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The night was cold, horribly cold as the plum trees lost blossoms and transitioned from autumn to winter. Snow started to fall lightly over the Hundred Thousand Mountain Range. Chung Myung and Tang Bo were camped up in a cave on the side of the mountain, hidden from external dangers.
It had been over five days of nonstop fighting, being called from place to place at the sight of a bishop appearance. This was the first time in a while they've had time to settle down and take a breath.
Sitting against the cave wall, Tang Bo wiped the blood off his knives, making sure not a speck of dried blood was left. He glanced towards Chung Myung.
"Hyung-nim, how's your arm?" Recently, Chung Myung suffered a huge gash on his arm while fighing a bishop. "It didn't open up, right?"
Chung Myung, spaced out, looked towards Tang Bo, then his arm. "It's fine." He sighed.
"Are you sure? It'd be bad if it got infected, let me see." Tang Bo halfway got up before Chung Myung stopped him.
"Didn't I say its fine? I'm not gonna die because of a cut."
"Really? Don't you know how many dumb people die from infection because they neglected their wounds? Are you planning to get taken out by infection before those demons?"
"But this brat?"
Laughing, Tang Bo scooted over from where he was and throughly checked Chung Myung's bandages. He didn't see any sign of infection, thankfully, but added a bit more medicine just in case. "Is it good to use up so much of that stuff?" Chung Myung asked as Tang Bo applied more powder.
Not looking up, Tang Bo replied. "It's fine. I have some leftover, plus, I can restock once we pass through Sichuan."
"Isn't that assuming there's no more surprise cultist attacks till then?"
Tang Bo finished wrapping the bandages back on, and pulled Chung Myung's robe back up over his shoulder. "Then just don't get injured like this. Didn't this happen because you spaced out like that again?" Tang Bo sat beside him, pulling his smoking pipe out.
Chung Myung grumbled, looking away again as he pulled his robes up more at the gust of frosty wind coming from the entrance of the cave. Tang Bo looked at him and sighed.
"Hyung, you should rest. I'll stay awake."
Chung Myung looked briefly at him, before asking "Do you have any alcohol?"
"..seriously?" Tang Bo's face turned blank. This guy's a patient, and he's still asking for alcohol?
"Haah..no, I don't." He'd used it all up, or Chung Myung drank it all--who knew?
"Tsk." Chung Myung clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Tang Bo tried to gauge what was going on inside this blackened taoist's head, but ultimately decided to keep what he had left of his sanity.
"But, you should rest, hyung-nim. When was the last time you've slept?"
"..." Chung Myung wanted to ask back the same question.
"Don't you trust me to keep watch? I'm wide awake, don't worry." Tang Bo smiled. "I'll even use calming herbs this time. It'll help you sleep."
In truth, Tang Bo was worried for Chung Myung. With him spacing out during a fight, if it wasn't for Tang Bo covering him, that injury on his arm could've been more severe, or worse--his life could've been lost.
Tang Bo knows Chung Myung wouldn't usually be taken down that easily, but these past months, neither of them have been their ideal strength--whether that's mentally or physically. So there was a cause for worry.
"Ah." Tang Bo gasped as if he remembered something. "I have a way to make you instantly fall asleep, hyung-nim. Wanna try?"
...what was this bastard about to do now? Chung Myung thought. His worries only increased once he saw Tang Bo pull out one of his recently cleaned needles.
"What are you gonna do with that!?" Chung Myung instinctively flinched. How many times has he been pricked by those accursed needles?
Tang Bo lowered the needle. "It's fine, it's fine! Hyung-nim, there's actually a acupoint right on the back of the neck. It'll make you fall asleep instantly." There was a small gleam in Tang Bo's eyes that didn't go unnoticed.
"So you're knocking me out?" Chung Myung's face twisted.
"I can just hit you out cold inste--it was a joke, a joke! Lower your fist please.."
Chung Myung lowered his fist, and looked back at Tang Bo. "Haah...fine." He said reluctantly.
Being unconscious whilst you can be ambushed at any time...But like Tang Bo said, he really hasn't been himself. He doesn't think he could fall asleep on his own if he tried.
...
"Get it over with."
With permission, Tang Bo reached over and pulled Chung Myung's hair to the side, before pressing the acupoint at the back of his neck. Within seconds, Chung Myung's eyes started to become drowsy. His eyelids started to fall.
Helping him get into a comfortable position on the floor, Tang Bo couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth within. Knowing that Chung Myung trusted him enough to fall deeply asleep in the middle of a war where being caught off guard meant death.
Tang Bo leaned back against the cave wall and took out his pipe to smoke. Another frosty gust of wind found its way towards them.
'..It'll be winter soon.' He fell back into thought.
---
Schring
He awoke to the scraping of a blade beside him. Momentarily still dazed, his eyes instinctively flew open, only to realize it was Tang Bo sharpening his blades. His heart eased. Looking again, there was something notable missing from him.
Then a familiar shade of green came into his view, spread to cover him and the surrounding ground. It acted as a blanket.
"You're awake, hyung-nim?" Tang Bo softly called, noticing Chung Myung's awoken. He stopped sharpening his daggers and focused on Chung Myung. "You sleep well?"
Slowly sitting up, Chung Myung turned his gaze to Tang Bo. The green outer robe fell from Chung Myung's shoulders. Chung Myung focused on it for a moment before answering.
"Well enough." Sleeping on the floor of a cave, you couldn't expect to get a good night's sleep.
..atleast he wasn't too cold.
"How long has it been?" Chung Myung looked toward the cave entrance. Unlike before when the sun was still in the sky, the sky had significantly darkened. The cave seemed to become twice as dark.
"It's only been a shichen. Go back to sleep. You have bags under your eyes, you know." Tang Bo resumed sharpening his daggers. Chung Myung watched him in silence, before taking the green robe off himself and shoving it towards Tang Bo.
Tang Bo caught it, looking mildly surprised. "You don't want it?"
"Take it back, I don't need it." Chung Myung moved to lean back against the cave wall to the side of Tang Bo. He moved his hand to lean his sword against his shoulder but it was snatched before he could grab it.
Tang Bo leisurely took the sword and unsheathed it, inspecting the blade. It was still stained with blood, and slightly dull. Tang Bo brought out a rag and started to wipe it clean. "Hyung, you should cherish your weapon more. This thing is filthy."
"A sword is used to kill people, why take care of such a thing?" Chung Myung grumbled.
"You could atleast sharpen it more often. Maintaining your weapon is also important. Haven't you heard that a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade?"
"...isn't that talking about cooking knives?"
"It's the same, the same!" Tang Bo quickly finished cleaning the blade, and pulled out his sharpening stone. The same scraping noise resonated throughout the cave.
Chung Myung locked his eyes onto the ceiling, his gaze tracing the jagged edges of the cave roof. Another involuntary chill went down his spine as wind blew in from the opening of the cave. It wasn't like they could make a fire, at the risk of the light alerting the cultists of their whereabouts. Chung Myung wanted to warm himself using qi, but sadly had to conserve it on the off chance of an emergency. He had already spent too much of it.
Chung Myung's eyes hesitantly latched onto the dark green robe he threw back at Tang Bo. It was on the ground between them. If only he didn't....
He was conflicted on whether or not to just grab it back, but knew Tang Bo would make another joke about it. Saying something like 'So even the Plum Blossom Sword Saint isn't immune to the cold weather, I knew it. Are you cold?' His pride would never allow that.
...
Fwoosh another cold breeze.
...
'To hell with pride!' Chung Myung quickly snatched the robe from the ground and wrapped it around him. The shivering ceased. He immediately felt warmth again. Who knew this leech's oversized clothes would come in handy like this? He used to think the Tang family were a bunch of fabric-wasters, but it seems their clothes have their uses. It was quite heavy, too. How did he wear this even on hotter days?
"..." said Tang Bo.
"..." said Chung Myung.
Chung Myung squinted his eyes, giving him a side glare. The robe was even wrapped over around his head, too....only the top half of his face could be seen....
Tang Bo could only stare in bewilderment, before bursting out laughing. He thought Chung Myung looked hilarious all bundled up like that. Chung Myung kicked him.
"Ack--! Hyung.." he stopped to catch his breath. "Ahem..are you more comfortable like this?" Tang Bo said, his smile never leaving his face.
"You gave it to me originally. Why are you complaining? You're not getting it back, no matter if you're cold." Chung Myung snapped.
But he wasn't even complaining? Who are you talking about right now, hyung-nim?
"I was just asking if--"
Fwoosh
This time, the gusts of wind had snow mixed in as well. It was the first snow of winter. The wind seemed to be especially strong.
"..."
"..."
Tang Bo pulled on the robe. Chung Myung had to keep kicking him, but Tang Bo held on.
"Give it! We can share! Hyung!" Tang Bo pleaded desperately, but to no avail.
"Piss off!" Chung Myung yelled as he continued kicking Tang Bo. Why is this bastard suddenly like this!
"How heartless!" Tang Bo looked defeated, and betrayed.
"Aren't you the Dark Saint! How can you be cold!?"
"Are you really saying that to me, hyung..." Tang Bo almost weeped. How can a person be so unfair? Shivering from the cold, he ran his hands over his arms. He's got goosebumps.
A few minutes passed.
"...seriously, stop chattering your teeth! It's loud!"
"Whose fault is that?" Tang Bo glared at him from the side.
"This isn't even the North Sea. Are you this weak?" He said, getting comfortable.
"...bastard." mumbled Tang Bo.
"What'd you say???" Chung Myung whipped his head back around.
"Nothing, hyung-nim." Tang Bo was cursing him out in his mind.
Another few minutes pass.
Chatter chatter
...
......
............
Chatter chatter
"Shut up! Get over here!" Chung Myung couldn't take the noise anymore. He opened the robe that was tightly wrapped around him, urging him to hurry before the cold wind gets in.
Tang Bo didn't miss this chance and wrapped the robe halfway around him. It was big enough to nearly cover both of them. They were squashed together, but instantly the chattering and shivering stopped.
"I'm letting you use it this once." Chung Myung muttered disgruntledly.
"It's mine, though? I'm letting you use it."
...Tang bo felt a sharp pain on his side. "Sorry. Stop pinching me, please."
They stayed like that for a long time. In a comfortable silence. Every so often they'd have a short tug of war over the robe, or accidentally elbow each other in the ribs. But they were mostly at peace. Tang Bo watched the snowfall outside. It seemed like the wind was really picking up. It kept getting louder and louder. He wondered how long they'd stay in here for before they left for Sichuan.
Thud
He felt something soft hit his shoulder. Glancing to his left, he saw Chung Myung with his head slumped over on his shoulder. He was asleep. His cheek was squished, too.
"..."
So this guy could have moments like this as well.
Sighing, Tang Bo smiled as he wrapped an arm around Chung Myung and pulled him closer to himself, making sure not to disturb his wound. He made sure he was covered by the robe as well.
He'd probably get hit once Chung Myung woke up, but for now he'd rather take all the warmth he could get. He didn't mind this at all. He looked outside again.
...
'I hope this blizzard takes a while to calm down.' He helplessly thought.