Today, we had no classes as there was council meet of various sect leaders in Gusu. As Wei Wuxian was least interested in such matters, he was taking all of us for night hunting. In my batch I was the only one who became sect leader at such a young age. Looking at me uncle Jiang realized what I want. "If you want to go out with Wei Wuxian and other disciples then you may go. If there is anything related to Lanlingjin sect I shall inform you later". Feeling ectastic, I went to training ground from where all of us were going to leave together.
I asked Jingyi "Where is Senior Wei?"
"Wu Xin and Senior Wei have gone to check Sizhui. We have been waiting here for him from long time".
Sizhui has always been punctual and it started bothering everyone about his absence. Before uncle Jiang came to Gusu, I had met him today early morning and we had practised archery together. I am anxious to know the reason for his delay. I hope everything is okay.
Sizhui came with Wu Xin and Wei Wuxian.
Jingyi – "What is wrong with your uniform. Why is it so ill fit? And where is your head band?"
Sizhui – "I spilled ink on all my clothes by accident"
All of us started walking towards forest. Wei Wuxian played Chenqing attracting corpses.
I pulled Sizhui in a corner. "Why are you wearing Wu Xin's clothes?"
"Today when we were practicing archery my clothes got dirty. When I went back to room and opened my closet all clothes had ink stains on it. Then I realized yesterday when we were completing assignments in my room you kept the ink bottle inside my closet with its lid open. If Wei Wuxian hadn't insisted I wouldn't have come today. You know how much time it took for me to remove ink stains from my white robes".
Yes, he was right. We fell on each other while practising archery which soiled our clothes. Sizhui is a quick learner but archery is one thing which I don't want him to learn so soon. In reality it is more romantic than my imagination. Whenever his back touched my chest, his ears turn red and I couldn't stop myself biting them then trailing down kisses behind his ear lobe till his neck. Our debaucher has dirtied my clothes then it must have soiled his as well.
"I don't like anyone else touching you"
Sizhui scrunched his eyebrows. "...."
"I mean you are wearing someone else's clothes"
Sizhui turned towards me. "I am only wearing Wu Xin's clothes. It is not like he has wrapped his hands across my waist. It is not even like I have worn his sacred headband". He removed his wet headband from his pocket and tied it on my wrist. "It is Only you".
"Sizhui but..."
"Jin Ling, don't try my patience "
Sizhui started walking away from me. As he started walking away, I saw black aura surrounding him. I was scared, I walked towards him and kept my hand on his shoulder. When he turned his eyes were white with no pupils in it. He raised his sword and attacked me. I got hurt on my leg. I felt someone pushed me away and then I saw it was Wu Xin. Blood dripped from his stomach. Sizhui had striked him on his stomach.
Wen Ning came forward as guard and pushed Sizhui away throwing him on tree. Wen Ning looked at his hands and once in our lifetime we saw Ghost General shivering.
Wei Wuxian – "Take Jin Ling and Wu Xin away"
I was scared. I still dint want to go away leaving Yuan. But, in front of Wen Ning all my powers or strength were useless. On seeing us Jingyi and Zizhen applied medicine on our wounds and wrapped it with a cloth.
Wei Wuxian kept on playing Chenqing. After some time Sizhui fainted and he captured the demon in spirit trapping pouch. He picked him and rested Sizhui's neck on his lap. He was caressing his hair and I felt now we can go towards Yuan. All of us started moving towards Sizhui.
Wei Wuxian – "Don't move. When I warned you not to come ahead what were you three thinking? Why were you in forbidden area?"
I and Sizhui were simply arguing and none of us actually heard what Wei Wuxian said. If we would have heard then Sizhui would have been safely sitting beside me.
After some time Sizhui was conscious and opened his eyes. Wei Wuxian offered him water to drink.
"Sizhui where is your headband? I asked you to carry it with you". My eyes landed on my wrist where his headband was safely tied. I hid my hand inside the pocket so no one notices it.
Wei Wuxian - "Every sect has something or other with them for some reason like Yunmeng has bells, Lanlingjin has vermilion mark on their head. Likewise Lan sect has head band".
He lifted Sizhui and asked him whether he can walk. I too wanted to ask him how is he now. Both of them came towards us. Wu Xin was bleeding heavily. Jingyi informed Sizhui what he has done. Sizhui was shocked and tears rolled down his cheeks.
Wen Ning carried Wu Xin in his arms and Jingyi and Zizhen provided support to me. Wei Wuxian was walking with Sizhui resting his hands on his shoulder.
On reaching Cloud Recess,
Wen Ning placed Wu Xin on his bed in dormitory. I sat on nearby futon. I was concerned right now for both - My Yuan and Wu Xin. Sizhui was lost and he was looking only at the wound on Wu Xin's stomach. To distress Yuan, I offered Wu Xin, "Do you want me to transfer spiritual energy?".
Hanguang-Jun and Zewu-Jun entered our room with doctor. Wu Xin refrained from my offer saying, "You too are weak".
Doctor examined Wu Xin. His skin was slit open and his chest was bleeding. The doctor bandaged him and gave some pills to Hanguang-Jun. Touching his head he said, "He has fever. Give this pills tonight. It should reduce his fever. Apply some turmeric on wound if it continues to bleed. Keep applying wet cloth on his head till fever reduces. I shall come again in the morning to examine him".
Doctor then checked my wounds in leg. "The injury is not so severe. But, he needs to rest as well. It is better if someone is there to take care of him as well".
As doctor left, Hanguang-Jun instructed us, "We will move both to Jingshi. They will be under our care"
If I will go with them then I cant meet Yuan tonight. He was looking quite disturbed and I was sure I can't leave him all alone. If I am in my room then at least I can sneak in his room later in midnight. So, I blabbered, "But.... I am alright. I don't want to sleep anywhere else besides my room".
Wei Wuxian pointed his finger towards me. Sizhui stepped forward holding his finger, "Dont worry senior. I will stay with Jin Ling in his room. If there is any issue I will inform Wen Ning".
Lifting Wu Xin in his arms Hanguang-Jun and all others left the room. Before leaving Hanguang-Jun stared at Sizhui. And Sizhui lowered his head.
Sizhui also went outside and came in with a bowl of water. He closed the room's door. Carefully lifting my pants he started cleaning my wound. Tears didn't stop from his eyes. I lifted him and made him sit beside me on bed. Wiping his tears. "It's not your fault. I am fine and so will Wu Xin be soon". I removed his headband from my pocket and tied it on his head. Placing my forehead on his I mumbled "I love you Yuan. I am sorry".
I went beyond the partition to change my clothes and he was still sobbing sitting on bed. I had messed it up. Changing my clothes, I was not able to stop thinking what if anything would have happened to him. I always loose whoever comes closer to me. I dint want to loose him ever.
As I came out he helped me to reach my bed. Hugging each other we laid on bed. His tears settled on his cheeks and I licked them. The second one I caught them as soon as it dropped from his eyes. The third one rested on his lips and I licked that as well. I slid my finger inside his robes and he tapped my wrist."Rulan, sleep". I turned around. He hugged me from behind placing a kiss on my back. "You are injured. You need to rest. I will let you do anything when you are alright. I also want to do so many things to you".
"Anything "
"Yes"
"You will let me touch wherever I want"
He burried his face under my neck and I felt his smile on my neck"
"Yuan"
"Hmm"
"You need to change. You are still wearing Wu Xin's clothes "
"Shut up. Sleep"