How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 30 - Ignoring

Stepping into his now usual peach blossom evening bath, in one of the hot springs the doctors had ordered for his recovery, it was as if his whole body sighed loudly and then started to purr. It had been almost two weeks since the attack and his body had fully recovered from the injuries – all injuries. These days it was for different reasons that his muscles were sore.

It had been over a week, eight days to be exact, since he had left Jianchan and for some reason he was restless. It certainly wasn't because he was wondering how Wen Ke Xing was recovering. And it definitely wasn't because Wen Ke Xing hadn't come to see him since he had woken up.

Zhou Xu would wake up every morning and head straight out to train. And this was absolutely not to keep him from walking up to Jianchan to check on the recovering Guzhu. It was obviously because he did not want to rely on Wen Ke Xing to protect him again. Though he didn't know exactly what, it was apparent that the water of Lethe had effected his memory and taken something from him. However, his body still had muscle memory of different martial arts.

He would walk out onto the courtyard, take a deep breath, empty his mind and let the movements flow from within. Only when he didn't think about anything, his muscles working as hard as they possibly could, was his mind calm.

Even though he couldn't see anyone but the guards, he was sure that he had started to draw a crowd. Ghosts hiding where they could observe and analyze him.

It was quite annoying, not only because he didn't like to be stared at, but he also thought they shouldn't be wasting time on him and instead helping out with the repairs. To be fair, he had agreed to the guards, it wasn't something that he could do anything about. The others? He guessed they could just watch. He knew that his martial arts is extraordinary and it may scare off a second attempt on his life. 

His new routine meant that he was usually spent by the time the evening came around, stepping into the hot pool on shaking legs. It was also why his previous morning bath had become an evening bath. He quite enjoyed the luxury of the hot springs that were available in a few of the pavilions, his included. He had no problem falling asleep, but the dreams would keep him restless throughout the night. Even waking up in an agitated state.

His mind always going back through the same things. Why had he not pushed Wen Ke Xing off that edge? Why bring him back here and then protect him for days? And that dreaded thought that he kept suppressing and ignoring, the one that made him train an extra hour after dark. Why hadn't he come to see me yet? Shouldn't he at least thank me for saving his life?

On the first day, Zhou Xu hadn't left his side for even a minute, not even sleeping. Watching everyone who came and went, always with the bayonet at his side. He was the one who changed all the bandages. It was also him that was the one who forced that vile looking medicine down Wen Ke Xing's throat, wiping his mouth if anything spilled or was coughed up.

When the doctors had, as agreed, come to examine his wounds, they had to examine him sitting on the bed next to Wen Ke Xing. He had slept on the floor next to the bed that first night.

On the second day, he had washed both of them in the spring connected to the Jianchan pavilion. Afterwards, applying the medicine on both himself and on Wen Ke Xing. Still not leaving his side, it wasn't until everyone had left the room that he would relax, sleeping with one eye open and the bayonet in his hand. He had slept on the bed that night, as far out on the edge that he could without risking falling off. His injuries had hurt too much to sleep on the floor.

On the third day, after the morning routine was completed, he had started wandering around the bed chamber. Snooping through all the shelves and chests, picking out scrolls and books to read. He had been surprised at the amount of books and the types of books that he had found. Some with bookmarks in them at specific sections and some books that looked almost worn out.

He had always had a talent for spying and usually he never felt the slightest guilt over it. This time around he had, for the first time, felt like he was intruding on something he really shouldn't and it made him uncomfortable. So instead of reading them by himself, he had started to read out loud to keep Wen Ke Xing company in his dreams. He had started with the ones that looked the most used, taking them back to read on the bed. Can you hear me in there?

Those books had kept him occupied until the fifth days, when Wen Ke Xing had started to wake up. At that point he had backed off behind the screens and kept to the outer edges of the bed chamber. It wasn't until he heard the man speak properly, conversing with Ah-Xiang, that he was sure he might be out of danger and had left for Hua Men.

Shaking his head in frustration, he submerge in the hot water, savoring the comforting feeling of being isolated. He would do this every night. He would stay under until his lungs would scream for air forcing him back to the surface and reality.

Breaking the surface, greedily gasping for air, he combs his fingers through the wet hair away from his face. Still with his eyes closed, he relaxes back against the hard stone edge of the bath, a smile forming on his lips.

"Do you admire me for my lovely form?" (1)

A low laughter emerges from somewhere in front of him, leaving prickles on his skin, flowing out in waves from the base of his neck. Luckily, he is hidden within the steam, embraced by the hot water.

"Ah-Xu, you know I admired your beauty." His cold skin heating up just from the thought of touching that soft milky skin that is hinting underneath the surface.

"So it's not these pearls that you are admiring?" Zhou Xu traces the long strand of white, shimmering pearls that are draped around his neck and flows down to hide under the water. He was still a bit unclear as to why he had taken one of the strands of the beads from hell. It wasn't like he had any good memories from them.

"They were made to be worn by you."

"I take it that you are feeling better since you have finally emerged from of your cave?" Why didn't you come see me sooner?

"Finally? Did you miss me? You could have come to see me if you wanted to know how I was." Why didn't you come back to check on me?

"I have been busy. I knew you would come once you had healed." You could at least thank me for saving your life.

"Busy? Showing off your martial arts?" You could at least thank me for saving your life.

"Have you been checking up on me?" Are you one of the people who has been watching from afar, hidden within the shadows?

"The servants won't stop talking about you. I think you have a harem of admirers." You don't need to know I have watched you train every day.

"I wouldn't mind a harem. Some of the maids are beautiful." I can't even remember what they look like. But for some reason I can remember what you look like when you sleep. When you eat. When you fuck. When you fight.

When Zhou Xu doesn't get a response, he opens his eyes and stares at the man dressed in a thin, silk burgundy red robe. His white belt is covered with intricate silver patterns that sparkles when he moves. He is standing at the far edge of the stone pool, his hair loosely tied in a looped ponytail with a silver crown around the base. An incredulous look on his face, as he watches behind storming black eyes.

Standing up, the water glistening as it drips from the pearls that are luminescent against his skin in the soft light from the candelabras. He never breaks eye contact. Slowly walking towards the steps, the water ripples around his waist.

"Wait."

ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞

Author's notes:

(1) 'Do you admire me for my lovely form?' is a quote from the poem 山鬼(Shan Gui) Mountain Ghost which is part of Jiu Ge, or Nine Songs, (Chinese: 九歌; pinyin: Jiǔ Gē; lit. 'Nine Songs') which is an ancient set of poems. This particular poem is about a man who lives by himself in the mountains and a woman who admires him from afar. Is our Zhou Xu flirting with Wen Ke Xing? (๑≧▽≦๑)

Fun fact: Nine Songs actually consist of eleven poems, not nine. (^▽^)