2 hours earlier on the plain.
Gu Tian, alongside Gu Liang and Namgoong Hien, is currently watching Nanming's passed out form, still tied.
All three of them stayed silent, none wanted to start a conversation due to the lack of topics and the fact that none of them were the typical conversations starters, at least Gu Tian isn't one if she isn't with Chen.
Wu Laiza were here with them previously, though she excuses herself with the convenient reasoning of helping her sister take care of Chen. No, it's probably the real reason, it's just that Gu Tian can't help but to think about the prospect of both the sisters having any kind of…incestual intent with Chen considering they half-siblings.
Such trains of thoughts are wildly inappropriate, even more so for the supposed 'Gu Clan princess'. Yet much like the river Huang flows downstream, her assumptions came from Wu Yuen earlier statement.
'Chen has many admirers'
Those words echo in Gu Tian's mind, unable to free itself from her head. Why did she care so much about Chen having admirers anyway? It's not like she likes him or anything… right?
Each possible interpretation, each possible assumption, each scenario amounts to the hundreds was given form inside Gu Tian's imagination. Each was about Chen; Chen slipping into a puddle of mud, Chen joking about something, her and Chen talking about dumplings, Chen being kidnapped and then saved by her, Chen this, Chen that.
'Why is everything about Chen! Curse that playboy to Abyss!'
Gu Tian silently wages war against her own unrestrained imagination that decided to crank its power several more times than she is normally using it, she isn't the type to daydream, yet why now, of all time? She just can't help but think about that specific boy with infuriatingly charming face.
Gu Liang who observed Gu Tian over at the distance… the gap between her and him isn't really that large, it's the distance over feeling rather than physical. Because right now all he is seeing is her dear sister pouting and stomping her leg over nothing.
"Why is she mad all of a sudden?" Gu Liang whispers over at Namgoong Hien, who closed her eyes as if not wanting to confront Gu Liang about it.
"…" Which she does by remaining silent.
"Is it because I'm near her? I know she hated me but not to this extent. What did I do wrong?"
Just now, Namgoong Hien realized just how naïve Gu Liang is at romance.
"Is there any reason? Can you tell me Hien?"
"Figure it out yourself"
She might be cold and distant, but one thing that is clear about Hien is that she is sensitive about any matter relating to emotion.
And it doesn't really take an expert to know that Gu Tian is just being 'love drunk' rather than annoyed, which do her wonder about the fact that Gu Liang failed to realize the obvious sign. Is it because he is a male? She heard from one of her many, many sisters that male can often be tactless and utterly clueless about a woman's heart.
And right now, she sensed that it'd be perfect reasoning for Gu Liang to confront Gu Tian himself. Talking is one of the most effective ways of socializing and bonding, something she really wanted to see coming from Gu Liang and Gu Tian considering that they are siblings.
It's surprising for Hien that both never really interact with each other, even going as far as avoiding each other even though they are Siblings. Especially since she and her multitude of sisters always interact no matter how fierce their frequent fighting becomes.
"Are you annoyed too? I hear female got finicky when they are in… uhh… me-menstru… menstuberation?"
'Its menstruation, and no I am still too young'. Hien corrected him in her minds yet made no effort saying that correction out loud. Because now he is just annoying.
"Go talk to her yourself" she declared.
Gu Liang sighed, realizing that Namgoong Hien will not help him no matter what, he decided to take the matter into his own hands.
He began walking towards Gu Tian, still grumbling and looking vacantly into the ground. For what reason though?
'Is there an earthworm?'
That's what Gu Liang assumed.
Once he is near enough, he calls her out.
"Si— Tian"
"Waaa! Don't touch me!!"
Gu Tian shouts, glaring at Gu Liang as he makes a bewildered face. Just now she just talks in a rude manner towards him. Something she hasn't done in 7 years.
Gu Liang is torn between having her sisters talk with him informally but to also shouting at him. Pride and satisfaction as well as surprise and reprisal mixed in his heart as no words leave his mouth.
Gu Tian, who is also surprised, mixed Gu Liang up with Chen. She assumed his voice was Chen, now that he isn't Chen, she is just getting annoyed, momentarily forgetting what he had done to her these past years and causes those unrestrained words to leave her mouth.
"Leave!" she ordered as she stomped away from the still bewildered Gu Liang.
Gu Liang can only observe as her retreating form vanished from his sight, scratching the back of his head before he crouched into the ground.
'What have I done wrong?'
For all he knows, he's just doing what he thought was correct. Leaving her while protecting her from the violent nature of the Clan politics, distancing her from him is the most logical decision he could think of, he thought that if he himself shouldered both their responsibilities Gu Tian might've been happier. Though, as of many times it was proven to be false, no matter how much longer he chooses to deny the prospect of his decision impacting Gu Tian in a way he didn't intend it to be.
He is the real reason their relationship broke down, Gu Liang stares into the ground, eyes on the verge of tears. But once again, he denies himself the satisfaction to cry, to let it out, all because the 'real' Gu Liang wouldn't cry so easily.
"…That's that I guess" he mutters, only after he confirms he has no more tears left in his eyes do he raise his head.
"…Hey" a voice cuts his sadness away, the same voice he had just heard earlier. Coming from a retreating figure that walks back towards him.
Gu Tian, hands tangled in front of her as she plays around with her fingers, eyes looking down, unwilling to look Gu Liang in the eyes and conflicted expression, her mouth opens slightly before closing.
"Yes?" Gu Liang mindlessly forego all his propriety and mannerism upon realizing that she is speaking TO him.
"…T-thank you for saving me multiple times back there" she said, the words come out a bit weird since her voice cracks a lot when she says it.
Gu Liang quickly composed himself, manic expression threatens to take hold on him as his sister, one who seldom speaks with him unless necessary, decided to now start to speak again with him.
"Of course, it's due to the both of us. And thank you as well for protecting me" he's crafted speech returns, though right now, Gu Tian barely cares at all. She is incredibly nervous and afraid, wondering if that same blank person would respond with those cruel words once more.
' '
Those words retained in her mind ever since, a Ghost of her past, though forgotten it lingers ever-more.
But what she heard is something not even her could imagine.
"You've grown strong" Gu Liang said, smiling ever so slightly beneath his calm composure.
"I almost didn't believe that it was you" Gu Liang smiles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Certainly, you too have struggled to move forward"
At that words, Gu Tian realized that maybe, both were at faults. She realizes how much suffering Gu Liang, no, her brother might've endured all the while she treated him like a stranger.
Once again, it was her fault.
"I-its not really, I-I mean I do… wait no" Gu Tian stammers her words, looking everywhere but at her own brother as she struggles to string together words.
"Haha, its fine. I too, apologized for not being able to train with you" Gu Liang said, his lips parted away little-by-little, forming a smile.
"…Then" Gu Tian said, holding her words until she finds a courage to face her brother. Looking at him in the eyes, she could see that his clouded eyes were once again, reheated with life.
"W-Would you mind if… if we train together once we return?"
She said, hoping for a positive answer, or at least a kind 'no'.
"Certainly!" Gu Liang looks uncharacteristically giddy at her words; she could swear Gu Liang would've jumped around like rabbit at any moment.
"I see, well I gotta go Bye!" Gu Tian said, not waiting for his answer as she swiftly yet awkwardly retreats.
Gu Liang watches her sister, today, might've been the best day ever in his life.
"…To thi—"
"To think it was that easy"
Gu Liang words were cut off by Namgoong Hien, still closing her eyes yet she stands just behind him, her face is still like a leaf in clear mirror.
"Young master, you are clever and quick with his mind" Namgoong Hien started her words with praise.
"Yet you often failed to see the mountain in front of your eyes" Only to gives him a frankly beautiful insults which Gu Liang can only take onto his heart for he has no words to counter back.
"What I'm saying is that you are a nitwit in impersonal matters… So, I shall give you some advice"
"N-you don't need t—"
"That every problem has root, just like how you need to pull the roots off of weeds to kill it you need to solve the roots to a problem so that they may not resurface"
Namgoong Hien ended her flurry of words that looked like a waterfall, Gu Liang cannot say something in return without her cutting his words off sharply with her own words. Certainly, she has her way with dialogue.
And as quickly as she appears suddenly, she returns to a shaded part of the tree and sits there, eyes still closed.
Gu Liang opted to stand where he was. Contemplating her words and advice.
.
.
.
.
Just some time later, as Wu Chen re-emerges from his tent followed by Wu Liza and Wu Laizha, his body looks refreshed, no sign of his physical lethargy from earlier, yet his face looks haggard.
Certainly, whatever may entail inside is something only those three know about. And Gu Liang, who watches beside Namgoong Hien certainly didn't want to know whatever may have befallen on Wu Chen.
"Is he still asleep?" Wu Chen asks as he refers to Nanming still tied up form. He then twists his shoulder as he tried to relax his muscle that is pulled taut, the slight revelation of his skin pulls Gu Liang intrigue closer as he can't help but to find a strange red mark on his bicep, though he dispels any ill thought as a mere product of his treatment.
"Yes, I don't really know how many more time" Gu Liang responded
"Hmm" Wu Chen stroke his chin, then he approached Nanming. Once he is closer, he kicks Nanming in the rib.
"What!" Gu Liang was shocked, so too are the Wu Twins as they instantly stride towards Chen's side.
Namgoong Hien eyes opened instantly as her hand landed on the handle of her swords, not yet pulling it out but the promise lingers like coiled snake.
Chen, with calm and easygoing attitude, speaks out towards Nanming
"I know you are conscious brother" he said.
In an instant, Nanming opens his eyes. The deep purple of his iris glints in shadow.
Gu Liang, Wu Liza and Laizha as well as Namgoong Hien instantly forms a combat stance, their Aura flickers.
Chen, just watch, he is the closest towards Nanming, yet he makes no effort trying to at least protect himself.
"…" Nanming stay silent, with effortless struggle he stands up and undone his binding who falls pathetically into the ground, pooling around his feet.
It seems that throughout the day, Nanming has carefully weakened the binding so that he may escape unnoticed, or so it seems.
"…" Chen too, remain quiet and still. Gazing directly into Nanming's own eyes, as his own depthless black clashes with Nanming deep purple.
"…Good morning" Nanming said with plain face.
Chen beams out and smiles from ear to ear.
"Welcome back Brother!" he said, almost hugging him though Nanming swiftly doge his embrace and walks towards the 4 person who is just about ready to strike him.
All 4 of them were wary, just a slight miss step by Nanming would mean another fight would break out.
And just as Nanming is close enough to feel the tinge of their combined Aura, he kowtowed. Slamming his head into the ground with a bone crunching sound.
"I apologize!" he declares. Drawing profound bewilderment from the 4 people, Namgoong Hien specifically.
"My actions have caused irreversible casualty and damage to all who is here, I accept every punishment that may entail myself"
Chen, looks at his brother with annoyance, 'Then why do I have to vouch for him in the first place?'
It seems the problem is not yet solved, at least for the now conscious Nanming.