The Assassin's Enemy Lover

53 Pretending to be a pig to eat a pig

After an eventful day, Zi Han lay flat on his bed like a pancake thoughts unknown. He was blankly staring at the starry sky in the inky darkness simulated by the housekeeper robot. It gave off the illusion of floating in the distant galaxy surrounded by a serene calmness that could relax the mind.

His grandfather had been so silent in the hovercar back home. He was more silent than he had ever been. Time and time again Zi Feiji had opened his mouth as though to say something but in the end, he would close his mouth and rub his forehead irritably.

Ever since he arrived home his grandfather hadn’t said anything. Zi Han just went to his room and changed out of his ruined uniform before laying on his bed like a salted fish. The old steward had brought him something to eat but Zi Han refused. He didn’t have any appetite at the moment.

That’s because he was worried. He was worried that his grandfather would be disappointed in him. And with each passing hour, the feeling grew much worse. He needed someone to talk to so he sent his mother a message.

Mama’sBoy: Ma.

Mama’sBoy: I messed up.

Mama’sBoy: Will grandpa hate me?

After sending the message he waited for a second or two but the messages weren’t delivered. It meant that his mum was unreachable at the moment.

Feeling slightly depressed he instructed the housekeeper robot to play the simulation of ancient earth’s galaxy called the Milky Way.

.....

It was so beautiful and enchanting that Zi Han forgot his problems for a while. Just as he was getting lost in giant clouds of gas and dust sprinkled with splashy star clusters adorning the Milky Way’s spiral arms, his bedroom door was pushed open and the lights automatically turned on.

Grandpa Zi walked in with the housekeeper robot. The robot carried an occasional chair and placed it close to Zi Han’s bed.

Zi Han was a little flustered as he helplessly watched his grandfather. Just as Zi Feiji sat down he said to Zi Han, “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Zi Han who had sat up straight at the edge of the bed lowered his head for a second before coming up with the least infuriating answer. He didn’t want to further stimulate his grandfather. He truly believed he had done nothing wrong.

That asshole with haemorrhoids all over his face had insulted his mother. Thus knocking him out would be considered merciful. He wasn’t apologetic neither would he apologize. He just hoped his grandfather wouldn’t force him to do so otherwise there would be a problem.

“I am sorry I disappointed you. I know I promised but I just... I.... I just,” he said after raising his head to look at his grandfather but when he looked into those obsidian eyes he suddenly lost the other half of his apologetic speech.

Zi Feiji leaned forward with his elbows resting on his thighs and said, “I am disappointed but not for the reasons you think. I know that kid must have said something disrespectful for you to knock him out and Yi Chen... well he was at the wrong place at the wrong time... What disappointed me is the fact that you weren’t smart about this. You should never ever hit someone in public.”

“You watch them in the shadows like a jaguar then when they least expect it you go for the kill. Another acceptable method by Zi family standards is by pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. You never ever go for the direct kill even if they insult your mother.”

Zi Han bit his lip for a moment before gathering the courage to say, “But he did insult my mother. I can’t even repeat his exact words because it’s too explicit and..... infuriating,” with his eyes turning red like he was about to cry.

Zi Feiji could guess from Zi Han’s reaction what that brat said about his daughter but they were a league of assassins, the emperor’s guard that did the Son of heaven’s bidding. Besides protecting the emperor they operated in the shadows slaughtering the enemy in the dark without leaving a trace.

Hence Zi Han’s behaviour of acting impulsive was something that needed correcting. Zi Xingxi was once like that and he had the exact same conversation with her.

“I know that little shit probably said something that warrants death but us Zi think with our,” he said before pointing at his head, “not with our....” He proceeded to point at his heart.

Zi Han nodded his head in understanding his restless heart easing up a little bit. His grandfather was indeed a benevolent man. He wasn’t going to punish him.

“Old Lu, hurry up! Have you got those things,” said Zi Feiji his expression changing to that of a devil.

Zi Han, “.....”

Damn..... he had thought too soon. His grandfather was definitely up to something. Old Lu came rushing in with the housekeeper robot hot on his trail. They looked like they had endured great suffering.

That’s because they had been in the storage room looking through so many boxes. The last person who used this was the young miss after committing a great offence. Now it was the young sir’s turn.

The housekeeper robot placed a coffee table in the middle of the room and the old steward placed a heavy weird-looking contraption on the table that had Zi Han whimpering internally.

“What in the world is that?” asked Zi Han wondering if his grandfather planned to hit him on the head with it.

“That is one of the ancients of all civil technology... it’s an ink stone and that is the ink cake. Don’t worry the instructions are on that piece of paper right there. You have to grind the ink,” explained Zi Feiji the anger for losing his map tomorrow greatly appeased.

“For what?” Zi Han asked his expression unsightly.

Zi Feiji smiled slyly as the old steward brought over the calligraphy brush and sheets of paper. “Why, it is to copy the sacred text of Confucianism-,”

“Confuci what?” blurted out Zi Han who hadn’t even mastered the philosophy of the great Onyx Federation let alone ancient earth’s.

“You don’t need to understand it. You just need to copy it,” said Zi Feiji placing a well-maintained book in front of him. This was even the first time Zi Han had seen a physical book and it was an ancient one at that.

“Grandpa,” he called out now wishing his grandfather had just hit him on the head instead.

Zi Feiji smiled gleefully at him but there was an evil glint in his eyes. “Don’t worry I am not a brute,” he said and Zi Han heaved a sigh only for him to continue, “I give you three days. If it’s not done by then..... Let’s just say it would be in your best interest if you finish it.”

Zi Han, ‘Fuck!’

“Do I still have to go to the academy?” asked Zi Han thinking he can finish the task if he at least doesn’t go to school.