FRIVOLOUS SNOW

28|Rest

Yong Jie closed his eyes, his heart beating so fast inside his chest. He trusted and knew that Yao Xue could determine which was which and who was who. At first, he thought Yao Xue would attack him since he was looking at him when he grabbed on his sword.

Yong Jie opened his eyes and saw Yao Xue stabbed the shapeshifter who looked like Yong Jie at his side and stepped back. The shapeshifter who slowly turned back into its true form and face turned around and ready to run but Yong Jie saw it coming. Yong Jie leaped and appeared behind the shapeshifter and let Qing out of its sheath, finishing the shapeshifter in one move, sending its neck flying to the ground in a very disturbing manner.

Yong Jie was glad that he hadn't have to kill his own replica and that the shapeshifter turned back into its original form or Yong Jie would be horrified to see his identical dead corpse with his head rolling on the ground making him think it would be how looked like if ever he dies.

Yao Xue stabbed the dismantled head right in the middle of its forehead, Jinghua passing through the hard skull then withdrew. Yong Jie was stunned seeing Yao Xue doing the finishing touch, killing the shapeshifter twice making him wonder if Yao Xue would do it if it was still in Yong Jie's face.

Yong Jie was about to tease Yao Xue when Yao Xue charged at him, pushing him to the nearest tree surprising him. Yao Xue's grip on Yong Jie's shoulders was tight making Yong Jie wondered what was happening.

Yao Xue leaned a little closer to Yong Jie, their eyes staring at each other making Yong Jie felt nervous in a very uncomfortable way.

"Yao Xue." Yong Jie whispered and Yao Xue finally let go of Yong Jie and stepped back, soothing his robes and looked around the surroundings.

"For what purpose did you do it?"

"I was only confirming something." Yao Xue said.

Yong Jie stood straight and chuckled. "You think I am not me?"

Yao Xue looked at him with his bored expression without answering him.

Yong Jie waved his hand. "It's really me, don't worry."

"I know."

"How are you so sure?" Yong Jie asked.

Yao Xue turned around and started walking outside the forest.

"I just know." Yao Xue said.

"Yao Xue. Even I couldn't find any difference between me and the shapeshifter. It even owned my voice!" Yong Jie run to catch Yao Xue's pace and walked beside him out of the forest.

"Shapeshifters couldn't perfect every detail of the one they are mimicking." Yao Xue said.

Yong Jie felt so curious about what did Yao Xue saw that even Yong Jie himself didn't see. It was his body, he should recognize immediately if something was amiss. If it was Yong Jie in Yao Xue's position. Maybe he would stab the right Yao Xue so he was kind of glad the shapeshifter mimicked him instead of Yao Xue.

"What is it that made you realized which is the right one and the wrong one?"

"Lavender." Yao Xue answered.

"Ha?"

"You have the smell of lavender in your body. A scent the other one doesn't have." Yao Xue said and Yong Jie was amazed at Yao Xue. To think the scented oil they used to massage last night would be put in another use. It really saved Yong Jie's ass!

"You're so amazing, Yao Xue." Yong Jie placed his arm around the back of Yao Xue's shoulders.

Yao Xue was surprised by the act and only stared at Yong Jie with his usual cold eyes. Yong Jie was already used from his cold expression so it didn't make him retreat like before. Instead, he pulled Yao Xue closer and ushered to walk so close like that.

×××

Before the night came, they finally arrived in Dashan. They traveled for another two hours before arriving at the Yong Sect Palace.

Yong Yi was waiting for their arrival and he was glad to see Yong Jie back and he was also surprised and at the same time delighted to see Yao Xue again in Dashan after two years.

Yong Yi saluted at Yao Xue and Yao Xue saluted back as Yong Jie looked at them greeting each other formally.

"Welcome back to Dashan, Young master Yao Xue. I didn't know you were with Third brother Yong Jie."

"I happened to be near Dashan and I didn't expect to see Third brother Yong Jie in Wu Sheng." Yao Xue said.

"He was sent to Wu Sheng or I could say that he willingly volunteered with the thought of going to Xueguo after the matter would be resolved." Yong Yi said, voicing Yong Jie's real intention of his voluntarism.

Yong Jie chuckled. "Well, I found myself back here in Dashan with Young master Yao Xue. Yao Xue said he missed the hot spring here."

Yong Yi turned to Yao Xue and chuckled. "Then, Young master Yao Xue could stay here for as long as you want. I am sure Third brother Jie has a lot to talk to you about." Yong Yi said.

Inside those two years, Yong Jie never failed to mention Yao Xue to Yong Yi and how he would show off his new skills when they see each other again. Yong Yi looked at Yong Jie and he could see how happy Yong Jie was.

"Yes. That's true, Ah Yi."

"It's already late. You should rest especially since you traveled a long way."

Yong Jie nodded. "I'll tell you everything that happened tomorrow."

Yong Yi chuckled and walked ahead to his room. Yong Jie walked with Yao Xue to the guest room, the one that Yao Xue occupied two years ago.

The room remained dustless and well cleaned even though no one occupied the room for years since maidservants are tasked to clean the rooms almost every day.

He looked at Yao Xue who placed his sword on the table. Yong Jie thought of teasing him. He just couldn't keep himself from not teasing the man and he was always hopeful to earn an expression other than that cold and poker-faced emotion from Yao Xue.

"It seems like my body already got used to sleeping beside you. I think I couldn't sleep if Yao Xue isn't beside me." Yong Jie said as he glanced at the bed.

Yao Xue looked at Yong Jie. "Go back to your room and rest."

Yong Jie smiled and fought himself from teasing Yao Xue again. He also felt tired so he bid Yao Xue goodnight and walked back to his room and fell asleep right after his back hit the bed.

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