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It was a hot day for Xie Lian. he felt like melting with how hot it was. Xie lian gave wu ming a side glance “we’re taking a rest nearby. go search a place for me to rest under the tree or something”
“Yes Your Highness” Wu Ming bowed as usual and disappeared into the darkness. While waiting for Wu Ming to came back, xie lian walked around the place to search for a better place to sit down too.
When he saw a quite nice place to sit down under the tree, he looked from right to left to see any sign of other people that might sit there first but he saw nothing. What a good opportunity, right?
xie lian immediately walked there and sat under the tree. It was indeed such a good and refreshing place to rest. If he had a house someday, he would like to have a house with a big tree in it so he can stay there all night just to relax and enjoy his life.
Sadly, not long after that peaceful rest, a drunk villager came to xie lian direction.“Hey hey heey you in all white. what the fuck are you doing there? that's my place. go fuck off somewhere else” said the old man.
Xie Lian tried to ignore him. He was just a drunk old man, didn't even worth to be in an argument. However, that man didn’t leave xie lian alone. He kept yelling at xie lian without any hint of stopping “Oi young man did you hear me or not? How dare you disrespect an old man like me. Don’t you know who I am?? I'm your damn ancestor. respect your elder and fuck off!!”
‘no. it's not worth your time xie lian. just stored your energy for yong’an’ xie lian said to himself. but it seem that ignoring the old man made it worse because the next thing xie lian knew was, the man poured all the remaining wine on top of xie lian's head.
“see what the fuck did you made me do? wasting all my wine on you because you don’t respect me” the old man said. xie lian closed his eyes in anger and stood up, facing the old man. before he could even hit him, there was a shadow right in front of me.
“Touch him and I will cut that filthy hand of yours” Wu ming said with a blade pointed into his neck. It did scare the old man as he scrambled to run away as fast as he could. Wu Ming then turned back and bowed down, bending one knee to the ground.
“I'm sorry, your highness. I was away for too long and you have to deal with that useless trash. I'm really sorry your highness. I'm okay with any punishment” wu ming said. xie lian just glad wu ming finally scared that old man away before he killed him for real.
xie lian just turned his head and went back to sit under the tree “it's fine. you already scare him away. That's more than enough. we will be resting here for a while”
Wu ming just nodded and slowly sat beside xie lian but still had some distance from xie lian like he wanted to respect xie lian boundaries. xie lian wanted to see what kind of expression lies behind that smiling mask. He slowly reached out to grab the mask from wu ming but before he could reach it, wu ming took a step back.
“Your highness. Please use this to wipe your face. I don't want you to caught flu” wu ming said while handing him a white and clean clothes. indeed xie lian head was drench with stinky wine before he didnt even realise it until wu ming pointing it out.
xie lian took the clothes and wiped his hair first. He removed his mask to clean up all the dirt and wine from his face. Even though wu ming was wearing a mask, he could sense wu ming staring at him. Xie Lian chuckled “What are you staring at?”
wu ming bowed his head down and said “I- i didn't– I’m sorry your highness it wasn’t my intention to do anything disrespectful. this lowly one is deeply apologise” xie lian stared at wu ming before he pat a space beside him “sit here with me”
wu ming stared at xie lian first. didn’t know whether to obey or disobey. sure he wanted to obey everything xie lian asked him but sitting right next to his God would be such a disrespectful thing to do. Xie lian sighed ‘this stubborn child’
“i won’t repeat myself wu ming '' wu ming slowly nodded and walked to sat beside xie lian. wu ming body was so stiff as a board. xie lian tried again to reach for his mask but wu ming stopped him before xie lian could touch it “D-dont your highness. i'm too ugly and not worthy for you to see” wu ming said but it didn't stop Xie lian.
xie lian already seen worse so what could possibly be so wrong about this young soldier's face? Xie Lian ignored wu ming plead as he carefully peel of the smiling mask off from wu ming face.
behind that mask lies a beautiful pale face with a red eye on the right and black on the left. ‘this is ugly? if this is ugly then this young solder must be mistaken’ xie lian told himself. despite xie lian didn't say anything to wu ming, wu ming kept trying to hide his face away either with his hair or hand.
xie lian stop him from doing so. placing a finger under his chin to make wu ming face xie lian straight into his face. “This isn’t ugly. how come you consider this face as ugly?” xie lian asked. wu ming didn't answer him right away like he used to.
wu ming looked hesitated at first and tried to look down. with a cracked voice he answered “everyone used to call me ugly because of my weird red eye. They told me that it would bring misfortune to anyone who saw it. i didn't believe it at first but now…. im kinda believe it”.
xie lian felt a little bit of sympathy for this young soldier. He then positioned himself so his body was facing the young soldier while his two hands cup both of wu ming cheek “wu ming, whoever told you that they are lying. you have the most beautiful face i’ve ever seen. never tell yourself ugly ever again” xie lian gently rub wu ming cheek with his thumb as a comfort to the young soldier.
xie lian gave him a little smile but his smiled stop when a water touched his thumb. it wasn’t a rain nor any unusual water. it was wu ming crying. his tears slide down from both of his eyes. xie lian panicked and pull back both of his hands. “What's wrong? did i do something that hurt you or say something wrong?” xie lian asked..
Wu Ming shook his head and wiped his tears away. “No it isn't his highness's fault. Im sorry but it's just been a while since someone said something nice to me” xie lian raised a brow “no one has ever said something nice to you before?”
wu ming smiled “there was someone before. My beloved said something nice to me and here I am still alive because of that. I can’t leave this world if my beloved is still suffering here” xie lian understand that. wu ming mentioned his beloved when they first met. It was his reason to stay alive in this world. Well, Xie Lian got a bit jealous knowing that someone as loyal and gentle like Wu Ming already had a special someone in his heart. When will xie lian become a beloved to someone?
xie lian let out a yawn and rested his head on the tree. He then gestured wu ming to come closer. wu ming did obey without any hesitation like before but not too close to xie lian again. xie lian sighed and pulled wu ming into his embrace. Wu Ming was shocked at first and tried to steady himself so he could sit up. this wasn't a servant and a God relationship. xie lian thought otherwise. He held wu ming tighter and brushed his hair gently “rest wu ming you need it” xie lian said with a gentle voice. “but your highnes–” “shh no buts''
Wu Ming finally gave up and just let his body rest on top of xie lian. slowly embracing back his highness gently and placed his head on xie lian shoulder, trying to get comfortable.
“comfortable wu ming?” xie lian asked. wu ming just nodded. didn't dare to speak anything or move as if he moved even a little bit, the peaceful atmosphere will disappear. xie lian rested his head on top of wu ming too and sighed in content. at least they should take a peaceful rest because they knew sooner or later, they would face a greater despair ahead of them.