Legend of Fei

19. A Bleeding Man Is A Message

The next two days were a bit slow and lazy for the couple. The next day, A'Fei and Xie Yun took to walking around the city, after breakfast. Xie Yun could tell that A'Fei was looking for something as she went from stall to stall, one look and she would turn away. He wondered if it was a gift for himself or something else.

They went to see if Madam NiChang and her troupe was in the city. The ladies at the front door didn't allow them in. They gave their names, Zhou Fei and Qian Suiyou and the place of their residence in case Madam decide to see them.

"Maybe I should write something for the troupe. Easier to meet Madam that way." Zhou Fei nodded, "Even if we can meet her without the song, it would be good to write one. She has helped us so much. We still haven't repaid her for her help with the Heavenly Lock or for the help in fighting Disha." Xie Yun understood and had something in mind already. Since he wanted to start immediately, they went back. 

"I haven't got to repay her for the heavenly lock, only for Disha. That lock was all you."

"I haven't sent it back yet. Looks like you need another round on it to appreciate it fully."

Thus bickering back and forth, they reached the inn. Neither of them mentioned the danger trailing behind them, stalling as much as they could.

Xie Yun started to work as soon as they set foot in their room. A'Fei  cleared a large space in the room and practiced until lunch during which Feng Feng joined them.

"How are you?" Xie Yun asked conversationally, with a smile that said nothing of the events, yesterday, between them, if not for the words themselves.

"Much better," he spoke between two yawns, stretched and smiled. His eyes were swollen and his body twisting here and there as if wringing away sleep. A'Fei as usual did not pay him mind and called the waiter over.

Xie Yun ordered for the two of them and added, "This Young Master will make his order separately."

Despite the frown from Feng Feng, Xie Yun kept smiling as if what he did was the most thoughtful thing to do. A'Fei went about chewing on sunflower seeds as her appetizer. After the waiter went away, Feng Feng tried to engage A'Fei's attention once again before Xie Yun could speak a single word.

"Do you like munching before and after meals? Yesterday it was peanuts, today it is sunflower seeds." Feng Feng picked up a few seeds and started to peel them as Xie Yun was doing and much like him, placed them on the side of A'Fei's bowl. A'Fei looked up at him blankly. No response. She looked cold and unapproachable as she often did when she drew up blank. But Feng Feng didn't have to know that, though it didn't discourage the young man.

"You are quite charming. I can see why my brother has taken by you."

"With the way you have been, one would think, you are the one that has taken."

"A'Fei? What does the Fei stand for?" Feng shamelessly kept his attention on A'Fei, who once again ignored him.

"Fei is Fei. It is something to be called by family and people close to her." A'Fei looked at Xie Yun, a barely noticeable smile passed and he knew where his words were coming from and she did too. On their first meeting, Li Sheng had said the same words to Xie Yun.

"Ah! Since we are friends, A'Fei it is." Once again, Feng Feng went on prattling shamelessly. Xie Yun added another feature to the things he was beginning to learn about Young Master Feng. Immeasurable shamelessness was one of them.

Much to Xie Yun surprise, A'Fei shot a glare in the boy's direction but said nothing. 

"A'Fei it is." the boy seemed more encouraged than discouraged. Again, A'Fei said nothing, and knowing her, it didn't really matter to her what Feng Feng called her, it more the premise of assuming that they were friends that earned him a glare. A'Fei stopped eating, set back and looked about the room as Xie Yun kept talking to her this time. Feng Feng interjected often but she never gave him any mind after that glare.