54 I know... (1/2)

There was a reason why they called it the calm before the storm. The days went by without any big trouble. Xiao Hei had lost a hairpin at some point and enlisted the entire reserve of servants to help her search for it. There was a village girl that stormed up the mountain to shout curses at the Guanghai Elder. Said Elder disappeared with the wind the following day, an act that was normal and uninteresting, one of the Heavenly Sword disciples informed Yuan Xuelan.

To say the least, there was hardly any drama to speak about. Some people still shared whispers about the Ivory Sword Saint's wedding that would undoubtedly be postponed due to the upcoming events and the threat of war looming. Yuan Xuelan's stomach churned with his secret knowledge that he dared to share with no one. It was up to Liu Sumeng to break it to his Shijie. Which he knew that the Ivory Sword Saint had intended to do, but was currently was plagued with swarms of meetings and affairs. Talks and plans that Yuan Xuelan, as an outsider, was not privy to.

And thus he spent his time days reading up about spells and tinkering with his magical tools and treasures as he always had. He was working on refining the Tiger Heart Amethyst that Liu Sumeng had given him. Its power rumbled and roared. Little tendrils of electricity within the stone reached for his fingers every time he touched its smooth glistening surface. Yuan Xuelan couldn't help wonder what would happen if he used this sacred jewel to craft a sword.

”A-Zhang!” Chen Anyue's voice snapped him out of his concentration. He put the Tiger Heart Amethyst down with gentle caution beside the myriad of engraving and refinement tools on the table. Chen Anyue was in the door frame and beckoned his attention with a smile.

”Shijie? What is it?” He asked.

She held her hands behind her back and giggled, ”You've been cooped up here for a few days now. Come and take a walk with me!”

Yuan Xuelan was a little reluctant to leave his work but who was he to say no to her? He nodded and quickly organized his things and put away any valuables before following her lead.

It had snowed quite hard the night before and left a coat of white as deep as their knees. The disciples and servants have been work hard to clear the main paths that snaked around the manor like trenches. It was noon and the sun sat high in the winter sky, reflecting bright blinding beams upon the shiny, reflective snow.

They talked about mundane things. Chen Anyue told him about her progress in her martial skills training while he told her about his work on the Tiger Heart Amethyst. They shared their laughter and matched their steps like a perfect pair of brother and sister.

It was only when they were beyond the Heavenly Sword Manor gates did Chen Anyue say to him, ”I think we have to go home soon…” There was a hint of sadness in her voice alongside anxiety. ”I don't think my wedding will be happening any time soon.”

Yuan Xuelan felt his throat dry. He nodded, ”Yeah. We should be home for the New Year.” He tried to keep him mind off Liu Sumeng and Chen Anyue and instead thought of home. Thought of Reling and the Ascending Dawn Sect.

Chen Anyue nodded, ”Yes…who knows when we'll get a chance to spend some relaxing time with our loved ones after the war begins.” Yuan Xuelan would argue that things were hardly peaceful now. Not with the cloud of unseen tension that weighed down upon them all, making the air feel thick and itchy. ”I wonder how my brothers and father are doing?”

Yuan Xuelan scoffed and rolled his eyes. ”I'm sure they're fine and are causing trouble as always.”

Chen Anyue giggled behind her sleeve, ”But they were never as big of troublemakers as you were!”

Yuan Xuelan grumbled and pouted, ”Hey! There's no way I was that bad!” He nudged her side and she nudged him back with glowing mischief upon her eyes.

They followed the main trail towards the village until they decided upon a different path that was still covered with dense snow. Chen Anyue smirked, her eyes twinkled mischievously. She hopped up on the snow's surface and stood on top of it as though she weighed but a feather.

Yuan Xuelan smirked after her and did the same, ”I can do that too!”

She smiled and took off running. The two dashing atop the snow with their light step technique, giggling like a part of playful magpies.

They zipped through the trees until they came upon a clearing. This was where Yuan Xuelan had his nightly sword lessons with Liu Sumeng. Though the ground was covered by a fresh layer of snow, there was still some evidence of their training sessions, with scars and gashes carved into the surrounding trees and branched that hung broken. It seemed that Yuan Xuelan had unwittingly led Chen Anyue to his secret spot with the Ivory Sword Saint. Embarrassment was upon his face but he was doing his best to ignore it.

Chen Anyue looked around. If there was anything she noticed, she kept it to herself. Instead, she looked to Yuan Xuelan and said, ”Let's spar.”

He blinked at her and then smiled, ”Are you sure?” He was certain that she was excited to show off her new martial skills. And Yuan Xuelan was a bit excited as well, because she wasn't the only one that had new moves to test. And he didn't want to brag or anything but he had definitely grown a little since they first came to Wangyun Peak, not only in height but in muscle as well.

”Prepare to get your ass beat!” Chen Anyue giggled and summoned her Golden Rope.

Yuan Xuelan laughed as well, thinking how poor Chen Gaoyong would get a heart attack if he heard his beloved daughter utter such crass words. Yuan Xuelan's hand curled around his sword hilt. They slowly circled each other and measured the other's power.

Yuan Xuelan didn't except Chen Anyue to make the first move. She threw out her rope, whipping it against the ground. It snapped against the snow before striking at Yuan Xuelan like a snake.

If he hadn't dashed aside, his leg would have looked much like the splintered tree behind him! ”Not bad, Shijie!” He drew his sword and circled her.