[Another flicker. There’s Nie Huaisang, whole again, standing hunched and small and peering cautiously after most of the others left in the temple, who have gone to follow that same saber as it’s drawn back towards a coffin containing a very familiar once-severe head, now reattached to a body with some stitches.
While they’re busy with that, though, and their backs are turned, Nie Huaisang turns to look at the other two who have not moved from their position on the floor. A one-armed Jin Guangyao, and another man who is supporting him. Nie Huaisang’s eyes narrow slightly, and he’s bending down silently to scoop up a discarded sword from one of the of disciples, hiding it behind his back. He moves, expression going timid again as he steps closer, away from the rest of the group, but leaving some space, too, between him and the men on the floor.
Nie Huaisang leans forward, voice a whisper meant to carry just far enough]
Su-zongzhu!
[Su She looks up, questioningly, confused, at Nie Huaisang, who has a very earnest, worried look on his face]
I have some medicine for San-ge that will help him, but I can’t get too close, lest the others suspect me! Come here, quickly!
[Su She’s eyes widen, and he’s glancing back at the rest of the group behind the statue, before he’s scrambling to his feet and moving to meet Nie Huaisang, who is fumbling around in his robes. As soon as he stands close, enough, Nie Huaisang takes the sword and pulls it across his own thigh, splitting fabric and skin to make himself bleed.
Su She’s eyes widen, but before he can blink, Nie Huaisang is shoving the sword into his hands–which Su She takes, automatically–before falling to the ground with a wail]
Help! Help! Su She is trying to kill me!
[this brings the crowd running back but, more importantly, Baxia lifts into the air just from where it was about to lie in the coffin, and points itself down towards Su She. Su She looks at Baxia, eyes widening, before his expression turns into a snarl. With a cry of: “You–!” he’s lunging at Nie Huaisang before anyone can stop him, driving that short sword into his chest with as much force as he can muster, slicing through skin and bone. Nie Huaisang’s eyes go wide as he makes a strangled, pained noise–right before Baxia slams into Su She, impaling him through his body and pinning him to the wall.
Nie Huaisang scrabbles at the sword as he falls, gasping for breath as he collapses to the floor, blood starting to pool around him on the stone.]
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While they’re busy with that, though, and their backs are turned, Nie Huaisang turns to look at the other two who have not moved from their position on the floor. A one-armed Jin Guangyao, and another man who is supporting him. Nie Huaisang’s eyes narrow slightly, and he’s bending down silently to scoop up a discarded sword from one of the of disciples, hiding it behind his back. He moves, expression going timid again as he steps closer, away from the rest of the group, but leaving some space, too, between him and the men on the floor.
Nie Huaisang leans forward, voice a whisper meant to carry just far enough]
Su-zongzhu!
[Su She looks up, questioningly, confused, at Nie Huaisang, who has a very earnest, worried look on his face]
I have some medicine for San-ge that will help him, but I can’t get too close, lest the others suspect me! Come here, quickly!
[Su She’s eyes widen, and he’s glancing back at the rest of the group behind the statue, before he’s scrambling to his feet and moving to meet Nie Huaisang, who is fumbling around in his robes. As soon as he stands close, enough, Nie Huaisang takes the sword and pulls it across his own thigh, splitting fabric and skin to make himself bleed.
Su She’s eyes widen, but before he can blink, Nie Huaisang is shoving the sword into his hands–which Su She takes, automatically–before falling to the ground with a wail]
Help! Help! Su She is trying to kill me!
[this brings the crowd running back but, more importantly, Baxia lifts into the air just from where it was about to lie in the coffin, and points itself down towards Su She. Su She looks at Baxia, eyes widening, before his expression turns into a snarl. With a cry of: “You–!” he’s lunging at Nie Huaisang before anyone can stop him, driving that short sword into his chest with as much force as he can muster, slicing through skin and bone. Nie Huaisang’s eyes go wide as he makes a strangled, pained noise–right before Baxia slams into Su She, impaling him through his body and pinning him to the wall.
Nie Huaisang scrabbles at the sword as he falls, gasping for breath as he collapses to the floor, blood starting to pool around him on the stone.]