In the evening Yuan Xuelan met up with Xu Hexian to practice his sword techniques.
"Hm? What does Meng-xiong like?" Xu Hexian hummed as he stretched. "Scolding people! He definitely gets a kick out of scolding people and hitting them," he said huffing.
Yuan Xuelan narrowed his eyes.
"But that wasn't what you wanted to hear about right? Okay, I'll tell you a little secret," he beckoned Yuan Xuelan to come closer. Apprehension fluttered in his stomach but he scooted in, allowing Xu Hexian to press a hand against his ear and whisper.
A flush burned its way up Yuan Xuelan's face as he yanked himself back, "I can't-! That's not useful information at all!!"
Xu Hexian snickered behind his hand, "Well you never told me exactly what kind of information you were looking for so I only told you things that Meng-xiong likes."
Yuan Xuelan opened his mouth and then closed it. This bastard! "Whatever! Just never mind!" As if he could admit that he was asking in order to prepare a gift for Liu Sumeng!
Either way, Xu Hexian was useless, so he would have to look for someone else for help. When they resumed training after the break, Xu Hexian regretted riling the hot-headed Yuan Xuelan up. Just how could this youth have so much brutish strength and stamina!? Even if Xu Hexian could parry and counter his blows, his wrists and legs were going to give from exhaustion. Ah, next time, he will be more careful.
The next victim to Yuan Xuelan's questioning was Liu Suye. He hadn't really interacted with Liu Suye much before and didn't really know how to approach the elder of the Liu brothers. But the following day, when he was going on a stroll on the mountainside again, he saw this older Liu brother walking back from a trip to the village, two bottles of wine in hand.
"If it isn't the Young Master Yuan!" He greeted, waving Yuan Xuelan over to walk with him back to the manor. Compared to the Ivory Sword Saint, Huamian-Jun was a down-to-earth person who welcomed and invited conversation.
"Greetings, Huamian-Jun," Yuan Xuelan bowed. There was something about this man that made him stand out, a pleasant aura that made people like him and wish to be liked by him.
"Hm?" Liu Suye chuckled, "What's with that formal way of address? I'm an easy-going guy so why don't you just address me in an easy-going way? We might as well be brothers at this point."
Yuan Xuelan raised a brow but didn't argue, "Then I'll call you Ye-xiong."
"Ye-xiong is good, but you can call me Dage too," he smiled mischievously with narrowed eyes.
…Just who did you think was going to call you Dage?
Yuan Xuelan almost snorted, but he wasn't in a particularly bad mood. Liu Suye was funny, but in a completely different way than his younger brother. "Compared to Liu Sumeng, your face is rather thick, isn't it?"
"That is hardly a difficult thing," Liu Suye whistled, "Not many people have a face thinner than A-Chao's."
Yuan Xuelan nodded, there wasn't much to disagree with in regards to that. "Ye-xiong, you're awfully talkative," he couldn't help but note.
Liu Suye smiled, "Are you trying to tell me that's a bad thing?"
"Nope, not at all," he hummed, "I was just thinking how you and your brother are very different."
"Hehe, many people tell us that. We have the same face, after all, most people expect our personalities to at least be a little similar."
Yuan Xuelan shrugged, "Honestly, it's hard to notice the similarities when your facial expressions are completely different."
The way Liu Suye tilted his head was playful, "What makes you say that?"
Yuan Xuelan raised a brow, did this man really want him to point out the obvious? "Well, first off, you…" you're normal, but Yuan Xuelan didn't say that, "you're pretty down-to-earth and like to talk. I honestly don't think the Ivory Sword Saint could be caught dead smiling. His face is more like," he stroked his chin in thought, "a rock."
Liu Suye snickered, the two wine jars swaying with his steps, "That's not wrong! I don't know how he was struck with that affliction," Liu Suye shook his head but a fond smile was stretching his lips. Yuan Xuelan thought, even though Liu Suye lost the title of heir, it appeared he was still rather fond of his younger brother. It made Yuan Xuelan like him more. Liu Suye paused in his words and looked down at Yuan Xuelan with a mirthful twinkle in his eyes.
"W-what is it?" Yuan Xuelan asked, feeling a little unsettled with the way Liu Suye was looking at him and for some reason was reminded of the way Xu Hexian grinning at him over a whispered secret. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh it's nothing," Liu Suye had a sing-song voice, "I was just thinking about telling you that appearance isn't the only thing A-Chao and I have in common."
Now that was something Yuan Xuelan had a hard time imagining, so he raised a brow, his smile was almost challenging, "Oh yeah? What else could you possibly have in common?"
"Well," he dragged the word, "For example…this!" and swung the two wine jugs in front of Yuan Xuelan's face, startling the younger with the sudden action.
Yuan Xuelan stumbled a little backward in his step and blinked, "What?"
"This!" Liu Suye grinned as he repeated, jingling the two jugs as emphasis, "That little brother of mine is quite the drinker like myself. We're pretty evenly matched in that regard!"
Yuan Xuelan made a face, "That's just…" weird. That was what he wanted to say but then remembered the night in Zu Village where the lonely Liu Sumeng poured wine for himself like a loser. He might have been a little bit drunk to count the number of jugs eventually piled around Liu Sumeng's table but it was definitely no small amount.
Yuan Xuelan narrowed eyes at the alcohol, "But he doesn't drink nearly as frequently as you do. I've seen you stumbling around at night drunk."
"Why would I make up such lies about me like that?" Liu Suye pouted. The manor came into view as they continued to walk, peering out from the shrubs and trees along the winding mountain path. "I always hold my liquor very well and I've never caused anyone any trouble."
"Hm, if you say so."
"It wouldn't hurt for you to at least sound a little bit more believing you know?"
And after his encounter with Liu Suye, Yuan Xuelan thought that he accumulated a nice little collection of information about Liu Sumeng. The man had a tidy and strict appearance with peerless martial prowess, well that part he'd already known. However, hidden beneath the mask of arrogance and indifference there was a cute person who hides the fact he liked to take two custard buns instead of one and was also…
Yuan Xuelan shook his head, freeing himself from that invasive thought.
Liu Sumeng also liked to drink, but he didn't get drunk easily. Yuan Xuelan couldn't help but wonder what was so great about guzzling down all that wine alone. It was another thing about Liu Sumeng he couldn't really understand and found himself wondering about.
And he wondered, and continued to wonder, even when he was supposed to be sparring with Xu Hexian, and was rewarded with being kicked off his feet, inciting a barrage of haughty laughter and probing mothering at the same time. And when he walked with Chen Anyue in the little garden in the courtyard, he couldn't even focus on what she was saying. She poked at his cheeks in defiance and revenge.
Because still! Yuan Xuelan was plagued with the idea of a gift! Nothing really seemed right. He needed more information, he needed…something else. Something that wasn't food or alcohol, or the embarrassing words Xu Hexian whispered into his ears. Yuan Xuelan thought about this very hard as he wandered the halls. It was getting late, evening crawling into the night, with only the glow of the moon and a few lanterns and candles lighting the way.
Yuan Xuelan decided to take the long route back to his room in hopes of magically arriving at an epiphany on his journey. He did not reach this epiphany. But instead, he crossed paths with Sect Leader Liu Fumao.
Their eyes met in the hallway and Yuan Xuelan could no longer make a quick and easy retreat. Resigning to his fate, he bowed his head and greeted, "Greetings, Sect Leader Liu."
He'd prayed quietly that the sect leader would give him a nod and be on his way. Unfortunately, he had no such luck, "If it isn't the young Yuan Xuelan. How are you fairing at our Wangyun Peak? It must be difficult to settle in."
He wore a visage of calm in front of Liu Fumao, who although didn't have a particularly tall stature, was intimidating in a strict and chilly way. It was obvious that this was the man behind Liu Sumeng's upbringing. "It's rather different from Reling, but I don't mind it. It's much more peaceful here and I feel like I'm learning a lot."
"Hmmm," Liu Fumao stroked his chin, while his voice was severe it was patient like a parent speaking to their child, "If you come across any complaints, do not feel burdened from telling me. After all. This entire affair has undoubtedly been troubling to you."
It sure had been, Yuan Xuelan thought, but probably not in the same way Liu Fumao believed. "No, there hasn't been a problem," he said with lowered eyes, "I've quite enjoyed my time here at Wangyun Peak. The Heavenly Sword Sect has treated both my Shijie and I kindly."
"Is that so? Well if there's anything on your mind, then don't feel shy about speaking up." The way he spoke was almost commanding and when Yuan Xuelan looked up, he saw Liu Fumao's eyes gaze into him.
Yuan Xuelan suddenly felt inexplicably bold, he licked his lips and said, "Actually, there was something I'd like to know, about Second Young Master Liu."
Sect Leader Liu was a little taken aback by Yuan Xuelan's question. But he didn't let his surprise show and instead listened patiently before thinking of a careful and sincere answer.