69 Not even a year ago...

"So you think something's up with the Hidden Mist Sect?"

Liu Sumeng nodded.

They made the rest of the journey on flying sword to reach the mystical forest as fast as they could. And even when the sky turned black they still moved onwards.

Something wasn't right. They have passed five villages, each haunted by devils or demons. While none had a situation nearly as bad as the first one they came across, this level of rampant evil activity was especially unusual.

Liu Sumeng could not imagine this kind of chaos unfolding under Peng Zhugen's watchful eye.

But Yuan Xuelan was there to explain that actually, the Sect Leader Peng had been away from his own home for a while now, to gather troops and support from smaller sects.

However, even with the sect leader out of the picture, the Elders of the Hidden Mist Sect should at least have some level of control over the territory. Especially considering that this part had yet to be touched by their enemies. The fiends they'd encountered had all been locally born evil spirits that should have been easily dispatched before they could have done harm.

Just what was going on?

With all the cases they encountered during their journey, it was impossible to reach the Hidden Mist Manor before twilight fell into the darkest part of the night. After a substantial amount of arguing, Yuan Xuelan managed to get Liu Sumeng to agree to stopping at a village right outside the borders of the forest.

This village was much like Boling and more a town than a small village and rested along main roads that traveled across Loupu Province. Yuan Xuelan had said they might as well make a pit stop in order to double-check trouble, considering the state of all the villages they had come across thus far.

It was an effective argument, more effective than complaining about the wounds on Liu Sumeng's back which were no doubt agitated by all the strenuous activity they'd done today. Sure he had a healing pill, but still! Yuan Xuelan found himself worrying.

When they found an inn, the first thing Liu Sumeng did was ask the innkeeper if there had been trouble lately.

The answer was affirmative. But it had already been resolved by a rogue cultivator that was passing by in the area not long ago.

This made Liu Sumeng frown.

Yuan Xuelan had to admit, he found it strange as well. They were so close to the Hidden Mist Manor, and problems had to be solved by rogue cultivators? But his thoughts were distracted when he felt a pang of disappointment when hearing Liu Sumeng order two rooms.

Yuan Xuelan shook his head, trying to get a hold of his wayward thoughts. What was he even thinking!? Was he really looking forward to sharing a room with Liu Sumeng!? Not even a year ago he was crying protests over the very same thing…

But this inn was nothing like the tiny cramped inn at Zu village. Instead, this was quite a famous inn in the entirety of Loupu Province, known for having the best hot springs and wonderful scenery! Yuan Xuelan would be lying if he hadn't been secretly looking forward to it when he was trying to coax the Ivory Sword Saint to come to that very inn, knowing that the place appeared a little upscale for Liu Sumeng's down-to-earth tastes.

"I'll pay-" Yuan Xuelan fumbled for his coin pouch but Liu Sumeng was faster.

Liu Sumeng gave him a look. "The Ascending Dawn Sect doesn't have an unlimited treasury."

Yuan Xuelan opened his mouth. And then closed it like an idiot goldfish. Wasn't this a line he hurled at the Ivory Sword Saint in the past…! And why…why did Liu Sumeng look oddly pleased with himself?

This had to be one of his weird dreams. Yuan Xuelan slapped himself in the face. Yes, that was right. Sometimes his dreams would feature a Liu Sumeng like this one, who was unexpectedly witty and playful.

Liu Sumeng could not make out Yuan Xuelan's odd emotional turmoil and instead made his way toward the rooms.

Reality did not bend, break, or shatter into fragments of a dream. Yuan Xuelan had no choice but to accept that the Liu Sumeng before his was real. Shaking out of his stunned stated he followed after to find their rooms.

Compared to the cramped little space they stayed in back in Zu Village, the wide luxurious space that welcomed them their stay was a welcomed changed. There was rich tapestry decorating both the walls and the floor and red lanterns that kept the room lit. Yuan Xuelan stretched and laid his tired muscles down on the bed. He found bathrobes there and was reminded of the hot springs that were waiting for him.

Yuan Xuelan grinned then changed and couldn't really stop his mind from wandering back to the Ivory Sword Saint.

They'd been separated by only mere months! And yet Yuan Xuelan felt his heart lusting after the man with fervent desperation he could not explain. Now that they were together again… His cheeks grew hot at his own thoughts. Because he, now aged seventeen, wanted nothing more than to show off how much of a man he had become!

In the room next door, Liu Sumeng was sitting on the bed and combing out his hair. He had heard about this place before and the exquisite hot springs that were not only scenic and relaxing but also had restorative properties in the water.

It sounded like a good idea for his beaten back that was still rather sore even after eating the healing pill. But Liu Sumeng avidly avoided the bathrobes lain upon his bed. He really could not bring himself to even touch them.

He feared…

He feared that if he were to take a nice relaxing soak, Yuan Xuelan would definitely appear as well.

Yuan Xuelan was still a boy, Liu Sumeng reminded himself. Seventeen-year-old Yuan Xuelan might have been taller and grown muscle from dedicated training, his face was still very boyish and young and nothing like the deadly man he would one day grow into.

"..."

But honestly, what was he even thinking about? Liu Sumeng grimaced at his own hair and pulled too hard at a knot. Why was his heart in such a mess? It wasn't like it'd be the first time he saw Yuan Xuelan's naked body…

Liu Sumeng glared again at the cursed bathrobes and decided in the end that the springs were simply not worth it.

But he was naive. A knock came at the door and Liu Sumeng automatically called, "Who is it?"

The subject of his thoughts replied, "It's me. Can I come in?"

Liu Sumeng's mouth went dry. But he retained his composure and got up to open the door. "Do you need something?"

Yuan Xuelan's narrowed eyes peering downwards, but he still stepped around Liu Sumeng and came inside without proper permission. He was looking at the bathrobes untouched on Liu Sumeng's bed. "Aren't you going to change?"

The embarrassment was quick to crawl up his neck to his ears. Liu Sumeng struggled to find an appropriate answer, "I'm…not interested." He noticed then that Xuelan was dressed in those very robes, white and almost sheer. Close to the shining glow of a lantern, Liu Sumeng could just barely make out the outline of Xuelan's body underneath.

He looked away, feeling filthy.

But Yuan Xuelan chirped away, "But you should! These springs work wonders, I swear. I used to come here a lot when I was a kid."

Liu Sumeng refused to meet his eyes. He sat back down and continued working his hair. "Not interested." He said again, resolutely.

Keen displeasure rolled in Yuan Xuelan's stomach and he sat next to Liu Sumeng on the bed. "Hey."

"..."

"Hey," he repeated and reached out to grab Liu Sumeng's shoulder, those fingers casually slipped under the collar of his robes. "How's your back?" Liu Sumeng flinched, his entire back prickled with an unknown itch as Yuan Xuelan yanked his clothes back and leaned forward to peek inside. Liu Sumeng couldn't stop himself from trembling.

Horrified, he yanked his robes and raised his voice, "Stop!"

Yuan Xuelan blinked, his eyes having gone wide. It was so rare that Liu Sumeng would call out in a flustered voice that it completely caught him off caught. Shit. "I just wanted to check. I'd be a lot easier if you just took it off, you know?"

Liu Sumeng was so utterly ashamed that he couldn't speak at all and only clutched at his robes like from the front like a shy maiden. He was biting his lower lips, face rosy and eyes veered downwards.

"Um. Hey." Yuan Xuelan felt incredibly awkward when he reached in attempted to pry open the fingers that wound around the front of Liu Sumeng's robes. Should Yuan Xuelan laugh at the Ivory Sword Saint's cuteness? Or maybe something else, like a kiss-

Yuan Xuelan banished those thoughts from his mind, trying not to choke from his untamed imagination. Carefully, he was able to coax Liu Sumeng to let go and peel his tunic off his shoulders, revealing the expanse of back to him.

He'd seen this back enough, pale skin marred with wounds both fresh and old but for some reason, each time felt like the first and Xuelan couldn't stop himself from marveling the way inky black hair spilled over those pearly shoulders, just barely flushed.

Eventually, he finally forced himself to speak, "It's looking better. But the springs should still really help you."

"..."

"Sumeng?"

Liu Sumeng desperately wanted to curl up and hide. Out of desperation, he lied, "Okay. You go first. I'll come after."

"...Okay." Yuan Xuelan said after a while. The bed creaked and Liu Sumeng could feel the weight on it alleviate. He didn't look up, and only listened to the footsteps inch away, the sliding open and close of a wooden door.

He counted his breath until finally he let out a long sigh of relief.

But Huo Tang, who he thought was asleep atop her nest of silken pillows broke his peace, "It's bad karma to lie, idiot boy!"

Liu Sumeng could not resist the urge to flick her, even if she was right.

…

Outside, the moon had long found its way up in the sky. A pleasant mist raised from the water and Yuan Xuelan enjoyed the feeling of dense humidity condensing on skin before finally sinking into the water.

The tension in his bones and muscles instantly unwound. He sighed, trying to take his mind off of Liu Sumeng and as always, failing. Maybe he should just give up and accept the Ivory Sword Saint as a damned constant in his brain.

He'd be lying if he wasn't counting down the seconds in wait for Liu Sumeng to come and join him, even if there was a part in his heart that knew it wasn't going to happen. But even without much hope he still waited there, allowing his body to turn into goo within the comfortably warm spring.

But his muscles, relaxed, suddenly jolted in alarm when he heard the rustling from the bushes behind him. He swerved and looked back. "Who's there!" He called.

"...Meow." Came a delayed response. But Yuan Xuelan was highly suspicious. Because he kept glaring at the pair of very human feet that were peeking from beneath the bush. Did this person think him an idiot?

"Come out at this instant!" He surged from the pool. There was a broom conveniently propped against a nearby tree and Yuan Xuelan did not hesitate to grab it before marching toward the shadow.

He raised the broom and leaped behind the bush, "Come out you pervert!"

The voice that cried out was distinctly female and also very familiar, "Eeek, Xuelan! Don't hit me, I didn't do anything I swear!"

Yuan Xuelan froze, stunned, and stared down at the cowering Nan Chang who had only a towel around her torso!