- Chapter Start –
Di FeiSheng heads straight for the pier leading down to the river. Sure enough, there's a forlorn looking lump sitting at the end with shoulders hunched and arms hugging drawn up knees.
With each wooden plank announcing his approach with a helpful little creak, Di FeiSheng doesn't bother to hide his presence. He goes to stand beside Fang DuoBing and glances down at him, smirking at the sight of a pouting lower lip.
The evening air is cool and smells of the river. Di FeiSheng takes a deep breath to cleanse his lungs of the mustiness of Lao Wang's hut.
"Had your fill of laughing at my childishness?" Fang DuoBing mutters, his mulish tone mixed with a hint of embarrassment.
"Had your fill of sulking at the same?" Di FeiSheng keeps his voice deadpan.
Fang DuoBing leaps to his feet at once, tossing his head.
"Fine! I apologise for – for grabbing you. I was just so… so…"
"So frustrated you could strangle him?" Di FeiSheng snorts. "You think I don't feel the same?"
Fang DuoBing blinks in surprise before his shoulders, defensively hunched, comes back down.
"That's right. Di FeiSheng, leader of the Jinyuan Alliance would be upset on account of the rematch he wants with Li XiangYi. But A-Fei would be upset for a different reason altogether."
"Don't presume to know how I feel." Di FeiSheng tacks on a scowl while wondering why he's even putting effort into this.
"Hey, you asked."
It works though since Fang DuoBing no longer looks like a kicked puppy. Who knows, he may have even forgiven Li LianHua for his latest escape attempt.
"If you're done glaring at the river, let's head back." Di FeiSheng spins on his heel and strides off without waiting for an answer, paying no attention to the squeaky wooden planks beneath his boots.
- o -
It's Fang DuoBing who reaches Lao Wang's hut first, his eager footsteps overtaking Di FeiSheng's longer strides. After his earlier outburst, most of his anger has evaporated, leaving behind the deep worry that's been assailing him for weeks.
The sight of Li LianHua meditating, as still and serene as a Buddha statue, brings Fang DuoBing to a halt just inside the door. He can't help but stare, admiring eyes tracing the graceful tilt of that head, the delicate eyebrows and high bridged nose, gentle lips, narrow shoulders and slender hands.
There are differences, of course, between this man and the stunning portrait hanging at Baichuan Academy. It doesn't matter; Fang DuoBing would choose Li LianHua every single time. To have his idol - even a shadow of his previous self - alive and within arms' reach is simply the better option.
Besides, Li LianHua is so much more than looks alone. Intelligent and observant, knowledgeable and astute, capable of uttering the most cutting of words and the warmest of smiles. He doesn't-
"XiaoBao, come sit here."
He doesn't even need his sight to sense Fang DuoBing standing there and gaping at him.
"If you are going to stand here all night, let me through first." Di FeiSheng brushes past him.
Blinking, Fang DuoBing scurries forward and claims the side of the bed for his own, leaving Di FeiSheng to hover beside him.
Li LianHua breathes out and opens his eyes, gaze soft with regret.
"XiaoBao, I have been a terrible shifu, one undeserving of your devotion, friendship and loyalty. I'm sorry."
Fang DuoBing's eyes start prickling again.
"Li LianHua. Shifu, I-"
"Shh, let me finish. You deserve so much better than a dying man who's let down his own shifu, caused the death of fifty eight martial brothers and sisters, and never even realised how much his senior martial brother hated him."
"I don't care!" Fang DuoBing palms away his tears, breath hitching when Li LianHua's eyes moisten.
"XiaoBao." Slowly, Li LianHua raises a hand which Fang DuoBing grabs with both of his. "Don't cry-"
It's too late. Despite the tears he shed earlier, what feels like an entire dam opens up inside Fang DuoBing's chest. With a wordless sob, he flings his arms around Li LianHua.
- o -
"Ahh!" Caught off balance, Li LianHua tips backwards, but his fall is arrested by a strong hand at his back which is quickly followed by an arm and shoulder.
Di FeiSheng slides onto the bed behind him, supporting both his and Fang DuoBing's weight with no comment.
"Thanks." Li LianHua wraps his arms around Fang DuoBing who immediately burrows his face in his neck, chin digging painfully into Li LianHua's collarbone.
"Ow."
Shaking with sobs, Fang DuoBing pushes even closer, almost climbing into Li LianHua's lap.
"XiaoBao, that's enough," Li LianHua says mildly which of course doesn't do a thing.
He rubs one hand over Fang DuoBing's back, wishing he knew what else to say. He's all too aware that he's terrible at giving comfort; that Di FeiSheng is witnessing it first hand, and that Fang DuoBing's tears are soaking into the front of his robes.
And yet… not all of it is uncomfortable. The perfumed soap from Fang DuoBing's robes is a familiar scent and Di FeiSheng's body heat behind him feels solid and reassuring.
After a while, Li LianHua's arms to start to ache while Fang DuoBing's weight grows cumbersome. When the storm of tears turns to hiccups, he clears his throat.
"XiaoBao, that's enough." He forces a sterner note in his voice. "You're not a child."
"And yet you continued to lie to him."
Li LianHua turns his head and catches sight of that familiar cleft chin. He tips his head higher, partly to glare at Di FeiSheng and partly to free his abused collarbone from Fang DuoBing's insistent chin.
"I shouldn't have. I know."
Di FeiSheng looks down his nose at him, one eyebrow lifted.
"I'm thirsty," Li LianHua adds in a pitiful and very obvious attempt at changing the subject.
Di FeiSheng makes as if to stand up to get some water and then he stops and stays where he is. Really, it's a miracle the bed beneath them hasn't collapsed from their combined weight.
Fang DuoBing snuffles a bit more at Li LianHua's neck, even turning his face side to side to wipe his tears on his robes. Finally, he raises his head, eyes swollen and cheeks blotchy… yet still so dear to Li LianHua.
"That's right." Fang DuoBing runs his sleeve over his nose, making Li LianHua wince, and smiles at him. "A-niang packed something especially for you. A flask of medicinal tea which will warm you up."
And the storm of tears is over, much to Li LianHua's relief. For now at least.
- o -
Tianji Hall is well known for their impressive stock of herbal remedies and medications. After two cups of the bitter tea, Li LianHua feels revived enough to eat a small serving of chicken congee, also brought from Tianji Hall.
Fang DuoBing is all for feeding him but Li LianHua insists he can manage both bowl and spoon.
"How did you know I was here?" He asks after savouring a few mouthfuls of the silky, savoury goodness.
"Yun BiQiu came to Tianji Hall this afternoon with the pieces of Shaoshi." It's Di FeiSheng who replies, eyes boring into Li LianHua. He's standing at the foot of the bed, arms folded across his chest.
"Ah." Li LianHua almost chokes on a piece of chicken. The pain that lanced through him when his sword broke was borne of both exertion and guilt at destroying his beloved weapon. He stares down at his half eaten meal, aware of Di FeiSheng's accusing glare burning a hole in his head. "I didn't expect Xiao ZiJin to tell anyone."
"Yun BiQiu said you broke it when Xiao ZiJin challenged you to a fight," Di FeiSheng continues, still glaring at him. Remorseless man.
"Don't worry," Fang DuoBing hastily cuts in. "We'll get it mended."
"That's not-" Li LianHua breaks off and presses his lips together as the bowl wobbles in his hand. Fang DuoBing's hand wraps around his at once, steadying it.
"Thank you, I've had enough," Li LianHua says and forces a smile. "It's really tasty, you should eat the… ahh… the rest."
A huge yawn catches him in mid-sentence.
"Right. Time to sleep." Fang DuoBing gets up to place the bowl on the table.
"I think I'd like to… see Lotus Tower again," Li LianHua says around another yawn. "I miss Hulijing too."
"He's with my mother at Tianji Hall," Fang DuoBing says, fussing with the blanket. "I'll go bring him back tomorrow."
"Hmm, that would be nice." Li LianHua's eyes close of their own accord. Warm hands help him to lie down, arranging his limbs and draping the blanket over him.
"The three - no, four of us will return to Lotus Tower tomorrow," Fang DuoBing promises.
"That's good," Li LianHua says sleepily and drifts off to sleep.
- Chapter End –