"Good work, everyone!" Sun Yan said as he panted as he looked at Fei Luo, Xi Bing and Fei Huo.
After seeing Xi He's points only increased and not decreased, he knows that Xi He must have already received his message about the conditions of xiao Bao and xiao Ling deducting their points.
"Let us have a rest first." Sun Yan said when they found a river nearby.
"Good." Fei Luo nodded as he sat down on the ground and started to meditate to replenish his qi.
Sun Yan smiled in relief knowing that Fei Luo's condition is good now. "Xi Bing and I will go fish for our lunch." He said and nodded at Xi Bing to indicate him to follow him.
"Sure." Xi Bing answered. He glanced at Fei Huo who happened to also look at him.
Their gazes met before they both looked away. Fei Huo immediately sat beside Fei Luo. Xi Bing sighed and followed Sun Yan, only to hear him speak as they walk down the trail.
"What happened between you and Fei Huo?" Sun Yan asked. He has noticed that Xi Bing looks agitated today.
"It is that obvious?" Xi Bing asked.
Sun Yan nodded. The four of them have already closed off their Cleansing Stones so they can freely talk whatever they want. "En. You two looked like are ghosts floating." He answered.
Xi Bing grimaced. "Sorry." He apologized. He knows that Sun Yan was protecting them earlier. Not only that. He and Fei Huo also earned only a few points.
Sun Yan shook his head. "It is not the points… we can earn it back. My mistake is even bigger. Now, our sect has fallen rock bottom." He heaved a sigh. "What I want to know is what happened. What made you, as well as Fei Huo, behave the way you two are right now?" he asked him.
"Well, that's…" Xi Bing muttered as they waited for some fishes to appear. "I… accidentally confessed to Fei Huo last night." He finally answered.
Sun Yan was surprised. He has thought that Xi Bing and Fei Huo might have a fight last night. He never expected for Xi Bing to confess. It is not that he is underestimating the other. It is just that, confessing looks like not Xi Bing's style… and this time – "'accidentally'?" he asked.
Xi Bing lowered his head. "I… I heard him crying in his sleep last night because his brother has left. I was afraid that he might wake up the other participants, so I entered their tent and – " he said and suddenly blushed.
Sun Yan also blushed, since he knows that Fei Luo went to his tent and then they… after… ehem.
Xi Bing shook his head. "Anyway, my emotions were turbulent last night and I just suddenly blurted out my feelings." He said as he placed a palm on his forehead.
Sun Yan then understood. "You mean, our plan?" he asked.
Xi Bing nodded. "I really feel guilty towards Fei Huo so, I thought that even though he was asleep, as long as I can release the guilt I feel, my guilt would alleviate." He explained.
Sun Yan nodded in understanding. He patted the other's shoulder to comfort him. "Then, what about Fei Huo?" he asked. Fei Huo looked agitated today, too.
Xi Bing's face was covered in black lines. He wryly smiled. "I… don't know." He answered.
Sun Yan's forehead knotted. "… what do you mean?" he asked as he looked at him.
Xi Bing lowered his head. "While I confess, he was asleep. But, suddenly, he woke up." he answered.
Sun Yan's eyes widened in surprised before his brows raised, as if he was amused. "So, what did he say? Did he hear your confession?" he asked him.
"He…" Xi Bing muttered and looked back where Fei Huo and Fei Luo are. "He saw me crying, and he asked me why." He said.
"Oh?" Sun Yan's lips curled up as he rubbed his chin. "So, he didn't hear you?" he asked. "But, judging by his behavior today, he seems like he did." He told him.
Xi Bing's face paled. "I… I think so, too. But… it couldn't be… right?" he asked as he looked at Sun Yan.
Sun Yan grinned. "I don't know. How would I know? I wasn't there." He shrugged as he started to catch some fish.
Xi Bing's shoulders sank and he started to catch fish, too. He obviously is gloomy.
Sun Yan laughed. "Let me tell you something." He said as he placed the fishes he caught inside his spare qiankun pouch. "Fei Luo and I are together – " he said.
Just at the same time, Fei Luo's voice roaring was heard as he marched towards them while Fei Huo is anxiously following behind him.
"Xi Bing, you bastard!" Fei Luo yelled as he pointed his sword at Xi Bing, who didn't have the time to react to what Sun Yan said just now.
"What…" Xi Bing's eyes widened as he looked at Sun Yan, then at Fei Luo. Obviously, his shock to what Sun Yan has said has more impact to him than Fei Luo's anger.
"What?!" Fei Huo, who heard what Sun Yan said just now, exclaimed in shock and his anxiety flew away as he stared at the back of his elder brother.
Fei Luo who wanted to beat up Xi Bing after he heard his younger brother earlier 'talked' to him while he was meditating, thinking that he can't hear him, but also heard what Sun Yan said just now and then his elder brother's reaction. "…" who should I beat up first? He thought as he glared at Xi Bing before he glared at Sun Yan.
Sun Yan was surprised when he saw Fei Luo was here. "Ah Luo! Are you hungry? Why are you shouting?" he asked as he left the water and walked towards Fei Luo. "Put down your sword." He told him as he gently pressed down Fei Luo's hand holding the sword that was pointed to Xi Bing.
Fei Huo and Xi Bing. "…" who the hell is this person?! Is Sun Yan possessed?! They thought as they looked at the two in shock. And… 'Ah Luo'?! they added as they stared at Fei Luo.
Fei Luo. "…" one more and I will beat up Sun Yan, too! He thought and pressed his lips tight as he glared at Sun Yan.
Sun Yan sensed Fei Luo's mood isn't good and he immediately raised his hands. "Ah Luo. Let's talk calmly first." He said and glanced at Fei Huo before he looked back at Xi Bing. Then, finally, he turned back to Fei Luo. "Let's talk while we eat?" he asked as he raised his qiankun pouch that turned transparent and the fat fishes can be seen swimming inside. "You only ate light breakfast earlier." He added as he held Fei Luo's hand.
Fei Luo's anger subsided. "En." He answered. He glared at Xi Bing before he turned to grab Fei Huo and walk back.
Sun Yan smiled as he watched the brothers left while Xi Bing stared at him in shock. Then, he raised his hand to give him a thumbs up.
…
As everyone has expected, their lunch was silent. Xi Bing, after he recovered from his shock earlier, now recalled Fei Luo's behavior earlier and guessed that Fei Huo must have really heard his confession last night and told Fei Luo about, although he thought that Fei Luo was meditating and wouldn't hear him. Now, he felt extremely nervous and didn't think about the awkward atmosphere.
Fei Huo felt very anxious earlier not only because of Xi Bing's confession last night, prompting him to 'tell' Fei Luo about it, but also due to Fei Luo's reaction after he actually heard him talking earlier even if he was meditating. Now, though, his anxiety disappeared and was replaced by great shock after he heard what Sun Yan said earlier that he and Fei Luo are together! Judging by Fei Luo's reaction, as well as that intimately sweet and doting address of Sun Yan to Fei Luo, 'Ah Luo', obviously, they are realy together!
When did this happen? Why didn't Fei Huo know it?!
Fei Luo is now extremely angry. Not only because of Xi Bing's and Sun Yan's secret plot that led to their sect's fall… he has already gotten over this since he knows that he also has a fault. He is also angry because Xi Bing has such designs towards his younger brother! If Fei Huo didn't accidentally hear him, when will they find out about Xi Bing's feelings towards Fei Huo?!
But, he also feels anxious, because Fei Huo now knows that he and Sun Yan are together. Although it was a rash decision on his part, he actually, indeed, feels something towards Sun Yan. It was just that he didn't notice it, and by the time he finally realized after Sun Yan kissed him last night, all those feelings that he had towards Sun Yan have accumulated.
Sun Yan was always protecting him, and always there by his side… sharing all of his burdens… why hadn't he noticed this before?