The ferocious flame bird crashed into the barrier and enveloped it in a horrendous blaze. Feeling that a single bird might not be enough to disintegrate this dog couple, Duanxian Yu pulled out his sword and started to hack at the transparent shield. "Shit! Just because I'm treating you guys with politeness, you take it for granted!"
A couple of seconds is enough for the smoke from the flames to begin clearing. With a blow from the wind, the last of the fog disappears to reveal two pairs of gleaming eyes. One pair golden and another one black in color narrow in mischievousness as they stare at the jumping charcoal in front of them. Not even one strand of hair flew out of place from the disturbance a while ago.
Hand entwined with Xie Luochen's Chu Nuan leaned on his chest as she said in a playful tone, "see? I told you I can break his composure."
Hugging Chu Nuan closer to him, the red strings sway gently as he answered in an equally impish voice, "En…" Twirling threads of her long hair, he spared a glance at the huffing Duanxian Yu before placing it back on the person in his embrace, "as expected of you."
"Hehe, of course!" Accepting the compliment, Chu Nuan's legs sway back and forth with joy as she shoots a challenging look at Duanxian Yu.
The Duanxian Yu at this time is definitely the worst he had ever been. Burnt flesh and clothes caused his whole body to be black with occasional flakes of ashes falling from his body. Healthy strands of hair became instant noodles with split ends curling in different directions. Pale skin and thin lips coated on a layer of soot and dirt. The only cleanliness that seems to stand out at this point is the whiteness of his teeth. Every time he opened his mouth to speak, a flash of white appeared briefly before hiding away.
"You said you would support me. "Duanxian Yu spoke with resentment when he noticed the barrier fine without a crack.
At this point, the fighting has stopped. Fu Xi silently lowered his sword as he gave Chu Nuan a slight nod.
"I am." She answered. "Don't you see us showing mental support by watching you? Fans show support by buying movie tickets and comment online. But since the tickets for this show are free of charge, we decided to support you another way. Your fight truly was an eye opener for us, it's just that you look so stressed. So we thought we should make you relax a bit. See here? Now your face isn't as serious anymore.
Duanxian Yu "...." Do I have to thank you for this?
"No need to thank me." As if able to read his thoughts, Chu Nuan said with a wink. "Besides, I feel like the fight is dragging out too long." Peering at the lone figure standing meters away, she laughed with disdain, "If Fu Xi really wanted to kill you, do you think you'll be able to stand here without as least missing a limb or two?"
With this reminder, Duanxian Yu's gaze widened with bewilderment. It's true. Considering Fu Xi's strength after regaining his memories, there's no way he wouldn't be able to seriously injure him. Don't think that the burns on his body looks horrendous at first glance. In truth, they are only light wounds no different from a bruise you get from bumping into something. He was so focused on the fight that he missed the discrepancy between the attacks.
"Fu Xi, you— watch out!" Turning around, Duanxian Yu was about to find out the truth when something scary showed up in his view. Holding onto a dagger, the injured Commander drew closer to Fu Xi with it raised high. A green aura enveloped the cold steel as it glints with a frosty light. The madness in his eyes reflects off the smooth surface of the blade seconds before his arm strikes down. It was within those few seconds before the dagger plunged down, Duanxian Yu rushed forward and took Fu Xi into his arms.
"Ngh!" The sharp edge of steel slid down his back as unfettered as a pencil running across paper. Pain did not come until moments later when his dazed eyes focused on the grains of dirt lying next to his face.
What happened?
"Argh!" The Commander flew in the air and landed meters away. Motionless, unknown whether alive or dead.
"Duanxian Yu!" With trembling arms, Fu Xi cradled his powerless body into his embrace. The icy expression on his face shows signs of cracking as upturned eyes redden with unshed tears. "Hold on…" The two hands behind Duanxian Yu's back glowed with a mysterious light as it worked hard to heal the horrific wound. "...." It's not closing, why? Greenish black liquid continues to flow from the opening in his back. Clear signs of being poisoned.
Duanxian Yu's blurry eyes gradually focused on the face of the person in front of him. Without showing any indications of pain nor sadness, they only focus in one direction. Pale skin dripping with sweat, red upturned eyes foggy with moisture, thin trembling lips seeping with traces of blood from constant biting.
For some reason he wanted to laugh at this point, and he did. "Heh."
"Why are you laughing?"
"You do care about me after all."
"...."
Looking at the man in front of him trying to put on an emotionless expression with red puffy eyes. Duanxian Yu suddenly thought, the scene at this moment is so fragile and precious, "Fu Xi…." He whispered quietly, "I'm sorry…"
The hands behind his back twitched for a moment before resuming their actions. "...."
"That time, I should have been the one laying on the ground in a pool of blood. His pale lips stretch into a bitter smile, "if I wasn't so weak, you wouldn't have died." A rush of sweetness welled up in his throat and out the corners of his mouth.
"Don't talk." Fu Xi circulated even more energy into the healing process.
Ignoring his advice, Duanxian Yu continued his soliloquy, "I didn't mean to, Fu Xi. I wasn't planning on hurting you. Why didn't you dodge at that time? Do you know? After you died, my nights were full of endless nightmares covered in your blood. My hands are stained red with your lifeless body under my feet." One of his hands raised to place itself on Fu Xi's cheek, "I couldn't see these eyes of yours looking at me anymore. Fu Xi..do you resent me?" Do you hate me for starting a war? Loathe me for trapping and causing your death? It doesn't matter if you look at me with hate. All that matters is your attention on me.
Hearing this question, Fu Xi lowered his eyes to meet Duanxian Yu's swirling purple orbs. Pausing for a second, he pursed his lips before moving his sight away, "no."
"Heh, liar." You're always so terrible at lying, but that's also a part of your charm. Affected by the poison, Duanxian Yu's breathing became even more eradicated as his vision blurred. "I….after your death, I hide myself away from the prying eyes of others. A bed without your temperature is so cold, a house without your presence is not home. For years I waited for your return just to give you my apologies. I was wrong, the person who should have died that year is not supposed to be you, but me." Gazing deeply into Fu Xi's pupils, Duanxian Yu smiled brightly with blood stained lips, " that's why, this time I gave everything back. So…..will you forgive me?"
A stone seemed to be stuck in his throat as Fu Xi tried hard to swallow. "No…" His hoarse voice warned, "I won't forgive you if you die like this." Images of the time from when Duanxian Yu was a child up to now flashes by in his disoriented mind. "Have you ever asked for my opinion? How would you know whether this is what I want?" This man is always like this making a decision without asking him.
".....sorry…"
"This isn't what I wanted to hear!" Fu Xi shouted. In his frenzied anger, the two hands holding onto Duanxian Yu's back tightened their grip. They sunk into the open wound with displeasure, staining his fingernails with a dark green hue.
"Ngh! Be a little more gentle."
"Hmph!" Refusing to compile, the nails embedded in the flesh shifted before remaining motionless. "Stop speaking nonsense."
"...Hey." Duanxian Yu probed.
"Shut up." Fu Xi huffed.
Not feeling the slightest bit of discomfort, Duanxian Yu snaked an arm around Fu Xi's neck and rested his palm on the back of his head. Narrowed eyes gleamed with a crafty light as Duanxian Yu gently exerted enough strength to lead Fu Xi's head downwards to him. Although Fu Xi furrowed his brows, there weren't any other indications of rejection.
Just like that, the distance between them closes until a single thin slit of space is left in the middle. Two breaths of warm air mingle together so often that it is unknown whose breath belongs to whom. One grinning ambiguously at the person holding him in their arms, one trying to put on an expression of dispassion while firmly embracing the person in their arms. And another one resting their chin on their arms while raising an eyebrow at the show between them.
???
The both of them turn to look in the same direction.
Golden eyes curve into crescents as Chu Nuan smiled, "don't mind me, you two can continue."
"...."