Freshly fallen leaves flattened under the sound of clopping hooves. Misted grass shimmered brightly in the glow of the sun. Flower blossoms drifted gently through the wind, and the sound of a nearby waterfall echoed along with the songs of birds through the valley. A man sat tall upon his mighty white horse, his long, warm-brown hair swaying gently along with the long blue ribbon that fastened it into a ponytail. His robes were no different from a commoner's, and sewn from the colors of the morning sky. Embroidered fabric that showed pictures of a blueberry field, and beautiful white birds, danced with the breeze. His skin was brown like a warm oak statue that'd come to life, and eyes sharp and blue as ice. His handsome face however, was covered by a simple white mask. Lanmei tossed a single blueberry high up into the clouds and caught it on his tongue. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly whilst he swallowed it, and tossed another. The music of nature was always very welcoming to him, swans honking and the animals flying by, and his time alone was greatly treasured. He had a pressing job to get to, but his poor companion was tired after having ran all this way, so he allowed her a rest- perhaps the job could wait just a few more minutes.
Once they've finally reached the small bustling town, light blue silks floated as Lanmei hopped off his steed and led her to an eatery, where he tied her halter to a fence and walked inside. He adjusted his mask and kept his ears open for any chatter of his current mission while he gracefully made his way to the front counter to order.
"Excuse this one. May he be served a good bit of apples? His steed awaits him." Lanmei's low and monotone voice sounded heavy with the dialect of less than a commoner. Despite his strange speech, he dressed as if he were a noble. This was what many first noticed about him.
"Ah apples for a steed, of course of course" The man behind the counter boomed while scanning the strange masked man in blue. "Would that be all for the cultivator?"
"Ah-" Lanmei began, and although no one could see his expression, anyone could tell he was dumbfounded. The patrons assumed that he didn't do too well in social situations, and this was the second thing that many noticed about him.
"This one wonders… Does this place serve… blueberries?"
The man tilted an eyebrow at the strange cultivator, but continued to answer. "Well, we have blueberry pie, and blueberry tea, and blueber-"
Before he could finish, a large amount of bright and shiny coins poured onto the counter with a loud jingle."
"This one will take three of each."
Lanmei lay with his steed underneath a towering umbrella of a great palm tree nearby. His head against her warm fur while he enjoyed his feast with closed eyes. The sound of people had never been something he could find relaxing, but decided to deal with it for now.
"Well how about you Branch? Are you enjoying the break at least?" He patted her with a free hand. Branch gave a small winnie and wagged her ears between her chomping on the fresh apples.
"Yeah, you don't have to talk to people… It must be nice" He sighed and continued to eat.
Once the two had their fill, Lanmei made it to his feet and carefully wrapped his leftovers for when he'd get hungry again, then readied Branch and hopped back onto her back.
"Now to get this job over with." With that, the two raced down the path and continued their journey.
The full moon had risen, and the sky was an ocean of lonely stars, lost in a sea of darkness. Slow clopping sounded against the dirt path, and the sweet taste of lunch was long gone by now. A chill blew past the two, who's only light was a simple lantern. It was quiet, very quiet. They looked around on high alert until a certain smell wafted towards them. The smell of red, the smell of rust, the smell of blood. Quickly, rider and steed raced towards a dark manor in the distance. Brows knitted tightly together under his mask, Lanmei began to fear the absolute worst. That he was too late.
The steed flew through puddles of muddy and wet grass, through the open doors of the giant red gate, and the smell hit the two hard enough to make them both feel nauseated. Iron death filled their noses as Branch stood high on her hind legs and gave out a shrieking winnie. Lanmei held tightly onto the reins as he tried to shout words to calm her down.
"Be still, be still before you throw this one off!" He repeated until the horse was able to reduce to a shaky stand. He hopped off and gently patted and petted her head and mane.
"This one will have a look, please- be calm" His voice shook a little, but he was able to calm his friend. Lanmei then took the lantern and made his way deeper into the estate. A yellow glow shone over seas of red, and numerous nearly stripped bodies. Since the mansion was meant for the rich, Lanmei guessed that the culprits stole all of the rich clothing and embroidered silks. Under his mask, Lanmei's face was grim with an icy frown and gaze.
"Truly… too late." He said softly as he inspected the body of the mansion's owner closely.
The man's mane of hair twists displayed in a terrifying and cruel sight, and so very disrespectfully made to look as if he was someone who meant nothing. He didn't have much time until his ears picked up the sound of running, and before he knew it, something hard and metallic was thrown over his head as a voice screamed.
"YOU! YOU'RE BACK AREN'T YOU?!"
Lanmei wasn't very phased, and as soon as he turned his head, he was wrestled to the ground.
"YOU KILLED THEM! MY FAMILY!"
A dark man with long, braided hair and clothed in stained red and gold silks, with red-rimmed fiery emerald eyes that streamed twin rivers, was trying to beat him senseless- trying.
Lanmei was hardly affected, he only allowed the man to take out his anger until he was somewhat satisfied and came to a slow. The man's skin was that of bark, parts of him twinkling in gold. The man in red sat on top of his legs, continuing to sob and choke out slurred insults and complaints while Lanmei glanced to the side to see an expensive, golden teapot thrown and wedged in rusty mud. The man in blue gave out a sigh and looked up at the crying noble, "No, this one had come to stop those men. But he has arrived too late- he greatly apologizes."
The crying man shrugged, and fiery eyes aimed towards dark shaded ones.
"You… you've come to help?"
"Yes. Now please, if you'd remove yourself and point to wherever the culprits have escaped."
The noble looked at him for a long time with a very complicated and terrified expression.
"No, no, no, no. you lie! I wish you a hundred deaths, a thousand deaths! Die, die!" a decorated, glimmering fist lunged at Lanmei's face yet again, and yet again- did little damage.
"A lie, a lie! You wear a mask, you must have come for more! You've taken everything from me! My mother, my father- everyone! Everything! You lie!"
Another string of sad, pathetic punches hit Lanmei repeatedly, along with wailing that could rival a small bird in the clutches of a predator. The man wailed, screamed, and bawled above him. The twin rivers became salty oceans of deep sadness.
"If you've truly come to help, you would have arrived sooner! Sooner! We could do nothing against them!"
A chord was struck. Blueberry eyes became discs.
"Ah… yes… this one- truly, truly- is so very sorry." Was all Lanmei's stone voice could choke out. He knew he was in the wrong, and knew he couldn't reverse it.
The man in red glared at him, his face swampy and mile-long curly hair stuck to his wet cheeks. Soft features held a sharp, piercing gaze that was stuck in fight mode. It was safe to say that he was very much not convinced. He huffed and panted heavily, clearly wanting to say more but hadn't had enough mentally organization for it. Lanmei frowned deeply underneath his mask and gently bit his lip and dropped the facade.
"This one… I… am truly sorry. I promise you that I will get revenge. I will do so and not ask forgiveness. They will die by my hand, I swear of it."
Now, Lanmei spoke with the hint of a strange accent. The noble above him seemed to have a switch go off in his brain, and stood silently and still for a while. He then sniffled and slowly removed himself before standing on wobbling legs. Lanmei stood and dusted off his robes, then turned to the man in red. He choked on another sob as a shaky hand liftend and pointed down a dark path.
Blue eyes followed the dirt road ahead of him. "...And how long has it been… since the incident?"
Caomei, still shaking violently from a mix of fear and anger, met blue with his blood-shot green and replied, "Just… Just a few hours."
The cultivator watched him for an awkward moment.
"This one thanks you." Lanmei bowed before mounting his steed once again and galloped down the path. Eventually, the two found themselves at the opening of two more paths and had to come to a stop. Lanmei contemplated for a while about weather to take the left or the right, when he heard a hoarse voice yelling-
"Wait! Wa-wait for.. For me!"
The man in red seemed to be running after the two and once finally caught up, he held his legs as he huffed heavily.
"What is it?" Lanmei looked at him with his usual aloof face.
"I can't… I can't survive… on my own! My… My servants and family always spoiled me! I Cannot cook, nor clean or care for myself! Please allow me to join you!" The man yelled before dropping to his knees and bowed before the cultivator. He sat and clapped, then bowed multiple times as if he were praying to a god.
"Please, oh please! I have no one! Please oh please oh please!"
He's done a complete 180 Lanmei thought as he watched the pathetic display. Eventually he found himself feeling bad for him.
"...What is his esteemed one's name."
The crimson-robed man exclaimed and bowed one last time, "Hua Caomei! My name is Hua Caomei!"
Lanmei thought a bit and nodded.
"Lanmei," he replied. "And Branch" he patted Branch's head. "Noble Caomei, the path ahead is extremely dangerous. This one suggests that his noble self either stay home, or find someplace else. He would only drag Branch and this one down. Not wanting to come off as rude- But this one can tell that his noble self will not be able to survive in the face of real danger."
Caomei glared at him with wild eyes, green fire burning on his starry face.
"I lived once! I've lived twice! I will again! Please, I have nothing! They took it all! If you've come to help, you must help! I will kowtow a hundred times, a thousand times, many many times!" And he did.
"I am the only one left, me! And while I can't do much, I can try! If I don't, and if I don't find out why they did such a thing, then my family has died in vain! I've only lived a good life because of them!" Caomei screamed, his voice like a quaking mountain that just won't topple. Lanmei groaned deeply, gaze drifting to the road ahead.
"...and if his noble self gets killed on the way? And if this one cannot protect him?" Lanmei cautioned.
"Then so be it! My family will watch over me, and know that I at least tried!" His forehead hit the ground in front of him so many times that the jewels he wore threatened to crack.
"...Branch, what is your say?" Lanmei patted her head and received a winnie in response, followed by a huff and a shake of the head.
"...Fine. Noble Caomei may come. As long as he does not get in the way." Lanmei sighed.
"Ah ah ah, a hundred thanks! A thousand thanks! Many many thanks!" Caomei finally rose to his feet again and patted himself off.
"Get on." Lanmei turned towards the dirt road again and adjusted his seating to allow a little extra room.
"Yes, yes, of course of course." Caomei lifted his arms high and grabbed around the back of the noble steed. Holding on tight, he jumped a few times.
"Much thanks, much thanks indeed-" He strained, jumping for a tenth time and nothing happening.
After watching yet another pathetic display, Lanmei raised an eyebrow and watched. This scene reminded him of a king watching as a poor jester bores him to near death.
"...Does… The noble sir require help?" Lanmei asked.
"Ah, ah ah… um… yes" Caomei looked up at him with teary eyes and a reddened, embarrassed face.
After a while of awkward fumbling around, both men had been seated. The very patient horse was sure to receive a great reward for dinner and she wiggled her head proudly.
"Good, good! Now what Must I…" Caomei began, but was quickly cut off by a loud winnie and immediate galloping from the white horse. Lanmei paid no attention, only holding the reins and gently squeezing his legs around the horse's sides. He was so focused on making up for lost time, that the lung-crushing feeling of a python squeezing him to death while screaming like a yowling cat, definitely was a surprise. Caomei's arms were locked, shaking around Lanmei's waist and he yelled, "Lanmei! Lanmei! Too fast! Much too fast! I'll die like this! I'll fall! I'll break a leg! Wahhh!"
Lanmei would have given a sigh if he could breathe, but just signaled Branch to run faster. What has this one gotten himself into now…
After a few incense time had passed, the bloody screaming became obnoxious snoring. The python-grip was now much looser and Lanmei thanked every wind god for allowing his lungs to prosper. Branch had been trotting down the long, dark path now while Lanmei squinted to see if there were any clues on the enemy's whereabouts.
They couldn't have gotten that far, could they? The bodies were all somewhat fresh, and their blood was still warm. Though… These are masters of stealth afterall. What are we to do…
A particularly loud snore broke his train of thought, reminding Lanmei of the sleeping man behind him. He turned his head back to look at the drooling face and humphed.
"Perhaps it is time that this group rests. Tomorrow will be a long day indeed."
Lanmei led Branch off of the dirt road and into a private clearing, then blew out the lantern in his left hand. Without thinking, Lanmei easily hopped off of Branch's back and patted himself off as he heard the sound a sack of potatoes would make once dropped from high up. Following the potatoes, was a- "ACK!"
Lanmei turned to Caomei on the ground, who was holding his head and stomach tightly while he rolled back and forth.
"Ow! Ow!! I am broken! I am so very broken! Like glass! Glass, I say! Shattered!"
"...oops."
Lanmei turned back and grabbed the gear from Branch's back before unfurling it on the ground. There were folded cloths of food, a blanket, and a few other simple supplies laid out in front of him. He sat down and grabbed a folded cloth, carefully unwrapping and revealing a good, round apple. Lanmei reached his hand out blindly while his other grabbed the blanket. His extended arm stayed that way until he felt large, eager lips flapping against his palm, and leaving. He lowered his hand as he stared at the blanket, then at Caomei who had finally gotten up after throwing his tantrum. Caomei patted himself off with tears in his eyes, which for once, wasn't glued to the man in blue. Lanmei sighed, rising to his feet and finding a good spot by a tree. He laid the blanket out, folded the top to form something of a pillow and turned back to Caomei.
"Here is a bed. The noble one may sleep."
"Huh?" The crimson one perked up immediately. "Me? But what about you?" his eyes trailed towards the 'bed.'
"This one needs not your concern." Lanmei walked over to Branch, removed her gear and set it neatly at the base of a tree. She shook her majestic body and nudged his hand, then lay herself on the ground. Lanmei followed after, sitting beside her and laying on her warm, furry side.
"Ah, ah ah! But Lanmei! Won't you ache in the morning? Won't your back be sore? Won't Lanmei be fragile by sunrise? Ah, Lanmei! You mustn't give your only bedding to this noble one!"
Lanmei closed his eyes. "How is it that his noble self has such long speech, and yet says so little." He crossed his arms and settled down.
"But Lanmei…"
"Hush."
Caomei stared at him sadly, sighed deeply and set up the blanket. Slowly, he lay on top of it while holding his legs close and shivering. After a long time he finally fell asleep.
Just as the glowing sun broke through the horizon, painting a soft pink blanket over the lands, a wide-awake Lanmei had been preparing for the day. He readied Branch to continue their journey and patted her head gently as a smile tugged on his lips. Then, as he had just remembered, his gaze shifted over to the still-sleeping noble. In the sunlight, he could fully see what the man really looked like. Caomei's skin was darker than his, dark like warm soil in the golden sun. His hair long and almost-black, that sparkled with jingly gold weaved into braids, and his expensive golden and ruby-encrusted hairpin to match. His red and gold ceremonial robes moved with his breath, causing the exquisite embroidered scenes of islands and flowers to move- the waves almost realistic. Lanmei shook his head slightly, remembering how rude it was to stare, yet noticed something.
Caomei continued to shiver and hug himself in his sleep, his face scrunched in what looked to be agony, brows knitted tightly together. His breath was heavy and uneven as he mumbled and lazily slurred indiscernible words, the cold sweat on his forehead sticking his mile-long bedazzled braids to him like sticky amber. Lanmei watched expressionlessly, yet with deep understanding. After grabbing his sword while making his way over, he pointed it at the sleeping man and tapped him a few times with his hilt.
Tap tap.
…
…Tap, tap, tap.
…
…Tippity tap tap tap.
"Ah, ah-" Caomei yawned and stretched his body, each bone cracking loudly.
"Come now, mother, just a moment long-" Green eyes opened and blinked a few times at the sword in front of his face. A deathly loud screech erupted from deep within, a shriek that only rivals the loudest and fiercest of birds. A sound that could pierce iron, a vocal frequency that only the most well-trained wolf could hear. Lanmei was sure that a thousand glasses from a country on the opposite side of the earth could have shattered in that moment.
"AHHH! LANMEI! LANMEI! DO NOT KILL ME! PLEASE! PLEASE OH PLEASE! PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE!! DO NOT END THIS NOBLE ONE'S LIFE! PLEASE OH PLEASE!"
Caomei screamed.
Caomei shrieked.
Caomei erupted.
Caomei got into a praying position yet again and clapped and bowed, bowed and clapped. Cupped his hands, kowtowed. The jewels on his forehead gave a slight clink sound every time they touched the ground. This clink played so beautifully and methodically, that he himself could have passed as an instrument.
Lanmei watched this pathetic display and while his face remained without expression, he could feel himself gain an extra ten-to-twenty years worth of aging. He had only just woken up a bit ago, but felt as if he hadn't slept in weeks. His eyes stung with exhaustion and his brain felt akin to a badly baked and severely burnt lumpy pie.
After regaining enough strength to escape this horror, he quickly cleaned up and put away the rest of his things. When Caomei finally finished his screaming and crying, he sat up and blinked. He scanned the sky and horizon slowly, and blinked again.
"It is very early, Lanmei, why wake me at such a time? The sun has barely awoken itself"
Lanmei ignored him, hopping onto Branch and grabbing hold of the reins. Quickly, the two set off.
"Wa… Wait! WAIT! LANMEI! LANMEI!!" Caomei quickly scrambled onto his legs and ran after the duo.
The sky slowly became a soft blue, beautiful clouds scattered about as Lanmei and Branch trotted down the dirt path alongside the village people on their way to work. He enjoyed the calm- breathing in the fresh, morning air deeply. A flowery and fruity smell wafted through the air, filling his lungs with sweetness. The two soon arrived at a stall decorated with baskets upon baskets of vegetables and fruits. He looked down at the vendor still setting up and inhaled deeply.
"Good day. Has this cultivator arrived too early?"
"Ahh! No! You are just fine, yes yes! As they say, the early ones get the best catch!" Beamed the woman.
"Good. This one will buy the basket of blueberries then."
"Ah, yes ye-" she froze. "All of them?" She blinked at him.
"Yes."
As the vendor scrambled over her words, Lanmei dug out his money pouch and counted out a few coins. He tossed them onto the table while looking at her patiently for a reply. The vendor's eyes were wide as she counted out the pieces and tested each one.
"Yes, yes- this is just fine! Thank you, good sir!" She grabbed a clean cloth and carefully wrapped the many blueberries.
"Will this sir be able to carry them all though?"
"...No, that one will carry it."
The vendor raised an eyebrow as she looked in the direction he had gestured and saw a beautiful man, covered in rich silk, sweat, gold jewels, and a rats-nest of hair laying face down in the dirt. She was speechless.
Caomei panted heavily as he raised his sweaty, dirt-covered face.
"H-Huh?! Me?!"
"Yes."
Lanmei signaled for Branch to continue, and she did.
Once Caomei rose to his feet again, dusted himself off and, with much struggle, picked up the cloth of fruit, he began walking after the two. He sighed deeply, a frown frozen on his lips and icy face. All of the thoughts going through his head were complicated, confusing and scary. As a man raised amongst relaxed atmospheres, never-ending riches and a loving, healthy family, he had never felt the way he does now. He dragged along the heavy bag as his mind flickered between forced silence and the replay of yesterday's events. The faces of his loved ones slashed open, meat spilling out. Wet chunks of red and squishy tissue. Crimson sprayed, white roses turning red. The pungent smell of iron, the blood-curdling screams one should only hear in a play. There were over a hundred little peaceful butterflies, over a hundred little honey-bees, all minding their business and causing no harm. All exterminated in the worst ways possible. Salty wetness began to sting Caomei's reddening eyes. The gates' leaking then worsened, drops becoming floods upon floods. He hicked and sobbed silently, for who was there to now listen to his cries? The bag behind him dragged along, loosely gripped by his weak arm while his other wiped fruitlessly at his leaking face. He sniffled a few times, swiped his face a few more, and looked ahead through wet, glassy green eyes. Lanmei had walked so far ahead that he wasn't in sight anymore. Figures. With another sigh, Caomei continued to follow the hoof prints as he had done before.
While his eyes were glued to the path, his untrained ears completely missed the sounds slowly coming towards him.
Crunch crunch,
Crunch crunch.
Before Caomei could even spare a look, he was tackled into a dark corner of the village.
"A-Ah! Ah ah ah!" He tried to yell before being quickly shut up, a cloth wrapping around his head and being tied tightly. His vision swirled and blurred, turned and spun. Then- everything went black.
"You! You must be a rich dog huh?! Quite the pretty red collar, huh?! You just be drippin' in sparkles n' glitter huh?!"
The man holding him down held a small yet sharp blade to Caomei's throat, threatening to break skin. Emerald eyes were wide with fear while his body was frozen.
"Mmph!" He couldn't call for help and the hyperventilating through his nostrils was no help either.
"Ah shut it! Yer just askin' for it, dressin' round like that! Now, take off all that, yeah?! The fancy robes 'n all! With all those crazy patterns!" The man barked, pressing the blade harder against pure skin.
With a thin line of blood drawn into his neck, Caomei's mind ran wild with more and more events from the night before. He had a thousand ideas of escape, yet his body could only lay still. His decorated fingers twitched and his legs felt numb.
"Ay! You heard me, didn't you?! Come on! Quick or you'll die! I'll kill you dead, yes I will!"
Caomei's head was full of smoke which drained through his eyes. He sobbed again and closed them tightly. He inhaled a deep breath and gathered all his thoughts into a pile. He exhaled a long breath, clearing them all away. The barking blurred, the sharp pain was now faint, and his mind floated away from his skin. Just then, the feeling of lightning surged through all of his limbs at once. His heartbeat sped faster than the mightiest steed as one of his hands darted down his other sleeve to grab- a scream sounded from above him. The watery silence broke immediately. He ripped off the blindfold as soon as he could and his eyes darted open to find the man above him now covering his hand and screaming in pain. Iron red poured from the wound in his palm. Caomei watched in horror and confusion. His gaze shifted to the blade now on the ground, realizing how he had missed the clang it would have made. Before he could piece anything together, he heard a whoosh, squish, and another scream. Something had flown at the speed of sound and shot into the aggressor's chest. He shook as his eyes quickly traced where that object had come from, only to find a masked blue silhouette atop a mighty white steed. Dark brown hair flew in the wind, pinned in place by a branch of some kind of bush. Lanmei tossed up a few small, round blueberries with one hand, and a blue sword glare flashed from the other. Those small and squishy berries became deadly bullets in just those two swift moments and once again lodged deeply into the aggressor's skin. He continued to scream in pain and finally scrambled off of Caomei, and ran as fast as his legs could possibly take him.
Lanmei watched for a little before his pure white sword slid back into its branch-covered sheath with a sharp shink.
Caomei was in shock. He's never witnessed anything like this display before, and while he held deep gratitude, his fear had never dissipated. Lanmei looked at him with an expressionless face, then turned his back to him.
"Stay closer. This is common." He said quietly.
Caomei's mouth opened and closed like a fish, his eyes wide with emotion. For once in his life, he was speechless. He could only nod and gather his strength to return to his feet once again.
"...Is his noble self alright?"
Caomei nodded.
"...Does his noble self require medical aid?"
Caomei felt his neck, and shook his head.
"Is the bag too heavy for his noble self?"
Caomei once again shook his head.
"All is well then." The three continued on their way.
Silence had long fallen over the two like a blanket of snow. Blue eyes glanced towards a being dripping in exquisiteness every now and then.
This one is like a small god. One of which is prosperous. One who was born in a golden bed, and one who has played with golden toys. But gold never lasts forever, as the richer one is, the more there is to have stolen away.
Lanmei's face was grim, he understood how it felt to lose something close to him. Something that had even fueled his burning heart once upon a time. Something he had only known in dreams.
"...His noble self should rid of unnecessary items."
Caomei stayed silent.
"...His noble self will continue to be targeted by thieves when this cultivator is not around."
Caomei stayed silent. The cultivator's stomached and throat knotted, a deep awkwardness now filling his gut. He had never been the best at comforting others. The rest of the day continued to be full of awkward silence.
Once a star-scattered night had hung over the sky, their little camp had been set up once again. Caomei had seemed to be in somewhat higher spirits while eating his dinner with much refinement.
"...Thank you" He murmured, the first words he's spoken in hours- which was surprising, coming from him.
"His noble self is welcome." Lanmei masked his relief as he and Branch ate their dinner.
"That man earlier… He must be one of those Northern scum." Caomei glared at his bowl of rice and vegetables, shoveling good chunks into his mouth.
Lanmei halted for a moment, pursed his lips and continued to eat. He hasn't spent much time around others in a long time, and was very much satisfied with that for this very reason. A quiet sigh escaped Lanmei's lips before he finished his food. Branch whinnied at Caomei's statement, irritatedly pawing at the ground while shaking her tail and wiggling her ears in disapproval.
"Huh? What, is she offended?" Caomei tilted his head.
"Mn, she is from the North." Lanmei replied while getting himself comfortable.
"Ah, ah ah, a hundred apologies, fair steed! You are exempt, you are exempt! A mighty steed does not count. No, no no, she is beyond any other Northerner." Caomei finished his food, yawned and stretched. Branch wasn't made any happier by Caomei's words and only huffed, ears pinned back.
"Now, Branch. Be calm," Lanmei patted her spotted flank "be calm."
After putting their bowls and utensils away, the noble got himself comfortable in the blanket and lay back to stare up at the stars.
"Ah… and Lanmei- um…" The red-clothed man began, tripping on his words. "Uh, um… What else do you know about those terrible people? Why did they attack my family?"
Lanmei's gaze fell to the ground.
"They are looking for something. A relic from the last great war. It's a part of an amulet, and a key to a hidden bunker." Lanmei's brow furrowed as he spoke with a great distaste.
"Ah, I see. Does it happen to be the Vulture's War Amulet? I thought it had disappeared completely from this world"
"Yes, that is it. And no, it very much exists and has exchanged filthy hands time and time again. The more hands that have touched it, the filthier it becomes." Lanmei bared his teeth at no one, anger tinting his voice.
"I see… How unfortunate. My family has no such thing, and they truly have died for nothing."
Caomei's face was also painted with disgust.
After a moment of silence, Lanmei started again.
"This cultivator truly apologizes for not being there on time to aid his noble self."
Caomei listened intently, face dropping. His freckled cheeks stung in the cold night air as his body shivered with painful memories. Despite himself, he let out a long yawn.
"...And how much longer will it be until we run into them again?" Caomei glanced at the man beside him.
"We were too late. They could be anywhere by now, with the demonic powers they possessed." Lanmei groaned.
"We will need a new plan…" He lay back, looking towards the stars.
Caomei groaned while getting himself more comfortable as he, too, stared up at the bright stars.
"By the way, what was noble Caomei reaching for earlier? When that man tried to mug him?"
"Huh? Reached for something? I don't remember doing that- my memory is much too blurry."
"...Ah… I see…" Lanmei wasn't quite sure he believed him, but decided not to press further for now. It wasn't too long until the grip of sleep overwhelmed them.
When Lanmei opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange valley. The land was shrouded in dense fog, and what he could see was oddly distorted. This location was strangely familiar, yet not at the same time. He carefully walked ahead as if his feet were possessed. He walked and walked, his blue robs flowing like water behind him. It is so tranquil here, so very peaceful.
He inhaled deeply, enjoying the sweet quietness that surrounded him. He continued to walk down the hazy path before him, and suddenly his foot landed on something hard and brittle. A loud crack sounded underneath his boot. Startled, Lanmei quickly looked downwards, the fog quickly dissipating. A pile of bones lay before him, all coated in strawberry red liquid. Blue sapphire eyes went wide as his throat tightened. He's seen many deaths before, but this skeleton in particular struck a nerve that Lanmei forgot he had. He couldn't scream, but the sound of a blood curdling shriek erupted and echoed through the area. He lost his balance from a second sudden shock, and his neck nearly snapped with how fast he turned his attention upwards. A man stood on his knees high above on the top of a nearby cliff, his face blurred from sight. Lanmei couldn't tell if the shriek came from the man above. Though either way, he was struck with so much fear and strange emotions that he had subconsciously taken a step backwards, tripping and falling over a bone. He hit the ground with a blunt thud as his eyesight spun. Lanmei shook his head, trying to regain his composure. Once he had regained himself, he looked at the blood-covered skull that lay hardly inches from his face. Lanmei gasped sharply and deeply, aggressively pushing the skull away-
"Ah, ah ah! Hey hey hey!" Caomei yelled. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Stop pushing, stop pushing!"
Lanmei blinked wildly, turning his head and taking in all he could. The sun had risen, the clouds were white cotton, the grass gleaming with a yellowy brightness. Caomei had been quite close next to him, but at this point was already kowtowing, clapping and banging his head.
"Ah, ah, ah, I really am sorry! I was so cold, so very cold! I only wanted some of your warmth, a hundred apologies! A thousand apologies! Many, many apologies!"
Lanmei calmed his startled heart and sighed, "shameless noble."
The blue-cladd cultivator stood up and quietly began stretching, a complicated expression on his face. The dream he had was one that frequently occurred, more so now than ever before.
Perhaps this one should find a Dream Teller.
While his mind had still been busy, there was the sound of a deep, low growl. Lanmei immediately snapped back to reality, his wrist elegantly snapping and brandishing his sword that lay at his hip, even during rest.
"AHHHH!!!" Caomei screamed, still with his head to the ground. "DO NOT KILL ME! MY STOMACH- IT IS EMPTY! PLEASE!"
Lanmei looked down at the man in red- and for the first time in a while, his face painted quite the extreme emotion. All of it's features contorted in fiery disgust. They were so deeply ingrained that they even shone through the mask he wore- blue eyes nearly turning red as they seared into the crying, wailing man.
"AHHH! SUCH A SCARY FACE! AHHHH!" Caomei cried, bashed his head down and up, up and down, so hard that he bled. So hard that he may develop a concussion. So hard that Lanmei thought his skull might crack. This thought slightly pleased him. Lanmei inhaled deeply, forcing himself to still his face.
"Shut up. There is food in the bag. You carried it last night." Lanmei growled through gritted teeth.
"Ah ah ah, right right! I had forgotten! thank you thank you! That wasn't so hard, was it? You needn't be so dramatic Lanmei… So rude… So very rude…" Caomei had practically teleported to where the food had been stored, and he acted as if he were a completely different person.
The day had barely begun, and Lanmei was already very exhausted. He watched Caomei pick and eat at the storage they had.
This one hates him already. This noble has zero redeeming qualities. And yet…
Caomei shoved a slice of pie into his mouth, chomping down happily. His face was a mess already, but he didn't care. His face was beaming, his eyes closed and his brows knitted. The feeling of food in his neglected body made him overjoyed. Lanmei watched the star-like freckles, the dark, deep brown hair cascade over his shoulders. Yes, there was definitely something about him.
The three went on like this for the next few days, hardly getting along and barely getting used to each other's company. During this time, they had also been searching for clues on the whereabouts of the mysterious attackers- to no avail, until…
Branch strode down a gravel path through a black flower field secluded by trees, her gait confident. Lanmei was mounted atop her, patting her soft neck and Caomei complained behind him about his feet hurting, or being hungry, or something along those lines. Lanmei wasn't paying attention, and hardly cared at that moment.
All was almost-well, up until the three heard the sound of arguing up the path. Two loud voices yelling at one another. Both Lanmei and Branch perked up with curiosity, and it almost seemed like the two even shared a single mind when they rode the path. Caomei however, was startled by the sudden quickened pace and held tightly to the man in front of him, screaming.
Just when Lanmei could hardly stand the feeling of almost popping anymore, Branch's hooves skidded slightly as she came to a stop behind a large, yellow-painted wall of wood. Lanmei immediately made sure to cover Caomei's mouth before anything else. The noble made an unhappy noise that went uncared for while Branch and Lanmei's heads both peaked through a small opening in the wall.
The wooden wall surrounded an enormous home with high-end decor, clearly belonging to someone wealthy. The arguing however, was very much vulgar and very much disruptive to the atmosphere.
Before the home stood a man dripping in luxury clothing, twinkling with different jewels, and his hair was braided and long.
"I do not know what you speak of! I've already said this! What is your problem?! Leave me in peace, I have no such rare item!" He yelled at the men standing before him.
"Just step aside already or we'll kill ya dead!" Yelled another man. He wore a wide, dark bamboo hat and his body was plastered by tight black and white clothing, completely covering his skin. A veil hid the bottom half of his face, simple jewelry hung from his sash and his clothes were covered in embroideries of beige, brown grasses and a vicious looking bird sewn into his back. These details stood out quite a bit in a crowd of a hundred, a thousand- many, many crowds.
Especially to Caomei. Emerald colored eyes blown. Emerald eyes shook.
Veins popped and the usually doe-like, soft face of freckles became only comparable to a wild animal trapped in the limbo between fight and flight.
What felt like all seven of the seas washed over him in an instant, except the water was made of that nauseating smell of blood. He could hear screams, see blurred figures dancing in a tango of death. Thud after thud, slash after slash. The sound of things smashing and breaking all around him- his many expensive vases, figurines made of glass, ceramics he's made as a child, his home.
Lanmei watched the scene before him while devising a plan. There weren't many of them, he could definitely take them in a fight.
"Caomei," He whispered and turned his head to see the man. He hesitated to continue upon realizing the current condition he was in, and for the first time in a long time, softened his voice and invisible expression.
"...Caomei… This one will protect his noble self. Worry not."
Lanmei's efforts have unfortunately fallen onto deaf ears. Just as he hesitantly went to place a calloused hand on Caomei's shoulder in an attempt to console, Caomei finally chose his path. His arm dove inside one of his sleeves, and pulled out a large golden and red folding fan. His eyes were completely bloodshot as he opened the fan, which on the inside was embroidered with some short of blossom and had a strange glint in the materials it was cast from. Lanmei was already very confused, but even more so when Caomei climbed and jumped over the wall with ease.
Branch whinnied and backed away, and Lanmei could only call out in disbelief,
"Caomei?!"