It was Ru Ge and their group, sans the Vermilion Sun disciples, that found Ye Xiyang, Wan Yu and Quan Su. The three of them had rested on a nearby rooftop, Ye Xiyang propping Wan Yu up as the latter gripped Storming Soul with a trembling hand. Heavenly Rend was gone somewhere. His sleeve was charred, but his arm didn’t seem to be; the only sign of it being affected by the weapon was the way his hand would jerk every now and then, as if struck by momentary weakness, and almost let go of Storming Soul. Other than that, he seemed to be dozing off, face tucked into Ye Xiyang’s shoulder.
“Supreme Leader.”
Shi Ma had arrived as well, along with some of the Wolf Guard. Ye Xiyang nodded at Shi Ze, who came over and held a hand out to Quan Su. The girl eyed him before acquiescing. Without a sound Ye Xiyang got onto his feet, pulling Wan Yu along with him; Wan Yu swayed from the tug and almost barrelled face-first down the roof, but he was caught once more, Ye Xiyang wrapping an arm secure around his back.
“Rest where he stays,” Ye Xiyang said. After a glance from him, Shi Ma stepped forward and took Wan Yu, carrying him on her back. He looked almost tiny when compared to her.
After Heavenly Rend destroyed the fifth crux, it seemed that the power it exerted was too strong and destroyed the last of the space’s defenses— it came crumbling down after, and Wan Yu, having been rendered unconscious, almost fell off too. Three people on one sword was hardly a fit, but Silvergrass had already fallen— with the rain gone, Ye Xiyang sent the umbrella down to catch it. Then, with Wan Yu clinging to him on the front and Quan Su on his back, Ye Xiyang flew them over to the nearest surface.
The night was deep over Qunan, the moon bright. Ye Xiyang stared at it for a moment longer. It felt nice, seeing the depth of the real sky after all the artificial rain. It seemed that the others agreed; Xue Ying and Shi Ze looked visibly relieved as they finally went down to the streets and walked. Nobody said a thing, though. Sometimes someone shot a glance at Ye Xiyang, who continued to walk alongside Shi Ma. The one to do it most often was Quan Su. In the end, she finally tugged herself out of Shi Ze’s grip and walked back to where Ye Xiyang was, walking on his other side. Without a word, Ye Xiyang pulled out Silvergrass from his sleeve and handed it to her.
Quan Su tucked it under her arm, glancing at Storming Soul. Ye Xiyang, noting her look, explained, “He doesn’t let go of Storming Soul. Wait until he’s asleep.”
“...That sounds like stealing tips,” she said, voice flat.
Ye Xiyang, “......” Anything I say is wrong to you, who holds Wan Yu as your gege, I know.
As they walked down the streets and wove around the neighborhoods, it seemed like Quan Su moving back triggered a change in formation— Xue Ying went ahead with Shi Ze, the two occasionally talking to each other in low murmurs, while the rest of the team lagged further behind as though to give the middle row privacy. Ru Ge went up to Shi Ma’s other side, earning an indecipherable look from Ye Xiyang. They knew, though, how to decipher it. It was a mixture of alarm, worry and wariness, tinged as well with resigned acceptance.
Closing their eyes for a moment, Ru Ge then opened their mouth. But before they could say anything, Ye Xiyang said in a low voice, “I know what you want to say. Don’t worry. I know my place.”
It was a quiet night, and Ye Xiyang’s voice was quiet too. It might’ve been heard by other ears nonetheless. Some things were louder in whispers.
Vulnerability. This was not a good start.
“The future is long and horizons only widen,” Ru Ge said after a long silence. They glanced at Wan Yu. Slumped over Shi Ma’s back, it looked like his sleep was peaceful. Battered from days of being stuck in the rainy world, he was half in tatters. The young man was not someone Ru Ge would consider much more attractive than average, especially not with this rougher appearance, but Ru Ge knew that looks were unlikely to be what pulled Ye Xiyang over.
It wouldn’t take a man with eyes to know that Ye Xiyang was still finding his footing, and had been for four years now. Ru Ge couldn’t let that blind him.
“Mm.” His tone flitted over gentleness for a brief second. Whether he took those words to heart or not, only he knew.
____
Wan Yu woke up to dim lights and Li Yang opening the door, a plate of food in hand. The room was hazy with a lazy light, the corners of edges all softened by gentle, lapping shadows. Faint sounds drifted in from the outside, a comforting background of indistinct chatter. Relaxing back into the bed, Wan Yu let out an amused huff and sleepily said, “Wah, Ah-Yang showing up with food?"
Li Yang rolled his eyes and came over to flick Wan Yu's forehead, but he took the plate to another table. "Not for you. Who told you to go missing for days after arriving?"
"Don't be like that, Yangyang," Wan Yu protested. Pushing himself up to keep his gaze on Li Yang, he continued, "Then th—"
And he froze.
“Shit! Where’s Storm—”
“It’s right beside you,” a dull voice noted. Finding it after some groping around, Wan Yu slumped in relief and turned to the source of the voice.
“Thanks. Eh?”
On the other side of the small room were Shi Ma and Xue Ying leaning against the wall, while Quan Su propped her chin with her elbow on a table, sitting on a stool. Who knew how long they'd been there? The last one he could understand, but the other two? He wasn't worried per se, nor was he embarrassed, but… Well. "So… Fancy to see you and all, but how long are you guys going to stare at me unconscious? You’re fine, Xiao Su. You’re good."
Li Yang had already placed the snacks down next to a pot of tea and some cups, so he wasted no time backing away, unwilling to be roped into whatever Wan Yu was cooking up. Rolling her eyes, Quan Su hopped off her stool and walked over to sit on the bed. Xue Ying looked like she was this close to pulling out her dagger. She kept glancing at Shi Ma, though, as though Shi Ma was the one restraining her. Wan Yu eyed them both.
"They're here because of your other Ah-Yang,” Quan Su said dryly as she reached out to grab Silvergrass.
Wan Yu, “......” Pretty sure you can’t do that to the courtesy name.
Movement from the other side; he turned to see Li Yang gesturing that he’d be leaving. Fine, leave your Xiao Yu out on his own, jerk. After exchanging brief faces that conveyed everything and yet nothing to the layman, Li Yang cut it short, saying to Wan Yu, “I’ll get you food.”
There had been a tension to the slope of his back since he entered the room. While it had eased after Wan Yu spoke up, he was still tense, backing out of the room at a polite pace only out of self-control. When the door closed again, the hanging awkwardness dropped like a coin onto the floor. Sitting straighter, Wan Yu turned to the other three. “So what is it?”
“What is what?” Xue Ying said, drawl half-scathing. Arms crossed and leaning against the wall, she looked like she wanted to imitate the intimidation factor of Shi Ma but lacked everything to pull it off. She was holding back some of the bite, though. Was it because there was an adult in the room? Tch.
“I can understand Xiao Su being here, but why are you two? Did you get punished, Xiao Xue?”
Growling, Xue Ying lifted her empty dagger scabbard like she was going to stab him with that wooden container. After a few seconds, though, she huffed and turned away. Whew, temperamental. Shi Ma shook her head, though for which bit, Wan Yu had no idea.
Actually… “You’re the person at the village who was talking to Ye-xi—Ye Xiyang, weren’t you? Shi Ze’s shifu?”
“Shi Ma,” she introduced herself, nodding. “It’s nice to properly meet you, Wan Yu.”
Shi Ma. With him sitting down and her standing, she looked more like a towering shadow of death. Her hands were solid trunks covered by sewn-over patchwork of age-old calluses, so noticeable in its ability to pulverize him Wan Yu’s eyes couldn’t help but keep wandering back to it. On one of her tan, weathered cheeks was a long, vertical scar that looked like it would’ve been a nightmare to get. Red Wolf and loyal subordinate of Ye Xiyang…
Once he was old enough to understand, Wan Yu was aware that his shifu couldn’t have become who he was by… not killing. To earn such a lofty reputation, he must’ve. Though they were arguably and likely to be bad people, a life was nonetheless a life—Wan Yu might himself agree that people who repeatedly choose evil ought to be stopped permanently, but they were still human. Still, it took him years to reconcile the image of his loving shifu and the more complex image of Immortal Master Ning Shan. He, however, definitely wouldn’t have such a hard time imagining innumerable deaths if 10 years ago he’d seen Shi Ma.
At the same time, Wan Yu had to admit. She seemed to have a positive impression of him and was going out of her way to be nice. But why?
Actually, things were getting real weird, now that he remembered what happened after they split up in the array world… Wan Yu’s eyebrows knitted when he recalled Ye Xiyang and that fire. The thought made a buzzing sensation spark under the skin of his face, itching and uncomfortable both physically and emotionally. It was only when the door opened and broke the silence that Wan Yu realized he’d left Shi Ma’s introduction unanswered. Li Yang’s eyes darted between them as he put down a bowl of congee for Wan Yu, along with some side dishes.
Picking up the spoon, Wan Yu couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t experiencing much of a side-effect from using Heavenly Rend. Where previously he got burnt, this time all the discomfort he felt was from other injuries. Maybe the pills Ye Xiyang fed him really were… His spoon dropped back into his bowl with a clack and a wet sound. Wan Yu looked up. “I’d like to talk with Shi Ma. Yangyang, can you…”
Li Yang rolled his eyes in good humor, but held his hand out for Quan Su anyway. The girl gave him a flat stare.
“Let’s leave him to the wolves,” he said. At that, Quan Su nodded, hopping off the small bed and following after him. She ignored his hand, though, instead lingering behind him, casting a glance at Wan Yu. Xue Ying had gleefully escaped to freedom, leaving the room within seconds.
Wan Yu, “......”
The door closed, the click oddly final. Letting out a sigh, Wan Yu played with his food a bit; it was bland, but Auntie Wang did that whenever he got hurt. So you don’t jump into problems so keenly, you don’t get to eat flavorful food, she joked then. Shi Ma didn’t rush him, standing there like a pole—as he studied her in stolen glances, piece by piece he began to recognize something.
“You were the one that morning? At that inn.”
Shi Ma blinked as she looked at him. “Ah? Yes.”
“Checking up on your Supreme Leader, I presume?”
“Mm.”
Not much of a talker, was she? Squinting at her, Wan Yu sipped a spoonful of congee. Though she stood in place for the time it took to burn an incense stick without as much as shifting her weight to her other leg, it did become clear that she was distracted. Preoccupied? Finishing up his bowl, Wan Yu put it aside and asked, “What is there to worry about him? It’s not like I’m a threat compared to your sect.”
At that, Shi Ma’s expression morphed into confusion. “Of course you’re not a threat.”
Wan Yu, “......” It’s true, but do you have to say it like that?
There was another moment of silence. Perhaps trying to have a conversation was a mistake when Wan Yu himself wasn’t that prepared— asking her to stay back had been an impulse, and at first he had ten, twenty questions to ask about Ye Xiyang, but now it seemed asking would be foolish. Did he really want to know? Wan Yu opened his mouth, wanting to wave this all off, but Shi Ma beat him to it.
“Thank you for being Supreme Leader’s friend, however brief,” she said, nodding. There was a shade of frustration in her dark eyes, as if she hated iron for not becoming steel. He delicately set that thought aside. It was not a good thing to dissect. “You have my gratitude.”
Wan Yu, “......” What?
Should he correct her? Maybe not, maybe it wasn't worth the effort. She seemed set on her views. What if replying made him seem like he was paddling in insecurity, rather than stating facts? What if it looked like he didn’t want to be friends with her Supreme Leader Ye? Because he didn’t. Sometimes the truth was just like that.
"It's nothing. Anyway, your Supreme Leader always says it's not him giving stuff, it's you conveying your thanks for the entire Shi Ze thing."
Shi Ma, "......" Supreme Leader!! Who taught you to be a coward and a loser!
"When is he leaving properly, by the way?" Wan Yu asked, as nonchalantly as he could make it sound. "This entire Celestial Alignment thing is done, right?"
From her reaction, it was clear that she truly cared for Ye Xiyang beyond his role as leader— made sense that she was one of his trusted confidants. As Wan Yu sorted out his memories of the events within that array space, now removed from the passive air of misery hanging during those days, he determined that Ru Ge was too, though it came off a bit different. In either case, they both seemed to hate Ye Xiyang for not going the full mile. The full mile for what, though, Wan Yu didn't want to think about.
This was making him think of how weird Ye Xiyang got at the end… It was an uncomfortable thought.
"We are resolving the matter," Shi Ma said. "Don't worry about it."
No answer on what Ye Xiyang was going to do afterwards. Tch.
"Right. I hope none of them will come after me in my sleep and kill everyone around me while they're at it," he said, rolling his eyes. Shi Ma shook her head.
"They'll be busy for a while. Demonic faction things, it really does keep the wulin complacent. With your arsenal, you should also have a fighting chance. It is risky living with benefactors, though."
Ah, this talk. Wan Yu felt tired already. "Yeah, yeah, got it, whatever you say."
Muted sounds from outside. Shi Ma straightened up, readying herself— was she able to hear what was going on in the halls, though she was in a conversation…? Before Wan Yu could say anything else, though, she turned to him. “I will leave now.”
Oh?
____
The inn had traces of people filling its spaces, yet something felt dead and muted— though the occasional thuds and calls from the owners downstairs running the restaurant could be heard, it was as if they were serving an empty room. As Li Yang led Quan Su out, Xue Ying already standing in some corner in wait, he stopped when he almost ran into Ye Xiyang at the stairs.
Though it was still daylight, the unlit stairway was dark. Ye Xiyang, despite looking up from below, had distant coldness etched onto him; Li Yang suppressed a shudder as he stepped to the side, allowing him to pass. It wasn’t just him. Quan Su inched to the side too, wary, darting between keeping an eye on him and avoiding his gaze. A tension hung in the air, unnamed but thick, of uncertain origins, but was broken with Ye Xiyang’s soft voice. “Xiao Su, come with me for a moment.”
Biting back a no, why should I? she turned, eyebrows knitted. Ye Xiyang was already walking down and opening one of the other bedroom doors, stopping short of entering. The setting sun was a mere dim square of light on the wall opposite the window and it did not cast a light on his hazy expression. Xue Ying nudged her forward with a foot.
“What are you scared of?” she said.
Lips thinning, Quan Su stepped up and followed Ye Xiyang.
Upon entering, Ye Xiyang gestured at her to close the door, but she didn’t, crossing her arms. Chuckling, he shook open his fan and held it in front of his face. “Well, no matter. I just wanted to give you this.”
Held out on his hand was his umbrella— all pristine white and fragile paper, it somehow looked more foreboding than the fan that he’d tied her up with. Quan Su stared at it with furrowed eyebrows, thinned lips. Inching back, her gaze travelled up Ye Xiyang's arm to his face.
"Try not to lose it," he said. "Ask Wan Yu if you need help."
But what's the catch? She remained silent.
After a few more seconds, Ye Xiyang sighed. "You were just fine yesterday. What's the matter? Despite the change of clothing, I have not changed faces."
"Something is weird," she said, frank and blunt. "Off."
"I'm leaving," he said. "You'll have to start taking care of yourselves."
"...Why now?"
Ye Xiyang chuckled. "It's sect matters. If I tell you, I'm afraid my people won't let you out of the door alive. Take the umbrella. It can handle wayward lightning strikes. I suspect you'll find yourself in need of protection from it at some point."
"Why give it to me?"
Vigilant. Well, good, he supposed. She could cover what blind spots Wan Yu might have. After spending some time thinking of an answer, he said, "I owed Wan Yu some things prior to meeting you. I could give this to him, but he doesn't need this as much as you do, and he'll hand it over anyway."
Quan Su's expression remained unconvinced. "You're using this to track him. And in case he refuses, you're trying to get to him through me."
Swallowing back the defensive statements that arose out of instinct, Ye Xiyang let out a wry smile. He had to admit, he wasn't used to spending this much time convincing someone. But at the same time, forcing her would be counterproductive. Sighing, he moved to take back the umbrella and pulled out a silk pouch, but a small hand reached out and grabbed the end of the umbrella.
Hmm. She was fast despite her lack of training.
"Fine," Quan Su said. "I'll take the umbrella."
He couldn't help it— Ye Xiyang's lips twitched into an amused smile. "What convinced you?"
Tugging the umbrella out of Ye Xiyang's grasp, Quan Su hugged it in her arms, shifting to the side until she wasn't blocking the door. Then, eyes still on him, she reached out behind her and opened the door, slipping outside inch by inch. "That wallet of yours will bring me more trouble."
And just like that she ran off, her light footsteps on the wooden floor fading before returning in muted thuds— she'd run downstairs. Ye Xiyang chuckled this time, eyeing the doorway. It was dark now. The owner of the inn was still too busy downstairs to light up a lamp here.
"Supreme Leader?" A soft, raspy voice. Sighing, Ye Xiyang walked out and joined Shi Ma in the hallway. It was clear that she had things to say after talking with Wan Yu, but Ye Xiyang gestured that they'd talk about it later. After a moment of intense staring, she acquiesced. "It'll be fine."
"Of course." What was there to be afraid of going wrong? Ye Xiyang didn't know how her mind worked sometimes.
Shi Ma had closed the door behind her when she left. Knocking once, Ye Xiyang waved her off before walking in, not bothering for an answer. Inside Wan Yu was sitting on the bed, feet on the floor— his idle hand was moving the spoon around the bowl with chopsticks. Not even looking up, he simply said, "Oh," before returning to his engrossing game with used utensils.
A sigh. "Now you too are giving me the cold shoulder. Have I wronged you, Yu'er?"
A chopstick came flying at him, bouncing off the door behind him. Wan Yu looked like he'd just eaten mud. "Don't you dare call me Yu'er, that nickname is sacred and to remain unsullied."
It was a lousy throw, intended to miss. Ye Xiyang hid a smile at the reaction and acquiesced, "Okay, Ah-Yu. What's the matter?"
Wan Yu, "......" Where did they get this knock-off Ye Xiyang and would he need a proof of purchase to return him from whence he came?
"Wrong Yangyang," Wan Yu replied instead, putting on a pitiful look. "I was waiting for the Yangyang with the food."
Ye Xiyang moved to open the door behind him. "Then I'll go and get you some—"
"No!" Wan Yu almost tripped on his own legs getting out of bed. "Don't you dare claim the nickname Yangyang for yourself, that's too heinous a crime even for you. Get back in here and state your business, villain."
"How did I get downgraded from princess to villain?"
"Being cutesy after the age of forty is a crime in the penal code."
Ye Xiyang, "......" Do I count as over 40?
With a sigh, he ushered Wan Yu back to the bed. Snapping his fan shut, Ye Xiyang looked at him with a solemn expression. "I did want to talk with you."
"...At least let's not do it in total darkness."
The bedroom was shrouded by the night now, all somber and secretive— Wan Yu could still see Ye Xiyang, his eyes having adjusted to the low light, but his hazy figure looked too soft in the dark. Saying nothing, Ye Xiyang pulled out a lamp, a rather large and elaborate one that glowed like a cluster of defiant stars.
Unlike the full moon's soft brightness of the night-shining pearls, this lamp was harsh, hot fire. Wan Yu stared at the water-like flames, the flicking tongues of blue and white. After tapping on something at the top, a paper-like covering came down, diffusing the light. With snowflake motifs scattered on its surface, the shadows those fine lines cast looked like fractures.
Jiaoren's fire. It was said that their fat would burn for a thousand years, maybe more. Wan Yu himself had never seen it— both the lamp that bore such a fuel and the creatures themselves. The flames ought to burn as endlessly as their intense emotions, but tonight their light only felt unsettling.
Tonight Ye Xiyang's expression was calm as if yesterday didn't happen, but its specter still lingered for Wan Yu. Changing the color of the fire didn't erase the memory.
Wan Yu's lips thinned. “I have a question first.”
“Yes?”
“Is this all because of that conversation?”
Wan Yu was not someone who was afraid of trouble and throwing the first stone. Though he was averse to the topic, for some reason he didn’t understand himself, it wasn’t bad enough that he wouldn’t tear this gauze off. That night, Ye Xiyang was stunned by the things he had said. In that vulnerable moment, he confessed to something deep within his heart he might not have felt safe saying anywhere else. And Wan Yu knew that such an experience could make someone feel understood in ways nothing else could. And feeling understood was a rare, wonderful thing.
But mere momentary connection should not be causing this much of a difference in Ye Xiyang’s behavior. Wan Yu was a forthright person in certain regards. It was better to air this out now than to let it fester.
Ye Xiyang sighed. “What is? You don't have to worry about anything. I wanted to talk so I could return something. I will be leaving after this. To be frank, I'd forgotten that returning that thing was the reason I came back.”
"...Your reassurances are unconvincing, I hope you work on it soon.”
Despite finally getting the promise to leave he’d been looking for, Wan Yu had a sinking feeling he couldn’t pinpoint the origins of.
Ye Xiyang laughed. It was a soft sound, uncharacteristic and jarring— warm but brief, it left as quickly as it came. Setting the lamp to the side, he came back with something on his palm, hand stretched out towards Wan Yu. Atop it, a large pearl.
"This pearl, I return to you."
Under the cool firelight it looked almost like a common milky marble, but Wan Yu jolted when he saw it. His gut churned, something within him hostile and angry— was this a natural reaction to something with innate resentment? Or was this something different entirely?
Ye Xiyang seemed to notice his reaction. Closing his hand again, he took out a small, lined jade box and placed the pearl there, closing it with a firm click. The aura seemed to disappear. While Wan Yu still felt uneasy, it didn't feel so pressing anymore. Still, he didn't take it. And still, Ye Xiyang held the jade box out to him.
"I don't know what it is; you never told me, and only a select few seemed to know,” Ye Xiyang explained, placing the box on the bed when Wan Yu made no move at all. “It seemed to be a big wulin secret, I advise you to be very careful if you do choose to investigate it early. The entire wulin broke into splinters from your investigations, and they ended up determined to pierce you from all sides with what remained. I'm refraining from saying too much for now, but it's only because I trust in your ability to both get to the bottom of it and to make your own choices with your life. If you choose to avoid the matter and live on longer… then all the better."
Wan Yu stared at him, eyes weary.
"In the future, you will meet an end at the edge of a cruel precipice. I now hope that if you know about this pearl earlier, you might avoid it."
There was a pang from deep inside him that Wan Yu didn't understand, but could feel travelling through his bones like a spreading fracture. It buzzed and bit like hopelessness. Everything, wrong. The world seemed to have changed at a fundamental level in the moments between that fireside talk and this afternoon after, and Wan Yu wasn't in on the joke.
And at the heart of it was Ye Xiyang.
"What did you do?" Wan Yu asked, slumping in defeat. "Ye Xiyang."
"I'm sorry. After today, I will leave you be," Ye Xiyang murmured, drawing back to a respectable distance. Straightening up again, he opened his fan and drew back. "Do not worry about Celestial Alignment Sect, they will not bother you. I will handle Seven-Petal Lotus Sect too. Consider it repayment for these past few weeks. If you have questions, however, you can come and I will answer.”
A knock on the door. “Hey, I just want to light up the lamps…?”
“Good night, Wan Yu.”
My empty earth and sky
Is the joining of two volumes
Is my body chopped open again
Where snow, rain and tears flow through February.
- Dawn (II), Hai Zi (trans. Ye Chun)
