Fourteen Frames

What was he grinning about?

Looking farther ahead, she saw Yan Qingsui standing on a large bluestone, waving his arms for all he was worth to make himself noticed. His excitement was plain to see even from a distance.

Pei Ling's face darkened instantly.

Qiao Ranran, caught up in flying, might not have spotted Yan Qingsui yet. A sudden disturbance came from behind her, and the Crimson Grass Sword beneath her feet stalled for an instant. She lost her balance, hurriedly brought the sword to a stop, and landed. When she looked up, Pei Ling stood a short distance away, his face dark.

Qiao Ranran pressed her lips together. She had meant to ask what was wrong, but she had a feeling that actually asking would only make Pei Ling angrier. That baseless thought made her give up on the question. She merely glanced at him, then called to Yan Qingsui as he came sprinting over, "You're too slow!"

Yan Qingsui skidded to a stop and pointed at the cuts on his face and arms. "It's not like I wanted to be! Who knew I'd run into Demon Beasts and highway robbers on the way? Getting here with all four limbs intact was hard enough!"

Qiao Ranran looked thoroughly unimpressed. "How are you this unlucky? It hasn't been that long, and you've already run into robbers?"

Yan Qingsui was just as frustrated. "Who knows? Maybe someone had their eye on me?"

"Why haven't you treated your wounds? Leaving them open like that, the smell of blood could easily cause trouble." The Demon Beasts here would show them no courtesy; they would pounce on anyone they caught. "You look like a fat sheep. Who else would they have their eye on?"

Yan Qingsui sucked in a sharp breath, but obediently took