Seeing Bichen's retreating back, flowing sleeves of his pristine hanfu,  Suibian couldn't help but feel little heavy at heart. He could sense the shift in mood of the other sword spirit.

He felt responsible for it, but couldn't comprehend why. So, Suibian just shrugged the matter off although he felt bad for it. So the crimson black-clad spirit returned to his sword form.

◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦

Bichen sighed heavily, he didn't know why but his heart felt heavy thinking of the crimson black-clad sword spirit he met tonight, he heart felt gloomy thinking of the panicked look the other sword spirit gave, on the topic of name.

Did the other not trust him enough, to not even tell him his name?

Or did Bichen not gave a trusting first impression?

Either way, Bichen knew he shouldn't feel anything about it yet he couldn't help himself. In the 15 years of his existence he never felt self-conscious.

He was neither overconfident nor had low self-worth. He was fine. Just fine on his own yet this crimson black-clad spirit just casually bragged into his life and plunged his thoughts into chaos.

And the spirit had the audacity to not even tell Bichen his name.

Thinking all this while sitting beside Wangji, his master's Guqin. That had been with his master long before he had.

Bichen once again sighed rubbing his right temple, thinking about the handsome sword spirit.

Wangji suddenly spoke, his voice held the calmness accumulated through years of peace and practice.

"Bichen, you have sighed for twentieth time, the past two hours. What happened? Want to share?"

Bichen whinned and said "Wangji..I..I can't get my mind of something."

Wangji asked, "What something? The sword spirit from this evening? Hm."

"Yeah actually I'm thinking of him. I met him again, his master was sneaking alcohol to Cloud Recesses and my master caught him and they dueled, I and him dueled with each other. He is a fine blade I have to say."

"Hm? Something else?" Wangji asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Yes actually. We talked a little, exchanged pleasentries and I asked his name, politely...he suddenly panicked. I thought he was uncomfortable telling me his name so I assured him I can wait. Wangji do I look at like I can't be trusted?" Bichen said.

Wangji sitting in lotus position, brought Guqin on his lap and started playing Calming(1).

Bichen calmed down listening to Wangji play Calming. Wangji suddenly spoke, in-between playing Guqin, "Bichen, maybe that sword spirit's name is something he felt like cannot be shared, you should give him time he will tell you someday I believe and you are very trustworthy, don't doubt yourself."

"Mn. I will try." Bichen said after some consideration.

The days in Cloud Recesses continued on peacefully, except not really. Well Wei Wuxian would inevitably cause a ruckus and worst in those ruckus Lan Wangji always got involved, unintentionally.

What's more to it is that it seemed like Suibian's master had taken a liking to Lan Wangji. He often teased Lan Wangji mercilessly. Leaving Suibian to apologize to Bichen and Wangji.

But the plus point to it was that he and  Bichen now meet more often, but their masters being ice and fire, fights inevitably broke sometimes.

The latest fight was, Wei Wuxian was punished when he talked about resentful energies and after the class ended.

Young Master Jiang scolded, “What do you mean ‘hunt for pheasants’? Why would there be pheasants here?! First, go copy Righteousness. Lan Qiren asked me to tell you to copy the Virtue section of Righteousness three times, so that you can learn what natural law and morality is.”

Suibian's master spat out the grass in his mouth and dusted his boots, “Three times? I’d fly up to Heaven if I just copied them once. I’m not from the Lan Sect, and I don’t intend to marry into the Lan Clan, so why should I copy their sect rules? I'm not going to copy!"

But in the end he had to but then if this passes peacefully how can Wei Wuxian be Wei Wuxian?

Bichen was amazed at Young Master Wei's ability to be annoying.

He talked so much to annoy Lan-er-gongzi and then got himself reward of silencing spell. He wrote apology and asked Lan-er-gongzi to undo the spell.

This way the whole month passed, on the last day of punishment, Young Master Wei brought his sword with him and obediently copied Righteousness.

It felt peculiar to Bichen, he asked the fellow spirit "Your master seems very obedient in my understanding of your master...he's up to something."

The other nodded, "I am sure he is..he seems very obedient and that's the only thing out of his character."

When the other spoke, Bichen stared intently at his handsome side profile and couldn't help the admiration that rose in his heart.

Suibian caught the white-clad spirit staring at him and felt heat rise to his face but kept thoughtful and calm expression, despite his growing nervousness.

He asked "Is there something stuck on my face, dear spirit?"

He watched as the white-clad abruptly averted his gaze and a hue of pink dusted his cheeks.

Bichen spoke, flustered "Ah, um..it's, it's nothing, it's nothing..I just.."

Bichen's words were cut short by a thunderous roar of "Get lost!" And maniacal laughter.

Both brought their focus on their masters, in this process Suibian didn't notice the sigh of relief the white-clad spirit gave.

They watched as Wei Wuxian defended himself using Suibian and then with a hearty laughter got away from the Lan Sect library.

Bichen asked the Suibian, curiously "What did young master Wei do to..make my master lash out this way?"

Suibian glanced at the small pieces of torn paper and laughed. Bichen looked at the red-clad spirit in puzzlement.

Suibian laughed until his stomach hurt and said to Bichen, "Ahaha.. I, I'm, sorry. I just, look at the pieces of paper, first..haha!"

Bichen followed Suibian's gaze, his sight fell on a part of the book's page, he turned his face and neck away at a frightening speed, his eyes wide and face flushed red, which looked like he was about to bleed. Seeing this hilarious reaction Suibian howled with laughter.

The book that Wei Wuxian gave to Lan-er-gongzi was a cut-sleeve(2) porn!

Bichen said his voice flustered and embarrassed "Y-young master Wei is really not afraid of death! He did this to master, if it was someone else, they would have been stabbed to death by master."

Suibian's ear perked up he asked suddenly interested, "Oh? If it wasn't master they would have been stabbed to death? Why would Lan-er-gongzi ignore such a grave offense?"

Bichen coughed softly into his sleeve before clearing his throat and spoke "I, my master, to my master he is..he's different and special to my master."

"Oh?"

"Mn. Forgive me aside from this I can't say anymore." Bichen said.

"No no! Don't apologize, it's good you told me this." Suibian hurriedly said.

Bichen secretly held a silver of hope on getting the red-clad spirit's name but the other never told him. His mind began to turn chaotic and his hopes started to crack. His heart suddenly felt cold when a traitorous voice at the back of his mind spoke "Of course he wouldn't trust you, you don't even know him properly and worst your master and his master seem to have sworn enemity, why would he trust you?"

Bichen swallowed dryly gave a respectful bow and said in a distant voice "I should leave. I'm sure we'll me soon enough."

Suibian sensed the white-clad spirit's mood change and grew nervous but didn't show it, he returned the bow with equal respect and said "I should take my leave too, we sure will meet soon there's no doubt."

Bichen nodded his head and turned around to leave his heart was unsettled and an unfamiliar pain rose in his chest. He had gone just a little far when the red-clad spirit's voice called him, prompting him to halt.

"Uh..Bichen, if you don't mind, how about we hang out when both of us are free? I mean I had wanted to take a look around Caiyi town for a while, but never got the chance. It would be best of I have a local guide, how does this sound?" Bichen thought he was imagining things but the red-clad spirit's voice seemed nervous unlike his usual confidence.

A silence descended between them. Suibian gulped nervously already prepared for rejection, which strangely did not feel good to think about.

But turns out he was being paranoid, the white-clad beauty answered his voice gentle unlike the distant tone from earlier.

"Sounds good. Let me know when to go." with that Bichen walked away with fast strides, feeling extremely giddy, flustered and what not.

He could hear a squeal from behind which he guessed came from the red-clad, since they were the only people in their spirit forms in the spiritual realm.

Bichen's lips curved upwards thinking about hanging out with red-clad.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

Fuck it! This wasn't suppose to happen at all!

Bichen was stuck between laughing or crying, and Suibian  was about to explode from anger.

Yes, he planned to hang out with Bichen in Caiyi town, but damnit! it was supposed to be just two of them, not others, not Sandu, not Shuoyue(3), not Wangji, not Liebing(4) and at least not Suihua(5)!

Damn it! None of them, why why? It's alright with Zewu-jun's sword and Xiao(6) but, why did he have to be with that Young Master Jin's sword?!

Every sword and two weapon spirit, who were heading to Caiyi town with their masters were walking in the same group, but then they sensed the change in mood and air around a certain sword and decided to inch away from him including, Sandu excluding Bichen.

Suibian was angry enough to release steam through his ears and they didn't know why, well, except Bichen and Wangji.

Bichen released a soft nervous laughter and placed a hand on the taller spirits shoulder and whispered to Suibian "Aya! It's alright we can hang out some other day, it's not like I'm running away or you are leaving Cloud Recesses anytime soon, right?"

Listening to Bichen's soft whisper Suibian's anger finally dissipated and he calmed down.

Behind them, Wangji cocked his eyebrow suspicion rising in his heart. The Bichen who never really bothered to pacify or coax or be too close to some spirit, was right now shoulder to shoulder and his lips few inches away from the red-clad sword spirit.

This was odd, but Wangji didn't bother to call him out, he just continued moving.

After sometime when their masters reached the river, the spirits finally realised, that they were going to deal with water ghouls.

In this process, Wei Wuxian had threw his boat's paddle at Lan Wangji's face resulting in Lan Wangji hopping away from his boat to Lan Xichen's boat with a stern "Ridiculous!"

The paddle turned the boat over revealing a water ghoul. He then proceeded to explain how the displacement of water was wrong.

Seeing this, Wangji saluted Suibian from a distance as a sign of gratitude while, Bichen came close to Suibian and said "Young Master Wei is really good. Thanks to him my master's safe."

Suibian laughed and said "No no! I'm sure that, even without his help Lan-er-gongzi would have saved himself, but I should thank you for your praises."

With a sunny smile Suibian answered.

Bichen shook his head, his ears ringing with a beautiful laughter "You are being too humble."

Dealing with water ghouls have never been easy, for the spirits knew this. When half a dozen hands of water ghouls attacked Lan Wangji, sliced them using Bichen which exuded an icy glare, very much like the owner himself.

Suibian let out a low whistle and praised "Clean move, excellent timing and a very brilliant blade." staring pointedly at the white-clad spirit.

Bichen's throat closed and he felt heat rising to his ears. Suibian smirked noting the discoloration of Bichen's ears.

Wangji who had been watching this interaction from afar rolled his eyes politely.

Suihua who was watching this too, snorted and said to the purple-clad sword spirit, "Is he flirting with Bichen or I'm imagining things?"

Sandu shrugged and said "I'm pretty sure it's called flirting and he does not even realise I think."

While, Lan Wangji wasn't paying attention to his back a dozen or so hands launched themselves to him, when he was about to use Bichen a bright red glare beat him to it and chopped off the hands.

This time Bichen softly said "An agile sword of a white blade made of fine craftsmanship. Stealth move, brilliant gait, an impeccable wielder."

Suibian blinked a few times, surprised.

He looked at Bichen and sputtered "Did, did you just..."

Suihua watched this and snorted. Wangji coughed into his sleeve and Sandu facepalmed and groaned "Shixiong..."

Shuoyue softly giggled while Liebing shook her head in exseparation. Shouyue softly whispered to Liebing "A'Lie, they are like teens hiding their crushes, cute."

Liebing held Shuoyue by her waist and said "Weren't we like this at some point Yue'er?"

Lan Wangji expressionlessly complimented "A nice sword, what's it's name?"

Bichen's ears perked up at the question, where as Suibian froze. Sandu "Pft--"ed. Bichen frowned at reaction.

What is your name? Why are you hiding it? Bichen wondered.

"Oh..it's Whatever." Wei Wuxian replied lightly.

"What?" Suihua said, confused. Bichen and Wangji frowned.

Lan Wangji stilled. Then said "The swords have spirit in them calling them as one wishes is disrespectful."

Wei Wuxian gave him an unamused glance then said "Look at you always thinking out of the box. I'm not asking you to call it's whatever you want, I'm telling you it's name. Look."

Then showed it's scabbard to Lan Wangji when the sword returned to him, he showed the blade the words engraved on it were indeed "Suibian"

Wei Wuxian then proceeded to tell Lan Wangji it's story to which the other responded with a cold "Ridiculous!" leaving Wei Wuxian doubling over laughter.

Dead silence descended in the spiritual realm. Suihua said "Oh..wow."

Bichen stared at Suibian, unblinkingly.

Bichen after recovering from his stupor said to Suibian "Oh..." So that's why you weren't telling me your name.

Remained unsaid but the other heard it.

The red-clad sword spirit coughed into his fist and was about to say something but Bichen softly spoke, saluting him "It's a pleasure to meet you Suibian, hope we can be better friends from today."

With this Suibian was stupified staring at the white-clad spirit's radiant smile, and nodded dumbly.

•••••••••••••••••••

GLOSSARY:-

(1) Calming = Zhén díng [镇定]— Calm, unperturbed, cool.
Basically, I made it up lol.

(2) Cut-sleeve= Duàn Xiù Zhī Pi
[断袖之癖],

In case you are unaware this term used to refer homosexuality in ancient(?) China, it is derived from a tale of the Han Emperor Ai Di and his lover, (who I don't deem appropriate to name).

The story goes that the two were in bed one night and the Emperor's lover fell asleep on the arm of his robe. In order to rise without waking up his lover, the Emperor cut off his sleeve and slipped away, leaving his beloved to sleep undisturbed.

(3) Shuòyuè [朔月] = new moon.

(4) Liebing [朔月] = fractured ice.

(5) Suihua [岁华] = lit. the passage of time.

(6) Xiao [箫] = The Xiao is a Chinese vertical end-blown flute.

••••••••••••••••••••

In case y'all are wondering what Wangji looks like:

Wangji

Sandu

Suihua

Shuoyue

Liebing

⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩⟩

Hello everyone!

This is the chapter filled witgb sword spirits on Biling Lake.

Did you like it? Please tell me your opinions. Hopefully it isn't kind of filler like vibes.

We are getting Lesbian couple "Shuoyue X Liebing" and other CP? Who do you think the other CP is?

I love how Suibian casually flirts with Bichen and doesn't even know lol.

Suihua be like : Ooh👀👀
Wangji be like: Wk wk.
Sandu: Why are we here just to suffer?
Shuoyue: Hehe, kids these days.
Liebing: You were like this.

Next update:

Indoctrination at Qishan, SB and BC relationship development maybe? 👀👀

Votes and comments are whole-heartedly welcomed (๑˙❥˙๑)

With love ♥╣[-_-]╠♥

— Seamless Sky

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