18

Yao Yue suddenly woke up startled, pulling her head from Tian Ying's shoulder. For a moment, she felt refreshed but then she was suddenly hit with fatigue. However, it wasn't her physical body that was fatigued, it was her soul. Her soul felt so exhausted, as if it had left her body to be doing something else the whole night her body was resting.

Tian Ying, who had woken up before she had, stared at Yao Yue for a few moments before he rose from the outer coat mattress on the ground. He grabbed the meal box that sat a little distance away and took out two buns, handing one of them to her as he sat down.

They ate in silence, almost as if they both knew that what happened the night before was something that shouldn't be spoken about.

"Ah, you're both awake!" Tian WuLai said, walking into the cave with a small smile. "And I see that you both seem to have gotten really close in the night."

Yao Yue and Tian Ying both glanced at each other before realizing that they were indeed, still sitting pretty close to one another. Yao Yue took the initiative to move away, standing up as she cleared her throat.

"Sect Leader Tian, how is that man doing?" she asked.

"Still unconscious, the last time I checked a few moments ago." he let out a small laugh. "I never thought that someone of the Mo Sect could hit so hard."

Yao Yue smiled. "Thank you for your compliment." she then pulled out her sword. "Well since he is still unconscious, let's take this peaceful time to continue practicing. Otherwise, we'll have trouble with him awake and all…"

Tian WuLai frowned. "You're still injured and after all of your practicing yesterday, you probably have just worsened them than if you had just rested."

"Well, I guess that's true, but I'll be alright." She smiled. "After all, I know my body the best."

Both Tian Ying and Tian WuLai glanced at each other with concern in their eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you do…" Tian WuLai said.

"Not to mention," Yao Yue swung her sword around, "I hadve a feeling that last night, I was able to perform the Mo Wu Swordplay."

Tian Ying frowned at her response. After all, when he was finished practicing with the carved door, he had watched her practice the Mo Wu Swordplay. Sure, she had improved greatly due to her fierce persistence, but she was still far from being able perform it from start to finish without fail.

Yao Yue noticed his stare of disbelief. "You don't believe me, Childe Tian?"

With a small smile, she took a few steps away from them before swinging and performing the swordplay. To the shock of both Tian Ying and Tian WuLai, Yao Yue was indeed performing it to near perfection. But at the same time, it looked different from the way Tian Ying had taught and performed. Yao Yue's performance was graceful, like an elegant sword dance. Not to mention, as she continued her performance, Tian WuLai began to see someone else in her figure. Someone he once loved and cared about.

"Qi...QianGui…" he gasped quietly.

Yao Yue let out a breath of happiness as she finished, swinging the sword behind her. "What do you guys think?"

"Who… How did you learn it so quickly?" Tian WuLai asked, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"Ah, now that's an interesting story." she smiled as she sheathed her sword. "Last night in my sleep, I saw a man who said that he was Mo QianGui. He was the one who helped me master the Mo Wu Swordplay."

"You… You saw QianGui?" A pained look took over his face. "How… How did he look? Did he look well?"

Yao Yue stared at Tian WuLai in confusion. She knew from the history books back in Hei Mo Dong that Tian WuLai and Mo QianGui were close in their relationship. They were said to have been sworn brothers while they were in heaven, and descended down to the earth together; promising that the sects that they would establish would be friends and companions from the beginning to the end. But from the way Tian WuLai looked at her, there seemed to be more beneath the surface of their relationship.

*****

Yao Yue and Tian Ying stood together, side by side with their swords out as they both concentrated on the carvings of the door in front of them. This was going to be their first time performing, and although they weren't looking for perfection, they wanted it to be a good first try.

"Ready?" Yao Yue asked.

Tian Ying nodded.

"One." She counted as they got into their first stance.

"Two." Tian Ying continued as they pulled their swords back.

"Three!"

They both charged towards the door as they each began to perform their own swordplays together. The Tian Jian Swordplay and Mo Wu Swordplay fit together perfectly. When Tian Ying was striking up, Yao Yue was striking down; when Tian Ying was striking right, Yao Yue was striking left; and when Tian Ying needed a boost to strike a higher area, Yao Yue had a sword to help him with the step.

Soon they had finished their performance, standing once again side by side. And unsurprisingly, the stone door did not open.

"Miss Yao, you were a bit slow on your strike here." Tian WuLai pointed to one of the carvings. "Try again."

Both Yao Yue and Tian Ying nodded as they began their count again to begin. This may take a little while, but at least they knew that they'd be able to get out within a day or two.