参见：本章中文原版，英文版第一章

(资料图片仅供参考)

Both Jade and Seymour did not perceive Hsi Wu. They happily ran to the sky wheel.

The wheel climbed upward bit by bit. It could not match their flight either in speed or height. But as it rolled, time seemed to slow down and gradually stopped. The wobbly floor made people's hearts idle, letting them think no more about tomorrow, think no more about demons, just sit in the sky wheel and enjoy the breeze blowing into their faces.

Seen from the sky wheel, San Francisco was no longer like a Go board. High and low buildings mingled together, reflecting the red sunset glow.

The sun shined softly on Jade, the darkness and the light weaving a smile for her. The breeze lifted her hair and it touched Seymour's face, a little itching.

The breeze, the sunset, the tranquil sky, and the serene earth, from which no sound echoed.

"Moose World is so interesting. Jade, thanks for taking me out."

Jade and Seymour returned to Section 13 talking and laughing after playing until dark in Moose World. But on arriving, Jackie Chan blocked them and stared at them sternly. Jade had expected good luck that Jackie would not see Seymour when he was invisible. She wore a wide smile and wanted to take Seymour to slip away along the wall.

But Jackie stretched his hand and said seriously: "Seymour, hand out the Snake Talisman."

Seymour put the Snake on Jackie's hand without a word and appeared from the air, "Sorry, sir, I shouldn't have left without permission."

"No indeed and I have to be sorry to inform you that you are grounded."

The price for leaving Section 13 this time was to stay in his room this whole month. But Seymour did not regret it. A month's restriction was nothing if he could go out with Jade again except that she was also punished together with him for his unauthorized departure. These days, he saw nobody but Captain Black and several others. Wait calmly instead. Maybe it would take a bit longer but Jade would not be implicated at least.

As soon as Miss Hartman left the classroom, Jade dejectedly laid her chin on the desk, even unwilling to pack the school bag. Ever since she sneakily went out with Seymour, she was watched so closely that she did not have a chance to call upon Seymour. Jade slowly packed her bag and went back to Section 13, kicking the small stones along the way, upset.

"If we do not trust Seymour, who else will?"

Jade still remembered her dispute with Jackie, which was a fruitless one. Seymour was still grounded. Seymour was just Hsi Wu's good half, in whom why could not they believe?

They only said they should still restrict his freedom until he was confirmed to be harmless to society. But how should they confirm? How long should they confirm? If unverified or unverifiable, would Seymour be locked in Section 13 until the end of his days?

Jade sullenly went back to her room, flung her school bag to the ground, and lay on the bed, unwilling to move, filled with frustration.

Twenty days passed and there were ten days yet for Seymour to endure…

At this time knocks on the door suddenly rang.

"Jade, Captain Black permits me to go in and out of Section 13 freely!"

Seymour?!

Jade sprang to her feet and eagerly opened the door. Seymour turned aside to show Jade his little school bag slung on his back.

"And he helps me to enter a school. I am your classmate from now on!"

"Cool!"

Jackie Chan and Captain Black smiled when they looked from afar at the two cheerful kids.

During Seymour's living in Section 13, Captain Black brought in a psychiatrist to give him a psychological evaluation and eventually decided to give Seymour more freedom. Although human psychology may not apply to demons, as Jade said, who else would trust him if they did not?

参见：《棋手》翻译原则