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He was there. So close, within reach, but still so far away.
He'd been granted a better life now, no longer having to sell his body to the night. Well, at least not to countless strangers.
Sect Leader Nie chose to make the young man his personal courtesan by contract. In exchange for providing him with music, dance and sex, Nie Mingjue offered him payment and a place to stay at the Unclean Realm. The man was certainly not one for marriage, but he'd become quite taken with Meng Yao. So taken in fact that he wanted to keep him close by.
Meng Yao seemed to harbor the same sentiments, having agreed to their arrangement without a second thought. He lived a life of luxury here, something he hadn't experienced during his time as a prostitute. Sure, he'd been given lavish gifts by some clients, but they bore no comparison to the marvels of the Unclean Realm.
And not only that. Nie Mingjue had been exceedingly good to him. Kind, generous, loving even. For beneath that tough exterior, the sect leader was actually soft-hearted. He made the perfect lover, and he was very good in the bedroom. Probably one of the best Meng Yao's ever had.
But… there was still the matter of a certain Lan Xichen. Meng Yao had not forgotten about him, couldn't possibly when there had surely been a connection between them the very first night they met. He was still intrigued at the prospect of getting Zewu-jun alone. Or rather, of Zewu-jun getting him alone. Opportunities had been made present on several occasions, what with Sect Leader Lan's frequent visits to Qinghe. However, the man had not acted upon them… yet.
The Lan sect leader was actually here at table with them this evening. Nie Mingjue invited him for dinner so they could discuss potential war strategies against the Qishan Wen Sect. Wen Ruohan had grown far too arrogant, far too tyrannical; the man wanted absolute rule over all sects, major and minor alike. Nie Mingjue, --along with a vast majority of other sect leaders-- was vehemently opposed to it, and would stop at nothing to maintain the structure of the cultivation world as is.
Among said sect leaders was Zewu-jun himself. He too was displeased with Wen Ruohan's conduct. It was hardly appropriate for a sect leader to act in such a manner. Wen Mao must be turning in his grave as the years of hard-work he put into establishing his sect were slowly but surely dissipating. Value and respect for ancestral rules had been entirely thrown out the window. It would only be a matter of time before they went into inevitable war against the Qishan Wen Sect.
"Nie-zongzhu, Nie-zongzhu," a servant suddenly burst into the room, bowing in reverence.
"What is it? Did something happen?" Mingjue gruffed, facing the servant.
"Yes sir, it's the general. He and a subordinate were in the middle of a dispute when they broke out into a fight."
Sect Leader Nie immediately rose to his feet. Giving a light nod to Xichen first, he then looked to his darling courtesan, stroking the beautifully braided hair with his hand. "Please excuse me. I'll return as soon as I'm able." With a motion of his head to the servant, the two exited the hall.
And now, it was just Zewu-jun and Meng Yao all alone at the dinner table. The atmosphere had been tense at first, the silence slightly awkward. Meng Yao decided to carefully lift his gaze, looking in Lan Xichen's direction. As soon as their eyes met, Meng Yao instantly shied away. "I'm sorry," he uttered softly as he now eyed the table again.
"What are you sorry for? You did nothing wrong." Xichen assured, his eyes still on the raven-haired beauty just across the way.
"Well, your meeting was interrupted. Right when you were in the middle of discussing strategies."
"Our meeting," the Lan sect leader corrected.
At the words, Meng Yao fixed his gaze on the man, feeling more at ease locking eyes with him this time. "Our meeting?" He echoed in query.
Zewu-jun nodded. "Of course. You offered some suggestions as well. Very good ones in fact."
Meng Yao couldn't help smiling at the praise, his gorgeous little dimples revealing themselves to the Lan sect leader. "Thank you, my lord."
"Please, call me Xichen. You don't have to be so formal with me, Meng Yao."
"And aren't you being a little too formal with me? Addressing me by my full name?"
Lan Xichen chuckled at that. "I suppose you're right. What should I call you then?"
"Hmm, that's an excellent question indeed," Meng Yao mused, a small smile playing at his lips. "Perhaps… Xiao Yao or even A-Yao, but…"
"A-Yao." The name resounded beautifully from his tongue as Xichen savored its sweet taste. "I like that."
A brief silence fell between them as they stared into each other's eyes. Feeling a blush begin to coat his cheeks, Meng Yao soon spoke up. "Would it be alright to call me that in front of Nie-zongzhu though?"
Zewu-jun shook his head. "Perhaps not, but at least when…"
At least when we're alone, Meng Yao inwardly concluded as Xichen trailed off.
Both men redirected their eyes to the door that had opened up mere seconds before. Through it walked a slightly aggravated Nie Mingjue, giving Meng Yao reason to worry. "My lord, is everything alright?"
The Nie sect leader huffed. "It will be."
Heavy footsteps brought him closer to the dinner table where he soon sat himself back down at the head seat. This time, he wrapped an arm around his beloved courtesan's shoulders, beckoning him to draw closer.
Meng Yao did exactly that, resting his head on the man's brawny shoulder. In order to help ease some of the man's tension, he allowed a dainty hand to gently run up and down the man's arm. A massage was certainly in order for tonight. Just not in front of Xichen.
The Lan sect leader, for his part, felt slightly jealous at seeing the pair cuddled together. He would give anything to trade places with Nie Mingjue. To have that beautiful, delicate head resting on his shoulder. To feel those exquisite fingers sliding along the sleeve of his arm. To have him to hold and make love to at night. To see that dimpled smile to brighten his days. To gaze into those stunning deep brown eyes, the very ones that stared right back into his at present.
Meng Yao was there. So close, within reach, but still so far away...