23 Don't you want to see him?

In the quiet of solitude, Liu Sumeng was finally able to think in peace. He stood and tested his arm, lifting and stretching to feel pain flare and wounds groan. The Supreme Hunting Tournament was coming up. In his last life, he did well, but it was hardly what he had hoped to achieve. Back then, he was plagued by the strain of a bottleneck that he didn't know how to breakthrough. While his injuries were bad currently, they would surely heal and he'd have more time to train for the tournament this time around than the last. With his knowledge of what was to come, it was more than simple to achieve a higher rank.

But that didn't matter. Because in this life, he decided he wouldn't participate at all.

That didn't mean that he wouldn't find ways to get stronger. However, Liu Sumeng had never been a schemer and didn't care for grandiose plans that mapped out future events to the most minute of details. Instead, he was a practical man with practical ideals, and decided it was best to tackle one problem at a time, as they came.

Which meant now, there was a straining issue he needed to address right away!

With determination surging in abundance, Liu Sumeng rushed out of his room.

Xu Hexian strolled the courtyard on his own after parting ways with restless Liu Suye who said he wanted to go down the mountain and buy a few items from the village below. It was probably alcohol, but Xu Hexian was neither a judge nor a snitch so he only smiled as watched Liu Suye disappear down the mountain path. Now on his own, he was feeling a little bored but luck had it that he spotted a certain Young Master also taking a walk along the stone-paved path under the eaves.

"Young Master Yuan," Xu Hexian waved as he approached him in the courtyard. Autumn was settling in now, leaves turning golden as chilled winds settled in. Clouds were gathering around a late afternoon sun. Perhaps it would rain that night. "Young Master Yuan," Xu Hexian repeated as he caught up to the Ascending Dawn disciple, "are you headed to the library again? Did you not want to go see Meng-xiong?"

Yuan Xuelan instantly bristled at the name, "Why would I-" but his voice faltered because it was too difficult to refute. Especially when he'd been wasting more time than necessary standing outside that thin screen door, listening intently for signs of life within. He couldn't help but feel uneasy. Respect and admiration, he gave easily to those deemed worthy, but those that moved his heart and summoned his affection were few and far in between. He'd despise to admit to adding one Liu Sumeng to that coveted list.

And yet still, he waited there for two whole days, standing vigilant outside. Even finding it difficult to leave even for food or sleep, like a dog that had wronged its master seeking forgiveness for something he didn't understand. Only Chen Anyue's soft coaxing got him to get some rest.

So he stared off at the trees behind Xu Hexian and pouted, "If he's up and moving about then he's doing fine right? There's no need to worry."

"Hm," Xu Hexian decided not to point out that Yuan Xuelan had basically admitted to worrying about Liu Sumeng's well being. He smiled and expertly steered the conversation away, "So you're going to the library for more books? May I join you?"

"No actually," Yuan Xuelan looked out to the middle of the court. An Elder was currently holding class outside. His watchful eye sweeping over the disciples, all lined up in neat rows performing their steps in synchronized movements, magnificent and elegant in the style known of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Yuan Xuelan couldn't imagine himself with even half as much grace as those students, with arcing bodies, and swords that mimicked the flow of water and wind. Even their faces were serene and graceful as if the dance they performed was no more difficult than taking a morning stroll. In contrast, Yuan Xuelan who learned swordplay from his roguish mother resembled a damned hooligan whenever he drew his blade, not some beautiful and refined cultivator.

He used to think that the martial-focused cultivation style of the Heavenly Sword Sect was both pretentious and impractical, but now he couldn't peel his eyes away. But even when the Elder nodded and handed a student praise, Yuan Xuelan found himself thinking that none of these youngsters could replicate the Ivory Sword Saint's power and elegance. Still, he said, "I'm going to watch this class."

Xu Hexian stared at Yuan Xuelan, and then followed his gaze to the disciples performing such boring drills. A smile stretched his lips as an idea dawned his mind, "Did you want to learn our style? If Young Master Yuan so pleases, I don't mind teaching you."

Yuan Xuelan was a little slow at hiding the dazzled excitement that lit up his eyes, "Really?" Before he straightened himself a coughed, "I'd like that. If it's not too much trouble." A sharp smile graced those youthful features and for a short, delusional moment, Xu Hexian thought maybe he could finally, finally have someone addressing him as Older Brother.

But it unfortunately for him, Xu Hexian would come to realize that his offer was a mistake.

Liu Sumeng searched the library first. And then he checked Baiyun Hall. In the guest quarters, he ran into a few of those handmaids that Chen Anyue brought along. There was even one organizing and cleaning Yuan Xuelan's quarters.

"Second Young Master Liu!" She bowed in a fluster, "This isn't what it seems. Xiao Hei is only cleaning Young Master Yuan's room because I have been left with little to no more work to do… There really isn't anything suspicious going on here."

Liu Sumeng started at her but the only things he thought were suspicious were those the size of her chest and her ridiculous name. He stared at her with an awkward expression and wondered what he should do. In the end, he opted for a simple "It's fine," and left.

It was only later when he was wandering around the halls that he realized, he really should have asked.

Just where in the world was Yuan Xuelan?

It'd be later in the evening when he finally found him, off in a small corner of the courtyard exchanging blows with Xu Hexian. Where Yuan Xuelan's style was aggressive, crude and powerful, Xu Hexian dodged and countered maintaining control against an opponent that was both faster and stronger than him. But not for long.

"Yield! I yield!" Xu Hexian shameless called, hand held outwards to signal stop.

Yuan Xuelan grumbled, but backed off and sheathed his sword. "You could have kept going."

Xu Hexian frowned and shook his head violently, "No, no, no please don't overestimate me, Young Master Yuan. I'm delicate and frail and I thought you were going to kill me. I take that back. It seems like there is nothing I could teach you after all. Forgive me for even suggesting it."

"But…" Yuan Xuelan wasn't satisfied, "Even if it wasn't the same as Liu Sumeng…There were some techniques you did that were really interesting. Even when I thought I had the upper hand, I couldn't land a single hit!" He was still looking at Xu Hexian with those hopeful puppy eyes and the poor Heavenly Sword disciple felt like somehow, he'd lost.

"Hah! Who are you even comparing me to?" He complained, "I'm not some crazy prodigy ok? I'm just a normal person. But, I guess if you're really interested then I suppose I don't have a choice."

Liu Sumeng really had stumbled upon something very interesting.

He once thought in his past life that Yuan Xuelan had incorporated techniques from the Heavenly Sword Sect in his style simply out of the blue. Perhaps this genius of a man had simply copied him through observation. Who'd have thought it was because he'd learned it from Xu Hexian of all people.

…No wonder why he felt that Yuan Xuelan's adaptation of the Heavenly Sword style had always been a little sloppy.

He approached the pair, making his presence known as he walked right up to them.

"Meng-xiong!" Xu Hexian greeted with a bright smile, "We were just talking about you. What brings you here?"

Meanwhile, Yuan Xuelan froze, like a thief being caught mid crime, he looked up hesitantly at Liu Sumeng and thought about the logistics of running away.

Who told Liu Sumeng to show up here anyway!? Argh! Yuan Xuelan cursed inwardly, too afraid to admit that he about to die from embarrassment.