28 A difficult case 2 !? (1/2)

In the evening Yuan Xuelan met up with Xu Hexian to practice his sword techniques.

”Hm? What does Meng-xiong like?” Xu Hexian hummed as he stretched. ”Scolding people! He definitely gets a kick out of scolding people and hitting them,” he said huffing.

Yuan Xuelan narrowed his eyes.

”But that wasn't what you wanted to hear about right? Ok, I'll tell you a little secret ok,” he beckoned Yuan Xuelan to come closer. Apprehension fluttered in his stomach but he scooted in, allowing Xu Hexian to press a hand against his ear and whisper.

A flush burned its way up Yuan Xuelan's face as he yanked himself back, ”I can't-! That's not useful information at all!!”

Xu Hexian snickered behind his hand, ”Well you never told me exactly what kind of information you were looking for so I only told you things that Meng-xiong likes.”

Yuan Xuelan opened his mouth and then closed it. This bastard! ”Whatever! Just never mind!” As if he could admit that he was asking in order to prepare a gift for Liu Sumeng!

Either way, Xu Hexian was useless, so he would have to look for someone else for help. When they resumed training after the break, Xu Hexian regretted riling the hot-headed Yuan Xuelan up. Just how could this youth have so much brutish strength and stamina!? Even if Xu Hexian could parry and counter his blows, his wrists and legs were going to give from exhaustion. Ah, next time, he will be more careful.

The next victim to Yuan Xuelan's questioning was Liu Suye. He hadn't really interacted with Liu Suye much before and didn't really know how to approach the elder of the Liu brothers. But the following day, when he was going on a stroll on the mountainside again, he saw this older Liu brother walking back from a trip to the village, two bottles of wine in hand.

”If it isn't the Young Master Yuan!” He greeted, waving Yuan Xuelan over to walk with him back to the manor. Compared to the Ivory Sword Saint, Huamian-Jun was a down-to-earth person who welcomed and invited conversation.

”Greetings, Huamian-Jun,” Yuan Xuelan bowed. There was something about this man that made him stand out, a pleasant aura that made people like him and wish to be liked by him.

”Hm?” Liu Suye chuckled, ”What's with that formal way of address? I'm an easy-going guy so why don't you just address me in an easy-going way? We might as well be brothers at this point.”

Yuan Xuelan raised a brow but didn't argue, ”Then I'll call you Ye-xiong.”

”Ye-xiong is good, but you can call me Dage too,” he smiled mischievously with narrowed eyes.

…Just who did you think was going to call you Dage?

Yuan Xuelan almost snorted, but he wasn't in a particularly bad mood. Liu Suye was funny, but in a completely different way than his younger brother. ”Compared to Liu Sumeng, your face is rather thick, isn't it?”

”That is hardly a difficult thing,” Liu Suye whistled, ”Not many people have a face thinner than A-Chao's.”

Yuan Xuelan nodded, there wasn't much to disagree with in regards to that. ”Ye-xiong, you're awfully talkative,” he couldn't help but note.

Liu Suye smiled, ”Are you trying to tell me that's a bad thing?”

”Nope, not at all,” he hummed, ”I was just thinking how you and your brother are very different.”

”Hehe, many people tell us that. We have the same face, after all, most people expect our personalities to at least be a little similar.”

Yuan Xuelan shrugged, ”Honestly, it's hard to notice the similarities when your facial expressions are completely different.”

The way Liu Suye tilted his head was playful, ”What makes you say that?”

Yuan Xuelan raised a brow, did this man really want him to point out the obvious? ”Well, first off, you…” you're normal, but Yuan Xuelan didn't say that, ”you're pretty down-to-earth and like to talk. I honestly don't think the Ivory Sword Saint could be caught dead smiling. His face is more like,” he stroked his chin in thought, ”a rock.”

Liu Suye snickered, the two wine jars swaying with his steps, ”That's not wrong! I don't know how he was struck with that affliction,” Liu Suye shook his head but a fond smile was stretching his lips. Yuan Xuelan thought, even though Liu Suye lost the title of heir, it appeared he was still rather fond of his younger brother. It made Yuan Xuelan like him more. Liu Suye paused in his words and looked down Yuan Xuelan with a mirthful twinkle in his eyes.