107 He’s Vengeful, She’s Vicious, You’re Greedy! 8 (1/2)
Wei Xuan's wary cry roused everyone within the study; a youth's eyes blazed open, an uncanny ferociousness hidden behind the indifferent demeanor, and a young girl quickly stifled her lotus petal into nonexistence.
As she quietly snuggled against an unused pillowcase, An Fei couldn't help but ruminate to herself, palpitations rushing through her heart.
She had made one feeble little lotus petal that wasn't even two centimeters in length; just how was Wei Xuan capable of detecting such a miniscule phenomenon?
…surely, he wouldn't trace it back to her… right?
”Who's there!” the minister's voice boomed once again, and the soft sliding of metal against leather rasped within the study.
”This minister shall request the Esteemed Cultivator to reveal himself!”
Silence reigned within the study as Wei Xuan's words left his lips.
The Eldest Young Master slid his body into a defensive stance, his reserves of spiritual essence fully primed to respond at the slightest movement.
Within the bedcurtains, the girl attempted to suppress her shivering to the minimum, hoping that her painfully thudding heart was not audible to their ears.
To that, An Fei needed no worry – her heartbeat only sounded to be of a loud volume to her ears; to others, it was exceptionally feeble and weak, comparable to that of a newborn infant.
”This minister shall request the Esteemed Cultivator to reveal his presence! Otherwise, please do not blame this minister!”
Wei Xuan declared once more in a stern voice, a soft steel sword secured in his grasp.
Upon receiving silence as the only response after five minutes had passed, the minister stepped forward, a terrifying pulse of spiritual essence expanding from his body.
A few breaths later, Wei Xuan stepped back, his expression unfathomable, but significantly colder than before.
Motioning for the Eldest Young Master to release his guard, the minister sank into the half-moon chair, his brows knitted in thought.
Just who was that person to have eluded his detection? Though the impulse of spiritual essence was feeble at best, to be able to escape from his observation was a feat in that of itself…
As Wei Chang Feng and Wei Xuan racked their brains attempting to determine the mysterious person, the young girl dragged herself deep into the blankets, utilizing her hands to muffle her voice as much as possible.
The dull intone of bells rung by a mosquito's whisper escaped her throat, and An Fei successfully fled in a panic.
–
And just like that, two weeks successfully passed since the rather embarrassing incident. Since waking up in the decorated woodshed, eight months had passed in a leisurely manner.
Wei Chang Feng still remained holed up in the study of the Flowing Wind Residence, and by observing Wei Xuan's expression, matters of the Imperial Court did not seem to be faring so favorably.
Each night she went to 'sleep', An Fei would hear snippets of information regarding the possible actions of the Taiyi Sect – something she wanted to stray away from.
Thus, she would extend the time she spent in the Sanctum to include her sleeping schedule.
Unceasingly failing to complete even one cycle of movements within the , tinkering with her imitation of the , attempting to decipher the without gouging her eyes or impaling her temple with a nail to end her mind's misery – the young girl experienced what it felt like to undergo a 'cram' study session after taking a break for years.
Absolutely miserable.
She had fled the Flowing Wind Residence to avoid any issues that arose on the occasion that Wei Xuan discovered that the person who alerted his perception was indeed her, but instead of finding solace, she found herself standing above a plain of steel-spiked thistles.
The only caveat was the exceptionally delicious food she could consume to her heart's content.
”Eldest Brother, how are matters outside of the manor? Have the matters with the Taiyi Sect calmed down?”
”I don't know.”
…it seemed that her only conversation partner in daylight was an identical social outcast.
Birds of a feather flock together, as the ancestors had said.
…
An Fei shook her head, picking up the inkbrush and toying with it in her hand. Rolling the ivory handle with her fingers and observing the fine grains in boredom, the young girl pursed her lips in thought.
”If only I had the actual manual to reference… then this would be so much easier…”
The brush was set onto the drawing table, and An Fei rose from the half-moon chair to roam the bookshelves. Her fingers trailed over the spines of several books, her lips reciting the titles under her breath.
”History of Great Yong architecture… the establishment of the Three Lotus Sect… the fundamental principles of apt governance…”