn't letting her off easily after she almost killed Zìxìn.

"You almost killed him," he accused, looking at her.

"Sorry," she apologised.

'Was sorry the only word she knew?' he wondered, "Don't apologise. You were doing your job, and I know Zìxìn, he doesn't go easy on anyone," Ghost King assured softly.

'Oh, tell me about it; that beast killed me; my ribs hurt so much if I breathed a little too hard and don't even ask about my hand. My entire wrist was broken. It hurts so bad,' she thought to herself, cursing the ghost general in her head.

"It was a nice fight with the General," she responded, trying to sound like it was no big deal.

"One must never judge a book by its cover," his eyes lingered on her face and then slid down to her body.

"Right, it's only proper to read the book first before judging it," GuānYû agreed sharply. ShuîYuê's head turned around as he stood next to her.

"Crown Prince is right, one must read the book completely before judging it," Ghost King agreed, smirking while he eyed Water Master, that Crown Prince liked her, Huá wasn't that blind to unsee the way he had stood in front of her or how he was glaring daggers at the Ghost King who was more than elated to annoy the Crown Prince of Heaven.

Ghost King could point out all the similarities between the Emperor and his eldest son, tall lean body, they had the same almond-shaped obsidian eyes and strong facial structure, a square face with a v-shaped chin, tall high bridged nose followed by thin soft looking peach lips, angular jaws, in short, Crown Prince was damn good-looking, even though Huá didn't like these people one bit he couldn't deny the truth that Jūn royalty was enriched with beauty, and Jun Wu's genes ran strong.

Huá averted his gaze from the irritated expression of the Crown Prince to the Water Master who was opposite of the Crown Prince in appearance, short with a soft body to the touch, big doe eyes were glancing between Crown Prince and Ghost King with a worried expression on her face, a small nose bridge with her cute button nose, plump lips, round face, Ghost King was sure if she didn't look like a woman she would easily pass off as a growing teenager.

ShuîYuê looked between the Crown Prince and Ghost King who were not fond of each other in the slightest. The Crown Prince always looked serene and proper. Not a single strand of hair was out of place, and his clothes were without a single crease on them. Even the waist belt of the Crown Prince was without any extra rounds over his waist; the tassels of his perfume pouch, which was hung on his waist belt, were neatly brushed.

ShuîYuê glanced down at her waist belt and not to mention the tassels which looked like they had been fighting each other for ages. Crown Prince was just perfect in every way possible and ShuîYuê couldn't ever find a fault in his deeds or appearance not like she purposely went out of her way to observe GuānYû and point out when he was messing, that was the job of senior officials and those old geezers did it with extraordinary and frightening discipline as ShuîYuê had been a prey of them more than the amount of white hair those senior officials had.

She glanced back at Ghost King who was opposite of Crown Prince in appearance and manners, his long black hair was tied with a beautiful-looking hairpin, ShuîYuê didn't know what it was called properly, but even though his hair was held back with that pin many of his hairlocks were all over his head some poking his nose, some tickling his jaw, some curling around his ears, his clothes were not exposing like his other three companions but that didn't mean he was dressed like them, a single black inner robe under his maple outer robe with black pants, and black boots.

She looked at the Crown Prince, who was wearing more layers than ShuîYuê herself; she was wearing five sets of robes, one over the other. Ghost King's waist belt was also wrapped in circles over his waist the metal of its hook often clanking with his silver vambraces, he looked carefree, like he didn't give a damn about what someone thought of him and that was very clear in his body language which was very relaxed as compared to Crown Prince who seemed to be on edge, and before she could speak Crown Prince spoke.

The Crown Prince grabbed her hand firmly, "It's too late. I'll drop you to the palace gates," he announced, pulling her hand.

ShuîYuê hissed in pain, biting her lips. GuānYû watched her worried as she held her hand, "Her hand hurts, be careful, Crown Prince," Ghost King advised, leaning against the wall once again.

"Don't tell me what to do!" GuānYû snapped.

"I am not, it's just that you are far too concerned about other things," Chéng Huá warned nonchalantly.

GuānYû glared at him, "I am sorry. Does it still hurt?" he asked gently, turning to Water Master. ShuîYuê shook her head, still holding her right hand, while the scroll rested in her arm. "I'll walk you to the Palace gates."

"Do you need to?" Ghost King inquired, quirking an eyebrow, "If she can battle against my General, I am sure she can return to her Palace by herself." Crown Prince took a deep breath and opened his mouth, "But you should; it's getting late, Water Master. You should be back at your palace. It's not safe to wander around alone at night," Chéng Huá waved, smiling at her before leaving.

ShuîYuê stared at him as he walked away, "What a brat!" The Crown Prince rebuked, glaring at him.

Water Master didn't know what to think about her interaction with Ghost King. It wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either. She shook her head, 'Who cares if he respects me or not?' she thought to herself as she walked out of the palace.

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Author's note duty on Ghost King :

Ghost King smiles slightly with his arms cross over his chest, " Hello dear readers, it's wonderful to officially meet you all today, me and my friends have arrived in Heaven and hope to achieve our motives, I am thankful to everyone who supports us from the bottom of my heart, enough with the cheesy stuff- sits on his chair crossing his legs as he picks up his wine glass- As you all know I need something from Water Master and I met her today, she's- finds it difficult to explain- she's not easy to figure out but I am great and that so that shouldn't be too difficult,
Hope to see you all again have a good night/ day/ afternoon whenever you read our author is waiting to munch on chips after she's done with this Author's note so I'll end it she's giving me bombastic side eyes so bye!"

Word count : 1900 for chapter and 150 for boring Author's note in total 2050