Bai Jiu/Ying Lei
Since the night was so beautiful and clear, and the stars shone unusually brightly, perhaps due to the spell they had used, that was now giving them stronger senses, Ying Lei decided to lead Bai Jiu to the backyard instead of simply returning to their rooms. The scent of the peach tree, which was still in full bloom, was a nice touch and, in a way, relaxed Bai Jiu a little, which was what Ying Lei most desired.
"Am I still open to you?" Bai Jiu asked as he looked at Ying Lei somewhat panicked, not knowing how to stop it. Yes, they had trained for that. However, training was one thing and putting it into practice in a real situation was another. Bai Jiu knew the principle of creating mental shields. Yet, every time he looked at Ying Lei, with that devastating smile always on his beautiful face, his heart became his worst enemy. Betraying him in the worst possible way. He had come to like him so much, because Ying Lei was so friendly, so willing to help in everything and they had so much in common that it was inevitable that he wouldn't end up falling for him. So... he really couldn't help it!
"Xiao Jiu, I understand that bond with others when you're struggling with your own feelings is a little difficult, but you are very talented, and I'm sure you can handle this. Just breathe, take in this sweet peach blossom fragrance, and relax. Come on, do some breathing exercises with me." Ying Lei encouraged him, as he did so first, taking a deep breath, holding it and releasing it, while instructing Bai Jiu to follow his example and inhale and exhale, letting go of his nervousness.
They did this for a few minutes until Ying Lei felt him more relaxed, less open to the bond, and smiled at him, proud that he had calmed down and had begun to shield his mind. Once he calmed down enough, Ying Lei pointed to different stars in the night sky and told Bai Jiu the legends his grandfather had told him about them on Mount Kunlun.
Bai Jiu, for his part, listened to them with fascination, as Ying Lei was good at telling stories, and the ones he told were very interesting, so it wasn't that he liked the way he used his hands and facial expressions to make them more dramatic. He laughed so hard his stomach ached at the stories Bai Jiu was sure Ying Lei had made up on the spot at one point, just to amuse him. To keep him relaxed, and it made his heart swell with deep affection. In the end, they returned to the kitchen to make tea, and while Bai Jiu waited patiently for him to finish, he said:
"Well, after this we'll rest a little, shall we?" Ying Lei suggested as he strolled into the kitchen.
"Sure, are you making me some bedtime tea?" Bai Jiu asked jokingly, but because Ying Lei took it seriously and nodded so sincerely, Bai Jiu sighed.
"Ying Lei, I'm not a kid anymore. I'll be eighteen soon." Bai Jiu let him know while Ying Lei was busy preparing their tea.
"Yes, technically you're already considered an adult. A big guy in everyone's eyes, even if you're a bit short." Ying Lei teased him a little. He knew perfectly well that his healer was considered fit enough to become a demon hunter, and no less, an elite member of the Hunter's Citadel. Than Bai Jiu cleared his throat, causing Ying Lei to look at him.
"So, you know we can... we can have a serious relationship if you want it too." Bai Jiu blushed, and seeing Ying Lei smile so radiantly at him, his face flushed even deeper, but he still held his gaze to show him he meant it.
"I know, Xiao Jiu, it's just that I don't want to pressure you," Ying Lei finished his preparation and sat down on the chair next to his.
"You are not pressuring me. It's me insisting we can be more. We'll soon enter the demon world, and who knows what awaits us there. Of course, I'm confident we can make it out, but... there's also the possibility that not all of us will... and I'm the weakest by far..." At that, Ying Lei looked at him with genuine surprise at those words, as if he couldn't believe they had come out of his mouth.
"Xiao Jiu... do you really think that? How is that possible? Haven't you realized that you're one of the strongest? Don't you feel that Pei Siheng is getting stronger thanks to your healing talent? You are bringing him back his life. You're the foundation of our bond, the one who will keep us in one piece out there. How can you look down on yourself like that? It's not true at all..." Ying Lei let him know, feeling that he was truly looking down at himself, just for been the youngest, which was wrong.
"But..."
"No buts..." Ying Lei interrupted him, cupping Bai Jiu's small face in his hands, and kissed him, this time the right way, deeply and with need, since Ying Lei wanted to make sure that his young healer understood that he was wonderful and a very important part of their unit, of their bond. That without him, the bond could not hold, and their hopes of achieving semi-divinity would be impossible without him.
This time, Ying Lei didn't hold back. He stood as they continued kissing and gently lifted Bai Jiu from the chair to the top of the freestanding counter to embrace him. He wrapped his arms around Bai Jiu, and now their bodies were pressed together, causing Bai Jiu to let out a soft moan. Then Bai Jiu put his arms around Ying Lei's shoulders as they deepened the kiss.
It was such an invigorating sensation that for a moment Ying Lei thought Bai Jiu was going to lower his mental shields. However, his young healer didn't disappoint him and kept their kiss private, safely contained within a secret mental vault, locked and unbreakable.
They only broke apart when a soft whistling sound came out of nowhere, taking them both by surprise. Bai Jiu subconsciously pushed Ying Lei away forcefully. He probably thought someone had entered the kitchen and see them kiss. That almost made Ying Lei fall. But when they realized it was only Ying Lei's ceramic teapot, signaling the tea was ready, they laughed out loud.
"Sorry, sorry... let me get the tea..." Ying Lei apologized with a charming smile, as he removed the teapot from the heat and poured it into two cups. The sweet aroma, one of the ones Bai Jiu had gift him, filled the room.
Bai Jiu's face was still red, but he was very happy, because that kiss had been divine. It had been perfect, full of longing and passion. Of hidden feelings that came to life as they enjoyed the closeness of their bodies. It was as it should be, dreamy and enchanting. Not the fiasco he had given Ying Lei before. Just thinking about that kiss made him blush even more with embarrassment. That awful kiss would haunt him for the rest of his life.
"Stop being embarrassed, we'll have more of those, I assure you. Now, have some tea. It's aromatic and good for relaxing. It will help you sleep." Ying Lei placed a cup in front of him, now that he had returned to his chair, and Bai Jiu smelled the delicious aroma before cooling it slightly with a gentle blow and tasting it.
"This is wonderful, sweet but not too sweet and very tasty, the perfect blend." Bai Jiu praised him, which quite pleased Ying Lei, who sat down next to him with another cup.
"Hmm... Ying Lei..." Bai Jiu fiddled with the edge of his sleeve, trying with all his might not to cower now that he had made the decision to become something more.
"Yes?" Ying Lei also blew on his tea and tasted it.
"Will you sleep with me tonight?" Ying Lei chocked, spraying tea across the table, coughing profusely as Bai Jiu gently rubbed his back.
"Hey, are you okay?" Bai Jiu asked, and after Ying Lei wiped the tea from his mouth with his sleeve, he glared at him.
"What? Did you just ask me to sleep with you?" Ying Lei was still too choked up to believe what the young man was suggesting and, for the first time, blushed. Bai Jiu, catching the clear implication of his question, gently smacked his blond boyfriend on the back of his head, embarrassed.
"I didn't mean it like that! Just... you know, lying next to each other, cuddling, that kind of thing, not... what you have in mind, pervert!" And Ying Lei laughed.
"Ah, sorry, but you asked that so bluntly, what else should I have thought?" Ying Lei tried to defend himself.
"Not that!"
"Okay, okay, it's fine. Just a simple misunderstanding, and yes. I'd love to sleep next to you," Ying Lei reply as he got up to clean up the mess he'd made.
"Then I'll wait for you upstairs in my room," Bai Jiu said as he got up too and headed for the kitchen door.
"Wait, Xiao Jiu, your tea!" Ying Lei pointed out, amused.
"You spit it out." Bai Jiu replied, his ears red, now in a hurry to bury his hot face under a pillow and enjoy the lingering sensation of the kiss for a moment, before calming down again so they could sleep together.
"But we kissed, so you've already tasted me!" Ying Lei teased harder.
"Shut up! Just come join me when you're done cleaning!" Bai Jiu said and of course, he ran away from the intense embarrassment of his implication and as soon as Bai Jiu closed the door behind him, Ying Lei laughed some more.
Zhu Yan/Yichen
Zhuo Yichen felt a little peculiar standing directly beneath Zhu Yan's colossal tree. His awkwardness wasn't because he didn't find it beautiful—as it was truly breathtaking, ethereal and fragrant, like something out of a dream. Rather, it was because, of all the places they could have been resting at that moment, the tree wasn't exactly the option he would have chosen.
"Zhu Yan, I know you love this tree, but... really, what's wrong with you? I thought you were a little more romantic than this," Yichen complained as he looked at his lover, who, oddly enough, seemed amused, not angry or dramatically offended.
"Xiao Zhuo, it's such a lovely night. Of course I'll give you something romantic to look forward to. My Baobei, don't be impatient and just go along with me. The last time you were here, you fit so well in my arms... ah, it was such a lovely moment, so wonderful that I engraved it in my memory."
"Flirty monkey, what do you want to do here? I'm warning you, I won't put on a public spectacle. My Commander, her brother, and Wen Xiao are all out there watching." Yichen pointed at the tree figures gazing at the night sky from the second-floor balcony.
"Ah, Baobei, it's fine. Do you think I'll let anyone else watch us, even by accident? Right now, we're invisible to them. Your dear husband is very talented..."
"What husband? When did we get married?"
"Didn't we already enjoy our wedding night? You were so hot..."
"Stupid monkey! I'm leaving!" Yichen exclaimed in frustration and turned to leave in fierce blush, when Zhu Yan grabbed him from behind, pulled him closer, and placed a soft kiss on the crook of his neck.
"My beloved, you're so stubborn. Have a little more faith in me." Zhu Yan whispered in Yichen's ear, and Yichen melted at such intimacy.
"Fine. Shall we climb the tree, then?" Yichen gave in and turned to hug his lover too. He liked it when they hugged, when Zhu Yan's arms wrapped around him, holding him close, making him feel special and loved.
"No need. Like I said before, your husband is very talented, so there's no need for that. Up we go!" Zhu Yan hugged Yichen tighter and with a slight push on his feet, he jumped up impossibly high, taking Yichen with him and landing perfectly on a very wide branch.
The view from that height, overlooking the forest, was truly beautiful, with those rare bright flowers visible even from that distance, and even the yellowish glow of the inner barrier could be seen. It was a little strange to have such a clear view, as Zhu Yan's tree had thick foliage and was filled with bright flowers, but they could still see far into the distance without anything in their way.
"Can we see this clearly from here, thanks to the bond?" Yichen asked as he looked around, enjoying such a beautiful view, so clear that he could even see the leaves of the trees swaying in the wind.
"Yes, you are seen the forest through my eyes, just as I see it. Look closer," Zhu Yan encouraged him, still hugging him, sensing Yichen's excitement.
As he looked closer, he could even see the ground where the purple mist, now less dense, drifted through the forest. He could see the glow of the night flowers and even smell them. The vastness of the Forest of Convergence was within reach: the numerous streams surrounding the dense woods, the towers, the units hunting demons like his brother unit, deadly and swift as a breath, and then the Citadel glittering under Nuwa's seal.
"So you could always see us? I mean all the humans inside and outside the forest."
"Yes. I enjoyed watching the hunters go about their Citadel on their daily tasks and fulfill their duties as hunters over the centuries. I saw them train, hunt and sometimes hold small festivals to lighten the atmosphere when it became too stifling. I also saw them light lanterns to honor their dead. It made me sad to see them fly away, even though they were beautiful."
"So it was true that you wandered around as a monkey and saved some units?"
"Ape."
"Yeah, yeah, oh my almighty white ape." Yichen smiled.
"Yes, I did. I didn't like the night sky filled with those lanterns. Sometimes, when the demons overwhelmed the humans, I would give them a break. Whenever I went down to the forest, no demons dared to come closer. They ran for their lives as far and fast as they could." Zhu Yan smirked at the thought.
"Thanks to that, humans near me and for miles away could rest easy, recover, and call for reinforcements if necessary. When I did that enough times for the humans to notice me, the legend of the auspicious white monkey was born, even though I was an ape." Hearing that, Yichen smiled and gently caressed Zhu Yan's face, giving his a soft kiss on his lips.
"Thank you for that." Zhu Yan kissed his hand before letting it go.
"It was also from here that I first saw your brother for the first time."
"He told me that you two once met face to face."
"Right."
"Were you stalking him?"
"Not really. I knew he had Bing Yi's blood, so I was curious and always kept an eye on him. Then I saw you, and from then on, you've stolen my heart." Yichen pressed himself to his great demon.
"That so sweet..." Yichen whisper as he kissed him deeper. When they part again, he look back at the forest and saw small demons walking here and there, fearfully looking their way, which made Yichen grin.
"You really scared the demons in the forest to death. Even now, after almost a week, they still stare at your barrier as if you might hunt them down at any moment."
"They're right to fear me, now look up," Zhu Yan suggested, and Yichen complied, gasping at the sight.
Before, the stars seemed brighter, but with Zhu Yan's eyesight, they were gorgeous, like countless pearls and gems glittering in different colors on a vast ocean of black silk. They looked so close that you almost believed you could pick them up, one by one and harvest them. Then, there were Ying Long nine stars... and Yichen sensed Zhu Yan's sadness, so he turned to look at him.
"You miss him... just like I missed my mother when I was young," Yichen said, and Zhu Yan led him to the base of the tree, where he sat down, his back against the trunk and his legs spread, and invited Yichen to join him.
Yichen no longer felt embarrassed, as they were both invisible and well-covered by the tree leaves, so he sat down as well, resting his back against Zhu Yan's chest, with the great demon arms wrapped protectively around him. It was a magical feeling to be with him like that.
"I miss him, yes. My father was, humanly speaking, an incredible man. He was very powerful, but also the kindest of them all. His love for Bing Yi only added to his charm. They were very affectionate, very much to Li Lun's annoyance. I remember him dragging me away whenever my father kissed Bing Yi for more than a few seconds." Zhu Yan smiled, and so did Yichen, in his arms.
"Did he dislike them together?" Yichen intertwined their fingers over his flat belly.
"No, it wasn't dislike, more like embarrassment. My parents could kiss for ages when feelings got too strong. I think that was the main reason he asked me to travel with him. To explore the world just the two of us." Zhu Yan laughed a little.
"Did they kiss too often?" Yichen asked, gently rubbing Zhu Yan's finger with his thumb.
"Not that often, just enough to show their love from time to time. Li Lun was just a grumpy tree head, even back then." This time Yichen laughed.
"You gave him such a... angry nickname," Yichen joked.
"He got really grumpy sometimes."
"I believe you..." Yichen whisper as he closed his eyes for a moment to bask in Zhu Yan's warmth.
"Baobei, don't fall asleep yet. There's something else I need you to see."
"I'm not asleep. I'm just enjoying this..."
"It wasn't so bad, was it?"
"No, it wasn't, I'm sorry..."
"Ah, my handsome Xiao Zhuo. You have me completely at your mercy." Zhu Yan pressed him closer, nuzzling his neck, which made Yichen laugh, as it was a ticklish spot.
"You still owe me for this morning..."
"Weren't you going to show me something else?" Yichen avoided the subject.
"Ah, that... look..." He pointed to his right, in the direction of the gate, and Yichen turned his body on Zhu Yan's chest to observe the place for the first time.
No human had ever crossed Zhu Yan's territory before, aside from them. They were too afraid to approach his tree. Only hunters who believed themselves brave enough to try to fight him did so. As if a great demons were easy to defeat, when even the gods had difficulty fighting them. Those hunters never returned.
His new vision allowed him to see through the density of the trees, right where a thick purple fog came from a crack between the two worlds. Humans had called it a gate, but it was actually a place where the two worlds merged into one. It was like seeing two worlds constantly overlapping one another. Sometimes you could see the same forest stretching for miles, and sometimes something otherworldly.
At times, on the other side, there was also a forest, but one that humans were used to. It was a forest full of colors: gold, deep ocean blue, blood red, translucent, silver, hot pink, sea green, indigo, lime green, purple, yellow, you name it. Those were the colors of the leaves of strange trees, some with moving vines. At times the ground glittered with crystals with strange shapes.
Some flowers were enormous, some trees looked like wired mushrooms. There were others whose trunks looked like they were made of stone. He even saw a plant with a strange flower that looked like a ball of light, and then the strange, colorful world disappeared to become a normal forest, only to return to normal after a few minutes.
"What do you think of my father's world?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yichen smiled fondly.
"It's beautiful..."
"Yes, but also very dangerous, as demons have cultivated there for thousands of years. So be careful with the beauty of the demon world. Those enormous plants, for example, can swallow you whole."
"I thought demons didn't need to eat."
"Before, no. But that changed when they become tainted. Now, under Cheng Huang's influence, they can be even more vicious."
"Can I take a look at the demons there?" Yichen asked, looking at him with puppy-dog eyes that made Zhu Yan laugh, and cupped his face.
"Not now. I don't want to scare you before time."
"I won't be scared. After all, I'm a demon hunter." Then he pouted, very cutely, that made Zhu Yan's heart go wild.
"Oh, you're so adorable, Baobei! Let's go to bed and let me kiss you senseless." And since he could now draw power from Li Lun, he teleported them to their room to kiss and enjoy their love for each other before sleeping.
AN: Awww, they are all so cute!! How you like the second round. Until next time, please take care.