Zhu Yan/Yichen
One of the things Zhu Yan loved about his young lover Yichen was that, once they were completely alone and out of sight and hearing, he shed all the sharp edges that defined his youthful, defiant personality. Inside his room, Yichen was a mass of tenderness that Zhu Yan adored deeply. More than that, he loved him to the ends of the universe and beyond, especially when he felt guilty, as he did now.
"Zhu Yan... are you sure you're alright? You're not damaged in your core? Please be serious, I'm worried..." Yichen's voice, as always when they were in each others arms, was gentle. But Zhu Yan was genuinely delighted to feel Yichen's hand caress his face as if it were made of the finest material in the world.
"Baobei, I'm perfectly fine. I'm healed, and what happened wasn't your fault. Li Lun and I agreed to continue the training, so that your collective awakenings can show you how much more you can do."
"But I could have hurt you badly..."
"I stopped the training before it got to that point. I tell you, all of you were incredible, but you especially. That celestial fire was something Bing Yi used in the war against the demons. Seeing you standing there, so imposing and powerful, gave me goosebumps. You looked so much like him, but your stubborn self too." Zhu Yan nuzzled Yichen's neck with his nose, and Yichen smiled, tilting his head to one side, so his lover could reach him better.
"I felt... I felt a different kind energy fueling me at that moment. I think we all feel it, and that's why we suddenly become so powerful. Ah, Zhu Yan..." Yichen moaned his name as his great demon gently nibbled his neck, sending shivers down his spine.
"That was the power of the Nine Stars constellation. You connected with it and drew power from it."
"Hmm... but the Ying Long constellation is so far away in the heavens... How could I draw power from it? I'm sure I don't have the blood of two gods, like my brother..." Yichen asked as Zhu Yan kissed his jaw this time.
"My father's constellation is closer than you imagine. And so you know, you're connected to him through me. My father's power will always answer your calls, as if it were my own..." Zhu Yan kissed him, and Yichen completely forgot his curiosity and let himself be swept away by the mischievous demon, who made his blood boil not only with anger, but also with passion.
They kissed for a long time, as they had done ever since Yichen had opened up to him and confessed his love in the privacy of their sanctuary. In that room, Zhu Yan had cried and felt cherished like never before. It was then that Zhu Yan knew for sure, that the young demon hunter was the man of his life, sometimes rude, easy to tease on other occasions, but deep down in his heart, Yichen was a diamond, pure and bright from every angle you look at.
"Yichen..." He heard Zhu Yan whisper his name, but Yichen was reluctant to letting go of what he needed.
He loved Zhu Yan with all his heart, and though he was shy in the presence of others, when he was alone, he never tired of his great demon. Behind closed doors, was the time when he opened up to him and allowed Zhu Yan in as well, so they could love each other in their own way. Sometimes passionately, sometimes as gently as the fluffy fur Zhu Yan swore he had when he was in his combined form. He was curious to see it. Perhaps someday he would, but for now, he just wanted to enjoy being in the arms of the man he loved, feeling his kisses, his caresses, and his playful mischievousness. It was addicting.
"Yichen..." Zhu Yan try again, after ending a heated kiss.
"We can still kiss some more..." Yichen whined, his heart still pounding out of rate.
"We can, Baobei... but you need to rest..." The young man blushed.
"It's still early... I can sleep later..." Zhu Yan laughed and kissed him again, this time more gently, so that Yichen could taste their love, their union, and their bond. The more days they spent together, the more Zhu Yan felt their bond strengthen, to the point that he sometimes felt like claiming him. But of course, that was not the right time yet.
They still needed to rescue Bing Yi and survive their fight against Cheng Huang himself, if he managed to escape from Bing Yi's prison. There were so many uncertainties to resolve, and no way of knowing if it would end well. His father had envisioned a happy ending for everyone before sacrificing himself, but as he had always remind him before, no future was set in stone, and a different decision could change everything for better or for worse.
"Zhu Yan..." It was Yichen who murmured his name this time, as they continued kissing.
"Do you want to rest now?" Zhu Yan asked, looking at his beautiful lover, who had placed his arms around his neck, to pull him closer. Desire was reflected in those captivating blue eyes, that became brighter along with his many emotions.
"No... there's something unusually warm coming from your chest. Are you alright? Did you lie to me? Is your core damage? Zhu Yan, please, don't hide things from me..." But Zhu Yan silenced him with another soft kiss.
"Oh that? It's not my core that's acting up, Baobei... it's my pendant..." Zhu Yan moved back enough to take out his father's pendant and show it to him.
"What is this? I... I've never seen it before, and we... well, I... I took all your clothes off once..." His face turned ten times redder, and Zhu Yan chuckled, amused.
"Oh, you certainly did, and it was so hot..." Yichen's face flushed again.
"Zhu Yan!" He protested in embarrassment.
"Don't be embarrassed now, my Baobei. Intimacy is part of a relationship, we both desire. But to answer your question, the pendant is usually invisible to anyone, unless it wants to be seen." Yichen looked at Zhu Yan in confusion as he held the warm pendant. Then he took Yichen's hand and gently place it over his father pendant.
Yichen's eyes widened as he felt not only the heat emanating from it, but also its pulse, like a heartbeat. Not only that, but he also sensed a strange, very powerful, yet quite familiar energy, as if it had been there, surrounding him all his life, but he had never noticed. It was enigmatic.
"What's that supposed to mean? Does that pendant have a will of its own? Is it another dimension you created? But you gift me one, and it's never been invisible, nor feel like this one. I've kept mine safe in this room, until we enter the demon world. You said I could train with Yun Guang there, but... we haven't had the time yet..."
"Of course, my Baobei have been very busy training with another master during my absence. On the other hand, to answer your question, yes, this pendant is very special to me and has a mind of its own. It belonged to my father and contained a fragment of his spirit." Yichen's eyes widened in astonishment.
"What?! What do you mean...?"
"A part of my father's spirit lives on within the dimension he created, and he passed it on to me before his body died. Early on, when you began cultivating the energy of my illusion, and delving deeper, my father's spirit responded to your silent call and lent you the power of his constellation, which is also stored within the pendant, keeping his spirit strong until the day he can be brought back." Yichen was even more stunned now.
"Bring him back? Then... then Ying Long can also be saved?" Yichen asked, almost breathless.
"Yes, if things go well. It might not work if things go badly. While cultivating for days and years on my tree, I often joined my father in spirit within this pendant. That's why you demon hunters thought I remained motionless like a statue for long periods while sitting on the tree branch, exactly where we sat last time." Yichen sighed.
"Zhu Yan... Why are you hiding something like this from me? Didn't you trust me enough now?"
"I've entrusted you with my life, more or less, since the first time I saw you on that cliff, in front of the shelter where you took refuge from the rain."
"But you didn't..."
"Yichen, as much as I trust and love you, this secret isn't mine to reveal, but my father's. So I couldn't tell you before, not because I didn't want to, but because it wasn't my right. But now it's different. He's reacting very intensely to you these last few hours. Perhaps he wants to meet his son-in-law..." Zhu Yan teased, and Yichen blushed as he gently patted him on the arm.
"Stupid monkey, don't joke about something like this." Zhu Yan laughed.
"I am an ape, Baobei, but tell me... would you like to meet my father? His dimension is his domain, so I have no control over who enters. That said, my father might invite you, if you agree. Since he knew you before you were born, perhaps he would like to see with his own eyes the person for whom his son feels such passion and is so crazy about. He bound our destinies long before you came into this world, so his energy has always been yours as well... and always will be, since he and I share the same divine blood." Zhu Yan explained, and Yichen was genuinely moved to meet Ying Long, a man who had seen too much and forged the path of his destiny.
"I would love to meet him. The same goes for Bing Yi. If I have the opportunity to see my ancestor face to face, it will be my greatest honor, too meet both of them."
"Then you may... he will love you too... as I do." Zhu Yan said and, once again, closed the distance between them and kissed him tenderly. Yichen smiled as he surrendered to the delicious sensations of having him close, not to mention the love that fuels it all.
He hoped that Ying Long would summon him to his dimension someday and then, he will humbly ask him for his permission to claim his son. In the end, it might be Zhu Yan who claimed him instead, but that didn't matter. He was thrilled by the thought of seeing his legendary father-in law, a hero of the past, and asking him, if he had somehow touched his life, while he was unaware, guiding him to find his rightful place beside Zhu Yan.
As they kissed, deep within the Ying Long's dimension, the dragon god smiled tenderly. He had chosen well; the child was exactly what his son needed, and he longed to see Bing Yi again. That moment was drawing near, and he prayed fervently that it would unfold just as he had foreseen.
Later that night, as Yichen lay fast asleep in Zhu Yan's arms, he found himself walking beneath the light of the moon and the brilliance of countless stars, in an endless field of fragrant flowers of every color. Peace reigned, the breeze was gentle, and he could hear a magpie singing in the stillness of the night. It was a song of happiness, capable of inspiring countless poems and romantic novels. Perhaps now he was dreaming of one of those stories, a beautiful nightscape, countless fragrant flowers that soothe the heart and soul, the song of an auspicious bird, while longing for his beloved to show up.
Yichen longed for more of their relationship, as his private time with Zhu Yan had been cut short, because his great demon insisted he needed to rest, and regain his lost energy. He had no choice but to sigh and obey. After all, Zhu Yan had been considerate, so he couldn't blame him for anything. To his surprise, he fell into a deep sleep soon after closing his eyes in the safety of Zhu Yan's arms.
Now he awoke in this enchanting place, likely a dream, as he had never visited such a magical place in human lands. But looking around, he didn't see Zhu Yan anywhere, which ultimately disappointed him. He sat in the field for a moment, admiring the beautiful scenery, and then lay down on his back. The fragrance of the flowers relaxed him, and he was almost asleep again when he heard someone approaching.
"Zhu Yan, it's rude to keep your lover waiting so long. You certainly took your sweet time. Please don't tell me you will use a lame excuse, like you were beautifying yourself to meet me. I will not buy it, and you were the one who..." Yichen began to complain as he sat down hurriedly, happy that he had finally arrived, despite his harsh words. However, the man standing barely a meter away from where he sat, watched him with a different kind of amusement than he was used to. He looked very much like Zhu Yan, but he wasn't exactly him.
"Zhu Yan...? Is that you?" Yichen asked, observing the man in front of him more closely.
His figure was practically the same; but the robes he wore were white and beige, two colors Zhu Yan didn't fancy. His face was almost identical, but this one had a long black tattoo on his forehead and a black straight line running from the border of his jaw to his neck. His hair was long, but with soft waves that moved in the night breeze. His eyes were as deep as an ocean, and his aura made him feel as if he were in the presence of the universe itself. He had never feel Zhu Yan's aura with such depth. Then it hit him.
Yichen's mouth fell open in disbelief, because although the resemblance was astonishing, this man was not Zhu Yan. There was a hint of mischief in his smile, but it wasn't the same playfulness as his white monkey. His presence was that of something overwhelming, a god who transcended life and death, a man who could see both behind and beyond, and he felt his inner core start to resonate once more with his presence.
Yichen knelt on the ground and clasped his hands together in a respectful greeting, unaware that icy, gleaming blue tattoos were beginning to form on his neck and cheeks, then on his shoulders, arms, and hands. His eyes turned sky blue and his hair bluish-gray. Then, his body began to ache.
"Bing Yi... this isn't our time to meet again. Don't possess the child now. We will meet when our destinies are forever intertwined. It won't be long, so please be patient a little longer. Release the child, or our son will kill us both with his bare hands; after all, he is his lover." Ying Long pleaded softly, and Yichen was released from the embrace Bing Yi was beginning to place on him, coughing up a little blood.
"Please forgive my lover for trying to possess you again. Sometimes, he forgets how strong he is and that you're still human, not a demon like Zhu Yan." Ying Long excused Bing Yi, helping Yichen to his feet and placing a hand on his chest to heal him.
"Ying Long..." Yichen tried to kneel again, but Ying Long stopped him before he could and smiled kindly.
"There's no need for so many formalities, child. Since Zhu Yan chose you as his life partner, we are now family." His voice was soothing, like gentle waves, very different from Zhu Yan's mocking tone. Ying Long smiled again.
"Forgive his teasing; he means well, and I assure you he would burn worlds and universes for you."
"Can you read my thoughts?" Yichen asked, blushing.
"Yes, but that was pretty obvious of you, so don't be shy. I haven't read your mind, just your expressions."
"Dragon God Ying Long, please grant me your approval to be your son mate. I swear my love for him is true, despite our constant arguments. He teases me so much that it sometimes makes me furious, and then... he gets too forward, and then I get really embarrassed..." Ying Long didn't let Yichen finish his list of complaints, as he burst into laughter. Yichen blushed and was surprised when Ying Long hugged him.
"Child, I approved of you even before you were born, and you make my son the happiest demon when he's around you. Arguments and all, he loves it, and with his personality, he wouldn't want you any other way. Don't worry, you're made for each other, blessed by the god of fate himself..." Ying Long patted him on the back before letting go.
"I am honored. I promise to give my life for him if it means saving him. I may not be as strong as him, but I am improving, and I can protect him on this journey ahead or die trying..."
"You will grow stronger, Zhuo Yichen. I have seen it, and I will also aid you in your quest. I only want destiny to take its rightful place. As an anomaly, Cheng Huang altered many destinies, including those of countless demons he deliberately tainted before Bing Yi sealed him away. But Zhu Yan also altered the destinies of humans, so they had balance the deviation from the original fate in their own way. Once the two anomalies clash, destiny will straighten out as it was meant to be."
"So, will we win this battle?" Yichen asked, hoping for an affirmative answer.
"Both of them have the power to rewrite destiny, so I cannot guarantee a happy ending, but I trust my son and you, to lead this mission to victory. You were all chosen thousands of years ago for this monumental task, not because you are incapable of achieving it, but because your determination and courage allow you to fight gods and demons alike. The fact that you were born human, was never an obstacle in your path, but rather a strength to overcome obstacles." Ying Long softly pat his shoulder.
"The demons you captivate with your own hearts will never fail you. Even if one is mischievous and the other overly serious. They are both the strongest and the most loyal. I firmly believe you will conquer everything, as long as your hearts remain on the right path. Now return; my son is very concerned for you." Ying Long smiled as he gently placed a finger on Yichen's forehead, who suddenly awoke back into Zhu Yan's arms.
"Yichen! What happened to you? I felt you trembling, and you spat blood..." Yichen gently placed a finger to Zhu Yan's lips to silence him.
"It's nothing... I just meet with your father..." Yichen explained, and Zhu Yan sighed in relief.
"But this blood... my father would never hurt you."
"Bing Yi got a little sentimental. He wanted to see Ying Long so badly..."
"Ah, so he try to passes you again? He's still too rough... but don't worry, Baobei, I'll make him apologize for the pain he caused you when we meet him, and if he doesn't listen, I'll beat him senseless..." Yichen laughed.
"Beat Bing Yi senseless? Are you nuts? Can you even do that? He is still a god, you know."
"Are you doubting me? Baobei, I have beat Bing Yi since I was a child." Zhu Yan proclaimed with exaggerated pride and Yichen laughed some more.
"Yeah, sure. You must have been such a strange family..."
"Why do you think I grew up like this?" Zhu Yan teased.
"But I love you just the way you are..."
"Ah, Baobei, come here..." Yichen was soon subjected to a tickle attack by Zhu Yan's hands, making him laugh until his stomach burned from laughing so much. After that, Zhu Yan changed tactic and kissed him long and passionately, just as Yichen had wanted for most of the night.
AN: LoL. How cute. I have other couples celebration times in mind, but this one got too long, so that will be for a next time. Thanks for reading and until next time, please take care.