71 Could it be jealousy? (1/2)

Nan Chang wanted to tag along with them. Liu Sumeng hadn't seen this coming. The Consort Nan that he knew was different from the young lady that stared at him with stars in her eyes and a bounce at her heels. Consort Nan would have never readily put herself in any situation that might involve battle. The inn buzzed around them. The patrons and staff, like the two fools in front of the Ivory Sword Saint, had no concept of the gravity of the world's situation.

He looked at Yuan Xuelan and then at Nan Chang. ”This isn't for fun and games.”

”I know,” Yuan Xuelan sighed, but his eyes were veering off to the side.

”I know!” Nan Chang said as well, but the way she was smiling told Liu Sumeng otherwise.

”No.”

Nan Chang blinked and pressed her arm together around her chest to make her bosom look fuller. ”Liu-gege,” her voice was like honey, ”I understand that it might be dangerous. I will take extra care not to get in harm's way. Please?”

But her charms did not work on Liu Sumeng. Instead, they had the opposite effect. He replied coldly, ”If you understood, you would treat this more seriously. No.”

Nan Chang's mouth gaped open then she pouted at Yuan Xuelan for help. Liu Sumeng tested him with a glare as well.

But what was Yuan Xuelan supposed to say? He didn't even want to get involved and he couldn't help but feel that the Ivory Sword Saint was being especially harsh towards Nan Chang. Yuan Xuelan wondered if this was because the Ivory Sword Saint did not like women of her ilk. ”Even though she acts like this, Nan-jie really isn't a bad person. Please don't misunderstand her behavior.”

Nan Chang made a face, as though scandalized. But Liu Sumeng's reaction was a lot more visceral, ”That has nothing to do with this!”

”Sumeng! Why are you being so…” Yuan Xuelan was stunned. Since when did Liu Sumeng lose his temper so easily? This made no sense!

Liu Sumeng realized his mistake but it was too late. He allowed his feelings and impatience to get the better of him and wanted to blame the harlot before his eyes. But Nan Chang was only batting her lids at him, innocent and confused. For she could not begin to guess what transgressions she made against him for him to antagonize her so.

How could she? She had yet to commit any of those crimes or even conceive of them in this lifetime.

”...” In the end, Liu Sumeng's words were rude. He took a breath and glared at her but it was unjust. ”I'm sorry. I spoke rashly.” His heart was still a mess and he wasn't able to articulate his thoughts well beyond that point. Frustration ate away at him and Liu Sumeng could no longer bear his own irritability. He stormed off in strides.

Nan Chang was left stunned and wound her arms around Yuan Xuelan for comfort. ”What in the world was that!? What did Nan Chang do wrong? Why does he speak to me so rudely?” Miffed, she unloaded a string of complaints.

But Yuan Xuelan didn't know either and only watched the Ivory Sword Saint's white robes flutter, farther and farther away.

…Could it be? That Liu Sumeng was jealous? Yuan Xuelan shook his head. No, that couldn't be it, could it? It didn't fit Liu Sumeng's character. But his mind was already riding away with that fantasy even as he tried to stop it. Yuan Xuelan, like a fool, could only think that Liu Sumeng was incredibly cute.

And thus, Nan Chang tagged along.

Liu Sumeng kept ahead. And while the forest was unfamiliar to him in its summer glory, he had Huo Tang with him to lead the way.

”Your spirit is in disarray,” Huo Tang hummed in her ever-wise tone, ”That will not do. That little girl has no ill intentions, you understand this, no?”

Liu Sumeng understood even if he didn't want to understand. Instead, he wanted to cry in complaint, point his fingers, and drag the sowe to her knees. Consort Nan's punishment was too light for her crimes! Why hadn't he demanded for Emperor's Taixu's cruelty? Why hadn't he--

”Boy,” Huo Tang snapped him out of his chaotic trance, ”Keep that head of yours steady on your shoulders and stop wasting your time on foolish thoughts.”

They weren't foolish!

Except they were.

There was no sowe, only a girl. No transgressions made for him rage over. Not even a single evil thought conjured yet in her little mind. And behind him, he knew that she was hanging off of Yuan Xuelan's side laughing without schemes and demanded his attention without a motive for gain.

And she, like Xuelan, were only people. Not yet tainted. Not yet evil.

Liu Sumeng forced his thoughts away from Consort Nan and focused on the trail instead. Now summer, the forest had a life much different than the one that welcomed them in the winter months. The foliage was thick and dewy and the scent of fresh rain lingered within the dirt and leaves long after the clouds dispersed from the sky. The air was alive with cricket song harmonizing with singing frogs.