145 Lets not make a habit of i (1/2)
They had a pleasant meal with the old couple. The fisherman's wife explained to them that since all their children had left the nest it felt rather lonely along this span of marshland. She was more than happy to have them join her and brought out a wide array of food. There were steam-buns and yam and fish that only Yuan Xuelan ate. It was by far a fancy or complicated dinner but it was nice and homely.
The Ivory Sword Saint didn't say much but nodded at their words, eating with dainty neat bites. Next to him, Yuan Xuelan chatted up a storm, leaning toward the old couple to both listen and ask questions. He asked about each of the couple's eight children and what they were out in the world doing.
He also asked about an old boat tied to the little dock and asked if they could borrow it.
The fisherman was hesitant at first but Liu Sumeng offered to pay up a sizable boon for their trouble, enough to buy themselves a new boat and more.
The fisherman's wife paled at the amount of money offered and hesitated at first, insisting that it wasn't proper.
But the Ivory Sword Saint did not relent, ”If there's anything that happens to us or the boat, this will ensure your livelihood. It is only suitable for the trouble.”
To both the Ivory Sword Saint and Yuan Xuelan, this little bit of money was nothing.
”Thank you Master Ivory Sword Saint and Master Phoenix Craftsman!” The fisherman exclaimed and took the coins from Liu Sumeng's hand, which earned a disapproving glare from his wife.
The moniker caused Yuan Xuelan to cringe and Liu Sumeng to raise a brow.
After they helped the old couple clean up the dishes and put things away, the two cultivators bid their farewells.
Yuan Xuelan stretched as he eyed the boat calmly sitting atop the quiet marshes and grinned. ”Let's not think or talk about all those complicated things back at the manor! It's pretty fun running away from time to time.”
”Let's not make a habit of it.” Liu Sumeng said sternly but couldn't completely wipe the smile off his face as he followed Xuelan to the boat. He'd be lying if he said this little excavation was only born out of escapism. He couldn't just ignore all the things that awaited him, whether it be Chen Anyue, Chen Leike or whatever other reports that found their way to him; from Peng Zhugen's pointless letters and his own brother's reports of the strange developments that have unwound up north. ”I still have something to talk to you about.”
Yuan Xuelan huffed cutely when he untied the boat from the pier and stepped inside. He held out a hand to offer Sumeng the help he definitely didn't need. The Ivory Sword Saint was still charmed enough to take the outstretched hand. ”If there's something I want to talk about then it's about how much I like you. All other topics are off-limits.” He took out a long pole to steer the little boat in the rippling waters.
Liu Sumeng allowed the younger to take the fore since he was more familiar with the area than himself.
”Don't be a child,” the Ivory Sword Saint chided as he looked out the long expanse of wetlands. Grass swayed lightly to the wind.
The sky was gray with clouds, specs of sunlight and blue poked through. Despite the colors washed out of the sky, Liu Sumeng didn't particularly feel too bogged down by the dreary weather. The wind was subtle with it's gusting whispers; calm and cool against the skin. Frogs croaked in greeting and little flickers of movement could be caught from fleeing fish.
The old woman had told them of ghosts that danced around the marshlands. When Yuan Xuelan had asked why they didn't go to the Ascending Dawn Sect to request exorcism, she told them that they kept the old couple company.
”One day, my husband and I will be joining them, buried in the marshlands. Might as well get acquainted with them in advance.”
Liu Sumeng tried to gently remind that there was no reason to linger in the material world after death and that reincarnation would surely be waiting for them. They only smiled at him. The Ivory Sword Saint wondered if they might find those ghosts hidden beneath the tall grass and murky waters.
He basked in the tranquility and Yuan Xuelan's voice, ”I mean, since your work has been tiring of late, don't you think we should stay away from tiring topics of conversation? We can talk about other things instead.”
Liu Sumeng laughed at the easy and relaxed approach, thinking that Yuan Xuelan had a point. ”Like what? If you just want to sing me praise then forget it.”
”What's wrong with that? Sumeng is--”
”Stop.”
”The most beautiful--”
”Don't be absurd.”
”He is the most elegant, the best swordsman--”