(Part 8)

"A game?" Xianwu asked. "Yes, since creatures like that are not caught every day. Our master is still a little hesitant to give it up so easily. So if you would please?" the demon woman asked.

Su Yuewei who was enraged shouted, "Hey!! I am not a creature! Let me go!!" Xianwu with a sigh looked at Weixiao nodding. "If that's the case. Then, its fine by me." she whispered. Hearing her words the figure grinned wider. Walking across the stage, Xianwu made her way towards the black curtain.

"Lord, wasn't just kidding when he wanted to play a game with her. He really means it! Is everything going to be alright?" asked the demons. "Who knows? Let's see." Told the other.

Climbing the stairs Xianwu stood right in front of the translucent black curtain over which crystals hung swaying gracefully. Looking up ahead she could see a figure walking towards her. Clanking of vambraces and chains was clearly heard around the hall which was now silent. All eyes gazing towards Xianwu and the mysterious master of the auction hall.

Xianwu gulped, "I suddenly feel really nervous but from the voice I could tell that the person behind this curtain is… I just hope he is whom I am thinking of right now…" she thought anxiously. As soon as the clanking of vambrances had stopped the figure stood right before Xianwu. The only distance they had was of a single black curtain blocking each other's view.

"So you were the one who betted without restrain hun…?" the figure asked. From closer the voice felt bolder and hoarse however, calming at the same time.

Xianwu nodded in affirment. The figure gleamed "Hm… since, you won the bid I'll give him to you however, before that I would like to you play a little game with me. If you win against me even once… he's all yours. Are these conditions good enough?" he asked.

Xianwu nodded once more. Opening her eyes she gazed at the hazy figure, "I agree." Hearing her accept the deal, the figure smiled once more. "She will play with the lord??!" gasped the demons together.

The Auction hall soon went into a frenzy again. Weixiao gazed at Xianwu worriedly. "Be very careful… I hope everything turns out fine…" he whispered gazing at the sight before him. "Say, what kind of game will the lord play with her?" whispered the demons.

Xianwu taking a deep breath wondered about the same thing as well, "With luck worse than of demons, how can I even think about winning a game. Moreover, I wonder what kind of game did he meant…"

Suddenly, a long, pale white hand revealed itself behind the curtain. Xianwu gazed at the hand in awe. A beautiful brown hair strand was elegantly tied in its middle finger while a silver ring rested on its ring finger. Soon turning his hand around the figure revealed a deck of colorful cards.

Blinking her eyes Xianwu gazed surprised, "Cards…?" she thought.

The demons looking at the sight called, "It's the game of fortune!" "The game of fortune…?" Xianwu repeated in her thought. "Will the lord play his favorite game with her?" asked one of demons surprised.

"That's out of the blue. Master never plays this game with anyone just who in the world is she?" asked another. Grasping a sight of a troubled Xianwu the figure behind the curtain smiled.

"No need to worry… I'll show you how it's played." It told. Xianwu hearing his words nodded in relief. The demons, curious gazed at them. "Shh! its starting." They told. Revealing the cards which looked all the same from above, before Xianwu the figure spoke up, "Choose anyone of them." Xianwu pondering looked at the bunch of cards right and left.

"Which one should I pick…?" she thought nervously. After a second of thought, Xianwu moved her hand towards his and gently picked out the card placed under his middle finger. Upon her move the figure smirked. Turning it around, Xianwu saw a beautiful portrait of a woman standing grasping a sword. "So beautiful… what is this?" she wondered.

"What did she pull?" asked the demons together. "I think it's the queen." Guessed one of them.

"Queen?" Xianwu asked herself. The figure soon turned his hand around.

Instantly, all the cards in his hands vanished. Xianwu looked at him surprised. Giving his empty hand towards her the figure asked, "Show me… what you got." Xianwu handed him the card.

"Hm… Queen" he whispered gazing at the card, with an unseeable expression. Xianwu looked at him nervously. "Do you remember what it looked like?" he asked once more. "Yes, I do." Xianwu replied.

"Very well then." The figure spoke. And, as soon as he did, the card which was in his hand had already vanished and at the same time the number of cards which were settled in his hands before Xianwu drew the card, stood right before her. "Huh?" Xianwu asked puzzled.

"Now… pull the card you just had into your hand before, from all these." The figure explained. Xianwu who stood shocked gazed at the bunch of cards in his hands. "The same card from this bunch again?!" she thought anxiously.

"Here it comes! The hell of this game. No one has ever won against the lord in that game! To think he would play that, maybe the lord really doesn't want to give the food away." The demons whispered.

Hearing their chatter Su Yuewei who was stuck up in the midair growled, "I am not food! You demons! And bring me down!!" Xianwu sighing hard gulped, "My luck which is as bad as freezing rivers and boiling furnaces. How can I actually bring out the same card again…" she thought nervously. Reaching towards the cards once more her hands trembled.

Looking at the sight the figure whispered, "I told you not to worry didn't I, Sister?" Hearing his words Xianwu suddenly looked upwards.

"Xiao yin?!" she asked back in a whisper.

The figure standing idle smiled back. At that moment Xianwu, instantly felt relaxed. As if all the worry which had clouded her heart dissipated into thin air. "It really is Xiao yin… I am glad! So glad!" she thought graciously.

And without a speck of worry or anxiety Xianwu reached towards his hands pulling the card.