132 She knew that voice (1/2)

A spell in the shape of a butterfly fluttered in the air. The sights around it came through in blurs, meshing together with odd echoes of sounds. It was not only difficult to navigate but difficult to discern the information that came through it.

Huo Tang at first only noticed bright glares of dancing light and something that sounded like the distant pounding of drums. A distant caw. A howl, perhaps. The butterfly continued to flutter toward the manor. There was a thick barrier in the sky, snaking and permeating in the air, preventing the butterfly from flying directly ahead.

It took Huo Tang a moment to realize it was smoke.

But she couldn't quite pinpoint where exactly it was coming from, the spell too unrefined to give her sharper visuals or clearer sounds. But strangely, she could feel an oppressive force that came upon her like a thick wave.

Demonic energy. It didn't take long for her to realize the gist of what was going on. But how or why remained mysterious to her.

There were no clear deductions to be made until a closer investigation could be made.

She relayed what she learned to Yuan Xuelan.

'There are demons attacking the wall.'

”What!?” Yuan Xuelan jolted, almost getting flattened to the ground but luckily Liu Sumeng was there to protect him from such a fate.

'I have yet to find that air-headed sect leader Chen but yes. There are demons at the north side of the city. They will soon breach the wall. It is most difficult to tell the extent of the situation and how the defenses hold through your haphazard spell. This is the best I can do.'

Yuan Xuelan only blinked, looking around at the current situation. There were still a few Fallen Gods that dotted the horizon but given some time he was confident that they will all be cut down sooner or later.

Given that they had the time.

From what Huo Tang reported, they did not have time.

But hadn't he left some capable people back at the northern gate? Elder Hanli, Zhu Qiang and…

Liu Langce. The suspicious Guanghai Elder with unmatched martial skills.

A dark feeling bloomed in Yuan Xuelan's heart. It was guilt and stupidity, he cursed himself for ever leaving the northern wall in that man's hands.

”What is it?” Liu Sumeng asked, flicking his wrist.

Dark blood flickered off of Mingshui's edge. His pristine white robes had long lost their elegant and flawless integrity, dirtied from blood, dust, and dirt. And yet still the Ivory Sword Saint bore his moniker well. He stood, dignified and powerful, his visage calm with beads of sweat that glowed beneath the sparkle of the moon, eyes steady and determined.

Admiration and love melted the panic. But concern was still rife in Yuan Xuelan's heart. He was worried about the people he left back at the north wall and his Shijie still quietly holed up in the manor, now impossible to reach.

”Huo Tang says there are demons attacking the north of the city,” he said.

”What?” Sharp eyes widened in surprise, Liu Sumeng's head immediately snapped toward the city. It was impossible to see much from this distance, aside from the thin rise of smoke.

”We have to see what's going on.”

”...” Liu Sumeng understood the urgency, but how could they leave the southern front now? If they did, the entire defense threatened to collapse. They were thin in their forces already, managing only by a thin thread of power and skill, with the Ivory Sword Saint and Yuan Xuelan as pillars of morale.

They couldn't leave now.

Yuan Xuelan's expression was dark. He knew what Liu Sumeng was thinking. But how could they just senselessly keep fighting while the city was being attacked and overrun in the north? His Shijie might be in danger…Elder Hanli and Zhu Qiang as well.

Painfully, Yuan Xuelan bit out, ”I'll go then.” Saying such words felt harsh and made his heart ache. He felt like he was letting Liu Sumeng down, leaving him here on the battlefield on his own.

But Liu Sumeng showed no hesitance and nodded, ”Okay.”

Behind the stiff expression on his face, his heart was in turmoil as well. Emotions that swelled, thick and full, ready to rupture at any given point. There was fear, apprehension. There was also love, trust and yearning. Desire pulsed and itched his nerves but Liu Sumeng was unsure what it was he desired.

The roar of battle that surrounded him muddled his thoughts.

Yuan Xuelan stepped close. He stared at Sumeng's calm expression and almost expected the Ivory Sword Saint to pull away. When he didn't, Xuelan almost dipped in for a kiss.

He didn't. He stopped himself at the last breath and just pulled Liu Sumeng into a tight hug and breathed in his scent, remembering the mold of his body beneath his arms.

When he stepped back, Yuan Xuelan couldn't bring himself to look at Liu Sumeng's expression, fearing that what he would see would shake his resolve.

So he turned around sharply, ready to depart.

The air parted, a sharp sound cut the wind as a spear was thrown. Yuan Xuelan stepped to the side, barely avoiding its wooden tip.

A familiar shrill voice came with the sound of thundering hooves. ”Eeek! Nan Chang is sorry! Nan Chan is dumb! Nan Chang--”