Chapter Text
The happiness and warmth that spread in Hai Yunfan’s chest made his knees weak when he received Wang Lu’s origami message.
He held his breath while listening to the inviting words an intimate voice of Wang Lu whispered to him. A wave of unfamiliar feelings hit him. A smile that surfaced on his face was completely different from ever before, surprising Hai Yunfan himself. Of course, Wang Lu calling out for him made him happy every time, but this time it felt different. It almost felt private. He quickly put on a straight face and checked his surroundings nonchalantly. Luckily, he saw no one and a small exhale escaped from his mouth.
His heart leapt underneath his calm exterior. It made a nonchalant travel almost impossible as his feet wanted to run together with his heart. The euphoria made him dismiss the small voice back in his head, warning him for overreacting. He knew Wang Lu was a notorious flirt, making all kinds of attention from him a reason to be sceptical, if not on guard. You could almost say that it sometimes felt like Wang Lu was playing with his feelings, and Hai Yunfan wasn’t sure what to make of the young man. Everytime he thought Wang Lu was being sincere on anything, the Successor Disciple would backtrack as fast as he had started. Usually with a joke.
Still to his slight embarrassment, after a while he had started to enjoy the attention and praises he got from Wang Lu. Wang Lu was naturally self centered and he rarely complimented anyone like he truly meant it. It had taken some time for him to recognize when Wang Lu was giving actual praise or when he was trying to exploit people. Or just being sarcastic like his second name. The Successor Disciple was a quick witted with a silver tongue making him cunning and sometimes manipulative.
A small sigh escaped from Hai Yunfan as his head finally cleared during his walk. He sometimes blamed himself for being such an easy target for Wang Lu to manipulate. He couldn’t help himself from yearning for Wang Lu’s attention. When Wang Lu wanted his help, it made him feel needed and important. Like he was his trusted close friend, his confidant.
This made it even harder for him to say no. Even when he knew Wang Lu was just playing his usual games, trying to get Hai Yunfan to take a part of his schemes. Still, he didn’t want to become a boring, uninteresting person to Wang Lu. The pleased smile that usually rose to Wang Lu’s face when Hai Yunfan agreed to something felt like a reward. However, sometimes it almost felt like he had to earn his place by Wang Lu’s side even if Wang Lu had called him a friend many times. Wang Lu would protect and help him, because he was his friend.
Frustration flared for a moment inside Hai Yunfan. He needed to get stronger, but as an Outer Circle Disciple things he could do and learn were limited. He had to make all those nerve wrecking trips to the Inner Circle Library count.
Hai Yunfan slided a hand absentmindedly along his bangs. Those trips were over now. He missed hanging around in the library, just two of them behind a cloaking spell. Even if getting in and out had always been a bit of embarrassing escapade. Wang Lu carrying him in a front piggyback ride underneath an invisibility talisman. Every trip was more or less awkward, but still, it had been their secret and it had made him feel… Special. A warm feeling rose in his chest, but it was quickly washed away.
He couldn't take advantage of Wang Lu’s rank or skills forever. Wang Lu wouldn’t be saving him from trouble every time. He knew the Successor Disciple liked to keep useful people close to him and him being weak wasn’t useful at all. Weakness reminded him of his older brother. A dark expression clouded his face, contrasting the beautiful sunny day.
Two fellow students appeared behind a corner and Hai Yunfan quickly pulled up a friendly mask. He greeted the students with discreet hastiness, almost absentmindedly. The students however, didn’t seem to notice or mind, but continued walking and their interrupted chat. Hai Yunfan exhaled and resumed walking as well.
A melancholic feeling returned again. The passing students reminded him how lonely he actually was. The only one he could really call his friend was Wang Lu. Now that he could meet the Successor Disciple even less, he felt more isolated than before. Keeping low-profile was of course the plan all along, but Wang Lu’s company and complex personality were gravitating. With Wang Lu he was able to let go for a moment and have fun.
A silhouette of a familiar building pulled Hai Yunfan out of his thoughts. He had lost the track of time and wondered if Wang Lu was still waiting. A lopsided and melancholic smile rose to his lips for a moment. It would not even surprise him if Wang Lu had gotten distracted in the meantime and run off to somewhere else.
As he got closer, his pulse fastened in anticipation. He was almost excited to know what kind of scheme Wang Lu had come up with this time. He usually didn’t send messages like that. As long as Wang Lu included him, it would be enough to make him happy. By the door, he took a deep breath and tried to calm the unusual excitement that was buzzing in his chest. Whatever the excitement even meant, he wondered.
He knocked on the door and called Wang Lu’s name carefully, “Wangxiung?”.
“Please come in”, an indifferent sounding voice of the Successor Disciple replied and Hai Yunfan complied by pushing the door open.
Warm steam hit Hai Yunfan’s face when he stepped into the room, but he could not see Wang Lu anywhere. An eyebrow rose to mirror his confusion and he let out a timid question again, “Wangxiung?”.
“Over here”, Wang Lu’s voice replied from the direction of a folding screen close to him.
It took a few steps for Hai Yunfan to go around the folding screen, only to find the Successor Disciple in a bath facing him. Hai Yunfan’s mind short-circuited and his mouth fell open.
In those few seconds, his eyes registered Wang Lu’s relaxed half-lying posture surrounded by flowers and herbs. His skin was glistening from the moisture and few water-droplets were flowing down on his chest. But the most captivating thing that made Hai Yunfan’s mouth dry, was Wang Lu staring at him behind half-lidded eyes.
Warmth rose to his cheeks immediately and a small sound escaped from his mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you’re bathing. I’ll wait outside,” he babbled embarrassed and made a motion to leave the room.
Wang Lu waved his hand dismissively with a hint of endearment in his voice, “Don’t be silly, Xiaohai. It’s good that you finally arrived.”
Or maybe he had just imagined it. Hai Yunfan turned back in confusion to meet his eyes, but Wang Lu averted his in return.
Wang Lu shifted to a better sitting position in the tub, taking his time and then finally met his eyes again. The other boy continued with a small smirk like a smile, “You see, I wanted you to try this as well.”
Hai Yunfan’s mouth fell open again, “Eh?”
Too many thoughts were running through his head. Try what? A bath? With Wang Lu? Now? His eyes involuntarily descended from Wang Lu’s face to his naked chest that was gradually cloaked by the bath water, flowers and herbs. Leaving but a little to imagine. Heat flared on Hai Yunfan’s face when he realized what he was doing and quickly averted his eyes. Not that the Successor Disciple’s chest was a new thing to him, he had seen it more than once during the past two years. For some reason he just saw it differently today...
Wang Lu’s chuckle pulled him out of his thoughts, “I have been thinking, about these recent assassination attacks, you know. I guess you need to increase your power too, since Junhuang Sect is out to get you. And I can’t always be there to save you.”
There it was again, Wang Lu’s odd protectiveness. If he didn’t know better, it could have sounded almost patronizing. But Wang Lu was right. In his current stage, he could not protect himself or others from the assassination attempts.
However, the mention of a way to increase his power roused his interest. He returned his gaze back to Wang Lu, but regretted it instantly. Wang Lu looked him into the eyes while scooping the bath water in his hand and letting it flow slowly from his arm back to the tub. Hai Yunfan’s eyes were so fixated on following the trail of droplets that he almost missed what the Successor Disciple was saying.
“This is the upgraded version of the Tendon Marrow Soak my master concocted”, Wang Lu explained while staring at him. “Normal Tendon Marrow Soak is plain water compared to this.”
Hai Yunfan failed to ignore leaves that were attached to Wang Lu’s arms and chest when the young man reached out of the tub to grab a tea cup. They were just leaves. Attached to Wang Lu’s glistening skin.
“I’ve soaked in it for the past two years. It enabled me to resist Liuli Xian’s attack”, Wang Lu continued and Hai Yunfan tore his gaze away when the Successor Disciple lifted the tea cup to his lips.
Hai Yunfan closed his eyes for a moment to recollect his concentration. He should not be thinking about Wang Lu in a bath, but focus on the suggestion. Wang Lu lowered the tea cup and glanced at Hai Yunfan when the other boy remained quiet.
Wang Lu coaxed Hai Yunfan with an affectionate tone, “Stop thinking, Xiaohai. Try it too.”
Hai Yunfan tried to ignore how it had sounded almost intimate to his ears. He lifted his gaze back at the Successor Disciple, but looking back at Wang Lu was a mistake. The other boy was staring at him with his ‘you-can’t-say-no-to-me’ smirk on his lips and then winked at him. Hai Yunfan’s heart skipped a beat. You would think he had gotten used to Wang Lu’s flirting during the past two years. Apparently not.
A defeated sigh escaped from Hai Yunfan’s lips, “A-all right.”
The mood was broken in that instant. Wang Lu grinned and clapped once his hands self-satisfied, “Great! There’s a robe for you in the next room, we need to be quick while the bath is still warm.”
A small surprised sound escaped from Hai Yunfan when Wang Lu started to get up from the bath. The bath water rushed down as Wang Lu got up. The flow of water framing his body, flower petals and leaves sticking to his skin. Hai Yunfan averted his gaze quickly while intense heat flared on his cheeks. Wang Lu turned nonchalantly to grab a nearby robe.
Once he had the robe wrapped around him, Wang Lu turned back to stare at the flustered Hai Yunfan. He cocked his eyebrow, “What are you still doing here? Stop drooling over my body and get changed.”
Hai Yunfan sputtered incoherent words, made a small rushed bow and retreated from the room hastily. He could swear he heard a chuckle before he closed the door.
True to his words, there was a simple blue robe waiting for him on a nearby chair. Like Wang Lu had predicted that he would say yes to his suggestion. Hai Yunfan huffed and petted the fabric absentmindedly with his thumb. All the things Wang Lu was still willing and determined to do for him like it was nothing special. Even after putting him in danger. Surely, the Successor Disciple liked to complain, but he had learned that it was usually just to hide his embarrassment or sincerity.
Suddenly the door slided open making Hai Yunfan almost drop the robe. Wang Lu’s damp head peeked in and when he saw that the other boy was still in his normal robes, he frowned, “What’s taking you so long? Hurry up!”
“Ah, yes, sorry. I will change now”, Hai Yunfan replied embarrassed, but Wang Lu rolled his eyes in return.
“Xiaohai, this is not a palace and I’m not your servant, you need to know how to do the basics without someone’s help”, Wang Lu quipped but with a hint of tenderness. “Or what, are you stuck or something?”
Hai Yunfan shaked his head apologetically, “No, it’s nothing, Wangxiung. I just lost the track of time. I’ll be there right away.”
Wang Lu huffed and closed the door. Hai Yunfan waited a few seconds, just to make sure that Wang Lu would not suddenly open the door again. With an unknown embarrassment, he quickly started to remove his robes and undergarments. Goosebumps formed on his skin the more his skin got exposed to the air. The other room had been much warmer and the moisture had stuck to his clothes and skin.
He wrapped the bathrobe around his shivering body with a swift motion. A relieved exhale escaped from his mouth when he finally had secured the belt on his hip. He took an extra moment to fold his own clothes in a neat pile on the same chair and hid his power reducing ring between his clothes.
The floor felt chilly under his bare feet as he walked back to the door. By the door, Hai Yunfan took a deep inhale to calm himself and then slided the door open carefully. Familiar warm steam hit his skin again and he quickly stepped into the room to prevent temperature loss.
Hai Yunfan found Wang Lu, still in his bathrobe, pouring hot water into the tub from a kettle. Hai Yunfan frowned. He quickly walked closer to the other boy and raised his hand to herd Wang Lu away from the tub.
“You don’t need to do that, Wangxiung. You have already done enough,” Hai Yunfan said and gently took the kettle from Wang Lu’s hand.
Wang Lu frowned, but let the other boy take the kettle, “You took so long, the bath was getting cold.”
Hai Yunfan returned the kettle back to it’s place and offered a small smile to Wang Lu. “Wangxiung, I’m grateful for the effort. But as you said, you’re not my servant”, he said with a raised eyebrow.
Wang Lu frowned again and squinted his eyes, “You didn’t take seriously what I said, right? We both know that Zhu Qin is more pampered than you. I haven’t heard you complain about anything since we joined Lingjian Sect.”
Hai Yunfan averted his eyes and tried to fight against a pleased smile that rose to his face. Wang Lu huffed relieved and slapped gently on Hai Yunfan’s shoulder, “C’mon, get to the tub. And don’t blame me if it’s cold.”
Hai Yunfan nodded with a smile and Wang Lu turned away to give the other boy privacy. Hai Yunfan took a hesitant glance at the Successor Disciple and then unshead the bathrobe with swift movements. The bathrobe landed unceremoniously on a nearby stand. Hai Yunfan took a sturdy grip on the rim of the tub and lifted his leg in.
A small surprised gasp escaped from his mouth, but he proceeded to enter the tub. The splashing sound of the water rang in his ears, but he wanted to get in the water as soon as possible. He settled on the opposite end of the tub, his back at Wang Lu.
The feeling was not what he had expected. Surely, he had expected some kind of effect from the upgraded Soak, but he never expected it to sting like that.
“All good?” Wang Lu’s nonchalant voice asked behind him and he forced a comfortable smile on his face.
“Everything is good, Wangxiung. Thank you”, he struggled to reply with an even voice. Emphasized his words by moving into a more relaxed position.
A small pleased chuckle escaped from Wang Lu, “Great, I’ll be in the next room. Enjoy!”
Hai Yunfan listened carefully to Wang Lu’s receding steps until they finally ceased. However as much he tried to relax the more intensive the stinging feeling became. But for Wang Lu’s sake, he was determined to endure. The Successor Disciple had disclosed his master’s professional secret and prepared it for his sake to help him get stronger, so he didn’t want to waste his friend’s efforts.
But every minute felt agonizing and the pain was clearly getting worse the more time passed. Hai Yunfan rushed to grab the rims of the tub when a sudden increased pain surged through his body. A small pained groan escaped from his lips. At this point he was sure that the upgraded Soak was not meant to feel like this. Either that or Wang Lu had a high tolerance for pain if he had soaked in it for two years.
Another surge of pain violated his body and he could feel how his nails were biting into the wooden frame of the tub. He was panting heavily and another whimper escaped his mouth. He had to get up, now. But before he had even pulled through from the previous attack of pain, a new more intense surge of agony pierced through him making him scream.
And his mind went black.