What's the point...

Xian Wu's personal study was quite busy from visits, actually. Such and such sect member would come and report this or that kind of issue that had happened recently, including training, money squabble, and even worthless gossip. In general Xian Wu dealt with each case easily, waving his hand once or twice afterwards.

There were others who simply delivered messages or documents.

Lai Yiteng was too dazzling in appearance to blend in with the messy piles of paper and scrolls on Xian Wu's desk. He made himself more at home by standing in a corner next to a rosewood shelf and embellished tapestry of fine stitch-work. He crossed his arms there, watching each event unfold.

He was starting to feel drowsy again and so only half listened to what everyone was saying, mostly keeping an eye on their movements like a wary cat.

In the end, Lai Yiteng did not know why he was lingering in Xian Wu's office when he could leave at any time. Even though Xian Wu didn't seem bothered by it, it also seemed somewhat pointless to stand around doing nothing. But Lai Yiteng eventually had the thought that since he didn't know what to do here at Graceful Dragon Sect, he might as well stand around and keep an eye on Xian Wu.

…then again, his stomach was beginning to twist into itself in protest. 

He was hungry.

Lai Yiteng had not eaten much for the days he was comatose. Whatever little that he managed to be fed -he did not want to know how- would still be far from enough to keep his body functioning now that he was awake. He slowly let more and more of his weight settle into the shelf as he leaned against it.

A while later, there was a voice.

"Hey…"

"Hello?"

A hand waved in front of Lai Yiteng's face, and his eyes opened slightly, his pupils going back into focus.

"Yi'er, are you still alive?" Xian Wu chuckled at his own words.

"…Yes." Lai Yiteng was a little foggy-headed.

Did he fall asleep while standing? No. That was impossible for him. He had probably just gone half asleep while thinking.

Xian Wu scratched his head at Lai Yiteng's lack of his usual bitterness. "Seem like you need to rest more," he noted.

Lai Yiteng's brows furrowed, he looked like a prickly lady with his current feminine articles of clothing.

"That's not it. I just need to eat something. Then I'll be fine."

"You…" Xian Wu's eyes widened slightly, "you haven't eaten yet? Nothing?"

Lai Yiteng tilted his head somewhat, showing that the answer was indeed 'yes, nothing'.

Xian Wu immediately ran his fingers over his dragon teardrop earring, one of the nervous ticks he had that he himself did not take notice of. He paced over and put an arm around Lai Yiteng's upper back, not liking how thin his shoulders were, and then moved him forward a few steps.

"Come on. Let's go. I'll have something prepared right away. Just say something earlier if you're hungry, all right?"

Blandly, Lai Yiteng replied, "I just don't think of it."

Xian Wu could only give a light sigh as he brought Lai Yiteng down the hallway back to his room. Xian Wu waved over a servant along the way and order dishes of vegetables and soft-cooked porridge. He kept away anyone else who tried to approach with the 'I'm busy so don't interrupt me' aura. In fact, that paperwork had been killing him! This was a welcomed break.

Inside, he sat the younger on the bed. "Why don't you just rest here for a while?"

Lai Yiteng frowned and instead asked, "When can I resume training again?"

See, it was a bad cycle to be sick like this, unable to train for a few days. The body had muscle memory, but even that could quickly forget new information. He needed to keep practicing every day without fail.

"…" Xian Wu was giving him a tepid look. "Training isn't really possible for you right now."

Lai Yiteng gnashed his teeth. "How can it not be? So many days have been wasted. I should be prioritizing training over the longevity of my health. I have made this clear before."

Xian Wu gave him a stern expression. "Do you know how long I stayed awake trying to keep you alive this time?" Originally he'd not planned to bring this up, but as he suspected, Lai Yiteng's obsession with gaining power was too strong. "Two days. Two whole days! Are you saying I wasted my time doing that since you want to tire yourself out again?"

"I…" After all, Lai Yiteng had a soft spot for Xian Wu, and faltered. "But how long must I wait?"

"A few days at least."

"That's too long."

Xian Wu crossed him arms. "No it isn't! You know, I also developed a new tonic that might help suppress that poison in your veins. These days we can try it and see if it's more effective."

Unfortunately, because Xian Wu had not seen the poison before, it was inevitable that Lai Yiteng would have to be the guinea pig in testing out counter-measures. At the least Xian Wu was a master at poisons and medicines alike so he was confident that he wouldn't accidentally make him worse.

What Xian Wu wanted to avoid was Lai Yiteng transforming to look more like a bizarre monster, which was what happened when Chen Yuwen played the flute. He even lost part of his mind. 

But it would not be easy, because Lai Yiteng did not have a great interest in extending his life. He only wanted enough time to take his revenge Lushang Sect. Xian Wu would call that narrow-minded, but he'd also been similar to Lai Yiteng in the past.

"Is there a point in trying a new medicine?" Lai Yiteng grumbled. "In the end it might not work anyway. Then I'll just have wasted precious time."

"There is a point!" Xian Wu snapped harshly. "You are already at my Graceful Dragon Sect, so I am at least going to try and make you well during your stay. Even if you manage to get your revenge later, you should think about afterwards. What about the future?"

Lai Yiteng roughly threw his eyes onto the floorboards like a reprimanded child.

"I don't know."

"Yes, I'm aware it's not easy to think about. In any case, you are not trying to run from here, so I assume you agree to stay under the protection of my Sect her for some time," Xian Wu's voice softened, "so just listen to me a little. Okay, Yi'er?"

"…fine."

Since it was Xian Wu's sect, and he already did a lot for him, Lai Yiteng would just do what he wants this time. For now.

Which was apparently resting on this bed and eating food like a lazy slob?

But no matter.

Xian Wu left a while later, but promised to return late in the evening to bring the medicine. Lai Yiteng was finally able to eat a good meal, making sure to test it for poison with a silver needle first.

It was very boring to stay in bed for hours at a time.

He wanted the door to be open so he didn't feel like he was trapped inside this room. As though it were a cage…like a cell. But at the same time, he didn't want people he didn't know prying their eyes inside. That's why Lai Yiteng enjoyed sleeping outside among the trees and buddha statues that one time so much. Even though it was in the open, he didn't feel claustrophobic.

 Lai Yiteng could only stare at the wooden ceiling above, accented with tiles of jade greens and yellows. The lavish décor of this place didn't suit him either.

…what about the future?

Xian Wu made it sound like such an important and natural thing to think about, but it was actually something Lai Yiteng didn't bother thinking about anymore.

In the past, sure, he'd always thought about improving, earning Lotus Sect Master An's trust as his succeeding disciple, meeting his expectations, and dreamed about what he would do once he'd reach the pinnacle of martial arts. All of those silly dreams about the future disappeared when he was in that dungeon.

When Lai Yiteng was confined in that place he was only surrounded by pain and suffering each day. That, or sleeping in a drug-induced stupor. Or, maybe a person that thought he looked good, and was interested in his body like Gojun An. 

At those times anyone could start to wonder…is there even a point to being alive?