Messed up love

Chapter 3- Zhuliu

Xue Yang had finally ran away and was in a forest. He had told Wei Ying before he left to meet up with him at a stream, but he was having trouble finding it.
He walked around and heard the sound of rushing water, he ran to the source and smiled when he saw the stream. He sat down on a rock next to the water and waited, he looked into the water and saw his reflection. He looked like a mess, he was all sweaty and dirty and his hair was all over the place.
The man leaned down and cupped some water in his hands, he splashed it on his face and let the dirt and grime wash off. He then rearranged his hair until it looked better, he was always picky about being clean.
Footsteps soon came into earshot and he turned around, "Wei Wuxian," he said, "is that you?"
"Yeah it's me," Wei Ying said coming from behind a tree, "did you wait long?"
"No, I just got here," Xue Yang said, "but we should get going, I can't get caught."
"You won't get caught if you come with me," Wei Ying said, "me and Jiang Cheng are going back to Yunmeng tomorrow, you can come with us."
Xue Yang shook his head, "You'll get into a lot of trouble," he said chuckling.
"So what? You're like a brother to me," Wei Ying said, "I'm not going to leave you behind."
"I'm not letting you get in trouble because of me, you already got me out of a lot of it," Xue Yang said, "you've done enough."
"No, you're coming back with me and that's final. I'll just tell them that I can be your personal bodyguard," Wei Ying said.
     Xue Yang sighed, "Fine, I'll come with you. But if something goes wrong I'm leaving."
     "Sure," Wei Ying said, "now you stay here for the night and tomorrow I'll come and get you."
    "Alright," Xue Yang said. Wei Ying nodded and walked away without another word. Xue Yang laid down on the soft grass and sighed, he was getting tired of running around and not being able to stay anywhere. He took out a piece of candy from his sleeve and unwrapped it, he popped it in his mouth and smiled in satisfaction.
     What if everything could be alright now? What if he lived with Wei Ying and become happy again? These were the two main questions im his head as he closed his eyes and let sleep take over.

    "Xue Yang," a voice whispered loudly, "Xue Yang! Wake up!"
     The said man opened his eyes, "What is it?" He groggily said.
     Wei Ying smiled when the man woke up, "Good, you're up. Me and Jiang Cheng are leaving in a couple of minutes, he's over there." He pointed to the trees and Xue Yang saw a figure a good distance away.
     "Ok, I'll be there in a second," Xue Yang said sitting up slowly. Wei Ying nodded and left Xue Yang alone who, again like before, splashed some water from the stream on his face.
     He stood up and walked to where Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng were. The moment Jiang Cheng saw the man he drew his sword and pointed it at him. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
    Xue Yang sighed, "Really Wei Wuxian? You didn't even bother telling him about me, I'm disappointed and hurt."
    "Wei Wuxian! What is he talking about?" Jiang Cheng asked.
     Wei Ying sighed, "He's my friend."
     "And...?" Xue Yang said.
     "And he's coming with us to Yunmeng," Wei Ying finished.
      "What?!" Jiang Cheng yelled, "He is not coming with us, what if he kills us all?"
     "He won't," Wei Ying said, "me and him have been getting each other out of punishments for a while. Mostly me, so he owes me something."
     "And by owing he means I won't kill him or his family and friends," Xue Yang said.
     "How do I know you're not lying?" Jiang Cheng asked.
     "You don't, but if you want to know take me with you," Xue Yang answered.
     Jiang Cheng lowered his sword, "Fine, but if you try anything I will kill you."
      "Sure, whatever you want," Xue Yang said, "now are we leaving or what?"
      "Yeah let's go," Wei Ying said, he got in between the two other men and put his arm around both of their shoulders. He walked with them into the trees in the direction of Yunmeng, his home.
     Xue Yang smiled as they walked, he hoped that everything would be alright from then on. But if it wasn't, then that was fine with him too, he's used to stuff not being alright.
     They've been walking for almost an hour now when they heard rustling in the bushes nearby. Xue Yang was the first to hear it, he turned around and saw nothing of course. "Wait," he said, "I hear something."
     The brothers stopped, "What is it?" Wei Ying asked.
      Xue Yang pointed to the bushes, "There is someone or something here with us." He walked to the bushes and saw nothing, he did, however, see footprints. He followed the trail with the brothers behind him.
     They walked back for a while before they stopped, there was nothing there. "Why did you lead us here?" Jiang Cheng asked warily.
     "I was following the print," Xue Yang said, he turned to the sound of chains. He ran in between the trees and saw Wangji dodging some chains in the air.
    A man then kicked Wangji leaving him almost falling to the ground. The man stood back behind Wen Chao who had walked out from behind a tree.
     "Lan Zhan, you always were arrogant," he said.
     "Liar," Xue Yang said walking out from the bushes. Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng followed with their swords drawn, "Hanguang Jun is the humblest man I have ever met."
     "Xue Yang?" Wen Chao asked in disbelief, "what are you doing with them? Did you fail your mission?" He mocked.
     "That is non of your business," Xue Yang said, "but what is your business is that I will kill you unless you leave. I'm giving you 3 seconds, 1.....2...."
     "Wen Zhuliu!" Wen Chao said, "Beat him!" The man from before nodded and ran towards Xue Yang.
     "Hanguang Jun, I think it's best if you leave," Xue Yang said as he stepped in front of Zhuliu, "and you, whatever your name is. I'm working with Wen Rohuan, do you really want to beat a close person to your master?"
    The charging man stopped and turned to Wen Chao who yelled, "Beat him! I don't care who he is!"
    "Fair enough," Xue Yang said before taking out his own sword. Zhuliu charged again and tried to press his palm on the man's chest, but Xue Yang knew this trick. He knew Zhuliu was also known as Core-Melter, and he had trained for this very moment for a long time.
    He dodged the blows and began striking. As he fought Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng checked on Wangji. The man in white was a bit winded but other than that he was fine, he left the scene after a couple short words to the brothers.
    While that had been happening, Xue Yang lost his sword when Zhuliu kicked his arm. They were just fighting with their bare hands now, it was easy of course, but a lot harder than with a sword. Xue Yang mainly dodged blows, trying to get the other man to get tired. But he wouldn't. He wasn't tired at all, he was more experienced and skilled than Xue Yang.
   But he wouldn't give up, he wasn't going to ruin his chance. He saw a glimpse of black and turned, it was Wei Ying, and behind him was Jiang Cheng. They were both fighting with their swords while Xue Yang retrieved his.
   Some of the other men had began to join the fight. Xue Yang took care of them easily. Just as he was killing the last one, someone kicked his back.
    He fell forward, "Who was it?" He asked in a low, dark voice.
    "Me," Wen Chao said, "and you can't do anything about it."
     "Says who?" Xue Yang said before standing up and lashing at the cocky man. He was pulled back, however, by a pair of arms. He turned around and saw a man with a white mask, "Who are you?" He asked.
     The man didn't answer, instead he sat Xue Yang down next to Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng and said, "I'll handle this."
    They all watched in shock as the man fought with Zhuliu, he was quick and skilled. He didn't have a certain clan's skills, it was different and unique.
    "Who is he?" Wei Ying asked in awe.
     "I don't know, but his style seems familiar," Xue Yang responded. He observed the man for a while as he fought but couldn't quite pinpoint what was so familiar.
    "Zhuliu!" Wen Chao yelled, "Leave him, he's wasting our time." The other man nodded and left with Wen Chao, leaving everyone in shock.
     Xue Yang was the first to stand up and walk to the person, "Who are you?"
     "You all really don't remember me?" The masked man asked laughing softly, "I thought you would remember the most Xue Yang. After all I am the pretty one," he took of his mask and revealed himself.