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Qian Lin's footwork had become rather pretty. At a glance or to the untrained eye it might look delicate. Anyone who truly watched however, knew that it had more to do with how smooth and effortlessly the officer moved rather than a lack of power behind it.
Yin Yu was in no way fooled by it, and the amount of time the pair spent sparring was obvious in how they moved. Qian Lin had the weaker attack of the two of them but could and absolutely would turn on a dime, never unbalanced and keen on striking from the oddest angles.
Xie Lian wondered how long Yin Yu's greater experience would continue to consistently win out. He also wondered how this would affect the former marshal god's fighting style. Already it was starting to show in how he predicted the movements of others, in how he guarded weak points that most didn't even think about as it was beyond the normal capacity to hit.
A former marshal god himself, and still quite strong and quite skilled, Xie Lian loved it. He also found a particular enjoyment in being able to watch the pair, or to spar with them himself.
Though nothing came close to how he felt when he sparred with Hua Cheng.
Hm, maybe he could suggest that both Yin Yu and Qian Lin go against Hua Cheng. It might actually give his lover something of a challenge, especially with Qian Lin's habit of going full bore if he thought that he wasn't capable of seriously injuring his opponent.
If it did, Hua Cheng might get since and exerted, and Xie Lian could be waiting at the side lines with greet him after a riveting performance and well...
Xie Lian had taken Qian Lin's advice in starts and stops. Hua Cheng had helped, though he had clearly internally debated on celebrating or strangling the reluctant seer.
They weren't quite all the way there yet, Xie Lian still shaking a few centuries of making sexual thoughts impure and therefore to be suppressed. Hua Cheng was also quite insistent on doing the upmost to preserve what of Xie Lian's gathered power that they could, though Xie Lian himself didn't care much. It wasn't like he could access it anyway.
Still, what they had done so far was very nice. It was also progressing, and recently they had even gotten comfortable with the swapping of who was using their mouth.
Xie Lian let his eyes slip closed, internally relishing the thought of Hua Cheng sweaty from the intense two on one fight, his energy boiling under the surface with exhilaration. The ghost could probably stop himself from sweating, or maybe didn't sweat at all and it was something artificial. After Xie Lian had let his tongue follow the trail of a sweat drop down the other's throat however well...
His lover may be cautious about going too far or too quickly, but Xie Lian was well aware of what kind of self control that was taking, and he was also aware of his lover's mischievous nature.
No, he would most certainly be sweating after such a clash, and Xie Lian would be there to greet him, to bury his nose against damp skin and breath in the musk. To slide down, fabric parting before him.
It was probably a good thing that both of the moon officers were quite good at disappearing at exactly the right times. They would probably take one look at how Xie Lian was welcoming Hua Cheng from the ring and make themselves scarce.
Hua Cheng's timing was also quite good. Xie Lian heard the jingle of his jewelry moments before hands slid around his waist. He leaned back into the solid chest, bringing up a hand to caress the other's cheek.
"They've improved."
"Hm. To stay ahead, Yin Yu has had to work hard."
Hua Cheng hummed, before nuzzling into Xie Lian's neck. "Does Gege want to spar after?"
"I was thinking;"
"Mmhm?"
"I'd like to see both of them fight, against San Lang."
Hua Cheng shifted, no doubt watching the pair move out.
Xie Lian smiled, shifting so his voice was more of a whisper. "And if San Lang plays with them nicely, this one would greatly enjoy greeting him on the sidelines."
Hua Cheng's artificial breathing hitched, and he let out a low sound. "This one is most in agreement with Gege's request."
In the courtyard, Qian Lin twisted, surefooted but not strong enough to overcome in time as Yin Yu caught the edge of the other's blade, knocking it clear and closing in tight. Qian Lin's hand twitched, Xie Lian's lips tipping up. There was no knife to draw in this particular spar but it was good that the instinct was ingrained now.
Qian Lin lost, though in a real fight it might not have been over there. The side wound would bleed heavily, and be cumbersome. Qian Lin's fine blow, just moments after but too short of a time to pull the sword guard to the head, may well have evened the playing field, especially if it'd had its initial force behind it.
As it was, Yin Yu staggered. Qian Lin caught the other before there was any true danger. Quiet words were exchanged and Qian Lin placed a hand over the spot, spiritual energy glowing in Qian Lin's rather signature soft almost at the edge of visible colors.
When it seemed that all injury was taken care of, Hua Cheng pressed a kiss to Xie Lian's jaw and pulled away.
Both officers were openly weary at the smirk and prowling gait their lord had taken on, but neither denied the sparring.
Hua Cheng did win, but they were able to keep up the fight for nearly a sichen and after well...
Xie Lian may not be a seer like Qian Lin was; his prediction still came true however and by the time that Hua Cheng had reached the edge of the ring, the two officers were gone.