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“I think,” Nie Huaisang began from behind his fan, his brows knit together and eyes darting back and forth, “this is a little unnecessary, Shewei.”
The view of Nie Huaisang sitting across the table was immediately blocked by an embroidered handkerchief held up by Nie Shewei, Nie Huaisang’s attendant. Nie Shewei leaned over the table where Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang were having dinner when he suddenly interrupted. Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue, craning his to look at Nie Huaisang, only to have his efforts rendered useless when Nie Shewei moved the handkerchief in front of Jiang Cheng’s line of vision again, blank expression never changing.
Jiang Cheng had half a mind to yank the handkerchief and rip it to pieces, but he’d be a very bad guest if he did that.
“Chief Cultivator Nie, you know the tradition,” Nie Shewei scolded, although his scolding was still monotonous as he usually sounded. “It’s improper for a Nie heir to be alone with a suitor once the intention to be courted is made without the proper tests.”
The thought of being called Nie Huaisang’s suitor made Jiang Cheng blush to the tips of his ears. After much complication and dancing around, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang had begun their not-so-private love affair a month ago after Nie Huaisang stopped by Lotus Pier on the way to a discussion conference. It had been an embarrassing affair that Jiang Cheng would rather die than recall out loud, but the basic gist of it was that they both had confessed their feelings to each other, had a very good night, and had been communicating via letters ever since.
Jiang Cheng had been excited to make a trip to Qinghe, using the excuse of night hunts to finally drop by and spend some time with his love once and for all.
Dammit. He really did have some sort of shit luck.
“That’s an outdated tradition,” Nie Huaisang all but whined. “Can’t you just let me have a meal with my lover in peace?”
“Not unless one of you wears a veil,” Nie Shewei said.
Nie Huaisang’s fan snapped closed. “ Shewei. ’
“Look. I don’t want to do this either,” Nie Shewei shrugged. “But the other senior disciples have been bugging me about it for weeks, and I’m tired of having to talk to them, Chief Cultivator.”
“Wait—what’s this about tests?” came a voice from the doorway.
When Jiang Cheng glared towards the source of the voice, Jiang Gouxie, his own attendant who was not supposed to be eavesdropping let out a terrified squeak and quickly looked down at his feet sheepishly. Jiang Cheng scowled at him, but he was too tired to yell at him again.
“If you have something to say, stop shouting it from the doorway where everyone can hear you,” Jiang Cheng said.
“Y-yes, sir!” Jiang Gouxie said, scampering closer.
“It’s an old, unnecessary tradition in the Nie sect,” Nie Huaisang glared pointedly at Nie Shewei as he spoke, but the other man didn’t even flinch. “It was a way to keep ‘unwanted spouses’ out of the inheriting line. Basically, both parties in the courtship have to take a test of sorts with a senior disciple from the opposite family to make sure they’re a match. It’s nonsensical.”
Nie Shewei shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”
Jiang Cheng crossed his arms. “Still, not being able to even see their partner? That’s excessive.”
The sound of Nie Huaisang’s beleaguered sigh carried over to Jiang Cheng’s ears. He could imagine Nie Huaisang rolling his eyes, fanning himself lightly. “Qinghe-Nie’s traditions were created by a bunch of violent prudes . Honestly, the previous heirs could have given the Lan clan a run for their money,” Nie Huaisang said.
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “Didn’t you used to smuggle pornography when we were teenagers?”
“Time changes things,” Nie Huaisang replied. “Like traditions . Yes, I’m looking at you Nie Shewei.”
“Come on, Chief Cultivator,” Nie Shewei said. “It won’t even be that bad. We could even finish it in a day. Just finish the courtship tests and we can all relax.”
“Besides, isn’t it kind of romantic…?” Jiang Gouxie wondered. He jumped when Jiang Cheng turned his head sharply towards him, raising his hands in apology. “I-I mean! Think about it Sect Leader, you both get a chance to show off to each other and win each other’s love! That’s romantic!”
“Say one more word and I’m leaving you in Qinghe,” Jiang Cheng growled.
“Sorry, Sect Leader!”
“It’s fine, Gouxie. Look, Shewei, I’m just—” Nie Huaisang lowered his voice slightly, as if Jiang Cheng wouldn’t be able to hear him from behind the handkerchief. “I don’t—you know, want to put A-Cheng in a difficult position.”
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes at the outline of Nie Huaisang moving behind the handkerchief. Something sparked in him—something that made his scowl deepen before he could register what was really happening. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What? It doesn’t mean anything, A-Cheng—”
“Are you saying you don’t think I’d be able to take on your sect’s courtship tests?” Jiang Cheng asked.
“No!” Nie Huaisang protested. “I just don’t want you to expend your energy over something so silly—”
“‘Silly’?” Jiang Cheng growled. “Is that what all of this is? ‘Silly’?”
“A-Cheng—”
“I’ll take your damn courtship test,” Jiang Cheng acquiesced, slamming his fist on the table as he looked up at Nie Shewei. He got up from his seat. “Then we can see how silly I am.”
“Sect Leader,” Jiang Gouxie tried to put up his hands appeasingly, but Jiang Cheng wasn’t in the mood for it, his chest feeling heavy. Jiang Cheng grit his teeth and turned from the table despite Nie Huaisang’s protests.
“We’re heading back to my guest room,” Jiang Cheng announced. “Jiang Gouxie. Come.”
As Jiang Cheng marched out of the dining hall, he heard Jiang Gouxie dismiss himself politely before running after Jiang Cheng. His attendant spoke the whole time, helplessly trying to make conversation or brighten Jiang Cheng’s dark mood. He didn’t stop until they got back to Jiang Cheng’s room. Jiang Gouxie closed the doors behind them.
“Um, Sect Leader…”
“What?” Jiang Cheng barked.
“Are you feeling alright?” Jiang Gouxie asked. “A-are you sure you want to do this?”
Jiang Cheng began to undo his robes, his mind racing to one million thoughts as he changed for the night. Was this all this whole thing was to Nie Huaisang? A silly tryst? Jiang Cheng was ready to give his heart to this man and he just thought of him as a passing flame?
Jiang Cheng’s fingers froze on the lapels of his robe and his eyes were fixed on the gap between the wood on the floor.
“Am I a fool, Gouxie?” he asked without looking up. “Am I not even worth entertaining approval?”
“Of course not!” Gouxie exclaimed, sounding offended that Jiang Cheng would even ask that about himself. “Sect Leader Jiang is a catch! The Chief Cultivator would be lucky to have him! Why, despite being blackmailed by all the bachelorettes in the cultivation world, Sect Leader Jiang is still one of the most handsome men in the—”
“Alright! Okay, I get it!” Jiang Cheng interrupted him quickly, feeling his face grow hot with embarrassment. “I’m going to bed. You’re dismissed.”
“Sir—”
“I’m fine, Gouxie,” Jiang Cheng insisted, the rasp of his voice melting into a sigh rather than a biting snap. Jiang Cheng ran a hand through his hair. He had too much to think about. Even though he was touched by Jiang Gouxie’s concern, he just wanted to sleep. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”
Jiang Gouxie looked like he wanted to say something more, but decides against it for once. He bowed moved towards the door, then paused.
“What?” Jiang Cheng asked.
“For… the courtship test,” Jiang Gouxie began hesitantly. “Nie Huaisang will also be challenged by a member of the Jiang clan. Who do you want to be your representative?”
Jiang Cheng waved his hand. “You do it.”
“Me?” Jiang Gouxie asked, startled. “Are you sure?”
“There’s no one else around here, is there?”
“That’s true…” Jiang Gouxie scratched his head. Then his eyes suddenly lit up, and Jiang Cheng immediately got the feeling that he should be worried. However before he could stop whatever train of thought crossed Jiang Gouxie’s mind, his attendant stood ramrod straight and bowed deeply. “I’ll make sure to be thorough, Sect Leader!”
And then he was gone, door slamming shut behind him.
Jiang Cheng sighed. Fine. He’ll deal with it in the morning.
Jiang Cheng finally got properly changed for bed, his heart still feeling heavy. He tossed and turned for a while, unable to put his mind at ease, his heart stuttering at every annoyed thought, at every knock at the window.
...Actually, perhaps that was a reason to be concerned.
Jiang Cheng quickly threw his blankets aside and grabbed Sandu. He took wide strides towards the window, hand on the grip of his sword. A shadow danced against the edge of the window, as if someone was pressed against the wall next to it.
“Who’s there?” Jiang Cheng barked. “Show yourself!”
“A-Cheng?”
Jiang Cheng’s heart leaped in his chest when he saw Nie Huaisang’s head poke around the window. His wide raven eyes looked around the room for a moment before his shoulders relaxed.
“Oh good, you’re alone,” Nie Huaisang sighed.
‘A-Sa—”
Nie Huaisang shushed Jiang Cheng quickly, putting a finger over his mouth. He quickly looked back and forth before he began to climb through the window.
“I’m not supposed to be here,” Nie Huaisang asked. “Stupid traditions and all. I just—A-Cheng, I wanted to talk to you about earlier.”
And suddenly, Jiang Cheng remembered that he was supposed to be mad at this man. No matter how much he loved him, he was still hurt. Jiang Cheng turned his head away as Nie Huaisang approached. Don’t look into those doe eyes—don’t give in!
“You said what you had to say, Chief Cultivator Nie,” Jiang Cheng said.
“No, I didn’t—at least not in the way that I had meant,” Nie Huaisang said. “You must listen to me, A-Cheng. I didn’t mean to question your abilities—or to make you think I’m not serious about us.” Nie Huaisang’s fingers found their way under Jiang Cheng’s palm, softly prying his fist open as Nie Huaisang held his hand. “A-Cheng, look at me.”
And against his bitter grudge, Jiang Cheng looked down at Nie Huaisang. Nie Huaisang was in his night clothes as well, his usual fan missing from his side. HIs hair was loose around his shoulders and he looked at Jiang Cheng like he held the world in his palms.
Ah, Jiang Cheng thought. I love him.
“I didn’t want to trouble you,” Nie Huaisang said, his eyes downcast. “You shouldn’t have to go through challenges for someone like me. I am not worth that sort of effort. Besides, I would want to see you regardless of what challenges you’ve won.” Nie Huaisang’s fingers tightened their grip slightly. “I love you dearly, you know. I just—don’t want you to take the challenge and… realize that perhaps you could find a better match than me after all.”
Something in Jiang Cheng’s chest ached terribly, and it took all Jiang Cheng had not to just pull Nie Huaisang closer and kiss him right then and there.
No, there were traditions in place, after all. And Jiang Cheng was going to prove that he was worthy—no, that they were worthy of each other. So Jiang Cheng just gripped Nie Huaisang’s hand back.
“I already know all of your embarrassing flaws,” Jiang Cheng said, to which Nie Huaisang made a sound of indignation. “Hey, and you… you already know everything wrong with me. There won’t be anything that will scare me away from being with you. I just want a chance to prove that to you.”
“You don’t have to prove that to me,” Nie Huaisang said.
“Then I want to prove it to the people who care for you,” Jiang Cheng said. “For the sect that loves their Chief Cultivator. I just—”
And suddenly, there was a pair of lips on Jiang Cheng’s. A rush of energy coursed through Jiang Cheng’s body as Nie Huaisang kissed him, almost like he was going to summon Zidian, but better—sweeter.
A little inkier.
“Do you still link your paint brushes?” Jiang Cheng asked when they parted.
“You already said you can’t be scared away,” Nie Huaisang responded. “You can’t take it back.”
Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to respond when there was suddenly a rap on the door.
“I’m not saying you’re in there, Chief Cultivator,” came the drawl of Nie Shewei’s voice. “But if you are… you’re breaking a lot of rules.”
Nie Huaisang sighed. “Once we pass these tests, we’re going on a vacation, A-Cheng.”
Jiang Cheng woke up with his nerves on fire. He paced around his room before getting changed, and swung Sandu in the courtyard a few times until he was satisfied, but he could never get his nervousness to go away. A servant directed him towards the hall where his test would be conducted and Jiang Cheng felt like he wanted to throw up his breakfast.
When Jiang Cheng entered the hall, Nie Shewei was sitting at an empty table in the middle, his hands holding a handkerchief and a needle. The doors closed behind Jiang Cheng with bang.
It was quiet for a long moment before Nie Shewei slowly raised his head.
“Sect Leader Jiang? Aren’t you going to sit down?” he asked.
“Aren’t we fighting?” Jiang Cheng asked.
Nie Shewei’s nose wrinkled. “I’d rather not.”
“But what about the test?”
“This is the test. Sit down, Sect Leader Jiang.”
Jiang Cheng took his seat at the table, which was covered in multiple expensive-looking, colorful threads, some cloth cut out in squares, and a pin cushion with needles.
“Take one,” Nie Shewei said, without looking up., His fingers were moving quickly, needle working with precision. “Embroider something for the Chief Cultivator.”
“I’m not good at embroidery,” Jiang Cheng said.
Nie Shewei shrugged. “It wouldn’t be a test if you were.”
With a piece of fabric and a needle in his hand, Jiang Cheng found himself at a loss. It wasn't as if he didn't know how to embroider, actually. Despite being the young master and maiden of the Jiang clan, his parents were not above making their children work alongside servants to “build character and cultivation.” When they were young, Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian would sit by Jiang Yanli and curiously watched as she embroidered a shawl. Handing them some scrap cloth, Jiang Yanli encouraged them to give it a try.
It had been over twenty years since then, but Jiang Cheng still knew the basic idea. That didn't mean he'd be any good at it. Jiang Cheng pricked and prodded at the fabric, trying his best to embroider something that at the very least had some sort of semblance to… anything. Jiang Cheng had never been clumsy, but he had pricked himself repeatedly with the needle. It wasn’t enough to draw blood, but after going at it for a while, even Jiang Cheng’s battle-calloused fingers felt tender from the sting of the needle.
“You know,” Nie Shewei began suddenly, surprising Jiang Cheng. As he spoke, Nie Shewei did not look up from his work, his hands moving with skilled smoothness. He had been embroidering what looked like a hummingbird in mid-flight among lilies. “The young master—or Chief Cultivator now—is pretty complicated. He'll analyze people's words over and over to the point where, if they're telling him something straight, he’ll work his mind so hard that he'll convince himself they meant something completely different. He doesn't trust easily.”
This was the most Jiang Cheng had ever heard Nie Shewei say in one sitting. “I know,” Jiang Cheng replied, a bit lost for words.
Nie Shewei nodded. “Before he died, the former sect leader figured it out. Words never got through to Nie Huaisang. Talk is cheap. But if you showed him through action, he'll understand completely. Those brothers were weirdly similar in that way.”
Jiang Cheng waited for a long time for Nie Shewei to continue, but the Nie disciple was done speaking and solely focused on his project.
Jiang Cheng looked down at his handkerchief, and with new determination, tore out the stitches.
Although Jiang Cheng had been alone with Nie Huaisang repeatedly before—although they had much , much more than simply sitting across from each other—there was something about watching Nie Huaisang’s silhouette moving from behind a screen that made Jiang Cheng’s heart skip a beat. He could make out the vague shape of Nie Huaisang’s fan closing from behind the yellowed screen, followed by the sound of it rapping on one of the two boxes that had been laid out in front of the Chief Cultivator..
“No one’s watching, you know,” Nie Huaisang said. “Are you sure?”
Jiang Cheng nodded curtly, before realizing that Nie Huaisang couldn’t see him either. “It’s fine,” he said. “I want to do this properly.”
Despite his words, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but feel like there was a lump in his throat. His heart hammered in his chest as Nie Huaisang hummed, before opening one of the boxes.
The challenge, Nie Shewei revealed later. Was to see if Jiang Cheng’s skills were good enough to make Nie Huaisang pick his embroidery over Nie Shewei’s. When Jiang Cheng heard that, he almost wanted to zap his work into shreds and start anew—even though he knew it would be to no avail. How the hell was he supposed to compete with someone who was practically known for being skilled at embroidery?
“If you wanted to sabotage me, you should have just said so,” Jiang Cheng growled. “Why waste our time with this challenge?”
“I don’t want to sabotage you,” Nie Shewei said. “I was looking for someone to do my work—the Chief Cultivator wanted some new pieces and I haven’t had time to make any until now. Do you not trust him to choose you?”
“I trust that he will know what he wants,” Jiang Cheng said, and his heart ached.
“I think that’s a problem for you,” Nie Shewei had said with an unsympathetic strug.
“Oh!” Nie Huaisang’s voice snapped Jiang Cheng back to the present. Behind the screen Jiang Cheng could see the shadow of a cloth being unfurled. “How beautiful! The detail on the lilies are quite remarkable.”
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes slowly, fist clenching in his lap from where he was sitting on his knees. That one was Nie Shewei’s project. It was no surprise that Nie Huaisang would be awed by it—even Jiang Cheng, who had never been a man for appreciating art, was impressed by Nie Shewei’s work.
Nie Huaisang hummed happily as he laid the handkerchief over the box. His silhouette shifted over to the second container, and Jiang Cheng could feel his heart beating so fast he was worried that it would leap out of his throat.
There was rustling, and then the sound of wood clacking as Nie Huaisang remove the lid before his silhouette went absolutely still.
Jiang Cheng could feel his mouth growing dry nas he opened it to excuse himself, to excuse his own failure—anything to fill this silence. But before Jiang Cheng could speak, Nie Huaisang stood up.
Shocked, Jiang Cheng followed suit, only for Nie Huaisang to walk around the screen to Jiang Cheng’s side. He looked at Jiang Cheng with wide eyes, and in his hands, Nie Huaisang clutched a handkerchief embroidered with a mountain and a lotus in his hand.
“You never told me you could embroider,” Nie Huaisang said, his voice soft, betraying no emotion.
Jiang Cheng’s heart was beating so fast, for a moment Jiang Cheng wondered if he were dying, or if it he were at least going through a qi deviation. Jiang Cheng gulped before responding,
“I can’t,” he said, “Er, at least not well. This was my first attempt at making a full project.”
“It’s beautiful,” Nie Huaisang said, stepping closer.
Jiang Cheng was startled. That could not have been anything more than a lie. After all, the stitching was completely off, and the colors he chose still left something to be desired. At the very least, he did his best to make sure it actually looked like the cold cliffs of Qinghe accompanied by a lotus flower, but it was barely passable.
“It’s amateur,” Jiang Cheng countered.
“I love it,” Nie Huaisang said. He reached out with one of his hands to grab Jiang Cheng’s. He looked over Jiang Cheng’s fingers, his thumb carressing Jiang Cheng’s palm. “Goodness, didn’t anyone get you any bandages? Look at how many times you pricked yourself.”
“It’s not bleeding,” Jiang Cheng pointed out.
“But it still hurts doesn’t it? I’m sure we have some medicine around here, but I just,” Nie Huaisang’s hand tightened. Nie Huaisang slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I really love you.”
Jiang Cheng’s face went red, but he tried his best to keep his composure. He closed his fingers around Nie Huaisang’s.
“I love you, too,” he said.
“I know,” Nie Huaisang said, getting up on his knees and leaning in.
Suddenly, the door slammed open. “Chief Cultivator Nie! I—” the source of the voice let out a horrified yelp just as Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng leapt away from each other. “S-sorry! I didn’t—I didn’t mean to intrude!” Jiang Gouxie stammered, covering his eyes with his hands.
“I’d say it was pretty good timing,” Nie Shewei said from where he was leaning against the doorway.
Jiang Cheng’s entire face felt hot with embarrassment as he got to his feet. “Gouxie! Didn’t I tell you a thousand times to knock before coming in?!” he yelled.
“It’s alright, A-Cheng,” Nie Huaisang said, grinning from behind his fan. The bright red hue curling over the shell of his ear was his only tell as he stood up. “It’s my turn to work hard—was that what you came in here for, Jiang Gouxie?”
“Yes, Chief Cultivator Nie!” Jiang Gouxie said, standing ramrod straight.
“Alright then, I must get prepared,” Nie Huaisang said. “Please excuse me.”
As Nie huaisang shuffled out of the room, followed closely by Nie Shewei, Jiang Cheng grabbed Jiang Gouxie by the elbow.
“What sort of challenge did you give him?” Jiang Cheng asked.
Jiang Gouxie scratched the back of his head. “Armed combat, sir.”
“Wha—” Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened. He scowled and grabbed Jiang Gouxie by the lapels of his robe, to which his attendant let out an undignified squeak. “You’re supposed to be ensuring that I can continue being with Nie Huaisang! Not dooming our relationship!”
“I know! Sir, he’ll be fighting me! It’ll be fine!” Jiang Gouxie protested, putting his hands up in surrender.
Jiang Cheng frowned, but let go of Jiang Gouxie’s robes. It was true that Jiang Gouxie wasn’t the strongest fighter by Yunmeng-Jiang standards, but Jiang Cheng still made sure that even the worst disciples met his cultivation standards. Over the last twenty years, one thing that hadn’t changed about Nie Huaisang was his lack of concern for physical training. Although his core had finally developed, Nie Huaisang seemed uninterested in cultivating it any further.
“...Just… don’t make it too difficult,’ Jiang Cheng said, but as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt a strange unease. Was that insulting to his love? To underestimate his ability like Jiang Cheng did.
Jiang Gouxie’s brow knit together. “Sect Leader,” he began. “With all due respect, I don’t think I, or any of the other Yunmeng-Jiang disciples would accept anyone who can’t match us in battle. And if I may be so frank, it’s a disservice to Chief Cultivator Nie to hold back.”
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes for a moment, and then finally nodded. “I suppose even you can say something smart every once in a while,” Jiang Cheng said.
“Th-thanks?”
“Do your best.” Jiang Cheng said, patting Jiang Gouxie’s shoulder. His attendant immediately beamed at the command, as if Jiang Cheng had praised him.
“I won’t let you down, sir!”
The Qinghe-Nie sect’s training grounds were dry and dusty. A crowd of disciples gathered around Jiang Cheng and Nie Shewei under the sweltering sun as Nie Huaisang and Jiang Gouxie stepped into the battlefield, and Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure if it was because Nie Huaisang having a public battle was considered a rare sight to see or if it was because the Qinghe-Nie disciples were simply used to the heat of the sun peeking over the mountains.
On one side of the field, Jiang Gouxie was brandishing his sword. Despite not being one of Jiang Cheng's stronger fighters, Jiang Gouxie held his head high, and brought his sword fiercely down to his side.
On the other side, Nie Huaisang stood with his eyes closed. He had changed out of his usual flowy sect leader regalia and into something more suitable for fighting--something darker that made his shoulders look broader, not unlike the clothes that Nie Mingjue used to wear. However, Jiang Cheng noticed, there was no saber at his side, nor any sort of sword or weapon. Instead, in both of Nie Huaisang's hands, he held two sturdy metal fans.
"Qinghe battle fans."
Jiang Cheng was startled slightly by Nie Shewei's sudden quip. The other man didn't seem to notice, and just stood with his arms crossed, looking like he would rather not be here.
"They were designed for Nie sect courtesans for performance and self-defense. They have sharp edges, but are more useful as blunt objects," Nie Shewei continued. "They're not very impactful by themselves though, so they're not a formal weapon that the sect recognizes."
Across the field, Nie Huaisang had finally opened his eyes. A disciple spotting the match called for them to get ready and Nie Huaisang took his stance, his fan glinting under the sunlight. His jaw was set, and for a moment, his dark eyes flickered over to Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng's heart stirred. Was this what Nie Huaisang looked like when he fought? Suddenly, it felt like there were too many people around for a moment that Jiang Cheng wanted to be private. He almost had a mind to call off the entire match just to pull Nie Huaisang into a dark room so they could both forget anything else.
" Start!"
Nie Huaisang's gaze snapped away from Jiang Cheng's immediately. Dust kicked around them s Jiang Gouxie leapt to make the first move, bringing his sword straight down on Nie Huaisang, who quickly lifted his arm to block it with his fan with a loud clang that reverberated through the clearing.
Jiang Gouxie's eyes glinted with excitement. "Amazing, Chief Cultivator Nie, I thought you might have some sort of spiritual energy trick up your sleeve. I didn't expect your fans to be battle-ready!"
Nie Huaisang laughed. "Of course not. My spiritual energy still leaves something to be desired--besides I didn't do much more than defend myself. Are all Jiang disciples this aggressive to attack first?"
Jiang Cheng couldn't help but click his tongue. No, actually. Jiang disciples should not be leaping into any fight where they didn't know the full extent of the enemy's power. Jiang Cheng was going to have a very serious talk with Jiang Gouxie when this was over.
Jiang Cheng heard the snap of Nie Huaisang's fan in his other hand opening, revealing a aerated metal edge. Jiang Gouxie's eyes went wide as Nie Huaisang sliced at him with the open fan, leaping back just in time, so that only his sleeve was caught in the crossfire.
"'Self defense'?" Jiang Cheng asked Nie Shewei, who just shrugged.
"Traditionally Nies are rather... excessive," he said.
Nie Huaisang's fan snapped close, and suddenly Jiang Cheng could feel spiritual energy filling the air, the flow of it almost dangerous. One of Nie Huaisang's fans hurled through the air towards Jiang Gouxie, who parried it with some difficulty. When the fan returned to Nie Huaisang's hand, his legs seemed to falter for a moment.
"Huaisang!" Jiang Cheng called, only for Nie Shewei to put his hand out in front of him. "What the hell are you doing?" he scowled. "His spiritual energy isn't normal. He's going to lose control."
"He'll be fine," Nie Shewei said, perhaps too calmly for Jiang Cheng's liking.
But before Jiang Cheng could protest further, another loud clang filled the air, followed by another, and then another repeatedly. Back on the battle field Jiang Gouxie was trying to fend off Nie Huaisang's fans as they swung at him, the force of their blows strong enough to hit so hard that Jiang Gouxie's heels were digging into the ground trying to defend himself.
However, despite the show of brute force, they seemed to be at a standstill. Nie Huaisang could not make both fans at once, and Jiang Gouxie was unable to move as he was being attacked relentlessly. With Nie Huaisang barely able to control his own spiritual power and Jiang Gouxie lacking the skills to stop the onslaught, it had become a stalemate.
There was sweat dripping down Nie Huaisang's face and soaking through his robes. His muscles were tense, and the arm movements he was using to control his fans was starting to falter. Jiang Cheng's heart hammered in his chest and he readied himself to leap into the fight if things got out of hand.
Then, one of the fans faltered and fell to the ground.
Jiang Gouxie finally parried the other fan and leapt into action, hurtling towards Nie Huaisang at a terrifying speed as the other man fell to his knees.
A sense of dread washed over Jiang Cheng. This couldn't be it, could it? If Nie Huaisang failed this challenge, Jiang Cheng wasn't ready to let this end. The road to finally being together had been too long, too arduous for Jiang Cheng to let it go.
"Watch," Nie Shewei's voice broke through the cacophony of Jiang Cheng's thoughts, and something barely resembling a smile seemed to creep onto Nie Shewei's lips.
Just as Jiang Gouxie came closer to the fallen NIe Shewei, one fo the fans suddenly opened in front of the point of his sword. His blade pierced through the fan, only for the fan to slam shut and twist the sword out of Jiang Gouxie's grip.
Jiang Gouxie's eyes bulged in surprised, but not before he saw Nie Huaisang ducking under him, palm outstretched and ramming into his stomach. There was a spark of spiritual energy that was strong enough to kick up the dust around them as Jiang Gouxie let out a yell of pain. And when the dust settled, Nie Huaisang sitting on the ground, panting with his hands on his knees. And Jiang Gouxie was lying sprawled on his back, groaning.
" Victory for the Chief Cultivator ."
Jiang Cheng quickly rushed over to the two of them, he knelt down in front of Nie Huaisang and looked over at Jiang Gouxie, who was panting hard, but otherwise seemed okay.
In fact, Jiang Gouxie immediately sat up, hissing and clutching his stomach with a wince. "Chief Cultivator Nie! You lied--you just said your spiritual energy was nothing!"
Nie Huaisang pulled his lips into a pout. "It is nothing! I had to pour all of my energy into that strike! I was so tired I thought I wouldn't be able to do it."
"Are you alright?" Jiang Cheng asked.
Nie Huaisang looked like he was going to wave him off for a moment, before he paused. Then he turned a very pitiful look Jiang Cheng's way. "No, I'm very very tired, Sect Leader Jiang. I'm all sorts of exhausted. Carry me back to my rooms?"
Jiang Cheng snorted but moves closer to Nie Huaisang as the other man wrapped his arms around his neck. "If you're healthy enough to joke, you can walk back yourself."
"Sect Leader! That's not romantic at all! You've just gotten official permission to court Chief Cultivator Nie and you want him to walk all the way back to his rooms by himself?" Jiang Gouxie protested.
Jiang Cheng felt his face grow hot with embarrassment as the Nie disciples around them started to chatter. "Lower your voice, idiot!"
"No, he's right," Nie Huaisang said. "I need to be thoroughly impressed now. What are you going to do to woo me properly, Sect Leader Jiang?”
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes, even as he looped one arm behind Nie Huaisang’s back and the other under his knee. “Give me back my handkerchief.”
Nie Huaisang gasped, pressing his hand over the right side of his chest. “You already gave it to me. It’d be rude to take it back!”
Jiang Cheng’s heart fluttered slightly. “You kept it on you?”
Nie Huaisang looked away, his cheeks dusting pink. “It’s my new good luck charm. Don’t make fun of me,” he said, pouting. He jabbed Jiang Cheng’s chest with his finger. “Besides, we’re in the long haul now! You can’t take it back after all of this hard work.”
And for a moment, as if he had forgotten that there were still people around, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but smile as he leaned in. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, before stealing a kiss.