This time it's a blindfold...

Technically, Lai Yiteng did have a reason for wanting to tie Xian Wu up in bondage again even if it was a bit flimsy; He didn't want him to know where they went to as he was still suspicious about Xian Wu's true motives and history. If Xian Wu didn't know where they were, then it would naturally be harder for him to contact any potential allies.

Yes, the place Lai Yiteng had in mind was still the haunted and empty village marked on the map.

Astonished by Lai Yiteng's words, Xian Wu stared wide-eyed at the rope in his hands.

When he finally gathered his wits, he could only manage to stammer, "I-Isn't that a bit unreasonable?! Seriously? You trust me that little…" he whined, "can we just call it good with only the blindfold…"

Lai Yiteng held out the rope with determination in his eyes.

Xian Wu had a strange thought. He suddenly pictured being tied up top to bottom, rope twisting around everywhere, and Lai Yiteng dragging him along as though he were some kind of human trafficker. No no, he couldn't let him do it, he needed to come up with a way to escape such a horrid and terrifying fate.

"U-Um…Yi'er, doing that won't accomplish what you want. For example, I could simply ask a local and find out the location I was at right away. Even if you tie me up it doesn't prevent me from finding out where we're going. I'm not even sure what you're trying to prevent by suggesting that. You can't possibly want to lock me up once we get there, right? Then we're not talking about teacher and student anymore, then I'm just your slave! Even me with my boundless patience can't agree to that!"

"Tsk." Lai Yiteng scowled, his lips thinning somewhat.

"Did you just 'tsk' at me..."

Lai Yiteng had to admit that Xian Wu made legitimate points for once. There were a number of ways that making him wearing a blindfold and ropes now would do nothing to keep his location secret from him later. He needed to come up with another solution.

Scrunching his brow, Lai Yiteng finally thought of something.

"Then you can just continue wearing the blindfold and never take it off unless I allow it."

"You—" This is getting more and more extreme! Xian Wu gnashed his teeth with exasperation and a twinge of amusement that he'd be hard-pressed to admit. "How is that fair to me? I can't go along with a something crazy like that..."

Although, it was possible for Xian Wu to sense his surroundings with his martial arts while blindfolded, so it wouldn't pose a large threat. He wouldn't trip over tiny cracks in the road or anything, but still. Did Lai Yiteng seriously think he could agree to this strange request?

Ah, but then Xian Wu saw Lai Yiteng's downcast expression. His dark lashes lowered like dark fans, his eyes a swirling mix of anxiety, distrust, and confusion.

"I know it's unreasonable," Lai Yiteng muttered glumly.

…well now. He didn't have to be THAT disappointed about it, right?

Xian Wu gave it some thought.

Sometimes there was no use trying logic against paranoia, no matter how long he argued with Lai Yiteng that his idea was odd and even a little crazy, Lai Yiteng would stubbornly believe that Xian Wu was a threat and that he needed some measure against him.

In essence, Lai Yiteng was the edgy, unable to rest-easy type. Perhaps in order to interact with him one would have to play-along with the irrationality to some degree. Wearing the blindfold could be like some kind of pretend safety-measure for Lai Yiteng, one that would put him at slightly more ease.

Xian Wu was not really sure how the inside of this strange youngster's head functioned, but he realized that he was only left with the option of adapting to Lai Yiteng's paranoia.

At least...that was how he rationalized wearing a blindfold.

If it could get Lai Yiteng to ease up a little and it didn't bring any harm to himself, he might as well do it to try and gain his trust. But wearing it is a bit embarrassing...

Right. He would stop wearing it as soon as possible.

But for now Xian Wu rested his palm against the fat buddha's stomach and leaned sightly toward Lai Yiteng as he said, "All right. You can do it, but make sure you don't trick me into walking over a cliff, okay?"

Lai Yiteng's expression seemed to light up. "I won't do that." He lifted his teal-colored sleeve and ripped off a piece of silky, dark colored fabric.

Xian Wu was a bit unhappy. Those were HIS clothes that Lai Yiteng was tearing up…

Right before the cloth was raised to cover his eyes, Xian Wu made telling signs with his eyes at Mildew on the maple branch a few meters away. He hoped that bird wouldn't ruin things.

If Lai Yiteng found out that Mildew was actually the one tailing him and could contact Graceful Dragon Sect, then it would be bad…

Soft and pliant fabric was placed over his eyes, the world around Xian Wu went dark and shadowy. He could only tell faint sources of light that shined through the cloth over his eyes. Lai Yiteng knotted in the back.

"Hey, ouch!" Xian Wu said teasingly. "don't tie it too hard, don't pull my hair…what are you planning to do with me? I'm so scared~"

Lai Yiteng's fingers suddenly moved more gently as they finished off tying the fabric in place. It was a slightly lopsided blindfold. One could still see the straight bridge of Xian Wu's nose as well as the beauty mark underneath his right eye, but his silvery-gray eyes were now a mystery to the world.

Xian Wu pulled out some of his bangs that had been caught in the fabric and grinned.

"How is it? Do I still look charming as ever?"

There was an awkward silence.

Lai Yiteng had been caught up staring at the man with a blindfold in front of him. W-Why did he look so attractive with it on? Like a charming demon that would steal away one's soul in the night. Lai Yiteng coughed softly in embarrassment and rapidly banished these thoughts from his mind.

"Yi'er?" Xian Wu continued, a bit concerned and puzzled. "Are you all right?"

There was a flat response. "Hm. Yeah. It looks fine."

How strange, Lai Yiteng's words were not as acrid as usual…Xian Wu just shrugged.

"So are we going, then?"

Lai Yiteng took down another drink of water, folded and packed his blanket back into his bag.

"Yeah."

A coarse sensation rubbed against Xian Wu's wrists, goosebumps went down his spine right as he brought his hands up to his chest protectively.

"Y-Yi'er…what are you doing?"

"Putting on the rope?" replied Lai Yiteng, and Xian Wu was almost glad that he could not longer see the younger's expression. "If you aren't led by a rope, how else will you know which way to go?"

"Footsteps!" Xian Wu emphasized with deep apprehension. "I can listen to your footsteps and breathing and follow. Pretty much everyone has a unique manner of walking, so it's easy to do that. Ropes are not necessary..."

Lai Yiteng is truly missing a few marbles here and there! What was he gonna do about that?

Fortunately the rope didn't come back over to bind Xian Wu's hands. He let out a breath of relief. It would have been even more humiliating if every traveler was talking about how he was a slave, and then Mildew would definitely tell Song Zhenxi about it…and she'd never let him live it down.

Anyway, crisis avoided.

"Tsk. If you say so," said Lai Yiteng, his footsteps began to fade as he went along the path. The shrines were still smiling at him as he went, the light rustle of tree leaves blowing gave it a kind of ancient peacefulness and serenity.

He would miss it a little.

Hesitating, he turned towards the shrines once he and Xian Wu had nearly made it out. He clapped his hands together and bowed his head lightly towards the old and forgotten deities, his silky hair spilling over his shoulder as he held the pose for a few moments.

"Thank you for the hospitality."

So the two finally set out.

Xian Wu finally felt as though he'd gotten matters squared away and He was about to exhale a breath of relief only it wasn't for the obnoxious, "Caw caw caw!" he heard the next moment.

Why was Mildew making a racket?!

...it would still be bad if Lai Yiteng figured out that Xian Wu tracked him with Mildew. There was nothing for it now though, he was just gonna have to pretend that he didn't know this crow. It was just a random crow in a forest, nothing strange about that.

One could see a crow in a forest any day, really. It was normal.