Dark Knight | WangXian Novel

16: Fragrance So Dear To His Heart

Lan Xichen looked back and forth among the two closest to his heart. Never had he been more... distraught. Torn.

"A-Yao, Wanyin, take your seats, please, no need to stand around–"

"Doesn't matter. I'm leaving now anyway."

"Wanyin?" Lan Xichen turned to him. "Why? Why all of a sudden? Come on, just a cup of tea..."

"He will share the tea with you, won't you, MENG Yao?" Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. Meng Yao. He was simply making Meng Yao's standing clear.

Meng Yao looked into Jiang Cheng's blazing eyes.

He may call you A-Yao for some accursed reason, but don't forget where you stand. That's who you are. Meng Yao.

And of course, the emphasis on the 'Meng' was to remind him what sort his mother was...

Meng Yao grinned wider and his dimples sank deeper, his own eyes conveying back a challenge.

Yes he calls me A-Yao. I dare you to prove he sees you just as dear.

Jiang Cheng gulped.

Lan Xichen didn't really know how the two of them were conveying whatever they were through such fiery eyes but he did know he had to stop this before...

"I'm going. I've got work to do. A-Xian's gone, I'm in charge of the disciples now. Can't waste time loitering with..." he smirked. "Random bastards." Gripping Sandu tighter, but delightful that he had successfully beaten Meng Yao's hidden evil with nothing but the sharpest sass, he flipped his fringe away from his face and marched out of the inn.

"Wanyin..." Xichen swallowed hard, watching him leave.

"Er-Ge, shall we go to the Unclean Realm? Or do you want to have a drink before that?"

Lan Xichen silently walked out of the inn.

"Er-Ge? Er-GE!" Meng Yao caught up with him. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing, A-Yao," Lan Xichen shook his head, smiling quickly and walking with him towards the Unclean Realm. 

**********

"Jiang-xiong! Jiang-xiong!"

"Nie-xiong?" Jiang Cheng spun around to see Nie Huaisang running to him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Meng Yao just left my training to get Er-Ge and I felt bored so here I am! I met Er-Ge on the way, told him I was going out."

"Don't talk to me about that bastard," Jiang Cheng clenched his sword and walked faster.

Nie Huaisang scurried to catch up. "Jiang-xiong, since when is Er-Ge a bastard to you?"

Though Jiang Cheng wasn't sure exactly which of the two he really meant anymore, he corrected Huaisang. "I meant that blasted Yao."

"Oh, I see. San-Ge's good, really. Just... I don't know... something queer about him. But never mind, I won't talk if you don't want me to."

"Well? Whatcha doing here?"

"You know you said you're going to help Wei-xiong with the night hunt? I thought I'll join you!"

"Great!" Jiang Cheng nodded. "Then let's get going."

"Sure!" 

**********

Wei Wuxian sauntered through the woods, searching for the said living corpses. He had caught scent of a terrible stench and so he began walking in the direction of the odour. Coming to clearing that reeked of corpse poisoning, he smirked and looked around. "Right. They'll have to pass through here to get to the village. The village nearby is just a few hundred metres to the left. Which means..." he pointed Chenqing to the right of the clearing. "They'll come from here." He delved into his sleeves and brought out a cloth he had brought along and tied it around his face, covering his nose and mouth in a makeshift mask. Fishing out ten talisman sheets and gripping them between two fingers, he steadied himself, ready for the incoming onslaught.