122 They parted ways

Liu Sumeng was not interested in food, but he was worried that Xuelan hadn't eaten after the long night, and thus decided to take a detour to acquire a good healthy meal for him before making his way across the Seeking Crane courtyard.

Even here he could hear the chanting of spells, yelling and people milling about in organized chaos.

The inevitability of battle was rife, as was the fear and excitement. People like Elder Hanli and Second Young Master Chen were about barking orders and keeping people calm. It was always better when tasks were given along with some sense of responsibility. It kept people busy.

Yuan Xuelan was busy as well.

After he had given his report to Sect Leader Chen, he went and holed himself away in his study and Liu Sumeng hadn't seen him since. In a bygone life, Xuelan couldn't easily disappear for weeks and months at a time. When people believed that he had gone into seclusion to cultivate, the reality had been he was fiddling with tools and inventions.

This was something that was cathartic to the teenager, but also addictive.

When Liu Sumeng knocked on the door he received no response.

That as well was no surprise.

With his free hand, Liu Sumeng opened the door and stepped inside.

A heavy curtain over the windows denied the room of daylight, making it appear like it was still nighttime, with only a flickering candle and dancing spirit light in Yuan Xuelan's room. His hands were black with ink, a set of seeing glasses over the bridge of his nose to help him scrutinize whatever mess he had sprawled on his desk; from pieces of discarded talismans, notes, random pieces of material.

Liu Sumeng could hardly even make sense of what was going on, but he could notice how the corners of Xuelan's eyes were tinged red and the small furrow between his brow that spoke of intense concentration and headache.

It was not often that Xuelan wore seeing glasses. Only after long nights where he spent way too long squinting at details. He did not even look up and just patted the very edge of the desk, where there was a mere spec of free space. "Thanks. Just leave it here."

"..." Wordlessly, Liu Sumeng strode over. He had to push aside the mess just to be able to put the food down. Yuan Xuelan neither looked up nor acknowledged him.

He then walked over to the window without much hurry and pulled them aside. Daylight beamed in, overtaking the room.

Yuan Xuelan hissed and yanked the seeing glasses off his eyes as though they burned him.

"What the fuck!?" He cursed.

Liu Sumeng calmly responded as he came over to put out the candle on the messy desk, in fear that it might be knocked over, "It's daytime. Don't forget to eat or overwork yourself. We still need your assistance later."

The look of annoyance instantly soothed out into surprise. Flustered, Xuelan looked to see the person who was now standing next to him, "I-I didn't see you come in."

"You didn't," Sumeng agreed simply.

He pushed himself away from the desk and used it to stretch his fingers and arm.

"Did Sumeng need me for something?"

"I need you to eat."

A light color traveled up his face as he rubbed tired eyes, "You didn't have to bring me food."

"I did." Liu Sumeng stood there without moving, watching and waiting for Yuan Xuelan to reach over to the food he brought over. "You have neither slept nor ate. You will collapse before the drums call us to arms."

A pout. "There's still so much I have to do." Long fingers feathered over his upper arm, Yuan Xuelan instinctively melted into the touch.

Liu Sumeng's voice hummed over him, "I know. But you still have to rest. Please rely on others as well."

His words lulled Yuan Xuelan's anxious mind like the sweetest lullaby. He suddenly felt that his eyelids were akin to lead.

The entire weight of Yuan Xuelan's head now rested against Liu Sumeng's arm and head. The Ivory Sword Saint had walked behind him and was using his free hand to sort some of the chaos that was in front of him.

"Are you listening?"

"Hmm…" Yuan Xuelan grumbled tiredly in response.

He thought he heard a chuckle but it might have just been his imagination.

"Don't sleep here. Go sleep in your bed."

Only when that warm hand pulled away did Yuan Xuelan suddenly flinch awake.

"Huh?" He said stupidly. With bleary eyes he narrowed his eyes to make out Liu Sumeng's figure next to him, and whined at the confines of his own chair that denied him from inching closer. "Here is fine. I'm kind of tired so I'll take a short nap…if I go to bed I won't wake up.

"No," Liu Sumeng replied without mercy, "You will sleep in your bed or you will eat."

Yuan Xuelan frowned, unhappy that he only had these two things to choose from. Turning his gaze to the stream of light that poured in through the window, he asked, "What time is it anyway?"

"Noon." With the loose papers of materials properly sorted, more than half the desk's surface was cleared. Liu Sumeng was proudly able to set the wooden lunch box in front of the teenager and open it up. "Will you eat?"

"Hmm," At first there was but a grumble but then Yuan Xuelan looked up at the Ivory Sword Saint, realization suddenly hitting him. "Did Sumeng eat?"

"No."

This answer seemed to please him. A smile brightened a tired visage, Yuan Xuelan hopped in his chair to the edge like an eager child. "Then we can eat together."

To think it was this simple to get Xuelan to do what he pleased…Liu Sumeng didn't know how he felt about that. But on this chilly autumn day with winds slipping through the cracks in the wall, Liu Sumeng felt a little warm.

He took a chair and sat across from Yuan Xuelan.

They ate in silence. There was no mention of war or the things that Xuelan was working on. Liu Sumeng did not even think about the tunnels he was going to later inspect or seeing Anyue about the progress of their reinforcements.

And when the bowls were empty of the final grain of rice, neither wished to make the first move to leave.

Yuan Xuelan fidgeted with his chopsticks. There was so much on his mind that he couldn't think of anything to say at all.

But he didn't need to say anything, because Liu Sumeng smiled at him, "Not bad."

Though it was difficult to pinpoint what it was that 'wasn't bad', for once Yuan Xuelan felt that the words did not need to be explained. Maybe Sumeng meant the food wasn't so bad, or the weather, or Xuelan's work. The details of which all became unimportant.

Because they both understood the subtle warmth that was shared between them, gentle and nurturing. Honest and full.

More than anything, Yuan Xuelan did not want to disappoint this person.

More than anything Liu Sumeng, did not want to betray this person.

Though there were still many things to be done, the stress and anxiety could alleviate, even if it was only by a little. It was time they began depending on each other.

Finally, Liu Sumeng rose from his seat and reached over to collect the dishes. Yuan Xuelan's hand came over, stopping him. "Don't worry. I know you're busy. I'll call a servant to clean them up."

"..." Liu Sumeng backed away. "Don't forget to stretch your legs and sleep if you get a headache."

Yuan Xuelan's heart was full of warmth. "I will. You need to take care too."

"Yes."

They parted with newfound strength. A lively glow enveloped the Ivory Sword Saint when he went to collect Elder Hanli, and those that saw him were enchanted by his vigor and the power in his steps. While anxiety and chaos swelled in the air, the Ivory Sword Saint was a symbol of composure, of quiet power and of hope.

With heroes such as him, surely they would be able to defeat whatever dark evil that might happen upon their doorsteps.

Liu Sumeng did not listen to the rumors that spun his reputation around him. He was more interested in completing the seemingly endless stream of tasks ahead of him, so his ears did not register the praise nor the exaggerated gossip about preparations of a wedding to be held in celebration of their victory in the future.

A small team led by the Ivory Sword Saint scouted the old tunnels. They did it stealthily, keeping steps light and ears alert so they did not disturb whatever beasts that were hiding within the mountain.

He explained to the others that without explicit command the Fallen Gods will not pursue or attack unless provoked.

They labored to find the weakest tunnels and set up a series of spells.

…

The sky was painted black, heavy with clouds that obscured the light of the stars and moon.

"Can I…come with you?" Yang Sehan asked, a black ebony fan with vibrant licks of gold and red was pressed against his chin.

The response he was waiting for took long to come. The man that stood next to him at the edge of their fortifications was coughing up a storm. Blood escaped his lips as each heave was as deep as his belly. His lungs were heavy with liquid.

With shaking hands, the man secured the butterfly mask on his face first before turning to his beloved. "That won't be wise. I fear I will not return."

Yang Sehan rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh. "Pity. But next time, come as a woman."

Laughter escaped with a hoarse voice, his throat scraped raw from excessive coughing, "If it is so my beloved desires, then I shall make it so."

"Hm…" Yang Sehan shrugged, unconcerned. He allowed the man to take his hand.

The butterfly mask man took his beloved's hand and brushed those pale fingers upon his lips. "Farewell."

"Goodbye."

And it was thus, they parted ways.