The sparks crackled, and then would pop as they floated toward the ceiling. But even if it looked to be spreading, the fire was actually neatly confined where it had started. In the corner of the room that held Tao Hua's bed, his end table, and the door next to it.
Staring through the window, his vision tapered the longer he watched Shan Si take a few steps back. He threw what looked to be another blast of fire from his clicking fingers, igniting it to expand.
With each wave of heat gusting Tao Hua's way, his nails dug into the wood of the windowsill, almost chipping off the newly painted red.
W-Why…? he thought, his eyes trembling as they watched Shan Si slowly turn, and soon the two were facing each other, peach to pale. Tao Hua, in comparison, was a mess, while Shan Si stood intimidatingly straight, flicking off a few sparks from his finger.
Except this time his eyes held a touch of something undefinable. Tao Hua couldn't tell what it was, but he was certain of that, for a split second he had witnessed disgust.
This was caught in the way Shan Si's eyes wrinkled and his nose scrunched.
"Why…you…why would…" Tao Hua sputtered, but he was in no position to think reasonably. So much so that the gauze on his hand nearly snagged at the first rare sign of a splinter.
Shan Si was the first to break the moment between the two, and trailed the rest of the room, his head lagging behind his eyes. Even in times so dire, this man was no stranger to habits. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, dragging the bookmark up and wrinkling it between his fingers.
From the looks of it, he was in deep contemplation as he inspected the room. He first eyed Tao Hua's study, then toward the wardrobe, and then to the ground,
None of it made any sense to Tao Hua. The room was on fire, and yet he stood there as if the fire should have been more petrified of him than he should of that fire.
Perhaps it was more likely than it was metaphorical.
In the glow of that fire, this man looked more formidable than he ever had that entire day.
Tao Hua watched as his eyelids fell, and when they did, his face immediately wrinkled with what seemed to be a decision. Shortly after, Shan Si shot them open, and with one last blast he dashed toward the window.
"Move," he ordered, shoving aside Tao Hua the moment he reached it. First, he placed his hand on the windowsill, wafting away Tao Hua's, then with a single leap, he swooped his legs over.
The rest of Shan Si's body quickly followed.
And in one clean move, he landed on his feet with utter ease, making the art of acrobatics look simple.
"Let's go."
But Tao Hua was in a haze, consumed by shock and confusion. It took him a while before he realized Shan Si had clutched his arm, and before he knew it, the courtyard was rushing by, one decoration, tree, and bush after another.
Thus, the two were off. They flew past every red and yellow pillar, and straight through the courtyard. All at the stroke of midnight.
Still completely stupefied, Tao Hua half-attempted to keep up with Shan Si; one foot nearly tripping over the other. He just couldn't keep his eyes off the fire, burning away all he'd ever known. With each fumbling step he'd take, it would grow smaller and smaller in the large courtyard.
But even given the circumstances, Tao Hua didn't cry, and he couldn't even if he wanted to. The corners of his eyes, however, they did redden with the threat of wanting to shed tears. But that was controlled with a squeeze, rough enough to draw creases in the corners.
He took one long, sharp breath in before turning away from the disaster.
Why take it this far…?
Tao Hua stopped, and due to this decision he was almost whipped through the air had Shan Si's sharp reflexes not played a part. Abruptly, he too stopped, his black hair flying past him in a moment of catching up.
With a few steps, Shan Si glanced down at Tao Hua with not even a single trace of an expression on his face. Perhaps this had to do with his work-first-play-later attitude…but who really knew with that troubled head of his?
Tao Hua didn't meet him; however, his eyes just sketched the grass that cleanly separated each stone.
Fortunately, for this moment of their silence, it was complemented by the night sky that held not even a single cloud, and the stars that muffled against the glow that lightened the two up, warmly.
"…" Shan Si loosened his grip on Tao Hua's arm—not enough to let it go, however. "You look like a man with a lot to say."
"…" Not wrong. There was plenty Tao Hua wanted to say. Rather, plenty he wanted to ask. But even if he tried, a part of him questioned whether or not it was even his place to.
So, with a quiver in his words, he competed quietly with the gentle breeze that twirled around them. He whispered, "B-But…you…that. Why?"
"What do you mean?" Shan Si asked, almost indifferently and uncharacteristically patient.
"Father's estate…why did you—"
"Are you worried about him?"
Tao Hua's vision shifted confused. He didn't have an answer for this question, and it didn't answer any of his. It only posed further difficulties to Tao Hua's comprehension.
A part of him wanted to upright answer yes, but the moment his lips would part, he couldn't mutter the words "I'm worried about him, yes." So, he'd slowly close them, holding back the urge to show his displeasure and unease.
But when he thought about answering no, not even that felt like the right thing to do. The two conflicting responses had nearly driven him mad with the way his pupils shrank and how the sweat sullied his robe.
During this, Shan Si just watched him, and the more Tao Hua revealed himself through an expression, the more Shan Si's stare would soften. To Tao Hua's utter surprise, he answered in a tone gentler than even the words spoken at The Bookstore.
"They'll be fine," he assured, but despite this, Tao Hua didn't feel all that reassured; he just slowly looked back, his face lighting up against the orange.
Tao Hua watched as the fire crept toward the window, and sparks flew with each crash and snap of wood. "It's not just father in there…"
"And I said they'll be fine," Shan Si repeated. In another surprisingly act, Shan Si let Tao Hua's arm go, and reached into his sleeve. Pulling out a small piece of paper, he reached for Tao Hua's hand.
This made Tao Hua jolt, nearly taking a step back. But Shan Si was firm and curled Tao Hua's hands around it. When he removed his own, he said, "You don't have to trust me. This isn't a partnership built on trust. But if anyone you care about does fall, then you have permission to use that on me."
Tao Hua's eyebrows pinched, and when he uncurled his hand, he saw a flimsy piece of paper with symbols written on it. Of course, he wasn't at all versed in the art of cultivation, and knew little to nothing about it. Glancing up at Shan Si, he asked, "What do I do with this?"
"If I lied, you'll find out," he said.
Tao Hua trailed Shan Si's expression, as if trying to find the lie hidden in a face as still as his. But he could—could he ever? But before Tao Hua could say anything, Shan Si spoke up again, his eyes falling on the sound of slamming doors.
"In this world, Tao Hua, some people need to be taught a lesson. Others need that lesson slapped right in their faces." With a scoff, the corner of his lip lifted into a snarl as his eyes fell on the study opposite Tao Hua's room. "Especially sleazy bastards."
Reaching for Tao Hua's arm, he clutched it tightly. This was done at the very sound of muffled voices and the clacks of hasty shoes echoing across the estate. Thus, his gaze immediately sharpened like a predator's to prey, and his eyes danced around the surrounding area of Tao Hua's quarters.
"We need to stop wasting time."
Shan Si moved forward, lugging Tao Hua with him once more. With one last glimpse at the fire, Tao Hua watched as the room inside slowly fell apart.
And the funniest part? None of it threatened the outside. Every bit of it looked as perfectly new as his father would have wanted it.
Tao Hua sighed, slowly turning his head away from it. At least father will be satisfied.
Before tucking away the talisman, he examined it once more, watching as it flapped against the wind of their escape. It was an older piece of paper, worn at the corners, and shaded in the colour of tea.
Unsure what to think of it, he moved to the gauze, and then to Shan Si's back.
What game was this man playing? Tao Hua couldn't answer that, as for fun or for military, he was never quite good at playing strategy games. So, he just took that talisman and shoved it into his robe's sleeve.
Against the betterment of his shallow breath, he ran with Shan Si in an attempt to keep up with him as the two left the Tao Estate.
Chapter end.