Xiao Hua
After his initial scare, Xiao Hua sat back to keep an eye on Wu Xie's body signals for as long as they could, giving the fact they have no idea of what kind of dangers Wu Xie was facing down there all on his own.
However, after just a few minutes of them staring at the monitor for his position and vitals, they end up losing contact with him completely, while he was still on the same place 70 meter down the lake, which only make Xiao Hua panic again.
"We need to bring Wu Xie back right now. Something must have happen to him down there for his signal to be lost as well as the communication. He must be in who knows what kind of danger and as the only heir of the Wu family, nothing can happen to him while on my watch." Xiao Hua said to the woman that worked for Cox Hendry, which was of course keeping an eye on both of them.
"The boss said..."
"I don't care what your boss said, I don't work for him and if he had something to complain, then go and tell him to tell me in my face."
"I will talk to my boss."
"What for? If Wu Xie dies, he lose his chance to get into the Zhang's Pavilion and that's all he wants, right? Give me a dividing equipment and I will bring Wu Xie back myself."
"He is the one who decides what to do."
"You must be joking, right? This may be his camp, but that's about all, because Cox Hendry don't order me around as if I am one of his employers. I am Xie Yunchen, head of the Xie family and part of the Mystic Nine, not a lackey he can control around as he see fit. Don't even think for a moment that I am going to sit here and stay still while my cousin face who knows what kind of dangers down there and he is also a Wu... be aware of that too, because Wu Er Bai's anger is legendary and he is not exactly forgiving when his family is involve. Your boss had been in China for long enough to understand how the Nine families works."
"Xiao Hua, calm down... let's meet with him first... can you tell your boss we are coming? I'm sure he will not mind, right?" Xiazi said to the woman as he try to pacify his lover and the woman went away to announce her boss of the coming troublemakers.
"Hei Xiazi... I'm serious this time."
"I know, you worry about Wu Xie and trust me so do I, but you know I'm working for him, so I need to pretend my part."
"I will not put Wu Xie's life at risk..."
"Master Hua, I'm quite aware of that... just give me a minute... I may be a little tied up right now, but we are not the only ones in this mountain."
"Wu Er Bai is coming, right?"
"Exactly... let's give him some time to get here. I will sent him a message as we walk..."
"Alright... I will play along for now, but..."
"Yeah, yeah... I don't want to face either your wrath or Wu Er Bai's, so let's just give the man the time he needs to control the situation here."
"I can too or you doubt I can take control of this place?"
"Of course not, I know better than anyone else how amazingly skilled you are, but that will put Wu Xie in more danger right now. He had enough oxygen for now, let's play along until Er Bai comes, then we unite and get Wu Xie back." Xiazi said and smiled at him, who sighed as he follow him into the main tent.
The call actually took a few seconds, as Wu Er Bai was already on the way, closely followed by his people in case there was the need to make his point clear about not messing with the Wu family clearer than what words could get.
"I truly pity Cox Hendry now. Wu Er Bai is already in bad humor, he will not get around his temper that easily. I'm afraid, Cox Hendry will have a very hard time soon enough." Xiazi told him and Xiao Hua agree completely, because of all the Wu's, Er Bai was the coldest and level headed, which make him the deadliest of them all, as he didn't make a false move and a treat from him was never taken lightly, because it could end up casing your demise.
Once in the main tent, Xiao Hua make his point clear to the old man. He was not risking Wu Xie's life for his dreams and gains, but as expected the man was not going to simply let him get the equipment and rescue Wu Xie, because he believed that Wu Xie was heading in the right direction and into the Zhang's Pavilion.
"I cannot trust you, shouldn't have done so from the very start, but Wu Xie insisted. However, I am not as naive as him and know perfectly well you don't really care for him, just for reaching your ridiculous goal."
"Is in my interest for Wu Xie to return."
"Yeah, right... and for that you will wait until he is running low on oxygen, but by then it could be too late."
"My men can bring him back before that."
"Then bring him back now!"
"There is still time."
"I'm not going to leave Wu Xie in danger, whatever you like it or not. Have that clear, Cox Hendry." Xiao Hua said finally as he stormed out of the tent. Looking back, he saw that Hei Xiazi was not following him, so he assumed that the old man had propose to offer his lover more money to delay him, like Wu Er Bai did before.
Xiao Hua sighed, because last time he lose two days, although they did enjoy themselves, but right now he honestly didn't have time to play and Xiazi came to indulge his bosses in rather strange ways... he wonder just what he will try this time...
Oh well... he better go looking for that diving equipment before Xiazi showed up. Wu Er Bai was coming, but it will be his shame if the second eldest of the Wu family find him playing around instead of helping his nephew who had put all his trust in him.
"I will get you one way or another, Wu Xie..." He told himself as he carefully look around the camp for the place in where the diving equipment could be stored. However, as he walked around, he stumble with Xiazi, who was obviously looking for him, quite impatiently.
"My Master Hua... what exactly are you doing now?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm looking for the right place to raid and steal."
"Come on, there is no need to steal..."
"Hei Xiazi, I told you before, I will not play with Wu Xie's life and I'm sure he offer you more money to stop me."
"How well you know both me and him..."
"Did you accept?"
"Yes."
"Why? You don't even have the need, I can certainly give you more than he could ever can."
"So heartless... I will not let you sustain me for as long as I can work to pull my own weight. Also, if I stop been myself all of the sudden when around you, people will start to question and suspect about our relationship. You want that to happen this soon?" Xiazi asked and Xiao Hua sighed.
"I'm sorry... I just want Wu XIe back..."
"So do I, trust me."
"Then... what kind of games are going to play now?" Xiao Hua asked and Xiazi smirked pleased.
"Nothing that takes too long... just follow my lead... come..." Xiazi said as he walked back to the place they were monitoring and asked Xiao Hua to sit back.
"Why do I have the impression you are enjoying whatever you have in mind to do?" Xiao Hua asked as he stared at his mischievous lover.
"Well, we still have a bet in play, but..."
"It's not in play, Wu Xie clearly said that the Zhang's Pavilion is at the bottom of the lake."
"Ah... we can only really be sure of what he saw down there until Wu Xie comes back and confirm it. Until then, it's still pending."
"You really don't give up on that, right?"
"Why will I? You know how badly I want you..."
"Idiot, don't say such things out of the blue... someone can be hearing us." Xiao Hua said as he faintly blushed, which make Xiazi smirk wider.
"Since is pending... why not give in, into another fantasy?"
"You... just what are you planning?"
"They want me to stop you for trying to find the diving equipment, so what else could I do but tied you up?" Xiazi said as he revealed a long orange rope he had already placed over the table, when he first went looking for his beautiful flower.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course. I tied you up and play my part to justify my payment, then go away with a lame excuse and you use the chance to escape on your own, then both of us can go and look for the equipment together. It's the perfect plan."
"No one will buy that stupid plan."
"Want to bet again?"
"What will be the point, you always lose..."
"Hey, it still pending..."
"Alright, what do you want now? I will not do weird things..." Xiazi laughed.
"Let's bet some money this time."
"You just say you don't want mine."
"Not to sustain me, but a bet it's different."
"You are hopeless..."
"So heartless..."
"Stop saying that."
"But it's tr..."
"Hei Xiazi!"
"Alright... so, hold into this..." Xiazi insisted as Xiao Hua took the rope and allow his lover to 'tie' him up on the chair he was sat on.
"Ah, what a gorgeous sight..."
"Don't go imagining things, we will never use ropes..." Xiao Hua warned him, which only make Xiazi laugh.
"What about you, blindfolded?"
"Get serious. No one will believe this rope can hold me." Xiao Hua ignored him.
"Oh, but don't underestimate it. I know your abilities and strength better than anyone else, so obviously, I will not use on you just an ordinary rope. It took me a while to find it too."
"Xiazi..."
"Don't believe me? Just try to break it..." Xiazi dared and Xiao Hua played along, giving his idiot lover a try and it was actually quite the strong rope, even if the hold wasn't exactly the tightest.
"You really did go this far..."
"Of course, otherwise, I will be telling everyone that I let you go on purpose. I make sure to pick up the strongest I could find."
"Seriously... we are just wasting time..."
"Wu Xie's luck may be bad, but he had a very strong fate... have more trust in him, he is not going to die in that lake, I can guarantee you that... ah, someone is coming, give me some angry look and a bit of a struggle..."
"And you call me heartless? Hei Yanjing! Let me go, you beast!" Xiao Hua angrily yelled as the woman that was monitoring them before came to meet with his lover.
"Oh, so you got him? That was fast..."
"I work faster for bigger pays. Make sure to tell your boss I did my part."
"As long as it's true..."
"You can check it yourself..." Xiazi said to her and she did pull on the rope, finding it quite sturdy.
"Hey, don't touch me!" Xiao Hua protested as he struggle for the act sake.
"Good job... I brought you some food. Make sure he got some. He will be tied there for a while..."
"Ah, thanks, you are too kind..."
"Too kind my ass, how dare you do this to the head of the Xie family?! Mark my words, you all will regret this. Especially you, Hei Yanjing... you traitor... just you wait until I got my hands on you... you will pay me dearly." Xiao Hua said angrily, not really acting and the woman stormed away, quite satisfy.
"That was good... you are too awesome... which is why I love you so badly."
"Don't sweet me, I'm not joking, you will pay for this act."
"Huh? Master Hua, wait..."
"What? I am an actor, so I demand my payment... you asked for it, right?"
"Master Hua, you are so rich... have some mercy on this poor lover."
"You are richer than let know, apparently cashing very big pays... and on me no less."
"That was..."
"Xiazi, let's get this over with, I'm getting impatient."
"You are always impatient..." Xiazi pouted.
"How could you say that? I'm so worry for my cousin and you take advantage of it... who is the heartless one here?" Xiao Hua said as a tear run down his cheek.
"Ah, that... Master Hua, you know I am devoted you..."
"Liar, you tied me up..."
"But you look so hot like that..."
"How can you think in dirty things while I'm worry sick? We are done..."
"What? Noooo... Master Hua anything but that... Oh, let me kiss you to make amends... I regret my heartless acts, please don't breakup with me..." Xiazi said as he also fake a cry, following their insane act... and Xiao Hua itched to back slapping his lover, if his hands would have been free.
"Idiot, don't you dare..."
"But you said we are done..."
"You will pay extra for the tear and the breakup scene."
"So heartless..." Xiazi protested as he sat again, just in the moment Xiao Hua notice that Wu Xie's signal was back.
"Hey! Xiazi, Wu Xie's signal is back!" Xiao Hua yelled and Xiazi turned his attention back to the monitor, finding everything back to where it was. He quickly picked the communicator to try to make contact with him.
"Wu Xie!! Wu Xie, can you hear me? Wu Xie!! You are running out of oxygen, come back quickly! Wu Xie!!!" Xiazi yelled and to their relief, the radio static was back.
"Xiazi... Xiao Hua... I'm coming back right now. This is not what it seems, they are not there. It's a trap..." Wu Xie responded and the two of them looked at each other for a moment.
"Trap? What do you mean by trap?"
"I will tell you later... I will go up now..." Wu Xie said, but as he went out of the empty Pavilion, he saw a water salamander that was strangely carrying what looked like a flash light.
He reached for it and grab it, while gently taking the metal flashlight from it and as he inspect it, he notice that some characters were writing on it.
SOS. Follow the siphon. It was what was written on the black surface and Wu Xie recognize it as Pangzi's chaotic handiwork.
"Wu Xie!! Wu Xie, you are still in the same position. What are you doing, come back right now!" Xiazi yelled, but Wu Xie was looking for the siphon... until he spot it.
"I found them, I can't go back yet, I have to take them back home... they are not in the Pavilion..."
"Wait, Wu Xie!! Wu Xie!!! Damn it, Wu Xie... don't go on your own when low on oxygen! Wu Xie!!!!" But soon the signal was lost again and this time for good, as all that have a monitor in front and those in the lake saw the lake surface to begin to circle and form a whirlpool, the same on in which the Wu heir voluntary enter to find his friend and lost lover.
AN: Thanks for reading. Next time will be the reunion, but don't know when, so until then, please take care.❤