Reincarnated into a Snow Griffin-Chapter 60

There are lanterns hidden between the foliage that swing in the wind, creaking ever so softly, waiting for the night to come to illuminate the now bright path, as well as many statues in various states of decay positioned all around, some hidden, some in plain sight, looking as an outdoors museum, and even the water had some fish statues poking their heads out.

This is all beautiful and interest, but none managed to lift my mood as soon after setting myself into finding my way around this place I’m left with the discovery a very big issue, a problem that did not come to mind before, just a mere passing thought, but now came back to bite me in the ass with strength.

Because the after effects of the lion attack on me were greater than I thought, and that crystal in my head that he broke proves not only to have affected my ability to find the Higher Lands, but my sense of direction in general beyond the mere understanding of left and right, is just as if a switch has been turned off and I’m left unable to guide myself through this strange paths by using my lacking sense of direction.

...In resume... I’m lost.

I soon realize my predicament for, not only I had difficulty guiding myself now, but the paths are rather similar, twisting and turning like a maze, surrounded by foliage, yet a beautiful one that changes from cobblestone, wood and pure earth paths, going up and down in between the bamboo trees and forest, some with a clear view of the mountain landscape, so above the ground that the clouds are actually bellow us, fogging the view from beneath, and some would pass across arches of plants that would drop their purple flowers over my head, all smelling fresh and pure, and I did not need a cultivator to tell me about the pure energy this place has for even I could feel it for just how raw and strong it is around these parts.

And yet such serene atmosphere is broken by the sound of voices speaking not too far from where I am, and even though I’m not kin to speak with anyone else I’m left with no choice but to do so in my current situation.

Wanting to take a look before deciding anything I walk a little further up where the bushes open up to reveal the view outside as well as the ownera of such voices, one sounding very proper and polite and yet slightly angry while the other drags the words lazily and is barely auditable, giving mere grunts in response and I soon know why.

"Please Giovanni, your Master is worried about your lack of attendance and asked me to fetch you up again, don’t make things harder for the both of us." The first one to speak is the young man with a proper and yet soft nature, wearing the blue and white vests of the inner disciples from the Enlightened Sun Bearers, short black hair properly combed and a pair of fair hands poking out from long sleeves, and soon enough I recognize him to be my senior and fellow colleague from the mere clothing of his, but no relief comes from finding someone to guide me when the conversation drags itself out beyond my control and by the time I realize it I’m already eavesdropping.

"... You are here for master’s sake then?" The other grunts the words out, resistant to speaking but doing it nonetheless: "What did he pay you with? He is too kind so if that’s all you came here for then feel free to leave, I’m sure he is still going to pay you just for attempting." The other man sounds a little older than the other and much lazier, especially when I finally find him staying stretched out over a branch while having a straw hat over his face to cover the sunlight, the complete image of someone getting ready to nap the day out while basking at the warm rays of light.

I could feel my annoyance grow at such lazy individual, and yet the other seems to have incommensurable patience and, as if having dealt with this situation many times before my Senior Disciple is not caught by surprise by his words, and his tone of voice is still very even when he says:

"He did offer me pills indeed but I did not accept them, you know I come here of my own free will for I can tell just how strong you are, but you would be capable of much greater things if you stopped slacking off so much."

"... I don’t like wasting energy. Also you don’t come to see me if I don’t do this..." Giovanni says, murmur the last part while dangling his leg in the air on the side as his body rests lazily against the strong branch of the tree.

And yet the other does not give up and actually takes his sword out, but not by reaching it with his hand but by putting two fingers up and drawing a quick rune in the air that glows faintly, a sequel of smooth movements that makes the sword fly out its scabbard and cut the thick branch where the other was short, forcing him to stand or fall on his back! I watch in fascination the sequel of events, thinking that I may see firsthand two cultivators fighting, only that the lazy one... actually does fall on his back like a sack of potato and does not react to the other’s provocation.

"Tsk, ouch ouch ouch, so fierce Alexis, what happened to your manners uhm...?" He says while patting his butt in pain, but before he can lay back down on the grass just where he stayed go back to his nape Alexis flickers his wrist and makes the sword glint and fly once more in the direction of the other, but this time around it does aims to hit the lazy one that, to my surprise, as I watch and expect a blood bath, actually not only manages to dodge with skill but flutters his clothes around and with a twist of the body he is suddenly standing up in a single smooth move.

Yawning as if completely unimpressed by the show of skill just now he finally looks up and around his straw hat, letting me get a good look at him and his full black messy hair sticking out in a meek ponytail, and at his red full of layers clothing, shorter than ours enough so to show the puffy black pants bellow.

And to display that he was actually not from our sect, but from the martial artist Stunning Golden Tiger, especially when, against such vivid red clothing, there is a golden baring teeth tiger sewed on it. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The way he walked and swag to the sides added to his lazy demeanor, and yet, after his display of footwork from before, I watch more carefully how his steps are firm and had the outline of someone ready to react with the skill he showed off just moments ago, all carefully masked by his lazy behavior.

I do not know if he is purposely trying to hide it, or if he is not as talented as I’m giving him credit for.

And yet I realize that I overstayed my welcome once Giovanni surprised me by not being angry at the other’s attack, by not fighting each other, but by actually getting close to my Alexis who does not cave in under his approaching figure and actually keeps his gaze on the other, even if having to look a little up when he approaches too much, but I’m stunned when the red one reaches out and actually cups the others chin up and whispers:

"Why not be honest and say that you are worried about me and that you just missed me for once uhm...?"

Alexis opens his mouth, about to answer, however I do not get to hear his answer for, at that moment, surprised by the sudden act of intimacy from both and realizing that maybe I should not be here, I end up stepping on a twig while trying to fall back slowly and, in the same moment that the sound is made I attract both of their attention right at the worst moment to be caught red handed by spying on them.

Well just great, stumbling in a pair of fighting lovers like this while lost, just surely truly great.