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Yunli made a vow, to hunt down all cursed swords and melt them before they reach any more hands. She won't let any of her father's cursed weapons feed on the blood and sanity of any swordsman again. And much to her desires, everyone seemed to agree with her decision. Until this Sword-giving ceremony...that is.
It was a disgrace to be the daughter of that insane man. Yunli would rather be the trouble herself, than letting a cursed sword cause more of a ruckus. She vowed to burn every last bits her own birth father's legacy, and to her dismay, her very dear grandfather Huaiyan was in her way.
She didn't understand, why was he, the person she trusted the most, hid this from her and now standing in her way? Or maybe she shouldn't have been so hasty and fierce in the middle of such an important ceremony? Whatever the case was, Yunli felt the urgency and impatience to set that sword ablaze, before it becomes the seed of more turbulence. If it weren't for the ashen-haired trailblazer confronting her, she would've been Aeon knows where by now.
Meandering admist the busy street of the Luofu Street in Central Starskiff Haven, Yunli could see the skiffs taking off, landing by the jetty, rinse and repeat, until the sky was flickering with the skiffs' light. The Zhuming was not as hectic as it is in the Luofu, she allowed her mind to roam around momentarily, like the skiffs on the artificial sky. Tears burnt her eyes from the events that's occured earlier, leaving dried stains on her face, and a tired, drooping pair of eyes. She could feel the drops of acid welling up and leaking out of her eyes once more, alone in a bustling city left with her own past to haunt her. Opening up way simply way too much.
On his return from training, Yanqing happened to be passing by. As soon as he picked up the sight of Yunli from the corner of his eyes, he instinctively tried to approach and ask whether she's found March 7th or not. But, a brief pause, what is she doing all alone in the Central Starskiff Haven quietly? Yanqing tried to convince himself she was just enjoying her time on the Luofu, but he could not shake off the feeling that there was more to what's on the surface. She looks...a bit unusual. Yanqing deeply considered how he should approach her. She looked like she was...heaving for air?
"Hey Yunli, have you found Miss March?" He decided to make a safe approach, only for the catlike girl to jolt in surprised and quickly stifled sniffles and quiet sobs.
"D-did anybody taught you to not sneak up on someone without heads-up!?" Yunli defensively raised her shaky voice at Yanqing, without turning her head back. Why wasn't she looking at him? Yanqing clicked his tongue and almost instinctively tried to make a come-back, but he immediately retreated after picking up the breathlessness and shakiness in her voice. He fell silent for a bit, which left Yunli mentally blaming herself if she'd gave her temper away.
"I wasn't trying to..." Yanqing spoke with a doubtful and confused tone, yet cautious with his voice, then he paused. He quietly moved forward, almost subconsciously closer to take a quick sight of the girl's face in order to see what's going on. The raven-haired lets her miserable tears roll down her face while turning her head quickly away from Yanqing, dare not to move an inch and wipe her tears. She didn't want Yanqing to find out she was crying no matter what, he would look down at her...call her weak...then pick on her again. But her vulnerability was slipping away, her shaky breath and small sniffled, hiccups, they were all giving it off no matter how hard she tried to stifle them. People tend to cry harder when they knew they'll be discovered crying, and she hated every moment of it.
But Yanqing wasn't like that. He wasn't all competitive with Yunli. They could've talked nicely if it weren't for Yunli picking with him first, leaving their every single interaction from then on filled with sarcasm and intimidation. If this would be an opening to a better conversation and understandment between each other, as rivals and masters of the same disciple, he'd take it without questioning.
"Hey...What's..." Yanqing broke the ice with hesitation etched in his voice "Why did you turn away, something the issue?" He knew something was off, but he tried his best to sound nonchalant and intimidating, as if he didn't care. Why would he care about the one who stole his sword and picked a fight with him?! Yet, everything on his expression and voice betrayed him. He really wanted to pry.
"N-nothing! Don't come any closer!" Yunli whimpered softly, her best efforts to stifle her sobs are slowly crumbling apart, it was too evident now, she gave it all away. Yanqing wore a frown on his face, he instictively reached his hand out before stopping midair, briefly reminded of his position and their relationship.
"Yunli- why are you crying?" Oh how he felt like a complete idiot asking that question. He's never seen anyone crying in front of him except for some kids and babies, and he's never cried to anyone except the general, how was he suppose to know the ways to tend a bleeding wound? Rivals or not, he couldn't just leave her be. His mind was swarming with planned out words of what he should say. Why was he so concerned about this...weird girl he met?
Yunli hated this. She could've been somewhere quiet in the first place, undiscovered by anyone, so that she could let all her tears out for a while. But now that she's stuck here, on the brink of being exposed to her own vulnerability, she felt miserable, she couldn't do anything but bursted into tears, more and more, uncontrollably. She weeped in her own distress, her face in her hands, her head down low. What was a boy like Yanqing supposed to do in this situation? He felt miserable too. At the first place he never intended to feel such concern towards Yunli, but now seeing her weep like this, it left him bewildered, conflicted and clumsy, unable to do what's suitable and what not in such circumstance, and above all, he felt concern. He felt the need to comfort her, why?
After befalling to silence, he reached his hand out hesitantly and placed them on her shaking shoulder. He'd thought it through, and he simply could not leave her here weeping as he stand like a cowardly statue. Much to his surprise, Yunli shook her shoulders off and wiped her tears away, running away. He stood there, dumbfounded. Has he done something wrong? Yanqing hated himself for this moment just now.
On the soft sheets of the hotel mattress, Yunli calmed down, as she reflected on every single thing that's happened today. The sword, her father, her past, her grandpa, the trailblazer, and then Yanqing came to her head, finally. Why had she shaken him off like that? Yunli could've sworn she wasn't mad at Yanqing, now that she gave it some deep thoughts. She just instictively ran away, like a cat not wanting its weakness exposed. She hated being vulnerable to others, especially Yanqing. In a brief moment of indecision, her Fight of Flight system triggered. She flighted. She would rather die than having to cry in front of darn Yanqing. But the more she thought about it, he genuinely meant no ill intentions. She never hated him, it was just her nature to be intimidated and to intimidate other swordsmen, whom she never has the chance to talk to again. But fate decided to tie her with Yanqing, so much that they had to continue their interaction despite the bad terms they were in. Did Yanqing really care...? If he did, maybe Yunli should go apologize and talk to him next time they meet while training March.
After sorting out and having the sword sucessfully transformed into a guqin as per its wish, Yunli went back to her usual mentoring routine with March and Yanqing. Yet March could not help but notice the stiff silence between the both of them today. No witty remarks and comebacks, back and forth, none at all. The awkward atmosphere was thick, the silence was louder than ever. Only sounds of March's grunting, swords clashing and occasional guidances were heard.
As soon as class was dismissed, March snuck off to let the two of them be. Yanqing figured he would just let her be and carry on with his life, but given that he still has a lot of interaction with Yunli, things couldn't get any more awkward. The silence prolonged, before Yunli abruptly began.
"Uh...I'm sorry." Yunli rightfully spoke, a genuine apologetic look on her face. Yanqing crossed his arms and let out a look as if saying 'You're seriously only apologizing now?' But he didn't say it, considering Yunli was still in a sensitive shape. "I'm sorry for shaking you off like that, I do owe you an explanation, but forgive me...I can't." Yunli's eyes drooped a bit. She wasn't use to being genuine and apologetic at all. First she had to apologize to her grandpa and everyone for the scene she caused, and now Yanqing...
"...You don't have to." Yanqing remained silence for a while, thinking of what to say, before his voice softened as he gave in to his instict. "I'm not going to pry, but you scared me a lot there." He continued with a sheepish pinkish hue in his face. Yunli can technically see it, and she felt slightly...touched.
"What's this? Why are you taking it so personal?" Yunli brushed off her sentiments and smirked like a cat at Yanqing's expression, pointing at him mischeviously. "Blushing? Are you concerned about me? Hah...!"
"Zip it, I'm being the well-mannered man I ever was!" Yanqing interrupted with a fierce grunt and a flush on his face before turning away, while Yunli felt like a victor as she continuously pointed out his face. This wasn't what any of them expected after a vulnerable scene....but it ends all awkwardness, and maybe that's the happy ending for the both of them.
"Well mannered?! You???" Yunli laughed, God, how it drives him insane the fact that she was making fun of him for his concerns towards her. "You talk big!" Yunli continued with her trademark smirk.
"If you're going to pick on me just you wait! I'll kick your bu-- I mean, I'll turn March into the champion and I'll get all the credits!" Yanqing slurred as he was suddenly reminded of both generals laughing and assigning the two at mentoring March instead of sparring, like a kid being reminded not to fight.
"Yeah, yeah! Whatever!" Yunli scoffed, as the both of them got interrupted by the March 7th who was secretly observing like a spy.
"Masters! Time for milk tea and candied fruit skewers ! My treat!" March chimed, dintentionally emphasizing Yunli's favorite snack, as Yanqing jumped, his pink cheeks ablaze again. Yunli dropped all of her wariness and beamed as she followed March, leaving Yanqing sheepishly following.
"Miss March! You eavesdropped us!—" He desperately called March as he followed the two sprinting girls. What a roller coaster of experience...But at least everything's back to normal now. Albeit, Yanqing knew for a fact that this experience will mentally change something in him, the way he perceives Yunli, forever.