It's been about a week since Huo Ping promised to serve Yao Yue for life, though she didn't really seem to mind it too much. After all nothing had changed from that time, except for maybe the occasional visit from Huo Ping after class for an hour to train. And during that short period of time, the two had begun to develop a close bond.
"Yao-jie," Huo Ping called as they took a break. "Shui-xiong snuck in some alcohol from the town underneath Yun Tian Di, and we're planning on drinking it later. You want to join us?"
"'Shui-xiong'? Are you talking about the second young master of the Shui Sect, Shui Yang? Just you two are drinking?"
"Lin-xiong is coming also."
Yao Yue let out a nervous laugh. "It's best I not go. I already spend enough time near Lin Xie, and I don't think he likes me very much. Not to mention, I don't like alcohol at all."
"You don't like alcohol?" Huo Ping looked at her surprised. "But you have so many jars of it here."
He gestured to the many jars of alcohol in her room, causing her to laugh.
"When have you ever seen me drink? All this alcohol is for medical use only."
"Oh... I see..."
Yao Yue smiled and patted his head. "A'Ping, you're so naive. You need to be less trusting, or you'll get hurt in the future. Especially since you're the second son of Huo PanYi. Everyone will try to get close to you because of that."
"What about you?"
"Especially people like me. I'm from the Mo Sect, after all."
Hou Ping shook his head. "You're nothing like how the people of the Mo Sect are described. You're kind and gentle."
"A'Huo..." She squished his cheeks with a smile. "You're so adorable!"
"Yao...yao-jie!" He cried, pulling away from her. "I'm...i'm not a little kid!"
Yao Yue laughed, before laying down on her bed. "Let's end our class for today. Have fun drinking with Childe Lin and Childe Shui and don't get caught, okay? The punishment for drinking is about thirty strikes on your back."
He nodded. "We'll be careful."
*****
Yao Yue let out a sigh as she stared at the ceiling of her room. Something was going to happen again, she knew it. It felt like the first night of Yun Tian Di again, tense and awaiting for the danger to come.
Suddenly there was a quiet knock on her door. "Yao...yao...yao-jie?" came Huo Ping's voice, carefully and quietly. "Are...are you...you still awake?"
Confused, Yao Yue got up and pulled on her outer clothes. She quickly walked over and opened her doors to see a panicked Huo Ping.
"Yao...yao-jie, I...I need your help!" he cried quietly, the smell of alcohol in his breath.
"What happened?"
"I...i..."
Yao Yue stopped him. "Never mind, don't explain. Just show me what you need me to do."
Huo Ping quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her alongside him. He took her to a room a few minutes away, and quickly closed the door behind them. There was Shui Yang who was still drinking and next to him was an unconscious Tian Ying, who was passed out on the table. His face was lying in a pile of peanuts while Shui Yang was poking his head, laughing as he did so.
"What...what happened here?" Yao Yue asked with shock.
Shui Yang turned his head with a smile on his face. "Huo-xiong, I was wondering where you went!" he laughed. "Turns out you went to find a woman to be with!"
A small blush appeared on both hers and Huo Ping's faces as Yao Yue cleared her throat. "I am Yao Yue of the Mo Sect, pleasure to meet you."
"Ohhh, you're that Miss Yao." he pointed at her, finally recognizing her and drunkenly getting up. "I am Shui Yang, the second young master of the Shui Sect." he bowed, stumbling as he did so.
Sighing, Yao Yue swiped her hand in front of him, casting a small spell and causing him to sober up a bit.
"What happened here, Second Childe Shui?"
He clutched his head, "Urgh, my head..." he then glanced at the still unconscious Tian Ying and laughed. "Ah, that's right... Lin Xie, Huo Ping and I were drinking and having fun when Childe Tian entered the room. He tried to report us, causing Lin Xie to bolt out, but I stopped him with a mind spell before getting him to have a cup of alcohol. Who knew that his tolerance would be so low that he'd pass out."
Yao Yue looked at the unconscious Tian Ying, before sighing and walking over. She took his arm and slung his body over hers and stood up.
"I'm going to guess that you want me to take him?"
Huo Ping shyly nodded. "We...we don't know what...what to do with...with him other... otherwise..."
"And you think I do?" Yao Yue laughed. "I'll just keep him in my room for the rest of tonight. You both owe me for this, do you guys understand?"
Shui Yang let out a laugh and bowed his head. "Thanks so much, Miss Yao!"
Yao Yue nodded at him as he bent down to pick up another bottle of wine. She began slowly carrying Tian Ying out of the room, making sure she was careful with him. She didn't want him to suddenly wake up from his drunk stupor and have him throw up from too much movement.
"Who...who's there....." Tian Ying mumbled, slowly waking up.
"Yao Yue of the Mo Sect." she answered, smiling at him as they reached her room. "How are you feeling?"
"I...i... mmm Yao Yue, you smell...smell really good..."
"Ha?" she opened the door to her room and walked in. "What are you saying?"
Tian Ying took a deep breath before mumbling, "You smell...smell like roses..."
A blush appeared on her face as she gently laid him onto her bed. "You're drunk, get some sleep so you can sober up."
Yao Yue turned to leave only for him to grab her hand. "Don't go..." Tian Ying whined, opening his eyes and staring at her as his voice started to get louder. "Don't go...!"
Worried that he'd wake up the people around them, she quickly patted his hand and sat on the ground next to the bed. "Okay, okay, I won't go." she said, laying her head on the edge of the bed. "I'm right here, alright?"
He let out a small sigh of satisfaction, closing his eyes and softly mumbling, "I... Actually I...i like you..."