Chapter Text
Xiao Se
It was always the same since he started his journey without fail. His friends fell one after the other, while he simply watched, frustrated and unable to do anything more than dodge the attacks or stare at their multiple fights. It had been the same when he first met Lei Wujie by fate and then Wuxin and each time he felt helpless, very different from his old self.
Before, Xiao Se had been in his prime, an arrogant prodigy who could do almost anything, making a name for himself in the martial world from a young age. He was considered the most talented young man of his day and the favorite candidate for the title of Crown Prince. Then his beloved uncle was a victim of injustice and he ended up crippled, with his life turned upside down, ever since.
After that hellish night, Xiao Se spent many years in retirement, watching the snow fall outside the window of his inn and sighing wistfully. He longed for a change that seems to elude him, a new way of life filled with purpose instead of just letting the days go by. So he finally got his chance one fateful day and met new friends along the way.
It started with just wanting to reach Xueyue City as his first step, but then he had the chance to meet Wuxin in his golden coffin and thus the adventure he had been yearning for so long finally came when he least expected it.
He was excited to the core (even if he would never admit it to Wuxin), as they journey together to help Wuxin reach his goal. His own adventure had given him a renewed life, a renewed desire to reclaim what he had lost and start anew where he truly belongs. However, sooner than he would have wished, his journey with Wuxin ended so abruptly that he was taken by surprise. Xiao Se had been unknowingly living in his own private heaven, when the golden clouds began to fall in a dark storm that for a moment seemed to swallow him whole.
Their time together had been the best and he was willing to make good on his promise to travel the world, if Wuxin had really chosen it, instead of going back to his Sect. But fate was a fickle thing that in most cases was impossible to defy. Thus, Wuxin left to fulfill his own destiny while he was left yearning and moving to settle his own fate.
From there on, things start to get complicated and continue to escalate towards a fight for power and the throne. He wasn't entirely convinced in becoming Crown Prince, but he still got caught up in the fight up to this point. Now he had seen how his friends had been injured in the Lei Fortress and had decided to sacrifice himself in another to save them. He had no other choice under the circumstances.
The Art of Circulation restored him to his best power for a short period of time, so in order to keep his people safe, Xiao Se had given Old Master Tang a hell of a fight that he couldn't put up alone. Thus, the Dark River leader appeared to help the old man with his fight, however, in an unexpected move by Dark River Master, the Old Tang Master was killed in a blast, leaving Xiao Se seriously injured and unable to fight back anymore.
It was then that Xiao Se knew that he was going to die, because even if Old Master Tang was now dead, there was still the Dark River Master, ready to engage the fight. The others screamed his name as the man charged into a deadly attack that he couldn't avoid and in that split second, when he was on the verge of death, something completely unexpected appeared in his mind. Wuxin.
Images of them, of their time together flowed into Xiao Se's head filling it with what he had secretly treasure and an ache in his heart that had nothing to do with the wounds from his fight surged from the depths of his being. He missed Wuxin so much, that sometimes it hurts, he always looked forward to their next meeting and the fulfillment of the promise he was wishing to start. Now that he was going to die, he had wanted to see him at least one more time.
"Wuxin... I'm sorry." Xiao Se whispered as he saw the Dark River Master closing in on him with a deadly attack and braced for impact. However, just as Su Changhe was about to hit him with a wave of inner force, a golden bell enveloped him in protection and Wuxin appeared in front of him, sending another set of bells at the Dark River Master that pushed him away from them.
Xiao Se couldn't deny the happiness his heart felt as he looked at Wuxin's white back. The idea of seeing him again had been just a wishful thinking on the verge of death, but now that he actually had him at his reach, he was overwhelmed, because at least he had the chance to see him again before he die.
Of course, Wuxin took charge of the fight as soon as he showed off. He was more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the Dark River Master or anyone else who tried to harm them, but cunning as he was, just a few words from Wuxin, including that heart skipping words of 'very touching isn't it?' when he confessed to the Dark River Master of him coming just to save Xuai Se and Su Changhe and his men fled out of the Lei Fortress, closely follow by Li Hanyi.
"What a close call, Xiao Se." Wuxin said to him when he was barely holding himself straight.
"You're here." Xiao Se whisper to Wuxin.
"I'm here, Xiao Se." Wuxin softly say as he look at him.
"I'm glad I have the chance to see you..." Xiao Se whisper as he slightly smiled to Wuxin.
"One more time." Xiao Se finish before he falls backwards into Wuxin's strong arms.
"Xiao Se!!" Wuxin's yell was the last thing he hear before he lose consciousness.
Wuxin
He knew that he had come just in the nick of time, when Xiao Se was surely going to die. As he got closer, he saw Old Master Tang blow up to ashes between Xiao Se and Su Changhe and knew that he was badly injured, completely unable to fight back. That was precisely why Wuxin had rushed to the extreme to save Xiao Se before it was too late.
Now, having him wrapped tightly in his arms, unconscious and severely injured, Wuxin could only panic, afraid of losing him just when they had finally see each other again after so many months apart. Honestly, he didn't want unnecessary fights when Xiao Se was dying in his arms, so Wuxin was glad that the remaining Lei's came to deal with the mess in their Fortress while he grabbed Xiao Se bride-style and placed him on the nearest bed to which he was led.
Having a Scholar Sword Deity was of course a great help, because Xiao Se's condition was critical and needed immediate action from both of them. His first step was to give Xiao Se his qi, to treat his extreme condition and try to stabilize him. For Wuxin, giving Xiao Se everything he has was not a sacrifice, but an act that could save his life. However, since there were two of them, they could halve the strain of losing their own qi and have enough to try and keep him alive for the next treatment.... yet at the end they could only alleviate his injuries for some time.
Scholar Sword Deity, Xie Xuan went out to tell the others about Xiao Se's condition when they couldn't do any more at the moment, allowing Xaio Se to have some rest. Wuxin never left his side though, as he sat by his limp body in the now empty room and took Xiao Se's cold hand in his. He had arrived too late, Wuxin knew that very well, but he had been chased by another Sword Deity who was difficult to deal with, so he was unable to reach Lei Fortress in time.
He knew that he had come just in the nick of time, when Xiao Se was surely going to die. As he got closer, he saw Old Master Tang blow up to ashes between Xiao Se and Su Changhe and knew that he was badly injured, completely unable to fight back. That was precisely why Wuxin had rushed to the extreme to save Xiao Se before it was too late.
Now, having him wrapped tightly in his arms, unconscious and severely injured, Wuxin could only panic, afraid of losing him just when they had finally see each other again after so many months apart. Honestly, he didn't want unnecessary fights when Xiao Se was dying in his arms, so Wuxin was glad that the remaining Lei's came to deal with the mess in their Fortress while he grabbed Xiao Se bride-style and placed him on the nearest bed to which he was led.
Having a Scholar Sword Deity was of course a great help, because Xiao Se's condition was critical and needed immediate action from both of them. His first step was to give Xiao Se his qi, to treat his extreme condition and try to stabilize him. For Wuxin, giving Xiao Se everything he has was not a sacrifice, but an act that could save his life. However, since there were two of them, they could halve the strain of losing their own qi and have enough to try and keep him alive for the next round.... yet at the end they could only alleviate his injuries for some time.
Scholar Sword Deity, Xie Xuan went out to tell the others about Xiao Se's condition when they couldn't do any more at the moment, allowing Xiao Se to have some rest. Wuxin never left his side though, as he sat by his limp body in the now empty room and took Xiao Se's cold hand on his own. He had arrived too late, Wuxin knew that very well, but he had been chased by another Sword Deity who was difficult to deal with, so he was unable to reach Lei Fortress in time
"I'm sorry I came late..." Wuxin whisper as he lean over Xiao Se, to give him a chaste kiss on his lips, then pull away and kiss the hand he was holding on his own, with fear to let it go.
He had no idea how Xiao Se really felt about him, whether he only saw him as a good friend or something deeper like Wuxin felt. The connection between them had been strong soon after they met and was quite mutual at times... but he was no expert in matters of the heart and Xiao Se was too difficult to read with his barriers too strong to break down.
Thus, he was not completely sure what was really on Xiao Se's mind, just the feeling that Xiao Se was not indifferent to him, even if he was trying to make it appear otherwise. The last time they saw each other, when he was leaving to settle his Sect's affairs, Xiao Se was stubbornly determined to turn away, but he was almost certain that it had been to control his feelings, as the parting had been too hasty.
"I'm glad I have the chance to see you... one more time." It have been what Xiao Se told him before he fainted, along with that weak yet beautiful smile... but in Xiao Se's critical condition, that weak smile was the equivalent of a vibrant one. A smile that was meant to say goodbye.
"I'm not losing you, Xiao Se... just hold on, you can't give up halfway... we haven't travel the world yet." Wuxin softly murmur, as he let Xiao Se's hand rest over the other man chest. He was not going to give up on him and was determined to keep on trying... whatever it takes, he will do it.
"Wuxin! Let's try this pill and hope for the best." Xie Xuan said as he enter the room in haste to show him a pill.
"What is it?" Wuxin asked hopefully.
"It's called a Three-Days Pill and it will keep Xaio Se alive for those days, no matter his critical condition. I know it may worsen his condition after that time... but someone else will be summon here to try save him. Lei Wujie will write to his grandfather at the Sword Heart Tomb to send here the healer who is also Medicine King Xin Baicao apprentice. She will be expected to arrive in less than three days... is our only hope left." Xie Xuan said to him and Wuxin assented.
"Good. I will stay with Xiao See and keep an eye on his condition, after he takes the pill. You can go rest now, to replenish your lost qi." Wuxin suggested.
"Then what about you?" The older man asked.
"I will meditate here after making sure the pill works. You don't need to worry about me." Wuxin gently smiled.
"I see. Then I leave Xiao Se in your good hands." Xie Xuan said softly, then turned to leave the room after giving Wuxin the pill.
The next thing he did was gently place the small pill onto Xiao Se's parted lips and taking a sip of water on his mouth, Wuxin made sure Xiao Se swallowed both as he parted his lips wider with his own.
AN: A heartwarming first part for a special B-Day gift, for someone that have support me so wonderfully. Thank you, dear WayWooXian, I hope you like it and most of all, happy early birthday to you. I owe you a lot. 😊💖💖💖
