"Where were you?" Gou Dzing threw himself on Gaam Yuk Ying. The smaller man staggered.
"Out."
"I know that. Don't act dumb."
Gaam Yuk Ying didn't respond. He buried his face in Gou Dzing's neck, since it was all he could reach. They stood comfortably like this for a minute.
"I guess you couldn't find her. Master told me she asked you to look for Teem Djeung Baak."
Gaam Yuk Ying nodded. It tickled.
"I should have let you go after her, before."
A shrug.
"Well, I guess it's too late, saying that now. We'll just have to get her next time. Hey, what happened to your face?"
There was a red mark on Gaam Yuk Ying's left cheek, as if he had scraped it against something, or been hit. He wouldn't meet Gou Dzing's eyes.
"Yuk Ying? Hey, what's going on?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter... anymore."
"You don't want to talk about it now, huh? Maybe later?"
"Later."
"Okay." Gou Dzing pulled him close again. "Let's put some salve on it."
"It'll heal by itself."
"I know... but let me test out my skills, please? I made a batch of ointment while you were gone."
"You?"
"What's with that tone? I used to do lots of healing work, you know? Were you just teasing me?" He caught sight of the little smirk on Gaam Yuk Ying's face. "You little...!"
"Ugh, they're already at it again," Chan Bik observed, leaning out of the window of Cheng Baak-hap's room to see Gaam Yuk Ying and Gou Dzing chasing each other around the docks of Yuk-hoi Bay. "Hey! You're causing trouble for everyone! Get back here!"
Cheng Baak-hap cleared her throat and laughed. "Yes, Mother."
"No! What? I'm not! Cheng Si-dze!"
"Hey! Cheng Si-mui! How are you feeling?" Gou Dzing leapt in through the window that Chan Bik had vacated, following close behind Gaam Yuk Ying. The two young men flopped onto the bed.
"What are you doing? You're supposed to be Direct Disciples of the Ng Dzeung, how can you just lie on a junior sister's bed like that?" Chan Bik hissed like an angry snake.
Gaam Yuk Ying cocked his head to one side. "Jealous?"
He narrowly dodged every punch that Chan Bik threw at him.
"Ha ha, you can't tease her so easily anymore, Yuk Ying! Her spiritual powers are catching up, she'll be faster than you soon!"
Chan Bik paused, panting. "What happened to your face? It wasn't Teem Djeung Baak, was it? That-"
"No."
"Then what?"
He looked at the floor.
"I don't think Yuk Ying's ready to talk yet," Gou Dzing interceded, standing up. "Why don't we go and do something fun? We've worked so much over the past week, and we only have one last day here. Let's relax and recover. Cheng Si-mui, do you feel alright to move around?"
"You're not leaving me behind to have fun by yourselves. I'll let you know if I get tired."
"Alright. How about we meet in front of the teahouse in half a si?"

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