Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

If Zhou Zishu knew anything in this world, he knew himself.

His once featherlight footsteps dragged on, leaving no trace of his existence as he paved his way toward the front door of Ping An's establishment. To the average onlooker, he was nothing but an elegant, modest looking man, drinking his days away as any other man would do. No one knew the depths of his soul, or the way he'd long for things he could never possess. He was of course, aware of this, which was why he didn't ponder on it any further, simply accepting it as an irrefutable fact.

“Zishu,” Jing Beiyuan's gentle voice spoke up as soon as his gaze fell upon his close friend. “Come, sit.” He gestured toward one of the many empty chairs sprawled across the room, watching as Ping An filled their cups with fine wine.

Zhou Zishu couldn't help but notice something, or rather, the lack of it. Wu Xi was absent from the room, which was quite unusual, considering how Lord Seventh and the Great Shaman always came hand in hand. “Where's...” He trailed off, taking a seat next to Jing Beiyuan and reaching for his cup of wine, immediately bringing it up to his lips.

Jing Beiyuan could very easily notice the subtle confusion in Zhou Zishu’s expression while his dark eyes scanned the room, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His gaze met Zishu’s, understanding his unasked question. “Wu Xi has retired for the evening,” he murmured, taking a small sip of wine before continuing. “He insisted upon being well-rested for tomorrow’s journey.”

With a nod, Zhou Zishu found that his friend's words made perfect sense. The three would depart before sunrise the next day, going back to Nanjiang, where Wu Xi would treat him for seven days and seven nights, hoping to mend what he himself had inflicted on his own body several months back. If he were to be completely honest, he would say that the chances of it actually working were less than the chance of one huge pest with a stupid grin and a white folding fan suddenly evaporating and giving his conscience a rest. Therefore, Zhou Zishu could do nothing but nod, lifting his cup to his lips and finishing the rest of his wine.

Jing Beiyuan signaled for Ping An to refill it. Observing the slight frown on his friend’s face, his intuition told him that something weighed heavily on his mind. He gave the other man a few moments of silence, watching as he stared contemplatively into his refilled cup. “Penny for your thoughts, if you're willing to spare,” Lord Seventh spoke, his voice soft and inviting.

Zhou Zishu's expression shifted, as if he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to, like a child stealing sweets from the pantry. He immediately schooled his expression, despite knowing full well that his close friend could see right through him, despite his best efforts at appearing neutral. He realized that he wasn't quite sure what he wanted to say, his thoughts a tangled mess, his feelings an even more tangled mess. “I am not quite sure, to be honest.” He muttered finally, not meeting Jing Beiyuan's gaze anymore, but instead keeping his eyes trained on the cup of wine in his own trembling hand.

The slight trembling of Zhou Zishu’s hand didn't go unnoticed, a clear sign of his fragile condition. Jing Beiyuan noted how the other refused to meet his gaze. It was clear that something was troubling him, something deep and complicated. Beiyuan knew not to push, but the worry for his friend continued to nudge at the corners of his mind. “You seem…Unsettled,” he voiced suddenly, his tone low and gentle, like the soft brush of feathers against skin.

Zhou Zishu couldn't help the small snort that pushed past his lips upon hearing that statement. Unsettled wouldn't even begin to describe the way he felt. Yet, he wasn't ready to speak of it with anyone, not even with his closest friend. “It is nothing,” he conceded finally, lifting his gaze and meeting Lord Seventh's own. “I am feeling a little restless... We will be making a long journey, and whatever Wu Xi is planning might not even work. Hell, it probably won't work.”

Jing Beiyuan tilted his head slightly, studying Zhou Zishu's face for a moment that seemed to stretch like time itself. His close friend was usually adept at keeping his emotions in check, like a skilled actor playing his part, but even the best actors were not immune to moments of vulnerability, and he knew Zhou Zishu too well to tell that there was more to it than what he let on. “We shall see, won't we?” He responded at last, taking another small sip from his wine, “Wu Xi is a reputable shaman, after all. I'm not one to underestimate his abilities.”

...

Having said their goodbyes, promising to reunite once more in the morning, Zhou Zishu lifted his long robes and began making his way back to the inn he'd been staying at for the past couple of days. The cool night breeze was refreshing, even as midnight slowly approached, signaling the dreadful time of the day where the Seven Nails of Torment would start acting up, making him feel like he was being torn apart from the inside out. With steady breaths, he pushed himself off the ground, leaping onto the roof of the inn, and gracefully landing on the windowsill to his room. The window had been left wide open when he'd left earlier, which was a relief, considering Zhou Zishu was in no mood to speak to anyone else that night.

But would he ever have it his way? It was as if the Heavens were against him, punishing him for the sins he'd committed in the past, which felt both like a lifetime ago, and also like they'd been committed that same day.

“A-Xu,” Wen Kexing's voice resounded through the room, two pairs of eyes flying up to meet Zhou Zishu's own as soon as he landed safely inside the room. “Where did you run off to? I'm usually the one sneaking out to rendezvous... Don't you care at all about this one's fragile heart?” he continued on, making his way toward Zhou Zishu, an idiotic grin plastered on his face.

The other simply frowned, heaving a sigh and merely brushing him off as he walked to sit on the edge of the bed, bringing his legs up and entering a meditative state. With deep breaths, he started circulating energy through his body as he braced himself for the inevitable pain that would soon attack his entire body. He couldn't help but shiver slightly, feeling quite cold, despite the sweat rolling down his forehead.

It wasn't long before a sudden warmth spread from his back, down his shoulders and arms, then down his waist and legs, and he felt like he could breathe more easily, almost unconsciously leaning back against the soothing feeling that Wen Kexing's palms provided. Truth be told, Zhou Zishu was exhausted. Of course he would never show that to anyone, not even himself, but he was in desperate need of rest. If he could sleep for about a month, that would suffice, he would never feel tired again.

About one shichen later, the torment of the nails in Zhou Zishu's body seemed to finally relent enough to let him sleep, leaving his body weaker than before. He knew he would still feel it for the entirety of the night, but having a shoulder to lean on always made the experience a little more bearable.

Wen Kexing could notice the slight trembling of those gorgeous limbs, hidden underneath many layers of blue robes. “A-Xu,” he spoke again, voice much softer this time around, the previous playfulness gone. He treated Zhou Zishu like he was made of porcelain every time he witnessed the uncomfortable amount of pain that he was in.

Zhou Zishu grunted softly as the pain lessened, and he finally felt capable of speaking again. “I am fine...” He gasped out, his face and body now completely covered in a thin layer of sweat, his muscles trembling with the effort of simply staying upright. He felt a little numb, a little sore and a little restless, all somehow happening at the same time.

Wen Kexing wouldn't have any of it. He gently slid his arms around Zhou Zishu's front, coaxing him into laying down on the small bed. This wasn't the first time he'd held him through his pain, and it probably wouldn't be the last either.

Pressing a gentle kiss against the top of Zhou Zishu's head, he too allowed his eyes to flutter shut and his body to feel the weight of the past few days, falling into a comfortable slumber while holding Zhou Zishu close, refusing to let him go.

Dawn came in the blink of an eye, the morning air waking Zhou Zishu up. He'd forgotten to close the window... It was nearing the end of winter, so the weather was still cold even as the days went by, but the two were comfortably snuggled under two layers of blankets, their limbs entwined, so the cold was barely noticeable. He made to move out of bed, suddenly realizing that there was a pair of clingy paws holding his middle, as if glued to him. Against his better judgment, he allowed his gaze to sweep over Wen Kexing's sleeping face, thinking about how much more likeable this man was when he kept his mouth shut. That thought unexpectedly tugged on his heartstrings, and he knew he was once again lying to himself.

As quiet as a mouse, Zhou Zishu untangled himself from that constricting embrace and once again leapt out the window, into the open road, with only the tinted morning sky as witness. Calm as the moon hanging above his head, he thought, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴.

The journey to Nanjiang was long, tedious and slightly uncomfortable. The weather was cold and unsteady, the wind hollering around them, making it impossible to travel at night, which forced the three men to rest at a different inn every night. This normally wouldn't have been a problem, if it hadn't been for Wu Xi's constant questioning and worrying during every single meal, as well as his worries about Zhou Zishu's habit of drinking alcohol more than consuming actual food. It was nearly giving him a headache, on top of the numbing pain that he already felt from the nails every single night. He'd soon come up with the strategy of using said pain as an excuse to retreat into the peace and quiet of his room as soon as their feet touched the establishment they'd be staying at for the night.

...

𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴.

That sentence had stuck in Zhou Zishu's head ever since Wen Kexing had gently placed his fingers over the palm of his hand and had written it there, his skin feeling like it was being set alight and never having properly cooled back down.

As he tossed and turned in bed, his back faced the window, his figure curled up on the small bed. He kept his eyes shut, trying his best to empty his head and get some rest, but no matter how hard he tried, it couldn't be helped.

A shiver ran down his spine, and he got the sudden feeling that he was being watched. Hand reaching for his Baiyi sword, he sprang to his feet, only to find that the room he remembered going to sleep in was no longer there. Instead, a long hall extended before him, illuminated by candlelight. He stood there motionless for what felt like a lifetime, long strands of dark hair draping down his shoulders, framing his back perfectly. He wasn't sure for how long he'd been standing there before he was finally able to come to his senses. His steps were light, barely echoing around the space as he made his way down the familiar hallways he'd once spent half his life in.

“Zishu,” Helian Yi's voice sounded close and yet far away, like a distant memory. He turned toward the voice, the nauseating smell of blood hitting his senses and almost making him keel over. Bodies lay sprawled across the entire floor, staining the carpets and the tiles; men, women, children of all ages and statuses. He reached for his Baiyi sword on instinct, once again, only to find that it wasn't there. All Zhou Zishu could feel was the firm material of his uniform, the one he'd once worn day and night, the one that belonged to a completely different person, to someone he could no longer recognize. He had no need to glimpse at his own reflection, as he already knew what he looked like right now; face devoid of any emotion, hair tied into a tight bun atop his head, blood smeared all over his hands and face.

“Are you happy now?” Zhou Zishu spun around and was met with Qin Jiuxiao's figure, standing atop the pile of bodies, his own body covered in visible wounds, fresh blood dripping down the side of his face. “𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸?!” He repeated, throwing himself at Zhou Zishu's throat; his fingers digging into the pale skin, trying to squeeze the life out of him.

He didn't panic, but instead became incredibly calm, his eyes falling shut, his footing steady, and the more he waited, the more composed he became. The taste of blood wasn't new to him, he could practically feel it every time he ate or drank, every time Wen Kexing kissed him, every time he breathed a little harder than usual. It was always there, and therefore it wasn't really something he paid attention to anymore.

“A-Xu!” A different voice called out for him this time, snapping Zhou Zishu out of the methodically practiced calm state he'd been in just now. As his eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light around, and to oxygen circulating in his lungs again, he could make out the shape of a building he knew very well, as well as two figures standing by the entrance, waving at him. His heartbeat was steady, gradually increasing in pace as his steps hurried toward Four Seasons Manor. He hadn't even realized when he'd started running, or how desperate his movements became as he all but threw himself toward the two figures waiting for him, yet being unable to reach them. For each step he took, his destination seemed to get farther and farther away, forever unreachable, forever slipping through his fingers.

Zhou Zishu woke to a start at dawn, his back drenched in a cold sweat as he sat on the empty bed, disoriented and weirdly out of breath. He quickly pulled his legs up and entered a meditative state, focusing on circulating energy, helping it flow through his sore body. He did so for the rest of the night and the early morning, until he felt that he could breathe once again, joining Jing Beiyuan and Wu Xi outside. The three departed once more, riding through countless landscapes, from vast valleys bathed in the winter sun to dark forests where the sunlight would never reach. Zhou Zishu's mind was in turmoil once again, unable to shake off the awful feeling that strange dream had brought. His body felt heavier than usual today.

“Let's rest for a moment,” Jing Beiyuan said suddenly, the three horses coming to a halt beside a small stream.

Zhou Zishu hopped down onto the grass, taking a small breath and filling his lungs with the fresh smell of the upcoming spring. He cast a glance at his two companions before slowly making his way down the stream, too uneasy to just sit around and rest. He could guess what the other two thought when seeing him like this, and he really wasn't in the mood for any more of Wu Xi's brainstorming sessions.

The cold water flowed incessantly by his side, pooling around the small rocks scattered here and there. Despite it nearing the end of winter, the scent of grass and flowers already permeated the air all around, creating a somewhat magical atmosphere; a stark contrast with Zhou Zishu's cold and lonely heart, which had momentarily been warmed up by a silly child and an even sillier man child. He'd never been one to fall into despair, and he wasn't about to start now, but his heart still craved a home, no matter how hard he tried to deny it.

And now that he finally had not only a place, but a person to call home, the Heavens laughed in his face, denying him the one thing he most longed for.

Zhou Zishu reached up, suddenly feeling something small and soft landing on top of his head. He carefully picked it up and brought it down to examine it; a lonely blue flower rested in the palm of his hand. He glanced up, but there was nothing there, no tree that this lonely flower could've come from. Upon brushing his fingers over its petals, he could feel the rough texture on the outside, while it was softer on the inside. He crouched by the stream and gently placed the flower on a rock, making sure that the current wouldn't wash it away, the irony of the whole thing bringing a smile to his face. He'd once encountered Wen Kexing beside a stream, just like this one, and while the pestering idiot had claimed it to be fate, he'd been blatantly following after him like a lost puppy. Perhaps this encounter here had been fated; a lonely flower and a lonely man, their roads strangely entwined and somehow the same, despite being completely different entities.

It was way past noon when the three finally arrived in Nanjiang, being greeted by several servants and guards. Zhou Zishu's mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of his past, thoughts of repressed feelings, thoughts of whether he even deserved to find a way to escape the Seven Nails of Torment at all, after everything he'd done, so the rest of the journey had mostly gone by in the blink of an eye.

He followed after Lord Seventh and the Great Shaman, briefly taking in their surroundings; the beautifully kept gardens and the exquisite architecture of the manor. He couldn't help but think, 𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘺𝘶𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.

As they passed through the tranquil gardens of the manor, Jing Beiyuan cast a sidelong glance at Zhou Zishu, sensing the weight of his thoughts. It seemed to him that his friend had been unusually pensive during their journey. With an almost imperceptible sigh, Jing Beiyuan led them into the building itself and stopped before a large oak door. “You will be staying in these quarters,” he informed Zhou Zishu, noting how Wu Xi was eyeing his friend with increased worry in his gaze, not even trying to conceal it anymore.

Zhou Zishu gave a nod. He offered a smile, before looking in Wu Xi's direction, having long since noticed his worried expression. “When are we starting the treatment?” His words were casual, his calm demeanor having been expertly perfected to the point that he truly seemed calm, even upon closer inspection, as if they weren't discussing his doomed fate at all.

Wu Xi's lips pressed into a thin line at Zhou Zishu's question, but his expression was otherwise composed. “Tonight,” he replied, his tone of voice serious. He knew it wouldn't be an easy process, and the uncertainty of the outcome hovered like a shadow over all of them.

...

Wen Kexing was causing a ruckus, hurrying Zhang Chengling along as the two swept the streets, calling out for the one they had lost in hopes that they would find him this way.

None of them had thought anything of Zhou Zishu's absence that morning.

Zhang Chengling recited mantras in his head, over and over, while practicing the techniques his shifu had been teaching him thus far. Wen Kexing sat beside Gu Xiang and Cao Weining, casting annoyed glances at the boy while also supervising Zhang Chengling's progress. And Gao Xiaolian sat beside them, so quiet that her presence was almost imperceptible. She'd been tagging along for the sake of being around people she knew and trusted, ever since her father had died such a horrible death, but she rarely interacted with the group, save for Zhang Chengling, whom she had grown a little closer with by then.

The five of them sat at one of the long tables the inn had to offer, the space being big enough for Zhang Chengling's monkey-like moves.

Cao Weining seemed fascinated by Gu Xiang's insatiable appetite, wondering where all the food she consumed was going, since it didn't show at all on her slim figure. He was inevitably drawn to watch her the entire time, mouth agape.

Gu Xiang seemed to pick up on it pretty quickly, eating another rice ball with her chopsticks before turning to look at him, “Is there something on my face?”

Cao Weining's face reddened instantly upon being caught by his wife, and he quickly stammered a few words, reaching for a steamed bun and passing it over to her, “Here, have some of this as well, hah.”

Gu Xiang snorted, giving a cheeky smile and tilting her head to the side as she stared at Cao Weining. “Cao da ge, you've been staring at me the whole morning,” she said, elbowing him.

Cao Weining swallowed nervously in response, reaching up to rub the back of his own neck.

Wen Kexing, who was sitting near them at the table, could feel the obvious nervousness radiating off of Cao Weining, which he found somewhat amusing for a while. However, he got bored soon enough, getting up and heading outside to grab some fresh air. “I'm going to wait outside, for when A-Xu gets back!” He declared merrily before any of them even had the chance to ask.

Zhang Chengling paused in his practice then, looking up and watching Wen Kexing leave the room with a blank expression. What on earth was going on between his shifu and his shishu now? Had they fought again? No, maybe it was one of those quarrels that parents usually had... If that was the case, he didn't wish to know. He'd witnessed enough as it was, those moments always embarrassing for him.

Gao Xiaolian smiled at the interaction between the two lovebirds, her gaze drifting over to Zhang Chengling as his movements came to a halt. “Aren't you gonna eat? You'll exhaust yourself like this,” she said, her voice somewhat timid but infinitely gentle. She'd come to care for Zhang Chengling as if he were her own little brother after all.

Zhang Chengling's gaze shifted towards Gao Xiaolian upon hearing her words, his expression remaining blank and his thoughts clearly elsewhere. It was a while before he finally shook his head, “I'm not hungry.”

“You're not hungry?!” Gu Xiang exclaimed immediately, her eyes widening in surprise, “What do you mean you're not hungry, don't you know that you're still growing? You need to eat... or else you'll get even scrawnier! Look at you, you're already thinner than a young lady, do you want the wind to blow you away?!” It was in her nature to butt in whenever she heard something outrageous.

“I don't care,” Zhang Chengling replied bluntly, his tone slightly sharp. “Shifu told me to practice, so I will practice.”

Gu Xiang frowned, “Don't give me attitude, little brat,” she snapped back, “You have to eat.”

“I don't want to,” Zhang Chengling continued stubbornly, adopting a training stance once again, ready to start practicing the same set of moves for the hundredth time that morning. It didn't matter how many times he repeated the same sequence, he still didn't look as gracious as his shifu.

Cao Weining got up and gently placed his hand on Zhang Chengling's back, “Don't be rude, you have to eat. Zhou-xiong won't be happy if you look thin and sickly,” he urged gently, attempting to coax him. “In our sect, we're not allowed to train at all in the morning, unless we've had a proper meal beforehand.”

Zhang Chengling was about to open his mouth to protest, but stopped himself and fell silent, as if thinking about the meaning of Cao Weining's words. His shoulders slumped a little, and he turned around reluctantly to take a seat at the table.

Gu Xiang rolled her eyes, “Honestly, you're such a picky eater. I don't get why you're only willing to listen when Zhuren or Zhou-Xu ask...”

Of course she wouldn't get it. It wasn't like she understood the kind of bond Zhang Chengling had with the two. After losing his entire family, he'd been thrown under the bus time and time again. If he was here today, it was all thanks to Zhou Zishu for saving him, and to Wen Kexing for teaching him some very useful moves that allowed him to flee when he was overpowered or outnumbered.

Gao Xiaolian could do no more than smile, gesturing for Zhang Chengling to take a seat at the table, and passing him a pair of chopsticks, as well as a bowl of congee.

Zhang Chengling sat down with a sigh, reluctantly taking the chopsticks and picking up a bit of congee to put in his mouth. He wasn't sure why he was this way today, it was like he had a bad feeling, like a small voice in the back of his mind telling him that something was off. But everything was okay now, especially considering how the past few months had gone by... He should have been able to relax, at least for a couple of days, and yet, he was unable to.

Cao Weining watched him closely, a small smile on his face. “See? It's not so hard,” he said, patting the young boy's shoulder lightly.

Gu Xiang chuckled, shaking her head, “I've never seen such a stubborn child before.”

The sound of the door to the inn opening interrupted the kids' conversation, and as Wen Kexing strutted back toward their table, he inevitably drew the attention of everyone present. It couldn't be helped after all. He was a beautiful, charismatic man, all but grinning as he walked over to the kids, suddenly seeming in a good mood.

Gu Xiang's expression of contentment instantly vanished, transforming into a small pout instead. Wen Kexing was spontaneously in a good mood, she could tell. The annoying kind of good mood that always had a terrible hidden meaning behind it...

Wen Kexing chuckled, noticing Gu Xiang's look immediately, “What, why are you pouting like that?” He teased playfully as he approached the table, “Don't tell me you started missing me already?”

Gu Xiang crossed her arms and tilted her head to one side once again, feigning an unbothered attitude. “Of course not,” she said, her voice sarcastic and playful, “Why would I miss a cranky old man like you?”

Wen Kexing opened his mouth, as if completely insulted by her words. He shook his head slightly, and he took a seat at the head of the table. “You're all grown up now, huh? My little A-Xiang got herself a husband, so she no longer cares for her gege...” He purposefully used an apathetic tone of voice to get everyone's sympathy.

Gu Xiang grinned, “That's right,” she replied, her air resolute. “I've got a husband now. I don't need a grumpy old man to look after me. Besides, you're always running off with Zhou-Xu, anyway.”

Wen Kexing couldn't help but scoff, reaching out and ruffling Gu Xiang's hair, just the way he knew always got a reaction out of her. “What else can an incurable romantic such as myself do, if A-Xu has run off with my heart... I must follow.”

Gu Xiang pouted again, swatting Wen Kexing's hand away and trying to fix her hair once again. “Spare me the lovey-dovey nonsense,” she grumbled, sticking her tongue out and making a ‘bleh’ sound, “It's nauseating to listen to.”

Cao Weining looked on with a small smile on his face, finding the interaction quite humorous. He'd once believed it to be somewhat strange and awkward, considering Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu were both men, but he'd soon come to understand that love and companionship weren't defined by gender. He could tell that their relationship was genuine, just like his own feelings for Gu Xiang.

Wen Kexing grinned, leaning forward and over the table to grab a pair of chopsticks so he could keep his mouth busy eating, instead of blabbering on about his absent lover.

Gu Xiang sighed in relief, thankful that Wen Kexing was going to keep his mouth shut for once. The man had a habit of running his mouth far too much, and he'd often spew the cheesiest, most nauseatingly sweet things anyone had ever heard...against everyone's will, of course.

Cao Weining cleared his throat then, seeming to hesitate as he looked around, “Speaking of Zhou-xiong... Is he not back yet?”

Wen Kexing glanced over the table, taking in the sight of Zhang Chengling and Gao Xiaolian, who sat quietly on his left, eating, and of Gu Xiang and Cao Weining, who sat on his right, eating as well. He raised his cup of wine to his lips, taking a long sip before replying, “He'll be back tonight.” His tone of voice was confident, as if he wholeheartedly trusted that no matter where Zhou Zishu had ran off to, he would find his way back into his arms at nightfall.

The inn grew quiet after that statement, a somewhat tense air lingering around them, with only the occasional sound of cutlery and chewing interrupting their thoughts.

However, as the day slowly passed by, giving way to the night, even Gao Xiaolian couldn't help herself and inquired about Zhou Zishu's whereabouts, having grown accustomed to him being glued to Wen Kexing's side—or rather, the other way around.

“Didn't shifu say he was going to meet up with Lord Seventh?” Zhang Chengling asked, already out of breath from running around the streets in the dark. He schooled his expression as quickly as he could, not wanting to appear weak in front of his shishu.

Wen Kexing stopped in his tracks, his face immediately lighting up at the question. “You're a genius!” He exclaimed before suddenly bolting, leaving Zhang Chengling stranded in the middle of nowhere. It was as if he had never even been there in the first place...

It wasn't that Zhang Chengling was a genius, but rather that neither of them had used their brains at all, just running around like a pair of ducklings looking for their mother. Wen Kexing felt that he could suddenly grasp the situation and think it through somewhat rationally now. He reached Ping An's establishment in the blink of an eye, banging on the door like a madman. “A-Xu!” He couldn't care less about the late hour or about whom he might wake up by yelling like this. “A-Xu, are you here??”

It didn't take too long for the door to open, revealing a confused looking Ping An. He eyed Wen Kexing from head to toe before stepping aside, inviting him in for a cup of tea or wine. “Did Lord Zhou not tell Wen gongzi? He accompanied Lord Seventh and the Great Shaman back to Nanjiang this morning.”

“Back to...” Wen Kexing was perplexed. He couldn't wrap his head around it. Why hadn't A-Xu told him? 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯... “What for?” He asked after a moment, turning to look back at Ping An as he racked his brain, trying to understand this sudden turn of events.

“The Great Shaman has found a way to cure Lord Zhou,” Ping An explained, not sure whether to pour them a cup of wine or tea, since Wen Kexing seemed to be unmoving from the doorstep, not even stepping inside, almost like he couldn't even feel the cold wind messing up his hair. “They departed at dawn, but perhaps Wen gongzi could still catch up to the-” He hadn't even finished speaking before Wen Kexing's figure had once again vanished into thin air. Like he hadn't been there at all.

Zhang Chengling was in the middle of his walk of shame, making his way back to the inn to let Gu Xiang, Cao Weining and Gao Xiaolian know that not only had he not found his shifu, but he'd also lost Wen Kexing on the way. His body swayed and he almost landed on his butt as Wen Kexing suddenly flew past him, running like he was being chased by the Devil. “Shishu! Wait for me!” He called out, quickly pulling himself together and breaking into a run, trying to catch up to Wen Kexing.

The two probably looked like a couple of lunatics, sprinting down the deserted road, toward the inn.

Wen Kexing barged inside first, causing such a clamor that even the guests, who had no relation to their group whatsoever, were woken up. He rushed upstairs, ignoring everyone else as he banged on Gu Xiang and Cao Weining's doors, waking them up.

Gu Xiang was the first to open her door, hair in her face and an unamused look in her dark eyes. She was about to snap at whoever was at her door when she noticed the agitated look on Wen Kexing's face. “What's going on?” She asked, fixing herself up somewhat and reaching out to support Wen Kexing, who looked like he was one moment away from passing out.

Wen Kexing panted slightly for breath, having run around like a maniac. His voice was a bit too loud for the late hour, but he didn't seem too concerned with what the rest of the customers at the inn would have to say about it. “A-Xu... A-Xu, he... He's left. I have to...” He tried to explain, before suddenly shaking his head and straightening back up. He gathered all the air he could possibly get into his lungs at once before continuing, “You have to go find that old monster Ye. Bring him back here, we'll meet in exactly five days.”

Gu Xiang glanced over at Cao Weining, whose door had just opened, noticing that he seemed pretty out of it, just sleepily leaning against the doorframe. She turned back to Wen Kexing with a furrowed brow. “Zhuren... You want us to find Ye Baiyi?” She exclaimed. “What has he got to do with where Zhou-Xu is?” She wasn't the brightest among their group, but she wasn't stupid either. “Besides, even if we manage to find him, how are we supposed to bring him back here in exactly five days? He's not just willingly going to follow us, even if we ask him to.” She said with a huff, crossing her arms over her chest.

Cao Weining, who now seemed slightly more awake, added, “And what about Zhou-xiong?” He asked. “Shouldn't we be looking for him too?”

Wen Kexing seemed to get even more restless at the mention of his A-Xu. He shook his head, almost spinning around on the spot, too much unreleased energy flowing through his limbs at the moment. “I'm going to go find him. You kids find that old pest, and we'll meet back here in five days' time.” He instructed, turning to leave. “Oh, and... Take this little brat with you.” He added, patting Zhang Chengling's shoulder as he gently shoved him toward the other three.

Gu Xiang looked slightly concerned as Wen Kexing's behavior became more and more frenzied. She watched him pace around, feeling her own energy start to spike from the second-hand anxiety. She despised seeing her master this worked up, worry evident on his face, no matter how much he tried to conceal it. When he mentioned Zhang Chengling, however, all three looked at the young boy who seemed to be a mix of confusion and nervousness.

Cao Weining was the first to speak up, “Hold on! Is this really a good idea? We just rescued Gao guniang from that sect of evil women... I really don't think it's smart to split up.” He rarely said anything that made sense, but he had a point this time around.

Zhang Chengling's expression changed abruptly, a frown settling on his face. He turned toward Wen Kexing, quickly reaching out and managing to grab onto his sleeve. “Wait, shishu! Take me with you. I want to go find shifu as well.”

Wen Kexing heaved a sigh, turning to look down at the youth. He offered a somewhat reassuring smile before gently patting his head. “The journey your shifu has gone on is long, and the weather there is pretty bad,” he explained with an elegant twirl of his sleeves. “Take this opportunity to train and perfect that last move A-Xu taught you. You have to be able to protect yourself and not be a dead weight this time, okay?”

Zhang Chengling's frown deepened as he realized he was being excluded from the mission and being merely cast aside with the others. He reluctantly let go of Wen Kexing's sleeve, his voice quivering slightly as he protested, “But... But I can take care of myself! I'm not a dead weight, no matter what shishu says,” he insisted.

Gu Xiang and Cao Weining exchanged a glance, knowing that Zhang Chengling was sensitive about his cultivation level. They were aware of the fact that he was eager to prove himself, but they also knew that his skills still needed some work. He had proven to be useful and quite resourceful a few days back, when they'd saved Gao Xiaolian, but that didn't mean he should act recklessly and risk his life for no reason now.

Wen Kexing nodded, realizing he couldn't just leave like this, no matter how fast his heart was beating, or how uneasy he felt. His desire to go find Zhou Zishu was consuming him, but he had to tie some loose ends here first, else he wouldn't be at peace with himself. After all, if something happened to any of these four kids—𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, he thought as he eyed Cao Weining—he would be devastated. And so would Zhou Zishu be. And then if Zhou Zishu was anything but happy, Wen Kexing would be miserable.

“Alright, listen. I have reason to believe that A-Xu didn't tell any of us where he was heading because he doesn't believe he's going to come back,” he said, the words flowing easily from his lips before he realized that perhaps he should've kept his mouth shut this time. The look of pure terror on Zhang Chengling's face made his stomach twist into uncomfortable knots. “But I'm going to bring him back safe and sound.”

Zhang Chengling's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by what Wen Kexing had revealed. The hallway fell eerily silent as the weight of the revelation settled in on the five people present—as well as the poor guests just trying to get some sleep in their own rooms. No one had expected to hear such a chilling statement.

Gu Xiang was the first to find her voice, but it still trembled as she spoke. “Zhuren... Are you saying that Zhou-Xu doesn't believe he'll make it back alive?” She voiced exactly what the other three were thinking but were too scared to believe.

“Rest assured, I don't plan to let him off the hook so easily. He still owes me an 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 night,” Wen Kexing said, dismissing them all easily. “Now go on, get some rest and leave at dawn. Ask around any town you cross for that old monster, he shouldn't be too hard to find... Or ultimately, just yell some curse words in the wind and wait, he'll definitely come out to bore you to death with a lecture.”

Gu Xiang sighed, her eyebrows furrowing once again as she rolled her eyes. “How can you joke around at a time like this?” She muttered. Cao Weining looked slightly flustered at the mention of the unforgettable night, but quickly composed himself. Gao Xiaolian had witnessed some pretty wild things already, so she didn't seem all that fazed, just listening to their conversation from where she stood.

Zhang Chengling, on the other hand, was completely baffled. He stared at Wen Kexing, his mind having difficulty processing the information given to him. “I... I really can't go with you?” He asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and disappointment.

Wen Kexing pat Zhang Chengling's head once more before sweeping one last look over them and disappearing down the stairs. He'd given them clear instructions, so now the rest was up to their own capabilities.

He quickly fetched a horse out of the stables without bothering to ask for permission and his figure darted out into the cold night, galloping at maximum speed, for as long as the poor horse could handle it.

With Wen Kexing gone, the remaining four stood silently for a moment, processing the gravity of the situation. The revelation about Zhou Zishu's safety sent a collective chill down their spines.

Cao Weining broke the silence first, his shoulders slumped slightly as he spoke. “We should probably get some rest, it's going to be a long journey,” he said, turning to Gu Xiang, Zhang Chengling and Gao Xiaolian, who all nodded in agreement.

Zhang Chengling's expression was still filled with disappointment, even as the others retreated into their respective rooms. He continued to stare down the stairs, wondering when he'd finally get a chance to prove his worth. He'd really wanted to help his shifu out...

This was no news to him however, as his shifu and shishu were constantly running off together, leaving him far behind.

Stars above his head, faint traces of melted snow, the horse's hooves rhythmically hitting the ground and the wind messing up his hair, Wen Kexing rode out until dawn, hoping to catch up to Zhou Zishu and the other two before reaching Nanjiang.

Chapter Text

𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦.

Wen Kexing rolled over in his lonely, lonely bed, once, twice. He sighed heavily and stared up at the ceiling for what felt like an eternity. He then rolled over again, kicking the covers off despite the cold air in his lonely, lonely room. The deafening silence around him was interrupted occasionally by the blinds bumping into the window, being pushed and pulled by the wind outside. He counted the times the wooden surface hit the wall, the window, once, twice, then rolled over again. His gaze was fixed upon the closed window, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Was A-Xu asleep? Was he perhaps in a similar state as he was? Was he cold, in his bed all by himself? Was he thinking of him? Was he missing him?

It took Wen Kexing less than a heartbeat to jump out of bed, pull his boots back on and rush out of his room, completely ignoring the low temperature and the snow falling around the courtyard as he made his way toward Zhou Zishu's room. He gently pushed the door open, slipping inside like a shadow, and looming over Zhou Zishu's bed. To his disappointment however, the bed was empty.

This wasn't the first time Wen Kexing had shamelessly snuck inside Zhou Zishu's room since they had moved to Four Seasons Manor, but it was the first time that he'd found the bed empty. He was perplexed, just standing there for a while.

With a frown, he turned around and exited the room, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, trying to think of where Zhou Zishu could have possibly gone off to at this hour, and in this weather. He couldn't help but sulk, walking around the manor and scanning each room for any signs of life. He did consider the possibility of Zhang Chengling having had a nightmare, leading to Zhou Zishu rushing out to calm him down, since that was quite a recurring theme for them, but he'd checked the young disciple's room already and hadn't found Zhou Zishu there either.

He was about to lose the little sanity he had left when a familiar figure with amazing shoulder blades finally came into view. He was more than ecstatic at the prospect, immediately lightening up as he rushed over. “A-Xu! Why are you standing out here like this? You're going to catch a cold,” he said, conveniently using the excuse to wrap his arms around Zhou Zishu's middle, hugging him from behind and resting his chin on the other man's shoulder, using his own body temperature to warm the other man up.

If Wen Kexing's words and actions had caused Zhou Zishu to smile ever so slightly, nobody would know, as his face was turned downward, and away from Wen Kexing's line of sight. The moon was their only witness, shining down over Four Seasons Manor through a patch of clouds.

The two stood there in silence for a long while, their hearts beating quietly in unison, neither of them in a rush to get back inside, despite the cold breeze that would occasionally mess up their inner robes and hair.

“Wine? Since you're here,” Zhou Zishu spoke up first, his cold hands reaching down to rest on top of Wen Kexing's own. He grasped those slender fingers that were clutching his waist like there was no tomorrow, and he gently unhooked them from around the fabric of his inner robes, pushing Wen Kexing off of himself.

Wen Kexing reluctantly let go, wanting to protest and complain about the loss of contact, but the words died in his throat as soon as Zhou Zishu turned around to face him again.

It was unclear for how long the other had been standing there in the cold, but his face was paler than usual, and his nose and cheeks were rosy from the cold. His bangs were slightly messy from the wind, draping over his gorgeous face, framing it perfectly. His eyes shone with the intensity of a thousand stars, and those lips... Those lips of his looked so kissable that Wen Kexing had to bite his tongue to refrain from immediately pouncing on him.

Wen Kexing let out a sigh, as loud and as dramatic as he could muster. “A-Xu,” he said, continuing to stare down at Zhou Zishu like he was made of pure gold. His hands shot out to grab at Zhou Zishu's waist again, but the other man was quicker, stepping aside and avoiding him. “A-Xu... Be honest, are you trying to get rid of me?” He continued on, stepping closer so he could finally grab onto that waist again. But with each step he took, Zhou Zishu took three more, backing away and leading Wen Kexing toward the main hall, where the three of them usually cooked and ate every meal—or rather, where Wen Kexing cooked, since the other two weren't allowed anywhere near the kitchen after the past couple of incidents.

“Lao Wen,” Zhou Zishu sighed as he pushed the big doors open, stopping in his tracks and turning around just enough so he could look at him, a hint of a smile on his face. “Stop whining, it's not proper.” he said, shaking his head in disapproval, despite finding the behavior a little endearing.

Once the doors had closed behind them, Wen Kexing watched as Zhou Zishu gracefully made his way over to the table, lighting up some lamps and candles around them before fetching a jug of wine and two cups for them to share. He couldn't help but sigh as well, finding the scene incredibly satisfying. If he were to die tonight, he'd have no regrets, as this was the happiest he could ever be in this lifetime.

“I wasn't whining,” he said, for the sake of contradicting the other. He languidly made his way over, sitting down across from Zhou Zishu and grinning from ear to ear. “I'm genuinely worried that this husband of mine is trying to get rid of me by giving me a heart attack...” He explained, nothing but sincerity written across his face.

The two stared at one another for a few moments before Zhou Zishu smiled, shaking his head and focusing on pouring them each a cup of wine. “How so?” He asked finally, just to entertain himself.

Wen Kexing had been eagerly waiting for an opportunity to start yapping, so he paid no mind to the wine, wasting no time as he presented his argument. “Even an honest and proper gentleman such as myself would be unable to keep his hands to himself when faced with such a sight...”

It would seem that the notion of shame was something Wen Kexing would never comprehend.

Zhou Zishu couldn't help but roll his eyes, thinking to himself while reaching down for his cup of wine. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘴. He lifted the cup up in the air, nodding at the other before downing the entire thing in one go. He could no longer feel the bittersweet taste of the liquor flowing down his throat, so he no longer wasted time trying to savor it. “Is the honest and proper gentleman in the room with us?” He asked as he set his cup down, quickly refilling it.

Wen Kexing couldn't help but grin at Zhou Zishu's teasing words. He too downed his wine, scrunching his nose up gently at the bitter taste, but not even thinking to argue about it, since it looked to him like Zhou Zishu really enjoyed the stuff. “Of course! Would you like to see him from up close? I normally wouldn't offer this, but since it's my A-Xu who's asking, I'm willing to make you a special offer...”

Zhou Zishu resisted the urge to roll his eyes for a second time, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips as he worked to refill both their cups. He shook his head slightly, and he reached out to tap two fingers on the back of Wen Kexing's hand, which was resting over the surface of the table. “You normally wouldn't, huh? How proper of you,” he said, trying to keep his tone fake and mocking, but still sounding warm and playful, even to his own ears. He handed the cup back, then brought his own up to his lips.

Wen Kexing was all smiles, clearly enjoying this back and forth between them. “A-Xu,” he said suddenly, causing Zhou Zishu's movements to falter for an imperceptible second. “Are you in pain? I went to your room, but I had to walk around the entire manor just to find you instead... You could have come to my room, I would have helped.” Wen Kexing's voice was awfully gentle, carrying a soothing feeling along with it. His face no longer showed any signs of playfulness, seeming very serious instead.

Zhou Zishu offered a small smile, then avoided eye contact once again, glancing down at his half empty cup of wine. He sighed, not really in the mood to discuss that topic. “I prefer to sleep alone,” he said simply, narrowing his eyes a bit as he gave Wen Kexing a meaningful glare.

Wen Kexing paid his words no mind, chuckling as he leaned over the table, staring intently. “A-Xu... Why do you insist on making this poor wife of yours unhappy? Once we do get married, there will be no more sleeping alone, what's mine will be yours, and what's yours will be mi-”

Zhou Zishu coughed repeatedly, interrupting Wen Kexing's absurd rambling. “Who wants to marry you?” He said as he shook his head, finishing his wine and setting his cup down.

Wen Kexing snatched said cup then, grinning mischievously as he held it up in the air, an almost triumphant air about him. “We've known each other for this long, and yet you still try to act all tough around me... Don't you know that our hearts are one and the same?”

The other huffed, giving in to the urge and finally rolling his eyes again. He reached out for the cup, leaning over the opposite side of the table, closer and closer to Wen Kexing. Their eyes locked, a small smile playing on both their lips, a silent challenge hanging in the air around them. “If my wife is truly so unhappy... What can this lowly husband do to remedy the situation?” He whispered, reaching out for the empty cup once more.

Wen Kexing was slightly distraught by Zhou Zishu's words and demeanor, but he was still fast enough to pull his hand away, keeping the cup out of reach. “What's mine is yours, and what's yours is mine, remember? I'm using this now.” He declared, sitting back and pouring them both some more wine, except he swapped their cups, deliberately bringing Zhou Zishu's cup up to his own lips, his tongue flicking out to lick at the spot where the other's lips had just touched.

Zhou Zishu's heart did an embarrassing flip in his chest at the sight, despite having witnessed such shameless and improper behavior before. He sighed heavily, feigning indifference as he reached out for the remaining cup, wiping the rim with the back of his hand before downing the rest of the wine.

By the time Wen Kexing had finished his sixth cup of wine, and Zhou Zishu had finished his tenth cup of wine, the mood was much more relaxed and playful than it had been at first. The two lay spread out on the floor beside the table, in what looked to be very uncomfortable positions. Wen Kexing was sprawled out on his side, his legs laid out evenly, his left hand supporting his head, which leaned against the side of the table as he stared ahead. Zhou Zishu on the other hand, was laid out on his back, one leg bent back, the other laying near Wen Kexing's own as he stared up at the ceiling.

“A-Xu...” Wen Kexing slurred his words, grinning happily as he gazed at the other—except he was actually staring at the wall behind Zhou Zishu, convinced that he was staring at him. “I think winter's bound to be over soon...” He frowned, seeming to be confused by his own choice of words for a moment. “It's so hot in here...” He huffed, suddenly faceplanting and letting his eyes fall shut.

Zhou Zishu was somehow still pretty much awake, his alcohol tolerance way higher than his companion's, for obvious reasons. He couldn't help but chuckle quietly, reaching out and poking the top of Wen Kexing's head. “Shidi,” he spoke gently, trying to get a reaction out of him. “Are you leaving this shixiong to drink by himself? It's depressing.”

...

“No, I'm awake!” Wen Kexing jolted up, bumping his head against a tree branch in the process. He let out a loud ‘ow’ and glared at the branch like it had purposefully moved there overnight just to hit him. He slowly became more aware of his surroundings, noting that he was no longer at Four Seasons Manor, but in the middle of nowhere. He cursed again, immediately getting upset upon realizing that he'd somehow fallen asleep while waiting for that damned horse to rest. How long had he been out for? Dawn was almost there, the sun about to breach the horizon and tint the sky in various shades of orange.

The horse all but glared when it spotted Wen Kexing walking toward it, snorting and turning its back on him, refusing to even acknowledge his presence.

“What is this now? You're ignoring me?” Wen Kexing's brows furrowed at the sight, and he circled around the animal, reaching out and easily hopping back on. “I already told you, once we reach Nanjiang, you'll get food. I've got nothing on me. I'm just as hungry as you are.” He said as he smoothed out his own robes, trying to make himself look presentable.

As if on cue, the horse suddenly stood on its back legs, jerking so suddenly that Wen Kexing had no time to grab onto the reins, flying off and landing in a puddle of mud and melted snow. He blinked a few times as he sat there, processing exactly what the hell had just happened.

The horse snickered, then turned around and started trotting about, circling him almost like he was celebrating Wen Kexing's misfortune.

It took Wen Kexing a moment to collect himself, but he then sprung back to his feet, glaring furiously at the animal as he approached it and grabbed it by the reins, forcing it to stop running around like a headless chicken. “What kind of evil horse are you? Are you purposefully trying to keep me away from A-Xu?” He shook his head, then hopped back on once again, gripping the reins tightly this time, nevermind the mud on his once perfect robes.

The horse had no choice but to obey, the two resuming their journey to Nanjiang as quickly as possible.

...

It was the second day since they'd arrived back in Nanjiang. The sun hadn't been up for long, but Wu Xi had. He'd been personally supervising Lu Ta's training, checking to see how much progress the youth had made since he and Jing Beiyuan had gone off to meet up with Zhou Zishu in Jiangnan.

Lu Ta held his sword up, his stance perfectly composed as he faced off against his opponent, a slightly older kid with whom he usually trained. The responsibility of being Nanjiang's young Shamanet now rested upon his shoulders, which meant that he could be nothing but perfect. He was barely eleven years old, but he was already ahead of his time by that age, all thanks to his father's close guidance.

Wu Xi watched from the sidelines, his gaze sharp and focused. He'd always been a stern but fair teacher, especially when it came to his own son. As the two boys sparred, he noted how Lu Ta's technique had improved, ever so slightly. There was a confidence in his movements that hadn't been there before. He wasn't sure where Lu Ta had gotten it from, but he couldn't help but feel proud.

Lu Ta spun in the air, his sword cutting through the air as he advanced on Tai Yang, cornering him against the steps that lead back inside the manor. He let out a breath, then sheathed his sword and offered a hand, helping the other boy back up. It had been a fair fight, and he had won once again. He turned to look at his father, secretly hoping to see a satisfied expression on his face.

Wu Xi allowed a small, barely perceptible smile to curve the corner of his mouth, if only for a moment. He stepped forward, approaching the two boys. “Lu Ta,” he said, his tone neutral but somewhat warm. “That was good. You're improving.”

Lu Ta smiled slightly in return, keeping his emotions in check while he bowed to Wu Xi. It always felt incredibly rewarding for him to be praised by his father, whom he admired so much.

“However,” Wu Xi continued, his tone even and composed. “Don't get complacent. Always be aware of your surroundings. You made yourself vulnerable out there, gave Tai Yang an opening.” He stood there for a moment, then turned his gaze to Tai Yang. “As for you,” he said, his tone still serious. “You need to work on your reactions. You're still too slow.”

“Bullying the young this early in the morning?” Jing Beiyuan's voice echoed around the courtyard as the man approached the Great Shaman and the two kids slowly. Sleep was still etched on his face, evident in his slightly messy hair and crumpled robes. He'd never been a morning person after all... He smiled, reaching out to ruffle Lu Ta's braided hair in an affectionate gesture.

Wu Xi's expression softened as he looked at his husband, and he raised an eyebrow in response. “Not bullying. 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.” He corrected, his voice a bit softer now than when he'd been addressing the kids. He watched as Jing Beiyuan playfully ruffled Lu Ta's hair, and he couldn't help but chuckle slightly. “You're up early.”

Jing Beiyuan didn't miss the surprise in Wu Xi's tone of voice, a soft smile on his face as he turned to face his husband once again. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been awake this early in the morning, of his own accord. “Mm. I was going to check on Zishu,” he explained, reaching for Wu Xi's hand. “But then I heard your voice, so I came to make sure that you weren't going too hard on these two.”

Wu Xi intertwined his fingers with Jing Beiyuan's, holding his hand gently. He huffed softly at his words, a small smirk on his face as he glanced down at their hands. “Me, going too hard? I was merely telling them as it is,” he said, his tone somewhat playful now. Then, he turned back to look at the two boys, who were watching them quietly, seeming slightly flustered by the interaction they were witnessing. “Tai Yang, you're dismissed. Lu Ta, stay a moment.”

Jing Beiyuan chuckled softly, finding his husband's strict attitude incredibly amusing, knowing just how soft hearted he truly was underneath that cold facade. It couldn't be helped though, Wu Xi had been raised a certain way, amidst a useless war, forced to grow into a man when he was barely twelve years old. And therefore, the way he viewed the world and its laws dictated the way he raised their son now.

Lu Ta watched as Tai Yang bowed to the three of them before rushing off. He turned to look at both his dads, relaxing now that Jing Beiyuan was there. He'd always been somewhat spoiled by him, which always gave him the upper hand when it was the three of them together.

Wu Xi waited until Tai Yang was gone before turning his attention back to Lu Ta. He regarded the boy for a moment, his gaze serious once more. “You're doing well, but you need to remember what we've discussed countless times already,” he began, his tone stern but not harsh. “Don't let your emotions control you. They make you vulnerable.”

Jing Beiyuan clicked his tongue at hearing those words, giving Lu Ta a look as he shook his head slightly. However, as soon as Wu Xi turned to look at him, Lord Seventh's face was back to that usual calm expression, showing no signs of the previous silent scheming he'd just shared with their son.

Wu Xi noticed the brief exchange between them, his brow creasing slightly. He let out a soft sigh, looking between his two mischievous troublemakers, not entirely oblivious to their silent communication. “Are you two conspiring behind my back again?” He asked, his voice laced with slight amusement.

Jing Beiyuan and Lu Ta shared another look before nodding at each other. They suddenly stepped closer, each of them clinging to one of Wu Xi's sides, trying to tackle him.

For a moment, Wu Xi considered struggling against their combined efforts, but then a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He wrapped his arms around them both instead, unable to stay composed and strict when the two acted like this. With one hand on Lu Ta's head and the other around Jing Beiyuan's shoulders, he felt at peace.

“Lord Zhou! Lord Zhou, please wait!” A poor servant rushed after Zhou Zishu, not far from where the three were standing, trying to get the man to slow down and listen.

Jing Beiyuan's attention immediately turned toward the commotion, glancing over his shoulder to meet his best friend's gaze as Zhou Zishu approached the three with quick strides. “Zishu? Is something wrong?” He asked, a frown immediately settling on his face.

Wu Xi couldn't help but frown as well, noting Zhou Zishu's disheveled state and the look in his eyes. “What happened?” He asked, immediately growing worried, his voice sharp and to the point. “Are you experiencing any adverse reactions to the treatment? Any pain?”

Zhou Zishu shook his head, his expression deadly serious as he stopped in front of the three, studying them for a moment. He took a breath, then smiled like there was nothing wrong at all, his expression shifting completely. “The only adverse reactions I'm experiencing are a crazy appetite right now. When do you usually have breakfast around here?”

Jing Beiyuan's mouth opened, clearly shocked for a second, but then a sudden laugh burst out of him, making Lu Ta and Wu Xi blink in confusion. It seemed that only Lord Seventh understood Zhou Zishu's humor, considering they'd known each other for a lifetime. “I never thought I'd live to hear you say something like that... Come, let's all have breakfast.” He said as he let go of Wu Xi, a pleased smile on his face. He motioned for the other three to follow, the servant rushing along as well as they all made their way inside the manor.

Zhou Zishu sat poised next to Lu Ta at the spacious table, reluctantly bringing a cup of tea up to his lips as the four of them had breakfast together. He eyed the jug of wine sitting on the center of the table, silently trying to envision a way in which he could pour himself some wine without Wu Xi noticing.

“Don't even think about it,” The Great Shaman's voice echoed through Zhou Zishu's ears. “Not until we're through with the treatment. Can't you go one week without alcohol?”

Zhou Zishu scoffed, sipping some more tea as if he hadn't just been ogling that jug of wine. “Who says I can't? I'm simply enjoying this... 𝘌𝘹𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 tea. What exactly is this?” He asked as he lifted his sleeves, glancing down at the cup of tea with a grimace.

Jing Beiyuan chuckled quietly, exchanging looks with Lu Ta once again, as if saying, ‘𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯’.

Wu Xi lifted his head, seeming delighted to be able to talk about the many types of exotic herbs that grew in Nanjiang, which he had personally studied his entire life.

Zhou Zishu realized too late that he should've just stuffed a sock in his own mouth instead of asking. By the end of Wu Xi's monologue, he was even more demoralized, staring down at the cup of tea quietly. What exactly was Wu Xi brewing and turning into tea? It tasted as bad as it smelled, that was for sure.

...

If Wen Kexing wasn't already having the worst day of his life—apparently having picked out the laziest, most stubborn horse out of all the possible options—a sudden storm materialized out of nowhere, forcing him to slow down his pace. He was soaked through, muddy, uncomfortable and in an extremely bad mood, as well as worried to the point that he felt his sanity slipping through his fingers again.

How dare Zhou Zishu leave without saying a word? How dare Zhou Zishu leave without saying goodbye? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘡𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘡𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧?

The more he thought about their current situation, the more angry he became. He felt betrayed, tossed aside like a dog, like his opinion didn't matter at all. He couldn't comprehend why Zhou Zishu had thought it best to leave, without even bothering to say where he was going, or when he would be back. He'd always thought he was the only one who could truly understand where Zhou Zishu stood and where his heart lay, but he couldn't understand him at all right now.

Lightning flashed across the sky, highlighting the sharp edges of the trees all around. Wen Kexing was thankful that there was a road because Nanjiang was basically a big jungle, surrounded by mountains and abrupt cliffs. He'd been following the same road for three days and three nights, starting to wonder whether he'd actually been walking in circles, since everything looked the same to him. Just as he was about to stop and try to come up with a different strategy however, the sight of a lonely manor came into view in the distance. Thunder shook the earth, causing his horse to neigh and halt in fright, almost throwing him off again. He gripped the reins harder and kicked at the horse's side, urging it to resume their pace. They were at last nearing their destination, he wasn't going to stop now, no matter how stubborn the lazy beast was. The horse however, refused to budge, its hooves digging into the muddy ground as it stood there stoically.

Wen Kexing took a breath, then let go of the reins and awkwardly hopped off the horse, glaring at it as his robes got stuck in the saddle. “You know what, you dumb beast? Have it your way! Stay here and die, for all I care,” he snapped, nearing the end of his patience. They'd been at this for days now, he was fed up with the animal's attitude.

Lightning flashed across the dark sky again, and as soon as Wen Kexing managed to untangle his robes from the saddle, he broke into an uncoordinated run, his heartbeat out of control, ringing in his ears, louder than the thunder above his head.

...

The Great Shaman and Lord Seventh were startled awake by a servant knocking on the door to their bedroom. “My apologies for disturbing you, my Lords. But there's... There's some sort of 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘯 at the front gate.”

Jing Beiyuan blinked slowly, assessing the situation for five whole seconds before deciding that this seemed like something his husband could handle on his own, and therefore giving in to the exhaustion once again and falling back asleep.

Wu Xi's frown deepened as the servant continued to explain the odd situation to him. He quickly climbed out of bed, making sure that Jing Beiyuan was properly covered by the blankets, before throwing a cape over his own shoulders and rushing out into the pouring rain, umbrella over his head.

“I know he's here! YOU DARE STAND IN MY WAY?! I could end your sorry life in less than a seco-” Wen Kexing was currently seeing red, but his words died in his throat as soon as he spotted Wu Xi approaching the gate from the opposite side. “Finally! Quick, let me in, I must speak with A-Xu.”

Wu Xi sized Wen Kexing up, seeming slightly taken aback by the other's sorry state. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳? He looked like he'd ran all the way here from Jianghu on foot, without a moment's rest. “It's alright, he's a friend,” he said to the guards, and with a flick of his wrist, he signaled for the servant from earlier to help Wen Kexing inside, offering another umbrella to shield him from the rain.

Wen Kexing ignored the servant, frantically looking around, seeming too lost in his own desperation to think clearly. It was a sight that was both pitiful and unnerving to Wu Xi, but deep down, he understood, as he would have most likely done the same were he in his situation.

“Where is he?” Wen Kexing asked as he turned toward the Great Shaman, his gaze slightly unfocused from the exhaustion and the dread. He'd been riding nonstop for the past few days, mentally running through all the possible scenarios that could await him once he reached his destination, each more worrisome than the last.

Wu Xi could see the despair and exhaustion written all over Wen Kexing's face, and he understood all too well the man's need to see Zhou Zishu. He held up the hand that wasn't holding his umbrella, gesturing for the other to calm down, before speaking calmly, “He's in bed I would hope, and he's fine. Or at least, he was when I left him there a few hours ago.”

Knuckles white from clenching his fists at his sides, Wen Kexing felt like he would simply go crazy if Zhou Zishu didn't come into sight in the next few seconds. He couldn't go on like this anymore. He rushed alongside the Great Shaman, toward the east wing of the manor, where Zhou Zishu's quarters were.

Wu Xi had no intention of meddling in their affairs or obstructing Wen Kexing's path, so he simply lead the way, not bothering to slow down or stop the other from heading to Zhou Zishu's room. He was well aware of their feelings for one another by now.

He stopped walking, and turned to Wen Kexing upon reaching the door to Zhou Zishu's room, “Now, please don't be too loud. Like I said before, he's most likely asleep, and he needs his rest more than usual these da-”

Wen Kexing ignored him completely from that point on, as rude as it was. He pushed the doors to Zhou Zishu's quarters open, striding in and letting them close behind himself as he made his way toward the sleeping area. “Zhou Zishu!” He exclaimed with furrowed brows, looking around the dim lit space. He almost felt physically ill from the pent up emotions swirling inside of him.

Zhou Zishu's eyes instantly opened at the familiar voice, and he sat up on the bed, pushing his tangled strands of hair out of his face as he turned to look at the other. He let out a long sigh, “What are you doing here?” He mumbled, trying to get his eyes to focus.

Wen Kexing wanted to laugh. He was equally relieved to see that his lover seemed to be in one piece, as he was angry. “What am 𝘐 doing here? Is that the only thing you have to say to me?!” He snapped, barely able to contain his anger.

His robes were muddy and soaked through, dripping all over the floor as he stood near Zhou Zishu's bed, looking absolutely choleric.

Zhou Zishu's eyes slowly widened as he took in the sight of Wen Kexing. The water dripping off him had formed a small puddle on the floor. He let out another sigh, before slowly stretching his legs, and sitting up more properly. “You're going to catch a cold if you don't change out of those wet clothes,” he said simply, his expression more concerned than anything.

Wen Kexing bit his tongue to stop himself from saying words he would later come to regret, and he turned around, starting to anxiously pace around the space. “How could you just leave like that? How could you not tell me? You could've at least mentioned it to Chengling, if you didn't think me good enough to know! Do you have any idea how worried we all were? How worried 𝘐 was?!”

Zhou Zishu winced at the words, but he didn't shy away from the situation. He knew this was bound to happen once he was found. Wen Kexing always wore his heart on his sleeve, so it was no surprise at all that he'd gotten this upset over being unable to find him.

He stood up from the bed carefully, and took a few steps closer to the other, cautious and at a loss for how to deal with this situation. “I didn't tell you... Precisely because I didn't want you to worry.”

Wen Kexing whipped around then, glaring down at Zhou Zishu with such intensity that it made the other shiver. “So you thought best to just leave without saying goodbye?! What if...” He trailed off, a flash of pure fear and hurt settling on his face at those unspoken words. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘶 𝘟𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘡𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘡𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵? He didn't say the words out loud, terrified of giving them power by voicing them, but they both understood exactly what he meant. “What then?”

Zhou Zishu clenched his jaw, trying his best not to look away. He had been well aware that leaving without saying anything would have consequences, but at the time, it had seemed like the best way to handle this matter.

He stepped away, his expression turning stern and somewhat cold. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮? “Where I go or don't go is my own business,” he said quietly, voice unwavering.

Wen Kexing's temper flared upon hearing those words, the way Zhou Zishu was once again dismissing him, acting like there was no problem at all to begin with, like he was overreacting. “I never said it wasn't, but you've got a responsibility with your disciple, and you've got a responsibility with 𝘮𝘦!” He desperately let out, pouring out all the frustration that had been building up for the past few days. “You can't just keep pushing everyone away, thinking you're protecting us from yourself. It's not your call to make!”

Zhou Zishu's eyes widened at that last statement. His own patience was wearing thin, the exhaustion and the pain making his usually calm facade start to crack. He clenched his fists, a sharp pang of guilt settling in his heart from those words. He knew they were true, of course, but he still couldn't bring himself to accept them. “I 𝘢𝘮 protecting you,” he snapped back. “I've been doing nothing BUT trying to protect you all from the burden of watching me suffer, wither away and die. Is that really so hard to understand?”

Thunder roared outside, loud and unrelenting, just like their hearts. Lightning lit up the room occasionally, bathing them both in a cold, unforgiving light. The sound of agitated raindrops hammering against the pavement outside felt almost asphyxiating at that point, and Wen Kexing suddenly burst into tears, too frustrated and terrified to hold them back any longer. “Is it hard to understand? It's IMPOSSIBLE to understand! Do you just expect me to sit back and act like nothing's wrong?!”

Zhou Zishu's own gaze softened instantly upon noticing how vulnerable Wen Kexing was at the moment, the anger and frustration dissipating. He took a few steps closer, tentatively reaching out, hesitating to touch him. He hated how scared the other looked, how utterly lost and panicked and heartbroken he looked, but what he hated the most was that it was all because of him. A part of him just wanted to grab Wen Kexing by the shoulders, hold him as tight as possible and tell him that everything would be fine, that they would surely find a way to fix him. But he couldn't do that. It immensely pained Zhou Zishu to know that he'd be lying if he uttered those words.

Wen Kexing stared down at Zhou Zishu, silent tears rolling down his exhausted face as he waited, as he hoped, as he begged whoever was listening to do something, to spare them, to not take his lover away from him so soon. Not when they'd just found their way back to each other after twenty lonely years spent drifting through the world, causing pain to others, causing pain to themselves...

Zhou Zishu inhaled deeply as he finally reached out to wipe away Wen Kexing's tears, with a hand that trembled more than he would have liked. He knew he should say something, anything, but no words seemed good enough, no words seemed strong enough. Instead, he slowly closed the little distance that remained between them and wrapped his arms around Wen Kexing in a tight, almost desperate embrace, as if trying to keep the other from falling apart on his own.

Wen Kexing exhaled shakily at that, letting his eyes fall shut as he immediately returned the embrace, clinging to Zhou Zishu's frame like his entire existence depended on it. All he could think about in that moment was, 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥...

Zhou Zishu buried his face into his shoulder, the dampness from Wen Kexing's clothes doing nothing to deter him from holding on tight. He hated this, he hated the fact that the man's heart was breaking because of him. He hated that the other had been brought to such a sorry state. “Idiot...” He mumbled into the wet fabric against his face, his own voice quivering as he did so.

Wen Kexing let out a weak chuckle at the sound of Zhou Zishu's voice, tasting his own tears as he gripped the man's waist firmly. His heart felt heavier than it had in a very long while, his throat closing in at the mere thought of being unable to hold Zhou Zishu like this for all of eternity.

Zhou Zishu's heart clenched as he heard the sound of Wen Kexing's chuckle—the noise sounding a lot more like a sob than a chuckle—and he pressed his face harder against the other's soaked robes, breathing in that familiar floral scent that he'd grown to love so much. “Stupid, idiot,” he mumbled once again in a barely audible whisper. He didn’t know what to say to make things right, or if there even was a right thing to say in that moment.

Wen Kexing's arms tightened even more around Zhou Zishu's frame, almost to the point that he was unconsciously crushing him. “I almost lost my damn mind,” he whispered against the side of Zhou Zishu's head, his own voice shaking.

Zhou Zishu's breathing was beginning to get uneven as Wen Kexing's arms squeezed impossibly hard into him, but he couldn't bring himself to complain about it, the feeling somehow grounding him, reminding him that he was here, that he was alive. He could only focus on trying to keep his own voice steady, which proved to be nearly impossible with the way that his lover was holding onto him, as if trying to merge them into one. “You're being dramatic...” He said quietly, voice muffled against that damp shoulder.

Wen Kexing's brows furrowed at those words, and he pulled back just enough to look down at Zhou Zishu, his expression deadly serious. He stared at the other's gentle features for what felt like an eternity, tears still blurring his vision. “I almost murdered a horse,” he blurted out suddenly, before he could even register what he was saying.

Zhou Zishu was taken completely off guard by that comment, and for a moment, he just stared at the other, wide eyed. He didn't think he'd heard correctly... Had Wen Kexing just said that he'd almost murdered a horse? “...You almost murdered a horse?” He repeated slowly.

Wen Kexing nodded. He reached up and ran a hand over his own face, wiping off the dried tears, before running his fingers through his own hair frustratedly. “I've never seen a more stubborn, more unhinged horse... I think it wanted to kill me just as much as I wanted to kill it...” He explained, starting to shake his head as he rambled on about how awful the journey on horseback had been. “I left it outside, it's probably run off by now. Or at least I hope s-” He glanced back up then, hearing Zhou Zishu starting to laugh, so wholeheartedly that it made Wen Kexing's heart ache.

Zhou Zishu couldn’t help but find the entire situation hilarious. Just imagining Wen Kexing raging angrily at a horse, while said horse made his life hell, in some sort of competition to out stubborn each other... He doubled over, bracing himself against Wen Kexing's chest as he kept laughing, the tears of frustration and despair from moments ago long forgotten.

Wen Kexing's heart felt both content and like it was being torn apart from the inside out. The sight of the person he loved most in the entire world laughing so carelessly, safe and sound, managed to somehow warm him up, despite his limbs feeling numb from riding for so long in the cold weather. In the end, he could resist the pull no longer, reaching out to firmly cup Zhou Zishu's face and leaning down to crash their lips together, the taste of blood so clear in his mouth that it made his heart clench painfully once more.

Zhou Zishu's laughter abruptly got cut off as his lips were captured in a fierce kiss, and it took him a moment to snap out of it and start kissing back.

This was mainly fueled by desperation, as well as fear, worry and a pain that had been building up in their hearts over the past few months. It couldn't be helped, the anguish had to be soothed away somehow. They both clung to each other, pouring all those emotions into a kiss that was a hundred different things at once.

Wen Kexing's fingers curled under Zhou Zishu's jaw, and he pressed their lips together like both their lives depended on it. He was running on both the adrenaline and the fear of losing the person standing in front of him, all the pent up emotions, anger and sadness mixing together and exploding.

Zhou Zishu gasped, feeling his back crash into the nearest wall as the kiss turned more intense, more desperate, more everything. He grabbed Wen Kexing by the shoulders, clinging onto him to keep himself from buckling as he returned every urgent press of those lips against his, drowning in the whirlwind of emotions that was Wen Kexing at that moment.

Wen Kexing's hands moved down to grab onto Zhou Zishu's hips; the idea of there being even the smallest space between them absolutely unbearable to him. “A-Xu,” he breathed out in between kisses, their noses bumping together messily, their emotions mixing together. “A-Xu...”

Zhou Zishu shivered at the way his lover called out his name, the tone of raw, unbridled yearning so obvious in those two syllables. It sounded like a prayer, a cry for help, an impossible wish and a promise, all at once.

He buried his hands in the other's dark hair, gripping it almost painfully, using that leverage to bring Wen Kexing's head down and closer to himself—if that was even possible—his own voice ragged as he spoke against his lips, “Lao Wen…”

Those two syllables being whispered so breathlessly seemed to ignite something even more desperate and primal in Wen Kexing, and before he knew it, he was reaching down for the laces on Zhou Zishu's inner robes, but not quite pulling on them yet. “A-Xu...” He breathed out again, voice dripping with desperation. “Could you please not stop me this time...?” He asked, feeling like he was about to fall into an abyss he could never crawl out of again.

Zhou Zishu closed his eyes, struggling to get his own breathing under control, as well as the flurry of unrestrained emotions that raged within himself upon hearing the other's request. The way Wen Kexing sounded, the way he was begging, the way his hands were fumbling with the laces on the soft fabric... All of it made Zhou Zishu's heart clench painfully.

He didn’t respond right away, instead he reached down for one of Wen Kexing’s wrists, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to push him away.

Wen Kexing's greedy paws stopped moving, and he pulled his head back just enough to look down at Zhou Zishu's face, studying his expression quietly. If Zhou Zishu asked him to stop, then they would stop. 𝘐𝘧 𝘡𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘡𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯. There was nothing that Wen Kexing wouldn't do for him, as long as Zhou Zishu was willing to give him the smallest bit of affection in return.

Zhou Zishu had been steeling himself to push Wen Kexing away, to tell him that this was a bad idea and that they should stop while they hadn't crossed any lines yet, but the moment their eyes met, he faltered. Wen Kexing stared down at him with so much raw, intense emotion, it made it almost painful to witness. And at that moment, Zhou Zishu wasn’t strong enough to deny him something he so clearly needed. So instead, he lifted the other’s hand away from his waist and placed it over his own chest, right against his heart.

Wen Kexing blinked quietly, his eyes still burning somewhat from having cried so hopelessly just moments ago. He stared down at his own hand, watching the way Zhou Zishu placed it over his heart, and for some reason, hearing that rhythmic thumping under his fingertips only made his affection for the man in front of him grow even more intense. “A-Xu...”

Feeling the other’s hand resting against his chest like that, was strangely soothing, and made it just a little easier to get some of his own emotions out. Zhou Zishu brought his opposite hand up to rest on top of Wen Kexing’s, keeping it in place. “You idiot,” he mumbled, voice shaky. He no longer had the energy to be anything other than blunt. He swallowed once, throat suddenly feeling a bit dry. “...You can do whatever you want.”

Wen Kexing seemed at a loss for words then, which was incredibly unusual for him. His gaze roamed over Zhou Zishu's chest, noting how it was heaving with each breath, then up his shoulders, neck, and finally settling on his face. He stared at him for a long while, many conflicting emotions mixing together. “What do 𝘺𝘰𝘶 want?” He asked quietly, brushing two fingers over Zhou Zishu's chest, the movement reverent, and much more composed than it had been just moments ago.

Zhou Zishu let his eyes fall shut for a moment as he felt those gentle fingers brush against his skin, through the fabric of that thin layer of robes. He could hear the uncertainty in the other’s voice, and he knew that the question had been asked out of hesitation.

“I want you to stop overthinking this,” he said quietly, opening his eyes once again while lifting his hand to Wen Kexing's face, touching him like one would handle a fragile possession.

Wen Kexing's expression softened somewhat as he felt Zhou Zishu's touch on his face, and he gently leaned into it, turning his head ever so slightly and pressing a gentle kiss against the palm of his hand. “I'm not overthinking it.” He muttered, voice low and quiet, and for Zhou Zishu's ears only. “I just... Need you to be okay.”

Zhou Zishu inhaled sharply, unable to stop himself from reacting to that gentle display of affection. He clenched his jaw in an attempt to hold back the way his voice would probably turn shaky if he spoke, and his hand twitched where it was resting on Wen Kexing’s face. “I’ll be okay...” He said quietly.

After a moment of hesitation, he pushed himself off the wall, and turned the both of them around to gently push Wen Kexing backwards, aiming for the bed.

Chapter Text

Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a loud clap of thunder that made the room vibrate all over. Two figures stood side by side, barely any space between them, one soaked through but warm, the other completely dry but shivering slightly from the cold.

Wen Kexing blinked in surprise, but didn't put up any sort of resistance, walking backwards and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He stared up at Zhou Zishu, not quite sure what to make of this sudden turn of events, but definitely not complaining. His soaked-through robes clung to his body uncomfortably, but in that moment, he found that he didn't really care.

Zhou Zishu noted the other's intense gaze, and he couldn't help but let out a small scoff. He stood in front of Wen Kexing, hands reaching out, but stopping midair. He seemed to think it over for a second before finally hooking his fingers underneath his sash and working it open. “Stupid thing to do... To ride for that long in the cold.” He muttered, frowning as he felt the cold fabric under his fingertips. He'd been startled awake not long ago, but he didn't feel tired at all anymore, simply wanting to make sure that the idiot didn't end up getting sick for being so reckless.

Wen Kexing could do nothing more than blink in surprise, glancing between Zhou Zishu's face and Zhou Zishu's hands repeatedly, as if trying to process that this was actually happening. His throat felt dry, his heart beating loud enough for the other to hear.

The sound of raindrops hitting the pavement was all that could be heard, a gentle reminder of the outside world, so lost to them in this moment. Zhou Zishu's fingers worked quickly and skillfully, removing layer after layer until Wen Kexing was stripped down to his pants and undershirt; his outer robes haphazardly thrown to the side. Zhou Zishu's eyes skimmed over him, annoyance evident on his face as he commented, “You're still not dry.” He made to grab the laces of Wen Kexing's undershirt, pulling on them.

“A-Xu,” Wen Kexing breathed out finally, seeming to regain some of his composure and focusing enough to not just sit there as decoration. He reached out for Zhou Zishu's wrist, catching it easily and holding it in place as he stared up at him in the dim lit room, shadows cast over their faces as they stared at one another. “If you want me to undress so badly, you need only to ask...”

That comment got Zhou Zishu to falter, feeling both annoyed and strangely flustered. It wasn't unusual at all for Wen Kexing to say such things, and they both knew, that at best, he'd get an eye roll for them, but with the two of them standing so close and the entire world seeming out of reach, Zhou Zishu felt inexplicably enamored. A small hint of barely noticeable shade of crimson crept onto his otherwise sickly, devoid of color face, and against his better judgement, he mumbled, “...Undress, then.”

Wen Kexing smiled triumphantly, wasting no time in doing as his A-Xu asked of him. He reached down and popped his undershirt open, sliding the uncomfortably wet fabric down his arms and tossing it over the pile of soaked robes on the floor.

Unexpectedly however, instead of removing his soaked-through pants, he suddenly reached for Zhou Zishu instead, effortlessly pulling him down onto the bed, a hand on his lower back, the other on the back of his head, to cushion the blow. He let out a small breath, staring down at him. “Are you really okay...?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper as the hand on Zhou Zishu's lower back slowly moved up to his front instead, tentatively tugging on the laces of his inner robes.

Zhou Zishu let out a soft huff as he was dragged down to the bed, but he didn't struggle. The way the other man was holding him and the feeling of his hands slowly traveling over his body stirred up too many emotions to count. “...I’m not made of glass, you know.” He said quietly, not sounding annoyed enough as he slowly lifted his hips to make it easier for Wen Kexing to take his inner robes and pants off.

Wen Kexing didn't seem too convinced by that statement, his worry surpassing that growing need he'd been fighting against ever since the two had reunited in Jianghu, many months ago. He knew better than to annoy Zhou Zishu with unnecessary questions though, thinking that it was likely that he wouldn't get another chance like this any time soon. “I'm aware,” he said. The ties on Zhou Zishu's robes came undone, and he very carefully pushed the fabric off of the man's body, his breath hitching at the sight that awaited him.

The fabric being slowly pulled off him felt like a caress, as those long, pale fingers were mapping out every curve, scar and muscle, exploring every inch of his bare skin, almost like he was being worshipped. Zhou Zishu did his best to keep his own breathing under control, his eyes darting up and fixing upon the ceiling momentarily as he felt Wen Kexing sliding his pants out of the way as well. He couldn't stand to be the only one left bare, so he quickly moved to remove the other's pants as well.

Wen Kexing couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at Zhou Zishu's sudden impatience, finding it incredibly endearing. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥?

Once all those annoying layers were finally out of the way, Wen Kexing's fingers reached down, starting to map out every inch of that skin he'd been so desperate to see and touch for the past year. He wasn't in a rush at all, slowly running his fingers over the scars on Zhou Zishu's chest, wishing this image would be imprinted in his mind forever. His gaze inevitably fell on those torturous nails that he'd come to despise so much, a flicker of worry flashing across his face before he could conceal it.

The way Wen Kexing's fingertips traced all the scars on his body made Zhou Zishu's skin prickle in both shame and want. No one had ever looked at him like this before, like they were trying to commit every single inch of his skin to memory, or else they'd die. He noticed the worried look in the other’s face, and quickly grabbed Wen Kexing's hand to bring it to his face, pressing his cheek into it. “Stop worrying,” he said quietly, keeping Wen Kexing's gaze locked on his own.

Wen Kexing let out a small sigh, his gaze shifting up to meet Zhou Zishu's own. He nodded, despite knowing that he would most likely never stop worrying, and he leaned down, gently placing his lips over Zhou Zishu's.

Zhou Zishu closed his eyes as their lips met, his arms naturally coming up to slide over the other's shoulders. He was trying hard not to shudder at the bare skin on skin contact, his body seemingly attuned to every touch and movement Wen Kexing made.

The kiss started off slow, tender even, and for a moment, Zhou Zishu almost wanted to flip Wen Kexing over, take control and just forget about everything else.

Wen Kexing felt happiness like never before, tasting it on Zhou Zishu's lips over and over, slowly, carefully.

Once he was somewhat satiated and out of breath, he pulled back, glancing down once again. His hands slowly resumed their journey over the other's chest, his fingers brushing over Zhou Zishu's skin in gentle caresses, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. He slowly lowered himself, then pressed his lips right above Zhou Zishu's heart, feeling that warm thumping against his lips.

In turn, Zhou Zishu couldn't help but dig his fingers into Wen Kexing's bare shoulders, causing a small, shaky breath to escape the latter. The tender press of those lips against his chest felt torturous, and he couldn’t do much more than inhale and exhale shakily. He could tell that Wen Kexing was being extra careful, trying to avoid accidentally bumping into the nails so he wouldn't hurt him, and the mere thought of it made Zhou Zishu's throat tighten. “Lao Wen...” he mumbled, tilting his head back.

Wen Kexing let out a small hum then, his gaze flickering back up to meet Zhou Zishu's eyes, just to find that his head was thrown back, long dark hair draping all over the bed, eyes closed. He couldn't help but smile slightly, feeling content with just this much. “Yes...” he whispered back, moving his lips down and over the extent of Zhou Zishu's stomach, letting his warm breath ghost over it.

The feeling of that warm breath against his stomach made Zhou Zishu's muscles convulse in response, and he had to bite back a small, frustrated sound. It was taking all his willpower to keep still and let Wen Kexing have his way, wanting nothing more than to reach out and hurry this up. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.

Zhou Zishu slowly tilted his head back down, shifting just enough to be able to meet Wen Kexing's gaze. “You...are too slow...” he mumbled, voice slightly hoarse.

A mischievous grin made its way onto Wen Kexing's face upon hearing those shaky words, his eyes glistening in the dim lit room as the two stared at one another. “I promise you I won't be slow anymore...” he assured as he pressed small, open mouthed kisses over Zhou Zishu's abdomen, working his way downwards. “In a moment...” he added quietly. Both hands moved down, holding Zhou Zishu's hips in place as he glanced back up to meet his gaze once more. “You've made me wait for this long, there's no way I'm rushing it...”

Zhou Zishu felt like it was taking an eternity for Wen Kexing to get to the place he wanted him at the most, and with the way he was holding him in place, it was impossible for him to shift and get even the slightest bit of relief. “Lao Wen... don't be insufferable...” he mumbled, reaching a hand down to push the man's head further down.

Wen Kexing chuckled under his breath but didn't protest, letting himself be guided down. He took just one more brief moment to admire the work of art that was Zhou Zishu; laying underneath him, all for Wen Kexing to look at. And then wasted no more time, using a hand to guide Zhou Zishu into his own mouth, soft lips finally getting a taste of that perfect mix of sweat and grass.

Zhou Zishu felt like the air got punched out of him as the other's lips closed around him, and in that moment, all he could focus on was the hot, wet, enveloping heat on that spot he'd been neglecting for far too long. A small sound escaped his lips but he was quick to bite down on his lower lip, holding back any other strange noises. He tilted his head back, hands grasping desperately at the sheets to keep himself from falling apart so embarrassingly fast.

Wen Kexing's thumbs rubbed soothing circles over Zhou Zishu's hipbones as he worked his tongue on him, swirling it ever so slightly. He was very much pleased with himself already, just by getting to witness Zhou Zishu's addictive reactions.

Zhou Zishu felt like it was getting increasingly harder for him to breathe, and his mind was starting to get a little foggy. He couldn’t keep his own hips still any longer, his body craving even more friction than the one that was being given to him. His fingers clenched and unclenched, grasping at the sheets and slowly making a mess of them. “Lao Wen...enough...” he mumbled, voice slightly rough.

Wen Kexing hummed, then pulled back, sitting up on his own knees and staring down at Zhou Zishu's expression, an uncharacteristic calmness about him. “Told you my mouth was the right size.” He didn't give the other time to reply however, using both hands to flip him over, face down on the bed. He then gently climbed closer, leaning down and pressing his lips against those shoulder blades that had caught his attention all those months back. “A-Xu, you're the most beautiful man I've ever laid in bed with...”

Zhou Zishu barely had time to let out a huff of surprise at being manhandled like that, before the feeling of Wen Kexing's mouth on his bare skin rendered him speechless once more. He took a shuddering breath, then glanced back over his shoulder to meet the other's gaze. “You're clearly biased,” he mumbled, long hair cascading down his bare shoulders.

Wen Kexing let out a small hum at those words, staring into Zhou Zishu's mesmerizing dark eyes and giving a gentle smile. “How am I biased?” he asked softly, a hand resting on the bed, near Zhou Zishu's head, while the other moved down, careful fingers brushing over Zhou Zishu's scarred skin, tracing over his lower back, down his ass, then moving lower and over the back of his long legs.

Zhou Zishu let out a shaky breath as the other's fingers traced over his body, mapping out every dip and curve, and he felt his own muscles twitch involuntarily in response. It was both soothing and frustrating at the same time, and he could barely keep himself still. “You're blinded by affection in an obsessive way,” he mumbled back.

Wen Kexing couldn't argue with that, knowing full well that it was true. He moved back slightly, pressing gentle kisses over Zhou Zishu's spine, working his way downwards until he finally reached his destination. “You know I've always thought you were a beauty, from the moment I first laid eyes on you,” he whispered, using both hands to lift Zhou Zishu's hips off the bed.

A shiver went through Zhou Zishu's entire body as those words registered in his brain. Wen Kexing's hands on his hips only made his body even more eager, his back instinctively arching to get even closer to him. “Stop talking so much...” he mumbled, starting to get impatient.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Wen Kexing's lips upon hearing the state Zhou Zishu was in already, and he didn't have the heart to deny him that request. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭...

He leaned down once more, pressing his lips against the curve of Zhou Zishu's back. His lips traveled over inches of skin, and he suddenly found himself being unable to resist the temptation, biting into one of his ass cheeks, hard enough for him to feel it, but not hard enough to draw blood.

Zhou Zishu was caught by surprise, even though deep down, he wasn't that surprised, but a small gasp still escaped his lips nonetheless. The pain quickly shifted and turned into warmth, and he was so overcome with feelings he couldn't even begin to express, that one of his hands reached back in spite of himself, either trying to hold Wen Kexing still or to pull him in even closer.

Another hum escaped Wen Kexing's lips when he felt Zhou Zishu shift under him, his gaze flickering up to watch him for a moment. He reached up and caught that hand in midair, gently guiding it back onto the bed as he intertwined their fingers.

He then resumed his previous engagement, leaning in and tracing a path from Zhou Zishu's lower back all the way down between his legs, wasting no time as he found that tight ring of muscle, mercilessly dipping his tongue in.

A small groan resounded from deep within Zhou Zishu's throat, the feeling of the other's tongue against such a sensitive area being completely unfamiliar and somewhat odd. His body convulsed instinctively, tightening around that playful tongue. He was suddenly overcome with the realization that he was completely at Wen Kexing's mercy; but for some reason, the thought no longer unnerved him. The reality of Wen Kexing being inside him was both embarrassing and exhilarating, only making the heat pooling in his abdomen grow more intense. “Lao Wen...” he mumbled, his voice sounding distant to his own ears, like he was floating somewhere far away.

Wen Kexing was aware that this was the first time Zhou Zishu had ever let a man touch him in this way, and that knowledge shamelessly made him feel like the most powerful person alive.

He pulled back for a moment, using both hands to spread him out before speaking again, low and breathless, “It'll feel good,” he leaned down and pressed small kisses over Zhou Zishu's lower back once again, trying to get him to relax. “I know what I'm doing.” He added, even though there was no need, since they were both aware of Wen Kexing's old habits.

Zhou Zishu took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of himself, but he knew that the longer this went on, the less control he would have. He glanced back over his shoulder, staring at Wen Kexing with a somewhat unfocused gaze. “Just...” He mumbled quietly, “Stop talking.”

Wen Kexing chuckled quietly, giving a nod as he stared at Zhou Zishu for a moment. He couldn't help it. He wanted to admire him; commit him to memory. But he also knew that, realistically, their bodies would soon start to ache and become uncomfortable if he didn't pick up the pace, so he leaned back down, this time pushing his tongue in, and not withdrawing. He held Zhou Zishu's hips with both hands, working him open bit by bit.

The slow penetration forced a low, needy moan out of Zhou Zishu's lips, and he gripped at the sheets beneath him once more. His back arched instinctively and a sudden realization seemed to hit him like a bucket of icy cold water. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴... He wasn't just agreeing for the sake of getting Wen Kexing off his back anymore. He was actually enjoying it... That thought both scared and excited him.

Wen Kexing worked pretty fast, pulling back to catch his breath and moving his hand down, tracing over that sensitive rim with his index finger. He waited for just one heartbeat before gently pressing against it, making sure that this didn't hurt Zhou Zishu more than necessary.

It stung, even despite the saliva, making Zhou Zishu clench his teeth, but he held himself as still as he could, enduring it. Pain was no stranger to him, after all. The feeling of that lonely finger breaching him, slowly but surely sinking inside his body was odd, but not necessarily bad. It hurt Zhou Zishu's pride more than it hurt his body, to have to surrender in such a brutally honest way...

Wen Kexing could feel Zhou Zishu clenching, the discomfort evident in his body language. He leaned down again, pressing his lips against the man's spine, trying to coax him to relax, to allow for his body to accept him, instead of fighting the feeling.

Zhou Zishu's body, to his own surprise, seemed to listen to Wen Kexing well, since it soon started to relax, the more the man continued his gentle coaxing. It wasn't long before he felt himself adjusting to the sensation of something entering him, and a shiver went through his body as Wen Kexing's finger brushed against a sensitive little spot deep inside of him. He gasped, and he tried instinctively to shift away from it.

Wen Kexing let out a pleased hum then, not missing the way Zhou Zishu had just shifted against him. He slightly pulled his finger out, then pushed back against that spot again, testing the waters.

Zhou Zishu hadn't even realized it before now, but he was already breathing hard, sucking in deep breaths as his fingers clenched helplessly against the sheets. When Wen Kexing applied more pressure to that same spot, all the air got promptly punched out of his lungs, and he couldn't stop a sharp, desperate sound from escaping his lips. “Not there-” he mumbled.

Wen Kexing, as the proper gentleman that he was, decided to give Zhou Zishu a break, pulling his finger out and gently leaning down to use his tongue again, wetting him enough for the process to stop being so uncomfortable. “A-Xu...” He breathed out, climbing up closer and leaning down to kiss the shell of Zhou Zishu's ear. “Can you turn around?” he added, slightly annoyed by the fact that he couldn't see his beloved's face.

Zhou Zishu was grateful that the other man didn't continue the assault on that sensitive area, a shiver running through him at the feeling of his tongue. He wanted to protest, but Wen Kexing's voice was so low and gentle against his ear that all the words got caught in his throat. His entire body was starting to burn with an unfamiliar heat. He found himself wanting this so much that he didn't hesitate for a moment before shifting his body to lie down on his back.

Wen Kexing couldn't help but smile at the sight he was presented with, and he let his eyes roam over the other's body for a long moment.

With a sigh of pure contentment, Wen Kexing gently spread Zhou Zishu's legs once again, settling between them and moving his hand back toward that sensitive area. He pushed two fingers in at once this time around, watching Zhou Zishu carefully for any signs of discomfort.

Zhou Zishu felt the burn again, and he gritted his teeth to hold back the hiss that threatened to escape his lips. It wasn't nearly as bad as it had been when Wen Kexing first touched him, but it was still an unfamiliar sensation, so his body involuntarily clenched around the other's fingers. This time, however, when they breached far enough to brush against that sensitive little spot, Zhou Zishu couldn't stop himself from letting out a low, breathy moan.

Wen Kexing let out a small, shaky breath then, his own eyes falling shut as he focused on getting the other ready. His own body was starting to give him quite a hard time, but he was overpowered by the need to make sure Zhou Zishu was alright first, not wanting to risk rushing things and accidentally hurting him.

As another low moan left his lips, Zhou Zishu suddenly realized that his own body had started to react to Wen Kexing's actions once again. He felt mortified at the thought that he could be taking any actual pleasure from this, but it wasn't a feeling he could control. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.

It wasn't long before that sensitive bundle of nerves was being stimulated by Wen Kexing's fingers at a steady pace, and all Zhou Zishu could do was clench his jaw and try to keep a variety of sounds from escaping his lips.

Wen Kexing shuddered. He wasn't the least bit ashamed to admit that he'd thought about this countless times, that he'd even pictured it happening. However, nothing his own perverted little mind could've come up with came even close to the actual sight beneath him. He desperately leaned down, crashing their lips together, desperate for any kind of touch at this point, his own body frustratedly aching.

Zhou Zishu was struggling to keep up with Wen Kexing's heated kisses, and his mind was beginning to go blank as his entire focus was on the way the other man's fingers were moving inside him. His trembling hand found its way down the other's body, reaching between his legs as Wen Kexing continued to work him open. It felt wrong to just lay back and do nothing, so with that in mind, his fingers wrapped around Wen Kexing's length, trying to ease his discomfort as well. His body was burning in a way he had never felt before... And it was all Wen Kexing's fault.

Wen Kexing couldn't help but hiss at the sudden feeling, his hips bucking involuntarily. It had been countless months since the last time he'd been touched anywhere by someone else, so he couldn't help his reaction. “A-Xu...” He breathed out, a sound like a whimper escaping his lips as he worked a third finger into the mess of a man underneath him. “A-Xu, you're going to drive me completely mad...” His words crashed against Zhou Zishu's parted lips, so incredibly genuine that they made one's hair stand on end.

Completely overwhelmed by sensations, Zhou Zishu could no longer keep up with the other's demanding kisses. The feeling of Wen Kexing's tongue against his own made him shiver repeatedly, a soft whimper being drawn out of him as a third finger joined the other two. The burn was still very much there, but it was starting to feel good in a way that Zhou Zishu couldn't really explain, even if he tried. It was truly maddening.

Wen Kexing felt that he couldn't wait any longer, despite wanting to keep going like this, to make sure Zhou Zishu was properly stretched. As he pulled back to look into those darkened eyes however, he got the feeling that Zhou Zishu couldn't wait any longer either. “Can I...?” he asked breathlessly, his mind hazy and on edge.

Zhou Zishu swallowed thickly, and he stared back at Wen Kexing with dark, heavy-lidded eyes. His face was flushed—though a person who didn't know him well wouldn't have been able to notice the slight and very subtle change in his complexion—but his gaze was unwavering despite the obvious state of arousal he was in. Trembling and struggling to keep his body under control, he leaned up to capture Wen Kexing's lips in a heated kiss, a soft, breathy groan escaping his lips, “...Do it.”

Wen Kexing all but moaned against Zhou Zishu's lips, his eyes falling shut and his body moving on autopilot from that point on. His fingers slid out easily, and he used that same hand to guide himself between Zhou Zishu's legs, gently pressing against him. He didn't push in right away; only the gods above knowing where he'd managed to find the strength and self control to wait until he felt the man beneath him start to relax somewhat.

Zhou Zishu had braced himself for the pain that he knew would come, but said pain never reached him. He was so lost in the moment that he could hardly think straight. He could hardly think at all.

He gasped as he felt Wen Kexing's body press against his own, feeling uncomfortably sensitive all over. Without even realizing what he was doing, he shifted his hips slightly, giving Wen Kexing a better angle.

Wen Kexing moved his lips to Zhou Zishu's shoulder then, pressing small, open mouthed kisses over the many scars scattered over his skin as he finally pushed in, the feeling of Zhou Zishu's back arching underneath him so intense that he almost embarrassingly lost it before they could go any further.

It was difficult for the pleasure to mix with the pain, but his body couldn't resist for long as Wen Kexing began moving gently against him. Zhou Zishu had to bite his own lip to keep himself from groaning.

Wen Kexing's hands reached down, carefully guiding Zhou Zishu's legs closer as he pulled back, then pushed back in, trying to go slow, to take his time, despite feeling like he was on the verge of tears from the constant denial he was putting his body through.

It was increasingly difficult for Zhou Zishu to keep still. Although it didn't hurt as much as it had at first, his body continued to tense up every time Wen Kexing pulled back and then pushed back inside of him. The feeling of the other's lips against his skin and his quiet voice in his ear helped distract him, but the pain was still there. Even as he tried to keep breathing steadily, his heart was beating so loudly that Wen Kexing could probably hear it, over the sound of their ragged breaths.

Wen Kexing kept one hand on Zhou Zishu's hip, moving the other one up and resting it on the bed beside his head, gripping the sheets hard enough for his knuckles to turn white. “A-Xu...” he breathed out, barely able to focus anymore. He was so overwhelmed, so lost in the feeling of finally being allowed to be this close to him, he could no longer form any coherent sentences.

Zhou Zishu reached up to tug Wen Kexing's face down then. “Quiet,” he muttered in a low, almost growl-like tone. The pain was still there, but he willed himself to focus on the sound of Wen Kexing's harsh, heavy breathing and the broken moans he kept letting out against his ear. His hands slowly slid down to Wen Kexing's hips, gripping at the supple skin; his nails sinking in and creating crescent-shaped marks.

Wen Kexing's mind went into overdrive as soon as he felt Zhou Zishu's hands caressing his body, then those nails digging into his skin. A low moan escaped his lips, and he pushed his face against Zhou Zishu's neck, mouthing at the sensitive spot below his ear.

Zhou Zishu hissed at the sensation of Wen Kexing's tongue against his skin and his hands gripped harder in response. It was strange, but despite the pain that came along in the moment, the pleasure was starting to overshadow it. He felt himself growing impatient; he had never felt such intense feelings of longing and desire for anyone before. “Move,” he said, gritting his teeth once more.

Wen Kexing didn't need to be told twice; his movements no longer slow, no longer gentle, no longer measured. He pulled back all the way, then pushed back in, setting an almost frantic pace as he kept his face pressed against Zhou Zishu's neck, sucking in shaky breath after shaky breath.

Zhou Zishu couldn't stop the moan that slipped past his lips as the pain started to fade, giving way to a growing pleasure that he was sure would end up driving him absolutely insane. His body was trembling, but he was no longer able to tell whether it was due to the receding pain, the intense feelings, the overstimulation or the combination of the three.

When his lover shifted slightly, hitting against a particularly sensitive spot, Zhou Zishu's body involuntarily arched off the bed, his legs pressing harder against Wen Kexing's sides.

Wen Kexing let out a choked gasp in return, his face firmly pressed against the side of Zhou Zishu's neck. He felt himself slowly blacking out from the feeling. “A-Xu... You'll kill me...” He was aware of how out of breath, how desperate he sounded, but he couldn't help himself. He felt powerless for the first time in a very long time.

Zhou Zishu would've normally thrown some smartass comment in response, but in that moment, he suddenly found that he couldn't, not with the overwhelming feelings bubbling in his chest. Instead, he let out a breathless chuckle and he shifted his hips up, meeting Wen Kexing halfway.

Wen Kexing almost lost his damn mind over that simple action, his fingers digging into the bedding, as well as into Zhou Zishu's hip, keeping them pressed tightly against one another. “You're... perfect...” He managed to gasp out, moving his head back and staring down at Zhou Zishu with a wrecked expression on his face. “A-Xu...”

Zhou Zishu would've laughed at the sight if he'd had any room in his lungs for that, but the feeling of the other moving inside of him, and his voice so broken and hoarse made it impossible for him to reply. He reached up to grab the back of Wen Kexing's head instead, pulling his lips forcefully against his own, his tongue immediately slipping past the other's lips to explore his mouth.

Wen Kexing had zero complaints, leaning back down, and all but devouring Zhou Zishu's lips as their bodies moved together, almost like they were finally one and the same, refusing to part from one another.

The sound of their harsh, uneven breaths and broken moans was all that could be heard in the room; a mess of tangled sheets, sweat and pent up feelings the only thing on their minds.

Zhou Zishu's hands were almost clawing at the back of Wen Kexing's head, and his body was trembling with every movement; the pleasure, the desire, the need starting to feel overwhelming. He was starting to think it could be very easy to get addicted to this, as much as he'd hate to admit it.

Wen Kexing shuddered then, a chill running down his spine as he rested their foreheads together, moving at the same pace as before, not too slow, not too fast, just good enough for Zhou Zishu to grow accustomed to the feeling, and for it to feel good for both of them. “A-Xu...” he breathed out once again, keeping his eyes shut. “Are you close...?”

Zhou Zishu's mind was hazy with pleasure, and he could barely register a word his lover was saying. He could only hear Wen Kexing's desperate voice, his heavy breathing, and the soft sounds of skin against skin. He guessed the question was actually a relevant one for once, so he tried his best to focus. His fingers slid down, gripping Wen Kexing's waist instead, almost like he was hanging on for dear life. “Yes...” he mouthed, closing his eyes tightly. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.”

To hear Zhou Zishu fall apart so unabashedly was like music to Wen Kexing's ears, his heart feeling more content than ever. He reached down between them, wrapping his fingers around Zhou Zishu's aching length and stroking in time with his thrusts, to help him get over that edge.

It all started to become increasingly hard to bear, and Zhou Zishu found himself completely at a loss for what to do. The pleasure was making his head spin, it was so good that he could barely stand it, and hearing Wen Kexing's voice in his ear was only making things worse. “Lao Wen...” he managed to gasp out, gripping at Wen Kexing's back, Wen Kexing's hips, Wen Kexing's hair, Wen Kexing's arms, anywhere he could, desperately.

Wen Kexing let out a soft grunt then, fighting his demons so he wouldn't finish before the other did. He was so focused on bringing Zhou Zishu over the edge that he felt like he was going to pass out. “Is it good...?” he asked in between shaky breaths, his thoughts scattered.

Zhou Zishu was too far gone to even form a coherent thought at this point. The stimulation of Wen Kexing's hand on his body too overwhelming, bringing his already hazy mind to an almost delirious state. “It's good, it's good...” he repeated over and over breathlessly, his eyes squeezed shut. The feeling grew almost too intense, his back arching again. “F-Fuck, it's good, it's...” He couldn't finish that thought however, his body suddenly giving in, starting to twitch and spasm as pleasure spread all over, igniting every single nerve in his body.

Wen Kexing's lips parted at the feeling, and he uttered Zhou Zishu's name once more, almost like a prayer. He immediately surrendered to the overwhelming feeling as well, his hips stuttering as he hurriedly pulled out, the two finishing together and making a mess over Zhou Zishu's stomach.

The aftermath brought along a strange sense of satisfaction. Having Wen Kexing finish right after him like that, knowing this had felt good for him as well... It made Zhou Zishu inexplicably content. He slowly wrapped his shaking arms around the other's shoulders, pulling him down into a loose embrace. He was exhausted.

Wen Kexing let himself be pulled down, almost collapsing on top of his lover, nuzzling against his shoulder tiredly. His breath still came out in sharp gasps, his body trembling slightly from the effort. A tired smile on his face, he wrapped his own arms around Zhou Zishu's middle, holding him gently.

Zhou Zishu let out a long, shuddering breath before he slowly reached up, carding his fingers through Wen Kexing's tangled hair, trying to soothe him, help him come back down. It took a while for him to find the energy to speak again, but when he did, he sounded uncharacteristically soft, and obviously tired. “That... wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.”

Wen Kexing chuckled at those words, pressing a gentle kiss against Zhou Zishu's shoulder before opening his eyes to look at him again, enjoying the closeness of their bodies after sharing such an intense moment. “Of course not. I told you, I know what I'm doing... No beauties can resist me,” he said, a grin plastered on his face, despite the exhaustion.

With a roll of his eyes, Zhou Zishu reached up and lightly flicked Wen Kexing's forehead with two fingers. “Cocky bastard,” he said in a tired, but not unkind tone, his fingers returning to the other's hair, this time just resting there as he watched him.

Wen Kexing pulled a face at the flick against his forehead, pretending to be very hurt for a total of three seconds. He then tightened his hold on Zhou Zishu, rolling onto his side and bringing the man into his arms. “I've never laid in bed with any beauties once our nightly activities were done. You're the only one I ever wish to hold,” he whispered, nothing but sincerity in his voice.

Zhou Zishu's expression softened somewhat, his heart beating calmly in his chest as he stared back at the other. How could Wen Kexing even come up with such things to say, no matter the situation? He would never comprehend it. He found it endearing, in spite of himself. The way the other spoke with such unparalleled sincerity... He shifted in Wen Kexing's arms, rearranging his limbs until he managed to find a comfortable position, and with his cheek pressed against the warm skin of his beloved's shoulder, he reached out to wrap his arms around his middle. “Hmph. I should hope so,” he grumbled, a hint of fondness in his voice.

Wen Kexing hummed, getting more comfortable on the bed before a thought occurred to him. He glanced down, watching Zhou Zishu quietly for a moment. “A-Xu...” he whispered, his voice soothing and gentle.

Despite his tired, heavy-lidded eyes, Zhou Zishu's sharp mind easily picked up on Wen Kexing's change in tone. He's been with him long enough to know that the quiet, gentle tone only meant that he had something serious to say. He blinked, and quietly hummed back, letting him know that he was listening.

Wen Kexing let out a small sigh, moving a hand up to gently brush Zhou Zishu's messy bangs out of his face. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately decided against it. “We can't sleep like this, you'll get sick,” he said, shifting on the bed and reaching out for a piece of his own robes, which lay wet and discarded on the floor. He sat up, then gently wiped Zhou Zishu's body clean, his eyes roaming over the expanse of it for a moment too long, taking in the sight of those scars and nails that stood out even in the dim light. He let out a quiet sigh, feeling quite depressed now that the moment was over.

Before Zhou Zishu could protest, he grabbed his hand, bringing it up to his own lips and pressing two gentle kisses against his knuckles. “How about a second round?” he asked with a cheeky smile—only half jokingly—earning himself a smack to the shoulder. “Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore.” He reached down, untangling the mess of sheets and blankets, and he carefully pulled them over both their bodies, making sure to keep them warm.

Zhou Zishu couldn't help but roll his eyes once again, even though to his surprise, he actually found Wen Kexing's actions and words rather heartwarming. He normally hated it when others worried about him or expressed their concern for his wellbeing, but for some reason, this didn't annoy him at all. He closed his eyes once more, and just as Wen Kexing pulled the covers up, he moved to press his face into the side of his neck. With a muffled voice, he spoke once more, “Stop worrying so much.”

...

Ye Baiyi sat inside of an inn, munching on his fifth or sixth plate of delicious warm food. He shifted his chopsticks, then brought them up to his mouth, but paused midair, a slight frown settling on his face. “Something's wrong,” he mumbled to himself, feeling increasingly annoyed.

Chapter Text

Ye Baiyi had never been good at being on his own. He hated the thoughts that popped into his head every time there was silence around him. But at the same time, he couldn't exactly surround himself with people, since he despised them more than anything; being around others was just as annoying to him.

Conflicting as those two opposing feelings were, there was an exception to that rule; a stupid exception that carried a heavy saber on his back and a stupid smile on his stupid face, as well as Ye Baiyi's pathetic existence in the palm of his hand.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘲𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Ye Baiyi's expression, against his better judgment, softened instantly upon spotting his dear friend, who sat outside, seeming content and at peace with the entire world. He inwardly scolded himself for the way his heart seemed to stir at the sight before leisurely approaching the table and taking a seat opposite him.

Rong Changqing sat with one arm leaning against the table, a cup of wine in hand and a faint smile on his face. He didn't turn to acknowledge Ye Baiyi's presence at all, his gaze never leaving the snowy yard that extended before them. He took a sip of the wine instead.

“What? Drinking all by yourself? I thought you'd be happy today,” Ye Baiyi commented, reaching over for an empty cup and pouring himself some wine as well. He kept that careful smile on his face, eyeing Rong Changqing curiously now and then.

Rong Changqing chuckled under his breath and set the cup down. “It's just one drink,” he said in a calm tone, more to himself than to the other. “I have to set an example for A-Xuan, after all.”

Ye Baiyi's gaze shifted toward the snowy courtyard then, watching as a child of maybe seven or eight played around there, rolling around in the snow and making a mess of his robes. He sighed very audibly, making his frustration known, then raised his voice to get the kid's attention, “Little idiot! Stop messing around, you'll catch a cold.”

Rong Xuan's head snapped up upon hearing Ye Baiyi's voice, and a grin was immediately plastered on his foolish face, showing off his pearly whites, as well as the many teeth that hadn't yet grown, making him look like a silly child. “Shifu, you're back!” he immediately pulled himself up and rushed back toward the entrance of their shared home—which was hardly a home, considering it was just a labyrinthine hall full of empty rooms and dusty books.

Ye Baiyi resisted the urge to roll his eyes for a total of two seconds before doing so anyway. He lifted his sleeve and downed the cup of wine in one go, needing it for this particular interaction. He heard Rong Changqing chuckle beside him, which earned the man a look and a raised brow. “What?”

Rong Changqing shrugged, then shook his head, watching his son quite fondly. “How come you obey him immediately, but completely ignore me when I tell you not to roll around in the snow? What an unfilial son.” His words were harsh, but his tone wasn't. Truth was, Ye Baiyi had been there from the moment Rong Xuan was born, so he was part of the family now. He couldn't imagine having it any other way.

Rong Xuan simply grinned again, then started to tug on Ye Baiyi's sleeve, clinging to him almost like a monkey. “Shifu, now that you're back, will you teach me some new moves? I've mastered the ones you taught me the last time, I'm bored of...” he trailed off, shrinking away and letting go of Ye Baiyi as soon as he saw the man glaring at him, clearly displeased with this sudden outburst of energy.

Ye Baiyi hadn't actually gone anywhere. He'd just secluded himself into an empty room for almost three weeks, refusing to interact with anyone other than the occasional visit from Rong Changqing.

After having performed the ritual that was meant to help the latter achieve immortality—and having failed, resulting in Ye Baiyi achieving it instead, precisely because he didn't wish for it—Ye Baiyi had been in an extremely foul mood. His body felt weird, almost like there was too much energy circulating in it, his senses were all over the place, he could hear his heart thrumming constantly in his own ears, making him even more irascible than usual. He was convinced by now that this was some sort of cruel way the Heavens had for punishing him. And perhaps he deserved it, but he would never settle for it.

Was it really so wrong? 𝘛𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦?

His gaze swept over the man sitting across from him, and his grip on the cup of wine tightened considerably, making it almost crack under his unmeasured force. He looked down, letting out a long breath.

...

Days later, Zhang Chengling, Gao Xiaolian, Gu Xiang and Cao Weining walked down a bustling street, munching on the food they had gotten on the way, while also casually asking for Ye Baiyi's whereabouts here and there, whenever they spotted an interesting looking person, anyone at all who could potentially help them.

“A-Xiang, are you full? Here, have mine as well,” Cao Weining said as he offered his food over to Gu Xiang, smiling softly at her.

Gu Xiang smiled as she took the offered food from Cao Weining. “Thanks,” she said, popping a piece into her mouth. Her demeanor was relaxed and carefree as they continued their search, contrasting with the seriousness of their mission. It almost felt like they were leading a normal life, like a regular couple whose only problem at hand was thinking about what they could have for dinner later.

Zhang Chengling glanced over at the two, a twinge of longing in his expression as he saw them acting so comfortable with each other. He couldn't help but feel a little bit left out.

Gao Xiaolian noticed right away, as she'd been keeping an eye on Zhang Chengling for the past few days. She reached out and nudged the youth's shoulder, offering a smile. “Hey, you doing alright?”

Zhang Chengling snapped out of his thoughts and looked over at Gao Xiaolian. He tried to put on a brave smile, but his true feelings were evident in his downcast eyes. “Yeah, I'm fine,” he mumbled. “Just... I wish I could be doing more, that's all.”

“You're doing a lot already, just by being out here with us... You also saved my life just a few days ago, you should give yourself some more credit!” Gao Xiaolian said, smiling softly at him.

Zhang Chengling's shoulders relaxed, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was true, he had saved Gao Xiaolian's life recently, but he still felt antsy about being left behind instead of going with Wen Kexing to find and help Zhou Zishu. “I guess you're right,” he conceded, “I'm just... I'm worried about shifu, you know?”

Gao Xiaolian nodded, understanding completely, even though she didn't really have that kind of bond with anyone anymore. Or well, there was one person, but she hadn't seen him in a while... “Yeah, I know... But I also know your shifu's more than capable of taking care of himself. We should just worry about our mission for the time being.”

Zhang Chengling nodded, taking in Gao Xiaolian's words. She was right, Zhou Zishu could hold his own. Yet something about the situation felt off. Why wouldn't Zhou Zishu tell Wen Kexing where he was going? It was unlike him... Zhang Chengling pushed the thought away, focusing on the present. “You're right. We've got our own job to do,” he said, determination returning to his voice.

Cao Weining glanced over at Zhang Chengling then, hearing the determination in his voice. He watched the two for a moment, then turned to Gu Xiang again. “What does Ye qianbei look like? Maybe if we gave a more accurate description to the people we ask, we'd get actual results...”

Gu Xiang, mid-bite on her snack, shrugged and spoke as she chewed, “I've only seen him once, but he seemed like an irritable old man,” she said after swallowing. “He's not the most pleasant person to be around.”

“He's very strong though,” Zhang Chengling interferred. “His hair is long and silver, and I think his eyes were silver as well.”

Gao Xiaolian listened intently, thinking to herself about how her father had mentioned this Ye Baiyi character once or twice. He seemed like an interesting person, but probably not the type that would stand someone like her...

As the four walked side by side, a figure dressed in all black followed from a distance, keeping an eye on each of their movements. The four were blissfully unaware of the figure however, too focused on their own little side mission.

“Oh, I also heard that he's got a spiritual dog as a companion,” Zhang Chengling added as an afterthought. “A huge one that's at least up to a person's waist...”

Gu Xiang rolled her eyes at Zhang Chengling's aberrations, skipping closer to him and smacking him on the head. “Where did you even hear that??” She frowned, shaking her head in disapproval.

Zhang Chengling flinched as Gu Xiang smacked him on the head. He rubbed the spot and gave her an annoyed look. “I'm not making stuff up, I heard it from someone,” he protested, a slight pout on his face. Cao Weining and Gao Xiaolian giggled at their bickering, used to their dynamic by now.

As fate would have it, Ye Baiyi sat inside of an inn, munching on his fifth or sixth plate of delicious warm food. He shifted his chopsticks, then brought them up to his mouth, but paused midair, a slight frown settling on his face. “Something's wrong,” he mumbled to himself, feeling increasingly annoyed. He happened to be dining on that exact same street the kids were causing a ruckus on.

His gaze swept around, trying to figure out what exactly was wrong, but nothing seemed amiss. He scanned the faces of the people inside of the inn, finding that they were all unremarkable, boring, and easily forgettable folks, nothing and no one that was worth his time. Some sort of annoying noise out in the street seemed to have caught his attention, making him glance over to the door.

He huffed, deciding that he'd had enough. With a flick of his sleeves, he got up from the table and left the establishment, paying for the meal for once. His steps were light as he hurried down through the crowd of people, over to where the noise was coming from, an annoyed look on his face. His eyes narrowed however upon spotting Zhang Chengling, whose sloppy walk he could recognize everywhere. “Hey, little brat!” he called out, striding toward them confidently.

The four of them instantly froze when they heard the familiar voice calling out to them. Zhang Chengling's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned his head slowly to see Ye Baiyi striding toward them, looking annoyed. He was frozen for a moment, but then quickly composed himself and bowed his head. “Ye qianbei...” he said, a mix of surprise and respect in his voice.

“What the hell are you kids doing all the way here? Where are those two silly brats that pamper you all the time?” Ye Baiyi questioned, sizing Zhang Chengling up, assessing how much he'd grown since the last time they'd seen each other.

Zhang Chengling's shoulders tensed slightly at the mention of those ‘silly brats’. He straightened up and stood tall, meeting Ye Baiyi's gaze evenly. “Shifu and shishu are...somewhere else,” he replied, attempting to sound as composed as possible. “We've been sent here on our own.”

Ye Baiyi's gaze swept over the other three for a brief moment before returning to Zhang Chengling. “That's a surprise,” he commented, seeming uninterested now. “Well, see you around then.” He added as he made to leave.

Cao Weining piped up then, unable to hold himself back, “Ye qianbei, we were actually looking for you!”

Ye Baiyi's steps froze, and he turned around to give Cao Weining an odd look, staring at him like he'd just offended his entire family. “Who even are you? Why are you running around with these kids?” he asked, having already figured out which sect he belonged to.

Zhang Chengling cringed at Ye Baiyi's reaction. He knew the old man's temper was not to be meddled with, but Cao Weining's eagerness had gotten the better of him. Gu Xiang and Gao Xiaolian exchanged a nervous glance, waiting to see how this interaction would turn out.

Cao Weining visibly shrunk in on himself, getting increasingly nervous as he was stared at so intensely. “I... I...I'm a disciple of the Gentle Wind Sword Sect, I...we...we were sent on this mission to find you...”

Ye Baiyi raised an eyebrow skeptically, eyeing Cao Weining up and down. He then scoffed disdainfully. “You look like a scared weasel about to piss his pants,” he said bluntly.

Gu Xiang and Gao Xiaolian couldn't help but snort a laugh, trying to suppress it by covering their mouths. Chengling cringed again, knowing the old man's words could be harsh. He took the chance to speak up then, remembering the way his shifu handled himself in these types of encounters, “Ye qianbei, my shishu sent us to find and ask you to come with. We're staying at an inn, two towns from here. He said he would meet with us there.”

Ye Baiyi's eyes flicked over to Zhang Chengling, his gaze intense and calculating. He studied the young boy for a moment, his lips thinning. Then he huffed, an amused smile on his lips as he spoke, “Ha. Has that damn idiot Wen Kexing finally realized that he can't solve everything on his own?” he asked, his tone slightly mocking.

Zhang Chengling didn't comment on that, knowing full well that Wen Kexing and Ye Baiyi couldn't stand one another and would clash more often than not. “Shifu is very sick... Please, Ye qianbei, we're desperate.”

Ye Baiyi's eyes widened slightly at that, a hint of surprise flashing across his face for a short moment, making him look strange. The mention of Zhou Zishu's illness seemed to make him pause. He let out a long sigh, then straightened up. “Fine. You damn kids... Always getting yourselves in trouble.”

The other three of the group looked visibly relieved, and even Zhang Chengling couldn't help but feel a weight being lifted off his shoulders. They'd managed to achieve their goal!

“Let's get going then,” Gu Xiang said, her usual confident demeanour returning. “We have a lot to talk about.” Cao Weining followed after her, his head hung low in what looked to be an ashamed and quite pitiful state. Ye Baiyi's harsh words weren't exactly something he was accustomed to so he felt like a kid who'd just been scolded for misbehaving.

Ye Baiyi groaned. He wasn't particularly fond of loud kids either. “Yeah yeah, let's go,” he said as the group started to walk back the way they came. “But first, we're stopping to get food. I need something decent to eat before I listen to whatever nonsense you all have to say.”

...

The sun hadn't been up for long, but Zhou Zishu was already missing from between the sheets when Wen Kexing blinked his eyes open, still heavy with sleep. He made to reach for Zhou Zishu, but found nothing to hold onto, a frown quickly settling on his sleepy face. “A-Xu?” he called out, willing himself to sit up and glance around the room.

There was nothing but silence around, his still somewhat damp robes discarded on the floor by the bed.

It took Wen Kexing less than two minutes to fasten his inner and outer robes back on—uncomfortable as they were, still damp—slip out of the empty room and run down to the main building, in hopes of finding Zhou Zishu there. As he pushed the set of huge doors open, he was met with the sight of Lord Seventh, the Great Shaman, a young boy and Zhou Zishu sitting at the table, having breakfast.

Zhou Zishu was in the middle of reaching for a cup of tea across the table when he heard a familiar voice call out from behind him. With a resigned sigh, he slowly turned around, and was met with the sight of his lover practically dashing across the room toward where he was sitting. He sighed once more and immediately stood up, causing the other three to give him a somewhat odd look. “I'll be back in time for the treatment.”

“Zishu, wait- hold on, where are you going? Weren't you going to tell us about...” Jing Beiyuan trailed off, clearly confused and thrown off by his best friend's sudden change in demeanor. He could very easily tell that this had been caused by Wen Kexing's arrival, but he couldn't figure out why. He'd thought Zhou Zishu would be happy to have Wen Kexing around...

“I'm just going out to get some air! Will you all back off?!” Zhou Zishu snapped, glaring furiously at the two men sitting at the table, his usual patience nowhere to be seen. He turned around before either of them could say anything else and he rushed off through the doors that Wen Kexing had just burst through mere moments ago.

Wen Kexing was perplexed, blinking once, twice, before turning around and dashing after Zhou Zishu, reaching out to grab onto his arm and pull him to a stop. The two stood in the courtyard, Zhou Zishu's back turned to Wen Kexing. “A-Xu, hold on a second... Where are you going? Look at me,” Wen Kexing said, trying to get the other to face him.

Zhou Zishu allowed Wen Kexing to grab his arm, but he didn't turn around, keeping his expresionless face hidden from the other's intense gaze. For a moment, he didn't speak, just taking a few deep breaths as he stood there with his back turned to the other. After a short while, he finally let out a small sigh, and slowly turned around. His expression didn't give away any emotion he could be feeling anymore, but Wen Kexing could tell with a single look into those beautiful black eyes that he was still annoyed.

Wen Kexing's expression crumbled immediately upon seeing the look in those eyes, not understanding what was wrong. “Are you in pain? Is it the nails again?” he paused, shaking his head slightly before asking again, “Was I... too enthusiastic last night? Are you...hurt anywhere?”

Zhou Zishu immediately looked away. “I can handle the pain from the nails just fine,” he said in a stiff tone, pulling away from Wen Kexing quite harshly and smoothing the sleeves of his robes out. “And you didn't do anything last night that I didn't want, so don't blame yourself for that.”

Wen Kexing was even more confused now, but before he could ask again, Zhou Zishu stepped away and leaped off, to god knows where. All he could do was stare for the longest time, his mind still trying to process the awkward interaction they'd just had, which was definitely something new for them. If Zhou Zishu wasn't suffering any pain he couldn't handle, and he wasn't unhappy with how things had gone the night before, then what could have possibly caused this reaction?

As he leaped off, Zhou Zishu silently cursed himself for allowing this to happen in the first place. He had always been well aware of what a clingy and overly affectionate person Wen Kexing could be; but his usual patience with the other's antics was completely gone after last night. Just thinking about it now caused him to grow even more upset.

With a quiet sigh and hurried steps, he made his way down what he couldn't really call a road; it being some sort of congregation of random rocks tossed around in the thick grass. Said path lead toward an area with no trees around, with a few bigger rocks standing out in the distance, which would make for a perfect spot to meditate. He desperately needed some time to himself, somewhere where he could hear his own thoughts without constantly being interrupted by the sound of people's voices. As he walked, he became less aware of his surroundings, and more aware of the uncomfortable and nearly unbearable pain that had started numbing his entire lower body, making his steps more calculated and heavy than usual.

One step, a branch cracked underneath Zhou Zishu's foot, and he was sent tumbling, too suddenly for him to react in time. His current state made him slower than usual. His body was flung forward and he fell for an unknown amount of time, his robes fluttering rapidly. He reached out with both arms, channeling some energy, and he tried to slow down his descent by holding onto the narrow walls, but to no avail. When he finally came to a stop, his limbs had gotten tangled and stuck in a really uncomfortable position, his torso pressed up against the sharp surface of the stone wall. He let out a pained groan, reminding himself to focus and glancing around as much as his position would allow him to. He was stuck in a narrow patch of rock, most likely a cave of some sort.

This had to be a joke. What were the chances that he'd fall like an idiot and get stuck in such a helpless position? If this had happened when he was younger, then maybe it would've been somewhat acceptable, but now...it was beyond embarrassing.

The sun slowly made its way up into the sky, then commenced its descent back toward the horizon, casting shadows over the opening of the cave, way above Zhou Zishu's head.

He'd been stuck in there for half a day, his legs no longer numb, but simply acting like they weren't even there anymore. Zhou Zishu's arms felt sore everywhere from the many times that he'd tried to pull himself up and out of the uncomfortable position he was stuck in. His throat felt somewhat sore from dumbly crying out, against his better judgment. He'd tried to blow energy against the walls of the cave, but he'd soon come to realize that there was a high chance that he'd get buried alive if he did that, so he'd given up and tried to pull himself out the way he'd fallen in instead, making zero progress. He felt like a complete idiot, for the first time in a long while. He felt useless.

“A-Xu! A-Xu, where are you?!” Wen Kexing's voice rang out from far away, but Zhou Zishu still caught it clearly. He felt relief wash over him for a brief moment, before a sense of dread and panic started to settle in his uncomfortable body. If he was found in this state, he would have to explain how he'd ended up there, and that would inevitably lead to more sympathetic looks and pity that Zhou Zishu didn't want to deal with. He wasn't sure for how long that internal debate went on for, but he finally settled on doing the smart thing—which right now was to try and get out of there. He took a deep breath, gathered all the air he could in his lungs and shouted, as loud as he could, “I'm down here, stop yelling!”

He'd deal with the consequences later.

Wen Kexing's head instantly turned toward the sound of Zhou Zishu's voice, and he was by the cave's entrance in a heartbeat, gazing down and squinting his eyes to see. “A-Xu?! Are you alright? What are you doing down there??” he asked, not even thinking twice before jumping down and landing safely on an opening, a spot from where he could see Zhou Zishu more clearly. His eyes narrowed and he grimaced at the sight, worry immediately washing over him. “Hold on, I'm coming,” he added as he scanned their surroundings, jumping further down, while also trying not to slip, fall and get stuck like Zhou Zishu had.

“Careful, the walls are slippery-” he heard Zhou Zishu say, but it was already too late, seeing as his foot—which he'd estimated would land safely against the wall and latch onto it—slipped down, and he plummeted, crashing directly into Zhou Zishu. The movement at least got him unstuck from the narrow patch, but they were both sent flying deeper into the darkness, landing with a thud and a splash at the bottom of the dim lit cavern.

Wen Kexing was the first to get up, pushing his own hair back before rushing over to help Zhou Zishu up, who was currently sat in a pond of icy cold water, seeming pretty out of it. He couldn't help but worry even more now, not used to seeing the other acting so openly vulnerable, instead of concealing every emotion he was experiencing. “A-Xu? Hey, look at me, keep your eyes open.” He called out for Zhou Zishu a couple of times, dragging him out of the water and settling them both against one of the walls of the cave, shrugging his own somewhat dry outer robes off. He made to undress Zhou Zishu as well, since he was now the one that was drenched all the way to the bone, but his hands stopped midair. He lifted one of Zhou Zishu's hands instead, then studied his arms carefully, noting that his shoulder was dislocated and the palms of his hands were scratched up and bruised. “How did you manage to get hurt this badly?” he kept rambling on, his worry increasing when Zhou Zishu didn't reply with one of his usual snarky comments. He carefully settled behind his lover and reached out to press the palm of his hand against his shoulder, simultaneously pulling his arm back. 𝘞𝘦𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨. He heard the way the bone cracked as it settled back into place, accompanied by a soft grunt before Zhou Zishu's body fell backwards, going limp against Wen Kexing's own.

...

As Zhou Zishu eventually awoke, he was met with a warm, fuzzy feeling that spread evenly across his back, making him feel incredibly relaxed. He slowly blinked his eyes open, becoming more and more aware of his surroundings once again. He could feel the palms of Wen Kexing's hands firmly pressed against his back, which both relieved and aggravated him. He also felt weirdly light, as if his outer robes weren't there, instead replaced by something soft and quite warm.

“A-Xu? You're awake... How are you feel-” Before Wen Kexing could even finish that sentence, Zhou Zishu pushed himself off the ground and took a couple of steps, the numbing sensation still very much there, still making him want to scream in pure frustration. “Don't...” he muttered, his voice sounding rougher than usual. “I'm fine.”

Wen Kexing was on him in mere seconds, one arm hooking around Zhou Zishu's waist and the other reaching up to gently touch his previously dislocated shoulder. “Stop being so stubborn. You're not fine,” he said, a frown on his face as he helped Zhou Zishu sit back down, settling behind him and circulating energy from the palms of his hands directly against the man's back. “How did this happen? You're never this careless...”

Zhou Zishu huffed, letting out a small grunt as he settled down in front of Wen Kexing, his back turned to him. “None of your...” he coughed once, wincing slightly while trying to breathe in and out. “...business.”

“None of my business? A-Xu, how can you say that after everything we've been through together?” Wen Kexing made a ‘tsk’ sound with his tongue, pressing his hands down harder against his lover's back to emphasize his point, and getting another small grunt in response. “You don't get to push me away just because you think you're not gonna make it. I already told you last night, it's 𝘯𝘰𝘵 your choice to make.”

Zhou Zishu shifted and turned around, facing Wen Kexing then. His eyes were slightly red around the rims, filled with an inexplicable anger that wasn't necessarily directed at Wen Kexing, but most likely at himself, at his own inability to get better now that he'd finally found something to live for. “What then? Are you going to keep hovering around me even when I can no longer walk? When I can no longer speak?!” He chuckled, self deprecation dripping from his every word. “Lao Wen... Let's just say goodbye now while we still can.”

Wen Kexing's expression fell at those words, but his initial surprise and disappointment lasted for a total of three seconds before he reached out and pulled a very unwilling Zhou Zishu closer, wrapping him in his arms and keeping him there. “I, Philanthropist Wen, might not be as smart and quick witted as you are, my dear A-Xu, but I've come to know you well enough to be able to tell when you're bullshitting. So respectfully, your request is denied.”

Zhou Zishu's entire body shivered against his will. He thought for a moment, finding that even though he really, really wanted to punch Wen Kexing in the face for being such a stubborn idiot, he also couldn't help but find his actions incredibly heartwarming. “Philanthropist Wen, do you ever stop being so insufferable?” he asked, coughing some more.

Wen Kexing grinned at that, reaching down and taking one of Zhou Zishu's hands in his own. “Will you tell me what's really going on now? We can't get out of here, so we might as well pass the time somehow...” he said softly, before adding, “Unless you'd rather pass time in a different way, that works for me as we-”

“I can't feel my legs.” Zhou Zishu interrupted then, letting out a heavy sigh. He glanced down at their hands momentarily, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He could feel Wen Kexing circulating energy into the back of his hand, warming up his entire body.

Wen Kexing didn't say anything in response. An uncomfortable feeling settled in the pit of his stomach at that admission, and he felt like a drowning man trying to grasp at a piece of floating wood in the middle of a raging storm in the ocean. If he hadn't come... If he had stayed behind with the kids to wait for Zhou Zishu's return... The mere thought that his A-Xu had gone off to never return made his heart twist in his chest; the feeling unbearable and suffocating. “Hasn't... Hasn't that Great Shaman found a way to treat you? Why are you getting worse and not better? I don't understand... A-Xu, what else aren't you telling me?”

Zhou Zishu could feel the anxiety dripping off of Wen Kexing in waves, which wasn't surprising, but it made his heart feel heavy as well. He didn't say anything. Instead, he shifted and slowly pulled himself closer to the wall, leaning his back against it. He watched as the other followed, and he offered a tired smile before finally speaking again, “Wu Xi said there's a high chance the treatment wouldn't work... And we've barely even started. Don't lose your head yet... I'm still here.” He slowly got more comfortable and let his eyes fall shut. He would need a lot more strength than the one he had right now to be able to climb back up the way they came.

...

‘𝘈 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.’

As Du Pusa and Liu Qianqiao made their way toward Xie Wang's lair, they suddenly heard the faint sound of a sad melody, a tune so heartbreaking that it instantly made them both feel depressed.

Du Pusa was the first to react, turning her head in the direction of the gentle voice before giving Liu Qianqiao a meaningful look. “Dawang's been singing a lot lately,” she remarked, stopping before the big doors and standing there with her arms crossed over her chest, waiting it out as they always did.

Both of them knew that Xie Wang didn't like to be interrupted when he was resting, which included yelling at incompetent subordinates, singing whatever sad songs he had come up with or actually napping.

“It's not our place to comment on it,” Liu Qianqiao said softly, her head bowed as she stood beside Du Pusa, quiet as ever.

Du Pusa snickered then, reaching out to run a finger over Liu Qianqiao's shoulder, down her arm slowly. “Aren't you tired of being obedient all the time? You're free of that Yu scum now, you can loosen up. Dawang is too busy sulking over his failed love life to pay attention to us anyway!” she said it like she was talking about her best friend, not about an incredibly dangerous individual to whom they both answered.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰, 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦?’

Liu Qianqiao didn't comment on it, simply lowering her head even more and shaking it gently. She'd seen how outspoken Du Pusa always was and how Xie Wang allowed it most of the time, but she would never dare to act that way herself. For her own good, and especially for her zhuren's good, she just had to do as she was told.

Du Pusa scoffed at the lack of response from her companion, before suddenly yelling out, “Dawang! We bring news!” And with that, she pushed the doors open, striding in like she owned the place.

Liu Qianqiao was startled by the sudden movement, but she followed after the energetic assassin closely nonetheless, keeping both her hands elegantly placed in front of herself.

Xie Wang let out a very heavy sigh as he turned to acknowledge the two women's presence. He leisurely walked up the stairs and took a seat on his throne, watching them carefully. “What is it?”

Du Pusa fidgeted with a dagger, seeming quite unimpressed as she waited for Liu Qianqiao to deliver the news.

“Spies have spotted the Zhang child in a town nearby. Him and his group were reportedly asking around for the Sword Immortal...” Liu Qianqiao explained, keeping her gaze fixed on the tiles on the floor. “How should we proceed?”

Xie Wang's brow raised imperceptibly at the information, a wicked smile appearing on his face as he leaned forward. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨! “Fantastic! Send someone to capture that annoying duckling at once, we must act before he disappears again.”

Du Pusa let out a loud sigh, running her index finger over the blade of her dagger before tucking it away. “Dawaaang! May I take Pretty Arhat with me? You know we work better as a team... I promise to not let the brat escape this time.”

Xie Wang waved his hand dismissively, then pressed two fingers against his own temple, seeming annoyed. “Yes, yes, go. Don't waste any more time,” he dismissed Du Pusa, before turning to look at Liu Qianqiao. “Beauty Ghost, stay. I want to ask you something.”

...

“Does that brat Wen Kexing think other people have nothing else to do than wait around for him to show up? I'm done waiting. You said he went off after Zhou Zishu, right?” Ye Baiyi asked, pacing around the inn the five were currently staying at. Wen Kexing had instructed the kids to bring Ye Baiyi back and wait for him, however he hadn't shown up or given any signs of life at all, so the deal had to be off. It was a perfectly good assumption to make that the two idiots had gone off to Nanjiang, since Zhou Zishu had followed after Lord Seventh and the Great Shaman, who happened to reside there.

Zhang Chengling seemed anxious, not sure how to deal with Ye Baiyi when his shifu or shishu weren't around to keep his awful temper at bay. Gao Xiaolian sat quietly near the window, while Cao Weining and Gu Xiang had gone off to grab some food for them, all of them needing some rest after having traveled for so long. “Uhh, Ye qianbei, why don't we wait a little longer? I'm sure shishu will show up...” he tried to reason with the old man, but ultimately shut up, having earned himself a glare that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

“You kids stay out of trouble, I'll take care of this problem on my own. You're only slowing me down either way.” Ye Baiyi decided then, and with a flick of his sleeves, he disappeared into the dark of the night, not even giving Zhang Chengling time to react.

Gao Xiaolian got up and walked over, patting Zhang Chengling's back in a comforting manner. “Ye qianbei is probably right... We are only slowing him down, and you said your shifu's condition is bad, right? I know you want to help...but the best thing we can do right now is step aside and let them handle it.” She gave Zhang Chengling a meaningful look, offering a reassuring smile before affectionately ruffling his hair.

Zhang Chengling couldn't help but sigh heavily, once again feeling that Gao Xiaolian was right, even though it frustrated him enormously, knowing that he couldn't do anything but wait this out. One thing was certain however, Ye Baiyi was always right.