122 They parted ways (1/2)

Liu Sumeng was not interested in food, but he was worried that Xuelan hadn't eaten after the long night, and thus decided to take a detour to acquire a good healthy meal for him before making his way across the Seeking Crane courtyard.

Even here he could hear the chanting of spells, yelling and people milling about in organized chaos.

The inevitability of battle was rife, as was the fear and excitement. People like Elder Hanli and Second Young Master Chen were about barking orders and keeping people calm. It was always better when tasks were given along with some sense of responsibility. It kept people busy.

Yuan Xuelan was busy as well.

After he had given his report to Sect Leader Chen, he went and holed himself away in his study and Liu Sumeng hadn't seen him since. In a bygone life, Xuelan couldn't easily disappear for weeks and months at a time. When people believed that he had gone into seclusion to cultivate, the reality had been he was fiddling with tools and inventions.

This was something that was cathartic to the teenager, but also addictive.

When Liu Sumeng knocked on the door he received no response.

That as well was no surprise.

With his free hand, Liu Sumeng opened the door and stepped inside.

A heavy curtain over the windows denied the room of daylight, making it appear like it was still nighttime, with only a flickering candle and dancing spirit light in Yuan Xuelan's room. His hands were black with ink, a set of seeing glasses over the bridge of his nose to help him scrutinize whatever mess he had sprawled on his desk; from pieces of discarded talismans, notes, random pieces of material.

Liu Sumeng could hardly even make sense of what was going on, but he could notice how the corners of Xuelan's eyes were tinged red and the small furrow between his brow that spoke of intense concentration and headache.

It was not often that Xuelan wore seeing glasses. Only after long nights where he spent way too long squinting at details. He did not even look up and just patted the very edge of the desk, where there was a mere spec of free space. ”Thanks. Just leave it here.”

”...” Wordlessly, Liu Sumeng strode over. He had to push aside the mess just to be able to put the food down. Yuan Xuelan neither looked up nor acknowledged him.

He then walked over to the window without much hurry and pulled them aside. Daylight beamed in, overtaking the room.

Yuan Xuelan hissed and yanked the seeing glasses off his eyes as though they burned him.

”What the fuck!?” He cursed.

Liu Sumeng calmly responded as he came over to put out the candle on the messy desk, in fear that it might be knocked over, ”It's daytime. Don't forget to eat or overwork yourself. We still need your assistance later.”

The look of annoyance instantly soothed out into surprise. Flustered, Xuelan looked to see the person who was now standing next to him, ”I-I didn't see you come in.”

”You didn't,” Sumeng agreed simply.

He pushed himself away from the desk and used it to stretch his fingers and arm.

”Did Sumeng need me for something?”

”I need you to eat.”

A light color traveled up his face as he rubbed tired eyes, ”You didn't have to bring me food.”

”I did.” Liu Sumeng stood there without moving, watching and waiting for Yuan Xuelan to reach over to the food he brought over. ”You have neither slept nor ate. You will collapse before the drums call us to arms.”

A pout. ”There's still so much I have to do.” Long fingers feathered over his upper arm, Yuan Xuelan instinctively melted into the touch.

Liu Sumeng's voice hummed over him, ”I know. But you still have to rest. Please rely on others as well.”

His words lulled Yuan Xuelan's anxious mind like the sweetest lullaby. He suddenly felt that his eyelids were akin to lead.

The entire weight of Yuan Xuelan's head now rested against Liu Sumeng's arm and head. The Ivory Sword Saint had walked behind him and was using his free hand to sort some of the chaos that was in front of him.

”Are you listening?”

”Hmm…” Yuan Xuelan grumbled tiredly in response.

He thought he heard a chuckle but it might have just been his imagination.

”Don't sleep here. Go sleep in your bed.”

Only when that warm hand pulled away did Yuan Xuelan suddenly flinch awake.

”Huh?” He said stupidly. With bleary eyes he narrowed his eyes to make out Liu Sumeng's figure next to him, and whined at the confines of his own chair that denied him from inching closer. ”Here is fine. I'm kind of tired so I'll take a short nap…if I go to bed I won't wake up.

”No,” Liu Sumeng replied without mercy, ”You will sleep in your bed or you will eat.”

Yuan Xuelan frowned, unhappy that he only had these two things to choose from. Turning his gaze to the stream of light that poured in through the window, he asked, ”What time is it anyway?”