108 Is this your great plan

Even before Yuan Xuelan's consciousness fully returned, he had a feeling that his rest was not normal. In fact, he was feeling extremely groggy and his consciousness was hovering in a weird, precarious place. And yet he could hear his own voice speak with a lively tone.

"Is this your great plan, Master Ivory Sword Saint? Hm, I understand your intention when facing beings such as Fallen Gods. However, whereabouts do you think you're going to get all the possible materials and stock for this great plan of yours?"

Another voice, more distant, responded.

Yuan Xuelan didn't have the energy necessary to be able to decode the conversation going on. He was also too preoccupied with the feeling of floating and the slow return of his senses.

He could feel that he was leaning over, and there was a person next to him who he was shamelessly leaning close to, so much so he was almost in this person's lap. There was also the feeling of something hard beneath his palm, a table perhaps.

"You know, I have always been so mighty curious about where all your knowledge and premonition come from, my darling Ivory Sword Saint."

Huh, who was even using his voice saying these ridiculous things? Yuan Xuelan would never!

He forced his eyes open. Only his eyes were already open and he was looking right at Liu Sumeng! Whose face was very close to his own!

But he only blinked stupidly because Yuan Xuelan could not understand his current predicament at all! It seems that he was in a study that he could not recognize, hunched over a desk where Sumeng sat.

And Liu Sumeng was only looking at him calmly with his sharp eyes and long lashes. If Yuan Xuelan only leaned in just a little their lips would touch! He instinctively held his breath but he was already spellbound by those deep dark irises and thin pink lips.

The Ivory Sword Saint only sighed and then looked away, "It's complicated."

Yuan Xuelan had no idea what was being talked about nor did he have any idea about what was going on, and stupidly blurted out, "What's complicated?"

He followed Liu Sumeng's gaze to the desk. There were letters and diagrams of ballistas and spells. Just as his interest was sparkled, the Ivory Sword Saint was gathering all these documents with his beautiful long fingers and putting them away.

"I will tell you another time," Liu Sumeng replied cryptically as he got up from his seat. He picked up some of the letters and walked toward the door.

Yuan Xuelan was still reeling and trying to piece together the scene that was happening in front of him.

Before leaving, the Ivory Sword Saint turned back around and said, "Don't cause trouble for Xuelan."

The words went through one ear and out the other. Yuan Xuelan was so confused that he could only focus on how Liu Sumeng's pristine robes fell around his figure and how elegantly the doorway framed him, as though a scene from a painting.

"...?" He blinked stupidly as Liu Sumeng left the office.

Wait a second, what was it that Sumeng even said?

Don't cause trouble for Xuelan? But he was Xuelan, wasn't he? A flicker of doubt flashed through his mind as he looked down to see familiar, wheat-colored, calloused hands. His robes were his own as well, the usual deep blue hues worn by members of the Ascending Dawn Sect.

He touched his face to be doubly sure but there was nothing odd about the slope of his jaw or even the texture of his coarse, wild hair.

…Maybe this was just some sort of strange dream?

But just as the thought passed through his head, a voice screeched, 'Foolish rude-boy! I was in the middle of having an interesting conversation and you just forcefully kicked me out. After I've gone through the trouble of saving your life, this is how you repay me?'

He jumped, startled. The voice came from the depth of his mind and for a moment he thought that insanity was settling in. Ah, his imagination sure was running wild. Yuan Xuelan took a deep breath and stood up straight.

The voice returned, 'Do not ignore me! Where are your manners? How dare you disrespect me!'

That was when Yuan Xuelan suddenly lost control of his right hand. He noticed too late, and how his own palm slapped him in the face. "What the heck!" He yelped.

'You need to be disciplined, young man!'

Yuan Xuelan caught his own right wrist and fought with it until realization dawned.

Ah, this was Huo Tang!! Huo Tang was now a part of him! The divine flames they had told him about that were keeping him alive were of course hers. Why didn't he put two and two together earlier?

'Yes, it took you long enough to realize,' there was little snort at the end that made Yuan Xuelan roll his eyes.

Wait, did this mean he had to fight for bodily control with that stupid bird? The thought was making him depressed. Ah, he didn't want to deal with her more than necessary.

'I can hear your thoughts! Rude-boy. I demand silence! Learn how to share your living space, will you?'

Argh! He wanted to tear his hair out!

But there really was nothing to be done about it now. Yuan Xuelan let out a heavy sigh. In the end, it was only thanks to her that he was still alive. He grumbled and decided to leave the study.

There was much that had changed during his time asleep. The season was changing and the Mid-Autumn Festival was upon them. The dark cloud that brewed at their borders was a deep cause for alarm, and from what Yuan Xuelan learned, Liu Sumeng was at the head of coordinating countermeasures along with Chen Gaoyong.

He had to learn more about this, but Chen Anyue had been unusually cryptic.

What was with that anyway?

Yuan Xuelan sighed and decided he needed a good look around his own sect to see things for himself.

The first thing he did was search for his Shijie. She was more difficult to find than he expected.

In the past, she had spent most of her time in her room. After returning from Wangyun Peak he occasionally caught her in the library, but she spent the majority of her time cultivating on the nearby mountain tops that hugged Reling.

But he couldn't find her in her room, and when he took a walk up the mountain path, she left no trails for him.

The servants were frustratingly cryptic as well, saying that she was busy and should not be bothered. This was not unusual, as Anyue's brothers often ordered the servants to be difficult to him. He clicked his tongue and grumbled about in annoyance until he came across his adoptive father in the halls.

"A-Zhang! It's good to see you are up and about. Very good. Please take care of your body and rest. I heard the injuries you've sustained were very severe."

Yuan Xuelan accompanied his adoptive father on a small walk around the courtyard, as a good show of manners. His smile was a little strained, "Yes but I'm okay now! Perfectly healthy. There's no need to worry."

"Is that so?" Chen Gaoyong hummed. Though there was disbelief in his voice he did not press Xuelan. His eyes were busy appraising the changing colors in the trees.

The vibrant summer greens had been replaced with autumn's fiery tones. The ground became littered with leaves that the servants and disciples shuffled about to keep off the garden paths.

"Speaking of which, where did Shijie- Where did Anyue-jie go? I can't find her anywhere." He'd been searching for her since the morning and it was already afternoon!

"Anyue? That daughter of mine sure has been busy. I worry a lot about her. She dotes so heavily on that fiance of hers, I wonder if she's happy? But you think they're a good match, don't you? The Ivory Sword Saint's ability should be enough to protect her…I need to make sure my baby daughter is protected."

Yuan Xuelan's smile was very tense and made his cheeks hurt. But he couldn't say anything rude to his adoptive father, even if the topic of conversation really grated his nerves.

"The Ivory Sword Saint…is a very good man…" He said awkwardly. He didn't want to encourage the marriage but at the same time, he struggled to say anything bad about his Sumeng. In the end, he brought up a fist to his lips and coughed, "Are they a good match? I mean, Shijie is really strong now, isn't she? She can take care of herself."

"Is that so? Ah, she'd been practicing martial arts and cultivating behind this old man's back hasn't she? I'm sure my lovely daughter doesn't want me to worry, but she needs to understand that this old man only wants the best for her…"

Yuan Xuelan could hardly hold back a sigh.

Every time he would accompany this old man, he would start going on a long rant about Chen Anyue. His obsession and overbearing nature over his daughter was not one missed by those of the sect. Not many people liked this blatant favoritism that the sect leader showed to his one and only daughter.

Not even Chen Anyue herself enjoyed it. But she would always endure it with a smile, quietly lowering her head obediently and saying that her father only wanted the best for her.

Yuan Xuelan found it harder and harder to stomach as time went by.

Was Chen Gaoyong even going to answer his question?

He was thinking that he'd given the man enough time and companionship already and it was about time to come up with an excuse to flee.

But it seemed that this time he was going to be rewarded for his troubles, "I believe that my lovely daughter is about in the city running errands for that future husband of hers… She seemed happy doing things for him, but shouldn't he make sure that she doesn't have to even lift a finger? Ah, it's so frustrating. It's not safe outside the house. Women should just stay home obediently."

"...I'll be going now, Yifu[1]. I just remembered that there was something I had to do."

"Is that so? Take care of yourself, A-Zhang. Make sure you grow up strong so you can protect the important women in your life."

The important women in his life didn't need his protection. But Yuan Xuelan kept the thought to himself and only nodded a little before running off.

[1] adoptive fathe