109 Marking the end of another day (1/2)

Yuan Xuelan thought about searching for his Shijie in the city but since she was busy and out and about, perhaps it was better to leave her be for now.

He sighed, feeling useless and resigned. Everyone seemed to have things they were doing, whether it was preparing for the inevitable war or the Mid-Autumn Festival that was just around the corner.

He alone was left to wallow around aimlessly.

He was beginning to understand why Nan Chang decided to run away.

…But it wasn't like there wasn't anything to do. It was simply that he was kept out of the loop and people were still insisting that he should rest even though he was feeling totally fine!

If Chen Anyue wasn't going to be easily found, Yuan Xuelan decided to suck in some courage and go search for his Sumeng instead. There was a chance that the Ivory Sword Saint was not around either but it didn't hurt to check.

Yuan Xuelan first went back to the quaint office that he woke up in earlier in the day. He had learned that it was a temporary office given to Liu Sumeng to use during his stay. He also slept in that room, hence the bed that was tucked into the corner of the room.

When he knocked on the door, it was without any answer and Yuan Xuelan awkwardly slid the door open slightly to get a peek inside, ”Sumeng?” he tried calling.

There was no response. No one was there. But he was still struck with the temptation to take a good look around.

Everything was organized neatly, items placed in a pragmatic but also elegant way. Yuan Xuelan gulped, feeling oddly giddy to see a room that was so signature Liu Sumeng at the Ascending Dawn Manor, the place that he called home. Now, if he saw Liu Sumeng return through the gates, would it be appropriate to tell him 'welcome home'?

Ah, his mind was escaping the realms of reality. Yuan Xuelan shook his head and gently closed the door before going on his way.

He asked a few passerbys if they had seen the Ivory Sword Saint. This time, he got a more substantial answer and was pointed in the library's direction.

Yuan Xuelan wasted no time going to the library.

Compared to Wangyun Peak's modest little collection, the Ascending Dawn's library was as grand as the rest of the manor. A whole tower was erected on the north side of the courtyard. There were four floors in total, each of them were stacked with books and manuals from floor to ceiling. It was one of the sect's prides and a symbol of their power and prestige.

But the library was large, which meant that Yuan Xuelan really had to comb through the rows of books, the little tables and chairs hidden in corners to check for the Ivory Sword Saint.

He ran himself breathless, up and down the floors until he thought maybe Liu Sumeng had already left. Or maybe that servant was playing a prank on him or something…

Reluctant to give up, Yuan Xuelan decided to double-check all the hidden corners of the library a second time.

This time when he poked his head out on the balcony of the top floor, he noticed the red sun that had begun to set behind brushstrokes of cloud.

Yuan Xuelan sighed. But then something caught the corner of his eye.

There was a chair wedged away in the very corner of the balcony that Yuan Xuelan had foolishly missed during his first comb through the library.

Liu Sumeng's head was leaning against the wall. The book in his hand looked like it was about to fall out of his grips any second. Dark lashes closed with dusk that kissed his smooth, white skin. The light reflected off his pristine robes, enveloping him in a heavenly glow.

He was obviously exhausted, but it only made his moment of rest appear more precious and heartwarming in Yuan Xuelan's eyes. The way his shoulders were slumped and the tension eased out of his face. The cold and stern visage of the Ivory Sword Saint melted into tranquil innocence.

Yuan Xuelan carefully tiptoed over, fearful of disturbing Liu Sumeng's rest. A smile lifted the corners of his lips and he inwardly chided this beautiful person for carelessly resting in random places so defenselessly.

Was this a habit of Sumeng's? Or was Yuan Xuelan simply lucky for catching him while he was so cute and vulnerable?

Yuan Xuelan hoped it was the latter, he hated the thought of others prying into Liu Sumeng's weak state as freely as he'd had the opportunity to. An ugly surge of possessiveness bubbled in Yuan Xuelan's chest and he didn't know how to suppress it.

It was overwhelming and consuming in its presence in Xuelan's heart, his eyes dilated as he looked down at Liu Sumeng's resting figure. The first thing he did was pluck to the book out of the Ivory Sword Saint's hand and set it aside.

His throat went dry as he tried to remind himself of reason, reaching over to feel a loose strand of dark hair below his fingertips.

He wanted this person.

He wanted him so much.

But he couldn't have him.