Did you Miss Me?

I immediately sat upright with a loud gasp like someone who just woke up from a nightmare, my heart pounding heavily in both my ears and this fear that suddenly crept into my skin just by the mention of my name? That voice felt so familiar and gave me goosebumps all over.

The sky was still dark as pitch, the moon resting brightly in contrast to the dark sky. I glanced around but there was no one here, except for my teammates who slept soundly and a short sigh escaped from my lips. There was no way I could possibly go back to sleep, what if I hear those chants again? so I got on my feet and decided to take a little stroll.

The field was pretty wide and a distraction was what I needed to clear my head.

"Shanxia." I whispered at the tip of my tongue but who could have possibly called after me, it felt familiar but in a frightening way. There was a little lake closeby and I gazed at it for a while, trying to sense any spiritual energy from it but there was nothing. After facing that water beast, I'm in no mood for surprises at all.

Kneeling close to it, I scooped both hands full of water and washed my face trying to drive away whatever little sleep still lingered in my eyes. My clothes were starting to dry up and I felt glad about it, but my body was still numb and I felt really weak.

Gazing intently at the water, my body shivered slightly and I couldn't explain how much I miss my master at the moment. I needed his comfort, to be by his side and let him hold me once again in his special embrace. We've been jumping through portals which could lead to a lot of time difference so possibly it should be up to five days since we left Mount Xuandu and being so unsure of when we'll return makes me grow impatient. My heart ached at the fact I couldn't see my master. I missed him so much I wondered how it didn't affect me until now, the fighting and all really turned out to be a great distraction but now, I couldn't sleep, more like I'm scared of going back to sleep.

I suddenly remembered my master's words when we strolled across the hallway that day; 'Don't hesitate to call me if you feel the need to.'

The word's just popped up at the very last minute and I know this would probably look crazy but I was willing to give it a try, even if it's just a glimpse of him, I wanted to see him again, I was missing him too much to wait any longer.

"Qui Shan." I whispered, unable to hide the longing in my voice, there was a lot more I wanted to say but just mentioning his name felt like it was enough. I didn't really expect anything to happen, but I just wish….

My thoughts were interrupted when the water before me shimmered brightly, I quickly scurried away, afraid I might have awoken some beast but I didn't sense any killing intent though, the light slowly died down, leaving the water sparkling and after gathering enough courage, I crawled a bit closer and taking a tiny peep, my master's enchanting face came in view on the water and I felt my heart quicken as a half smile formed on his lips, was I missing him too much I was starting to imagine things?

"You finally missed me." He uttered and I blinked profusely, unable to believe it but after hearing him speak in that familiar voice I had come to love so much, a grin was starting to form on my face and I darted a look around to make sure no one was watching me before turning my gaze back to him.

"B..but how, how is this….." I was still in a daze to believe it while his eyes raked over me and a slightly worried expression crossed his face.

"The tournament is taking a real toll on you." He said but I didn't care, I was seeing him and talking to him, that's all that mattered to me at the moment.

"Yes but I'm fine."

"This is why I didn't want you to participate." He sounded guilty for not stopping me and I immediately shook my head.

"No no, I was the one who wanted to participate, it's not your fault in the slightest I'm fine see." I stretched my hands out but he wasn't convinced.

"I'll get a proper look once you return, you still have one or two more battles before tracking the dagger, don't wear yourself out." He cautioned me nicely and I nodded in return. His voice was so different from the one I heard in my sleep, My master's voice was filled with so much love, care and compassion while the other voice instilled nothing in me but fear. Whose voice could I have possibly heard?

"I'll do as you say then." I replied to his words, brushing my thinking aside.

"Did you miss me?" I shyly asked and he gazed at me looking half stunned by my question.

"I didn't even know it was possible to miss someone this much, I wish to be where you are right now but to my own dismay, I can't." the longing in his voice was equal to mine and I felt the need to jump into the water and just hold him but that'll be crazy and funny too.

"Did you miss me at all?" he asked and I was half glaring at him.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't call out to you, you have no idea how much I'm fighting this spirit inside of me that's telling me to jump into the water to be with you."

He laughed at my response and it was enough sign to show he liked it. Gazing at him intently, I was starting to notice the tiredness lingering in his beautiful eyes and brows. It got me worried for a sec, has he been overworking lately?

"Qui Shan, you look tired, everything alright?" I asked softly and he smiled warmly at me.

"I'm fine, just keeping myself occupied so I don't miss you too much that's all." He stated and although I felt a tingle in my heart, it seems whatever he's doing to distract himself is weighing him down and I frowned at him.

"Try to reduce from whatever it is you're doing then, you look quite pale and I don't like it at all."

He chuckled even though I was being serious right now. "Alright fine then, I'll do as you say, I'll try something else to keep me busy for now before I watch you guys tomorrow."

"No, get some sleep and if possible, tell Youlan to keep you company or master Baozhi, take some herbal tea just don't stress yourself out like this."

I was serious but he was gazing at me with so much love in his eyes I bet he even heard half of the things I just said to him, I tried not to let his gaze bewitch me and spoke up.

"Qui Shan!"

"Yet you complain I worry too much, look at you, giving warnings to your master."

I paused at my sentence, my words hooking at my throat, realizing I just scolded my master, I met his gaze in the water and my cheeks heated up with embarrassment, that was a totally wrong thing to do, any other disciple would have gotten punished for this but I only acted that way cause I got worried. I lowered my head, unable to meet his gaze.

"Forgive me but I can't help it sometimes, it's just when I tend to love something or someone I get…" I couldn't complete my words, jabbing my fingers together feeling too embarrassed to speak.

"Don't look like that, otherwise I'll have to cross this barrier and kiss you."

"Hmmm?" I met his gaze, taken aback by his words.

"C..cross the barrier?" My cheeks were completely red now.

"No one's watching, remember? I can have my way with you if I want, let me rephrase that, if WE want." I know he wouldn't cross it, he's only messing with me and just when I planned on giving him back, with just a snap of his fingers, a very gentle breeze blew past me like the softest caress, soothing my skin, equally carrying a familiar energy that I've come to recognize too well and just like that, my clothes were dried up and I felt refreshed. My body wasn't weak any longer and I felt energized. Wait, did he just heal me???

Seeing the question in my eyes, he smiled.

"You'll need more energy than I do."

"But how can you pass me your energy just like that, you already look exhausted and now…."

"I'm fine." He reassured me seeing how genuinely worried I looked. "I like it when you worry about me like this, I've been overstressing myself and I'll deduce from it now, in the meantime you better check on your teammates."

I creased my brow in confusion. "Meaning?"

"I shouldn't be telling you this since it's considered cheating but you have to hurry back, before the mount Fuan's get away with all your artifacts."

My eyes widened at the mention of Mount Fuan. "Wait, how did you…"

"Can't explain, you better hurry."

I didn't know what to do except to nod and get to my feet. I suddenly stopped and turned to look at his mesmerizing reflection in the water, I smiled at him with a bit of worriedness still lingering in my eyes.

"Take good care of yourself till I return." I blew a kiss at him which he caught, my heart warmed up at the sight and his image slowly vanished from the water. I turned around, heading back to my teammates, those Mount Fuan are really starting to be a pain in the neck, guess we're really not going to have any breaks tonight as well.