Chapter 114: Agitation

    ~~~

    Pan Qiu wakes up with a groan. He blinks a few times to clear his hazy vision and sees it is not the open sky above him but a rather familiar ceiling

    Hes no longer outside the Inner Disciples mansion.

    Good. You are awake. I was beginning to wonder if I should leave you here.

    That voice!

    Pan Qiu is on his feet in a flash, his Qi rising around him as the memories of what happened before losing consciousness rush through his mind. Standing in front of him is the root of all his troubles.

    Qing Jin.

    He looks at him with a bored expression that is completely at odds with the fierce red of his hair and eyes. However, that is just a mask. Pan Qiu knows that to be true. He had seen what lies beneath it whensome time after being humiliated by him and that harlot in the Sparring HallPan Qiu had challenged Qing Jin to another match. There he felt Qing Jins true menacing intent. His will to fight had been broken without Qing Jin even needing to lift a finger. That is how dangerous this man is.

    No, Qing Jin is not a man.

    Hes a beast. A monster.

    What did you do to me? He asks, doing his best to keep his voice from trembling.

    To think he had been shouting at him!

    The ordeal in the Summer Forest had been more than enough to convince Pan Qiu he should never involve himself with this person ever again. Just how unbalanced from the poison had he been to do such a thing?!

    Well, you fainted right in front of me, so I brought you in. I considered leaving you out there, but that would just make you a bother to others.

    Only that? Pan Qiu frowns. No, it cannot be just that. It is already late at night. They are the only two disciples out in the lobby. That means Qing Jin has been waiting for him to get up for hours. Just the knowledge that he has been completely helpless in the presence of this snake for so long is enough to make Pan Qius skin crawl! What else happened?

    You seemed to be suffering from the after-effects of whatever poison you ate, so I decided to do something about that. Qing Jin shrugs. That is all.

    Something about that? Pan Qius heart leaps inside his chest. His face goes white with terror. What did you do to me?

    His body has already taken a combat stance. Useless though it may be, he will not go down meekly!

    I just said it. You were suffering from the effects of poison, so I did something about that. Qing Jin raises an eyebrow. Are you not satisfied with the results?

    Pan Qiu frowns. Satisfied with the results? What does he mean-

    Suddenly, it hits him.

    The ache in his muscles that had been his constant companion for the past several weeks is nowhere to be found. His mouth no longer feels dry. His eyes no longer feel heavy. It is as if an oppressive weight has been lifted from him, leaving the air sweeter and the world warmer.

    Pan Qiu feels fine. Well, and truly fine.

    You healed me?

    No. Surely not? The person in front of him is a vicious, cruel monster. Pan Qiu had felt it. He had seen the cold look in those terrifying red eyes. That was the look of someone who did not see people as people!

    Would you rather I hadn''t?

    No! Pan Qiu immediately holds his hands up and takes a step back. There is absolutely no way he wants to go back to how he was before! Thats not what I meant! Its just why?

    Again, Qing Jin looks at him with the same damnable expression. His red eyes almost seem to glow in the darkness.

    You were poisoned. Do I need another reason? I understand you are being punished, but you clearly left the Medical Pavillion before your treatment was finished. I could hardly be expected to do nothing.

    Left before?

    No, thats not it. Pan Qiu had been told it was fine if he left for the day. Thats how it had been every day since Elder Cheung had settled on his punishment for the fight in the Summer Forest. Always poisons. Never antidotes. However, he refrains from pointing that out. His skin crawls just from being near Qing Jin. He has no desire to prolong such a thing.

    Besides...

    You could hardly be expected to do nothing? He echoes. What is that supposed to mean?

    Qing Jins red eyes narrow. Pan Qiu takes another step back.

    It means what it means. It seems to me you have recovered from your little episode. Do be sure to follow your doctors instructions in the future. Good night.

    Qing Jin turns his back to him and makes his way up the stairs. As he does, some part of Pan Qiu wants to stop him, to call out to him.

    He doesnt.

    He stays rooted in place. Alone with his thoughts.

    ~~~

    I am teaching you something advanced because I know other people are making sure Young Master will grow into a splendid cultivator. Dont misunderstand things.

    Chirp. Chirp.

    He apparently agrees, Liu Jin adds as his eagle chooses that moment to speak out. Feng Hao laughs.

    Thank you, Elder Brother. By the way, can we still? Feng Hao makes a vague gesture with his hands. Liu Jin sighs.

    I dont recall saying Id ever stop teaching you.

    Feng Hao tweedles his fingers. And the sparring?

    On the condition that you dont try to disguise your Qi while we do it.

    Feng Haos eyes shine.

    I wont let you down!

    ~~~

    I heard some disciples talking the other day, Lu Mei says as she chops some roots. Once again, she and Liu Jin are making some simple medicines in the Medical Pavilion. They are even using the same room as before; the same charmed disciple sits in the corner, taking care of placing temporal seals on the jars with the finished ointment.

    Is that so? Liu Jin asks, working with mortar and pestle in his hands.

    Lu Mei hums in affirmative while masterfully cutting the roots in same-sized pieces.

    It seems you are doing something dangerous.

    I am not sure what you mean.

    I am not sure I appreciate being lied to so poorly. It is quite unkind to force a lady to be so blunt.

    Lu Meis knife stops.

    You are meeting Feng Zhis brother. You are meeting one of the most polarizing figures in the Eternal Flame Clan right now. Her eyes narrow. Do you not realize how dangerous it is to associate with that child?!

    Liu Jin keeps working. I do.

    I dont think you do. If you did, youd want nothing to do with him. I could understand if your paths happened to cross once by chance, but you seem to have met him several times already. You have not been subtle, Jin. If I know, so do others. At this rate, your name will appear in conversations between people you are better off not involving yourself with.

    Liu Jin nods. I am aware of that.

    Lu Mei takes a deep breath.

    At that moment, all the air is sucked out of the room. The charmed disciple starts hacking and coughing. Liu Jin immediately turns to his eagle, but he finds the bird completely at ease.

    Most of the time, I find your quiet nature charming, Lu Mei says coldly. Today, it tries my patience. I do not appreciate having my concerns dismissed.

    Irritation rises within him; his hand tightens around the mortar. Liu Jin opens his mouth and

    Stops.

    He forces himself to swallow his words and forces his grip to relax. Lu Mei is not privy to the dozens of times he has had this argument with himself. Lu Mei is not his enemy right now. Shes just...

    You are worried about me

    I have hardly hidden that. Of course, I am worried about you! She rises, the chair behind her clattering to the floor as she does. You are not an idiot, so why are you doing something so obviously foolish?! Have you Have you been ordered to by Elder Xue?

    No, Liu Jin immediately answers. She had mentioned Feng Hao, but she had never told Liu Jin to approach him. He doubted shed foreseen he would end up meeting him by coincidence so quickly. I did not mean to brush aside your concerns. I apologize, Mei.

    Her name, without any titles or honorifics, comes out rolling from his lips in a way that feels both too intimate and just right. Lu Meis eyes widen by the smallest fraction, surprised and unguarded but only for an instant. The simmering tension in the room slowly fades away, though there is still a small frown on Lu Meis face.

    You say the right words, yet from your tone, I sense I wont like what youll say next.

    Feng Hao Liu Jin sighs. He is lonely. That is the impression I get from him. To abandon him when he obviously seeks company it feels wrong.

    Lu Mei stares at him.

    You frustrate me sometimes.

    If it makes you feel better, I frustrate myself.

    No. No, it does not. You will regret this. You realize that, dont you?

    Liu Jin sighs.

    I do.

    ~~~