The Witch Bone

A strong smell of jasmine wafted through the opened door to his cubicle as a lady slowly appeared in front of the door followed by the waiter.

Bai Hua was expecting a boss lady with a bad temper who'd have come flying to defend her minion. Instead, she turned out to be a young woman in her late 20's. She was slender and was wearing a pale blue dress. She had a calm expression as if this matter was not a big deal to her.

While the waiter behind her was shooting daggers at him. He looked pleased with himself as if the problem was already solved.

Then the unexpected happened.

"Young master, forgive me if this lowly one had been unable to discipline our family's Xiao Tang. He tells me he had committed a grave mistake," she said.

Now, the waiter was looking at the lady with bewildered eyes.

"Young mistress, what are you saying? This kid here assaulted me and had even drugged me!"

"Xiao Tang, behave," she said, her voice laced with spiritual power.

Thud! Once again the waiter or Xiao Tang was kneeling in front of Bai Hua again for the second time this morning. He was having the worst day of his life!

There was a look of both fear and puzzlement in his eyes but he kept kneeling and didn't speak again. But he really looked aggrieved.

"It is Xiao Tang's fault for provoking people who he cannot afford to offend. Young master, I will take responsibility for his deeds. Can you please give him the antidote?"

Bai Hua did not expect such an outcome, he was ready for a fight but the boss lady turned out to be a cunning and diplomatic person.

"I promised him that I would give him the antidote if he brings his master. Since he brought you here, I have to keep my word."

Bai Hua took out the bottle of antidote and threw it towards Xiao Tang. He caught it in his hands and anxiously opened the bottle and swallowed the whole content.

"What does it taste like, Xiao Tang? Water?" smirked Bai Hua.

Xiao Tang thought about it and it did feel like water. He was so anxious to get cured that he did not even pay heed to the taste! Was the antidote nothing but water?

He was too shocked at this realisation and forgot that his master was still present and shouted,

"You tricked me! I was not poisoned! You trash, you dare to trick me!"

The boss lady sighed and flicked her hand, now Xiao Tang was in a kowtow position. He could not even look up.

"I once again apologise for Xiao Tang's unpleasant manners. Giving him free reign has gone to his head," said the boss lady calmly, and she continued, "but even so, young master seems to be full of tricks as well."

"Ah, your family's Xiao Tang had sent some robbers after me and even just now he had tried to drug me to rob me again. I can only return his kindness," Bai Hua admitted.

"Our debtors can be very desperate sometimes, but this time I admit it's his fault. He shouldn't have done what he did."

"So, does this mean that you are not involved with the gang of robbers who are prowling outside the imperial city? And that they are just acting independently with a little nudge from Xiao Tang?" asked Bai Hua with a knowing smile.

"People borrow from us, the manner in which it takes them to return it is none of our concern. True, I'll admit that I was ignorant of Xiao Tang's behaviour. He will be properly disciplined later."

Xiao Tang winced when he heard this. All his confidence when he walked in with his master was all gone. Now, he looked like a scared dog who was slightly shaking as he remained in a kowtow position.

Bai Hua noticed his reaction and realised that the boss lady must be ruthless in dealing with her underlings in contrasts to her calm demeanour in front of him. But something was fishy about this whole affair. Ever since he bought the book yesterday and overheard some people talking about him, he felt something was amiss. And he wanted to find out the reason. Xiao Tang seemed like a good case to start with.

"I need compensation for the psychological trauma you caused me yesterday and today," Bai Hua said with all seriousness.

"Since I have said I will be responsible for his actions, I will pay the compensation as well. What do you want?" sighed the boss lady.

"Ten. Ten imperial red stones."

"Ten imperial red stones?!" she gasped.

"Yes, that's the compensation I want. If I was not immune to his drug he would have robbed me. So, yes, ten imperial red stones."

"We don't have that much right now! Please understand our predicament. I will try to arrange for it tomorrow, please come back tomorrow."

"Okay. I hope you will keep your word," saying this bai Hua stood up and left 10 silver coins on the table and exited from the cubicle.

There was silence after he left.

The boss lady took the seat that was just vacated by Bai Hua and picked up the cup that was used by Bai Hua. She sniffed it.

"Xiao Tang, speak. Did you really drug him with the drug I gave you?"

"Yes, young mistress."

"And you saw him drinking it? And it had no effect on him?"

"Just as what you saw, young mistress. He emptied the cup and the pot. He drank it yet there was not even a sign of the drug working on him."

"And are you sure he said that the robbers sold you out?"

"Yes, young mistress."

"The only way he can do that is to overpower them and make them speak. Even bribing them won't have worked if he has the ability to defeat them. So the only explanation is that he is a strong kid who overpowered the robbers and also you."

"I am sorry, young mistress, I brought you such a troublesome young man!"

"And lastly, are you sure you saw him carrying a red imperial stone on him?"

"Yes, young mistress. He threw it right in front of me and he also said that he had rewarded those robbers generously enough to pay off their debts."

"Hmmm... he isn't a simple kid. I couldn't even see his face with that straw hat. But I am sure I have never come across him or have heard of him. Xiao Tang, listen carefully, put a tail on him and let me know if you find out anything about him. We must not make any mistake before we make a move on him. We'll both be in trouble if he is one of THEM. Okay, rise and attend to what I have just said."

He scrambled up for the second time when his master released him from the spiritual pressure. And left the cubicle.

Hmmm... a spiritual power strong enough to make Xiao Tang kneel, that's a strong spiritual power for a kid. As strong as mine. Or Xiao Tang was exaggerating simply out of fear? But in any case, he is not a simple kid, thought the boss lady.