75 This time

"You came for me!" Peng Jipei cheered as he threw himself onto his cousin, "Thank goodness, I thought I was done for!"

Yuan Xuelan let out a sigh of relief, glad that Peng Jipei was safe in one piece. But even as he exhaled, the truth was, Yuan Xuelan was not calm at all.

No, his mind was in utter chaos.

And he was too afraid to even turn around, afraid that he might catch sight of Liu Sumeng. Why was he such an idiot and had to lose his patience like that? Had he not grown out of his ridiculous hot-headed phase? Yuan Xuelan lamented over his own immaturity in silent shame.

Liu Sumeng remained at the door, with Nan Chang tugging at his sleeve, "Liu-gege, won't you come inside?" She asked sweetly.

He shook his head, "I will keep watch."

She took a moment to observe him and study the Ivory Sword Saint's stoic expression. "Xuelan doesn't mean what he says. He's a sweet boy."

Liu Sumeng really wanted to know how he got himself into a situation with Nan Chang trying to console him with kind words. He couldn't help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all. It did help calm some of his wound up nerves. "I know."

"Hm, okay then!" With a little curious tilt of her head, she didn't pry any further and went inside the room, joining Yuan Xuelan and Peng Jipei.

Liu Sumeng let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Just what was wrong with him? The past few months in his life, he had really spiraled out of control with his feelings. Without Yuan Xuelan making him second guess, did he inadvertently become an insensitive person again?

He wasn't sure.

Maybe he should be more sensitive. Yuan Xuelan was right about Peng Jipei. He was Xuelan's cousin, his friend and without solid evidence, Liu Sumeng couldn't just condemn him either.

That was difficult, considering Peng Jipei's transgressions in their previous life.

After all, Chen Anyue's death had been in his hands.

...In the end, the kid was still suspicious. This time, Liu Sumeng wasn't in the wrong.

"..."

Liu Sumeng closed his eyes. A headache roared in his skull and he felt nauseous. He tried to think of something else, anything else that wasn't the amiable chattering inside the room where he didn't belong, or the distant growling of ghouls.

But his thoughts were not any more kind, because somehow he had conjured up a hateful memory of Consort Nan.

Consort Nan had a face painted to the heavens and she did not look any older no matter how many years had passed. When Liu Sumeng first met her, she was dangling off Yuan Xuelan's arm and didn't even spare him a glance. He hadn't cared. Because back then he had thought her no different than the myriad of prostitutes with whom Xuelan had lied with.

How wrong had he been.

And even now, a whole lifetime later he couldn't forget how her pale hands ghosted over his skin. Laughter, a voice too sweet and gut-wrenching self-hatred. How was it that he couldn't even defend himself against one pathetic girl?

And then came the realization that this was how Xu Hexian was deceived.

The way her red lips curled, "General Liu, you really don't know how to read a woman's heart do you? All I want is for Xuelan to despise you, is that too much to ask for?"

Liu Sumeng clenched his teeth. The sweat beading at his brow was cold.

But the Nan Chang inside the Red Room in this life was not the same as the despicable Consort Nan. Not yet.

She stuck a loose strand behind her ear and watched Peng Jipei clutching Yuan Xuelan like a baby octopus. She wanted to laugh and say to him 'that's my spot!' but even she understood that perhaps it wasn't the best time.

"Jipei!" She chirped, "You stupid brat, where did you run off to?" She kept her tone light, betraying nothing of her suspicion.

"Jie!" He beamed at her, eyes still misty with tears. If nothing else, Nan Chang always thought Peng Jipei was a cute kid, "You're okay!"

"Are you really that surprised? I have two handsome men protecting me, of course, I'm okay. We were all worried about you!"

Peng Jipei swept his eyes around and asked, "Where's the Ivory Sword Saint?"

Yuan Xuelan tensed and said nothing, eyes peeking over at Nan Chang for help.

She shrugged, "He's outside keeping watch for us." She couldn't help but notice that Peng Jipei had yet to answer her question so she pressed him again, "What even happened to you? How did you get here?" She hovered around him, checking for injuries but there weren't any injuries to tend. Actually, why were his clothes so clean? Even compared to hers.

"I-I was so scared," Peng Jipei stuttered out, "When you guys ran off, I got knocked over and a bunch of corpses fell on top of me! I honestly thought I was finished," he shuddered. "But they all went after you guys... So I guess I'll have to give my thanks! Thanks, A-Zhang, Nan-jie."

Yuan Xuelan crossed his arms, tapping his feet impatiently, "Why didn't you say anything! Dammit, I was worried sick."

Nan Chang wondered the same thing. She only smiled though, "Yeah, you had us worried!"

Peng Jipei scratched the back of his neck, "I was knocked out! And even if I tried, do you think you'd have noticed?"

"Yes!" Yuan Xuelan cried.

Nan Chang laughed and pinched Peng Jipei's cheeks, "Okay, okay. Well, it's good that you're safe now! And you even got a flag, didn't you? We can see things much better now. The array is almost undone!"

Peng Jipei batted his lashes, "Oh. Yeah. I did! There happened to be one in this room, lucky no?"

"...Hm. Yes, that is quite lucky." Yuan Xuelan frowned.

"Wow, you really are full of good karma aren't you?"

The atmosphere turned light and they almost forgot about the severity of their situation that was until they made it out of the Red Room.

Yuan Xuelan saw that the Ivory Sword Saint was wiping blood off his sword with a ragged cloth. And when he looked towards Xuelan, his eyes seemed a little distant. Yuan Xuelan tried to remind himself that he was still angry but his throat was dry because…

Since when did he start thinking that Liu Sumeng was so expressive?

'Sumeng are you angry with me? Actually it's me who should be sorry.' But those words were lodged in his throat and he couldn't say them. Instead, he allowed himself to be consumed by guilt.

Peng Jipei took out his silver bell and led the way once more. At least this time they weren't walking in circles around the main hall.

See? Nothing suspicious. In his mind, Yuan Xuelan would be able to coax Liu Sumeng with gentle words. In his mind, Liu Sumeng wouldn't glare at his cousin with pointed suspicion. In his mind- He himself would be doubtless as well.

Yuan Xuelan shook his head. Just what was he thinking? Peng Jipei was a brother to him, much closer than what most people called their cousin. When they were children they would chase each other down these very halls, dodge Peng Zhugen's harassment, and bring gifts to Cao Hong. Peng Jipei was a person that understood him and there weren't many that did in the world.

He watched his cousin's back as he followed. The dark halls melted into the bright ones in his memories, where the walls and their paintings were brights and free of blood splatters. Unlike Zhugen, Jipei never had anything rude to say about Cao Sanmei abandoning him here to go on her trysts.

Peng Jipei was a pretty kid and took after his mother. He used to smile a lot in Yuan Xuelan's presence because there weren't any children in the Hidden Mist close to his age. They would turn over rocks in search of lizards. But Yuan Xuelan supposed there were no more lizards for them to find in the depth of the cave now. Only the stench of rot and death, bloodstains, and gore.

With the shroud of fog mostly lifted, the four were not as concerned when traveling the manor. The corpses that chased them around the corner were, for the most part, weak. Not even Nan Chang was alarmed when they stumbled close. They found a flag up in the tower. The light of the bell grew faint, like the mist around them.

"One left," Peng Jipei declared with unusual certainty, "It's the one…in the Main Hall."

They didn't need the bell to lead them to their next destination. Nan Chang was once again nervous as they walked and was leaning close enough to him that their arms touched. Yuan Xuelan was losing the number of times he'd pulled her closer to him and away from Liu Sumeng. "That beast…D-do you think it's gone by now? Why do I have a really bad feeling about it? Like a really, really bad feeling?"

Yuan Xuelan wasn't certain what kind of monster why would face there but he did remember the voice that came along with it, "I wonder more about its master."

The halls were narrow and winding and corpses littered across the ground. Had they really cut so many down already? There seemed to be more unmoving bodies now than animated ones. There was a stretch of ground that was covered with the undead and left them no choice but to step atop the bodies.

Liu Sumeng muttered a quiet prayer before he advanced and Yuan Xuelan could only muster enough sincerity to mask his distaste. As they approached the hall their steps became quieter and the air became thicker with chaotic spiritual energy.

In the echo of silence, they could hear a long, low breathing and a low rumbling like a half-formed growl. Slow thumps, something heavy moving about. Whatever it was, it was definitely still there in the hall.

They lined up against the wall, spirit lights all extinguished, Yuan Xuelan's eyes were straining against the dark. Cautiously, he peered around the bend and saw a large black shape stomping around on four clawed paws. It had a long muzzle that dribbled with slobber and two glowing eyes. It vaguely resembled a dog crossed with a bear but had the size of an elephant. Thin chains held it down in place but he doubted those chains had any mastery over the beast it was trying to restrain.

Nan Chang, who looked over with him, gasped at the sight of the monster. She couldn't help herself and hissed, "Just what the heck is that!?"

But even if she kept her voice low, it wasn't enough. The beast's languid movements twitched into action, chains snapped and giant maw was pointed towards the hallway entrance. It barked, revealing a jaw filled with yellowing teeth, needle-sharp.