42 Friend not food (1/2)

Liu Sumeng reached out but failed to grasp onto Yuan Xuelan's sleeve. Helplessly, he watched the younger cultivator disappear into the distance and had to suppress the urge to run after.

He endured. And turned to face the phoenix in front of him, ”I will let you go.”

She raised a brow and inclined her chin. Her face tugged against the golden binds of the net. ”You've gone through a lot of trouble to come to such a conclusion, young cultivator.”

Peng Jipei gripped his sleeve, eyes darting in search of the Yuan Xuelan that had run off, ”Wait, wait, wait, Young Master Liu, please think this over!” His shrill voice begged. ”I understand your hesitance and honestly it's not like I want to do this either, but… For the sake of my mother. Please, there is no other choice…”

His lips were still bruised blue from his brother's beating. The delicate and fine clothes on his body stood stark contrast against his deep pout and clasped hands held in front of his chest. Peng Jipei was no better than a begging animal. Liu Sumeng wanted to curse him for being weak of heart, but who was he to say anything? After his own heart trembled and falter after he lost Chen Anyue. And the very thought of losing Yuan Xuelan was absolutely unbearable.

But the truth could not be denied and realoty had to be faced. Their eyes met. ”Your mother will die in three day's time,” Liu Sumeng said.

”Wah-” Peng Jipei blinked, struck.

”Your mother will die in three day's time,” he repeated.

”No, no, no you're mistaken-”

”She will die.” Merciless, he repeated again.

It only took a second for the panic on Peng Jipei's countenance to fade into rage. ”Shut up!” He snapped and punched Liu Sumeng in the face.

The Ivory Sword Saint took the blow, teeth cutting into his lip and Liu Sumeng tasted iron.

”You better take that back! My mother won't die!” He grabbed Liu Sumeng by the collar and shook him like a child would a rag doll.

Liu Sumeng grabbed the wrist that held him there and felt the way Peng Jipei trembled like a leaf. The truth was unkind but he said it again, ”Your mother will die. And you will fail to repay Zhao Fanyu in the following days.”

Tears spilled from the eye uncovered by the eyepatch but Liu Sumeng continued, ”Your brother will throw you out. And you will slave away to fulfill your debt.”

The shaking under Liu Sumeng's hold became more violent. Liu Sumeng ignored it, ”This is your own doing. This is your fate.”

Peng Jipei sobbed and then snarled, winding up for another punch.

Liu Sumeng caught it this time and held Peng Jipei's fist with an iron grip, ”Stop this.”

But the boy didn't stop and cried and kicked at him like a cornered beast. ”You bastard! What do you know about my mother? Tell me, what in the world do you think you know!?” Left without a choice, he twisted Peng Jipei's arm behind his back to see if the smaller man could calm down. But Peng Jipei continued to fight and squirm until Liu Sumeng decided it was best to hit a pressure point in his neck, making the boy's body go slack. The Ivory Sword Saint caught him before he hit the ground.

”If you believe you are being noble,” the phoenix chuckled, ”then you are wrong.”

He laid Peng Jipei upon the ground before going to the phoenix and cutting apart her binds, ”Sorry.”

”And what meaning does your apology hold?” she asked, rising to her feet. She was tall for a woman, just barely shorter than the current Yuan Xuelan. Her hands folded neatly across her stomach and chin held up. ”You've created a mess out of my spiritual energy, and my cultivation is practically useless. Even beyond these binds, you are simply sending me off to my death, no different than what that boy wished of me.” Her smile was calm and alluring and would easily unnerve a lesser man.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Sumeng replied, ”I see. Then I will take care of you.”

She raised a brow, ”And do you truly believe that that will alleviate your transgressions?”

”No,” he struggled with his words before saying, ”But it's the least I can do.”

”Oh,” and for the first time she smiled in a way that wasn't a sneer, her shoulders perked up and she appeared rather girlish if even a bit mischievous, ”That is true. Then take care of me you shall!” Her body began to glow again until it began to shrink.

She shrank and shrank until there was no longer a woman but a little puffy red chick that bounced at Liu Sumeng's feet. He blinked and tried to believe that he wasn't charmed, but he totally was!

She, was, so, cute!

He bent down and scooped the little fluffy thing in his palms.