Chapter Text
Present day.
Xue Yang does not believe in fate, but a part of him has always known that they’d reunite. In past days, he had hoped that they would meet once more with another brilliant clash of mismatched blades—Xiao Xingchen’s sturdy frost against his fickle ash. But now that they’ve met under this strange condition, he thinks fate has a twisted and rather sadistic sense of humor, one that he can certainly entertain. Xiao Xingchen has no idea who he has saved, which allows Xue Yang the most perfect opportunity to play him like the fool he is.
At first, he is wary. It’s in his nature to trust no one, to take care of himself even in the most dire circumstance. For this reason, he keeps his guard up, despite Xiao Xingchen’s kindness. In fact, it is his kindness that is the source of his discomfort. Does Xiao Xingchen know and is simply playing the part so he can capture Xue Yang when he least expects it? It's an amusing thought, but it wouldn’t make sense. He is at his most vulnerable, being wounded like this, so if Xiao Xingchen wanted to turn him in, he would’ve done so by now. Yet the doubt, though irrational, persists.
Xiao Xingchen’s kindness does not waver over the days. He is gentle in his care, his hands fluttering over Xue Yang’s skin to clean the wounds that have reopened on several occasions. Not once does he chastise him, and not once does he pry him with questions. Respectful, Xue Yang decides, but so incredibly stupid to blindly trust—no pun intended. He looks forward to the day when the truth is revealed. Ah, the look on Xiao Xingchen’s face would be priceless!
But until then, he intends to revel in the fate that has given him the upper-hand.
“Daozhang.”
Across the room, Xiao Xingchen raises his head.
“The bandages.”
Like an obedient dog, Xiao Xingchen makes his way over and crouches next to his straw bed. He moves to unwrap the bandages that are bound tightly around Xue Yang’s chest, but before he actually can, Xue Yang stops him.
“Your own, I mean.”
Xiao Xingchen reaches up to touch the white fabric that shields his eyes from the world. “My apologies,” he says, after realizing it’s damp with blood. “It must be unsightly.”
“Doesn’t bother me, but A-Qing . .” He pauses. “Never mind. I forgot that she was blind.” The corners of his mouth curl in amusement as he recalls pointing Jiangzai at the poor thing and nearly gutting her on the spot. If Xiao Xingchen knew, surely he wouldn’t be as kind to him. “Lemme help ya.”
Xiao Xingchen shakes his head. “No need. I wouldn’t want to frighten you.”
“I’m not easily frightened. ‘sides, how do you know if it looks scary?” His eyes narrow.
“I was unfortunate enough to witness a similar incident.”
Song Lan, his memory supplies. As he suspected, Xiao Xingchen had given his sight to his dear friend. What a selfless, stupid act. Xue Yang can only roll his eyes.
“How unfortunate indeed. At least you won’t be able to see something like that again.”
He’s certain that Xiao Xingchen would take offense to his dismissive comment, but instead, a small smile stretches across the other man’s lips and he laughs, albeit softly. “That’s true,” he says before excusing himself to change his bandages.
Xiao Xingchen is strange, Xue Yang decides. For someone who’s so respected in the cultivation world, he lets his guard down easily, which leaves him susceptible to harm, particularly when he has lost one of his senses. It’s a choice that Xue Yang cannot understand; he hasn’t been the most trustworthy character on his end. In fact, the only information he has fed Xiao Xingchen is that he’s a fellow cultivator. Had he been in Xiao Xingchen’s position, that tidbit of knowledge would’ve put him on edge, but instead of going on defense, Xiao Xingchen merely smiled and said We have much in common to Xue Yang’s absolute dismay and disgust.
Such a complacent reaction only makes him curious as to what would make the other uncomfortable.
He tries to pry it out of A-Qing.
“Little Blind, what makes Daozhang mad?” He can't say uncomfortable, because that would be far too strange.
She bristles immediately. “Why do you want to make him mad?”
“It’s a simple question. I won’t make him mad. I’m just wondering, ‘cause he doesn’t seem like the type to get mad.”
“Well, that’s because he doesn’t,” she huffs. “Why do you care, anyway? Shouldn’t you be asking what makes him happy? Why mad? That’s such a weird question!”
He is suddenly very, very close to strangling the young girl. Whereas Xiao Xingchen lacks in defense, she makes up. In a sense, they’re suited for one another.
“Then tell me, what makes him happy?”
“Why should I tell you that? Are you going to use it against him?”
“I find it offensive that you think I have ill intent.” He tilts his head. “Why don’t you trust me? I’ve been kind. I gave you candy.”
She folds her arms across her chest stubbornly. “You threw candy at me.”
“I forgot that you were blind. What? You think I was testing you? Now, why would I do that?”
“I-I don’t know! But it was mean!”
“You’re the one being mean to me. Aside from that little mistake, I haven’t done anything to you.” He leans forward and presents a piece of candy to her. “But I’ll forgive you this time. Here. Truce.”
A rather intelligent girl, she understands immediately what he means and reaches out, palm up. He drops the piece of candy in, and she quickly unwraps it and stuffs it in her mouth.
He decides not to push this time and settles on feeding her until she stomps away with the accusation that he’s using sweets to win her favor.
A few days later, he overhears her whining to Xiao Xingchen.
“Please let me go with you. Pleaseee. I don’t want to stay with that Bad Man!” Bad Man? Is that what she’s been calling him behind his back? And she has the audacity to call him mean!
“You shouldn’t over-exert yourself.” Xiao Xingchen touches the back of his head to her forehead. “You should stay here and rest. I will be back with the medicine.”
“But—”
“Don’t worry, Daozhang.” Xue Yang appears around the corner and leans against the door. “I’ll take care of Little Blind.”
A-Qing purses her lips. “I don’t want you to take care of me!”
“A-Qing,” Xiao Xingchen starts, sounding a bit more exasperated than before. “I will only be gone for a few hours.”
“Well, why can’t he go instead?”
“He is still healing. I don’t want him to over-exert himself either.” Xiao Xingchen pats her head before straightening up and looking in the direction of Xue Yang’s voice. “Please make sure she doesn’t do anything rash,” he says.
Amidst A-Qing’s protests, Xue Yang agrees. “Come back soon,” he says. “I don’t think I can deal with her for more than an hour.”
She makes a flabbergasted noise but eventually admits defeat and allows Xiao Xingchen to pass. After he leaves, she scurries back to her room. Naturally, Xue Yang follows.
“That wasn’t very nice, Little Blind.”
Her grip tightens on her stick as she brings it closer to her body. Defensive. “My name isn’t Little Blind. It’s A-Qing.”
“Little Blind, A-Qing. Same thing.”
“No, it isn’t!”
He takes a step closer. Her ears perk and immediately, she lifts the stick up and points it at him. “Stay back!”
“There you go again, thinking I’ll hurt you.” He raises both hands in surrender, but after realizing that she won’t be able to see his gesture, he lets his arms fall back to his side. “What would I gain from harming you? Don’t flatter yourself, little girl.”
He takes another step. She takes one back, eyes narrowing.
“Daozhang said you shouldn’t over-exert yourself, so why don’t you lie down?”
“As if I can relax when you’re here! Why are you here, anyway? This is my room, isn’t it? Don’t you know anything about privacy?”
He smiles to himself and takes a leisurely stroll around the small room. A-Qing’s stick follows him in each direction. Good ears, he muses as he brushes his fingers along her belongings, which are thrown carelessly into one corner.
“Wh-What are you doing? Why did you stop walking? Are you trying to scare me? It won’t work, you know! I have very sharp ears.” She draws the stick closer to her body, her grip tightening.
“Very sharp ears, you say?” Xue Yang plucks a stray candy wrapper peeking out from under her bag and scrunches it in his hand. “Wanna tell me what that was?”
A-Qing visibly tenses. “It’s a candy wrapper,” she says.
“Yes, a candy wrapper.” He moves her bag to the side, and as expected, there are more scattered about—all empty of their sweets. “Little Blind, have you been stealing from me?”
Her mouth drops open. “Of—Of course not! Those wrappers came from all the candy you gave me.”
“Is that so?” He picks up a wrapper from the ground and casually makes his way over. She takes a step back, then holds her position, her stance now firm. He continues, “You’re lying. Do you know how I know that?” He lifts the yellow wrapper up in front of her face. “I only gave you yellow candy, but this one . . is red.”
She does not bite the bait, and instead, huffs. “Maybe you forgot that you gave me a red one.”
“Out of all the flavors, I like the red one the most. Why would I give those away? Maybe if I were nice , I would, but according to you, I’m a bad man.”
A-Qing folds her arms over her chest stubbornly. “I didn’t steal.”
“Do you think Daozhang would believe that?”
“Of course, he would! He trusts me!”
“Does he now?” The candy wrapper crinkles in his palm. “Let’s wait and see.”
An hour later, the familiar footsteps of Xiao Xingchen reach their ears, and A-Qing immediately clamors to her feet. “Don’t listen to anything Bad Man says! He’s lying!”
Xue Yang tsks from the wall where he sits against. “Little Blind stole from me.”
“I did not! He’s a liar!”
“Really now? Daozhang, I only gave her yellow candy, but do you know what I found in her room?” He raises the yellow wrapper once more and crumples it so it can be heard. “A red wrapper.”
Xiao Xingchen looks in A-Qing’s direction. “A-Qing . .”
“Bad Man just forgot that he gave me a red one!” She reaches out and grabs Xiao Xingchen’s sleeve.
“The red candies are my favorite,” Xue Yang says again. “Why would I want to give away the ones I like the most?” It’s a lie. Of the candies in his possession, he doesn’t have a strict preference for whichever flavor. He did, however, only give A-Qing the yellow ones; that is not a lie.
“Are you saying you gave me your least favorite flavor?!”
Xue Yang snickers. “That’s right.”
Xiao Xingchen places a hand on A-Qing’s shoulder. “Please forgive her this time.”
“But I didn’t—”
“A-Qing.”
She huffs, then jerks away and storms off, beating her stick angrily against the ground on her way out.
Xiao Xingchen lets out a slow breath, then turns to Xue Yang. “I apologize on her behalf. I will buy candy next time I go to town. What flavor is the red one?”
“Pomegranate.” For a moment, he considers leaving it at that. Xiao Xingchen is offering to buy him candy, and he’d be foolish not to take advantage of that. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to give the impression that he’s a little brat like A-Qing. Little brats are harder to get close to and trust. This in mind, he follows with, “Don’t worry ‘bout it. She’s a child. She’ll learn her manners.”
A small smile tugs on Xiao Xingchen’s lips. “Thank you for understanding.”
“You don’t have to be so formal around me.”
“My apologies.”
Xue Yang rolls his eyes, then pushes himself off the ground so he can stroll over to where Xiao Xingchen stands. Unlike A-Qing, Xiao Xingchen does not tense, falter, nor does he take a step back. Instead, he holds his ground and allows Xue Yang to put a hand on his shoulder. “By the way, the bandages.”
On cue, Xiao Xingchen raises his hand to touch the fabric around his eyes, only to find it dry.
“My own, I mean,” Xue Yang says.
“Ah, right.” Xiao Xingchen’s hand drops back to his side. “Let’s get that changed for you.”
Later that night, while Xiao Xingchen is out washing himself by the stream, Xue Yang sees A-Qing milling about and beckons her over. “Little Blind, come here.”
“Why should I?” Her chin juts out in childish disobedience.
“I have candy.”
“I don’t want your candy.”
“Are you sure? It’s a flavor you’ve never tried before.”
She narrows her eyes in his direction before tapping her way over and sticking out her hand, palm face up. He gives her a red candy this time, and she eagerly unwraps it and shoves it in her mouth.
“It’s good. What flavor is it?”
“Pomegranate.”
She falls silent for a moment. “What flavor is the red candy?”
His grin widens. “Pomegranate.”
“You—You tricked me!”
“So what if I did? What are you gonna do, tell Daozhang? Do you really think he would believe you over me? I have no reason to lie.” Especially since he turned down Xiao Xingchen’s offer to buy him candy; he gains nothing but pure amusement from this.
A-Qing stomps her foot. “I was right! You are a bad man!” With a hefty hmph, she turns on her heel and walks away.
He pops a pomegranate candy in his mouth and watches her go. At least, with this, he has confirmed for a third and final time that she’s truly blind. That, and he has loosened Xiao Xingchen’s trust in her.