43 A formidable foe (2/2)

”And why should that be an excuse?” The Sect Leader sneered.

”...” Perhaps it wasn't. But it was due to such sternness that Peng Jipei had nursed a hatred for his brother too deep to salvage. And Peng Zhugen would die at the end of a dagger. Liu Sumeng decided it was a good time to drop his warning, ”The one who will pay will be you.”

Peng Zhugen was thoroughly drunk and tossed his head back in roaring laughter, ”Pay? I have no desire to entangle myself any farther with my little brother's mess. If he wishes to play the fool than so be it. If he dooms himself to become Zhao Fanyu's slave, see if I care! Hah!”

But Liu Sumeng wasn't talking about the payment that Peng Jipei owed or the divine spiritual core that he refused to hand over at the younger Peng's cost. ”You'll get killed,” he clarified.

Peng Zhugen raised a brow, ”All good men get killed,” he said, tone grave. He leaned back, chin tilted up and smirked, ”this has never been any news to me. Are you even aware of the dangers I dally in, on a day to day basis? I think not.”

He was probably already expecting to be killed, Liu Sumeng realized, but not by the foe he was expecting. ”I'd watch out for Peng Jipei.”

Peng Zhugen blinked at him and then laughed and slapped the table, almost causing an entire jug of wine to tumble onto the ground. Luckily, Liu Sumeng wasn't intoxicated and was able to save the jug before it went to waste. ”What? You really think that pathetic, weak brother of mine could do anything to me? Aren't you underestimating me a little too much? Say, Ivory Sword Saint, if I weren't in such a pleasant mood currently, I would have to count this as slander.”

”...” In the end, maybe he shouldn't have said anything about it at all. Liu Sumeng sighed, ”Let him see his mother off. It will be his only chance in this lifetime.”

The more Sect Leader Peng laughed, the more talkative he became. But for the most part, Liu Sumeng only nodded calmly and didn't show any signs of being affected by alcohol.

”You are a rather terrifying person, aren't you?”

”...You're not bad yourself.”

Peng Zhugen smiled, but he didn't dare stand up. He didn't dare show just how badly he was defeated. And when the night ended and each of them returned to their rooms, Liu Sumeng couldn't help but think that despite Sect Leader Peng's bad personality, he wasn't so terrible. After all, Liu Sumeng didn't have to deal with carrying a slobbering mess back to their quarters. Could he have gained a drinking buddy that wasn't his own brother? A small sliver of excitement tickled his stomach. Not bad, Peng Zhugen. Not bad at all.

When he returned he thought Yuan Xuelan was asleep. The room was dark, and Liu Sumeng didn't want to disturb Xuelan so late at night. With spirit lights dimmed he snuck inside. It was silent, and Liu Sumeng made his way to his side of the room.

A little breeze squeezed its way through the cracks in the window so Liu Sumeng cast a small spell to keep the inside warm. There was a little ember glow that came from the basket on the mirror counter. At least Yuan Xuelan decided not to have roasted phoenix for a late-night snack. Huo Tang was curled up on a little bed of silken cloth. She'd been sleeping a lot, probably to replenish her spiritual energy and heal.

The burns stung under the wraps of his bandages but Liu Sumeng didn't feel keen on changing them, lest he disturbed Yuan Xuelan from his rest. And just when he was about to slide into bed, he was startled by Yuan Xuelan's voice, ”Where were you even off to?”

Liu Sumeng froze and for a moment thought he had imagined it, but Yuan Xuelan was in fact awake. Since the wooden panels were pushed aside, their rooms were more like one rather than two. Even in the low glow of spirit lights that danced outside, a sharp glare was caught upon Yuan Xuelan's eyes. He was like a tiger that watched silently in the dark.

”Xuelan,” Liu Sumeng said but struggled to find the words to follow, ”You're awake.”

Yuan Xuelan scoffed, and lit several candles to give light to the room, ”Yeah well, I couldn't sleep. It's not like you woke me up or anything.” He snuck a peek at Liu Sumeng who was still standing on the other end of the room, ”Aren't you going change your bandages?”

Awkwardness struck him like a fist in the gut and Liu Sumeng stupidly answered without thinking, ”I suppose.”

”You suppose? Your burns are pretty bad. On top of those awful injuries on your back!” His voice rose and then fell with an exasperated sigh. Yuan Xuelan pulled out two stools. ”Here. Come sit.” He patted the seat in front of him.

”You don't have to.”

The usual expressive Yuan Xuelan was oddly unreadable. Warm candle lights flickered upon his boyish features. Come the end of winter he would be one year closer to adulthood, one year closer to the handsome emperor that haunted Liu Sumeng's memories. One that had a devilish smile and a honey slicked voice, whose heart burned both too hot and too cold. And after a pause, long enough for Liu Sumeng to believe he'd be let off, Yuan Xuelan said, ”…I want to.”

”Oh.”