Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“That’s the fourth report this month, general. Are you not going to take action on this?”

Not lifting his head from where he’s finishing up reading the report that Yanqing had brought up to him, Jing Yuan merely hums. “It’s not causing any disturbance or distress for the public, is it?”

The newly promoted lieutenant frowns from where he’s standing a few steps away from the desk. “No, there hasn’t been any report of disturbances caused by it.” Then he quickly adds, “But that doesn’t mean this matter shouldn’t be handled at once.”

“Yanqing,” the general softly chides, “This won’t do me any harm. You should channel your focus on training, hm?”

The boy that Jing Yuan personally recruited as a Cloud Knight and took under his wing as a mentee only frowns with more objections waiting behind his closed mouth. They both knew each other’s characteristics whenever it comes to work by now so Yanqing simply waits for Jing Yuan to give room for him to speak. 

The general knows that he’s only worried, but the matter isn’t anywhere near life threatening nor is it close to becoming a problem to jeopardize his position as the General of the Luofu Cloud Knights. 

“I’m not bothered by it, truly.” Well, he used to find it a bit unsettling — and intrigued — at the beginning after his rise through the ranks but now he only feels flattered at the attention. If anything, it is actually helping him to remain connected to the public despite his lack of appearances at the bustling cities of the Xianzhou Luofu.

As expected, Yanqing’s mouth bursts open with objections. “But these people are profiting off of you, and they’re disturbing you whenever you go out. They’re invading your privacy by taking and selling pictures of you to the public.”

Jing Yuan places down the scroll and puts on a placating smile. “I’m flattered that they find me enough to make a living by selling pictures of me. As disturbed as I was at the start of it, now I don’t mind it at all. The public knew more or less about this, and it hasn’t been a problem for anyone.”

He knows that Yanqing only has the best intentions in his heart, so Jing Yuan adds more to his thoughts to appease the boy since he’s relatively new to the scene. “It’s actually beneficial for me as a general. Having the public’s support for me helps strengthen my position. As for privacy, they’ve never actually breached it in my personal space, otherwise I indeed would've taken action if it ever goes that far.”

That seemed to work as bits of tension washes off of Yanqing’s tensed shoulders, but he still wears a frown on his face. “So, this goes on forever?”

He stands up. “As long as it doesn’t cross the line, I don’t see why actions should be taken." He then innocently asks, "What sort of action should I be taking anyways?” 

“Apprehend the person behind it! Why would she even think of doing this in the first place?”

“To make a living, as you’d said earlier?” Jing Yuan walks over to the side and looks at the wall contemplatively. “Why is this bothering you so much, Yanqing? Unless the one behind this is planning something sinister, I don’t see how this would cause a stir.”

The young Cloud Knight stares at the scroll on the desk for a moment before replying, “This information wasn’t included in the report but I’ve confirmed one of the identities that are behind this.”

“Oh? And you withheld this from the report because..?”

“I thought about it, and there might be chances that Diviner Fu could get her hands on the report and use this to her advantage.”

The general smiles. Despite the public’s opinions of him taking in a nobody as his mentee and the doubts of his qualifications, Yanqing proves to be more than what was perceived of him by the others. “You’re worried she might hire them to take ugly pictures of me?”

“This is no laughing matter!”

He laughs anyway. “I appreciate your concern, but I doubt Diviner Fu would stoop that low just to get rid of me and take the general position for herself.”

“She just might," Yanqing grumbles under his breath, "Considering one of them is going to be working with the Commission soon.”

That finally catches his attention. “And who might that be? Perhaps I should be more guarded this time, hm?” He’s not serious about it; still doesn’t think this is a matter worth his time to spend over. But a part of him is curious over the identity of the ones that started this business of selling his pictures mostly to non-Xianzhou natives. He knows that there is more than one person behind this; has felt the sense of being followed when he’s at the Central Starskiff Haven.

The notion of people taking pictures of him isn't new, he's not freshly exposed to the click of the phone's camera. He doesn’t mind it of course, given that he rarely ever goes to the busy parts of the Luofu in person— where most tourists would be at.

But if what Yanqing said proves to be true that one of them is about to work under the Commission, then that might raise some concerns.

“My current intel only has her name and race, appearances wise only bits of information on that one.”

Jing Yuan nods, “It’ll do.”

“She’s a Foxian, her name is—”

“Tingyun!”

The foxian startles from where she’s sitting on the vanity chair, “Oh, don’t scare me like that!” 

Yena giggles from where her head pops in at the corner of the door into Tingyun’s room, she then straightens up and smiles at her. “So, you’re really going to work for Yukong now.”

“Not directly with her, I joined the Whistling Flames Guild that works with the Sky-Faring Commission.”

“Who’s current Helm Master is Yukong.”

Noticing the serious tone coming from her friend, Tingyun slowly comes to a stop from brushing her freshly cared foxian tail. She place her hands in her lap and looking at Yena from the mirror— asks, “Are you worried I’m going to rat us all out to her?” 

The human girl remained silent for a while before meeting her eyes through the mirror. “We didn’t do anything illegal.” Which replied nothing to Tingyun's question but confirmed it all the same.

“Then why do you sound like you’re against this?" Tingyun is of the impression that every one of the girls have accepted it when she first brought it up to them, no one really raised their argument against her working with the Commission. "I’m not going to do anything that will affect us," she adds for good measure, "and it’s not like I’m working with the Cloud Knights.”

Her friend clenches her fist, her demeanor changing so suddenly that the foxian girl is left stumped with surprise when she meets with a cold pair of eyes directed at her accusingly. “Yena?”

“You don’t realize how deep you’re going to get entangled with Luofu’s Six Charioteers, don’t you?” She sharply asked, “Have you noticed that no one gets easily accepted into working in the Commission without a proper background check? You told us that some moons ago that the Guild came to recruit you, but how do you explain being recruited straight as the amicassador?”

Tingyun blinks, genuinely caught off guard. “Pardon, amicassador? Me?”

Yena looks at her, angry still but now with a slight mix of confusion. “You don't know?”

The silver tongued foxian turns away from the mirror on her makeup vanity and faces the human girl. “I’m being recruited to work under the current Whistling Flames Guild’s amicassador, not as one.”

“Then… why did he told me that—”

“Who said this to you?”

“He suddenly came up to me at the Starskiff Haven and said a lot of things about the future of the Luofu and I... believed it?” Yena holds her head into her hand, a wash of sudden fatigue overtaking her. Seeing the energy drop from her friend as she leans against the door frame, Tingyun stands up and helps her to sit in her vanity chair.

“Listen Yena, I will never lie to you. We grew up together. Make a living by doing a lot of things that somehow now ended up with us selling pictures of the general. I am now going to have an official job that will pay well, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to abandon you all like the times we’ve spent together meant nothing. You guys are my family.”

The human girl nods, though she still looks distraught by the previous confusion. “I know, Tingyun. And I won’t go on our backs too.”

She smiles from where she’s crouched down in front of her, the freshly washed and dried tail now resting on the floor.

“But we need to find out more about this guy that’s been spouting nonsense to you.” She hesitates asking the next question; afraid that it might offend her human friend because Yena does have a tendency to be very easily swayed. But for Tingyun, she can handle the contempt if it meant it'll be safe. 

So she continues, “But why did you believe what he said? Does this have anything to do with a spell or brainwashing or did he drugged you—”

“Not at all!” Her friend objected quickly, affronted. “He didn’t give me anything, just came to where I was standing looking over the Stargazers and started talking. I did think he spoke of unknown things, and some of it was really nonsense but by the end of it I ended up actually agreeing with his views. I was convinced you've turned your back on us."

“Did you guys make any eye contact?”

She shakes her head. “He did whisper some foreign words though, maybe that has something to do with me being brainwashed?”

“It's a possibility.” Tingyun nods, making a mental note to walk around the place later in the evening. “What about his appearances?”

Yena begins to describe the man’s attire and their conversation continues for some more minutes, moving on from topics to topics but none close enough about her new career with the Commission. By the time she falls asleep on Tingyun’s bed, it was already high noon and she is very much late to her meeting with the Sky-Faring Commission.

The Starskiff Haven is just as lively as the last time he step foot here. Jing Yuan takes a moment to look around and basks in the atmosphere before picking up his steps further into the city. He gives his greeting in return to the ones that addressed him, admiration and awe written on their expressions, clear as the sky above them and easily read through like an open book. His smile turns up a notch at the reminder of his conversation with Yanqing just this morning when the people starts taking out their phones. They respectfully keep their distance from him.

He told Qingzu that he’s here to take a stroll to unwind from his work— yeah, because you never dozed off or wandered to somewhere else when duty actually calls — she jabbed, but still waved him off as if she's the higher ranked between the two of them.

Jingyuan did decide to take this opportunity to visit the Sky-Faring Commission as it has been a while. Yukong will not be an accommodating host if she's currently swamped with work — which is always the case for the Helm Master — but even if she is free, shooing Jing Yuan whenever he did come to visit on some official business or for leisure will never likely change given whatever circumstances. It doesn't harm or put a strain to their working relationship as the Helm Master and the Cloud Knight General. 

Although his reason for visiting now isn't only for a good touch of humour, but it is also an excuse to catch a glimpse of the current cause of stress for his beloved retainer.

Just as he shifts his focus to somewhere else on the left, someone yelps from his right and came crashing into his side.

His nose picked up on a pleasant smell as he held out his arm to hold the person that’s stumbling backward in reflex. 

He notes the brown and red in a mix of what became of the foxian's attire. Green eyes.

This is the Foxian that Yanqing has described. His mind supplies.

He didn’t say nor do anything for the next few seconds, mind still reeling at the luck he’s in for having caught the reason why he’s at the Starskiff Haven today. The foxian didn’t do anything as well, not so much as moving an inch; her eyes blinked open looking straight into his. They stay rooted like this until she realizes who’s arm she’s currently in.

With a grace that doesn't match the panic in her eyes, the foxian extracts herself from Jing Yuan's arm placed politely at her back. “General, I am so sorry.”

She steps away and bowed her head once. Jing Yuan follows the direction of her head and then notices that her feet is on edge of the stairs; putting much distance between them as she could. Before he could say anything though, the woman hurriedly excuses herself, “I apologize again for running into you but I really must go now." Were it any other people, Tingyun wouldn't have need to explain herself too much, giving away everything to be read like an open book isn't what she's learnt, but since this is the general of the Luofu Cloud Knights and the person she's been profitting off of from— Tingyun rambles on in panic. "I’m late for a meeting and I’m still relatively new to the job and the Helm Master will roast me alive if I don’t get myself presented at once.” 

Then she runs past him with all the grace she can muster at the moment.

Jingyuan blinks.

Belatedly, he turns around to the initial direction he's heading towards to and spots the foxian running up the steps into the Palace of Astrum. His lip quirks up.

“General Jing Yuan, are you alright?” One of the passersby who undoubtedly has seen their exchange asks. Jing Yuan dusts off nonexistent dust on his person. “I’m fine, no harm done.”

“That Tingyun girl looked mortified for having crashed into you, she’s usually so reserved and calm,” The person shakes his head, “Do forgive her.”

Jing Yuan picks up the sentimentality and the resigned fondness from the elder man towards the foxian. To the man, he smiles. “No need to worry, all is well.”

He begins walking towards the Palace of Astrum.

Chapter Text

Tingyun enters through the Palace of Astrum's door and immediately spots Yukong standing on ground level with a few others as she finishes walking up the stairs. The sight was just like the few ones that she’s etched into her core memories as a child. The pair of indigo foxian eyes met her green ones across the short distance and she’s relieved at the lack of finding wrinkles on her face. She knew that their kind would not spot a wrinkle so early in their years still, but it is an inside joke between the two of them when Tingyun was a bubbly young fox while Yukong was growing into her womanhood with an evermore deep frown on her lips.

They have not met in a long time, despite Tingyun now residing in the Luofu and an occasionally repeating visitor to the Central Starskiff Haven.

She had placed Yukong’s sisterly care in her heart and set out on her own after the older foxian had decided to fully spend her time working in the Commission. No more soaring to the skies, no more kites.

The sentimentality must’ve been clear on her face by how the sharpness of Yukong’s eyes softened with memories of what they once shared. Tingyun would like to think she’s relieved that Tingyun grew up fine and well, if only by appearances alone.

Yukong dismisses the officers with a wave of her hand and a nod to acknowledge their work before making way to Tingyun, who had stopped by the end of the stairs that will lead further into the palace’s interior.

“You’re late.” She greeted.

Tingyun smiles freely at her, never afraid of what might’ve changed in the woman after many years of separation and the hushed whispers of a scary Helm Master of the Commission. “I apologize, there was a matter that held me up.”

Yukong nods, then beckons Tingyun to follow her to the center of the place where a projection of the Luofu is illuminated. She turns to her, “You understand the role you’re going to work for with the Whistling Flames Guild under the Commission?”

“Yes, I’m to act as the main person for communication between all trade works.”

“What do you think of that?”

Tingyun swipes her gaze over the other foxian under the pretense of blinking her eyes innocently— she’s testing me— and takes the second to study her expression. It has always been a failed attempt on Tingyun's part when it comes to reading Yukong's facial expression, and this time is not an exception either. She comes up short trying to decipher Yukong. She’s always been better at masking and controlling her expression, and the years they’d been apart has dulled Tingyun’s understanding of her.

But she’s grown up as well, and has learnt more about the art of perception.

“Officially, it is the duty and role of the amicassador to act as the medium and be the spokesperson of the organization they’re working under, but I am made aware that our Whistling Flames Guild has been undergoing some changes prior to them recruiting me, thereby needing a new person— who is not affected by the changes and is unbiased to the work to be the main spokesperson.” Yukong smiles by the end of her answer, and Tingyun sheepishly adds, “Though only temporarily.”

The Helm Master looks at the projection for a moment, contemplating. “You chose your words wisely, Tingyun. You are not wrong in that regard, the Whistling Flames has been occupied with a concerning matter that needs fixing as soon as they are able to, lest —” there is a telltale sound of a door being pushed wide open, and with how the Cloud Knights on duty shifted their stance to address the person by the door, it indicates an important presence into the premise. Tingyun remains her focus on Yukong whose gaze is already drawn towards the entrance, the corner of her lips quirks up for a brief second before looking at her again, “— lest the ship sinks before it could have a chance to soar to the skies.”

There is an intended innuendo at the flash of the past behind the foxian’s indigo eyes, no time is given for Tingyun to question her before she turns her body forward towards the front and gives an acknowledging bow of her head, “General.”

Beside her, Tingyun comes to a slow halt, shoving their conversation into the back of her mind to replay it later as she mirrors the Helm Master’s stance. Her head bowing more lower to the same person that she just unceremoniously fell into not more than a few moments ago.

“Helm Master Yukong, a rare sight for you to be away from your seat.”

“Not as rare as the sight of the famed General Jing Yuan to visit the Sky-Faring Commission in person.”

“You flatter me, I happen to have an empty schedule to be walking around.”

Yukong’s lip twitches upward. “I should be the one flattered, for you to spend your free time just to drop by.”

Jing Yuan returns the smile, his show of carefreeness only confirmed what Tingyun is suspecting of the wired tension between the two of the Six Charioteers. Having spent time with Yukong too many times before, she’s learnt the characteristics of the foxian she idolized, and knows to differentiate the signs of her being either stressed or tensed. One such moment is currently happening at present. Yukong is tense, but not wary, not so much as defensive. It was as if she’s bracing herself to something else that the general might do, but Tingyun is confident in her interpretation that whatever sort of working relationship the general and the Helm Master have, it is nowhere near competitive nor antagonistic in nature.

A few short seconds passed by in silence before Yukong sighs, vexed, a rare and unfamiliar sight for Tingyun. “If you are here to bother me into walking you out of the door again, Jing Yuan, it’d be best for you to leave right now.”

The smile on the general spreads higher, and Tingyun resists the urge to bring out her camera to capture the smile and make a fortune out of it. And as if the general could read her mind, or possibly even knew who she is, Jing Yuan’s gaze then fell on her. “I have not seen you around the Palace of Astrum before, you must be new here.”

It gives her no leeway to not offer her name, and Jing Yuan knows that she has no choice but to introduce herself. He thought against bringing up their short encounter into the conversation. He has no intention of letting her know that he’s aware of her identity either. If it is true she’s working with the Commission now, then it would be best for him to keep an eye out on her for any ulterior motives. One can’t be too careful.

Tingyun changes her stance, relaxes her body and lets her lip fall into a smile freely without overtly presenting herself to be pleasing towards the audience. “I’m honoured to make your acquaintance, general. This one is named Tingyun. And you are correct in your observation, I am new to the scene.”

She offered no more explanation, not so much giving away the details of her employer and merely confirming that she’s just started working with the Commission. Jing Yuan nods, noticing her placating stance to make up for the lack of information she’s willing to give. If this was any other person, the customers she’s selling his pictures to for, perhaps— then they'd have already fallen for her charming smile.

Clever, he thinks.

Yukong, unaware of the start of this cat and mouse game explains further of Tingyun’s work position. Jing Yuan remains impassive as she explains the likelihood of Tingyun being a constant presence in the Sky-Faring Commission, she then moves on to mention the Flames Whistling Guild which then catches his attention.

The helm master then gives him a sharp look that doesn’t go unnoticed by Tingyun. Curious, she then looks over to the general, who then returns her gaze.

“I was not aware that the Guild has recently recruited a new officer.” He places his hands behind, still looking at Tingyun and clearly is expecting her to be the one to explain this time.

She nods, an uneasiness starting to nag at her, telling her that something is wrong with how they both were putting in the extra attention at the mention of the merchant guild. Before she could explain that she’s innocent to whatever scheme that was brewing up— if it hadn’t already— Yukong speaks up.

“I was taken by surprise as well when the amicassador of the said merchant guild has recruited a new one under his wing. The first one there ever is despite having been in his position for hundreds of years now.”

That is true, Tingyun has gathered every source of information she could find about the Flames Whistling Guild, especially about the current amicassador that’s shrouded in privacy despite working as the medium between all kinds of communication that correlates to the merchant guild. She could find only bits of information about the vidyadhara.

“Well, that might have to do with him needing to find a successor due to him aging.” Jing Yuan surmises, but the brief glance over to the green eyed foxian girl puts enough volume to his question without needing to speak it into existence.

But why Tingyun?

She was merely told by the two recruiters along with the Vidyadhara himself that they’ve been scouting the Xianzhou Luofu for someone who has good grasp at the art of persuasion and perception. And that brought them to her.

Tingyun would be lying if she says she wasn’t flattered at the praises they gave her, although aware that they were going over the top with the flattery— as if desperate to have her working for them. For what exactly, she does not yet know. She intends to find out eventually, but with how both the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission and the General of the Xianzhou Luofu’s Cloud Knights having keen interests in the Whistling Flames Guild, and to top it off with the recent hush within the organization, along with the lack of appearance of the amicassador— which resulted in Tingyun being tasked to temporarily be the acting amicassador on behalf of the merchant guild— trouble is already happening, and she’ll not have enough time to figure out what sort of mess she’s gotten herself into.

She has already accepted their offer, after all. If she rejected, she wouldn't be standing between two of the Six Charioteers today.

However, Tingyun has zero interest in being a prisoner, moreover having her good name besmirched. She will not play dumb.

She thinks of Yena then, of the mysterious man, and contemplates if she should tell the general about it. But she has every bit of the intention to stay very far away from the general. The lesser they’re acquainted with each other, the better it is for Tingyun to continue her side job.

Her side job. If she is to work with the Commission now, wouldn’t it be better to quit it? She has a real official job now that pays well even if the pictures she’s sold did earn her quite a fortune. But the risk of being caught by the general is ever more prominent now than it was before, especially since he now knows her name and face. It wasn’t as if Tingyun had been selling the pictures — Xianzhou Luofu’s special merchandise — in a shady dark corner of between the Haven’s streets; they were out in the open. But compared to her other friends that are in this business too, Tingyun seldomly is the seller.

Tingyun is more adept to working behind the scenes, being the one to take pictures of the general and having his whereabouts information always at the ready for her camera’s disposal. Having accurate information of his whereabouts is bordering on the offense of breaching one’s privacy under the term called stalking, but Tingyun is very much not one.

She is respectable about it, only ever going out with her camera once it’s confirmed that he’s outside with no urgent matters to attend to.

So, no. Tingyun is not a stalker. She will not be going to prison... will she?

“Something on your mind, Miss Tingyun?”

She’s exceptionally good at reading body languages and facial expressions, therefore sees the hidden mirth behind the golden eyes, a faux concern at her quietness. As if he knows.

Tingyun just got an official job under the Sky-Faring Commission, she is one step ahead towards her dream and damn if she’s going to let him be her undoing.

“I was just thinking of my friend that fell ill, I’m quite worried about her well-being being left alone.” If she’s good at reading people, there's a high chance— no, she’s sure that Jing Yuan is undoubtedly better than her. He is the General of the Cloud Knights. Tingyun can’t lie or brushes off his questions any more than she already did, the last thing she wants right now is to draw more of his attention, or worse, his suspicion. Little bits of truth won’t hurt.

“Is that the reason that kept you earlier?” Yukong asks, another person that Tingyun is sure must be able to tell and pick apart her words for its value. The younger foxian nods, looks genuinely guilty at Yukong, “I apologize once again for making you wait.”

The foxian shakes her head, turns around to walk back to her seat as she waves her hand dismissively. “Today is just introductory, everyone here has been notified of your position and will be introducing themselves the next time you’re here. For now, you’re dismissed.”

Tingyun nods, grateful that she sees the distraught on the younger foxian, but oblivious to the way Tingyun’s focus drifted off to somewhere else away from the conversation. Even if she’s not an active participant in the conversation, being observant of her surroundings and the words being exchanged has always been one of Yukong’s core teachings.

Jing Yuan’s eyes follow the retreating figure of Yukong, “No goodbyes for me, Madame Yukong?”

“Please see yourselves out, general.” Not even a glance towards him as she reaches her seat.

He puts a hand up to his chest, expression nothing near offended as he bemoans at the lack of hospitality, “I’m hurt.”

His act drops quickly in the blink of an eye and then much to Tingyun’s dread, Jing Yuan turns to her and offers a smile with his hand gesturing towards the door. “Shall we?”

Returning his smile in equal earnest, she takes the first step towards the door and Jing Yuan follows a step behind. She feels the heat of a gaze directed at her from behind. Tingyun is unable to discern whether it’s Yukong that is watching her or Jing Yuan.

Stepping out from the Palace of Astrum out into the open air of Central Starskiff Haven has Tingyun releasing a breath she didn’t realized she’s holding in. The breath of fresh air relaxes her tensed body, and the smile she was wearing inside falls flat. A step behind her, Jing Yuan gives his nod to the two Cloud Knights that turn to salute him, the quirk of his lip remains as he approaches the foxian.

“Are you now going to see the Whistling Flames Guild?”

They stand beside each other at the top of the stairs, one looking out to the Jade Gate that is the entrance and exit of the Xianzhou Luofu as the other one’s eyes wander to the numerous Starskiffs that fly across the skies.

Tingyun was only tasked to acquaint herself with the Sky-Faring Commission today, but Yukong had dismissed her early, and there isn’t a need for her to be going to the merchant guild to report the completion of her task. By the looks of it, there is a chance that the general wants to tag along with her if she indeed plans to go there.

Having good relations with the general will surely be good for her reputation and connections, that much is obvious if she wants to stay within the Six Charioteers’ circles. But because of her side job, being more than an acquaintance with the general may backfire on her spectacularly. But she also can’t overlook the fact that having him close won’t have its advantages to her camera lying in wait to be used.

“Miss Tingyun?”

She blinks out of her thoughts, gazing up to the general who raises an eyebrow questioningly at her, partially amused rather than offended that he's made to repeat himself. She’s been caught losing focus for the second time now in less than an hour.

Get a grip, Tingyun!

“Ah- excuse me, my mind has wandered off to my friend again.”

“No going to the Guild then?”

She takes a second to weigh her options. “I’m afraid not today.”

He hums, the soft breeze dances across his white hair as it shyly part ways to reveal the other eye that’s hidden underneath, just as golden as the rising sun she once remembered seeing from her little adventure of flying with Yukong.

She then sees her silhouette in those mesmerizing orbs, belatedly realizing that she’s staring. He smiles indulgently then, having caught her in the act of doing so and Tingyun knows she can’t spin words and bat her eyes innocently to lie that she wasn’t staring. Because she was. That would be lying, and she’d just decided earlier that little truths won’t do harm.

“Thinking of your friend again?” There it is, that infuriating mouth that barely turns up at the corner and thus concealing the mirth behind it, downplaying himself as the general in disguise as a conductor that gets to decide how this performance of theirs will turn out.

Tingyun wants to, very much, save face against this general that has managed to throw her off more than once in less than an hour, but the thought of giving in to his orchestration— because he expects her to lie again even though it’s clear that she was, indeed, staring— leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.

And so she opts in for the truth, looks him in the eyes and says, “No.”

She holds down the urge to smile triumphantly when he blinks twice in return.

She wants to bask in the joy of finally throwing the general off for a loop for a little longer, but this is a chance for her to escape his presence and she does so. Taking her fan out and hiding her blossoming smile behind it, she gives him no chance to recover. “It was nice to meet you, general. I bid you farewell now. Have a good day ahead.”

Chapter Text

There is an old belief held by the ancestors before the Xianzhou Alliance was formed, a belief that has aged into a myth with each passing centuries, and has now left to dust. Not many knew or have heard of this myth before, moreso to the modern days of the Luofu residents. But Jing Yuan has lived for centuries, and has travelled outside of his homeland numerous times before taking on the role as the General. And so has met numerous all kinds of beings, which brought him the whispers of a long bygone belief where it claimed that the Foxians are accursed.

That is the impression of some groups living outside the Luofu. Their ancestors believed that the Foxians are a bad omen; that coming into contact with one will bring that person bad luck.

Having grown up in the Luofu, it was only natural for him to have befriended the Foxian and the Vidyadhara living amongst the human race, so he couldn’t understand how that belief came to be. They have been living in harmony for centuries unlike what was believed by the outsiders— although this was centuries ago, that there are “cursed Foxians populating in the Luofu.”

A much younger Jing Yuan merely brushes off that myth, having gone as far as to extend an invite to the gossipers to visit the Xianzhou Luofu so he can prove them wrong.

Years have gone by, and he still does not believe the myth to be true to the present day. 

But maybe he’s been too ignorant— naive, and, maybe that belief turned myth was in fact based on someone’s true experience. Maybe there is truth in it, that the Foxians are capable of bringing bad luck to those who came across them.

Because Jing Yuan quickly came to a realization of his present surroundings that he does not have a good day ahead of him after parting ways with the green eyed Foxian.

“Have a good day ahead.”

Jing Yuan contemplates whether the myth is true after all? Because the pile of work that is sitting on top of his desk, each demanding attention from him after he got back from the Central Starskiff Haven to the Seat of Divine Foresight is almost enough to convince him that the Foxians are capable of such a wicked thing.

Perhaps he’s underestimated her.

Perhaps the distraught that wrung her body tight covered with a practiced concealment— although that forced control of her body to appear relaxed was like an open book for the famed general to read— was an act for him to let his guard down.

Perhaps she’d been lying about her friend that fell ill in order to escape his questioning gaze. But the genuine fluster on her face when he caught her blatantly staring, that had been real.

Or it might've just been him that’s getting rusty for having basks in the peace for years.

Putting aside another scroll that’s dealt with for Qingzu to send out later, he lets a small sigh escape his mouth as he stares at yet another new unopened scroll.

The Xianzhou Luofu has been blessed in peace for decades now, there were no alarming threats made against the Lord of The Hunt nor any war breaking into their sky. No new rebellion in the Luofu. He is not naive enough to be fooled with the dream of an everlasting peace, despite how he wishes for it to be true. Jing Yuan knew that trouble would soon greet them. And his intuition that has never failed him tells that the trouble is on its way. If it hasn’t already descended down upon their sky, waiting for the spark that would send the people into a merriment of panic.

If he has to make a guess with his eyes closed as he drifts into a nap, this particular trouble had something to do with the missing Vidyadhara Amicassador of the Flames Whistling Guild. Jing Yuan shifts his focus from the newly opened scroll to the left side of his desk, where a report of the missing subject in his mind had just been sent in when he was away visiting the Central Starskiff Haven.

He thinks of Tingyun again, had she been there to distract him while the Amicassador makes his escape? It could be a coincidence that the report Yanqing received about the identity of one of his stalkers just happened to fall on the same day she is expected to report into the Sky-Faring Commision. Which also very conveniently happened the same day Jing Yuan decided to leave his office to try his luck in meeting said person.

It could be another coincidence that Fu Xuan had foresaw a new talented recruit of the Whistling Flames some days ago just as reports of suspicious activity logs began to flood his desk. A mere coincidence that Tingyun is that new recruit.

Perhaps she’s innocent, and her friend really is ill, that she is only taking and selling pictures of him for the sake of making a living.

Or maybe Jing Yuan needs to stop believing in the good nature of others, to stop being so naive even when he’s already had his heart and trust betrayed by his most closed friends. Maybe he needs to put his guard up against the green eyed Foxian.

Admittedly, he has been much more lax during the past few moons.

While there is a chance of her involvement being purely coincidental, it is also too connected for him to not look into it. The general sets his mind then and intends to call on one of the Cloud Knight for a task when his beacon flashes with an incoming transmission.

“Diviner Fu.”

The master diviner, a fiery young spirit who Yanqing always frets about in regards to Jing Yuan’s position nods in greeting before cutting off the seconds of silence that the general was going to use for small talk. “General, I have updates about the Guild’s missing Amicassador.”

Jing Yuan silently laments about the missed oppurtunity to delay any more incoming duty that’s impatiently eager to settle on his shoulders behind his usual smile. “Efficient as always, Master Fu. I am grateful for your hard work.” If Fu xuan catches his sigh disguised as a breath at the end, she didn’t comment. “Let’s hear about it, shall we?”

She takes the cue to continue last where their previous conversation was left off a few days ago, about the concern of suspicious activity logs reported by the Sky-Faring Commission. Further investigation then leads them to the Flames Whistling Guild and the Amicassador that always was conveniently away on business matters when the Cloud Knights went to ask for his presence.

It didn’t take long for them to suspect that he is guilty of something by way of how he’s confirmed to be present aboard the Luofu even though they were informed of his absence by the Guild’s representative that met with them on the Amicassador’s behalf.

It was shortly afterwards that Fu Xuan foresaw a new talented recruit into the suspected merchant guild.

Then days after, Yanqing came to his office with concerns regarding his well-being with barely concealed stubbornness to bring the general’s stalkers to justice.

Which then leads to Jing Yuan going into the matters himself as an effort to appease his disgruntled mentee, but clearly the man himself was not expecting to actually run into one of his alleged stalkers, who happens to be the new recruit of the merchant guild that they’re currently investigating.

It was too good to be a coincidence.

“That young lieutenant of yours has visited the Divination Commission to relay the current updates that the Cloud Knight possesses about our suspect, and I was able to piece together the current information that we have with yours to conclude that the Whistling Flames Guild are smuggling in illegal goods aboard the Luofu.”

Jing Yuan takes a few seconds to place his thoughts into their place before meeting with Fu Xuan’s hologrammed eyes, “And what of the whereabouts of our main suspect?”

Her shoulders squared up, mouth pursed for a fleeting second before she exhales as naturally as she could, but Jing Yuan knew she was a mere another senseless question away from scoffing at him for asking something that clearly is in the Cloud Knights’ jurisdiction. She is right, after all, Jing Yuan has sent several knights away solely and purely on the purpose of locating their missing target. But it wouldn't hurt to ask, in case her Divination Commission has something new.

“The Divination Commission is unable to use our resources to accurately predict or foresee his future movements, therefore we have hoped that the Xianzhou Luofu’s Cloud Knights might carry the task of doing so.”

Jing Yuan entertains the thought where if Yanqing was present, he’d surely try to hide his dismay at the blatantly covered up jab towards them and failing at it. He only smiles apologetically in return, “I have dispatched three Cloud Knights separately for that purpose, but yet to receive any blooming reports.”

Fu Xuan expectantly nods, she knew that despite how aloof the general seemed to be, he is never one to neglect his duty and do things until the very last minute. After all, if she proves to be more prepared and way ahead of everyone else— the one who would be holding the general position would be herself, but alas, the reality is that General Jing Yuan is much more beyond what he shows on his persona.

Which is why she’s not even a bit surprised to find that the general not only has used his resources to search for their wanted suspect in advance before they could be confidently sure of his illegal involvement, but also has met the new recruit. But he has yet to tell her of that, so she will remain silent on that topic for now as long as the trouble doesn’t escalate.

She has a different topic in mind to bring up to the general but the chance is swept away when the door to his office opens up and walks in Yanqing, much to her dismay.

Jing Yuan catches the look on her face, specifically on her eyes. The glimmer in them dimmed down to an indifference to guard whatever thoughts she has in mind. He makes a quick mental note to inquire her further on it later.

Yanqing walks towards his desk in quick strides, there is a determination in his feature that tells Jing Yuan they have something, hopefully regarding the missing Vidyadhara and not about the green eyed Foxian.

He stops in front of the desk, eyes settling on the projection of the master diviner as he greets with a nod before looking to the front to face him.

“We have received two reports from the Cloud Knights that are currently on duty in Cloudford,” he starts, “The first report was about an hour ago that claims they have spotted a starskiff that was parked in an empty lot without proper notice along with the required paperworks. Apparently the person that drove the starskiff was a mere pilot on hire who said he was paid to deliver the starskiff to a person on their meeting point.”

He takes a pause and waits for the general to nod his cue to continue, “Upon further questioning, the pilot speaks truth and has provided proof of his exchange with the third party that bought his service.” Yanqing places the first report on the desk facing him, the scroll inked with letters that matched with what the lieutenant has just presented.

Fu Xuan turns slightly towards Jing Yuan, a flash of recognition in her hologrammed eyes. A report of the missing Amicassador that was sent in the morning of his absence in the office comes to mind.

The starskiff might be used for smuggling, or as a means of escape for their suspect.

“The second report?” He asked Yanqing as he placed both his arms behind him. A stance that both the people present around his desk are well acquainted with.

The young swordsman nods, “It is about the sighting of the missing Amicassador of the Whistling Flames Guild.”

“Was this just reported in?” Fu Xuan spoke then, there is a slight rush in her tone as if each seconds that they take talking to each other here is another second more that the Amicassador can use to make his escape if he’s aware of his targeted back.

Much to Jing Yuan’s contentment, his mentee doesn’t take offense at being cut in, but instead nods understandingly towards the master diviner. The lieutenant, now that Jing Yuan takes a swift study at his appearance, seems to be restless with energy. Knowing him, the only set of rules that is stopping him from going directly to the reported site to handle the matter himself is the fact that he is a lieutenant; serving someone high above his status and rank. And he respects Jing Yuan too much to break that social rule.

“You have my gratitude for bringing in the report as soon as you are able,” he directs the smile towards the young man, who lights up at the praise, “But there is no need to fret over our suspect going missing again.”

“Have you put out his wanted posters?” Fu Xuan quickly quipped.

He chuckles, “Not yet, and I hope we do not need to go to that length to capture the Amicassador. What I have in mind is putting up a bait that he will bite, only then we can be truly sure of his illegal involvement and put him to trial.”

He thinks of the green eyed Foxian.

“But if we go and apprehend him this instant, not only will we have physical proof of him smuggling illegal goods in or out of the Luofu, but we will be able to ground this matter to dust in one swoop.” Fu Xuan suggested with a rise of her tone to prove her point, and Jing Yuan quietly did agree with her.

“Two birds with one stone, indeed. But we have to tread carefully here. Should we take a misstep, I’m afraid the Amicassador would fly out of the Luofu and that’ll be our last chance at capturing him.”

Silence falls around them then, both Yanqing and Fu Xuan take his words to mind and find that his judgement lacks error. They silently agreed that being cautious even if it means letting the man go, for now, will only benefit them in the future.

Jing Yuan knows their thought process, therefore knows that they have now agreed with him. But before they could voice it out, he adds, “Therefore, I alone will be going to Cloudford and take a look at the reported site.”

As expected, both instantly disagrees.

“General! I don’t think-”

“Jing Yuan, you’re not-”

Both held their tongue reluctantly as he puts up a palm in a gesture to stop and let him explain, “I will only be inspecting the place, should the Amicassador happened to still be present on the site, I will let him go.”

He pauses, two different lips pursed with rejections, and he continues with a playful smile, “Not without proof of his illegal activities, of course.”

Fu Xuan sighs, exasperated and yet already used to the general’s casualness. Yanqing keeps quiet, but there is rebuttal behind his mouth as Jing Yuan looks at him before nodding at him to voice his opinions out.

He looks torn for a short second before fixing his expression to be unreadable. Barely. But he’s learning to do better. He has improved a lot from before when he just started as a Cloud Knight, not being able to mask his expression expertly so as not to give anyone else a clue about his thoughts. Unfortunately, he is currently in the presence of two of the Luofu’s Six Charioteers. Despite his best attempt to remain unreadable, both the general and the master diviner could see that he is withholding from saying something in that short second.

If Jing Yuan had to guess based on their current circumstances about the source of his beloved mentee’s silence, it might have something to do with the green eyed Foxian who just so very conveniently happens to be the new recruitee of the merchant guild. He’s sure that by now, his encounter with the Foxian must’ve reached the lieutenant’s ears. Which undoubtedly is adding more to his distress.

And it is clear that he doesn’t wish to bring up the matter in the presence of the master diviner, whom Yanqing was sure she would use to her advantage to steal his mentor’s rank and title.

He looks at Fu Xuan, who is already looking back at him in question about his mentee’s unusual silence when he’s never been the one to be quiet about voicing his opinion when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of Jing Yuan, or of the Luofu.

He also recalls her wanting to talk to him about something just before Yanqing walked in.

“Have a good day ahead.” He hangs his head down in amusement with a quiet huff at the Foxian’s farewell that decided to mock him at that moment. She had been the one who was flustered and yet, it seems that Jing Yuan is the one who suffers the consequences of those blush on her cheeks.

Blinking out of his thoughts, he regards Fu Xuan and sends her away with a promise to see her in person after his visit to the reported site. After the hologram mellows out as she ends the projection, he waits for Yanqing to speak his silence into existence.

Half a minute later as he is just about to clear up his desk filled with scrolls, Yanqing finally speaks. Albeit more quietly, more guarded. “General, please allow me to accompany you to Cloudford.”

“There is no need, Yanqing. I have a different task for you to do while I am away.”

“Is it related to the Whistling Flames Guild?”

“Hm,” he gives it a short contemplation. “No. I don’t think it’s related to the merchant guild.”

“Then, I refuse.”

Having not expected it, he tilts his head to the side questioningly. “You refuse?”

Yanqing straightens his back, seemingly expecting a reprimand even though as he explains, “Respectfully, general, I am with the opinion that the current pressing matter of the Luofu right now is regarding the Whistling Flames Guild. I should be pouring in my energy into investigating the merchant guild further and look out for any more clues and proofs.”

He opens his mouth but shuts them in surprise when Yanqing continues, unrelenting. “And bring this traitor to justice as soon as I am able.”

Clever young man, Jing Yuan mused. Using his compliments right back against him.

But right as he’s about to speak, Yanqing cuts him off again. “I apologize.”

Jing Yuan opens his mouth—

“For speaking out of turn.” The lieutenant finishes meekly.

The general closes his mouth again, letting the silence simmer for a while in case that his mentee has more to say. But the boy has already moved his gaze to stare at the ground, head almost hanging in shame. The corner of Jing Yuan's mouth lifts up at the sight his mentee, for a moment there he sees himself. So young and brazen.

“Yanqing,” he starts, “I am not angry at you.”

“I thank you,” only then Yanqing lifts his eyes to look at him in confusion, “for speaking your mind truthfully in front of the general.”

The young swordsman opens his mouth but—

“And for your continued loyalty towards the Xianzhou Luofu.”

He closes his mouth and starts again quickly after Jing Yuan finishes his words only for him to be cut off again. “For your concern towards the peace of our homeland.”

He smiles, Yanqing inhales to speak and—

“For your hard work serving under the Cloud Knights.

Yanqing frowns, not at all happy for being cut off more than once. What can Jing Yuan say, he is admittedly, a little bit of a teaser. And he is just too playful not to tease his mentee any chance he gets.

“I get it, general. I apologize. Now will you please let me talk?”

Jing Yuan laughs, delighted at the frown that drew his mouth downwards. They talk more afterwards, Jing Yuan relaying his task to the lieutenant about investigating a certain green eyed Foxian.

When Yanqing received the order, he couldn't help but be a little enthusiastic. “Are we finally putting those stalkers to trial?”

Finally moving from his stance, Jing Yuan tidies up his desk. “We will be doing no such thing. I meant it, Yanqing. I am not bothered by it. They have not breached my personal privacy nor have they made me uncomfortable in any way.”

“Then why have me investigating further about the Foxian?”

“I met her earlier, at Central Starskiff Haven.” He admitted.

“I know.” Yanqing confirmed.

“And you have no further questions about our encounter?”

“If the general wants to investigate more about her, then I can only assume that she is now a suspect involving the missing Amicassador or….” He trails off, eyes settling on the walls where there are armaments displayed on it. He looks uncharacteristically uncomfortable.

Jing Yuan makes a questioning hum, prodding him to continue.

“Or…” Yanqing visibly squirms, his fingers clenching and unclenching in rapid succession and expression quickly souring. Now, Jing Yuan is more amused than confused at his mentee’s current predicament. Never a dull moment with him around.

“Yanqing, or what about her?”

The boy takes a quick look at him before breaking eye contact again, clearly there is something that he wants to say but is refraining himself to do so. A part of Jing Yuan begins to pity the boy for holding himself in, as if it physically pains him to hold back— when Yanqing rarely ever lets any words or thoughts unsaid in the general’s presence. At the last seconds, it seems as if the dam has been filled to the point of bursting as the lieutenant blurts out far too quickly, “Or that the general is interested in her!”

Jing Yuan needs to process his words twice in his mind, before it takes another moment to settle in his brain and only then that the confusion overtakes the amusement, “I am interested in her.” Yanqing balks at the admission, and Jing Yuan can’t help but feel the situation a bit anticlimactic because he is sure that it is obvious he’s interested in the green eyed Foxian due to his task for the young lieutenant.

Much to his now visible confusion by how he tilts his head to the side. “Which is why I need her background to be investigated. I planned on handing this task to someone else but you might just be the person for it.”

“I am not!” There is a flush on his mentee’s cheeks, he’s looking at his person but yet unable to look him in the eyes. “General, is this truly the right time to do this?!”

Jing Yuan blinks in pure confusion, “You do know that she is the new recruit that Diviner Fu foresaw about?”

“Yes, and this makes things all the more highly inappropriate.”

“How so?”

“Because you wish to have her investigated for a personal matter!” Yanqing forgoes the title and manners, not that Jing Yuan minded much in the first place. “You said that this task was not related to the Whistling Flames Guild in any way, so having her investigated could only mean..”

“Mean..?”

The flush to Yanqing’s face comes back doubled in its intensity, it’s the most reddened face Jing Yuan has ever seen on his mentee.

“You’re interested in her romantically!”

Silence.

The hall of the Seat of Divine Foresight is bathed in pure silence then despite the presences of officers and the Cloud Knights on duty.

Jing Yuan blinks once.

Oh.

Blinks twice.

Oh.

An undignified sound only reserved to those truly close to him forces its way through his mouth, and Jing Yuan gives up trying to reel his laughter in. He throws his head back, beyond entertained as he laughs unabashedly. Yanqing comes to a horrified realization that he’s said that aloud for all inside the Seat of Divine Foresight to hear.

Jing Yuan has to place his palm on the desk as he catches his breath, still struggling to hold himself upright. It’s been a while since he’s genuinely entertained where he can freely laugh just because. A while is an understatement, but he doesn’t let the thought linger for more than it needs to before it ruins his mirth as he finally straightens himself up. Yanqing stands rooted in his spot, too embarrassed to take a look around the place to see whether the presence of others are currently focused on them or whether they're professional enough to carry on like they didn’t hear what he just said. But he knew they heard him. The general cackles by the end of the unexpected misunderstanding.

“Yanqing.” He inhales a steady breath. “I am most definitely not having her investigated for my own personal gain.”

The lieutenant mutters, still embarrassed to look him in the eyes.

Jing Yuan thinks in utter delight that another tease won’t do them harm. “If I wish to pursue her romantically, I’d do it in person.”

The red returns slightly on his mentee’s ears but he recovers quickly before going back to the matter at hand. “Then if it’s not about her involvement with the Guild, why have her background investigated?”

“She may not be involved with the Amicassador in regards to his illegal activities, but there is more to her than meets the eye. I need to be sure that she is simply an innocent that’s unfortunately been roped into their scheme. Either that, or it turns out she has her own agenda that could create trouble in the future.”

The young swordsman mulls for a moment, but nods and accepts the task before excusing himself while pointedly avoiding the presence of the others inside the hall.

Shaking his head to clear out the remaining mirth from his mind, Jing Yuan sets off to Cloudford on his own.

The place was scarce of the hustle and bustle as compared to the Central Starskiff Haven and the Exalting Sanctum. There are not many merchants and Commission officers present on Cloudford due to the limiting and strict entrances, even the amount of Cloud Knights on duty are few. It is not a place where one would spend their leisure time to walk around, as crates and storages are filled in the place as far as the eyes can see. And so this makes it a strategic place to hide and conduct possible illegal activities.

Few areas are strictly limited to the Cloud Knights due to the danger posed by the occurrences of mara-strucked beings, and a few occasional hostile aurumatons that caught error in their system. There has also been a concerning matter about the existence of beings that seemed to gain its power from the Aeon Yaoshi and harbor hostility towards those that doesn’t practice the teachings or has the Abundance’s blessings.

But those had been very rare, and seldomly does Jing Yuan receive reports about its presence for the past couple of moons.

Again, he may have been too lax.

Moving in quieted steps and a calculated gaze towards one of the restricted areas located deeper into the place, nearing the end of the unending crates and storages, Jing Yuan silently hopes that the Amicassador is still present at the site just so his workload can be cut shorter. However, what greeted him when he arrived is not to the sight of goods being smuggled, not to the sight of hushed and secretive exchanges, unfortunately not to the sight of their wanted Amicassador in the flesh, but to a sight of unconscious bodies on the ground.

He leans against one of the crates blocking the view into the main open area of Trove of Verdure and assesses the sight before him. He identifies some of the bodies as officers and merchants of the Flames Whistling Guild, some were faces that he’s not seen before, and a couple of them looked suspiciously identifiable within a list of offenders in a report about the Denizens of Abundance aboard the Luofu.

There is the lack of blood and injuries on them, which begs the question whether they are all in on it or whether the Amicassador has used them for his own gain.

A quick sweep of the unconscious people shows Jing Yuan the lack of Cloud Knights at present on site; there were supposed to be two guarding the entrance of the place— which he’d greeted at the area’s entrance not too long ago. So, how were they able to get into this place without alerting the Knights? Unless, everyone was in on this and Jing Yuan had been a fool to underestimate the scale of the matter.

He thinks of going back to reconfirm with the Cloud Knights on duty before catching the sound of fabric rustling coming from the place that the crate is blocking behind. Jing Yuan only needs to move his head out from the crate’s corner to peek into the open area behind him, but then he hears a voice in distress.

“Yena, come on, wake up.”

He recognizes that voice, having only heard it on the same day. And only then he catches a whiff of her familiar scent above all the smell of stale metals; peach and jasmine.

“You only have yourself to blame.” A new voice comes in, “Should’ve just played the fool instead of playing detective.”

There are heavy footsteps thudding on the ground, and Jing Yuan takes the opportunity to peek outwards. He’s greeted with the sight of Tingyun supporting her unconscious friend whose arm was placed across her shoulder and held tightly by Tingyun as she walks backward, away from the speaker.

“Are you expecting to leave this place alive?”

“I doubt you’ll waste the lengths and efforts you’ve put in to recruit me into the guild only to kill me by the end of this.”

There was a paused silence before the man sighs, “You are correct. Tingyun, you are exceptionally talented and I believe you still have much more to offer, you have hidden potentials that are yet discovered. Which is why I believe that by joining us, you’ll reach a new high you’ll never expect yourself capable of reaching.”

“I had my suspicions not long after I joined the guild that something is going on, you’d gone more often than what was written in your schedule report, and just earlier I was appointed to be the acting Amicassador in your stead.”

“Again, my praise to you for being sharp for having caught on.” The conversation falls flat then, Jing Yuan inclines his head further, eyes still on the backtracking Foxian. She only needs to look at her side to catch his presence there, but undoubtedly she will not move her focus away from Amicassador.

“Tell me,” the man speaks again in curiosity. “What else have you gathered?”

The sound of her heels echo on the flat surface as she tightens her grip on Yena, her legs speeding up when the Amicassador slowly approaches her, a sword in hand.

“They call you Blue Peach. That’s the codename you’re using behind the Amicassador’s title.”

Jing Yuan quietly inhales as his brain connects the new information with the existing ones he’s had in mind. Blue Peach. He’s heard of that name before. One of the unknown and uncaptured members of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.

“Most impressive, am I correct to assume that you know this because of your unconscious friend there?”

Jing Yuan hears nothing from Tingyun, the Foxian neither denying nor confirming that her friend— is it the ill one she’d mentioned?— is the source of her information. But her silence is quickly met with confirmation from the Vidyadhara himself, “I was informed that they’ll send someone to come fetch me from this predicament since it looks like the Six Charioteers are making their move. But oh my,” he sighs, “who would’ve thought that she happens to be your dear friend?”

Another sigh from Blue Peach, “Friend or not, I had hoped you are not so blindsided to be loyal towards this Xianzhou that is not your homeland.”

He catches the sharp inhale of breath from Tingyun and prepares to make his appearance.

“I know of your background, and therefore I can attest that you have never belonged to the Luofu and will not have the Reignbow Arbiter’s blessings of The Hunt.”

Her steps stutter to a halt, face hardened and guarded from having anyone reading her thoughts. Jing Yuan takes the cue to step out from the edge of the crater where he can finally come to face with the Amicassador who currently has a sword gripped in his hand, while Tingyun a few steps away from where he’s walked out from, eyes wide and relieved and arms holding her unconscious friend securely with her.

He moves to step in front of her, hands folded calmly behind his back.

Blue Peach eyes them warily, stance defensive and face tightening around the corners now that his secret has been uncovered by one of the Six Charioteers.

Despite being aware that he shouldn’t take his eyes off of a possible attacker in front of him, moreover shouldn’t be so relaxed when the air is heavy with tension about to snap at any moment— Jing Yuan still takes his time to look back at her, holding eye contact.

Tingyun meets his gaze with eyes that hold no fear. Although he can read the guarded expression written on all over her body, there is also an openness to it. As if lulling a false pretense of security around her, like she doesn’t have the means to defend herself if need be. Dangling a bait, waiting for a bite.

He doesn’t silence the chuckles as it escapes his mouth, catching the flash of wariness from her green eyes. Jing Yuan thought back on his words back in the Seat of Divine Foresight about putting up a bait for the Amicassador to reveal and admit the crimes himself. If this was centuries ago, with him newly joining the Cloud Knights and practicing himself under his master’s teachings, wholly inexperienced in the art of war— that Jing Yuan would’ve been embarrassed and spiteful by having his plan bested by another.

But now centuries later, having becoming one of the Seven Arbiter Generals, no longer a mentee but a mentor, with experiences that which earned him the title of “The Divine Foresight”, and have been dozing off on the peace for a while, this Jing Yuan smiles to himself as he breaks the gaze and faces forward again with a startling thought that he’d long forgotten to associate with someone. How curious.

Chapter Text

The door slides open with enough force it almost slams into the wall if not for Tingyun’s fingers gripping around the edges. The crudeness of her action cuts through the silence in her shared quarters with the other girls. It was midday, and no one is usually home at this point of time but Tingyun had half her mind hoping that there would be someone here by the time she returns from the Palace of Astrum.

She wants to knock her head against the very door she still has a death grip on.

None of the girls are present, therefore Tingyun has the privacy of their shared living space all to herself which she'd appreciate on some rare days. But now though, their current absences means that she will have no one to lament her day with. The lack of laughter around the walls seems to mock her for the silence gives her plenty of room to think. 

And it hasn’t even been past noon. Her mind supplied unhelpfully.

Before her mood could sour she relents with a sigh with the door sliding shut behind her. Tingyun leans back against it, her arm behind still on the handle. It was careless of her, she knew. To act in such a way with the general in broad daylight after being caught staring.

Tingyun wants to bury her face in the pillow and scream. Already she's made a fool of herself.

The general is not a man that can be easily fooled with. He's not a passerby she can bat her eyelashes at and weave words together to write her desired outcome. Despite wearing an air of nonchalance around him along with the easy smile that comes to rest on his lips, Tingyun only needed to look into his eyes to confirm. Knew that he already knows more about her than she lets on.

She understands very well that that person is General Jing Yuan, the Divine Foresight. It makes sense for him to have someone that is about to work under the Commission have their background checked— even though she assumed that to be Yukong’s responsibilities. It shouldn't warrant any suspicions. Working under the Sky Faring Commission would indirectly mean working under him.

It is unsettling.

She remembers a lesson from ages ago. Eyes are the window to a soul. Tingyun wasn’t the least surprised to learn that his eyes are the most guarded aspect of his person when she studied his appearance. And yet, it is also his eyes that express the most. It tells more than the quirk of his lips, more than the broad shoulders that never seemed to carry any amount of stress. His eyes are so much more telling than the relaxed stance of his body.

She wonders if anyone else has noticed it, how he both gives and protects with his eyes alone.

She prides herself for being able to read people judging from their facial expressions and body languages, and has been told that she's got a talent for it too. So she finds herself stumped for not being able to read his thoughts, and it unsettles her more than she’d like to admit.

She has taken decades to better her smile, to practice ease and to appear convincing. To fake it till you make it, as the saying goes. She smiles as easily as it is to breathe now, gives generously and takes none. She has built a foundation for herself, for her to feel accepted and belonged. It took Tingyun years to establish a truth, and yet all it took was one look from the general for her to feel seen. For her to feel like a liar.

She hates it.

Tingyun wants to be free. To fly through the skies and travel to the outside, to simply live. She believed she was one step nearing her dream when she signed herself in to work under the Whistling Flames Guild, but now she’s tangled herself into this mess and she has to find a quick way to unravel it.

Sighing, she finally pushes away from the door and walks into their shared living room. There, on a table she spots a small box made out of wood, the surface carved and polished smoothly to resemble a lion's mane.

She picks it up, and the silence of the room does not hold her back from recalling the day when it was brought to them.

“It matches the general so well!” Ziqiao smiled all brightly when she showed them the box she bought at the market. The high quality wood was light to the touch, and easy to carry in both hands. She knew they had all made up their mind about it, but seeing the box as well as the new kamera that Yena had bought with their shared money— Tingyun couldn’t stop the small dread that sits heavy in her stomach. She was the one who voiced out the idea and they all jumped at the idea excitedly. They live well enough but Tingyun may have been a bit too greedy when it comes to the topic of money, and she sees an opportunity as bright as the day when she spotted the small crowd gathered around General Jing Yuan.

Opening the box reveals the contents inside; pictures of him. Most of it was captured candidly, him smiling none the wiser away from the kamera. There had been few pictures taken where he did look as if he's aware of the kamera but the girls and Tingyun had learnt how to keep themselves discreet about it.

The general is not an idiot, she reminds herself. There is no way he hasn’t heard of this before. The citizens of Luofu, especially the residents of Central Starskiff Haven helped boost their business tremendously. His pictures are being sold at a fast pace, which already tells enough.

Shuffling through the newest pictures taken and intended to be sold at a later day this week, Tingyun pauses on an image she didn’t take. The picture shows him holding a hand fan, position pointing as if brandishing a weapon. A gesture that Tingyun is well acquainted with, as she herself trained with it as a weapon should it become necessary. His eyes were on the merchant, the background capturing the Jade Gate in the far distance.

Tingyun wonders briefly if he knows how to carry a hand fan as a weapon.

Spending several more seconds just staring at his side profile frozen in that piece of paper, she quietly admits then that he is good-looking.

Her cheeks warm at the memory of their encounter earlier.

Stashing the pictures back into the wooden carved box, she snaps it shut with a sound that hollows into an haunting echo, reminding her of the situation she’s gotten herselves in. An idea briefly passes her mind before the images of the girls dimmed it down. The box hangs low in her hand, weighing heavier each time she tries to think of a solution.

She puts it down and hurriedly makes her way into her bedroom before she could give in the urge to entertain the thought of burning the whole box with its pictures down, to start anew.

Starting anew is clearly out of the question, and so she goes into plan B that was conjured up on the spot. Going to her vanity desk to take the hand fan from where it rests on a piece of cloth, Tingyun sets out to investigate the situation on her own. 

Looking at the scene in front of her, she quickly realized how unprepared she was for the confrontation. To be fair, she really wasn't expecting that the missing amicassador would actually resort to harming her. In her defense, Tingyun would argue that she is at least armed with a weapon. Which doesn't really amount to anywhere near lethal compared to his sword.

Case in point, she wasn't a damsel in distress. 

The general had the gall to walk in with so much leisure and put himself in front of her as he confronted the Vidyadhara. Tingyun felt a mixture of relief and irritation at the timely interruption. The memories of their meeting early in the day at Central Starskiff Haven all but fled from her mind at that moment. Her eyes closely guarded when he turned around to look at her shortly before engaging back with the amicassador.

Blue Peach fights with much conviction, determined to make his escape using any and all means necessary.

He realizes he’s losing the fight but is clearly stubborn to admit defeat. Feeling a tad bored at the repeated attacks and curses thrown at him, Jing Yuan comments in the middle of parrying his attack that Blue Peach should just give up and confess, and that it might help lessen his sentence. Maybe that was the wrong words to say, because Blue Peach decided that he will not give him the satisfaction of victory, thus resorting to using underhanded and dirty methods instead.

A losing battle will make just about anyone desperate.

He sends a barrage of attacks and spells towards him rapidly. Jing Yuan needed only to use his weapon to parry and defend against the onslaught attack, stance relaxed and careless— the fading voice of his mentor Jingliu echoes in his mind as he catches on immediately to his mistake. Blue Peach swivelled past him when he’s occupied on his spot, unable to dodge because then it would send the attacks straight to Tingyun and her friend behind him.

The deranged vidyadhara shouts angrily, a final raw cry with his sword aimed high in the sky ready to strike down. The sight prompts Jing Yuan an unpleasant memory from his past.

Without thinking, in instinct, and with controlled accuracy he swings sideways with his weapon, sending a clean cut towards the attacker. The perpetrator staggers sideways, belatedly realizing that something had hit him while his eyes are still locked onto Tingyun’s form. Jing Yuan doesn’t risk another chance and sends another slash onto his bleeding body.

The vidyadhara crumples down to the ground, blood seeping out of his body. He laughs.

Jing Yuan walks towards him, hand gripping his weapon as he points the tip at his vulnerable neck. “Cease this at once. The Cloud Knights are on their way here, there is no more escape nor excuses for you.”

Once the amicassador’s laughter dies down, he finally huffs in defeat. “I knew I was fighting a lost battle the moment you showed up.”

Uneasiness stirs in him, he lifts his eyes from him and quickly assesses the surroundings. The unconscious bodies of his victims lay still, all still unmoving. Except for Tingyun’s friend who has begun to stir awake.

He hears the foxian softly calling out her friend’s name, and shifts his focus back to the vidyadhara.

“Then why bother putting up a fight? Surrendering yourselves in from the start would’ve spared you from this injury.”

Blue Peach attempts at cackling but ends up coughing from the blood in his mouth. From behind where Jing Yuan is standing, he hears Yena waking up and confusedly asking Tingyun about the situation.

His heart beats with a lingering uneasiness, like a string pulling at him to turn around. It tugs, but he will not risk a chance for Blue Peach to pull up any sort of tricks any further. His eyes stay on him.

When the coughing subsides, he shoots the general a grin, teeth stained red with blood as he looks past behind him. “I am but a mere Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, I serve the Aeon of Abundance. We believe in eternal life. We will not die.”

Frowning at the blatant display of disloyalty to their Aeon, he doesn't get the chance to dig deeper when a new voice joins in their conversation. “You- you did something to me.” Yena gestures to the fallen bodies of the others who must’ve been summoned by him to meet here earlier, “To us!”

“I did no such thing, it was all you who willingly followed me and aided me to escape.”

She stands up, angrily stomping towards where they are as Tingyun reaches out to follow if only to hold her friend back, “You and that hooded man. You brainwashed us. I know you two did, there's proof!"

Jing Yuan’s eyes slide briefly to Tingyun upon hearing of a new suspect he’s unheard of. He catches the look of recognition in hers, and he feels suddenly so very out of the loop between the four of them. Before the vidyadhara can comment, the sound of footsteps filter through the Trove of Verdure and a second next the figures of Cloud Knights soon fills the place in with Yanqing walking into their line of sight in under a minute.

He gives the general a nod in salutations before facing forward Yena, “You are correct, there is proof.” He takes out an image depicting Yena with several others walking into the Trove of Verdure and hands it over to the general as he addresses him. “General, the Cloud Knights are currently working to recover the cycrane footage of the scene. We now only have this image here to confirm that despite Miss Yena’s claim that they were brainwashed; it doesn’t excuse the fact that they did come here in clear purpose to meet him."

Yena balks at the insinuation, her hand coming to rest on her chest as she takes a step forward. “You have to believe me, I would never betray the Luofu.” She changes target in the blink of an eye when she sees Yanqing’s hardened face. “General, you were here- you saw!” Her voice was raised, hands pointing to the mess around them. “I may have come here with them, but I swear I wasn’t conscious of my own actions.”

Jing Yuan remains impassive for a while, but Yanqing has already caught up to what his verdict will be because he starts sending orders to the Cloud Knights to detain all the unconscious bodies including Blue Peach, who ceased talking and is only now shallowly breathing through his injuries.

Tingyun, who seems to have understood what the next course of action from the general would be, quietly pulls her friend back from breaking into his personal space any further.

“Yena—”

“Tingyun! You believe me, don’t you? I would never betray the place where I grew up in, and you know I find the teachings of Abundance nearing insanity. We conversed about it before, and we laughed at the absurdity.”

She feels several eyes on her and shame takes over her emotions. Tingyun can't lie. The green-eyed Foxian looks down to her hands being gripped desperately by Yena, and the scene flashes to when they were much younger, with Yena gripping her hands similarly and telling her she wouldn’t lie as Tingyun promised the same.

“Please understand this Miss Yena, you will be only detained for now under the suspicion of assisting the Amicassador of the Flames Whistling Guild. Until further investigation where we can truly ascertain your innocence in the case, please comply with the law. Do not make this any more harder for any of us, and for yourselves.” Yanqing speaks up when Tingyun remains quiet. Jing Yuan walks up to Yanqing where they exchange words quietly meant only for the two of them to hear. Tingyun’s throat lodged up, the apology refusing to come out of her mouth as if her body knew that she shouldn’t be sorry about it.

Seemingly accepting her fate, Yena releases her grip on her hands, it hangs in the air between them like a promise between sisters broken.

“You’ve truly changed, Tingyun. He was right about it.”

“Who are you tal—”

Her unguarded stance dragged down by sorrow and guilt creates the opening that Yena waited for as she strikes a hand for her hand fan. Turning around as quickly her body allows her too, she aims for the general’s neck with it. “There is only one person to blame for it!”

“Are you hurt?”

Blinking her tired eyes, Tingyun takes a moment longer to piece her thoughts together.

She tries to calm herself down, legs feeling like jelly where they rest on the cold metallic ground of Cloudford. Yena was taken away immediately after Yanqing stopped her.

Tingyun lifts her eyes just slightly— not yet ready to face him in the eyes despite him standing in front of her. She looks past his knees to the red dots of blood on the ground, her friend’s blood. Closing her eyes, she shakes her head to assure the general that she’s unharmed. She fights to hold in the quiver that threatens to crawl out of her body.

Jing Yuan stands there, patient and understanding. The aftermath scene after a battle is never a pleasant one. Although the casualties of this incident were not as bloody as the ones he’s experienced before, it doesn’t excuse the fact that blood has been spilled. Jing Yuan didn’t plan to draw blood, merely aimed to render the perpetrator unable to fight and bring him to trial. But there is an ugly side of a battle, rules and laws don’t apply when it’s your life that’s on the line.

Apparently Yena was of the same thinking too when she decided to attack him. He’s unharmed, having moved out of the way before the tip of the fan could touch his neck, but the woman was fast— and the casualty of the attempted murder was his hair tie that now lays dirtied on the metallic ground of Cloudford, next to it is Tingyun’s hand fan covered in blood when Yanqing pierced her hand with his sword.

Clearly, today has been quite a rollercoaster of events for both Jing Yuan and Tingyun. But for Jing Yuan, it was like revisiting a place he hasn’t been to in a while, whereas Tingyun is stepping foot into a new territory. 

The colour red of a blood is harsh.

Which is why he gives her all the time she needs to collect herself when they have the room to do so, even when Yanqing wordlessly disapproves of wasting too much time lingering here when all of them have been moved away.

The lieutenant was the last of the Cloud Knights to leave them and the scene behind for further investigation. He held his chin high as he voiced out his opinion that Tingyun should be detained for the time being as well, for the reason that she’s here in Cloudford meeting with Blue Peach too.

But Jing Yuan immediately waves the notion away, to which the young man had already anticipated. The young man looked at Tingyun on the ground, before meeting with his eyes again and bidding his departure.

Now, with only the two of them left at the Trove of Verdure, he’s ready to wait for however long it’ll take for the foxian to get her bearings back. A part of him questions him, he shouldn’t have to wait. He has immediate duties to attend to. And Tingyun can take care of herself. The place has been scouted and several Cloud Knights have been stationed on lookout until the case is concluded.

But he stays.

He takes the time to piece the information together, quietly working his mind as he stays standing near her. However, much to his surprise and a small bit of astonishment, Tingyun stands up on steady legs. Their eyes greeting each other again.

“Thank you.” She offers him a small smile, tiredness clings to all over her body but still she presents herself with much vigour. At that moment, Jing Yuan feels his strength is inferior to hers.

In respect, he offers his own smile. “I will walk you back.”

“I thank you for your generosity, general, but there is no need to. As you can see I am standing perfectly stable on my two legs.” She sways steadily on her heels just once to convince him.

He makes a show of looking down at her heeled feet, “I don’t doubt you, Miss Tingyun. But we best be caution.” He picks up her hand fan on the ground, momentarily having forgotten that he’s lost his hair tie just as waves of white hair of his own slips past his shoulders obstructing his view.

Strangely, and he couldn’t quite understand why but he feels his cheeks warm when he straightens back to his full height, hair all over his back and shoulders.

Tingyun’s eyes darted towards his unruly hair before meeting his eyes. The silence that follows is awkward as words seem to have fled from his mouth and mind. Having read the atmosphere, she changes her direction of her gaze to look at the object held in his hand, her smile turning rueful.

“I apologize on Yena’s behalf.”

Following her line of sight, he opens his hand just by a fracture enough to see the blood has stained his palm. It hasn’t been long enough for the blood to dry. The foxian holds out one of her hands, asking for the hand fan in return. “It’s bloodied,” Jing Yuan offers, “I’ll have it cleaned before returning it to you.”

“The blood of my friend on my skin will not scare me, general.”

But it’ll haunt you, follow you to sleep and stay in your shadow during daylight, he left the words unsaid before settling for a more convincing reason for him to have it for the time being. “This is a piece of evidence. I'll receive a disappointing look from Yanqing if I let it go before it gets filed for the case so let's prevent that from happening.”

At the mention of Yanqing she looks suddenly sheepish, no doubt reminded of prior conversation between them. “Are you sure I shouldn’t be in prison with the rest of them just as the Lieutenant suggested?”

He hums, “Do you think you should be detained?”

“No.” She refutes swiftly, “I shall explain and give my full cooperation with the Cloud Knights regarding the matter of the Amicassador.”

“I appreciate it.” Gesturing his hand forward to the exit, he beckons her with his head, “Lead the way, Miss Tingyun.”

The pair didn’t attempt a small talk afterwards, though they did make a sight for sore eyes as they walked side by side towards the Starskiff that awaits them at the exit gate of Cloudford.

Throughout the silent walk, Tingyun contemplates whether she should go back to her shared living quarters with the other girls or go back to her parents’ home in Exalting Sanctum.

She would much prefer it if she could go back without being noticed by the public’s eyes. And she could if she uses the back lanes but there is a whole new matter as to whether General Jing Yuan is aware of those paths. Those roads are one of her secrets, to reveal it to the general would pose a risk in privacy— she is confidently sure that the cycrane surveillance and eyes of the Cloud Knights will follow him closely to wherever he goes especially now.

But to avoid using those hidden paths would mean to walk in public. And she is now very aware and conscious of the state they’re both in. They’re both dirty, and his hair especially…

What would the public think if they saw the two of them walking together to her place of residence!

She holds in the urge to lament, this is truly unbecoming of her.

Central Starskiff Haven and Exalting Sanctum are both populated with residents and tourists alike. If they walk out in the open public as they were, considering the general’s popularity amongst them, also on top of the fact that some may recognize her as the merchandise seller too... It is a huge nightmare that she would like very much to avoid.

They come to a stop in front of the Starskiff, Tingyun making up her mind on which path she’s taking.

“As luck turns out general, it seems that I’m headed to Exalting Sanctum.” She commented, stepping into the ship at his cue. He follows from behind as they both find places to sit. He muses, “I was hoping that might not be the case, it seems all of you are eager to have me back to work.”

Biting her inner cheek and making up her mind before she cowers, Tingyun sweeps her eyes over his body. Aware that she herself is being stared at, she pays it no mind and continues to look at his body properly. It is quiet inside the Starskiff where only the two of them being its passengers and the pilot at the front unaware of the awkward yet tensed air where they sat across each other, knees not anywhere near touching.

But in that moment Tingyun feels that they are the closest they have ever been, not even when she was close enough to see herself reflecting in his eyes back in front of the Palace of Astrum.

Her eyes linger on his palm, her fan has been stashed away and the blood on his hand has been wiped off though the stain of it remains.

Slowly, ever so slowly, she examines his body covered in armour looking for an injury or a scar, just about anything that doesn’t scream General of the Luofu Cloud Knights to her. She briefly, and indulgently entertains the thought of whether his white hair is smooth to the touch before meeting his eyes.

Try as she might, she couldn’t stop the blush that creeps onto her cheeks. She hopes that the general will not notice it, but light is pouring in from the windows so chances are he’ll see it as clear as day.

And he does, he couldn’t help but indulge into his urge to smile at the sight.

People stare at him all the time, they will look and admire him. It’s nothing new being looked at. But his eyes were on Tingyun’s the whole entirety of the time she spent looking over his body. He can tell by the look in her eyes that she didn’t have an ounce of sexual intention when she takes in his body in detail. No, she was studying him. She was looking for a chink in the armor, for an injury, for anything that’ll tell her that he’s just as mortal as they are.

He feels a surge of fondness threatening to spill from his smile then. Grateful towards her for reminding him that he is mortal as they are. He feels just as they do. He may not have been injured now, but he used to be back in his early days. Used to being hurt by friendships, as no doubt she is feeling that very same hurt right now for her friend.

An unprompted thank you almost pushes past through his lips were it not for her to beat him to it. “Thank you,” she nods at him, cheeks becoming redder now, “for everything you’ve done to keep peace on the Luofu.”

He stares at her, the smile wiped off from his face as he moves his mouth to say anything but no words come out. He puts on a grin that feels wrong on his face, attempts to laugh it off but again, no sound comes out from his mouth.

Tingyun continues to look at him in the eyes, her own lips curling into an uncertain smile.

He feels seen. He’s not sure if he welcomes that feeling or not. But for now he drops his grin, clears his throat before nodding back to her as he wordlessly accepts her thanks. The air surrounding them inside the Starskiff eases, and he sees her leaning backwards with her shoulders sagging. He looks out the window, sees they’re nearing to arrive very soon and takes whatever seconds left he has in that moment to release a deep breath.

The Starskiff docks at the entrance to the Seat of Divine Foresight, much to her relief. There is only one Cloud Knight that is on duty when they step out of the ship. Seeing how he saluted the general flusteredly, it was clear he’s not expecting him.

So walking out to the open area will definitely draw attention. She turns to him then, “I shall be on my way, general. There really isn’t a need for you to walk me back.”

Jing Yuan seems to have understood why she insisted on not wanting to be sent off all the way back to her house, so he reassures her much to Tingyun’s horror that they’ll be using a hidden pathway to navigate through the Exalting Sanctum. He then addresses the Cloud Knight on guard, “Could you send a message to Diviner Fu that I will be paying her a visit at the Divination Commission soon?”

With that settled, and Tingyun losing her bargaining chip, she follows him just a step behind.

Her parents’ house is located near the outskirts of Court of Tranquility, and her room is conveniently facing the open night skies of the Luofu from behind, which makes sneaking in easier. She’s not about to have the general sneak in the back with her, of course. She plans to bid her farewell once they reach the residency area.

Her parents are not expecting for her return and if they see that she’s here with the man ranked highest in their line of work within the military, Tingyun will have a lot of explaining to do. And right now she’s tired and ready to call it a day. So no thank you very much, she is positively done and ready for bed.

They walk in silence through the narrowed path for privacy, Tingyun now beside him to navigate her way back home. Every now and then, their fabric would brush, fingertips just shy away from caressing each other and Tingyun burns with mortification.

She anticipates too.

It’s been a long day, she sternly reprimands herself for the butterflies in her stomach when their fingertips touched. Tries to get the memory of when they were inside the Starskiff out of her mind. 

She feels horrified. She has to constantly remind herself that the person walking beside her is none other than the famed general of the Luofu Cloud Knights.

They can never have— there isn't anything to begin with!

“You think too much.” He huffs. She snaps her head up to him.

“Excuse me?”

“It is a narrowed path, definitely awkward for two grown adults to walk side by side in the dark.”

She splutters, warmth filling in her face and stupidly enough, her belly. “It’s because you insists on walking me home even though I told you that it’s fine—”

“Shh.”

She must’ve been too tired for the lack of sharpness and alert in her mind when she caught a moment too late having been pulled by the general into an empty corner. Her back pushed against the wall but cushioned gently from the impact because of his hands behind her. He stands tall and handsome in front of her, his eyes looking out to the open area where she hears a conversation growing louder as they approach from the opposite direction.

When she could no longer hear them, she fists her fingers closed and willed them to stay at her sides. She wants to set a distance between them as fast as she can, but to push him away would mean to place her hands on his chest and that’s a big no.

Alternatively, she could speak from where her head hung low, to just talk from there. But Tingyun is too tired to think straight when the comfort of his warmth envelopes her and so she foolishly anticipates, fearlessly she lifts her head up to face him.

Her breathe catches. Oh. Too close.

She realizes belatedly that the general, with his unfair height must’ve craned his neck lower for them to be this close to each other. Breathing in each other’s air. She reminds herself that it has been a long day. She should, by all means, push away.

At that moment though, it is only them. Even though they were bathed in darkness behind the wall, Tingyun can still map out his face from a close distance. She sees herself in his orbs and doesn’t need confirmation from him to know that he can see himself in her green eyes too.

Warmth burns in the lower part of her stomach, her cheeks no doubt already flushed. But she makes no move to push or pull, she simply stays.

Jing Yuan is in a similar state as well. He didn’t plan for this to happen. In one moment he heard voices nearing them from the opposite direction, the next moment is him staring down at the green eyed Foxian.

He must’ve been more tired than he thought he was, he didn’t even realize he'd leaned down before she lifted her head and the sight of it was like a punch straight to his gut, a flip of his stomach that he's never felt in a long time.

They stayed unmoving, breathing in a shared space of air, eyes reflecting each other. Time stands still, neither willing to break the freedom it offers. At least it isn’t until Tingyun remembers where they are, and what had happened that she blinks away and lowers her head just slightly. “We mustn’t.” Aeons, her voice sounded too breathy for it to mean no. Jing Yuan chases her gaze, “Sixty more seconds, and we’ll go back.”

Yeah, he really must be tired to act this way. But a part of him refuses to pull away. He tugs at the invisible string between them, willing it to bring Tingyun’s eyes back to him. In the back of his mind, a voice of his own tells him this will only bring regret when it’s over. He agrees, he really should pull back. The universe must really love to pull the strings at the precise moment, because then she returns to what he seeks and all thoughts scatter away.

The fragility of the moment prompts her to then whisper, “Sixty more seconds, and we’ll stop.”

Surrendering himself to her as he rests their foreheads together, he closes his eyes. “We'll stop.”

They have less than a minute, so Tingyun risks. “Can I ask you something?”

The reply comes without hesitation. “Yeah, anything.” Jing Yuan is half convinced he can grant Tingyun anything at this moment, the quiet air and warm atmosphere blanketed around them like an embrace. The comfort of her scent and the sense of safety in her eyes nearly made his knees buckle. He reminds himself that it’s been a while since he’s truly had a productive day. They both had a long day. They just happened to be with each other at a moment of weakness.

He will definitely regret this. He doesn’t pull away.

“Then we’ll stop and go back.”

Jing Yuan opens his eyes and nods once sharply in response. The glint reflecting in his eyes highlights the gold of it. Eyes are the window to a soul. He gives, and she preciously accepts.

Tingyun takes a courageous inhale of air between them and leans up to him as she asks. Jing Yuan listens and answers not even a second later after the two words leave her mouth.

He kisses her.

Chapter Text

There’s only the sound of ruinations and the smell of ashes around her. Not more than a few seconds after a new voice pierces the air screaming for help that it is silenced. The abrupt quietness created a void in the back of her ears, her hearings still ringing from the hollow scream.

Huddled against the fallen block of a wall that once supported her home, she hugs her head tight into the small confines of her arms, her ears drooped low — away from the sound of death that seems to creep on her the longer she stays there. But there is nowhere for her to run, nowhere to go when the sky is ashes red and the ground undone. 

She repeats the words her mother had left her before they parted over and over in her head; like a mantra. Holding onto her words like a lifeline that gets thrown out so suddenly she was not prepared to fight her way to stay afloat. Her mother had said they only need to wait for a while before help comes their way, that she only needs to count the seconds in her mind and long before she knows it there will be warm hands extending towards her.

And so she counts. Even when the number started to triple she didn’t stop, even when the numbers started to stumble around one another she did not stop. True to her mother’s words, help came. Although by that point she had completely lost her sense of surroundings, too focused on counting the seconds that she didn’t hear the sound of death getting drowned out by the roars of hope under the sky inked red.

A woman's voice reaches her, soft and warm, clipped at the edges and breathing slightly heavier. But it was not her mother’s voice and so she didn’t dare to open her eyes. 

“We’ve come to help.” The woman softly said. “We’re from the Xianzhou Luofu.” 

Against her will, her ears perked up if only slightly. She recognizes that name and it was enough to signal to the woman that the young foxian girl is listening. If her startled reaction was any indication, it’d be that the young foxian girl knows Xianzhou Luofu enough as an ally.

“What is your name, young miss?”

She knew then that she no longer had a home, that she couldn't stay here. Unless her parents miraculously call out her name now with her mother’s warm embrace keeping the promise that she knew already has been broken the moment her hand let her go— she will not be left here in ruins with no one to go back to. 

Slowly opening her eyes, she breathes the air; red and ashy as the sky above her. The woman dressed in armor was kneeling a few safe distance away for her personal space, her polearm lowered to the floor of her ruined home; its tip red with blood. She imagined the blood of her parents on the weapons of their enemy. Her eyes watered.

Forcing herself to breathe through the smell of a future she can’t go back to, she lifts her eyes towards the woman and croaks her name out.

“Tingyun. My name is Tingyun.”

“Mama, is it true that kissing can stop time?”

“Sweetheart, where did you hear that from?”

“I read it from a book from papa’s office!”

“What did I say about going to your father’s office when he’s not around?”

“Dear, it’s fine,” the man chuckles as he brushes his daughter’s brown hair, “our girl is merely curious, is all.”

The daughter redirects her attention to the father. “So can a kiss really stop time?”

The father laughs — a sound that will linger in the daughter’s ears for years to come— and bops her nose affectionately.

“That is for you to find out when you’re older.”

How fleeting sixty seconds are.

A minute would’ve been longer than a mere sixty seconds. It ended within just a breath before she could even start to count. Tingyun’s hands shake where they lay flat against the cold wall behind her, the cool touch in contrast with her warm body. It grounds her, keeping her tethered to reality. It’s an entirely different matter as to whether she wants to hold onto it or not but she’s grateful that she has the option to choose, even if at that moment all she wants to do is to stop the time. 

No more sooner did she receive the answer from him did he pull away. Like hitting the brakes to a full stop; her fingers grasp onto the wall, her well-kept nails scrape the surface needing something concrete and real to ground her before she does something terribly foolish like chasing after him. 

They’ll stop after that sixty seconds. She said so.

Jing Yuan made no move to put distance between them despite having broken the kiss, he’s still caging her in against the wall with his arms behind her back. Their bodies are apart, and Tingyun ignores the tug that wills her to close the distance. It occurs to her then that he may be in a similar dilemma as herself. To push or to pull. To stay in this moment unwilling to leave the cocoon of comfort it offers.

She sees it then, the memory assaulting her mind uninvited. The sound of death and sky ashes of red. The truth that would come out of this if they stayed any longer in this state. A future that should never come true. The image jolts her into action, as if a bucket of iced water has just been poured over her. Tingyun clears her throat, eyes avoiding anywhere near his face.

“We should part ways here,” Tingyun’s voice wavers, but she continues. “My home is not far ahead, and I’m sure Diviner Fu is expecting your arrival soon.”

The excuse sounded weak even to her ears, knowing it wouldn’t fool the general. Tired as she is, she trusts that he understands that they really should stop here. She expects him to agree and walk away then, to return to how they were before— before that sixty seconds. 

But. “I will, after I see you off to your home.”

“General.” She didn’t mean to bite the word, tone harsh, the cracks in her usually well-kept appearance falling apart as seconds went by. Why is he making the situation more difficult than it already is? She doesn’t regret the kiss, doesn’t regret asking him for it. But if he keeps on being difficult, then Tingyun just might regret it out of spite. 

She blinks. Aeons, she’s more tired than she thinks she is if her thoughts are leading her to anger. Is the general aware of this? Is this why he refuses to part ways until Tingyun safely makes it back to her house?

Don’t fool yourself, she chided. Yes, she is definitely exhausted.

And because her energy is nearly depleted; her security having been lowered down by the warmth the general radiates— a whisper so quiet but cutting all the same slipped through the crack and entered her heart. Did he regret it?

But then why hasn’t he backed away, or outright refused her?

Shame then pours all over her body at the thought that he may have done it because a direct rejection would’ve broken what little new trust they have established with each other. That maybe he thought Tingyun wouldn’t have reacted well to being rejected, or maybe he’s just too much kind to reject her— 

“Tingyun.” 

Looking up at him found that he had already taken a few steps back, his figure now out in the alleyway away from the shadows. “You think too much.”

In a daze, she separates herself from the wall, takes a deep breath before going back to his side. “It’s been a long day.” She admitted quietly, gaze settled on the pathway before them.

He hums, agreeing. Upon seeing the general’s hands clasped together behind him, Tingyun holds back the wince at the indication. A very telling way to avoid their fingers from brushing each other again. Speaking not a word she begins to take the steps that would take her home with him quietly following. She walks with her eyes cast down, letting thoughts fill in her mind to not give room for the heavy atmosphere to pressure her into feeling awkward. It is to the point of almost walking past the area of her home if not for the familiar sight of the concrete stopping her dead in the tracks.

The general has also stopped his steps, simply waiting beside her in silence. He takes in the surroundings, blocks of houses next to each other with the lights turned on and the muffled voices of living beings inside the walls. 

“Um,” says Tingyun aptly. He decides to give her mercy then, about to bid his farewell here now that he is sure they’ve arrived in her area of residency when she does something that surprises him. She holds onto his forearm and drags him behind a small two storey house. Clearly caught off guard, he only looks at her in question after she drops her hand. The green-eyed foxian looks mortified the second her action has caught up to her, her hands waving in front of her as she quickly explains. 

“I noticed a presence and I just couldn’t let us be discovered like this.”

The blush has made its return to her unblemished cheeks, and Jing Yuan gets reminded of how it is the same colour of blush that adorned her features after those sixty seconds. He averts his gaze, lest he does something foolish like getting into her personal space again. He doesn’t want to regret the kiss. He knows fully well that they can’t go back to that moment, can’t experience it again. Foolishly, he wants to. It has been a long time since he’s able to just make a decision that doesn’t affect anyone but for himself. He chose to answer her, to kiss her. He chose to walk her home. He chooses.

He does not hate his work. He doesn’t wear the mantle and title as the General of the Luofu Cloud Knights like it’s a burden, because for him it has never been that. He enjoys the life and experiences that it has offered, even though not all were pleasant memories. He has lost very dear friends due to being involved in this work. But Jing Yuan has loved the action of protecting since he was a child. And he chose this life. He accepted mentorship from Jingliu, established strong friendships and bonds with the ones that he’ll only ever have in this line of work— Danfeng, Baiheng, and Yingxing. He lost all four of them. Still, he chose to walk this path. He took Yanqing under his mentorship, suggested Yukong to become the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission, and let Fu Xuan challenge him for his title.

He doesn’t regret any of the choices he’s made. And yet now; looking at Tingyun with her flushed cheeks and her thank you spoken with genuine sincerity that expected nothing in return— he regrets.

Admittedly, he has closed his heart to others. No longer letting anyone come close into his life for fear that he’d lose it again. Looking at her though, it made him want to take risks. But he mustn’t, they have only begun to know each other and she has a life ahead of her that doesn’t need to be tarnished by the red skies and the smell of ashes that lurks into the shadow of his mantle.

So he will regret only this and not for the kiss. He stops and goes back.

Donning on the familiar tilt of his head and the lift at the corner of his lips, he teases. “You’re implying that I look like a mess to be seen by someone?”

He sees the seconds Tingyun catches on to his words and body language, her shoulders eases up a bit from the tension on her person. She goes back too, with the glint of her eyes that no doubt serves as a heads up for the words she’s about to speak. “I meant to say that the general is leisuring about in Exalting Sanctum when he has set up a meeting with the master diviner.”

He waves it off, “I didn’t exactly say it was urgent, and she’s busy enough as it is rather than to sit still and wait for my arrival.” But he does need to go now, any more second without his presence there and he’ll never hear the end of it from Yanqing and Fu Xuan. And it should be urgent considering the costs that are at stake, but Jing Yuan believes in the capability of his subordinates. The Xianzhou Luofu will not fall into a chaotic mess just because Jing Yuan chooses to spend more than a few minutes for himself. Ironically, he now comes to an understanding about why Fu Xuan frets so much. However, the difference here is that he does not share the same sentiment as her in that regard.

“Time and duty calls.” He smiles, about to part ways but stops when Tingyun jolts at his words. In that split second, Tingyun looks at him and sees someone else. His smile now pinned awkward and wrong on his lips.

Jing Yuan recognizes that look all too well. He’d seen it on himself when the wound of loss was still fresh. Unhealed and untreated but forced to put a gauze on it, raw, because time waits for no one and he needs to hold everything together. He walks on the streets and sees the silhouette of his bygone friends. He talks with Yanqing when they had just been acquainted many moons ago and sees a younger him looking up to Jingliu.

He sees dead people. 

Now Tingyun looks at him like she had seen one too.

He hesitates leaving then, but Tingyun blinks and regains her composure before he could say a word. She walks up to the craters stacked against the wall of her home. “Please wait for a moment, General. This won’t take long.” She shoots him a smile before looking up to the closed window on the second floor. He catches on to what she’s about to do, but the sight still left him dumbstruck. Using the stacked crates, she nimbly uses her feet to jump up until she reaches the window and only needed to pull the edge of it that stood out to lift it open. 

Saying nothing to the general that stands rooted to his spot on the ground, she manoeuvres her way into her bedroom. 

Jing Yuan stands there, eyes fixed on the window that has been lifted open. An unbidden chuckle escapes his lips quietly into the night. He should stop underestimating her.

She comes back into view, in one of her palms holds a long burgundy ribbon. He realises that the colour of that piece is the same as the one she wears just below her neck holding the cloth there in a neat tied knot. 

Seeing how she is leaning herself halfway out of the window, Jing Yuan nears the wall where she doesn’t need to jeopardise her own safety. She looks down towards him as he looks up to her, the long burgundy ribbon like a string of connection.

“For your hair.” She offers, holding out her arm so that the ribbon would reach him closer.

His arm takes it from above, “Thank you.”

She responds with a smile and nods before disappearing into her room. Jing Yuan’s thumb brushes the piece of ribbon, it’s smooth to the touch, no doubt it costs an amount for the obvious high quality. He also notices that it is almost the same length as his own. She must’ve taken that detail to her mind to be able to guess the length almost right.

Tying half of his hair back, Jing Yuan stomps down the urge to look up towards the window. He knows better than to start expecting but Tingyun has caught him off guard more than the others did. He doesn’t know what he wants to find should he actually look up, and there isn’t any merit to staying here any longer. He certainly is wasting time now. But the recent moments spent with her, there weren't any weighted thoughts put in his actions. He did it simply because he wanted to, because the consequences of his choices then will solely fall on him and will not reflect towards the Luofu in general. He releases a sigh he wasn’t conscious of holding in. 

But just as he’s about to walk away for real this time, he hears a new voice coming in from the direction of her room on the upper floor.

“Tingyun? When did you return?” A feminine voice spoke up, there was a tone that Jing Yuan often heard from where he’s working. The underlying note of interrogating, but hers mellowed out in a softness that he can only surmise must be from years of familiarity with the person she’s speaking with.

“Oh, just now.” He can’t see her from where he’s still standing below the open window of her room, but he imagines her wearing the clipped smile that has successfully sold numerous lies infused with truths before.

The other voice asks, “You entered from your window again?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you and father.”

Jing Yuan’s curiosity perks up at the mention of her parents, his conscience now telling him he should leave, but he stays rooted to the spot wanting to hear just a little more about her life. He doesn’t doubt that Yanqing wouldn’t be able to piece up a report about her that he’s been tasked with. But Jing Yuan knows their way around gathering information on someone based on how the task was given.

Jing Yuan didn’t specifically ask for a life detailed background check aside from her work affiliations, therefore what Yanqing would report to him wouldn’t be as much as fruitful compared to witnessing how her life outside of work goes on in person.

“Your father was called to work, it seemed alarmingly urgent.”

“Was there an attack?” 

He blinks, never hearing that tone of hers before. Full of worry, a hint of fear etched in her voice.

A sigh, “From what was briefly explained, it doesn’t seem like it. They were talking about the missing amicassador from the Flames Whistling Guild.”

“Oh. That’s... I’m glad.” A beat later, “I mean I’m glad that it wasn’t anything serious— not that the amicassador who went missing isn’t a serious case because it is! But at least it’s nowhere near dangerous for father to—”

“Tingyun, dear, you look beyond exhausted. What has happened?”

This time, Jing Yuan doesn’t give it much thought of his action when he cranes his neck to look up to the window, eyes staring into the ceiling of her room that’s exposed from where he’s standing. He wonders what sort of expression she’s wearing on her face right now, if she’s still playing it tough.

Because her hands were visibly trembling when they were sitting inside the starskiff.

“It’s been a long day.”

It sounded like she wanted to continue her words but was cut off by her mother’s stern voice calling her, “Tingyun.” Her voice softens then, “you’re shaking.”

Jing Yuan looks away from the window, his eyes now fixed on his palm spread out as he flexes it, the same hand that held her back just moments ago before he kissed her. The same hand that felt how she tensed up and relaxed in his hold.

Her voice carries him out of his head. “I’m fine, just exhausted from work.”

He forgot about it momentarily, but now he’s reminded of the fact that this was an experience that is surely new for her— not everyone has seen red on the ground so stark and chillingly cruel that it latches onto your vision and lingers even when you blink.

At the reminder that the blood she’s seen today was mainly caused by him, Jing Yuan finally walks away.

Fu Xuan prided herself for being a composed person, for not caring about murmurs and curious glances thrown towards her presence. She may not care, but she certainly notices the attention. However, the subject of those eyes and mouths that follow is not on her today, like a special occasion that rarely happens where everyone’s attention is all squared on one person only.

That current person holding all the attention must have undoubtedly noticed the heavy weight of eyes that is glued on his back when he’s not facing them. But he’s doing a spectacular great job at pretending it’s not bothering him— on any other day, it certainly wouldn’t have. The general’s presence attracts eyes whenever and wherever he goes out in public, even though most workers here by now are used to his rare in-person visit, it is obvious that they’re all wondering what happened to him to look so disheveled and distracted.

Fu Xuan doubts anyone can actually tell he’s not basking in the attention with grace like he normally would right now, because she can tell that he is currently out of it. As if there is something that tugs at his mind so much so that he doesn’t even look like he’s listening in to what she’s been saying previously. Jing Yuan is a master at making himself look distracted and uninterested but is actually attentive to every word spoken in his surroundings. But right now, he is not listening at all.

She holds back a disgruntled noise, throws a look behind her shoulder to the people unabashedly staring and murmuring about him, her pointed look sends them scrambling back to their tasks.

Jing Yuan still hasn’t fully left the bubble in his head, he stares right ahead into the open space but clearly unseeing. Fu Xuan decides to pity him then. It is not often that the general is affected by a matter so severe that it holds captive all of his thoughts and attention away from the present.

Once she makes sure no one is in their listening range, she says, “If you went through all the trouble to come see me in person but not actually listening to me as I’m talking right in front of your face, I’ll begin to think this is your new way to fool around. You could’ve just saved both of our times for another day.”

Her change of tone seemed to do its trick into bringing him back from wherever his thoughts had wandered to. For once, he looks genuinely apologetic; it makes Fu Xuan’s face sour.

“Save it,” she cuts him off before he even has the chance to talk. “Care to tell me what’s weighing on your mind? I think it’s important to know if there is something that greatly troubles the general.”

Jing Yuan shoots her a lopsided smile before it quickly flattens out, he looks ahead, contemplation speaks on all of his body. Fu Xuan has an inkling of what is troubling him so, no doubt it’s related to the Disciple of Sanctus Medicus along with that green eyed foxian that Fu Xuan saw in her vision. 

“My body and mind aches all over thinking how far the spider web has gone off relating to the amicassador.” He says. It wasn’t the full truth, but it’s still better than being offered nothing by the usually elusive general. 

“The root has been planted too deep and has branched out all over Luofu if this has been going on for a while without anyone noticing.” She agreed. A part of her fumes at the thought of her vision being bypassed, her power usually sees all uncertainty both good and bad, so the fact that she didn’t see anything about the followers of Yaoshi is like an ink dripped onto her perfectly white record of vision.

“She noticed.” Jing Yuan adds, and they both know that he doesn’t need to clarify who she is. Fu Xuan doesn’t hide her scowl. 

“Around the same time as we did.” Waving her hands dismissively, she asks, “But why isn’t she questioned?”

“There is no need to, I can attest to her that she is innocent in the matter.”

“That may be, but there is a procedure we should follow. No one gets to cheat the law.”

“Said procedure dictates that she’ll end up facing me in the end anyways, so why don’t we spare me the extra work when it’s avoidable.”

“Careful,” the master diviner’s tone went warningly low, “one more word defending her and one will assume there are personal feelings attached.”

Jing Yuan looks at her, gone is the easy smile and deceptive eyes. What meets her eyes are the ones hardened by decades spent in blood. The General of the Luofu’s Cloud Knights stares her down, daring her to say the words they are both thinking out loud. Fu Xuan would’ve bite the bait on any other day, challenging him into denying her. It’s a game that they have been playing for so many moons that it no longer holds any seriousness. Part of the reason is because Jing Yuan is not bothered by her attempt to unseat him as one of the Arbiter Generals. It seems like he is more entertained by her numerous attempts to. It has become a jest for her to provoke him into doing nothing, literally, but of course— idling does not mean the reason why it existed in the first place has been forgotten.

Like a lion, he’s simply been dozing. His tail swishing absentmindedly in the air with eyes closed.

And of course, it takes a step into the lion’s personal space to wake its eyes open.

Fu Xuan almost sneers in contempt, the words dying on her throat before it can be hurled out towards him knowing it’ll hurt. They have been playing this game for far too long that even she has begun to resent him for letting her be and do as she pleases. 

She drops the matter, changing the topic back to Blue Peach and the followers that lay unconscious when the general had arrived on the scene. The general’s posture is still tense and guarded, but his words and expression no longer hold weight that could choke when he answers her back.

“What about Yena? Has she spoken?” He asks then, as her report comes to an unfruitful end. She shakes her head, eyes looking at the Matrix of Prescience that hasn’t been of any help to her questions. 

“She only asks to be freed, and if that isn’t possible then she is requesting to see her friend.”

Fu Xuan mostly expects him to reject both options and say something along the lines that he’ll be the one to interrogate the captive, but Jing Yuan nods in agreement.

Leave it up to Jing Yuan to catch her off guard when she’s been high on guard over how protective the general is towards the foxian. He truly is unpredictable. “Yes to her being freed, or we bring that foxian girl to her?” Asked Fu Xuan with a cautious tone.

“I’ll bring Tingyun to see her, she’s worried about her friend as well.”

There goes her caution. “ General.”

Jing Yuan looks at her, but the previous weight of his hardened eyes are nowhere to be spotted.

“You cannot be serious.”

Jing Yuan purses his lips, expression playfully remorseful. “This one time where I’m being serious is the time you think I’m playing.”

Fu Xuan shakes her head, the rejection on her tongue coaxed out from the way he’s being easy about the matter. “What good is bringing her to see a prisoner friend will do?”

“I’m thinking it will work well in our favour to get Yena talking, Tingyun can be persuasive when she needs to. I’m confident she will help us when asked.”

“I’m more worried about her persuading you to release her friend.” The tilt of his lips straightened out which should be a clear indication that Fu Xuan should stop talking about the foxian girl in such a manner when it’s clear that the general has earned her his trust— which is impossibly hard to gain without something be given in return— but then if the master diviner is about to receive the wrath of one of the Arbiter Generals, might as well put the final nail in the coffin. “And there is a high chance that you will actually listen to her.”

Silence blanketed them afterwards, their surroundings devoid of any lingering eyes or ears. But then he tilts his head, completely going over her bubble speech to peek behind it. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Master Fu?”

And because Jing Yuan loves to be ahead of everyone else, he reminds her why he is named the Divine Foresight with his next follow up question, “I remember you wanting to tell me something about a certain green eyed foxian but hasn’t gotten the chance to since my disciple’s presence irked you so.”

Seeing as there is no more excuse for her to hide when exposed out in the front, Fu Xuan relents. “It is not because of your disciple that I avoid speaking about it at that time. If anything, he’s saved you some headaches.”

Jing Yuan says nothing in return, his expression remains neutral and stance relaxed— as if the cat’s out of the bag and he can now be at ease in this meeting. As sudden as it was being told that Jing Yuan is coming to meet her in person in her domain, the realisation comes to her that this is what he’d been aiming for in this meeting. To get her talking about the foxian. 

He knew that the investigation would lead to nowhere at the moment, so his pleasantries at the beginning was all just a ruse to get her to be familiarised with the foxian. Because that’s it, isn’t it? Jing Yuan wants to know what Fu Xuan has seen about Tingyun in her vision through the Matrix of Prescience.

“You,” she hisses, “are an infuriating general.”

The general smiles at the backhanded praise. 

Inside the Seat of Divine Foresight, Yanqing paces in front of the general’s desk in long and restless steps waiting for the general to return from the meeting with the master diviner. On the table rests a scroll to which contains information about the green eyed foxian that he’s been tasked to gather information on. 

In general, there is nothing alarming about the foxian’s work records— aside from the fact that she is the mastermind of selling the general’s photos to the public. Her records all speak of normality, no crimes (stalking can be considered a crime, should it not?), no frauds, no evil scheming with the Disciple of the Sanctus Medicus under the Flames Whistling Guild. She should be on the clear— again, Yanqing wished that the general would at least do something about his photos being taken and sold without consent to the public— but there is one detail of her that holds importance. Not to the case of the criminal amicassador, but could personally be related to the general himself.

The disciple’s pace comes to a halt as he frowns. A new question comes to him then, if the foxian knew of the general’s history and this is why she’s come into the Commission’s scene and wants to work her way up to revenge— no, that wouldn’t do. Tingyun is the disciple of Yukong, so it is only a matter of time and talent before she’s given a role in the Sky Faring Commission. 

But the history behind their tutelage is unknown to Yanqing, which brings him to nowhere with his questions and building suspicions. 

The front door opens revealing his master to which Yanqing all but jogs to his side to inquire about the meeting with Master Fu.

“Nothing that I hadn’t already thought would be. The captives remain silent on the case, and the unconscious remain asleep. There is no useful update about the case from the Divination Commission.”

“Nothing at all?” Yanqing inquired.

Jing Yuan glances at him with a tilt of his lips as he replies. “None that matters to the case of the amicassador of the Flames Whistling Guild and the Disciple of the Sanctus Medicus.”

If this was Yanqing before the tutelage of the general, he would’ve missed the way Jing Yuan delivers his answers. However, despite him still being beaten in every chess match they’ve had, this Yanqing can catch up to. “So there is something else that she sees?”

He tries but horribly fails to hide the joy he feels at seeing the proud smile on Jing Yuan’s face. Smiling he may be, but his answers lack the share of the same sentiment. “Nothing that concerns the Cloud Knights.”

“But it is still something, it has to do with you then, doesn't it?”

Reaching to his desk, Jing Yuan glances down to the scroll bearing Yanqing’s seals on it. Before he can make a joke about that something however, he catches the quiet murmur from his disciple. Somewhere along the lines of it better not be about the foxian which almost prompted a laughter out from within him.

Gone is his joke about when has something never been about the general?

He reaches for the scroll on the desk. 

Yanqing said no further as he opened it on where he stands, not bothering to sit himself down.

Everything that Yanqing had written on the report about Tingyun’s background isn’t a cause for concern— though he may have skipped the part where his disciple had stressed on the paper about her stalking and selling pictures of him— but everything else about her background is clean of any crimes or suspicions that should be questioned.

There are, however, two details about her that he cannot just dismiss. 

Birthplace: The Xianzhou Yuque.

Adopted. 

Tingyun is adopted not long after the Highcloud Quintet descended on the Xianzhou Yuque as aid against the assault of the Denizens of Abundance. They quelled the disaster and cleaned the filth of Abundance in their wake, but Jing Yuan remembers the carnage. Countless lives lost, but the heart of Yuque remains beating despite the devastating casualties which can only mean one thing, Tingyun lost her home in Yuque and was adopted into the Luofu by the couple listed as her parents currently working as Cloud Knights.

He stares at the word Yuque, like it’d reveal to him all of the answers and solve the case. How curious that their paths seem to have brushed with each other from early on and are now colliding into a heap of mess. 

Jing Yuan rolls the scroll close as he puts it back on his desk before nodding his thanks to Yanqing, who is obviously studying his facial expression at the reveal. No doubt that the lieutenant is also put off at the reveal of her birthplace, considering that Jing Yuan has had history being on Yuque before. 

He tries not to think of the fact that among the countless bodies that lay dead on the ground under the red sky with air of ashes could be one of her biological parents. He could taste the air now, inside the Seat of the Divine Foresight, the tang taste of blood. Jing Yuan blinks, says nothing after his thanks to his disciple. Whatever it is that has been revealed in that split second of reminiscing on his face, it is enough to replace whatever it was that Yanqing wanted to say into silence instead.

Jing Yuan couldn’t bring himself to do a joke or two despite wanting to. The reveal of her birthplace unexpectedly became a weight on his shoulders. A weight that he knows wouldn’t be held accountable towards him, if Tingyun knows of his history as the Highcloud Quintet bringing aid to Xianzhou Yuque.

But she had looked at him earlier in that quiet night behind her house— she looked at him and saw someone else.

Someone else that has died.

The joke dies in him, replaced with a guilt he can’t be certain why he’s feeling it instead.

Chapter Text

The noises are certainly different from the ones he’s used to hearing upon embarking off from the Starskiff in the busiest part of the fleet. It sounds more livelier, and from just a glance to his surroundings he could tell it’s more crowded too. Or maybe this comparison doesn’t work when the facts are that he only tends to come out from his place during odd times of the day— which is when he conveniently knew there would be fewer people in the public, to avoid this exact situation.

Not like Jiaoqiu really had a choice to choose when to come out from his room right now, he’s here for an appointment with the Healer Lady Bailu of Xianzhou Luofu after all.

Still, the amount of crowd exceeded his initial impression as he makes the mental comparison between Yaoqing and Luofu’s cityscapes. He notices the diverse crowd, foxian mixing with vidyadhara and the xianzhou natives, and the appearances of visitors from afar as well. He counts the time in his head, and promptly comes to a slow stop near one of the bulletin boards just beside the walkway that would lead him deeper into Central Starskiff Haven.

For a quiet minute, Jiaoqiu casually stands there as he observes the rush of life going on around him. There are numerous cycrane each carrying a myriad of boxes going out of the lively city of the Luofu on the open skies, while the Jade Gate remains busy with flying starskiffs. 

A foxian couple walk past him, each offering him a friendly smile to their own kind without question. In that short moment as he returns their smile, he almost feels back home on Yaoqing. But he didn’t come to Luofu without a reason. He’s been aware of the recent incident that took place on this fleet, and by the looks of it the citizens and tourists alike here are none the wiser.

Or perhaps the Six Charioteers of the Xianzhou Luofu are as good as the rumours say. However, it doesn’t concern his reason for being here. Jiaoqiu would meet up with the Healer Lady and be on his way back home in less than a day.

But a quick glance to the stairs of the Palace of Astrum puts a sudden pause to his plan.

“An old friend?” 

“That’s right. Give her my regards if you happen to cross paths with her.”

Jiaoqiu watches the Helm Master of the Xianzhou Luofu's Sky-Faring Commission making her way into the building. He contemplates between going in for a quick greeting or making his way straight to Exalting Sanctum to meet with Bailu. It certainly wouldn’t hinder him to spare a quick chat with his general’s friend. But he doesn’t ever recall Feixiao sending out a cycrane or a hologram message to this particular foxian before. Whenever the subjects of those hailing from the Luofu are brought up in front of Feixiao, she has never commented to claim the names mentioned as her friends or acquaintances.

He was about to make a decision when the foxian herself turns around, sweeping a sharp assessment to the bustling scene before her pair of eyes fell focused on him; stunning him in muted surprise in feeling pinned down.

Yukong gives nothing away from her expression or body language, she merely looks at him for a few moments before turning back to the doors she holds at command. That single pointed look as if her fingers beckoning him to follow, even though she said nothing of the sort. Jiaoqiu chuckles as he lets out an accepting sigh.

He makes his way into the Palace of Astrum.

He had always disliked how quiet it was down here. The tinkering of boots against the concrete and metallic floor would soon become a source of headache for Jing Yuan if he is to spend another fruitless minute deep in this underwater prison.

After his discussion with Fu Xuan and Yanqing, he made a quick decision to visit the prisoners himself in the Shackling Prison. As he’s escorted by Hanya from prisoner to prisoner— most of which are still unconscious, Jing Yuan has this inkling suspicion that they’re all already mara-strucked even if Hanya has denied that claim from the very start they’re brought to the prison.

And Hanya had made it a tad bit obvious in her straight-faced and monotone voice that she doesn’t agree that these suspects warrant enough weight to be held inside the Shackling Prison under the Scalegorge Waterscape. Jing Yuan is in agreement with her, but time is of the essence— and the Ten-Lords Commission has a reputable streak of getting things done in time.

So far from what’s been reported to him, the main two suspects have not said a word after regaining consciousness.

Beside him, Fu Xuan is losing patience the more they move on from one prisoner to the other. Jing Yuan pointedly decided not to comment that he did tell her beforehand that the Master Diviner’s presence is not required for the visit. After all, he’s just here to do a quick look at all the captives and to test if his presence as one of the Arbiter Generals would spook them enough for them to start talking. He's been proved nothing so far.

A few steps behind him, Yanqing follows closely and aptly places his focus on the prisoners; his guard tense and wary the more they venture deep into the underground prison.

Finally, Hanya brings them to a stop in front of a cell, dark with the absence of light from the inside. But he doesn’t need to take a second look at the human girl holding the bars in her hands to remember her name— he recalls the way she had ferociously charged at him back on Cloudford with the intent to kill.

“Miss Yena,” he greeted her courteously.

Gripping the metal bars tighter than she already has, Yena’s face turned red as her mouth remained sealed shut as if holding back an outburst. That would be most entertaining, he muses. Athough he wouldn’t mind being at the receiving end of insults thrown at him, the people around him would surely take offense on his behalf and raise hell over the blatant disrespect.

A few quiet moments later, she pushed out a tamed greeting in return, “General.”

With how Hanya’s eyes immediately zeroed in on the inmate, Jing Yuan surmises that this is already a new progress from where they’re left hanging for the past few hours. He will need to play this carefully, then.

“On behalf of everyone here, I apologize for the lack of hospitality during the time of your arrest. As it is, you’re a main suspect of aiding Blue Peach in breaking the Xianzhou’s Ten Unpardonable Sins.”

That managed to get a reaction out of her. However, it is not panic that paints her face over the insinuation of what would befall her if she truly ends up being found guilty for committing one of the Ten Unpardonable Sins. Her expression turns to that of being offended.

“I do not need your pity,” she hisses.

Jing Yuan finds her anger out of place. She takes a shuddering breath within the next second, reeling herself in the way it’s so naked to everyone’s eyes that she is under an influence. It prompts Fu Xuan and Hanya to move closer to her.

“With the aid of Matrix of Prescience, I can at least reveal the source of influence that’s puppeteering her,” the master diviner explains as Hanya blocked her way to the cell. The Ten-Lords Commission interrogator merely shakes her head, denying her the pass. Behind him, Yanqing has taken two steps near Jing Yuan.

“Please understand that we are now dealing with what is suspected to be the doing of a heliobus. Even if you are the Master Diviner, you are not immune to its influence should it get a hold of you.”

“I’m not!” Yena cried. Her face now pressed against her knuckles gripped on the metal bars desperately trying to break it free. “Please, you have to believe me— I didn’t know!”

“Didn’t know what?” Fu Xuan pressed. Hanya’s arm is now outstretched against her, wordlessly setting a limit.

Jing Yuan sees the interrogator’s stance wired with tense, Fu Xuan’s eyes narrowing, and Yanqing taking another step closer to stand beside him. He feels it too, the sudden ominous air that is sucking the breathable oxygen away from them. It shouldn’t have been possible given how they’re standing in an open space, the corridors wide and spiralling stairs unending from both the above and below.

Yena is now finally panicking, seeming to come across the same realization as them— that she cannot breathe for the air is fleeing her.

She mouths something that Jing Yuan couldn’t decipher. He remains steadfastly calm and composed even if the air is being vacuumed out right under their noses. He stands his ground and willed his eyes to not stray from the human girl to his companions. Having been thrown off guard by the sudden predicament, Hanya couldn’t stop the general in time to prevent him from stepping closer to the cell. He now stands an arm reach away.

“Please,” she pleaded. Her voice not reaching him but with how fear is etched onto her every facial expression,  Jing Yuan heard her panicked plea clearly.

“He promised me we would get revenge—”

A thin acupuncture needle, seemingly out of thin air, stops Yena midway her sentence as it lands in her neck. The position accurately on the spot that would knock her unconscious. The cold ground welcomes the body as she collapses onto the floor.

It is the moment her body slumps to the hard floor that the air rushes back in for them. He hears the collective gasps from the three companies with him. Jing Yuan quietly relishes in the breath of air again, sparing only three seconds for himself before he turns.

“Looks like we made it in time.”

“Any more minute and all of you would’ve been knocked out," a familiar voice said. "Though it seems the young lieutenant is struggling pretty hard there.”

At the mention of his mentee’s name, Jing Yuan turns to look at the young lieutenant. He is down on one knee, breathing heavily and greedily inhaling the air; forgoing his mentor’s lessons to keep composed at all times. But he does not chastise Yanqing for the lack of decorum a Cloud Knight should have. After all, the Cloud Knights are firstly trained to fight with weapons against an opponent they can see. In this battle against an unseen force, even a weapon as sharp as Yanqing’s numerous collections would not help him.

Adding on to the fact that they were ambushed out of nowhere, he has no doubt that Yanqing can hold on without air for a little bit more if he is prepared. 

Bailu rushes to Yanqing’s side; being the one affected the most between the four of them. Fu Xuan exhales a breath, takes one look at the unconscious prisoner before meeting with his eyes for a split second. In a silent agreement, they both turn to face the new incomer that came together with Bailu. Facing the unknown person shows Jing Yuan that there is another presence with them, and he hears the surprise breath from Fu Xuan as she takes notice as well.

“Miss Tingyun,” he greets.

“General. Master Diviner.” Tingyun nods in lieu of a greeting to the two of the Six Charioteers, and the stranger beside her follows the mannerism quietly.

The stranger says nothing, opting to purposely stay silent and let the air around the four of them weigh. Outside of their quiet bubble is Bailu fussing over Yanqing as Hanya watches from the side.

Jing Yuan does not ask the questions first, nor does Fu Xuan. Her practice of patience suddenly coming into play.

The quietness between them does not last long, it is Tingyun who breaks it with a glance to her unconscious friend. “Is she alright?”

Hanya responds with uncertainty, “While I cannot put a name to the cause of her erratic behaviour earlier, I can reason that it is most certainly the influence of the heliobi.”

“This is getting out of hand, first it’s the Denizens of Abundance and now we have to deal with heliobi?” Yanqing, who is just getting finished being fussed over by Bailu offers his thoughts, “Is it possible for heliobi to work with the followers of Yaoshi?”

Fu Xuan hums, contemplating. “Heliobi is a species that thrives on emotional consumption; they are greedy in that regard. The Abominations of Abundance are loyal to Yaoshi to a fault, they believe strongly in immortality and would not stop to make that a reality. I see there is indeed a high possibility of them working together.”

“In exchange for powerful abilities,” Hanya agreed. “It wouldn’t be much of a cost for the Denizens to host their body to the heliobi, since they are already strong in the need to spread the teachings of their Aeon.”

Fu Xuan then turns to Jing Yuan. “We will need to decide on the next course of action as quickly as possible. Blue Peach will have to be forced to talk.” 

Nodding in agreement, Jing Yuan turns to the unconscious body. “And what of her?” He gestures to Yena, currently being assessed by Bailu from outside the cell with Yanqing standing guard closely with her.

“Before she passed out, she seemed to be saying something.” The master diviner glances his way before asking, “Did you catch any of her words?”

“Unfortunately, she fell unconscious before she could finish the sentence.” He purposely left out the part where he heard her saying something about revenge so as not to aggravate the situation. Though he will be speaking on it later with the other charioteers.

As if on cue, all of their attentions turn to the pink haired foxian stranger. Even with his eyes closed, he shows his surprise at the sudden shower of attention that rained down on him. He holds his hands up amiably. “I had to strike her unconscious. Otherwise, I would find myself in a situation I rather not face in the first place.”

He then mutters the next words to Tingyun, “Or I’ll have to hear their endless sighing.” The effortless friendliness towards the foxian obvious. She looks both amused and exasperated at the same time, showing understanding to who the male foxian was referring to. Jing Yuan was not given the time to think of anything else before Fu Xuan speaks.

“The Shackling Prison is not a place for just anybody to enter and show up without the Ten-Lords Commisions’s grant, even the Six Charioteers would need to inform them of our visit beforehand. Looking as there are no escorts bringing the three of you here, I suggest you introduce yourself.”

Amusedly, Jing Yuan thought that Fu Xuan is taking up what is supposed to be Hanya’s job scope being the interrogator, but he remains stoically faced on the outside. Hiding every bit of emotions in front of this neither friend or foe. But if Tingyun and Bailu had come down here together with the male foxian, there must be some sort of established trust between them. 

The male foxian nods, his lips forming to a polite smile. “I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. Now that it has settled down, allow me to properly introduce myself.” From his pocket, he takes out a jade tracer somewhat different from theirs on Luofu. “I am Jiaoqiu, a healer from Xianzhou Yaoqing.”

“Yaoqing?” questioned Fu Xuan vocally. Her expression hardens just slightly, the same time Jing Yuan draws his own conclusion of Jiaoqiu's presence in the Shackling Prison. There can only be one reasonable reason as to why a Yaoqing foxian would come all the way to this place. It certainly is not for their current predicament. 

Fu Xuan asks nothing to confirm the same thoughts that Jing Yuan shares, considering the others that are in presence; she doesn’t seem like bringing up more concerns or questions. 

In the silence that follows after his introduction was made, Hanya approaches the two foxians standing beside each other. A question on her lips as she asks, "Excuse me for my abruptness, but on whose authority was it that granted the three of you the pass to enter the Shackling Prison?” 

“I think it’s best if I explain it from the beginning.” Jiaoqiu offers with a smile on his face, eyes still closed. But before he could get to talking, Hanya stops him with a motion of her hand. 

She turns to Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan before saying, “I think it is best that we have this conversation outside of the Shackling Prison, while our current location is nowhere near the high risk areas, your presence might be noticeable and may trigger unwanted danger.”

Hanya addresses her next words to Jiaoqiu, “If you are here for visitations, you’ll have to properly report to the Ten-Lords Commission beforehand and get approval. Until that is settled, I’m afraid I cannot bring you to Hoolay’s imprisonment.” 

Tingyun shows no instant recognition over the name, and Bailu remains silent. As far as Jing Yuan knows, Hoolay isn't a name that is talked about often to the people of Luofu unless they are already acquainted with the name beforehand. Chances are that both of them remain unaware of the weight of crime that name holds.

The lack of reaction and question suggests that either they have discussed this beforehand, or they’re just aware enough not to ask questions where it doesn’t concern them.

The foxian from Yaoqing smiles in reply. With a carefree attitude he then replied nonchalantly, “Well, it’s enough to know that he is still shackled here. I wasn’t planning on going here in the first place. I have a meeting with the Healer Lady today, so I’m actually just following her around!”

Hanya nods, accepting the answer amicably enough despite the lack of expression on her face. Fu Xuan stops her just as she gestures towards the way they came from.

“Do you suggest we just leave her here?” She motions to the unconscious suspected accomplice.

“There is no worry that she’ll be able to break out of that prison. Lady Bailu has checked her and there is no risk of death as well.”

Bailu backs her up by going into an in-depth explanation of Yena’s condition. Jiaoqiu’s needle was merely to render her to a short sleep, and her erratic behaviour from earlier was mostly from the mixture of emotions she had kept bottled up in the hours of her arrest. She summed it up to fatigue and panic that caused Yena's abrupt change of behaviour. The group then discusses her being under a heliobi influence, leading to Fu Xuan planning for a test through the divination commission methods.

However, no one was able to explain the sudden force of the lack of air.

“If I may, could I please stay behind for a little while?” The one that has been the most quiet between them steps out. Tingyun holds a hand to her heart as she adds, “I worry for her.”

Hanya is quick to deny her the permission out of concern for her safety.

“I will talk to her after she wakes up. She must have a reason why she was meeting with Blue Peach,” she reasoned. Her voice resolute, matching the hardness of Hanya’s tone.

“Enough of this." Fu Xuan shakes her head. Looking at Tingyun she says, "You will stay. The chances of her speaking up is higher when it's her friend asking the questions."

Hanya relents with a nod, “But someone must stay with you.”

Yanqing perks up, almost holding up a hand as he offers, “I will—”

“General Jing Yuan.”

Yanqing actually glares at Fu Xuan at having his offer cut-off, to Jing Yuan’s surprise. He knew the lieutenant had been wanting to understand why the green eyed foxian's presence seems to be orbiting around their world lately. And the most concerning of all — according to Yanqing's huffs and puffs ever since Tingyun's name was firstly brought up at the Seat of Divine Foresight — his own mentor has taken a liking to her. 

Fu Xuan does not take offense at the glare at all. Merely looking back at him to challenge her suggestion — a demand, really — that the general will stay behind with Tingyun as the rest of them leave for Exalting Sanctum.

Hanya seems to accept it, and Tingyun says nothing in return.

“It is settled,” Fu Xuan declares. She waits for the young lieutenant to yield. Bailu looks at them, eyes going right and left with the mirth of excitement obvious in the sparkle of her eyes. The tug of war between the two of the general's colleagues providing her entertainment in this stale place.

Ever the loyal retainer, his mentee looks at him. Jing Yuan nods, giving him the answer before Yanqing reluctantly nods back. A sigh caught in the back of his throat, no doubt. Yanqing then turns to Fu Xuan and mutters a defeated I understand, Master Diviner before the group take their steps to leave.

Both Tingyun and Jing Yuan say nothing in the first few minutes after the group leaves, their sight fixed on different places. His on the path of exit whilst hers settles on the figure laying on the hard floor.

After everything that he has learned about the green eyed foxian, Jing Yuan finds himself at a loss of how to face her without seeing blood on the palm of his hands.

She must’ve known. She surely must know. That he was there in her homeland, that he witnessed the destruction as she did, smelled the same air, saw the same red sky. Was it why she appeared to be wary of him at the beginning despite her surprise at having encountered him during their first meeting?

Is there a deeper reason, after all, why she chose him to be the subject of her photo selling business? To follow him in the shadows, a step slower. To remind him that they were late, despite in the end having saved Yuque from total annihilation.

Was the knowledge that Jing Yuan has the blood of her people staining him dirty on Yuque the reason why Yena was so angry at him she lunged in to kill? Anger on behalf of her dear friend that suffered the loss of her homeland.

It would make sense. It would be justifiable. It would be reason enough.

And yet, the image of a disdained Tingyun plotting for revenge clashes with the image of her inside that starskiff who offered him nothing but honesty. She had thanked him genuinely, nothing short but understanding of his work. Even after he set the boundary between them after the kiss, she had been nothing but kind. She had given him the red ribbon.

The one that he is wearing now.

If all of it were for the sake of revenge, to see his life slowly weakened by sentiments and trampled on later and mocked with the laughter of the bygone days— Jing Yuan would accept it.

It would be fitting, he thinks, that all members of the High-Cloud Quintet suffer something in return for donning their name in glory against the pooling red. That all of them will fall from the same high and their names besmirched and slowly forgotten. He thinks of Baiheng, the one name that is still remembered and praised as a Xianzhou hero. He wonders about the possibility of if she had survived the battlefield.

A part of him thinks she would’ve gotten along well with Tingyun.

Any more form of thoughts vanishes when the foxian finally breaks the silence. “She met a hooded person before,” Tingyun says behind him. Her voice so quiet in concern it’ll spook her friend awake. 

Jing Yuan turns around towards the cell to see that Tingyun has crouched down before the metal bars, her hand holding Yena’s. He has the mind to caution her; afraid that her friend will turn hostile upon any contact but he remains silent. He remembers what Fu Xuan told him prior to coming here.

An air of uncertainty. The burning heat smoldering her whole body at the vision she sees from the Matrix of Prescience. 

“You will need to keep an eye out towards her.”

“I thought you had meant for me to stay as far away as possible?”

“You can’t fool me with that nonchalant attitude of yours, Jing Yuan. I know you. You’re already smitten with her.”

“Smitten might be too strong of a word.”

“Care for her, then?”

“I care for everyone.”

“Fine. You like her. More than you’d like to admit.”

“I’m intrigued.”

“Throw whatever words you wish, it doesn’t erase the fact that Tingyun has already taken your attention.”

“...Is it that bad of a thing?”

“I wish for you to attain happiness with someone, General. But why of all, it must be someone who’s difficult.”

“She’s not difficult.” She’s calculative, bordering on manipulating through words and smiles. She’s smart and attentive to her surroundings. She's cautious.

“I’m not commenting about her personality. Aeon knows you’ll need someone difficult to match with you. I’m talking about what I see from the Matrix of Prescience.”

“You see fire and echoes of destruction, so you say.”

“Listen, Jing Yuan. Seeing how rooted and complicated the matter at hand is, more troubles might brew in the future for the Xianzhou as long as the Denizens of Abundance is not stopped. Tingyun might say the truth of her intention now, but who’s to say she won’t change in the future?”

Jing Yuan had no answer to her valid concern. He doesn’t know what to think of the foxian woman. He knew of her background now, and how she has a business running that’s depending on his appearance. He’s at least confident that Tingyun had been nothing but earnestly true to herself. 

She may lie to him, but it’s only more important that she doesn’t lose sight of her own way. 

Tingyun lowers her hand on the ground as delicately as she can before standing back up to face him. Her face, as unreadable as he is, betrays no thoughts inside her mind. 

“She’s innocent,” the foxian states without any doubt that it could be the other way around. “I believe her to be brainwashed. She wouldn’t get herself involved in a situation that would jeopardize her own life and future.”

The general levels her hardened stare. He questions, “And you know her well enough?”

“Yes.”

“Or have you convinced yourselves to know her better than anyone else?”

“I know her."

“And if you’re wrong? If she has willingly participated in the orchestration of the Disciple of Sanctus Medicus? Would you yield to the fact that she is not what she seems to be?”

Tingyun feels her defenses rise far above than when she had to explain to her friends why she chose the general as the subject to their newly established picture selling business. His onslaught questions etched themselves onto her skin, refusing to leave despite her steadfast belief that Yena would never betray them.

“You must be aware that you are still under suspicion for being at the scene of the crime, and for being recruited into the Flames Whistling Guild when the time conveniently coincides with the growing absence of the current amicassador.”

He didn’t stop. His voice that speaks evenly without so much of a tone rising, loud enough just for them to hear; like he’s whispering to coerce her to admit that she did not know any better.

She couldn’t answer. His questions raining down on her that all she could do to shield herself from the arrows was to cower. The general had taken notice of her silence but his expression did not change one bit. Tingyun has to stop herself from the disappointment at the thought that Jing Yuan would’ve stopped, he would’ve shown her mercy.

But the one speaking to her now is not the Jing Yuan that she sees inside that starskiff, the one speaking now is the one of the Seven Arbiter Generals, the one that holds all power for Xianzhou Luofu’s Cloud Knight force. In the back of her mind, Tingyun realizes how easy she got off from being directly interrogated. She knew that Jing Yuan was the one to thank for the fact that she can still walk around without being supervised. 

Now reaching towards the end of the cliff of the life she has built here on Luofu, more closer to reality than she's ever been— it seems that they are trying to push every button they can find in hopes it would show something different. Anything, even if it meant to bleed. Because that's the problem, Tingyun realizes. She didn't want to look at him and see the dead. She didn't want any more blood on his hand just as much as he doesn't want her to be tainted red as she strolls deeper into their world. 

The realization comes to her unkindly, like accidentally stubbing your toe on an object— unprepared. She is unprepared at the revelation of just how much Jing Yuan has come to care for her. 

If Tingyun gives him the answer that he is offering on a silver platter for her to take, to say that she was naive in her judgement and didn't know any better, if she yields— 

Jing Yuan would take it as it is and this would be their dirty little secret against the world. The version that he will use from hereon; that Tingyun was just unlucky to be caught up in a whirlwind at the wrong time.

The worse thing is? People will believe them.

She didn't know any better. Lies.

Tingyun knows. She did know better, she knew something was up and dived in anyways. Maybe she can admit that she underestimated the severity of the problem, but it mattered little when argued against the fact that she knew there was a problem. Any other person would've stopped right there, and she certainly could've. But Tingyun didn't and Jing Yuan saw right through her.

And here they are now, him offering her the easy way out.

She finds herself unable to lie. She can't do that to him. When did it get so complicated?

“Does she know?” he asks. Innocent and unassuming. But it might as well have been a blade piercing her heart. Her breath catches.

“Do you know?” he takes two steps forward. She remembers the night they kissed; how he had put distance afterwards. He crowds her against the metal bars that digs into her body by how she heavily leans into it.

He can’t know. He couldn’t. But he could, with the authority he holds in the palm of his hands. Jing Yuan would only need to send people to dig out her secrets. Tingyun should’ve known that they would conduct a background search of her past. She is about to work under the Sky-Faring Commission, after all. It is all precaution.

To eliminate all lies before it could take root under their roofs and replace the truth.

Her eyes begin to sting with how wide she’s opened them. She knows now that Jing Yuan is aware of her past. And sees the same clarity reflected in his eyes that she knows he knows. His eyes soften at the silent admission, although only slightly. He is still more the general than the person she’s come to acquaint with.

Tingyun takes a shuddering breath as she gives into the pressure; feeling the ground of the cliff falling apart beneath her.

“I have seen it,” is what she settled with. Eyes downcasted to the ground. She willed herself to blink past the red of blood and piles of body. Truth is what she can say to him now. Her truth is a piece of her home back in Yuque. “The red so dark that it follows you to your sleep. Behind my closed lids, red is all I can see for the first few weeks when they brought me to Luofu," Tingyun says. Her voice so quiet it might as well have been a whisper meant to be carried by the wind.

Tingyun smells the suffocating air crawling back to her small body, huddled against the fallen walls of her home. She closes her eyes, exhales a shaky breath while simultaneously easing up her tight grip on the metal bars; her chaffed palms bringing back the same sensation of a much smaller Tingyun brushing the walls of her home before leaving Yuque.

Standing just in front of her, Jing Yuan says nothing. He doesn't move an inch. But his being so close to her isn’t as suffocating as she feared it to be— if anything, his presence provides a ground for her to focus on. Her eyes stay glued onto his shoes, something that is present and not hers.

If it’s not hers, it will not be taken away.

“Yuque is in much better condition now— it has been. They are making fast improvement under the Seer Strategist’s guidance and with the Xianzhou Alliance’s support,” the general offers kindly.

Desperately, she latches onto the words and thinks of her biological parents now buried under the clear blue skies.

Not trusting her voice, Tingyun merely nods in gratitude. She already knows that, having been following closely on any news regarding Xianzhou Yuque. But to hear the words coming out from the general’s mouth provides all the more comfort that Tingyun was hesitant to bask in.

She says nothing, asks nothing in return as well. She has known all this time that Jing Yuan has been to Yuque before, he— along with the rest of the High-Cloud Quintet were the help that her mother has spoken of. They were the help that little Tingyun counted seconds to as she waited and waited for it to arrive.

Her adopted mother has mentioned it to her only once, when Tingyun has grown old enough to be told the full truth about that incident that robbed her of her biological family. The High-Cloud Quintet was never mentioned again afterwards.

Tingyun means to say her gratitude, one that is due decades ago but refrains from doing so. Opening up old wounds right now will only hold them back, and the Shackling Prison is hardly the place fit for a conversation to address the past. And so she turns back towards the prison where Yena still remains unconscious, crouches down to hold her friend’s hand and waits.

Her neck tingles, her body sore and dirtied. Yena wakes up inside a prison cell, her body laying on the ground near the metal bars where her outstretched hand is currently in the warm hold of Tingyun’s.

Tingyun calls her softly, lifting the fogs of fatigue away from her vision as she blinks awake to her friend on the other side of the metal bars.

The first few minutes were mostly Tingyun recounting the events that lead up to her being imprisoned underneath the sea. She doesn’t actually recall most of it; her memories hazy and unfamiliar to the words said by her dear friend.

She realizes that her expression must’ve been alarming enough when Tingyun slowly pauses her words, her brows furrowing for that paused second before proceeding to share a glance with the general.

Yena thinks they all might as well be — confusing, that is — for she cannot remember when Tingyun had acquainted herselves with General Jing Yuan. He is someone that they have only been looking from afar, never once speaking with each other.

She tells them just as much, her confusion about the whole situation and how her mind comes up blank when they asked her about a name she is under the suspicion of conspiring with. Although, there is one thing she can be sure to relay to them confidently.

Her meeting with the hooded man and the words he parted with her.

That was the last vestige of memory where Yena felt she had the control of before everything turns to a mess of jumbled blocks that doesn’t fit inside her mind.

“I do remember talking to you,” she tells Tingyun. “We fought, I recall.” Her memory flashes to the scene inside Tingyun’s bedroom; she had put down her hair comb while their conversation grew terse over the topic of her joining the Flames Whistling Guild.

“I don’t know why I was angry.” She takes her friend’s hand into her dirty ones, looking her in the eyes.

“I’m happy for you, of course. This is a job you’ve dreamt of, and…” Trailing off, she dares taking a glance at the general who stands a polite amount of distance behind her foxian friend. Tingyun breathes a tad too sharply for it to be normal upon noticing where her friend is glancing towards. And Yena finds that the general is already looking at them.

At Tingyun, specifically.

"Plus that one other reason," she whispers gleefully. Smiling at Tingyun.

“I don’t follow,” the foxian defended, not fooling Yena the slightest. She squeezes their hands together. Understanding. Tingyun squeezes back, ever so gentle. It could as well serve as a warning that she is tiptoeing against the line of Tingyun's past that she doesn't even know if the general has caught up on.

But it mattered little to her at that moment. For it seems that despite Tingyun having only been recently acquainted with the general; their shadows have brushed against each other in the past. She finds herself happy to witness the red that is blossoming on her friend’s cheek.

Tingyun blushing, never thought I’d see the day.

With that thought in mind, she took another look at the general and had to school her expression well enough it won’t cause another charge against her. Even if the charge could be something as trifle and silly as bursting into laughter at an unwarranted situation. After all, she had just been told that she had attempted to kill the general in broad daylight. With a small smile still adorned on her most definitely unkempt appearance, Yena does a quick glance between her friend and the general.

The general look composed, yet his straight face was betrayed by the curious glint in his eyes. The intrigue to know Tingyun more.

Her neck tingles again and she fights the urge to rub against it, not wanting to worry her friend more than she already is. Feigning a cough, she addresses the man.

“Is there anything that can be done? I know my wrongdoings won’t just be easily pardoned because I don’t remember doing them but I swear that I have no intention to ever betray the Luofu.”

The general takes two seconds before answering, “I will need to discuss with the rest of the Charioteers, and possibly with the Arbiter Generals as well.”

She nods just as Tingyun swivels behind to question, “The Arbiter Generals?”

Jing Yuan looks at Tingyun then, and Yena blames it on the fatigue that is slowly darkening around her edges if she had indeed hallucinated his expression softening— if only by a miniscule.

“If a heliobi is indeed involved, and based on what Miss Yena has shared with us about her encounter with the mysterious figure, this matter might be bigger than the picture we’ve painted so far. And about her forgotten memories, General Yaoguang may be of assistance in the matter.”

Noticing the conflicted look on Tingyun’s face, Yena calls out to her as cheerfully as she can. “This won’t be so bad! Maybe they can come up with something that will help me restore the missing memories. Before you know it, I’ll be coming back to the house to help you flourish your business.”

Tingyun didn’t so much look convinced or flustered at the mention of their business when the subject is present with them. There is a slow rising of itchiness clawing its way out inside her throat, and Yena hastily gathers both of Tingyun’s hands in hers as she hurriedly assures her.

“It’ll be fine, Tingyun. If I truly intend on betraying the Luofu, the generals will be able to see it. As it is, what good will my words do?”

She then mentally prepares herself to argue against Tingyun, for her foxian friend is nothing but loyally stubborn.

“I understand.”

“You… do?” Yena does not hide her surprise at Tingyun easily agreeing.

“Yes,” Tingyun blinks. “What did you think I was going to say?”

“That you’d refuse for them to question me and insist that your friend is innocent?”

“Well, of course I’ll do that. But,” Tingyun leans in, voice dropping down to a whisper. Not that it’ll matter for the general, Yena is sure that he can still hear her clearly. “It’s the General’s order, you don’t think I would just fight against that?”

“You would.”

“I would not. That’d be rather rude of me.”

“You always fight back whenever one of us gets into trouble. Well, fight with words, I mean.”

“It’s called negotiating,” she huffs.

“More like persuading,” Yena corrected. Tingyun just pouts in return.

“It worked out in the end,” Tingyun says. There is pride in her voice. Tingyun has always been good at talking. People listen to her, intrigue to the lilt of her voice. Yena wouldn’t be surprised if she manages to even charm all the Xianzhou generals in the future.

“Tingyun?”

“Yes?”

She smiles, not saying the words she means to say knowing this will be her last before the fire takes her from within. “Tell the girls don’t be worried about me."

Yena knows that by the end of this, all that is left of her will be ashes. "I’ll be back before they even think about using my hair wash.”

She knows more than she lets on. “That’ll be the last time I see her, won’t I?”

Jing Yuan keeps up with Tingyun’s pace as they leave the Shackling Prison side by side. His hands clasped together from behind.

“There is hope for her return if the trial goes well.”

“I don’t think she’ll survive until the end,” Tingyun chuckles bitterly. It sounded wrong to hear it coming from her, it tastes like defeat. He can taste the ashes in his mouth and the guilt heavy on his tongue.

There is only one path laid before them now, the road short yet arduous for him to walk on. It never seems to get easier as time passes by, to look reality in the eye and speak to it in hopes you will be able to sleep at night. Jing Yuan decides to abide by time. Reckless on his part, he knows. But he can’t help himself but to grant this one selfish need to spend some more time with her.

So he starts slowly, building the cards up piece by piece knowing the top will be laid only to crumble the rest way down.

“She will be moved to a better place while she awaits the questioning.”

“We’re not strangers to dirt,” her voice curtly turns down his suggestion. But Jing Yuan is already making a mental note that he would make sure The Ten-Lords Commission see to it that her friend at least be moved to somewhere else less dark.

His voice tilts up, as easy as it is breathing like he’s done this his whole life. But the words that came out of his mouth are a piece of puzzle out of place. “I don’t mean that to sound degrading. I apologize.”

It gets him into trouble endless times.

“Are you?”

When that moment comes, and it will—

“What is dirt when compared to blood?” Tingyun asks.

Do not falter.

“And what is blood when compared to dust?”

Do not stop for a second to think of the past.

Tingyun turns her head to look at him. Her face is like a painting of greenery and blues, with hues of red that reflects life in quietness. She reflects the calm that Jing Yuan sought after. Looking at her brings a pleasantness within him, like a quiet breathe of contentment in the morning as he water his plants. Her eyes are glassy like a lake on a cold morning. Jing Yuan sees nothing but himself reflected in the depth of her eyes.

You must not hold back.

Without answering her, he takes the next step forward, careening to her side. A step closer to the warmth of her being. His hands remain at his back.

Jing Yuan's gesture was enough of a reassurance for Tingyun to speak the next words.

“It wasn't your fault.”

He thinks the words Jingliu has left him with, and thanked her for the training she made him put up with. It is by decades of practice that he’s mastered the control of his own reflexiveness. Otherwise he would’ve blinked, rippling the surface of the lake that is her eyes, and gone will honesty be.

Jing Yuan simply cranes his head back to the path forward, not giving anything to his thoughts. He didn’t think that he needed forgiveness, but he cannot deny the way he breathes just a tad bit freer upon hearing her words. To push her words away would be to deny himself peace. For all the blood he had spilled, Jing Yuan allows himself this much of an absolution. 

They walk side by side in silence then, feeling more closer to each other than they’ve ever been, not even when he had her against the wall and had closed the distance between them.

He coughs, the memory rushing into the forefront of his mind and sparking the flame alive. He reigns himself in, feigning a fake cough at the end into his fist as he feels the weight of a pair of eyes glancing toward his way curiously.

And it is by pure accident when he moves his right arm back to clasp the other behind him, his knuckles brush against hers. Her breath takes a sharp gasp at the zap that catches them both off guard.

His hand flexes involuntarily. 

It’s her turn now to suddenly be rendered distraught as Tingyun speeds her step up and the breath of an irritated sigh makes its way to his ears. Instead of being apologetic for he indeed had no intention to do it, Jing Yuan merely feels the beginning of a childlike rush sweeping his feet off to catch up to her while she is now obviously trying to grow a distance between them. 

He chuckles, unprompted— the sound carefree and sincere, wholly his. 

Tingyun huffs then, not irritated one bit. For her lips have now begun to form a smile on her face as well. 

They speak not a word to each other on their way back to Exalting Sanctum. Jing Yuan silently matching her quickened pace while his hands stay clasped at his back throughout the way. He endures the overwhelming urge to take her hand in his.

Chapter Text

She so wished the ground where she stands would live up to its name and materialize itself in its physical form that befits the name— hoping to have shackles around her feet if only to prevent her from sharing the same starskiff with the general again. The first time they did, Tingyun poured herself as honest as an open book; letting him see her in that confined space where only they existed in the air.

Tingyun was so preoccupied in worrying for her friend and trying to make sense of him that it completely slipped her mind that being the ones left behind will mean having to share the same transport back. She silently berated herself upon noticing the single starskiff waiting for them at the exit of the Shackling Prison's port. 

Her hurried steps slowly recedes to an awkward halt the nearer she gets to the awaiting ship.

Jing Yuan shows no indifference, proceeding to greet the Cloud Knights in duty before turning to her.

"After you,” he said.

No, thank you. She merely blinks, seemingly very out of it. Tingyun stares at his gestured hand beckoning towards the starskiff, as if not understanding what he meant for her to do. 

Maybe he'll let her depart first. He's the general, he ought to have some private tasks that he cannot share to someone with stature such as hers.

That's right, Jing Yuan is like her in a way, they would see a pristine statue displayed on the front and would think to look behind for any dust left uncovered. He knows what she's thinking and why she is hesitating to share the same starskiff with him. More so after the conversation back in the prison ground. 

He kept his hands back throughout the way. Jing Yuan has set the distance and is abiding it, there's no way he'll break— 

"Well, don't mind if I do." He turns back to face the front and moves to enter the ship. "There won't be a starskiff available here until the next shift of those on duty, so please don't get left behind," he smiled. "Unless you plan to spend a few more hours here."

Oh, the gall!

Remembering to at least keep her composure in front of the present Cloud Knights, the foxian all but struts into it. The crisp sound of the clacking of her heels against the dirt convincing enough to fool someone that she can leave permanent footprints behind.

Entering the starskiff, she doesn't spare any look to her surroundings; already aiming for the seat directed in the front of her vision. Therefore completely missing the figure emerging back into the seating area from the pilot's seat.

"—!"

She feels her breath knocked out of her lungs first before she registers the hands holding her in place, preventing her from falling unceremoniously onto the floor. Her eyes had closed on instinct, and reopening them in the next breathe finds herself in a very troubled setting.

Tingyun thanked the lucky stars that the door was closed after she boarded it, and for the thick wooden partition that separated them from the pilot's seat. She doesn't know what she'll say to explain the compromising position they're in. Not that it was her fault to begin with! Jing Yuan had been silent on his feet, his presence completely muted despite almost needing to hunch down in this very cramped vehicle.

It's his fault for being too tall. Why does she have to suffer the consequences of it?

His head bending down at her, clearly needing to adjust his height to stand properly.

The problem is he's bent too close to her, it makes her head swim in all sorts of directions. The tight coil of uncertainty that has her all tensed and tired begins to slowly unravel, ebbing away the seconds that tick by as they remain in such a short distance away.

Is he doing it on purpose? Is the starskiff really this small to accommodate his physique? He really could've just let her stumble her feet and keep a safe distance between them. Tingyun falls, Jing Yuan offers his hand to help her up, and they will be back behind the safe line that they should never cross again. Really, why would he even think to hold her again when the last time that he did they ended up kissing—

She all but slaps her palms over his mouth. 

The quiet hum of the starskiff goes on as time was struck still between them, like it was put on an abrupt pause following the smacking sound that echoed. 

Impressively, Jing Yuan didn't do so much as flinch. He blinks down at her, whose green eyes are opened so wide the light casted softly behind the window paints her face in a warm tone. Her cheeks are redder than usual. 

He blinks again, dumbfoundedly this time as he snaps out of his stupor. 

Tingyun catches on immediately. She arrives at the same conclusion as the realization dawns on him like a bucket of cold water on a very humid afternoon. Yes, the starskiff is quite small for someone as tall as Jing Yuan. Yes, he needed to shrink just a tad bit to accommodate the space. But no, he didn't need to bend too much for that purpose.

And he hadn't done it on purpose. His bending towards her.

He had slowly leaned in towards her unconsciously. Like a moth to a flame, like it didn't need thinking; just an instinct to get closer.

The hands holding her suddenly feels molten hot, and her skin underneath all the layers of clothes starts to get uncomfortably warm. She can't breathe with him so close. Jing Yuan is all Tingyun sees and it terrifies her then, to be in this small space with him knowing he could lay her all bare to be picked apart. 

She can't help but lose control of the way her pulse quickens at the sight of her hands still over his mouth. He still hasn't let her go.

Their eyes meet, uncertainty painted clearly on her expression for him to read. He looks at her, noting the slight presence of fear too — but not of him, she's not afraid of him. Whatever apprehension she feels, that she radiates on her person when there's a chink of crack on her walls and couldn't glue it back fast enough for him not to notice, her hesitation — it's not because of him. 

"General Jing Yuan," calls out the pilot from the front. His voice was muffled by the wall that separated them. "Is everything alright?"

He can't really give a clear answer when Tingyun's hands are still plastered to his mouth. And the foxian understands immediately as she feels his mouth curls up in both amusement and permission for her to let him speak. 

Tingyun retracts her hand, awkwardly hanging them by her sides but anywhere on him because Jing Yuan still hasn't let her go. He could’ve easily taken her hand off of his mouth too, if he would just move his hands.

"Yes, everything's alright," he replied. Voice composed, leaving no room for doubts that it's the opposite. 

"We will be departing for Exalting Sanctum now."

"Right."

Right. Why hadn't Tingyun asked him to let her go? Clearly she's standing fine by herself now and not about to fall onto her bottom. 

But oh, who is she trying to fool with? They are both the jesters. However overwhelmed she may feel right now, she is not oblivious to the change in the air. Something has shifted, something that can't be easily seen with any naked eyes, something that can only be felt.

And Tingyun feels it strongly inside her and the magnetic pull of his gaze focusing only on her.

Jing Yuan's eyes catch her lip before returning to meet her eyes; faster than the lightning strikes, knocking the breath out of her lungs. 

Permission. He's asking her for permission to walk over the line that he himself has set for them. The line that shouldn't be crossed, one that Tingyun had silently agreed to abide by as well. 

The back of her mind screams, sending blaring alarms that she shouldn't. She can't want this. She can't have this. There is only one end to those who hold the joker card close to their hearts.

But his presence is strong, comforting, reassuring. He looks at her like one would gaze up at the moon on a quiet night. Jing Yuan looks at her like she holds all the answers now. 

When had Jing Yuan given her this much power over him?

Why haven't they both said no?

And just as that thought fling past through their minds, they both turn to the same page, arriving on the same sentence that has the answer. The same understanding without needing to say a word. 

Just a few weeks ago, they were chasing the tail of one's end in a forever circle. Now they're both moving on the same path with everywhere to go.

As easy as it is to follow the gravitational pull, they let go of the fear in the next breath before they meet each other halfway in a shared secret.

Jing Yuan's lips slide over hers, greeting her shy gesture. His arms move, one hand sliding down to her back a small distance away from her tail. The other takes her hand in his, guiding to place her palm over his heart.

Tingyun shudders, her mouth opening slightly wider at the motion of his heart thumping at the palm of her hands. Eagerly, Jing Yuan swallows her surprised gasp. Like he can't get enough of her; her lips like an oasis to a thirst. 

Pressing her smaller frame against him, Jing Yuan bends downward more to deepen their kiss. Tingyun's other hand flies up to the back of his nape touching his hair, while the touch of her hand over his heart grows more weighted. The general gladly welcomes the increasing pressure, if only because it makes him press harder onto her and she into him.

Like she can't get enough of him as well; his everything cocooning her and she wants more. 

It drives him a little crazy, a sudden rush of exhilaration washing all over him at the prospect of being seen and still wanted. Blood between his fingers under the red sky and dead precious friends, a man wearing armour and no one more. Still, she looks at him.

His hand at her back slides lower, just barely, still maddeningly polite when their mouths are already connected that he can't tell where it started and ended. Yet it gives him such a beautiful response from her. 

Tingyun sighs, pleased, her touches on him growing soft and pliant — the twin to her red lips — and Jing Yuan is only but a mortal with a heart and desire. However hard he tries to not want in return, he never claims himself as a saint.

Jing Yuan moves forward, taking careful steps so Tingyun could keep up as she backwards, their kiss being put to a stop when she ducks her head at the opportunity and gulps in the air. Gently, he brings her into his chest muffling her disoriented haze, aware that they're not the only ones here on the starskiff.

The sound of the engine humming at the back as they fly across the sky, added with the separating thick wooden partition should be enough to mute any noises from the backseat. But Jing Yuan doesn't want to even risk one vulnerable noise coming from her to be heard by anyone. 

When they reach one of the seats, he reluctantly separates himself from her. The signal is enough for her to interpret that he wants her to sit down — Tingyun feels lightheaded as it is, she might actually just fall to the ground beyond this point if they do go further. 

"Something going on in your mind?"

By the heavens, Tingyun's face heats up and she silently curses the cramped space for the lack of air. Jing Yuan certainly isn't helping, he stands tall in front of her knees, having the audacity to now put his hands behind him as he peers down at her, a smile adorning on his lips, a noticeable flush to the side of his uncovered face. 

At that sight, she is assured that she's not the only one feeling the intensity of it all. Their space reduced to zero and hands wandering the span of the possibility of a future together.

Still, it is a bit maddening how composed he can still be after that. She huffs, two can play in this game.

Tingyun doesn’t need to do much, a part of her largely wants him — no point in denying it now — so she only needed to wear what she's feeling on her face, confident that Jing Yuan can read it as easily as they're drawn naturally to each other. All her fears and hesitation she adorns, but in it are her growing feelings and the want for something that she can claim to.

She sees the moment her feelings reach him, making her wonder how a calm presence such as his can become more soothing than it already is. The stretch of his lips slowly falls flat, but not to an unkind face. Jing Yuan blinks once, his eyes holding her in an embrace, as warm as the light pouring in through the window of the starskiff.

Tingyun sits there, head craned up to look at him as he stands there, both faces speaking everything words will never be enough for.

The seconds tick by, and she realizes just how much she trusts him; for the fear of rejection doesn't make her cower back to crouch beneath a fallen wall.

Jing Yuan caresses her face through the slow glide of his eyes, taking every inch and bit of detail of her face. When his eyes return back to where he started, it is to find that she is still looking at him. He has the mind to ask her what she sees, if she can see right through him. And it doesn't matter whether it's a yes or no, he surprises himself at the fear of her answer nonetheless.

And so he brings up a hand, cups her cheek in it and brushes his thumb across the smooth span of her skin. 

It's a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but the redness that coloured her cheeks alive was splayed across in red, blood, for the quickest blink of his eyes. The vision comes attacking him without warning as if taking advantage of his guard lowered Jing Yuan almost physically flinches away from her face.

His hands accursed, destined to bring death to those who warrant it. But it is her eyes that hold him steady, the want palpable, as is her fear; a shadow that follows behind. 

Let me have this. Her eyes pleaded not to him but towards the sky and the endless span of possibilities. Towards fate, towards uncertainties, towards everything that is not them. 

Let me have this. Tingyun grasps his hand still holding her cheek, his fingers surprisingly sparse of harsh callouses, the tips cradling her soft. Almost deceiving her that he is someone not familiar with weapons, Jing Yuan is anything but unfamiliar with it. She has seen him drawing blood.

Jing Yuan leans down, slowly, watching her desire winning over fear, her eyes closing and back straightening to help shorten the distance as their lips meet again. As soft as their first kiss was, as sure as the second was. 

Let me have this. Just this. 

Third time's supposed to do the charm, so they both ignored how it feels like a parting instead.

Tingyun accepts the hand that's offered to her as she steps out from the starskiff onto the platform at Exalting Sanctum. The contrast between the sky here compared to when they were at the entrance of Shackling Prison — although gloomy —  obvious and jarring that she involuntarily takes a breath to prepare for whatever the discussion will be. 

Her mind drifts back to her imprisoned friend, and before she can regret and go against Yena's wish to go through with the trial, Tingyun makes her way into the place. 

After having finished the brief report from the Cloud Knights that greeted them at the dock, Jing Yuan catches up to the foxian in a few strides. It was a wordless agreement that nothing is to be said about their developing relationship when they're out in public, and so the distance between them is stretched politely. Back behind the safe line.

"Ah, right," he starts with a smile, "we were supposed to catch up."

"Catch up?" Tingyun asks, eyes glancing at him inquiringly. 

He nods, "You never told me how you came to the Shackling Prison with your companions."

"Oh." The realization that they, indeed, were supposed to talk about that but have been talking and doing something else leaves a quiet mortification on her face. She silently hopes that Madame Yukong will not be present for the group meeting. The helm master only needs to take one look at Tingyun's blush that hasn't calmed down and she'll know. 

She begins explaining then, how she only recently became acquainted with the foxian from Xianzhou Yaoqing, and Yukong's suggestion that they visit the Shackling Prison together. Bailu coming along with them was a total coincidence that lined up. 

"I'm not quite familiar with the history of Hoolay, just knew enough to be aware that Madame Yukong sent Jiaoqiu with me as a gesture of goodwill. I doubt he wanted to come there in the first place, but he has no reason to refuse the offer too."

"Two birds with one stone," he quipped. 

"Yes. Lady Bailu just happened to be in the area when we were meeting with Xueyi to depart for the Shackling Prison. Jiaoqiu extended the invitation to her, as they were supposed to be meeting anyway.”

Tingyun slides him a smiling glance before adding, "Just in time to save you and your companions."

"Why," he chuckles at her cheekiness. "Thank you."

They walk in silence then, almost arriving at their destination. 

When the meeting ended, Jing Yuan was the first one to part ways— mostly because of an insistent Yanqing ushering him to get back to the Seat of Divine Foresight to discuss a more military matter. But Tingyun doesn't miss the accusing glance (an adorable glare, really) towards her way from the young lieutenant. She says nothing of course, merely responding to his farewell with a smile of her own.

Her smile widens at the thought of Jing Yuan needing to sit through what she knows will be an upcoming lecture— about her, most likely. 

However, her glee doesn't last very long because when Jing Yuan bids everyone goodbye after his mentee did, he might as well have announced there and then that they have something going on rather than addressing Yukong and Fu Xuan politely with salutations but then dropping it for her.

Tingyun. He had said with that smile of his. He doesn't linger for a second longer after addressing her lastly. Yanqing hot on his heels, expression surprised just as the rest of them.

Payback, perhaps. For as much as she sees him, he sees her the same amount.

Yukong leaves afterward, already expecting Tingyun to meet her back at the Palace of Astrum when the meeting adjourns. Bailu and Jiaoqiu have long left the Exalting Sanctum before she and Jing Yuan arrived, so now it leaves her alone with Fu Xuan.

"Master Fu," she starts after Yukong's figure is no longer seen. "If I may be forward?"

Fu Xuan didn't offer a verbal response, merely turning her body to face Tingyun, her expression empty of anything that will give away to her thoughts.

"May I know what you've seen of my future?"

If the master diviner is surprised that she knows to even ask for that, she doesn't show it. No, the question made her facial expression harden. Like it's a good thing she asks that, as if the conversation is going the way exactly how she wants it to be without needing to steer it. As if Tingyun has given her the permission to be harsh for her answer to that question is— 

"Curious about your blossoming relationship with the general?" 

Tingyun doesn't flinch, doesn't feel the shame of needing to. She meets the master diviner's eyes, silently apologizing to Jing Yuan if this will result in a future altercation between the Six Charioteers. But she needs to know before deciding how to move forward with his heart in the palm of her hands.

"You don't need to sugarcoat what you've seen."

"Fearless, are we?" Fu Xuan comments, but there is no snide to be found in that remark, even though it's said sarcastically. "I couldn’t understand the general's decision to continuously seek out your company. To defend you, even. But I guess I can see why now."

Tingyun doesn't rise to take the bait, it's obvious that Fu Xuan is looking for a button that will set her off, although the reason for that eludes her. But to hear the verbal confirmation that Jing Yuan has been looking out for her almost made her slip. She has come to that conclusion, but to hear it coming from one of the Six Charioteers is an entirely different matter. It is enough to almost cause her cheeks to redden once again.

Jing Yuan likes her. More than the act of simply looking out for her wellbeing. Enough to almost go against his colleagues' words.

His heart beating against her palm feels louder. 

"Please," Tingyun says. "I need to know."

Let me have this. She almost pleaded to her, but it's not Fu Xuan that holds the power over them. It isn't anyone that controls them, only themselves. But Tingyun can't be greedy, she has been selfish enough to let herself hold him. 

Fu Xuan sighs, whatever trial she has set up for Tingyun abandoned in the same breath. For the first time since their meeting, Tingyun sees the woman behind the title, just a person that cares, and same as the general— their position is above whatever personal feelings they have.

Standing across from each other, it feels as if they've reached a common ground.

"Not knowing might be kinder." Fu Xuan finally offers. Her words are damning enough.

But it isn't the easy way out that Tingyun wants, it's not the excuse to not look destiny right in the eye that she prefers. She has long stared at the red of the blood, the vision of it strong and haunting. It was supposed to be kind; the fact that she lived from the carnage of war. But being able to sleep on a bed inside a protected house didn't stop from the nightmares creeping in. She was supposed to see a dark black when she closed her eyes to rest, but there were some days when all she saw was red. 

That hadn't been any kinder. To be alive yet still haunted. She doesn't think nothing will ever hurt more than that— with nowhere to run and hide even when she's safe.

Tingyun doesn't want kind when it wouldn't make a difference. "Not knowing will be harder for me," she says. "The general knows, I presume?"

Fu Xuan didn't confirm her assumption, both knowing it to be true regardless. She sighs then, accepting the quiet stubbornness in the green eyed foxian. It isn't her secret to keep, isn't her life to let. But as she shares the vision she sees to the person subjected to the cruelty of life, Fu Xuan feels the word leaving her mouth dissolving into ashes. 

As her words finish, the look on Tingyun is one of acceptance. Like she knew the newfound happiness couldn't have lasted; it's as if she's more relieved at this turn of events that might happen in the future rather than whatever dream she has in her mind.

Fu Xuan isn't one to pity people, but she finds herself offering what truth she knows as fact. "It's not set in stone."

Tingyun, ever the one to avoid getting lost in hopes and wishes, smiles at the words shared by the master diviner. It meant to be a comfort, but instead it dissolves in the air between them before she can breathe it in.

"I'm not familiar with how your skill works with the Matrix of Prescience, Master Fu, but the fact that you've seen something out of it speaks volume of how much of a probability it could happen in the future."

"You're right, it's still a probability. A possibility that could certainly occur. But now that you know it, who's to say you can't work your way out to defy that fate?"

Tingyun stares up to the night sky of Exalting Sanctum, her hand resting on her chest as she settles with an answer. “I’m not above the sky.”

The vulnerability in her words is raw, and a few seconds pass by to let it settle.

Fu Xuan glances up, eyes momentarily staring into the distance before settling back down towards Tingyun. "You might as well be, seeing that you are about to be promoted as the new amicassador for the Flames Whistling Guild."

"Heh, is that your way of welcoming me?" she chuckles.

"I admit, you're good at your job. The guild will flourish under your care." 

"Well, if the Six Charioteers will still have me working under the Sky-Faring Commission after what has transpired, I'll do my utmost best not to disappoint."

"My objection will matter little when you have two of them vouching for you." Fu Xuan huffs.

She smiles, "Madame Yukong and General Jing Yuan?"

"Don't act coy with me now. Yukong has told me of your early acquaintance with her, which explains why she's fond of you. The general, however," Fu Xuan shakes her head. "You have him wrapped around your finger. I have never seen him so... defiant, over the past couple of decades."

The smile on the foxian's lips stretches wider with delight, and Fu Xuan hates to see genuine happiness written all over it when she's aware of the decision Tingyun has made. 

"I wouldn't go that far to say the general has all but lost his ability of rational decision-making."

"Hah, with how he's getting bolder in showing his obvious favoritism towards you, it's only a matter of time before your words become his law."

"Then," Tingyun drops her hand and faces Fu Xuan with an expression of sweet acceptance. "I better make sure it doesn't come to that, lest all of Luofu will suffer."

You don't have to. The words weighed heavy on Fu Xuan's tongue, refusing to leave her mouth. So she stays silent, unable to say anything more. It isn't her heart to break.

Almost a week has passed since their meeting at Exalting Sanctum. Jing Yuan sits inside the Seat of Divine Foresight, eyes locked onto the scroll opened on his desk, the seal marked in bright damning red at the bottom of the decree holding the utmost importance.

A few feet away from the desk, standing on his station where Yanqing has always situated himself at, he shares a glance with Qingzu— wondering what order the general has been tasked with from Marshal Hua. It has been a while since the general himself received a direct order from the marshal. Yanqing is rarely fond of whatever it would entail when one of Marshal Hua's scrolls arrive on top of the general’s desk.

Especially since most of the orders would need the general to be away for battle. 

It is for the good of the Xianzhou Alliance, he reminds himself the longer it takes Jing Yuan to move from his spot. He knows that this is related to the matter that the general reported to the rest of the arbiter generals a few days ago. 

It was decided then that the two main captives from the recent incident that took place in Luofu will be brought to Xianzhou Yuque for further questioning by General Yaoguang. Currently, they have been sent away on a small fleet, everything else smooth sailing. The other captives who were found unconscious at the scene are still under surveillance, some of them showing clear signs of being mara-struck while others experiencing memory loss. 

Yanqing entertains the idea that the matter will be concluded after the trial ends— but from the unusual quietness from his general, he begins to suspect that there might be other trouble brewing in the far horizon of their sky.

Jing Yuan has never been one to stay silent after reading Marshal Hua's order, because most of it was always her eloquent words and straightforwardness in asking him to go to battle. But now as he stares at the words, it isn't the usual orders he's used to being greeted with. None of that enthusiasm to serve his purpose as a Xianzhou warrior to be found in the straight lines of his mouth.

A treacherous thought crosses his mind, just a fleeting what if he decides to respond to the marshal's order by questioning her motive instead. 

He will most likely be questioned for where his loyalty lies. And they would deem him to be unworthy of his seat then, growing too sentimental for a person who holds such a high rank and many lives of the Xianzhou people. And he will refuse that statement, only to be shoved in the face by the fact that while he is the Divine Foresight, Jing Yuan is first and foremost— a Xianzhou native, not exempted from being mara-struck.

All because of deep personal attachments. A weakness that someone as his stature cannot afford to indulge in. And even if he binds himself to a domestic life— Jing Yuan is more the general than he will ever be a partner. 

That is the life he has chosen when he succeeded over his master. An oath that he has pledged ever since he was a young child— bright and promising, like Yanqing. 

The taste of regret threatens to overtake his senses as he lets himself lament a different life he could've lived as he stares at the words on the scroll, wondering just how much he has given himself to Tingyun. If there would come a day when he chooses her over his purpose. He hears the phantom of her chuckles, one that was shared to him just a week ago in that starskiff— 

"Don't be absurd, you're not that old."

Jing Yuan has never given much thought of an alternate life he could've gone with — although there’s that entertaining thought of him becoming a galaxy ranger — sure he is with the road he's going to live until the time when he has to retire comes. He wonders if they would be the sort of lovers that would reconnect after everything else is done. When all they are left are two weary souls wanting to settle down.

Somehow, he doubts it.

Finally breaking the silence, Jing Yuan sighs as he stands up. Yanqing is on the front of his desk immediately, looking at him expectantly. 

Jing Yuan doesn't know how to phrase the order more softly, like it might help skirt around the implication of what the marshal doesn't already know when the report arrives at her desk.

And so he speaks the words that were holding him captive just moments prior, "Marshal Hua has ordered for Tingyun to be sent to Xianzhou Yuque following the trial."

While the young lieutenant isn't particularly fond of the thought of his general harboring feelings for the green eyed foxian — in the end, Tingyun's hunch had been right, Jing Yuan did get lectured by his mentee — he's not so heartless to wish the worst for her. The sentiment is shown on his expression, his eyebrows lifted up high into his forehead and mouth taking a few seconds before blurting, "The marshal?"

Not bothering to repeat himself because Yanqing heard him just fine, Jing Yuan closes up the scroll as he prepares to depart his office. 

"I'll come with you!" he volunteered.

"No," the general shakes his head. "You will be going, and I won't be following."

"Eh?" Yanqing truly reminds himself back in his younger days, expression changing just in the blink of an eye; the remains of innocent youth easily swayed by the ticking of everflowing passage of time.

"You will only be escorting her to Yuque. The rest will be handled by General Yaoguang, as per the marshal's order."

A slight crease forms in between Yanqing's brows as he asks, hesitantly, "You're not going with her?"

"Oh?" he smiles, yet the heart is not quite there. "Were you expecting me to?"

His face says that it is indeed what he's expecting of his mentor, but Yanqing remains silent although the confusion still lingers in the form of his pressed lips. When Jing Yuan moves to step down from the short flight of stairs, Qingzu eyes the unmoving Yanqing from her station. She sees the cogs in his mind turning in the same endless loop trying to make sense of the general's decision but coming to no satisfying conclusion. 

Qingzu has been the Divine Foresight's counselor for so many years that not many new discoveries about the general — although mostly gossiped — managed to break the calm she feels of his person. So when Yanqing fussed to her about this green eyed foxian that seems to be taking advantage of the general, Qingzu would be lying if she said that she wasn't intrigue by the news.

It is no surprise that Jing Yuan cares for the Xianzhou citizens, he's not exactly loud in showing it but no one is truly foolish enough to not be able to see his steadfast devotion towards the betterment of Xianzhou Luofu. Yet in the end he manages to genuinely surprise Qingzu when she sees how fiercely he protected the foxian's integrity when questions and doubts were raised.

Jing Yuan certainly stands nothing to gain by defending Tingyun if she isn't present to witness it; if he hoped that act would earn her affection. No, it was out of pure willingness that Jing Yuan showed everyone where he stands on the matter.

"She's innocent," he had said weeks ago.

Following the figure of the general walking towards the door of the Seat of Divine Foresight, Qingzu has no doubt he will be heading over to the foxian to deliver the news himself. Her eyes glances back to Yanqing, who still looks bewildered by the general's supposedly nonchalant attitude towards the marshal's order.

Any more serious thinking and it might send his brain into an overdrive. She wonders if she should share her thoughts to him, if it would help at all.

So much for being the chief counselor, she thinks wryly. But it isn't her place to say anything about his personal life. 

All she can do is wonder, and perhaps share the regret as well for a future that is not destined to be in this life of theirs; pledged to serve the alliance.

So for now with the free time that she has before work catches up later, she wonders if Jing Yuan has come to a conclusion. She wonders if Jing Yuan will be delivering the marshal's order to Tingyun with the care he's shown behind the curtain, or with the resolution of a general. 

A part of her wonders if she would come to hate Tingyun when their separation inevitably comes. If it would even go that far. Will Jing Yuan allow himself to go that far? 

Meeting Yanqing's eyes when the young lieutenant has come to collect himself, she finds a mutual understanding between them reflected on his expression. It seems that he has come to a satisfactory answer to his question. Qingzu smiles in spite of herself, suddenly feeling sorry in this story she has no role in.

Jing Yuan might choose a path if it affects only his own, but never if it means taking the choice out of the other's hand. 

Qingzu can't discern if it's incredibly selfless or overtly selfish on his part. Perhaps she will be more lenient towards him about work for a few days. 

Tingyun braces herself against the railing overlooking the Jade Gate, surroundings quiet and devoid of the bustle of the city. Her hands hugging the wooden rail, she wills herself to be calm as she awaits the general's arrival.

He had sent her a text, wanting to meet in this specific location. He offered no more details, just a sudden time and place to meet him here should she be free to do so. And Tingyun was at work earlier, but something about his straightforwardness tells her that he will be expecting her presence nonetheless. 

It has been a week since they last saw each other, and Tingyun has been swamped with work since then. Her meeting with Fu Xuan and Yukong after that night solidified her decision— one that she saw coming from miles away, one that she selfishly wants to defy and so needing a strong reason to go through with it. Jing Yuan has given her this perfect opportunity.

He doesn’t need to know that Tingyun has been refraining herself from reaching out to him, when there had been a few nights that she almost sent a text. Tingyun knows what she has to do, but knowing is not as easy as doing. She told herself she will put an end to this once news from the Xianzhou Yuque arrives, and now a week later it seems like time has run out.

She now needs the strength to convey it.

Every night she lays in bed going through different scenarios of how the conversation will play out. No matter how tired she was, just the thought of him fuels her to stay awake even if a second longer if it meant she can better prepare herself for this day.

A week feels too short, so much has happened, yet little is resolved.

The sound of quiet footsteps alerts her to turn around. A deliberate choice from Jing Yuan to let his presence be known so that she hears him coming. 

"Hello."

"...Hello."

"You're here early," he comments. 

"Not at all, I just got here myself," she responded. Eyes swiftly glancing to his arms placed behind.

"How's work?"

"Terribly busy. I had half the mind to send a complaint to the previous amicassador for the amount of work he's left behind." 

"Hm, I'm tempted to say to go through with it."

"That would be unbecoming of you, general," she smiled.

He comes to a stop beside her, eyes wandering through the span of the sky leading towards the Jade Gate. "It comes and it goes, this little urge to liven up the atmosphere."

"Must be hard to resist," she hums contemplatively. She joins him in sightseeing, eyes darting around from one starskiff and another to the next. 

"Not quite. Try having Yanqing by your side along with the rest of the Six Charioteers, you'd find it easier to put in work rather than fooling around."

"Oh, I think it only makes you want to jest more than it should curb your humour less."

"Finally, someone who understands," he sighs. The sound a faux breathe of hurt, carrying no disappointment at all. It prompts Tingyun to smile, and the lift of her lips so suddenly drags up the tiredness she wasn't able to sleep off. She couldn't stop the sigh from escaping her mouth, and it sounds just as gut-wrenching as the expression she must be wearing on her face now.

She at least wanted to say her words with a smile, but now she has to blink to keep her composure steady; like it's not as easy as breathing to stand against gravity. 

Jing Yuan hears her shuddered exhale, an answer all in itself before he has even asked the question. He remains in his pose, hands clipped at his back while his eyes stare up ahead.

It would be kinder, he thinks, to get to the point and shatter all illusions. It would be easier not to defy fate.

"I received a decree from Marshal Hua," he starts. "The marshal has ordered for your presence on the Xianzhou Yuque. Yanqing will escort you along with a small batch of Cloud Knights army, General Yaoguang will take over once you arrive at their gate."

If the order surprises Tingyun as it comes so suddenly after a week of silence, she doesn't show it. As it is, the foxian remains so quiet beside him that Jing Yuan has to tighten his arms in order to quell the desire to turn his head towards her. 

Silence accompanies them for a moment, a friend that he would've welcomed on any other day, but now even the silence feels uncomfortable— like it doesn't know how to behave in this situation, but it can't leave and so it hovers heavily over their heads instead.

"I..." she croaks quietly, "I understand."

Tingyun can't breathe. Aeons, she feels sincerely delirious. She gasps a breath, tears spilling down from the corner of her eyes leaving wet streaks across her cheeks.

"Tingyun?" 

She doesn't register the hands holding her shoulders, manoeuvring her to face a body that she can't see clearly past through the onslaught of tears— but whose warmth she would recognize anywhere for the rest of her life.

The warmth enveloped her whole, steady hands holding her with him. While he stayed quiet, his gentle thumb stroking her shoulder speaks all the words left unsaid.

It shocked her, of course, to hear that the marshal specifically asked for Tingyun’s presence, and it then took her a few seconds to register the fact that she will be returning to Yuque. But those didn't knock whatever strengths she had left for this conversation, no, it had to be what Jing Yuan said afterwards. He will not be going with her.

It's the answer she was going to give him. She is going to give his heart back, she will stop meeting him outside of the line. It was that what broke her in the end, the surety that they can't have this after all. Not even when they've crossed the line and shared the same breathe again and again and again— 

If it's not hers, it will not be taken away. 

But it was hers, for a moment suspended in the air inside that starskiff a week ago, his heart was at the palm of her hand. He gave her his heart, and she held it.

Tingyun almost laughs at the absurdity of how complicated they have gotten, but what escapes her mouth instead is a broken gasp as her tears remain unstopped. Jing Yuan says nothing, merely holds her firmly in his arms as he hugs her whole. Their hearts are the closest it can get, the last time it'll ever be as close again. 

It took an embarrassing amount of minutes before her tears recede and she is able to breathe steadily without choking up in the process. And when it happens, she slowly separates herself from his cocoon, and he lets her go almost as slow as her. It's clear he's reluctant, but whether it’s because he thinks she might be still on the verge of a breakdown or because he wants to hold her longer— Tingyun doesn't want to know anymore. She doesn’t want to look at him and see an open book meant only for her to read.

She doesn't want to lose him. 

As she takes the steps needed to put a weighing distance between them, a strong breeze pushes by them. The wind cheekily ruffles Jing Yuan's hair, causing the red ribbon that ties his hair together to flutter about in the air. Her eyes catch onto the piece of familiar fabric, immediately recognizing it for the same one that she gave him.

The colour red holds her captive, rendering her frozen just as she attempted to say her thanks. It is the colour of blood, of someone who died, of the broken sky and a home long abandoned. It is a colour that she remembers vividly counting down seconds and minutes to. 

But now, the red comes with the sight of a person she cherishes. An acquaintance to friends and now work colleagues, and they could be more than that. So much more. The ribbon, red, alive and there. 

It was hers, she gave it to him, and he took it, he wore it. Wears it, still.

Tingyun wonders how she will live past this, coming to a realization that she has given her heart to him and he hasn't given it back. This is supposed to be their parting. This is goodbye to a future unfavoured by fate itself.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. Her eyes leave the ribbon and meet his awaiting gaze. 

He smiles, a small genuine gesture. 

"Don't be. I don't regret it." His voice impossibly quieter than hers. 

At a loss for words, even if she has so much more to talk about— Tingyun nods in acceptance. It would be good to end it here, to not say any more damning words that will just make it harder for them to return to the back of the line they should've never crossed in the first place. 

But Tingyun doesn't regret it as well, although she doesn't verbally reciprocate the sentiment, she knows that Jing Yuan knows.

It makes it a little bit easier to walk away.

“Well, I’ll prepare to leave for Yuque.”

Jing Yuan nods. “Of course. I will let Yanqing know.”

“Right.”

“Yes,” he echoed. 

“I… will take my leave,” she trails off. 

“I will see you soon, Tingyun.” You not need be afraid, he means to say, but there are some words that he can’t simply toss out without breaching the boundary of what they are now. No longer something in the future, just work colleagues. Friends, if he can ever truly feel such genuine feelings for her again when he’s tasted of what it is to be more. 

To his response, Tingyun returns his nod with a smile that seems more forced than it should be. Without hesitating this time, she turns and leaves the quiet corner. Jing Yuan’s eyes follow her retreating figure until she turns untraceable. 

He commits her to memory, and she takes the heat from his gaze to fill in what used to be the spot of her heart that’s been given away.

He remains there — on his favourite secret spot to idle away from everyone else — long after Tingyun had left. 

Jing Yuan says nothing, no sigh exhaled to betray what he truly feels inside. His eyes cast aimlessly ahead, seeing nothing but the silhouette of her figure walking away.

The wind responds, hugging him briefly before letting go as if telling him it has other places to go to. It prompts a chuckle out of him as the cool of the breeze dissipates. Jing Yuan unties the ribbon that keeps half his hair tidy, bringing the long red fabric into his vision. He stands against the railing, arms out below the endless bottom of the sky. The end of the fabric sways freely, his grip on the ribbon is the only thing preventing it from flying away from his grasp.

He has the sudden urge to test out fate, to see if the ribbon would find its way back to them if he lets it go. But his grip only grows tighter, refusing to part with the reminder of what she leaves him with. His mind and body are not in agreement, it’s only his consciousness holding it all together.

The ribbon, red, unforgiving. But it is hers, passionate, and alive.

It is enough. He wills it to be enough. 

END.

The "red thread of fate" is an East Asian belief, primarily from Chinese mythology, that an invisible red thread connects two people who are destined to be together, signifying a soulmate connection; this thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break, no matter the circumstances or time that passes between them. 

Chapter Text

The fire burns, and everything hurts. 

Her companions lay dead, her ship is wrecked, and she comes to the horrifying realization that she is soon to follow them. Her mouth opens, to beg, perhaps, to plead. But the glowing entity hovering meters away from her ignores whatever it is that Tingyun is saying. 

Ah, she’s not saying anything, is she? Her mouth hurts to even move in the scorching heat encroaching closer to where she lays helplessly, bleeding all over from the sudden explosion that took all of them off guard.

They were laughing just before, planning jokes to charm the locals of their next destination. And then, someone came running from the back shouting— “Intruders!”

By then, it was already too late. The fire had started, and in the midst of the ambush, with panic high in the air no one thought to send a distress signal back to Xianzhou Luofu. But they weren’t given a chance to act, for the enemies were far quicker than they are. They were merchants, not fighters. It took two lives ripped out in front of her for Tingyun to realize that this was a planned attack.

Tingyun’s head hurts, and she can’t feel all of her body, her mouth becoming more numb the closer the fire licks over. But she sees the glowing entity— a heliobus, inching closer to her. It appears to be saying some unintelligible words, or is it her that had lost the ability to comprehend what was being said?

She pushes her mind to think, fast, to touch her bracelet for the embedded jade abacus crafted within it. She only needs to activate it to send a signal back to Xianzhou Luofu. He will receive it. And much has happened since, and they were never as close again, but there is never the doubt that he wouldn’t come for her if she calls. She only needed to reach out. 

She cries out in pain then, for a sharp sting attacks her shoulder— so close to her neck, so close to ending her life right then. The pain persists, and Tingyun feels her control of her arms fading away to numbness. Her vision darkens at the edges, blurred by unshed tears. Her nose and throat hurts from the rising smoke, cloyed thickly by the fresh air of death.

It had been more than decades ago since the last time her life was severely threatened. Back then, Fu Xuan had said something about fire and destruction pertaining to Tingyun’s future. It was the reason why she ended things with Jing Yuan.

It had been so many long years, all those she continuously denied herself happiness with the general. She sent him a personal letter for the first time. That was yesterday. It’s going to reach him, and when he writes back — because it’s not a matter of if he writes back, but when — Tingyun will not be here to receive it. The heat creeps closer, and she finds herself missing his warmth very much.

She feels hot and weary under the blistering heat and the taste of defeat. She doesn’t want to die this way. A bone-chilling sensation takes grip of her paralyzed legs, quickly crawling all over her body and she couldn’t do anything but lay there, resigned to her fate as her vision darkens more. 

Tingyun hears a voice talking, a female voice? It’s unfamiliar. She has to warn the others— others? Who?

Her fingers twitch, as if remembering to do something with it. Her instincts tell her she is supposed to touch something, but the fire creeps closer, seizing her attention. She sees bodies laying around, all unmoving and bloodied. She sees faces, but finds no recognition in them. Her breath hitches, abandoning her own nerves that all feels painful yet numbed at the same time. She’s panicking, she realizes. She doesn’t know or remember how she got here.

The red is illuminated so bright against the destruction, yet it jostles her mind to remember something so important. Someone. She is exhausted, her eyes automatically drooping. But the more she closes her eyes, the clearer a silhouette of a person she sees in the far distance. White silvery hair, half tied up with a red ribbon. The person’s back faces her, his hands clasped together from behind.

The sight stirs something within her, it’s uncomfortable— her nerves are all tingling with recognition of the silhouette, giving Tingyun the strong impression that she knows this person. But she can't recall his face or name. 

It feels wrong to forget that someone's face, but she’s far too tired to fight the lull that’s beckoning her. 

Tingyun hopes desperately against the weight of her closing lids that she’ll remember after she wakes up.