108 Is this your great plan (1/2)

Even before Yuan Xuelan's consciousness fully returned, he had a feeling that his rest was not normal. In fact, he was feeling extremely groggy and his consciousness was hovering in a weird, precarious place. And yet he could hear his own voice speak with a lively tone.

”Is this your great plan, Master Ivory Sword Saint? Hm, I understand your intention when facing beings such as Fallen Gods. However, whereabouts do you think you're going to get all the possible materials and stock for this great plan of yours?”

Another voice, more distant, responded.

Yuan Xuelan didn't have the energy necessary to be able to decode the conversation going on. He was also too preoccupied with the feeling of floating and the slow return of his senses.

He could feel that he was leaning over, and there was a person next to him who he was shamelessly leaning close to, so much so he was almost in this person's lap. There was also the feeling of something hard beneath his palm, a table perhaps.

”You know, I have always been so mighty curious about where all your knowledge and premonition come from, my darling Ivory Sword Saint.”

Huh, who was even using his voice saying these ridiculous things? Yuan Xuelan would never!

He forced his eyes open. Only his eyes were already open and he was looking right at Liu Sumeng! Whose face was very close to his own!

But he only blinked stupidly because Yuan Xuelan could not understand his current predicament at all! It seems that he was in a study that he could not recognize, hunched over a desk where Sumeng sat.

And Liu Sumeng was only looking at him calmly with his sharp eyes and long lashes. If Yuan Xuelan only leaned in just a little their lips would touch! He instinctively held his breath but he was already spellbound by those deep dark irises and thin pink lips.

The Ivory Sword Saint only sighed and then looked away, ”It's complicated.”

Yuan Xuelan had no idea what was being talked about nor did he have any idea about what was going on, and stupidly blurted out, ”What's complicated?”

He followed Liu Sumeng's gaze to the desk. There were letters and diagrams of ballistas and spells. Just as his interest was sparkled, the Ivory Sword Saint was gathering all these documents with his beautiful long fingers and putting them away.

”I will tell you another time,” Liu Sumeng replied cryptically as he got up from his seat. He picked up some of the letters and walked toward the door.

Yuan Xuelan was still reeling and trying to piece together the scene that was happening in front of him.

Before leaving, the Ivory Sword Saint turned back around and said, ”Don't cause trouble for Xuelan.”

The words went through one ear and out the other. Yuan Xuelan was so confused that he could only focus on how Liu Sumeng's pristine robes fell around his figure and how elegantly the doorway framed him, as though a scene from a painting.

”...?” He blinked stupidly as Liu Sumeng left the office.

Wait a second, what was it that Sumeng even said?

Don't cause trouble for Xuelan? But he was Xuelan, wasn't he? A flicker of doubt flashed through his mind as he looked down to see familiar, wheat-colored, calloused hands. His robes were his own as well, the usual deep blue hues worn by members of the Ascending Dawn Sect.

He touched his face to be doubly sure but there was nothing odd about the slope of his jaw or even the texture of his coarse, wild hair.

…Maybe this was just some sort of strange dream?

But just as the thought passed through his head, a voice screeched, 'Foolish rude-boy! I was in the middle of having an interesting conversation and you just forcefully kicked me out. After I've gone through the trouble of saving your life, this is how you repay me?'

He jumped, startled. The voice came from the depth of his mind and for a moment he thought that insanity was settling in. Ah, his imagination sure was running wild. Yuan Xuelan took a deep breath and stood up straight.

The voice returned, 'Do not ignore me! Where are your manners? How dare you disrespect me!'

That was when Yuan Xuelan suddenly lost control of his right hand. He noticed too late, and how his own palm slapped him in the face. ”What the heck!” He yelped.

'You need to be disciplined, young man!'

Yuan Xuelan caught his own right wrist and fought with it until realization dawned.

Ah, this was Huo Tang!! Huo Tang was now a part of him! The divine flames they had told him about that were keeping him alive were of course hers. Why didn't he put two and two together earlier?

'Yes, it took you long enough to realize,' there was little snort at the end that made Yuan Xuelan roll his eyes.

Wait, did this mean he had to fight for bodily control with that stupid bird? The thought was making him depressed. Ah, he didn't want to deal with her more than necessary.