"Are you okay?" Nie Mingjue asked, putting away every little detail for later. Nie Huaisang was a strange boy. Weak and pathetic but cunning as a fox. He could escape his lessons with ease and lie to him so boldly and with such conviction that sometimes he believed it. Honestly, he wondered if his brother wasn't just playing games. "I want him returned unharmed or there will be hell to pay."

"Don't threaten us. You want your little boy back? Beg for him. Come here, in person, and bow to your betters. When you kowtow, we will give you your brother back." Wen Chao spat out as he shoved Nie Huaisang away. "You have until Friday."

"Why Friday?"

"... Erm." Wait. Why did he question that? There wasn't an actual deadline but, well, you know. "Friday is the end of the week."