136 If not love (2/2)

When he looked over, their eyes locked. Blood thrummed and.

He reached over without a thought, fingers pushing aside loose strands of hair. And Liu Sumeng's lashes fluttered closed, he leaned into Xuelan's hand. His face was charmingly flushed.

Yuan Xuelan unconsciously leaned in but he stopped himself.

Liu Sumeg closed the distance. Their lips met.

A gasping of breath; tongue entwined. This must have been their first real kiss. Yuan Xuelan's mind was going off like fireworks. His other hand wrapped around the small of Liu Sumeng's back and pulled him closer, closer. Until their chests toughed and their breaths were mangled together.

Liu Sumeng was no less passionate, on arm coming around Yuan Xuelan's neck, his hand angling the other to get a better angle. And when he did, his fingers were in Yuan Xuelan's hair, messing up the hairpiece that held the messy ponytail in place. He bit at Yuan Xuelan��s tongue, shamelessly exploring his mouth. Heat melded the two together with a cloud of passion and adrenaline.

And they only pulled away to catch their breath. Eyes opened, locked. Not enough, they kissed again, sighing into each other's arms. Liu Sumeng explored the back of Yuan Xuelan's scalp with his fingers and tickled the slope of Yuan Xuelan's jaw, pulling him back when Xuelan seemed like he was backing away.

But why would Yuan Xuelan back away? He was only trying to find a better angle, to shift a little so that more of their body parts could press flush against each other. His wide hands explored the expanse of Liu Sumeng's back.

Then stopped when he came upon a wet spot.

This time he really did pull away. Which earned him an annoyed glare.

Fucking cute.

Yuan Xuelan cleared his throat, forcing himself to come free of Liu Sumeng's charming spell. ”Your injury…” he said, ”Are you okay?”

Liu Sumeng blinked, but still was reluctant to pull away. He was intoxicated by some form of inexplicable euphoria. The victory that he had won here, was more than one. But slowly when the adrenaline slowly wore off, he too was straightening his posture, hands falling free from Yuan Xuelan's face and shoulders.

Yuan Xuelan shuddered a little at the loss of touch, childishly reaching out to hold Liu Sumeng's wrist.

”I'm okay,” the Ivory Sword Saint said with a light sigh. ”The restorative pill I took was last high-tier one I had. I'm more worried about you.”

Yuan Xuelan shook his head. ”If Sumeng is okay then I'll be fine.”

Liu Sumeng's sharp eyes narrowed at him, which made him a little flustered, ”I-I'll take one just in case, of course!” His heart was thrumming, and his ability to think was coming back slowly in bits and pieces.

Yuan Xuelan pressed a pill passed his own lips. In his vision, he caught sight of Chen Anyue's slumped figure. ”We still have to help Shijie!”

Reason returned to the Ivory Sword Saint as well, snapping him back to reality as the peak point of adrenaline fuel stupor was slowly melting away. They rushed to the fallen girl, both kneeling at her side.

She was hot to the touch, sweat drenching her forehead. A small pool of blood formed beneath it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. Yuan Xuelan held out a healing pill and said, ”This is the best one I have, you don't have anything better do you?”

Liu Sumeng shook his head and watched Yuan Xuelan press the pill into Chen Anyue's small mouth. Meanwhile, the Ivory Sword Saint inspected the dagger protruding out of her torso. It had miraculously missed all her vital organs and arteries. He was not skilled in any healing arts but Liu Sumeng knew at least some basic healing techniques. It would serve them fine in this situation where the injury wasn't that sever.

After pulling out the dagger, a small incantation uttered out of his lips and the wound was temporarily sealed. A sigh of relief left both of their lips. Chen Anyue's state of stabilized for now and they could relax.

It was then that Liu Sumeng realized that Yuan Xuelan's hand had found it's way over and covered his own.

Wordlessly, he turned his gaze to meet Yuan Xuelan's.

He could not clearly make out the feeling that bloomed fully in his chest, but it refused to leave. And he found himself smiling again. They leaned in and shared another kiss. A light feathering brush of the lips that brimmed with unspeakable emotions.

What else could it be if not love?