Lai Yiteng makes up his mind

Lai Yiteng gave a peeved expression at Xian Wu's obvious attempt to change the topic. In his gut a kind of anger and frustration came to rear its head. He did not want to hear refusal, but for Xian Wu to simply accept that he wanted to repay him somehow. Xian Wu had been right in his story earlier; it was horrible when someone rejected the gift-giver's good will!

"Gege! Weren't you the one who said it was rude to reject good-will? Stop stalling!"

With Lai Yiteng's pale face and long lashes in front of him, Xian Wu grew flustered, he unwittingly blurted out, "There's always that Demon-Swaying flute my Sect is looking for!" That was the only real object that he actually cared about, because it used to be his shizun's.

Lai Yiteng properly took his seat again, calmed.

"I will find it somehow."

"I appreciate the intention," yawned Xian Wu, beginning to feel sleepy, "but do you even know what it looks like? Or how powerful the person who stole it was?"

Lai Yiteng gave a thin frown. "Do you take me as an ignorant person?"

"…well..." This was a hard question. Xian Wu indeed thought that Lai Yiteng lacked in emotional awareness a lot. Really, A LOT. But on the other hand, Lai Yiteng had a horrifying amount of book smarts and talent. In any case, Xian Wu couldn't dare say that he thought Yi'er was ignorant. That would be a horrible idea. "No, of course Yi'er is extremely intelligent, clever, and wise! How could I ever think otherwise?"

Lai Yiteng made a grumbling noise and rolled his eyes. "Well I do know about it. The flute, I mean."

He knew about that ancient artifact from back when he studied at Lotus Sect. The Demon-Swaying flute was made of fine jade and played vertically, it had the ability to tamper with the minds of evil creatures and make them immobile, although the player had to be at a high level of martial arts to use it properly. He wondered how such a flute would sound like.

By chance, did Xian Wu know how to play it?

Lai Yiteng suddenly imagined a scenario of him playing the erhu while Xian Wu accompanied with the flute. He knew it was a strange idea, but it almost made a smile dance across his face. But Lai Yiteng was far too reserved to mention such silly things to Xian Wu, and the legendary flute's rightful ownership should be the current Graceful Dragon Sect's Master.

Xian Wu probably wouldn't have it in his possession.

Nope, Lai YIteng truly didn't suspect Xian Wu to be Graceful Dragon Sect's Master at all. After all, what lunatic of a sect leader would go missing for weeks to accompany someone like him? The thought didn't even cross his mind.

In any case, Xian Wu noticed how Lai Yiteng blanked out into nothing again.

Really, what was the younger daydreaming about? Was this another long-term effect of being locked in a dungeon for so long, one that caused Lai Yiteng to space off during a conversation with ease? It was almost impressive.

"Anyway," Xian Wu pointedly pulled him back into reality, "don't stress over finding it. If you heard something about the flute, even that would be enough."

"I will try my utmost to find it for you."

"Y-You, did you listen to what I just said…well, nevermind. It's fine."

Xian Wu yawned again. Lai Yiteng wouldn't be able to find the flute anyway, and he was tired, deciding it was time for the sweet embrace of sleep. He pulled out his hairpin, letting feathery hair fall down his shoulders. He wasn't sure by what miracle Lai Yiteng allowed him to share a bed, but he did.

Two men were sharing a bed every night. Even if he told Bo Penglai that there wasn't anything funny about it, the whole of the sect was going to be buzzing with gossip by the time he got back.

Oh well.

Xian Wu could always find a warmth blazing within him whenever he saw Lai Yiteng's quietly sleeping expression. It made him feel a sense of pride, as though he'd been the one to create an environment where Lai Yiteng could rest in peace at night. Heh, or maybe it was just because they were living at this remote place on a mountain.

But Xian Wu couldn't drag this out much longer…sooner or later Song Zhenxi was going to show up to stuff his body into a rice bag, then carry him back to Graceful Dragon Sect to take care of official matters. There was nothing to be done about it.

Xian Wu sat down at the bedside, pondering, a slight regret eating at him.

"Yi'er," he finally said. "I can't stay here much longer. A week or two at most. You said you'd consider going to Graceful Dragon Sect, so please think about it carefully. I can still teach you the martial arts there, and you'll also be protected from Lushang Sect."

Lai Yiteng had been drinking his usual dosage of medicine and paused after swallowing it. His brow twisted in a mix of hesitation and reluctance. That was because he knew by now what the most logical thing to do was, but he was too paranoid to like the idea.

The idea of going inside the walls of another sect.

Of course he knew that it was unlikely he'd randomly be betrayed by someone there, but it was so hard to forget Yu Wang's cruel smile at him. How he proved with his actions that the people surrounding you are two-faced, holding swords behind their backs.

Disturbed, Lai Yiteng paced toward the door.

"I am going out for a walk," he said quietly, his tone a mix of thoughtfulness and growing anxiety.

Xian Wu sighed. "All right."

The cool and humid nighttime air was refreshing. Lai Yiteng felt like he could breathe easily again. Fireflies were flickering everywhere, densely, their little lights adding a pleasant mood to the atmosphere.

Lai Yiteng was in no rush, his white and blue robes contrasting against the dark grass and shadows, reflecting the moonlight as he walked like a ghost through the forest.

It would be best to try going to Graceful Dragon Sect.

Maybe, just maybe, Xian Wu could find a cure for his poison as he promised. He could train safely and learn more than if he were alone. But all those reasons, Lai Yiteng knew at heart, weren't what was the most important to him.

Living with Xian Wu was the first time in so long that he'd been in the presence of another person who seemed to care about him. Lai Yiteng was a little obsessed. Although outwardly prickly, it pained him to think of parting from Xian Wu.

The Xian Wu who gave him medicine kindly and never was able to speak more than two serious sentences at once.

If Lai Yiteng refused to go to Graceful Dragon Sect, then he would have to continue to be on the run, wearing his veiled hat and making ends meet by playing his erhu. He would be alone, and always unable to sleep at night for fear of an enemy coming to drag him back to Lushang Sect like demons clawing at his feet.

Lai Yiteng sighed and stared up at the glowing stars and moon.

Xian Wu even said he'd pay him back the money he'd wasted on liquor that one time. That alone was good reason to go there! He just needed to summon the courage to do so.

Yes, he would go to Graceful Dragon Sect.

He would. As soon as he got back, he'd tell Xian Wu that he'd decided. And if worse came to worse, then he would fight his way out of there tooth and nail just as he'd done before. Easy peasy.

It had been long enough by now. Lai Yiteng turned on his heels to go back to the house.

The nighttime was quiet besides the howls of wolves, the occasional hoot of an owl. That was why when he heard a foreign sound, it seemed to ring and stick in his ears.

It was the metallic clash of blades.

Lai Yiteng immediately swiveled his head in the direction he heard it from, drawing his own dagger. He kept his footsteps silent as he approached the source.

Someone gave a muffled shout in pain.

Just as he rounded a patch of trees, within a small groove stood two men.

One of them was younger, hair braided with a scarf wrapped around their neck, and they were clutching their stomach as blood leaked through their fingers. So odd that Lai Yiteng couldn't help but notice it was a half-eaten dumpling lying on the ground nearby. What a waste of food.

The taller man who'd landed an injury on his opponent was now staring in Lai Yiteng's direction.