48 Sadness can be defeated (2/2)

A chuckle filled the room as Liu Suye brought a cup of tea to his lips, ”C'mon, give A-Chao a bit more credit than that! But the wedding is near so let us remain in good spirits! A-Chao deserves some good wishes, even if they're from you, Shizun!”

But he was wrong in thinking that the wedding would take place anytime soon. Who could blame him? There was no way for Liu Suye to predict the ensuing chaos that would soon engulf the entire cultivation world…

...

The days back at Wangyun Peak felt deceptively quiet. Liu Sumeng was plagued with gloom and found himself in a strange unfocused state. He even got himself scolded by Liu Fumao more often than not. He was thinking about a lot of things and his sword was getting sloppy. The Sect Leader was threatening to send him on another mission to help sharpen his mind before his marriage.

Liu Sumeng didn't think about that. There were too many other things that were floating in his mind and occupying his mental space. After he'd delivered the letter to Liu Suye, his older brother had locked himself in his room. And Yuan Xuelan was still cold to him and kept his distance. And now… Liu Sumeng found himself in strange company.

”There was a crack of thunder as I swooped down and pinned his wrists with my beak and felt him tremble beneath my grasps!” Huo Tang flapped her little red wings as added dramatics to her tale.

Chen Anyue gasped, her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened, enraptured by the phoenix's story.

Xu Hexian had a strange frown on his face and his cheeks were a little flushed red, but he was equally attentive and waited for the little bird to continue. It was evening Liu Sumeng could no longer remember how he came into the company of these two. They were seated around a low table with little Huo Tang hopping around a plate of melon seeds. Liu Sumeng watched them from his spot upon the couch next to the window, a book was long forgotten in his lap.

”And then he glared at me and I saw tears well in his eyes and his body was hot under my hold…”

”Say no more!” Xu Hexian slapped his hands against the table jolting the plate of melon seeds. His face was now thoroughly red. ”Some things should only be known in the privacy of a bedroom!”

”...What do you mean?” Chen Anyue tilted her head and frowned, not quite understanding what he was talking about. She still reached over and began to pick up the mess.

Huo Tang was fast after her and pecked at the spilled seeds with her beak.

”Hey, Meng-xiong, help me out here!” Xu Hexian looked over his shoulder and pouted at him.

Chen Anyue also raised her eyes, with mysterious anticipation swirling within her deep brown orbs.

Liu Sumeng found himself at a loss when dealing with this forthcoming and hopeful Chen Anyue. He didn't understand why it was up to him to break her heart. So instead he turned his attention to the one person who wasn't looking his way. Huo Tang was still busy pecking away at melon seeds.

”Tang Tang,” he called her.

”Hm?” She didn't do so much as lift her head in acknowledgment.

”...Don't tell any more weird stories.”

Huo Hang finally looked at him and hopped around on her tiny little feet, ”What? How are my stories weird?” Her voice was thick and distorted from all the seeds she had stuck in her cheeks, ”If the act of producing children was so odd then how do you think all of you here were born?”

”...” This was definitely not the conversation he wanted to have with her. He came over to the table and bent over between Chen Anyue and Xu Hexian then promptly flicked the little phoenix on her forehead.

”Ouch! What was that for, you meanie!? Is that how you treat your elders!??”

”...” Liu Sumeng thought it was very funny that Huo Tang only wished her aged be acknowledged when demanding for respect. He wasn't sure if she deserved it in this instance so he scooped her up in his palms and began massaging her little face. Soon she could do nothing but melt between his fingers. The little preening noises she was making soothed out into snores. Huo Tang was a surprisingly simple creature.

Xu Hexian let out a long sigh of relief, ”Thanks, Meng-xiong. I honestly don't know where you picked up such a vulgar little creature. I'm surprised you haven't tossed her out.”

”...Tang Tang is cute.” He told Xu Hexian as if those words explained his actions.

Xu Hexian, on the other hand, did not seem extremely convinced. ”...Right.”