Chen Anyue giggled as she watched Liu Sumeng play with the little bird in his palms. It was quite an adorable sight to behold. "Liu-ge, you haven't yet told me of your travels and how you've been. I fear that I have been speaking much about myself in the past few days…"
She had been definitely been rather eager to greet him upon his return. There was an energetic vigor about her, both girlish and dazzling. Liu Sumeng thought it made her even more beautiful but also extremely mysterious and odd.
For the Chen Anyue in his memories was a much more calm and mellow person. He couldn't begin to imagine what inspired this newfound intensity. Was this what she had meant when she spoke about changing herself? Liu Sumeng shuddered at the thought. "…It was not that interesting. Xuelan must have told you about our trip already."
Chen Anyue chewed her lip and furrowed her brow, "Yes well, certainly. He had told me a bit from his perspective. But that boy had been frustratingly secretive lately. I'm rather worried about him…"
Liu Sumeng was worried about him as well. So he nodded in agreement and decided to tell them about the tale of Peng Jipei and tragic mother. He also described their epic battle with Huo Tang and how everything unraveled with the volatile Sect Leader of the Hidden Mist Sect. Of course, there were details he'd left out as well. Like the night he chased Yuan Xuelan out into the frosty cold of winter. And the evil Organ Eating Dagger that he had hidden away.
Chen Anyue shook her head, "Poor A-Zhang, and A-Huan. They were both very fond of Auntie Cao… But she was always such a sickly person. At least she was surrounded by the people she loved when she passed."
"But man, Meng-xiong, I don't understand what you're talking about when you say that nothing much happened! It sounds like so much happened!" Xu Hexian bounced in his seat and chirped, "Sounds even more exciting than the Supreme Hunting Tournament! Did you know Ye-xiong finished third? But he totally cheated!"
Liu Sumeng knew because Xu Hexian had already repeated this entire story to him at least five times. "…I still wouldn't call it exciting."
Xu Hexian rubbed the back of his neck, "Ah well, it was dramatic wasn't it?"
That was one way to put things. Liu Sumeng pursed his lips as he recalled all the details that would now diverge from the events in his memories of his previous incarnation.
For one, Peng Zhugen now lived and remained the head of the Hidden Mist whereas in his past time Peng Jipei had become his successor. And Peng Jipei, unable to repay his debt, was now under the watchful eyes of Zhao Fanyu. This had to tell of better future possibilities…at least Liu Sumeng desperately prayed, lest his efforts be all for naught.
Ah, and there was also that matter with the letter to Liu Suye that the original Peng Zhugen never finished writing. And now that letter was delivered. Liu Sumeng would be lying if he said that he wasn't eagerly waiting for news on the matter from his older brother. But Liu Suye was frustratingly quiet for the time being. He had to be patient.
"I suppose some things happened." He eventually managed to say.
Chen Anyue shook her head, "That's to put it lightly."
He turned to look at her and wondered why she wasn't in the company of her Shidi in the first place, "Where is Xuelan?"
The question seemed to catch her off guard and she blinked at him with wide, owlish eyes. "Ah, A-Zhang? I'm…I'm not entirely certain," she confessed with cheeks tinged with a dust of pink. There was suspiciously guilt upon her expression that Liu Sumeng couldn't quite understand. "Perhaps he'd gone to tinker with his magical tools. You know how he is." She smiled at the thought.
Xu Hexian shrugged, "I don't know about that. Swore I saw the kid run out to the forest with a sword. He's been practicing, you know?"
Chen Anyue frowned at those words, "In the cold?"
Liu Sumeng was alarmed as well, "Has he been learning from you?"
Xu Hexian laughed nervously as he looked away, refusing to meet the Ivory Sword Saint's eyes, "Hey I'm not that terrible of a swordsman…ahahahaha…"
"..."
A veil of awkwardness descended upon the three. Xu Hexian cleared his throat, "Well um, I'm looking forward to the wedding." He smirked at the couple in front of him. Chen Anyue flushed while Liu Sumeng immediately tensed at the words. "I'm sure they'll make lots of delicious food for it… ah, it'll be a whole day of just lazing around." He cleared his throat, "Seriously, congratulations!"
Chen Anyue put a hand over her mouth and laughed shyly, "Oh, it's too early for that."
Liu Sumeng paled. He really needed to reject Chen Anyue sooner than later! This was going to spiral into an even bigger problem the longer he put it off. He had already been selfish enough to have her at his side for this long. Of course, it would have to be done in privacy and away from the gossipy and prying Xu Hexian, "Anyue-"
"Hm?"
"We should talk."
She flinched at the words but kept a brave face and nodded at him with a subtle smile.
Unfortunately for either of them, they didn't have a chance to talk about it. Not when a disciple knocked at the door to interrupt them from their leisure time. "Pardon this one's intrusion!" He bowed at a ninety-degree angle before his Seniors.
"What is it?" Xu Hexian beckoned him to lift his head.
"Sect Leader Liu is calling for an audience! Please come to the Main Hall immediately!"
The three of them shared a look.
What could this be about? Liu Sumeng had dread weighing down his stomach. He had a feeling it was to do with the contents of the letter.
The Main Hall was much more crowded than usual. Liu Fumao was at the head of the hall and scanned the room as he waited for all the important figures to arrive. The Guanghai Elder was at his side and was busy either looking bored or hacking up his lungs. Liu Suye was next to him, with a rare sullen look clouding his face. The majority of the Elders had already arrived.
Soon, there was the Ivory Sword Saint that entered with his fiance, Chen Anyue, and the kid, Xu Hexian. Each of them bowed to him respectably in greeting.
Yuan Xuelan eventually appeared as well. His cheeks, nose, and ears were bitten red by the cold. Snow melted into droplets of water that tumbled off his hair. "Sorry, I'm late." When he bowed, the Sect leader shook his head and told him it was alright.
When everyone had arrived and settled down, Liu Fumao cleared his throat, "I have summoned you all under the wake of dire news." He announced with a severe tone.
His audience was silent and awaited his answer. His eyes swept across the room and held their gazes. His announcement was loud and grave, "I fear that there will be war."
...
A few days ago, the man with the butterfly mask appeared within the private quarters of Yang Sehan of the Seven Moons Sect.
Yang Sehan was lying upon his bed. There was a row of wide windows in his room that allowed in as much light in as possible, with only a sheer mint-colored curtain that obscured onlookers from peering inside. He was a person with a personality similar to a cat and loved basking in the afternoon sun over anything else. Surrounding the lazy Yang Sehan in his bed, were books and even swords, spears, and axes. His bed was so cramped with things and it was difficult to imagine that he didn't get injured from the simple act of falling asleep.
The masked man swooped his gaze over this sleeping cultivator and smirked before he leaned down to steal a kiss-
But Yang Sehan's eyes had creaked open and a hand was quickly slipped between them, stopping eager lips. "...Good try." Even the way he chuckled was slow and lazy.
The masked man raised a brow but backed away. The clutter around them was making his fingers itch. Soon he couldn't help it anymore and began sorting and putting away Yang Sehan's belongings. Of course, he began with the items on the bed, starting with the things that had pointy tips and sharp edges. "You look like you're doing well," a silky voice dawdled.
"How...could that be?" Yang Sehan sighed against his pillow. He stretched and knocked a gauntlet at the end of his bed to the ground. The masked man went to pick it up and set it aside in the corner of the room. "I'm going to get killed soon."
Those words made his guest frown. The masked man paused in his cleaning and glared at Yang Sehan, "So long as I'm here, you will not die, my Little Crane."
The Seven Moons cultivator continued to pout and rolled around on his cramped bed. The masked man had to be quick to move a sword out of the way of his face. Seriously, how did Yang Sehan sleep without getting hurt? "I don't... Zhugen will have my head. He's super serious about it this time. He said he'll abolish the entire Seven Moons Sect...Do you think he will?" Yang Sehan's arms curled around a spear, "Ah...What a mess... I just want to sleep."
The masked man sighed with a private smile, "Then sleep, Little Crane. I will take care of everything."
"Hmm…" Yang Sehan didn't completely settle down, "Are you... perhaps going to kill Zhugen?"
"Only if you want me to."
"He's my childhood friend...you know?"
"Yes, but he wants to kill you."
"Hmm…yeah, it's a bit of a problem," Yang Sehan sighed. If only Peng Zhugen took two more moments to actually listen to what Yang Sehan had to say, then maybe he would see reason. But alas, people's hearts didn't always understand common sense. Yang Sehan rubbed his face against the spear and the masked man had to push his head back to retrieve the dangerous weapon.
"Don't worry so much," the sultry voice rumbled, "Everything will sort itself out when we return to Heaven."
Yang Sehan didn't know so much about this returning business but he hummed in agreement anyways. "I will say though...the toy you brought back from Zu Village... Hm, is a lot scarier than I expected."
"Yes, the Eternal Devil Blood Seal can manipulate raw spiritual power and life. But it is only one piece of a whole."
The masked man had explained it to him many times but Yang Sehan found that he never truly understood much about the Three Forbidden Treasures, "Well…I'd like to test out its power...soon."
A chuckle, "Don't worry Little Crane, when Peng Zhugen descends upon us with his allies, you will have plenty of targeting practice."
Slowly, a smile tugged at Yang Sehan's lips, "Hm...you're right about that."
Outside of the Yang Sehan's door, the Demon King tapped his feet impatiently. He told the masked bastard not to take too long. Just how much time did one need anyway, to stick it in and then pull it out!?