The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel“s Disguise

*Flashback*

**18 Years Ago**

Childhood is often defined as simplicity but it also means innocence. It’s often filled with memories that one cherish for the rest of their lives.

People could have contradicting views about Ru’s childhood. Some might say it was tough on her. Others might disagree and say she had it very easy being born as the eldest of Xia clan. But for Ru, her childhood was neither easy nor tough; it was just perfect.

Back when her little pet snake - Xiao Hong - died, her grandfather sent her to Jingshen. She was under the care of Abbott Wang Xiuying as his disciple. Back then, she was only ten years old and she was left to copy hundreds of copies of scriptures.

"Do you call it food? Is it even edible?" She was young but her voice had the same intimidation as it did years later. She was never scared of confrontations and right now was involved in one again, "You made me write till my hands can’t move and after that, you’re giving me this?" She held a bowl in hand with disdain palpable on her face. "Look at this soup. It’s bland and tasteless. This is worse than a slave would get."

With his hands behind his back, Abbott Wang stood before her with a straight face. "Young Master Ru, in our Jingshen Temple every monk drinks the same soup."

Ru stood up in the same posture as him and replied, "Does this Young Master look like a monk to you? Yah! Xiuying, I won’t eat this."

Abbott Wang’s eyes narrowed considerably as he warned her, "Mind your words Young Master Ru. I’m your elder. You can’t address me by my name." Taking a deep breath, he smiled and continued, "And if you don’t want to eat. That’s up to you."

Ru was left gaping as the last source of her food was gone as well. She was fuming mad as for who she was mad at she couldn’t tell herself. She slapped the wooden table in the room which broke into two under her assault and mumbled, "So much for being one of the richest kids in the world. I don’t even have a single cent." She rubbed her hand over her grumbling stomach and lifted her hand to punch the door.

However, her strike was stopped midway as the door opened and a hand took the blow of her punch without even flinching. Ru looked up at the smiling eyes of her Steward. "Uncle Shin, why did you stop me? Let me break this stupid door." Ru was fuming with an empty stomach.

"I heard someone mentioning something like our Young Master Ru is too tired to even lift his hand. Now, here is Young Master Ru ready to wreak havoc. Isn’t it surprising?" Steward Shin sounded clam but he was very amused.

"Uncle Shin, are you siding with that vile grandmaster Wang? How could you?" Ru spoke in an aggrieved tone. "My poor little Xiao Hong died and I’m still upset about its death. You know only food can bring comfort to my broken heart. Yet, you’re siding with outsiders?"

Steward Shin rolled his eyes at her and said, "Young Master Ru, you can complain to Master yourself." He passed the handset in his hand to her.

Ru snatched it from his hand and cautiously said, "Hello?"

"Who put my evergreen son in such a bad mood?" Her father’s voice came from the other side and left Ru stunned. But then came a gush of warmth in her heart which she was really missing.

"Father!" Ru called out softly. "Where are you? When are you coming back? Behind your back, grandfather put me here in Jingshen. I want to go home."

"Hmm... Isn’t Jingshen very peaceful for you?" Her father asked in a relaxed manner.

"I would rather go through your rigorous exercises. I don’t like it here one bit!" She announced with certainty.

She heard a soft chuckle from the other side, "Aiyo, my silly son. Why don’t you honestly say that you don’t like the food?"

Ru pressed her lips together. There was no point in answering that, the answer was obvious for anyone. She didn’t mind going through her father’s strict ruling because he never compromised on her food. In fact, he always brought the world delicacies just for her.

"So, tell me; what would my son wish to eat?"

"Mmm..." Ru thought about this seriously and answered, "I heard down the mountain, there is a famous shop in the town. I want to try their gluttonize rice cake soup."

"Huh? That’s it?" Ru reluctantly replied with a yes. "But I for one know that Jingshen also has a very famous kebab place and steamed buns are also very good." Ru’s mouth watered as she heard her father’s words. "Wouldn’t my son like to try all of that?"

"Do you think I can bring myself to say no? Food is my weakness." Ru cried out.

"My little glutton, then go out with your Uncle Shin. He’ll buy you everything you want to eat."

"Really?" Ru’s eyes brightened up immediately.

"Really," the reply came.

Ru waited for a minute before asking, "When are you coming back?"

"I’ll be right by your side in a month. Wait for me at Jingshen. Father will take you home with himself." Ru’s mood lifted up as she talked for another few minutes and hung up the call.

Walking up to Steward Shin’s side, she said, "Uncle Shin, let’s go. We are going on a food trip." She patted his arm and went on, "Aren’t you happy to hear that?"

Steward Shin’s reply was, "Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself, Young Master?" When Ru eyed him, he added, "You look happier, that’s why I was saying that."

After that, Ru spent the next three hours on the streets of Jingshen Town. Back then, this was a small town with a very conservative lifestyle. However, Ru’s food trip was a success. From gluttonized rice cake soup to kebabs and from steamed buns to dumplings. She had a fill of everything.

A little secret, the hand which was breaking after writing for consecutive 14 hours was not even tired while eating so much. It didn’t even hurt. Trust me.

When she came back to the Temple, it was already past 8. She had bought candied haws on her way up as her late-night snack. Well, Steward Shin didn’t say anything but wasn’t it obvious that those candied haws were gonna end up in her stomach sooner than late-night. But everyone knew about her huge appetite so it didn’t surprise him.

"Uncle Shin, you can go back to the room and report everything to my father in ease. I won’t go anywhere at this time." Ru assured him with a solemn look. Leaning closer, she added, "But don’t tell him I ate so much."

"Young Master Ru, Master is most familiar with your appetite. He is the one who often cooks for you. Even though this humble servant of yours can lie but Master won’t believe it." Steward Shin’s voice was humble and polite.

"Uncle Shin, how many times father told you to stop calling yourself a servant? Also, stop pretending. Do you think I don’t know the reason why you’re always sent along with me? You’re father’s spy and I really don’t care about that."

Steward Shin gave a small smile and said, "Young Master Ru is the smartest as always. Then I’ll leave you now. Please, return to your room and have some rest."

Ru watched him leave and heaved a sigh of relief. "Now, I can go to the waterfall at the back of the mountain and eat my candies haws there under the moonlight. Hehe..." Ru was lost in her schemes when someone bumped into her from behind and her candied haws fell down on the floor.

Ru’s eyes were stuck on her candied haws and she didn’t notice the little boy who had fallen onto the floor as well. Apparently, he was the culprit who ruined her snack. She extended her hand longingly towards the fallen candied haws but the boy thought she was helping him. He held her hand and stood up saying, "Thanks for helping me. I tripped over something and bumped into you."

Ru glared at that bright-eyed boy and gritted out, "You ruined my candied haws."

The boy only noticed the candied haws on the floor and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry about that."

Ru clutched his collar and lifted him off the floor saying, "What should I do with your sorry? Can I eat it?"

"It’s just candies haws. Put me down!" The boy screamed as he realized his feet were off the ground. Clearly, between the two of them, he was the one who looked stronger. But he wasn’t aware of the inner strength of Ru who wasn’t raised like a pampered young master.

"Put you down?" Ru looked around and the edges of her lips lifted up as she said, "As you wish!"