72 Returning to the mis (2/2)

Nan Chang beside him chirped, ”Oh! Jipei! Hey, it's you!”

Peng Jipei stopped in his tracks and noticed Nan Chang for the first time, ”Oh, hey to you too, jie! What are you doing here?”

Nan Chang found her spot back around Xuelan's arm and smiled, ”I'm here with Xuelan, of course.”

Peng Jipei laughed at her antics and shrugged, ”Well, since all my favorite people are gathered here today, I guess it isn't so bad after all.”

His words were met with more giggling and Liu Sumeng felt his patience grow short again. ”Stop dallying,” de said and glared at Peng Jipei, ”show the way.”

The Second Young Master Peng laughed nervously and shrank under the Ivory Sword Saint's gaze, ”Oh so you're here too, Ivory Sword Saint.”

Liu Sumeng, impatient, said nothing.

”Okay, okay, I get it. Um. Let's see…” he raised his hand and revealed a small silver bell dangling at the end of a string. Its chime was melodic and clear as though penetrating the evil that prevailed around them. It began to pulse with a gentle blue glow. Peng Jipei waved it around until he narrowed down the direction where the pulse came faster and brighter. ”This way.”

There was grass crunching beneath them and at times their feet ghosted over narrow paved roads. Liu Sumeng was trying to picture the courtyard they were currently walking through but his memories and imagination failed. So he glared at Peng Jipei's silver bell instead, ”Where did you get that?”

Yuan Xuelan was quiet and also curious.

Peng Jipei gave a sad smile and turned his gaze downwards, ”Oh…it's just a keepsake…from my mother.”

”Ah,” Yuan Xuelan nodded in understanding, remembering the bell that was tied around his auntie's wrist when she rested in her coffin. Liu Sumeng did not press on. ”Do you have any idea what happened here? And where's Zhao Fanyu? I thought you were with him.”

Alarm and dread were painted across Peng Jipei's features. ”Sect Leader Zhao and I were due to make way to Wangyun Peak like everyone else,” he explained with a quivering voice, ”but we got attacked on the way. The Demon King got to us and he…he said that he couldn't allow us to reach the north! And then… I thought I was done for. But Sect Leader Zhao, he, he saved me.

”I was alone…and I had nowhere to go so I thought about…returning here, because I really didn't have a choice, you know? I didn't have a choice. But when I arrived…it was already like this.” His words ended with a sniffle.

Yuan Xuelan's expression was grave, his hands curled into fists, ”Whoever did this, I promise we'll make them pay.”

Peng Jipei nodded silently.

The first flag was tucked away in the corner of the frontcourt. Its black shape could only be made out when they stood a few steps away, barred by the dark barrier that pulsed around it. ”This really is the same technique.” Yuan Xuelan clicked his tongue. He really wished he had paid more attention to the mysteries of Zu Village. But it was much too late now and they were left to deal with this annoyance all over again.

This time, Yuan Xuelan asked them all to take a step back before drawing Silei. His sword glowed a vibrant gold and crackled with power. All it took was a single downwards slash and the barrier folded and dispersed. The flag, exposed, was plucked from its place in the ground and the fog around them thinned.

Nan Chang clapped her hands excitedly, ”That's so cool, Xuelan! This is my first seeing Silei's might! It's even more awesome than I expected.”

Yuan Xuelan rolled his eyes at her but kept his smile, ”Don't lie. You've already seen it dozen of times.”

”But it doesn't get old.”

Peng Jipei was smiling as well, ”As expected, A-Zhang is gifted by the heavens.”

”Aren't you guys just flattering me now?” He complained but still looked at the Ivory Sword Saint with an almost expectant glint in his eyes.

Liu Sumeng remained quiet. Yuan Xuelan wanted to curse at himself for feeling a pang of disappointment. But just when he was about to cough against the awkward silence, the Ivory Sword Saint finally smiled, ”Xuelan is the best.”

”...Y-yeah.” Yuan Xuelan nodded, thankful that the fog was still thick enough to mask the telling flush that was now crawling up his neck. ”Since we're done here, let's move on already! Stop wasting time, guys!” He shouted and stomped, walked off, took three steps only to return when remembering that it was up to Peng Jipei to lead the way.

”... Don't laugh.”

No one dared to look at Yuan Xuelan and he did his best to pretend not to notice the way their shoulders were shaking.