Yanmei Wants It All

Refreshed as ever after their bath, the plain but comfortable sleeping robes that they both donned meant that Yanmei was staying for the night.

The atmosphere inside Xiao's room was tender. Yanmei wore a soft smile, as she sat on the bed while Xiao was behind her, gently combing one of her tails.

Xiao admired how silky soft Yanmei's tails were, the comb in her hand basically melted into them everytime she would brush past the fur. So satisfying. She could keep grooming them for hours on end. She would love to, but first, there is something they must discuss.

"Have you given my offer some thought?" Xiao's tone was calm, it was no issue to her whether she was refused.

"I don't know. What's in it for me?" Yanmei's faint smile turned into a grin. "What kind of profit am I getting from such a deal?"

So Yanmei wanted to play coy first before giving her answer? Xiao mirrored Yanmei's grin. Two can play at that game.

"Something far more valuable than a heavenly treasure. My undying love and affection."

Yanmei giggled, "Don't I have that already?"

"You do, but it doesn't hurt to have more right?" Xiao admitted while moving on to the next tail.

"Then I'll take all that you can give."

No matter how entertaining their silly little exchange was, Yanmei also didn't want to keep Xiao waiting. The smile on her lips faded, her demeanor took on a more serious one.

"I don't enjoy battles, Xiao. I purely cultivated for self defense, that's why I remained hidden while simply tending to my business."

Sensing that Yanmei was a bit bummed for not being able to help, Xiao immediately consoled her.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. It was just a suggestion."

It would be easy for them to win if Yanmei was on their team, she would quite literally blow away all of the opposition. But the inter sect tournament was Xiao's debt to pay to the Transient blades for taking her in; she's not going to rope in Yanmei if she was unwilling.

"Give me more time to think about it." Yanmei said.

Suddenly, Xiao put the comb aside, she tried to lean in for an embrace only to fall into the fluffy softness. As far as Xiao was concerned, it was the only downside for having such magnificent tails.

"Why are you diving into my tail?" Yanmei asked, amused by her lover's action.

"I was trying to hug you, but your tail is in the way!"

"Like this?" Yanmei turned around, and did what Xiao was trying to do. Yanmei's arms slid around Xiao's waist. And it wasn't just her arms, her tails also joined in, blanketing Xiao in their tenderness.

As they both sank into the bed, Xiao puffed her cheeks a little.

"That's not fair, I was the one who wanted to hug you." As she complained, Xiao nuzzled on what appeared to be softer than her pillow. "You know what, never mind."

+++

Morning came, and for a change of pace, Xiao decided to accompany Yanmei back to Xiulan. A stroll around the city with her beloved is just what Xiao needed to break the monotony of her everyday training.

After having lunch at one of the restaurants, it was not time for them to separate as Yanmei had been absent from her business for almost a day and a half now. The client transactions are not going to review themselves.

Right outside the restaurant, Xiao was about to depart…"I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"...until Yanmei reminded her.

A sly grin blossomed on Yanmei's lips. She tilted her right cheek towards her lover and tapped it.

Xiao glanced left and right before asking, "Right now?"

"Yes, now. I'm waiting."

There was no doubt in Yanmei's mind, Xiao was beet red underneath that mask. And she was right, the bashful Xiao caved in and pecked Yanmei's cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

The gleeful Yanmei returned Xiao's words back at her as they finally separated.

+++

Suddenly remembering her overdue promise to Fang Xuan, Xiao Perused Xiulan's market before heading back to the sect. Xiao heaved a sigh. She promised Fang Xuan a treasure but after an hour of scouring weapons and trinket shops, they were all rather mediocre. The shopkeepers said that all the good ones are hoarded by the local auction houses and frankly, she doesn't have it in her right now to go through all that bidding hassle.

Xiao stopped on a nearby river bridge so she could gather her thoughts on what to give Fang Xuan.

Maybe she should hold it off for now and take Yanmei out to one of the auction houses so they could turn it into a date?

<<That grin. Don't tell me you are already thinking about Yanmei when it's only been an hour since the two of you separated?>>

The sultry voice inside of Xiao's head was spot on.

"No, I'm just thinking about how grateful I am to have such a wonderful teacher on my side overseeing my cultivation."

<< If you are going to wish for something, I have one piece of advice for you. Don't.>>

"But my wish isn't for me, it's for Fang Xuan."

<< You think I am running a charity? Last time I checked, I am bound to you, not Fang Xuan. I gave you the idea to help him but If you are planning to aide that boy and whatnot, do it by your own means. >>

Xiao clicked her tongue. She couldn't really call her master stingy since the woman had been boosting her cultivation up to the heavens, and that's withholding the fact that Zhen saved her life. It's just that, Xiao wished her teacher would spare just a single treasure for Fang Xuan instead of sassing her.

"Young miss."

A raspy voice called out, Xiao traced its source and found it coming from under the bridge. Her curiosity prompted her to jump from into the riverbank below.

A man with an uncanny smile on his face was staring right at her. His clothes torn, his hair ruffled and dirty. His cheeks sank from hunger due to how thin he was. And in spite of it all, the look of absolute determination on his eyes contrasted his rugged appearance.

But that wasn't enough to deter Xiao from being unnerved by the man as he immediately resigned to turn and leave. There was something unnatural about the man that Xiao couldn't put into words.

"Wait!"

The man desperately called out. Xiao heeded, for he sounded like he wanted to say something important.

"What is it?"

"Your cultivation, I can sense that it is high. By any chance, are you looking for a weapon, young miss?"

The decrepit man pulled out a bagua dao from his storage ring. Xiao was puzzled. If he was rich enough to own a storage ring, it made no sense for him to waste away under this bridge.

And what's even more puzzling, is the quality of the bagua dao in his hand. The thing's design was a masterwork. Its sharpness was otherworldly, it made Xiao feel as if she would be cut just by looking at it.

Was it simply a coincidence, or maybe it was a fated meeting that the weapon he was offering matched Fang Xuan's?

"What's your price?" Xiao wanted to get right into it. The man was really creeping her out.

And to further unease her, the man's grin grew wider.

"For someone as strong as you, it's free!"

Preparing to be asked by a ludicrous amount of spirit stones, the man completely caught Xiao off guard. That greatsword was easily his ticket out of poverty. Was the man crazy?

"Teacher Zhen, what do you think?" Xiao consulted.

<< I cannot gauge its make. That weapon is dangerous. Then again, all weapons should be. I would leave the decision to you, since we are not the one using it.>>

"I'll give you five thousand spirit stones for it."

The man vehemently shook his head, "No, no, no! I will not be needing your spirit stones. Take the sword, take it!"

The man tossed the sword into Xiao's clutches.

Itching to leave the place, Xiao immediately returned above the bridge.

+++

As evening came for Xiulan, its citizens gathered under the bridge with lanterns in hand.

A young man asked his companion, "What was the reason for his death?"

His companion replied, "Nobody knows. He has no wounds, It's like he just dropped dead. The odd thing though, is that he died eyes open while smiling."

Waiting for the authorities to arrive and dispatch the man's corpse, they can't help but theorize the reason for his death. And most importantly, that smile.

The onlookers may not be aware, but it was the smile of a free man.