sweet but dangerous
Everyone had spread out across Butterfly Mountain in pairs, dispersing in every direction.
Mo Yan and Yu Sui were walking together.
No words. No sounds.
No one looked at the other...yet the silence between them was deeper than tranquility itself.
It was as though both were diving into the depths of their own hearts, quietly trying to understand the nature of the other.
Mo Yan was thinking:
Even if Yu Sui never accepts me, I am wholly, irreversibly devoted to him.
And Yu Sui…
He was wondering what truly went on in Mo Yan's mind
Why does he always follow me? Why does he go to such lengths, time and again?
Does Mo Yan... love me...?
The moment that thought arose in his heart, a strange feeling overtook him.
His breath caught for no reason.
His chest grew heavy.
A restlessness spread through him like wildfire.
What was he to do?
He knew what he was feeling.
He had felt it many times before
For Mo Yan.
But today… today they were alone.
And the unrest had reached its peak.
To hide it, Yu Sui pulled out his flask of wine.
He began to drink.
When Mo Yan looked toward him, Yu Sui panicked.
Without thinking, he held it out to Mo Yan and blurted,
"Want some?"
Silence fell again
A silence so soft it felt like even the mountain held its breath and moved slightly to give them space.
Yu Sui couldn't believe what he had just done.
Wine… and Mo Yan?
Was this really happening?
But Mo Yan…
His heart was filled with something else entirely.
This was the first time Yu Sui had ever given him anything.
How could he refuse the first offering of his first love?
No, he couldn't.
He was happy.
Because at least now, they could talk.
Mo Yan was a warrior who could kill thousands in an instant without taking a second breath. His swordsmanship was no less than death
But when it came to speaking with Yu Sui…
He became mute with fear.
Words seemed dull.
Nothing in this world seemed good enough to express just how much he loved him.
Mo Yan extended his hand without hesitation.
As he took the bottle, his fingers brushed lightly against Yu Sui's hand.
In that single, accidental touch… both hearts trembled.
Like a flower feeling the first kiss of morning dew.
Like a butterfly tasting the nectar of its first blossom.
They moved slightly apart.
Mo Yan took a sip and handed the flask back.
Yet, in that small space between them, it felt like miles had opened up.
And then
An arrow came flying toward them at high speed.
Before it could even graze them
Mo Yan, without turning his head or flinching, unsheathed his sword.
With a single, fluid motion...he sliced the arrow clean in two in mid-air.
His blade was so sharp, so swift,
the arrow parted like butter
without making a single sound.