144 They were in public (1/2)

The next time Chen Anyue woke up she was calm in demeanor, her eyes clear and gray, her smile easy. The first thing she asked for was a scented oil and for several incense sticks to be lit in her room at once. She remained obediently in bed and did not try to jump to her feet or ask for work to be brought to her.

”I feel too stuffy in here,” she hummed when a servant stared at her hesitantly, unable to understand the lady's strange mood.

But Chen Anyue was as unconcerned as ever and asked for a mirror to be brought to her. She tilted her head and observed her reflection, committing the tiny details of her own face to memory. From her cute peach blossom eyes to the tiny but sculpted nose. Very pleasing to the eye.

Though technically each precious memory that dwelt within Anyue's heart would become known to him over time. And as the disease would spread, so would his power over his host. The Golden God wondered if Yang Sehan would be satisfied with this appearance more than the rough and lazy face donned by the Guanghai Elder.

Alas, he would have to finish his work in the Ascending Dawn Manor before he could return to his beloved's side.

Luckily, he was a patient person. He had already schemed and waited for centuries, across multiple timelines as well. Another week, month, year was nothing to him. For now he would 'rest' as Chen Anyue, silently gathering his powers.

The Ten Thousand Eternal Star Bead was already as good as his.

…

Nan Chang departed in a flurry of giggles. Where she disappeared off to, Yuan Xuelan and Liu Sumeng could only begin to guess.

”Should we return?” Yuan Xuelan was sitting on the same side of the table as him, his side pressed up against Liu Sumeng's.

He wasn't even hiding his affection! And they were in public.

Liu Sumeng couldn't decide if he should be ashamed or charmed. He sighed lightly and thought about the mess due to unwind in the Ascending Dawn Manor with all the Chen siblings congregated and messing about.

”What's wrong?” Yuan Xuelan frowned, recognizing the stress that pulled subtle lines across Liu Sumeng's face.

The Ivory Sword Saint shook his head, ”It's nothing too important.” He got up from his seat and began making way to exit the shop. ”Let's take a walk.”

”A walk?” Yuan Xuelan followed quickly like an attached puppy, ”Okay we don't have to go back but Sumeng should tell me about what's bothering him. If you're worried then let me be worried about it too.”

”Hmm…” Liu Sumeng took in the sights of busy streets. There were merchants on the sides of the streett; the air wafting with heavy scents both rancid and fragrant. He suddenly felt claustrophobic; like eyes that were minding their own business were now upon him, watching.

No, it was just a figment of his imagination, a curse in his mind born out of his anxiety and his lack of social understanding. Luckily, he had Yuan Xuelan by his side, who helped him breathe a sigh of relief. Even if he would have to relent his trust of Chen Anyue, even if he had to rely on someone who became a snake in her previous life, at least there would always be Yuan Xuelan.

”I want to leave the city. I'll tell you later.”

”...?” Yuan Xuelan wasn't quite sure what leaving the city meant but he didn't question it. If Liu Sumeng was going to allow him to stay by his side then that was good enough with Yuan Xuelan.

They left the confines of the city and followed the main roads; traversing toward the marshes where the Fallen Gods had hid within. The land was still marred by evidence of war and conflict.

To think it wasn't so long ago when they had fought there and gambled their life.

Spears stuck out from the ground alongside deep footprints. There were torn bits of fabric, pieces of broken weaponry, too damaged to even catch the eye of bandits and scavengers.

They had made their rounds and picked up as many bodies of their comrades as they could. Yuan Xuelan had felt a pang of disappointment when Elder Hanli and Zhu Qiang's corpses were recovered and he absently wondered if they could have been saved if he had done something different back then.

He wasn't the only one that felt disappointment looking upon the field; where vegetation had wilted under the ruthless feet of marching Fallen Gods. Liu Sumeng felt a fool.

His predictions were all over the place. He still couldn't figure out the decoy created for Chen Gaoyong's revealing spell. How were they led to that strange woman who wore the butterfly mask and had the face of Bai Qiaoyin, a goddess that they slew at Zu Village?

Even more mysterious, when they had returned to uncover her body, she had disappeared, leaving behind discarded clothes and a broken butterfly mask. Upon those dark fabrics were no deep seeping bloodstains, not even around the area where she sustained a fatal blow.

It was as though any bodily evidence of that woman's existence evaporated into thin air; as though she didn't even exist in the first place.