Chapter 282: Wake Up

One was a soldier who held the weapon while the other one became the weapon itself to move forward. Unknown to them, their moves became on point to each other. If the other one wanted to sneak attack, the other one could predict and effortlessly defend himself.

It just came to the point where only small slash wounds appeared on different parts of their body and it’s even very shallow.

While Qin An was feeling doubt and a bit bewildered by how the man could easily follow his movement, He Li once again fell into a trance.

He didn’t know why but he felt as if he could hear a conversation somewhere near his ear.

"You shouldn’t do this. It can easily be predicted by your opponent."

"Predicted? It’s only for you. No one has ever known what move I made other than you."

"It’s because it’s me. Come on, I’ll teach you."

And not surprisingly, their voices are very familiar. Like from himself and Qin An’s voices talking.

"You’re cheating!"

"Hah, you just don’t admit defeat from me."

"It’s not! You’re so annoying!"

"Hahaha!"

....

"Marshal?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Marshal?"

He Li was abruptly fulfilled from his reverie when he heard Qin An’s continuous shouting for his name. He snapped back and was about to move when he felt a sharpness on his neck. He sees it and realizes that somehow the young man’s sword is already pointing at his neck.

"You’re not focusing." Qin An directly pointed it out.

"I’m sorry." He admitted it. "We can go back again—"

"No." Qin An raised his brow. ’"You already lost."

He paused. "I didn’t."

"It’s not my fault that you were out of focus. Anyway, just admit that you lost to me."

"I’m not. It’s not counted."

"Why not?" Qin Am somehow smirks at him. "Is the Marshal ashamed of admitting his loss? That’s not how a soldier is, right? A man should admit it honestly."

His brow raised, feeling a bit funny. "I was not concentrating. We can fight again and see how—"

But the young man bluntly cut him off. "No, you lost."

He Li didn’t speak but it was enough for the young man to grunt in annoyance.

"You’re a bit annoying!"

Annoying?

He Li didn’t know how that word snapped something inside him but after hearing it directly from the young man and remembering that conversation he heard like an illusion, he just moved something.

He unceremoniously grabs the young man’s hand and pinches it, making the sword drop. He pulled Qin An into him and tripped the young man’s legs so the latter fell off the balance and fell to the ground. As for him, he was still gripping the young man’s hand so he too fell but swiftly kneeled to stop himself from falling directly and quickly put the edge of his word to Qin An’s neck instead, revering their situation.

"Now you lost."

Qin An grunted under him. "You’re cheating!"

His grip tightened at the words again. "You’re not concentrating. It’s not my fault that you put your guard down."

The young man couldn’t help but shoot glares at him. "You’re annoying."

That somehow pulled the corner of his lips upward. It’s actually rare to see this expression from Qin an but this time on their training, he often caught a glimpse of it whenever the young man felt deflated.

Qin An wanted to struggle but he just put his other knee on the young man’s in between knees to prevent his lower body from moving. He also caught the latter’s hands on his left hand while the other one was still holding the sword to point on his neck.

"Move your sword." Qin An directed so he just thrusted the edge of the sword to the floor instead.

The young man looked annoyed that he couldn’t get out but he somehow felt an unfamiliar joy seeing it. Qin An’s expression is a bit different from the usual cold and matureness he had always on his face. As if a person let out the inner child inside them— like an ice melted for a while.

"You’re still annoyed?" He didn’t even notice the tone on his voice lessen to a much gentler side. Qin An also didn’t notice it and grunted.

"Why don’t you move aside, then?"

He chuckles. "No."

"!!!" Qin An looked at him in disbelief. "Why?!"

But he didn’t answer anymore.

Their faces are a bit close to each other so in this position, He Li could clearly observe the young man’s face.

Was he the young man that always flashed on him? He Li knew his abnormalities and just wanted a confirmation and answer to his doubts. He couldn’t remember such things but why does it always feel as if the two of them knew each other all along?

Does Qin An also have this thought like him? Does he feel familiar too?

"You..." he suddenly wanted to ask the young man but halted when he noticed something in Qin An;s eyes. The young man’s eyes somehow felt as if those gold runes were appearing slowly on his eyes.

Gradually it really grew clearer and he was about to ask what’s happening when the young man raised his hand and directly put his fingers on the center of his forehead, gently touching him.

"Don’t move." The young man looks concentrated. "You need this one."

"... Okay," his voice sounded hoarse. He could feel the gentle energy radiating from Qin An and it slowly started enveloping his head making his pain lessen. He Li removed the sword on Qin An’s neck and put his hand beside instead the latter’s head to steady his position.

As Qin An was concentrating on his work, he slowly closed his eyes due to the comfort from the spiritual energy caressing him.

His nerves loosen and his body relaxes. Yet just as he was feeling it, an unknown voice once again whispered to him.

"Don’t push it anymore. Accept it."

Accept what?

"Wake up, Devil."

*****