Chapter 174: 174: A Better Book
The figurines.
That was all Eden could recall at the moment.
He smiled. "Well, it’s nothing much. I’m a wizard after all. So it’s not uncommon for me to make such things out of nothing."
Their eyes were locked. Their smiles present. Yet an obvious aura of weariness roamed the air.
"I’m still impressed. And I’d like you to tell me more about it," Leo said.
"My invention?" Eden asked.
"Sure. Whatever you call it. Tell me more about it."
At that moment, Eden knew something was wrong.
He smiled. "Is that so? I’m flattered that you wish to see my invention. But I don’t think I’m with it here. So maybe next time we meet I can explain more about it."
Leo leaned back. "Oh. I think it’s still in the library where we left it last night. So Damien can take you there and you’ll bring it, since you probably know where it is."
Eden paused. He could see the line of things. And he could tell how it was going.
He could smell a plan. A plan against him.
But he casually smiled. "Is that so?"
Damien nodded. "Yes. You can lead the way. I’ll follow."
Damien was being unnaturally cooperative with Leo. Eden knew Damien was one to first act displaced and bratty if he was given such orders that involved him.
But he was rather cooperative. And that, Eden found strange.
He could tell they had planned something. And they had also confirmed that it was in the library as well.
"No need for that," Eden smiled.
"And why’s that?" Leo asked. "Don’t you wish to at least fill my curiosity on what you built?"
"Let’s not stress ourselves, I guess. Because it’s not there," Eden said. His hands were already brought down to his side.
He began muttering some magical spells to himself, trying his best to magically teleport the figurine he had transformed to appear in his hands now.
So he wouldn’t have to go to the library. He already had a bad feeling about that library.
"And how do you know it’s not there...?" Leo asked.
Eden smiled. "Because I removed it. And brought it with me instead."
Eden was still casting his spells. And after a while, it worked.
It was right in his hands now.
"Is that so...?" Leo was staring at him now.
Eden brought it out and kept it on the table. "Sure. It’s here. So we can do all the explaining needed. Should I begin?"
Eden could see the shocked expression on Damien’s face. It was clear he had ruined their plan to get him to the library.
Damien and Leo had confirmed the figurine being at the library before Eden came out to dine.
So it was rather shocking to suddenly see it in his hands.
But then again, they figured he used some powers after all.
Leo smiled. "Interesting then. But before that, I have something more interesting."
Eden stared at him. "What?"
"I think I have a book on craftsmanship in my library. I figured I was studying it a while back. So what you made reminded me so much of it," Leo said.
Eden almost rolled his eyes.
Not again.
"I would like Damien to take you to the library so you could select the best amongst them. Because if I remember correctly, you seem to be versed in the art of a book," Leo said.
Versed my feet, Eden scoffed.
He was one who was okay with getting a C in class.
"Do I have to?" Eden asked.
"Sure. Because I trust your selection. So why don’t you go bring me my book, Eden?" Leo had a smile on his face.
A smile Eden knew was dangerous.
He hesitated, his hands at his side as he began his spells again. "Well, I don’t think there would be any need for that, my lord."
"Oh? Is that so? Did you also bring the book as well?" Leo asked.
Eden smiled. "No. I don’t have that one. But don’t worry, my dear duke, because I have a better book here with me."
"My dear duke?" Damien raised an eyebrow.
"A better book? And what’s this better book about?" Leo stared curiously.
Eden smiled. "I’m glad you asked." Eden now got up to his feet. "Because I have a much better book with me here that would help us more. One about two guys making out!"
Leo and Damien stared at him. For a while they didn’t understand what he meant by that last statement.
Eden had used a more modern slang to convey it, and so it was a bit alien to them. All they did was stare at Eden like someone speaking in tongues.
"Making... What...?" Leo was confused.
Eden blinked. "Oh. I guess you don’t get that part. That part was supposed to be the fun of it." He sighed as he got out a book before them.
A book that had Leo and Damien looking curiously because they hadn’t seen it before.
It was: THE GRANDMASTERS OF DEMONIC CULTIVATION.
Eden smiled as he flipped through the pages while looking for his favourite. "I’ll show you true knowledge of the arts with this."
He finally got there. A picture page with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian engulfed in intimacy...
"This is it. The art," Eden smiled as he watched their expressions.
Leo and Damien still had their eyes on the image in the book for a while, partially confused.
At first, they didn’t understand what was going on. But soon, they did.
And Eden added, "What’s more artistic than an image of two boys having sex together?"
Eden had intentionally wanted to summon this particular book.
As a fan of MXTX, he had collected all of her works. And read them all. More than three times. So he figured MDZS was the best to use to throw this noble off.
And as Eden spoke, Leo and Damien’s eyes grew in ultimate shock at the realisation of two men having sex before them on a piece of paper!
********
Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian: Male lead and Main Character in MXTX’s popular BL novel (Danmei) Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.
MDZS: Abbreviation for Chinese Mo Dao Zu Shi, which roughly translates to The Founder of Diabolism, aka Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.