Chapter 68: Azure Cloud (46)

Xie Xuanxiao tumbled down from the bed.

He was seriously injured and couldn’t use spiritual power now. His entire body ached softly. For a moment, he actually had difficulty getting up. His knees knocked against the ground with a heavy, muffled sound. Just supporting his own body seemed to exhaust all his strength, sweat soaking through his heavy clothes.

His fingers gripped the stone tile cracks as he crawled with difficulty. He looked at that closed opening, pupils trembling, casting aside his usual reserved elegance, urgently saying, “Xiao Xue! Zhang Duixue, please, don’t leave!”

A moment later, the stone tiles were pushed up again. Zhang Duixue was dusty and disheveled, with a pair of eyes looking at him through the gap. After a long while, the young man sighed helplessly and in the end still climbed up from underground, squatting in front of Xie Xuanxiao. A pair of dust-covered hands reached over wanting to wipe away the tears emerging from under those eyes, but after extending, they froze in midair, then turned aside to the bathing barrel to wash his hands. By the time he finished cleaning them, Xie Xuanxiao had already sat up straight by himself. The vulnerability and collapse that had flashed across his face just now seemed like an illusion, as that face returned to its former noble pride.

“You came to see me.”

“…Mm.”

This past year had been too busy. Zhang Duixue suddenly realized he actually hadn’t observed him much lately. Examining him suddenly, there was actually an indescribable sense of unfamiliarity.

In childhood he had been a servant, later he was a “beloved pet.” Toward Xie Xuanxiao, he had always followed behind looking up, watching the other’s back block in front of him, sheltering him from wind and rain.

Their positions had always been disparate. He was doted on, yet still needed to endure, yield, speculate on every thought when Xie Xuanxiao frowned, then make corrections accordingly.

But at some unknown point, he seemed not to have followed behind Xie Xuanxiao or lain on Xie Xuanxiao’s lap for a long time. Now he could even calmly look at the other, directly meet those eyes, seeing himself disheveled within them.

Darker, thinner, hair neither long nor short, uneven, stuck to his face—not pretty at all.

He smiled, revealing a mouthful of small white teeth.

“Young Palace Master, I came to see you.” Zhang Duixue supported Xie Xuanxiao’s arm, pulling him up from the ground and moving him back onto the bed. “You’re still injured, don’t move carelessly.”

“Young Palace Master,” Zhang Duixue looked at the cold sweat on his forehead, concerned, “how do you feel?”

Seeing him stare silently, Zhang Duixue couldn’t figure it out. Unable to think it through, he temporarily stopped trying, turning instead to look at Xie Xuanxiao’s knees. Just that fall on the ground had immediately knocked out a bruise, looking rather frightening.

Instinctively finding medicine to apply for him, Zhang Duixue sat beside him pressing on the injury in silent stillness. Neither spoke, the atmosphere extremely awkward for a time.

Just as he was hesitating about how to communicate with Xie Xuanxiao, his wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. Xie Xuanxiao’s fingertips were cold as ice, freezing enough to make one shiver, yet his voice was unusually gentle, soft like a spring day’s dream. “Xiao Xue, the day after tomorrow I must return to the sect. Will you stay at the academy, or return together with me?”

“The day after tomorrow? So soon?” Zhang Duixue startled, thinking of what He Tinglong had just said. His fingers curled as his eyes also dimmed.

He didn’t have an exquisitely perceptive mind, and there were many things he didn’t understand. But speaking from the heart, just as Yue Qianxun said, he couldn’t let go of the Young Palace Master. Xie Xuanxiao was good-looking, gentle, considerate, very good to him—just occasionally there was some indescribable autocracy. Apart from his overly strong desire for control, as a partner he was already very, very good. Yet even with such a very, very good person, he still felt it wasn’t enough.

They say one judges by actions not intentions. Xie Xuanxiao had done everything he could do, but… but he just happened to covet that heart. What he wanted had always been a genuine heart without the slightest impurity.

“Return with me.” Xie Xuanxiao caressed the young man’s gradually opening brows and eyes, his gaze revealing an obsession he himself hadn’t detected. “I’m about to have my coming-of-age ceremony. When I return to the sect, I’ll petition father, proclaim to the world, take you as my wife. For the next hundred years, thousand years, ten thousand years, you and I will be one in marriage, loving and inseparable. How about it?”

A strand of long hair slipped from his shoulder. Zhang Duixue’s sharp eyes discovered Xie Xuanxiao actually had a white hair at his temples. The lover who already had the outline of a young man looked at him, his eyes bottomlessly gentle, gentle to the point of almost pleading.

Zhang Duixue’s eyes reddened. He slowly lowered his head, gripping Xie Xuanxiao’s lapels, voice trembling. “Xie Xuanxiao, I love you, like you, can’t bear to part with you…”

“So let’s separate.” Zhang Duixue whispered. “I don’t want to return to Origin Star Palace. I want to stay at Azure Clouds Academy. I want to learn the sword. I want to enter the Immortal Alliance. I want to slay demons and evil, protect the nine provinces.”

“I don’t want to marry.” Zhang Duixue pushed away from Xie Xuanxiao’s embrace, looking at the constricting pupils of the person before him, softly asking, “Young Palace Master, do you like this face of mine, or me as a person?”

Xie Xuanxiao opened his mouth about to answer, but staring at those eyes, the remaining words just couldn’t come out.

The incense in the room burned to the bottom. Zhang Duixue tucked Xie Xuanxiao in well. He clapped his hands, saying lightly, “Young Palace Master, you’re still so young—what the hell marriage! Enjoy yourself freely for a few more years. If later on… if later on you see your own heart clearly, you can still change your mind.”

“Otherwise, if you marry me, this petty person is most jealous, petty and narrow-minded, can’t tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes. If you look at other fairy maidens or beauties even once more, I’ll die of anger, definitely fighting with you every few days, scratching up your face.” Zhang Duixue retreated two or three steps, lifting that stone tile. He seemed to have suddenly figured out too much, waving his hand as he retreated back into the hole. “Young Palace Master, you already have white hair now. Later on, be careful I don’t make you into a little old man early. When that time comes and your looks fade and love cools, I won’t like you anymore.”

“Three years then. Three years later at the Nine Luminaries Competition—if at that time I still like you and you still like me, then we’ll rekindle our old romance. How about it?”

Xie Xuanxiao gripped the blanket, knuckles white, veins exposed, even biting his lips bloody. He watched Zhang Duixue crawl away like a mouse, but in the end still didn’t make a single sound.

The room returned to silence. He raised his hand, pointing at that incompletely sealed gap, voice trembling. “Go, go grab him, bind him, whatever works—take him along the day after tomorrow.”

In the shadows of the room, black figures moved. But just as they were about to leave, they heard another low shout from the young man behind the heavy curtains. “Never mind.”

As if speaking to them, yet also as if talking to himself. “Let him go… three years, just three years. Perhaps I’ll have forgotten him by then.”

He Tinglong had angered Elder Lu to the point of fainting at the entrance. The commotion here was too great, finally drawing over Qin Tan. Sword Master Guili expressed serious criticism and education regarding He Tinglong’s insufficient respect for his elders, then led the little rascal away.

Qin Tan grabbed one in each hand, striding with great steps. He was tall with long legs, one step practically worth two others’. He Tinglong’s back collar was lifted, forcing him to jog. Beside him, Yue Qianxun was the shortest to begin with and currently weak in body. Unable to keep up running, he flailed twice then gave up struggling, kicked both legs, and let Qin Tan drag him along.

“How did you few get out?” Qin Tan asked, voice cold, as if interrogating criminals.

“I wanted to see how Yun Zhi was. After crying for a while, they let me out.” He Tinglong looked up, face pure innocence. “That immortal lord wore a veiled hat, couldn’t see his features clearly. From how he was addressed, he seems to be Dean Xu’s nephew.”

Qin Tan made an affirming sound. “If you were seeing Yun Zhi, why did you run to Langhuan Pavilion? Even getting lost wouldn’t take you that far off course, would it?”

“Of course just wandering around, getting some air…” He Tinglong chuckled. Qin Tan’s dark brows raised. “And you? Zhang Duixue—they came to get air, you came to dig holes?”

Zhang Duixue, who had been sneakily hiding in the corner, stiffened all over. A moment later he emerged from the shadows, head bowed in admission of fault. “Master Qin, this student was wrong.”

“Everyone else with damaged primordial spirits is lying in bed unable to move. I see you few are exceptionally different.” Qin Tan released his hands. “Since you have energy to run around wildly, then don’t waste that energy—join the patrols.”

Thus, the four who had come out for a break were incorporated into patrol teams, beginning bitter days of night watch duty.

Such a major incident had occurred at Azure Clouds Academy. Now surrounded tight as a barrel, the Hundred Herbs Pavilion was at full capacity, the medicine huts couldn’t accommodate more. Those with milder symptoms were all shut in their own rooms recuperating. Normally someone needed to deliver medicine at set times. With insufficient manpower now, whether guarding or running errands, He Tinglong carried a large food box in one hand, running back and forth, truly exhausted.

Two days later, Origin Star Palace sent people—a procession of over a hundred people, clustering around a wide white jade dragon carriage. Rolling up clouds and mist, they stopped at the entrance. Radiant light stretched ten thousand zhang, momentarily lighting Azure Clouds Academy’s main gate crimson red.

Jade pendants clinked, celestial music surrounded them. Dean Xu personally came out to see them off. Xie Xuanxiao wore a hooded cape, his entire face hidden under the brim. He could walk now, just moving slowly, but with straight back and waist, still looking quite imposing.

Only before boarding the carriage did he slowly turn his head. Most students at Azure Clouds Academy were currently confined. At this moment, apart from the masters who came to see him off and the Immortal Alliance officials, there was no one else.

Withdrawing his gaze, he bent to board the carriage and lowered the curtain.

Origin Star Palace had come this time to receive their Young Palace Master back to the sect, and also to vent for him. That demon clan could invade Azure Clouds Academy and injure so many people—Origin Star Palace naturally wouldn’t let this rest.

The carriage procession left, but another team remained behind—six people total, wearing Origin Star Palace’s orange-gold brocade robes. Golden light rolled along the robe edges, indescribably noble. Elder Lu welcomed them in as if welcoming emperors.

Zhang Duixue and He Tinglong hid behind the stone monument. Catching sight of that person, their expressions changed drastically, instantly crouching down as he cursed, “No way, why is this guy here!”

He Tinglong stroked his chin, gaze sweeping over the person in the lead, asking in a low voice, “Mortal enemy?”

“Not really.” Zhang Duixue said quietly, “He wants me dead, but I haven’t thought of killing him.”

He Tinglong understood. “Former rival in love then?”

“…No, he doesn’t like men. It’s just… he detests cut-sleeves, that’s all.” Zhang Duixue covered his face, adding, “Loathes them deeply.”