136 If not love

There was no time.

That was the thought that took over Yuan Xuelan's mind as his focus narrowed. Huo Tang was surely tweaking things in his mind because be could count at least ten steps into the future.

Liu Sumeng sat against the wall, slumped.

There was a deep dent in the opposite wall, where the Guanghai Elder had been thrown into, who was now assaulted by a wave of coughs.

It would take half a breath for Yuan Xuelan to get up, close the distance between himself and the elder while swinging in his sword. He needed to do all those things in a quarter of a breath instead.

But he could. Fire was trickling through his veins and he did. Stood up, a semi pivot. A swing. The bright glow of fire was a line through the air.

Liu Langce could not fully recover when Silei's blazing edge was upon him, coming down at frightening speeds. He was barely able to parry, left arm caught in the fire before he could dodge and counterattack.

When Yuan Xuelan was truly focused, he was a terrifying opponent that could make even gods shudder. The masked man however, was not fearful of losing face and using underhanded tactics.

"Dearest Young Master Yuan," he croaked between dodging thrusts and parrying slashes. His voice was hoarse from coughing, lips painted red from blood expelled from his internal organs. "Should you really be fighting me right now?"

Yuan Xuelan saw how Liu Langce was moving toward his fallen Shijie and was quick to step in between. The slight startle was not enough to entirely break his concentration. When the scimitar came at him slashing, he used the back of his wrist to catch the momentum of Liu Langce's arm.

"The more time you waste on me, the faster your beloved will bleed out."

There was a sparkle in Yuan Xuelan's eyes before they darkened, bristling at the provocation. But Yuan Xuelan was painfully quiet and unrelenting. Under normal circumstances, Yuan Xuelan knew that he could not match this Guanghai Elder, even with this extreme concentrated state. Currently, the man was injured and fighting illness. Only now, did he have a chance.

There would be no other chance. Yuan Xuelan could not falter now. He refused to be one who would fail Liu Sumeng, refused to be one who would betray his trust.

Chaos crept around the edges of his consciousness but Yuan Xuelan pursued. Step after step, slash after slash. Each clanging parrying, cuts won and lost he did not relent his aggressive pressure even in the slightest.

Liu Langce's next move was a step backward. He baited Yuan Xuelan's blow next to the windowed wall; creating a giant gaping hole.

Yuan Xuelan cursed, rushing forward with abandon. Though he cut the elder off by reaching out and grabbing his sleeve, pulling back. Luck was on his side, Liu Langce's chest was trembling from the onslaught of coughs he was holding back. The Guanghai Elder reacted a fraction too slow, but instead of tearing himself free he raised his sword and hacked down toward Yuan Xuelan's neck.

Another loud curse. Yuan Xuelan moved out of the enough to keep his life but the scimitar was now jammed against his collar bone. With a painful hiss, he threw the Guanghai Elder back in the room.

Liu Langce recovered quickly, while Yuan Xuelan staggered from exhaustion and blood loss. Now was the Guanghai Elder's chance. He held back the illness's ruthless assault and pivoted on his foot, regaining his stance.

It was a miracle that Yuan Xuelan could still block the attack that came for him at such frightening speeds. But when their blades locked it was clear that the young was losing strength, his entire arm trembled from strain.

Yet, Liu Langce never had the chance to cut Yuan Xuelan down. Because when Silei finally dropped out of the younger cultivator's hands, Liu Langce could not move an inch.

A silver blade, dressed in the red of his blood was poking out of his chest, entering through the his back with expert precision and piercing the heart.

The scimitar fell with a clatter and the ringing sound of a chiming bell. When Liu Langce coughed, a bucket of blood was expelled from his lips. The black mask finally slipped off his face, revealing bloodshot eyes and deep dark circles under his chin.

"You win this time," a wispy voice rasped out. Mingshui extracted, Liu Langce fell to the ground, dead.

Yuan Xuelan, tired, staggered and lost his balance. A deep pain scratched in the deep part of his eye sockets and hammered away at his skull. He wanted to puke from the nausea that he felt. But in front of him was Liu Langce's death mask with unblinking eyes. Satisfaction was neither warm nor cold but Yuan Xuelan focused on the feeling anyway.

A pair of white boots, though already dirty, stepped around the pooling blood. When Yuan Xuelan looked up, his blurring vision struggled to make out Liu Sumeng's handsome features. He squinted and slapped his own cheek, forcing his eyesight to sharpen.

There seemed to be the slightest of smiles on Liu Sumeng's lips. An open hand in front of him. Yuan Xuelan accepted it without a word and let himself be pulled to his feet. But the Ivory Sword Saint's strength was a little compromised; the two of them swayed a little before finding balance. Mingshui cluttered to the ground, joining the other swords now lying there.

A light chuckle left Liu Sumeng's mouth that thawed all the worry and anger festering in Yuan Xuelan's heart.

When he looked over, their eyes locked. Blood thrummed and.

He reached over without a thought, fingers pushing aside loose strands of hair. And Liu Sumeng's lashes fluttered closed, he leaned into Xuelan's hand. His face was charmingly flushed.

Yuan Xuelan unconsciously leaned in but he stopped himself.

Liu Sumeg closed the distance. Their lips met.

A gasping of breath; tongue entwined. This must have been their first real kiss. Yuan Xuelan's mind was going off like fireworks. His other hand wrapped around the small of Liu Sumeng's back and pulled him closer, closer. Until their chests toughed and their breaths were mangled together.

Liu Sumeng was no less passionate, on arm coming around Yuan Xuelan's neck, his hand angling the other to get a better angle. And when he did, his fingers were in Yuan Xuelan's hair, messing up the hairpiece that held the messy ponytail in place. He bit at Yuan Xuelan��s tongue, shamelessly exploring his mouth. Heat melded the two together with a cloud of passion and adrenaline.

And they only pulled away to catch their breath. Eyes opened, locked. Not enough, they kissed again, sighing into each other's arms. Liu Sumeng explored the back of Yuan Xuelan's scalp with his fingers and tickled the slope of Yuan Xuelan's jaw, pulling him back when Xuelan seemed like he was backing away.

But why would Yuan Xuelan back away? He was only trying to find a better angle, to shift a little so that more of their body parts could press flush against each other. His wide hands explored the expanse of Liu Sumeng's back.

Then stopped when he came upon a wet spot.

This time he really did pull away. Which earned him an annoyed glare.

Fucking cute.

Yuan Xuelan cleared his throat, forcing himself to come free of Liu Sumeng's charming spell. "Your injury…" he said, "Are you okay?"

Liu Sumeng blinked, but still was reluctant to pull away. He was intoxicated by some form of inexplicable euphoria. The victory that he had won here, was more than one. But slowly when the adrenaline slowly wore off, he too was straightening his posture, hands falling free from Yuan Xuelan's face and shoulders.

Yuan Xuelan shuddered a little at the loss of touch, childishly reaching out to hold Liu Sumeng's wrist.

"I'm okay," the Ivory Sword Saint said with a light sigh. "The restorative pill I took was last high-tier one I had. I'm more worried about you."

Yuan Xuelan shook his head. "If Sumeng is okay then I'll be fine."

Liu Sumeng's sharp eyes narrowed at him, which made him a little flustered, "I-I'll take one just in case, of course!" His heart was thrumming, and his ability to think was coming back slowly in bits and pieces.

Yuan Xuelan pressed a pill passed his own lips. In his vision, he caught sight of Chen Anyue's slumped figure. "We still have to help Shijie!"

Reason returned to the Ivory Sword Saint as well, snapping him back to reality as the peak point of adrenaline fuel stupor was slowly melting away. They rushed to the fallen girl, both kneeling at her side.

She was hot to the touch, sweat drenching her forehead. A small pool of blood formed beneath it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. Yuan Xuelan held out a healing pill and said, "This is the best one I have, you don't have anything better do you?"

Liu Sumeng shook his head and watched Yuan Xuelan press the pill into Chen Anyue's small mouth. Meanwhile, the Ivory Sword Saint inspected the dagger protruding out of her torso. It had miraculously missed all her vital organs and arteries. He was not skilled in any healing arts but Liu Sumeng knew at least some basic healing techniques. It would serve them fine in this situation where the injury wasn't that sever.

After pulling out the dagger, a small incantation uttered out of his lips and the wound was temporarily sealed. A sigh of relief left both of their lips. Chen Anyue's state of stabilized for now and they could relax.

It was then that Liu Sumeng realized that Yuan Xuelan's hand had found it's way over and covered his own.

Wordlessly, he turned his gaze to meet Yuan Xuelan's.

He could not clearly make out the feeling that bloomed fully in his chest, but it refused to leave. And he found himself smiling again. They leaned in and shared another kiss. A light feathering brush of the lips that brimmed with unspeakable emotions.

What else could it be if not love?