Temple of Truth

Chapter 48

"It's not really a good fit for a tomb guardian." Wu Xi mumbled while staring at the animal.

"You would want territorial animals as guardians, some who defend the whole of the tomb and even parts of the vicinity. With them protecting only their nest." Wu Xi shook his head absentmindedly. "That would only workout if their nest would be the core of the temple, -" he slightly slanted his head and looked at the ant as if he had gained a totally new perspective while looking at it. " – and even then, it doesn't have a lethal sting."

"It's probably only usable as a scare at most. Tomb robbers are able to accept and endure a lot of pain, if the treasure were right before them." Nodding his own thoughts off, Wu Xi stopped mumbling.

"The ants here are probably just a coincidence, but we should still be careful underground. There is the possibility that they or a mutated version of them are tomb guardians. So lets just watch our step, and take vinegar with us."

After finishing his talk, was the first time, that Wu Xi turned away from the ant again. Making him come almost face to face with Zhang who had observed Wu Xi closely while he had his eyes on the ant.

He hadn't expected to so suddenly stare directly into Zhangs eyes. The almost completely obsidian eyes that didn't move in any way away from him while he was frozen in surprise.

Wu Xi could almost count every eyelash as close as he was, and he could clearly hear his own heart beating in his chest. Thumping with shock and surprise.

The very next moment he already caught himself scurrying away, crawling backwards a few staps.

Stammering while Zhang remained quiet staring back at him.

"Sorry, - I."

"I didn't notice I, - "

"I didn't know I was so close. I didn't want to invade – or something."

Wu Xi could feel himself blushing already. Had he just really been only a breath away from Zhangs face? He quickly let his head drop, now looking at his own hand – moving through the dirt, playing with it to keep his mind occupied. To keep it from wandering.

If he had only been a little bit closer, they wouldn't have only stared at each other, up close – really close. A bit closer and Wu Xis not very thought-out sudden movement would have made them kiss.

Damn, not kiss – Wu Xi told himself. Knowing him, the more likely outcome would have been a way more painful way of heads meeting. He probably would have crashed their heads together and wailed in pain after wards. – Even hurting Zhang in the process.

His live could never be one of those story moments with a sudden unexpected kiss, flower petals raining down and romantic music coming out of nowhere.

No, this was reality and he had to be happy that his absent mindedness had neither hurt Zhang nor him physically.

"I'm Sorry" Wu Xi apologised once again. "I know you don't like people getting too close to you, I really didn't notice. And I wouldn't have –"

"It's fine." Zhang suddenly interrupted him, in a tone that told him that he really meant it.

It wasn't the tone he normally used – the flat one that wouldn't tell you anything unless you really know him. No, this time his tone wasn't flat and empty.