Xian Wu seeks urgent advice

Lai Yiteng scowled. For a while he was willing to believe that it was from his injury, and yet he wasn't stupid, either. After all this time, he had a chronic illness. What else could have caused it besides the days he spent trapped in Lushang Sect's dungeon, being fed that strange concoction? He only thought he'd escaped the affects because after he escaped he'd suffered no symptoms for a number of weeks.

"This isn't poison from an arrow." Lai Yiteng stated, not as a question, but a fact.

Xian Wu had been in the middle of grabbing some medicine, now he froze. It seemed that little detail he'd neglected to explain was exposed.

"Er…well, it's not," he replied.

Lai Yiteng's hand fisted. The previous tender feelings he felt towards Xian Wu helped quell his anger.

"Why…" he forced out the words, "did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me something so important? Do you know what kind of poison it is?"

"I-" Xian Wu swallowed. Ugh. The atmosphere had been great. Now it's been turned around to dismal! Well, it wasn't something he could hide forever anyway, though, and Lai Yiteng's reaction was less horrible than he'd expected…it must be his naturally charming and lovable personality. "I was able to make up a slightly effective detoxifying agent, but I don't know how to treat it fully. So nope, I don't know what kind of poison it is. Do you know details from when you were…you know?"

Lai Yiteng glared at him, then barked, "They never told me anything. Why? Why did you lie?" he repeated, fixated on the answer.

Xian Wu saw that Lai Yiteng was starting to lose it slightly and lifted his hands placatingly.

"Ahaha…you know. I felt bad. I hoped that I'd be able to make a better antidote for it, then tell you."

"Foolish," Lai Yiteng muttered, but most of his anger towards Xian Wu dissipated. Then he thought about it, about those days he spent in the dungeon. "…sometimes they would drag out bodies. Their skin had turned black like the coal in a fire and smelled as if it were rotting. They would also mix my blood into the bowl before I drank it."

Xian Wu felt his stomach churn. "Your blood? That's probably so that whatever poison they fed you was not rejected as strongly by your body. Right now, your veins all flow with it, it makes it harder to use your internal force."

That's why Lai Yiteng felt sicker when he used his martial arts. The strain of doing what he usually did would aggravate the poison in his veins. It rejected his energy flow and lotus martial arts, as though he were a clear lake that had been flooded with pollution.

Lai Yiteng lowered his eyes, expression calm and dull. He spoke in a low tone, his voice smooth and solemn. "Will it kill me? Don't bother trying to hide it anymore, just say it."

Xian Wu tried to keep up his usual nonchalance, but it was too difficult. The conversation was too morbid and depressing. This is why he tried to lie!

With great reluctance, he replied, "It…might. However, I don't know when, or what its full effects are…"

"Is that so." Lai Yiteng gave a mirthless smile. He wasn't surprised. Something like this should be expected. He widened his dark eyes with bloodthirst. "So be it. All that matter is that I bring Lushang Sect to ruin before I breathe my last."

Xian Wu's eyes widened in full alarm.

O-Okay, all right! He knew that Lai Yiteng hated Lushang Sect. He also knew the younger was trying to escape their grasps. What he didn't realize was that Lai Yiteng also aimed to get revenge on them so passionately.

It made sense though?! Dammit, he should have known since Lai Yiteng kept wanting to learn more martial arts. But this is dark! Dark life goals!!

"S-So Yi'er, about that…!" Xian Wu babbled. "That's not really a healthy outlook, don't you think? Not saying you shouldn't get revenge. I was all about revenge at your age too. Maybe you could have more focus on finding an antidote for yourself first. I mean- "

"Gege," Lai Yiteng cut him off, "I wonder what other lies you have told me?"

Xian Wu shut his mouth promptly.

Sure, quite a few other lies…but was that important right now?! He tried to continue, "I'm just trying to say that-"

"We're out in the middle of nowhere, so I guess it doesn't matter," finished Lai Yiteng. "Why don't you just start teaching me the martial arts, as you promised?"

Xian Wu had spent much of his life around powerful, touchy people. Masters from other martial art sects that required one to use words as if they were balancing along a rope. Thus, Xian Wu good judgement of when it was all right to push an issue and when he had to hold back from preventing conflict from erupting. Now was the second scenario.

Besides, one could argue with a person all they wanted about something like 'a will to live', but they were just words, and that person would not change their mind so easily.

Why did Xian Wu know such things? Of course because he'd been like that in the past.

Xian Wu could only try to create an environment where Lai Yiteng began to think differently. He put a genuine smile onto his face.

"If you say so, Yi'er!"

Lai Yiteng was taken aback. He eyed Xian Wu with disbelief, then it felt as though his prickliness was smoothed out. Well, he needed some time to think all these things over and unwind. Simply put, alone time.

"Well, we needn't start the training immediately," Lai Yiteng admitted. "Is there a place to bathe nearby?"

"Yeah. That lake we were at earlier isn't too far. Just follow that little deer trail outside, on the right."

"I will return later," Lai Yiteng said, gathering a couple of items before taking his leave.

"…"

Xian Wu waited until he disappeared behind a patch of trees before letting out a sigh that became a groan of complaint. Another minute or two later, when he was certain Lai Yiteng was far off, he went outside. He needed some urgent advice!

"Bo Penglai, you're back, right?"

Bo Penglai jumped onto the rooftop of the house within a second.

"Yes, Sect Master."

"You delivered those two samples, including that one from the salamander, back to the Sect, right?"

"Yes, Song Zhenxi was quite intrigued. She also asked when you would be returning."

Xian Wu hummed acknowledgement. He wished he could go back there and study them himself, but circumstances didn't allow it at the moment.

Bo Penglai started eating a dumpling. It was filled with sweet red bean paste.

Xian Wu gave a heavy sigh. "Hey, you're younger. What do younger people like?"

To be fair, Xian Wu was only twenty-four, but liked to act like an old man. He was just hoping to get some outside advice. Although Bo Penglai was lazy, he was quite clever if he put his mind to it.

"Oh," said Bo Penglai knowingly, "you're trying to get closer to that beauty?"

Xian Wu tilted an eyebrow. "Something like that. I just want him to trust me enough to come back to Graceful Dragon Sect."

Bo Penglai had a blank look for a moment, then understanding came.

So that was why Sect Master Xian wanted to build this house and everything…he hadn't yet gotten that Lai Yiteng to accept his affections. This was just a temporary home to win his favor before bringing him into the sect.

After all, the Sect Master wouldn't bring someone back by force. He at least had that much decency.

Bo Penglai rapidly stuffed the rest of his dumpling into his mouth. "I was listening into your conversation earlier, and this beauty is certainly no easy catch. In my honest opinion…you're going to have to go slow and carefully. You know, the classic 'turtle wins the race'."