This wasn't the greatest timing, I thought as we put away our weapons and headed towards the gate. Who could it be? Guests were rare at our hall, and the very few that did come were usually for me, such as Chu Xi and Zhong Yilan making their medicine requests whenever Bai Ye was away. With both of them gone, I couldn't think of anyone else that might be interested in visiting.
Bai Ye opened the gate with me behind him. Someone who appeared to be in his early thirties stood across the threshold. It took me a little while to recognize him as Teng Yuan, Xie Lun's master.
"Almost three hundred years and you've never invited me to your hall, Bai Ye," Teng Yuan said as he nodded a simple greeting and stepped inside. "Why now?"
I suppressed the urge to dart a surprised glance at Bai Ye. He wasn't particularly close to any other masters at Mount Hua, and I couldn't even remember when was the last time that anyone had visited him. Yet he had invited Teng Yuan?
And from the sound of it, Teng Yuan didn't seem all that thrilled to be here.
"I heard you will be watching over the tournament at the south field," Bai Ye said simply, and the two of them sat down at the tea table. I stood quietly beside him, unsure if this was a conversation meant for me to hear. He hadn't dismissed me though, so I lowered my head and tried my best to look uninterested in what was going on.
"It is time that I ask for the favor you promised back in the days," Bai Ye continued. He gestured for me to come forward. "Qing-er, greet Master Teng Yuan. I believe you haven't met him in person before."
I almost shook when I heard his words. Even though Bai Ye had always called me "Qing-er" since we met, he had never said it in front of other people. Between a master and disciple, omitting last names sounded a little … too familiar, and not everyone was as nonchalant about formalities as he was.
Besides, what did I have to do with his favor?
Nonetheless, I obeyed his command and stepped forward, trying not to overthink it. "Master Teng Yuan," I bowed low in a formal greeting, "it is a great honor to meet you."
I felt Teng Yuan's gaze hovering over the top of my head as I bowed. After what seemed like a very long time, he asked, "The swords on your belt, is that Twin Stars?"
I nodded, surprised that he could recognize it so easily. Was Twin Stars really such a legendary pair of swords?
He studied me again, so intently that I started feeling a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Just as I was wondering if I should say something to break the awkward silence, he asked Bai Ye at last, "What do you need from me?"
"You've heard what happened to Chu Yang's daughter and niece," Bai Ye replied. "My disciple was involved in both of those incidents and has gotten on Chu Yang's bad side because of it. I want you to give her your help, should anything undesirable happen during the tournament … and in the future."
"Master?" I blurted out before remembering that it was unacceptably rude for a disciple to interrupt a conversation between masters. But I was too astounded to realize it in time. Although I didn't know the history behind the favor that was promised between them, I could tell that it was a grave undertaking—Bai Ye never asked for favors, as he hated to owe or be owed by anyone. I thought that he was going to request something serious related to the tournament, but this was it? He was asking Teng Yuan to fulfill the promise by … protecting me?
Teng Yuan knitted his brow at the request as well. "You realize you are asking me to act against Chu Yang for the sake of a disciple," he said. Though contrary to what his words suggested, his tone was calm and flat, as if what Bai Ye asked was only what he anticipated.
"I realize it," Bai Ye replied. "And that is why I reminded you of what you owe me."
He sounded almost rude, but Teng Yuan must either be used to this way of conversation, or was so thoroughly engrossed in considering the matter that he didn't notice the attitude. His gaze swept over me once more. "There are two fields at the tournament," he said, "and I am only watching over the south one. Chu Yang will visit whenever he feels like, and we don't know when he will end up where."
"I will be at the north field," Bai Ye said.
Teng Yuan shot him a glance. "The tournament has been going for four hundred years. You've never shown up once. Chu Yang will notice … even if nothing happens."
Bai Ye huffed dismissively. "I can handle him noticing. Are you helping or not?"
There was a strange tension between them, and I could feel that something else was left unspoken but understood in their exchange. For the fourth time, Teng Yuan stared at me in such an intense way that it almost made me shudder. Then he made a strange sound, somewhere between a bitter laugh and a sigh. "What else can I say, Bai Ye? I made a promise, and I owe you at least this much."
I was still in a daze when Teng Yuan stood up to leave. Why did Bai Ye make such a big deal out of the Gatekeeper's grudges against me? And judging from Teng Yuan's reaction … he didn't seem to have taken a liking towards me, and was probably only forced to accept Bai Ye's request because of the promise between them. Would this "favor" further damage their already fragile relationship?
Bai Ye noticed my worry as soon as he closed the gate behind Teng Yuan. He gave me an assuring smile. "Teng Yuan might look difficult to deal with, but he's trustworthy. Don't worry."
"Master …" I said a bit hesitantly. "I will be careful at the tournament. You didn't … didn't need to go this far to help me."
He smiled again, though this time, I didn't miss the regret in the corner of his eyes. "I'm not taking more chances after what happened last time, Qing-er." He rubbed the top of my head softly. "I promised to keep you safe, and I'll be able to sleep better knowing that someone else can watch out for you when I … when I'm not around."
The sun dazzled behind him as he spoke, and I recalled what I had just said before Teng Yuan showed up at the gate. No, never hurting me was far from enough for Bai Ye. From remedies to strengthen my health, to helping me practice and prepare for my challenges, to making sure that I would stay safe even without him by my side … Was there anything that he wouldn't think of and wouldn't do for me?
My heart melted at the thought.. "Bai Ye …" I fumbled for the right words to say, and when I couldn't find them, I reached up and pressed my lips onto his.
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