"Oh?"
Wan Mie had to contain his excitement, almost biting the thumb that pressed against his teeth. With an enormous smile, he looked over at Tao Hua, who was both stunned and confused.
Nothing but wind, scraping metal, and piling snow echoed. Everyone in the ancestral palace's vicinity had their eyes on Tao Hua, while Tao Hua had his on Weng Jing.
And that look...oh that look. Weng Jing's face made Tao Hua push a foot behind, as if ready to flee at a moment's notice.
"Sorry…?" said Tao Hua. "Who are you talking about?"
It was almost the same exact reaction Wan Mie and Shan Si gave him back at the palace gate. Except that instance involved his grandfather, and Weng Jing was referring to him as a woman named Daoist Master Zhuan.
The only other woman he'd know to have the surname "Zhuan" was his mother. But even considering that, nothing was ever mentioned by the Siyue Town folk, the Tao Estate servants, or his father on his mother being cultivator.
In fact, she was akin to Tao Hua—isolated.
Therefore, how could someone so young and weak strong enough to earn the title Daoist Master?
Regret was forming where information should have sat. Tao Hua wondered if he had wasted so many years not asking about his origins or the person who died giving birth to him.
Face scrunching, he lifted his hand and started to scratch at the side of his head, feeling somewhat frustrated and lost.
In a flurry of rattled confusion, Suo Han entwined his fingers and looked like a man praying. The loose strands of his hair flung from one side, whipping to the other, as he rapidly shifted his gaze between Tao Hua and Weng Jing.
The longer they stood in that silence, the more flustered Suo Han became. Nearly crushing his own hands, he shouted a loud "HUH?!"
Soon after Suo Han's outburst, the eerie air filled with breathless laughs, turning into genuine and enthusiastic mirth.
All except Weng Jing, who was both helplessly infatuated with and committed to Tao Hua, turned to look at the source of the laughter. Wan Mie had slapped his hand against his face, shaking his head. He held up his other hand and gestured lightly each time he tried to talk.
"Master…?" Suo Han began to look worried, as if Wan Mie had been possessed. "Are you okay?"
"Never you mind me, child." He waved at Suo Han, before breathing in happily. "Seems our resident Daoist is nothing more than a lost pup! He misses his master so much he's become delusional! How I love to see it."
Both Suo Han and Tao Hua squinted at Wan Mie, but he only continued, "So much so, he's confused a cute little man for his love! Interesting, how very, very interesting. Tell me, Weng Jing, what is it about Rabbit's Foot that makes you think of Daoist Master Zhuan? It's been two hundred years."
Tao Hua turned away, a crease forming between his brows.
Weng Jing was a cultivator, and it looked like he took his job seriously—enough to render himself blind. Therefore, immortality was inevitable. But two hundred years?
It couldn't be his grandfather or his mother.
However, at mid-thought, Tao Hua froze. Then his head shot up and his eyes fell on Wan Mie. It was as if Wan Mie knew exactly what conclusion Tao Hua had come to, and the corners of his mouth lifted with that knowing smile of his.
This guard dog couldn't be happier with the outcome of today's adventure.
Love…? Tao Hua thought. He wanted to look over at Weng Jing, however something urged him not to; a fear, and that fear would be planted correctly in the way his heart raced a million miles per minute.
What does he mean by his love?
Weng Jing wasn't bothered by Wan Mie's commentary. Nothing could erase the ecstatic glee steaming from him, not even an old man's ruthless provocation.
Completely ignoring Wan Mie's question, Weng Jing moved toward Tao Hua and stood before him. Swallowing, Tao Hua could see his shadow on the snow.
What an awful situation to find oneself in.
"What's going on?!" cried Suo Han. "Why won't anyone say anything?! I-I don't like it!"
He had himself stationed and ready to move forward, watching both Weng Jing and Tao Hua carefully. But given his master's reaction and casual stance, he wasn't sure what to do.
Was this bad or not?!
"Hm." Weng Jing examined Tao Hua closely, his head tilting. Squeezing his eyes shut, Tao Hua began to mouth numbers, counting up to ten repeatedly. Regardless of his discomfort, Weng Jing asked, "Are you certain this is a man, servant boy?"
"Y-Yes! I'm sure of it! Does it matter?"
"…" Tipping his head up, Weng Jing momentarily contemplated before answering, "…no, it doesn't."
But he didn't seem to believe him and instead, he decided to conduct his own test. Holding up his hands, he slapped them against Tao Hua's chest and shuffled along his baggy top.
Eyes widened, both Tao Hua and Suo Han reacted immediately. As red and hot as a flaming phoenix, Tao Hua reached his hands up and gripped Weng Jing's arm, while Suo Han rushed over in a flurry, his speed astonishing.
"W-What are you doing?!" cried Tao Hua. "STOP—WHY?!"
Laughter erupted, adding to the chaos. Wan Mie had turned and bent forward, one hand pressed against the tree, and the other wrapped around his stomach.
He had to wheeze a few times, shouting, "Unbelievable! Two hundred years since, and he's still madly in love with a woman who wouldn't look twice at him! Amazing!"
"Daoist Master?!" Suo Han said, stopping right before Weng Jing's stubborn hand. Unbothered, Weng Jing continued patting around, somehow convinced he would find something.
"It's flat," he said. His next words practically made Wan Mie slam his fist against the tree. "Daoist Master Zhuan wasn't flat. I remember."
Just as Weng Jing trailed downward, Tao Hua could feel his entire body heat with embarrassment. No matter how much effort he put into his arms, Weng Jing's hands just wouldn't budge.
"That's fine. Souls are not man nor woman. If I must, then I will marry a man." But he paused, his hands placed over the sash that secured Tao Hua's nightwear. His head turned toward Suo Han, who looked devastated at what he was witnessing. "Servant boy, answer me. Are you certain you saw everything?"
"I—!!" Suo Han met Weng Jing, pale eyes to lids. "I beg your pardon, Daoist Master?!"
"Nevermind. You've always been a useless child. This Daoist Master has no other choice, it seems. A check will have to be conducted under my heavenly skies."
But just as the sash loosened, something immediately stopped it. Tao Hua, completely shaken and digging his nails into Weng Jing's arm, saw another hand. The only difference was this one was actually capable of prying Weng Jing off with great force. In fact, it was so strong, Weng Jing's wrist nearly snapped.
When Tao Hua looked up at his saviour, he saw the fuming face of his servant.
Unbelievable!
He was convinced this man couldn't even lift a sword, and yet here he was tugging away with a grip as strong as the palace's best cultivator!
It was becoming increasingly clear why Shan Si assigned Suo Han to watch over Tao Hua.
"This is unbecoming of you, Daoist Master!" he shouted with confidence, shoving Weng Jing back and away from Tao Hua. "Are you looking to die?! As his devout servant, I cannot allow this to continue without the Young Master's permission!"
Bewildered, Tao Hua grabbed the top of his nightwear, holding it together with his trembling hands. Though flustered, he couldn't keep his eyes off whatever version of Suo Han this was.
However, Wan Mie didn't seem surprised. He wiped away the tears of his enjoyment and straightened himself. Hand back to his hip, he said, "You anger a bear, you deal with the consequences. Good job, Suo Zong."
Such praise coming from a man who did nothing to help the situation but laugh.
Like a switch, Suo Han reverted back to his typical self and in a frenzy, he rushed to Tao Hua, swiftly grasping his sash and helping him tie his shirt up.
"You've been edging on the fury of our lord for many years now, Daoist Master," said Suo Han, tightly knotting the sash with extreme might. "What would Lord Shengkai think if he heard what you did today?! Everyone knows his stance on the Young Master!"
Rubbing the reddened marks on his wrist, Weng Jing didn't seem to care. He just lowered his sleeve over his arm and flapped out the wrinkles.
"Unlike like you all, I'm not scared of His Highness, nor do I care for his possessive ways," he said. "It's always been my destiny to wed my master, and now she's standing right before me, back from the dead. This is a sign from the heavens; I must take it seriously."
"He!" Suo Han shot Weng Jing a threatenig glare.
"Well, we're using the heavens to leverage our own interests now, huh?" Wan Mie approached Suo Han and Tao Hua. "Noted."
Still completely embarrassed, Tao Hua turned his head toward the ground and refused to look at anyone. He so desperately wanted to hide away—Suo Han was right to say today's expedition wasn't worth the effort.
In a candid tone, Weng Jing said, "No. It's been this way for two hundred years."
"Hogwash, Weng Jing. Though I didn't expect this encounter to play out this way, you've really grown a pair." Turning toward Tao Hua, Wan Mie gently nudged Suo Han aside and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Tao Hua stubbornly glanced up to meet Wan Mie's eyes. They had a gentle gleam to them, enough to make Tao Hua drop his guard slightly.
Seemed Wan Mie had a way with actions, enough to ease anyone around, just as it exactly did when he first met him with Shan Si.
However, the words wouldn't match the face.
"My deepest condolences, Rabbit's Foot. Seems you not only gained the favour of our Lord and Suo Zong, you've also found a lap dog. I pity you so." He patted Tao Hua's shoulder a few times, letting out a huff.
Standing upright, he looked toward the gate, watching as Li Zhou finished the last bit of the snow. With a loud laugh, he mocked, "Good luck getting rid of him! What a pleasant disruption we've gained within the palace walls; I was starting to get bored. Pray to the gods, Rabbit's Foot! You'll need it. Ha, ha, haaaah."
"No need to pray. He'll come to accept it soon enough," said Weng Jing, arms crossed and a look of righteousness crossing his face. "Such is the decree of the heavens."
Tao Hua could feel his stomach twist. Frowning, his eyes shifted toward the gate. For some reason he just wanted to see the man that brought him there—and more-so, he wanted it to be him who helped.
"Right," said Wan Mie. He hopped behind the two young men and pressed a hand to each of their backs. Pushing them toward the door, he beamed a wide smile. "Baths are calling, yes? Hop to it! There's plenty waiting for you there."
Just as they made their way to the gate, Weng Jing followed behind them, completely shameless.
It seemed he, too, was on his way to join them in the bath.
Tao Hua wanted to drop then and there.
Chapter end.