"As for where exactly to hide you," Cui Jiuyang looked out the window, "we'll have to wait for your brother to come back and ask him. He knows Harbin well and has plenty of connections. Perhaps he knows a good place we don't."
That evening, Liu Jingye returned, travel-worn, from discussing business outside.
While the clerk was busy organizing documents, Liu Jingtang pulled him into the room.
With Liu Jingtang doing most of the talking, they told Liu Jingye everything, exactly as it had happened: the attack in the alley that day, the snake demon's attempt to possess him, and his experiences at the Children's Welfare Hall.
At first, Liu Jingye listened in astonishment, then burst into belly-shaking laughter. He thought his younger brother was wasting his talents by not becoming a teahouse storyteller, given how readily he could spin a tale.
But when Cui Jiuyang casually folded a yellow talisman into a little tiger, and the paper tiger shook its head, wagged its tail, and crunched the coarse porcelain teacup on the table to pieces in one bite, leaving not even a speck behind, Liu Jingye's smile froze. He rubbed his eyes hard to make sure he was not dreaming, then believed every word. All color drained from his face, and he was utterly panic-stricken.
After hearing Cui Jiuyang's suggestion that they find somewhere to hide Liu Jingtang, Liu Jingye rose and paced anxiously around the room, brows knitted as he racked his brains.
A long while later, he abruptly stopped and stamped his foot in frustration. A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes. "I do know a place that should keep him out of those Great Immortals' sight. But... I'll have to trouble you to make the trip too, Brother Cui, and protect Jingtang for a while."