Yun Bei Fen finally fell asleep in Mei Chao Bing's arms. When he woke up the next day, the sun had already risen. Mei Chao Bing's eyes were long open but he had stayed still and only gazed at the little person in his arms so that he could rest a while longer.
Yun Bei Fen looked up and smiled. "Senior martial brother Mei …"
"Mn. Good morning."
"Did you sleep well?"
Mei Chao Bing's lips curled up in a smile. This was the first time somebody had asked him such a question. He didn't remember his family very well and his Master had always been taciturn. Who else would have bothered? But for Yun Bei Fen it seemed natural as if it was the most normal thing to ask somebody how they had slept when you saw them in the morning. To be honest, he could get used to this.
Mei Chao Bing reached out and rubbed Yun Bei Fen's head. "Very well. What about you?"
"Mn! With senior martial brother Mei around, I'd naturally sleep well!"
Mei Chao Bing's movement stilled in response. This little bunny … he really was something else. Not only did he treat him so well, he even seemed to trust in him completely. Sleeping so soundly as if there was no danger around at all … didn't he have even the slightest fear that he could be like his Master?
He looked into Yun Bei Fen's eyes but there was nothing but bubbly happiness. No, this person really wasn't afraid. Well, it figured. Yun Bei Fen seemed to have never believed that he was anything like his Master. The thought probably didn't even cross his mind. Even the previous distance had been because of embarrassment about their kiss and not any negative feelings.
Mei Chao Bing leaned forward and brushed his lips against Yun Bei Fen's. The little bunny's eyes widened but after a moment, he calmed down. Mei Chao Bing pulled back and smiled.
"This is … the best morning I had in a long time. Last night was also the best night I had for years. It seems that with junior martial brother Yun around every time of the day would be great."
Yun Bei Fen giggled and pushed himself closer. "Senior martial brother Mei, did everything really happen yesterday?"
"Mn. All of it."
"Oh. That's good then. I was a little afraid I might have dreamed some of it."
Mei Chao Bing patted his head again. "Even if it was a dream, I'd help you turn it into reality. Well, maybe we could do without falling down."
"That's true. But it's not your fault at all! I didn't let you rest enough."
"Ah, that's not the case either. It's just that …" I pretended in the beginning and then you surprised me, making the lie come true. He couldn't say that, could he? He sighed. "I was always alone in the sect so I have no experience in flying together with somebody. I miscalculated. That's all. Let's not dwell on it any longer."
Yun Bei Fen nodded well-behaved. If senior martial brother Mei said it was alright, then it was alright. Although … "Senior martial brother Mei, since we're stranded here now … what are we going to do? Wait until somebody finds us?"
"That …" Mei Chao Bing turned onto his back and looked at the sky. He should say the truth now. Or if he didn't want to say it, then he should say that his spiritual energy had already been restored and that he could fly them over to the border region now. Unfortunately, his heart was reluctant to comply with what his mind knew. He still wanted to spend time with Yun Bei Fen.
"Are you alright?" Yun Bei Fen leaned over him and peered into his face. "You … you wouldn't have been hurt badly, would you? Do you need me to go search for water or something?" Yun Bei Fen's brows were furrowed and his hair hung down, framing his face like a veil.
Mei Chao Bing reached out and ran his fingers through it, finally grabbing onto one of the strands and holding it lightly. "Fen'er … the others will need some days to arrive at the border region. How about spending some more time with me? We haven't had many opportunities to get to know each other. We barely saw each other. So … would you like to?"
Yun Bei Fen's cheeks flushed and even the color of his ears seemed to change. "That … that doesn't sound bad."
"Then let's make our way through the forest on foot."
"Oh."
"It's … it's not that I can't fly anymore. I just … want to spend time with you and with how things stand with our other martial brothers I'm afraid that I won't have many chances to do so when everyone has set up camp together."
"I'm sure it'll get better. The others just don't know you. As soon as they know how you really are, they won't be like this anymore. You'll see."
Mei Chao Bing nodded. "Maybe I'll really see. For now, I'd like to be alone with you though."
"Alright. Since my Master threw me to you he shouldn't be too worried anyway. So we can just take our time." Yun Bei Fen lowered his head and pursed his lips. "You know I'm also very happy if I get to spend more of it with you."
"That's good then." Mei Chao Bing brushed Yun Bei Fen's hair behind his ear and sat up, pulling him along. "We should get ready then. If we're too slow, I can fly us the rest of the way but wouldn't it be nice to experience some things on the way? I'm sure that would be good for your cultivation too."
"Mn!" Yun Bei Fen nodded eagerly and thus, the two of them set out toward the boundary between their territory and that of the evil sects again.
The Master who wouldn't worry about him … He still had no idea that his unreliable disciple had gone off to sightsee with his crush. If he knew … he probably wouldn't have been surprised.