"Whatever happens, Lan-Hun… don't die tonight," Xiao whispered, his words brushing the edge of prayer.
"Then don't stand in my way," Yujin hissed, voice low as a drawn blade.
For one breath, the drunken laughter of the Pavilion faded, silk lanterns swaying overhead like quiet moons.
Inside Yujin's mind:
The dead man's clue: 翠色不归 — Green never returns. Who was he protecting? Why does this warning feel aimed at me?
His fingers brushed the hilt of his sword, calluses whispering across worn wood.
Yet a deeper fear prickled beneath his skin: not death ... but failing.
Failing to uncover the truth. Failing his clan.
And failing… this man at my side.
"Why is he here? Why won't he run when danger comes? Is it only pride… or something else?"
Inside Xiao's mind:
" Let them come. If they cut me down, so be it ... but if they dare touch him…they'll see another wei kumsun which they never knew existed...I might be not powerful enough or a cultivator as him..but I've my own way to write my own ways... at this same world where I'll build my own story behind the fallen legends..I'm not blind as those people...I believe they'll raise again..and save people like us..."
His hand dropped to the small blade hidden in his sash, pulse quickening not from fear, but something darker, older: a vow to protect .... even if Yujin had never asked for it.
"You think you can keep me out of your fight?" Xiao murmured, voice soft but sharp as glass.
"You should," Yujin shot back, throat tight. "You're not a cultivator. You'll only-- "
"Die?" Xiao finished, smile crooked. "I've heard worse offers...those are like tiny ants to me..Care about your life..you can't die..just yet , remember it "
Before Yujin could curse him, shadows flickered ahead.
Two masked figures stepped from between silk curtains, robes dyed in dull twilight blue, sleeves stiff as armor.
Their steps were slow, deliberate... killers who had no need to rush...they were into the boundaries of the Pavilion..for some unknown reason .
"Stay behind me," Yujin breathed, the words half command, half plea.
"No," Xiao breathed back, quieter still. "Not tonight."
" You're too much stubborn for me to handle . " Yujin whispered while a bit annoyed because Xiao never listened him .
" Don't you think I'm still alive because of that . Same stubbornness ? "
Xiao whispered back . His eyes looked both mischievous and oddly deep..like there is a huge untouched novel inside..maybe even closer then shadows his eyelashes made over his cheeks....
He was lost into thoughts for some seconds before coming back to reality...
The lead figure lifted his hand. Steel glinted, moonlight dancing across curved blades.
Yujin's heart pounded... not in fear, but fury: Another death? Another dead mouth hiding secrets?
He wouldn't let them vanish into ashes as the suspect had . Yujin pulled out his sword and pointed at one of the figure's throat..right near to the Adam's apple...
The figure smirked while other one tried to pull out his own sword and lunge at him but he stopped him as he waits what yujin says
"Who sent you? Dont you dare twist things or even drink poison like the other one to escape..." Yujin demanded, stepping forward.
The figure paused. Then laughter... low, muffled by the mask... rippled in the dark.
"Green never returns," the figure rasped, words as dry as burning paper. "And neither will you."
Xiao moved then, faster than Yujin had seen him before
" what the- Xiao ! " Yujin breathed in shook by that young , stubborn boys behavior .
one blade drawn, curved like a crescent moon, slashing toward the attacker's arm.
Steel clashed; sparks bloomed in the dark.
For an instant, Yujin caught Xiao's face in lantern glow... teeth bared in a snarl, eyes alight not with fear, but fierce joy.
Xiao's thought, raw:
" Try to touch him. Just try. "
Yujin with wide eyes..both stunned and annoyed , thinking :
" what the hell is this.. men Pavilion boy's problem ?! Why he's always behind my back and gets to kill himself or something? "
" how dare a pretty tiny whore like you attack on us ?! " The other masked figure growled but the injured one just smiled mockingly.. both impressed and angry..in a twisted way..
" call me that once again and you'll never know where I'll twist that same blade in your body ! " Xiao threaded...his blue eyes widen voice raised a bit to show how serious he is .
Yujin's thoughts while he was watching how Xiao was fighting with that tiny knife..he was standing like letting Xiao light himself by that :
" that Lotus seed..isn't small enough for everyone.. "
"You fight well… for a courtesan," the masked man sneered...
"And you speak bravely… for a dead man," Xiao spat, twisting the blade...the man's hot blood rolled down from his arm to Xiao's wrist..then elbow...then dropped on the ground silently...
The figure also attacked back which lightly digged into Xiao's waist . He gasped In pain , moved away , the knife he was holding dropped from his hand with a soft thud .
" Xiao ! Told you to stay back ! " Yujin yelled , grabbed Xiao's arm and kept him behind
" you're.. alright ? Is the wound deep ? " Yujin asked while his eyes was on the figures and busy to stop their attacks.
" I'm not that weak , Han Yujin..don't treat me like a girl.." Xiao murmured while his hand on his waist to stop the bleeding .
" you little-- never speak straight "
" I'm not straight then how My words can be ? " Xiao said with a pained smirk .
In the clash of steel, in Xiao's breath hot against his ear, Yujin felt the world sharpen: two hearts , one unspoken bond...
" Fine fine..now atlist stay quiet.." Yujin yelled after composing himself . His voice barely above whisper .
Then: a sharp whistle cut the night... a signal.
The second figure leapt back, tossing something small and green into the air.
Yujin's eyes widened: a shard of jade, etched with a sigil.
翠色不归.
But before he could seize it, the figure crushed the shard in his palm.
A shockwave of cold, sweet air burst outward ... then silence.
Both figures vanished, as if smoke had swallowed them whole.
"Damn it! How dare they ran away randomly again ! " Xiao cursed, voice ragged .
Yujin's hand hovered in the air where the shard had been, breath tearing in and out of his chest.
So close. Again… so close.
"They were willing to die rather than speak," Xiao murmured, gaze locked on Yujin. "What could frighten men like that?"
"Something worse than death," Yujin whispered, voice barely steady.
His fingers curled into a fist, nails biting skin.
"And you," he turned, voice shaking with anger he didn't know where to place. "Why did you fight? Look at the wound you got.. Why do you keep risking-- "
"Why do you keep coming back here?" Xiao cut him off, words low, rough. "Don't lie, Yujin. Not to me."
Yujin froze. His mouth opened, but no answer came.
And in that silence, the ruin of crushed jade scattered at their feet, the truth between them stayed unsaid... yet heavy as the night sky.
[ End of Chapter 6 ]