49 Day 48: The Scum Promises (1/2)

Xie Lan, as shameless as Fang Wen – but in a negative way, walked towards his 'wife' and 'children' who're his wife is gathering.

Fei Huang sighed as he walked towards Fei Lin and Xi Ling. Li Shan and Elder Ho followed.

Since it's in the Upright Sect where Xie Lan and Fang Wen, together with Ming Ye and Luo Shi, studied back then, of course they already knew of the two's – Fang Wen and Xie Lan, attitude.

Fang Wen and Xie Lan were orphans, and became best friends then ever since they met each other when they were kids. No one to rely except each other, their bond became stronger and together, they entered the sect – Upright Sect.

”Let's see who can best other!” the kids around their age, came from wealthy family, said to their friends.

Fang Wen and Xie Lan, who are orphans and so their clothes are dirty, looked at each other.

”Do you want to compete, too?” Xie Lan asked Fang Wen, his face blank. He's holding Fang Wen's hand.

Fang Wen shook his head. ”No.” he said as he held Xie Lan's hand tighter. ”I don't want to compete with Lan. I'll never compete with Lan.” He said and held Xie Lan's hand even tighter.

”Why?” Xie Lan asked, disregarding the pain in his hand. His desire to know Fang Wen's reason is greater than the pain in his hand.

Fang Wen closed his eyes tight as his face went red. ”I don't want Lan to leave me!” he said and lowered his head, holding Xie Lan's tight as if Xie Lan is going to leave him.

Xie Lan's eyes went wide and his face went red. His face went redder when Fang Wen opened his eyes and looked at him, his face as red as Xie Lan's.

Xie Lan's heart beat faster and he looked away, afraid Fang Wen might see something he shouldn't have in his eyes. ”You – ” he said as he pressed his lips tight, holding himself not to smile stupidly.

He's overjoyed.

Fang Wen's eyes went wide, misunderstood Xie Lan's action. ”You're going to leave me?” he asked as tears formed on his eyes.

Xie Lan immediately turned to him and hugged him tight. Fang Wen gasped, wide-eyed, when he felt Xie Lan's warmth and Xie Lan's heart that's beating fast against his chest, pounding on Fang Wen's chest, too, since Xie Lan is hugging him tight.

”Idiot.” Xie Lan whispered.

Fang Wen's eyes went wide and his face went red.

”I'll never ever leave you.” He told him. ”Can't you hear... feel my heart?” he asked. ”It's only beating for you. If ever you'll leave me... be separated from me... it'll stop beating.” He explained. ”Do you understand?” he whispered as he held the back of Fang Wen's head carefully as if Fang Wen will break from his touch.

Fang Wen's face is so red you can cook an egg on it. ”... mn.” He answered and nodded his head as he closed his eyes. He buried his burning face on Xie Lan's sturdy shoulder. ”Let's never leave each other and stay be each other's side... forever.” He whispered, his face went redder.

”... mn.” Xie Lan, who's face as red as Fang Wen's, closed his eyes as he finally let's go of his smile.

They held each other as they stayed like that for a while, waiting for the Upright Sect to call them for their exam.

The kids around their age made fun of them when they took their exam. But, they all ate their words when Fang Wen and Xie Lan passes the sect's entrance exams with flying colors. The two were immediately admitted by the sect and were given the sect's disciples' robes. After the two wore the robe, the two looked even more of a noble's child than the rich children from wealthy families.

Aside from staying in different rooms since it's a part of the sect's rules, Xie Lan and Fang Wen were inseparable. This puts Ming Ye and Luo Shi, their seniors, to shame since the two have the same situation as their two juniors. This made the four closer.

Nothing happened until the time that made Xie Lan think for the first time the difference between him and Fang Wen. It's when Fang Wen got bullied during their second year in the sect.

Fang Wen, since he doesn't want troubles and he has a good temper, he never fought back. When he went back to his room, he's full of bruises and the corner of his eye is blue. The corner of his lips is cut and is bleeding.

When Xie Lan knew of this, he secretly went and left half – dead the disciples who dared hurt Fang Wen. Before this news would reach the ears of the elders of the sect, Xie Lan secretly went to Fang Wen's room and stayed there.

Fang Wen was surprised when he saw Xie Lan inside his room. The two of them had gone through so many things, and lately they haven't seen each other because of meditation to level them up, and so they only saw each other after few months.

Fang Wen stared at the stranger yet not entirely stranger who's laying on his bed. ”Lan...” he softly called.

Xie Lan stared at the man that'll never be stranger to him, no matter how many decades they won't see each other, he'll still know him. But, he'll never let even a day pass he won't be seeing Fang Wen. He's actually watching Fang Wen from his window every day after he meditate.

But, those bastards he left half – dead made the exact time to hurt Fang Wen. It's when Xie Lan started meditating for the day and so he can't see Fang Wen or his concentration will break. That's the only regret of Xie Lan – meditating. He's levelling himself up, making himself stronger so that he could protect Fang Wen.

But, because of it, Fang Wen got hurt right under his nose.

”So you still recognize me.” Xie Lan said, his voice cold. He sat on the bed, staring at Fang Wen's bruised face.

Fang Wen looked away. He deliberately avoided Xie Lan the past few days so that Xie Lan won't see him injured. ”I – ” he said.

But before he could continue, Xie Lan already pressed him on the wall and locked him on both sides. Xie Lan made a barrier around Fang Wen's room so that none may heard them.

Before Fang Wen could react, he already kissed Fang Wen.

Fang Wen's eyes went wide, shocked. At first, Xie Lan's kissed were rough. But, no matter how pissed he is at Fang Wen, his anger could never go long and so his kisses gradually became softer until his lips slowly and carefully moved on Fang Wen's lips, as if appeasing him for kissing him roughly earlier.

Fang Wen relaxed as he responded to Xie Lan's kisses, answering that he's fine, assuring him.

Xie Lan's body finally relaxed as he hugged Fang Wen, so careful as though Fang Wen would break, while his lips still stayed on Fang Wen's lips.

Like that day they made promise together... Xie Lan thought as he broke the kiss and they looked in each other's eyes. ”Wen...” he called.

Fang Wen softly smiled as he caressed Xie Lan's face. ”I really never recognized you...” he told him and chuckled when Xie Lan frowned. ”But... I still did... right?” he asked and looked at Xie Lan's eyes.

Xie Lan's eyes are deep, and became deeper as he saw Fang Wen's gentle face. Fang Wen's face has always been gentle, compared to him.

He drew a sharp breath as he buried his face on Fang Wen's shoulder, much to Fang Wen's surprise. He thought Xie Lan would brush his lips again to his, which Xie Lan does all the time.

Fang Wen, until now, never knew the word 'kiss', which Xie Lan always doing to him. He thought it's just an act of affection. But, no matter how much he thought he could do it with Ming Ye or Luo Shi, he'd never.

Only Xie Lan would he let brush his lips on him.

With this thought, Fang Wen's face went red. But, he can't move because Xie Lan, after relieved of seeing Fang Wen is fine, fell asleep.

Fang Wen stared at Xie Lan's handsome face. He's gentle when he's sleeping. He thought as he remembered seeing this face every time he goes to sleep.

Yes. He lets Xie Lan sleep first before him. When Xie Lan noticed this, Fang Wen got an idea and acted he's sleeping first. When he was sure Xie Lan fell asleep, he'll open his eyes and be greeted of the gentle, sleeping face of Xie Lan.

Fang Wen doesn't remember how many times he does this. And this never changed, even after they went to separate rooms when they entered the Upright Sect. He'd always go to Xie Lan's room in the dead of the night and stare on Xie Lan's sleeping face.

Fang Wen doesn't know why he always do this habit, but he felt pleasure and warmth from this action.

”Lan...” he softly called and heard footsteps outside his room which Xie Lan put a barrier around. ”Senior Brother Ming? Senior Brother Luo?” he called outside.

”Junior Brother Fang.” It was Ming Ye, the gentle senior.

”Is Junior Brother Xie with you?” it was Luo Shi, the indifferent but kind senior.

”Yes.” Fang Wen honestly answered. He knows that Xie Lan will be punished after he heard Xie Lan half - killed those who hurt him.

But of course, those who Xie Lan half – killed will be punished as well, but only later since Xie Lan ruthlessly and literally left them half – dead.

”I'll bring him to the Punishment Hall tomorrow.” He told the two outside.

”Yes...” Ming Ye said.

After a while, he and Luo Shi left.

Fang Wen laid the sleeping Xie Lan on his bed, then fixed him. He then slept beside Xie Lan. He smiled when he felt Xie Lan hugged him tightly.

Xie Lan always do this when they'd fall asleep. This never changed.

Fang Wen closed his eyes and turned off the candles as he hugged Xie Lan back under the blanket.

Xie Lan was punished to stay on the mountains to fend for himself for a month. But, after a month and he went back. He shut himself on his room for another month.

This made Fang Wen puzzled, but at the same time worried. No matter how he calls Xie Lan, the other wouldn't answer. And so he called Ming Ye and Luo Shi, their seniors. But, the two also didn't know the cause.

After a month, Xie Lan went out and finally broke through the Nascent Soul Stage, which made him qualified to be an elder of the sect.

But, Xie Lan refused, much to everybody's surprise.

”I only planned to study here, not spend the rest of my life here.” Xie Lan said after Fang Wen asked.

Since Xie Lan decided to leave the sect, Fang Wen obviously followed. And now the two of them are travelling everywhere, no planned destination.