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Chapter Text

Zhuo Yichen diligently practiced his sword skills in the beautiful backyard of his house, where peach blossoms were in full bloom, giving off a sweet scent that he always carried deep within his heart. He moved swiftly like the wind, his divine sword shining a deep blue, his steps light and precise, like a master swordsman performing his finest dance. Although he had no audience, as his skills were only displayed to protect his loved ones and ward off demons from his city, he danced alongside his sword as if it were an extension of his arm. His breathing was regular, as he focused on channeling his inner power into the Cloud Light sword, a relic from the age of the gods, which complemented his own inherited divine power to face all adversity.

He loved the power that ran through his veins, it was something that made him feel more alive and in control of his own destiny. So, every day, when he wasn't on duty, he went to that magical place at home, surrounded by the trees he loved, where he practiced for hours. It was precisely there that his older brother Zhuo Yixuan found him and smiled at him when he finally noticed his presence, stopping to go to where his brother was waiting patiently.

"Brother, I'm sorry... I was too focused on training. This place is always so peaceful that I don't need to deploy my senses to be aware of others, and your energy is so gentle that I barely feel it." Zhuo Yichen said as he happily hugged his brother, who was also an excellent demon hunter, though his off-duty kindness made his energy hard to recognize. He and his father had joked several times that Yixuan would have made an excellent assassin if their world hadn't been disturbed by the unwanted demons.

Zhuo Yixuan laughed as he hugged his brother back, as they had been separated for months when he had gone out to do reconnaissance in the inner part of the Forest of Convergence were he fight the strongest demons. The Hunters' Citadel was one of the most extreme places in their human world, as it was just outside the forest where the two realms converged, hence its name and the place where the fiercest battles take place.

"No need to apologize, I'm just glad to finally see you after so long away from home. How's father?" Yixuan asked as they sat down at the edge of the hallway to chat.

"He's fine, he's just getting older, but tell me, how are things going at the Hunters' Citadel? Are the demons still giving us too much work? Are we still going strong against them? I was surprised that the Bureau asked to recruit younger demon hunters immediately. Are we in trouble? Will they never give up on our world? They already have their own, for heaven's sake!" Yichen always lost his temper when talking about demons, so Yixuan simply patted his brother on the shoulder to calm him down.

"We're holding on, but it's never easy, and we lose many hunters every month. Yichen..." Yixuan wasn't very happy with the ruling the Demon Hunting Bureau had issued to each demon hunter household. He knew his brother's power was great and greatly anticipated by those in charge of their protection, but to him, Yichen was nothing more than his younger brother, even though he was a grown man of twenty-three.

"I know about the decree, and it's about time I can finally fight in the big leagues, instead of just in the city patrols. I've proven myself worthy of fighting even the strongest demons, it's in my blood to do more than just take care of the lesser demons that escape the Bureau main force." Yichen said, and Yixuan, looking into his deep blue eyes, agreed that it was in his blood, the blood of their ancestor, the dragon god Bing Yi, who had once been appointed protector of humanity by Nuwa herself. However, in the final battle between the gods and the demons, he disappeared after defeating the demon dragon god Ying Long.

"Don't be so eager to experience war, Yichen. It's not just about fighting demons, but also about watching your friends and comrades fall one by one. The demons you've fought so far are dangerous, but the demons in the forest outside the Hunters' Citadel are ruthless. The carnage is so great it makes you want to throw up the first time you go there. The Forest of Convergence is nothing but a slaughtering ground for both sides. Honestly, I'd like to delay your involvement there a little longer." Seen that his brother was about to protest, he placed his hand on his brothers shoulder to calm him down.

"Don't take me the wrong way Yichen, it's not that I don't trust your abilities, it's just that it's mentally challenging, much more so than the strength and power required to survive there." Yixuan explained softly as he knew that in Yichen's heart, more than the hatred he felt for all the demons, he had a very kind heart and seeing friends die left and right would mark him for the rest of his life as it did him.

"I know you worry, brother... but now or two years from now, as was previously the rule for the age of demon hunters in Hunters' Citadel, isn't going to make things any easier. I'm young, yes, but if the demons keep killing us, old or young, we'll have no future and are destined to disappear forever. I want to protect you, protect this house, the ones in our neighborhoods, and all the other houses in the human cities struggling to survive an endless war. If the gods had abandoned us, we'd have no choice but to thrive on our own, fighting with all our might to ensure that our loved one also has a promising future..." Yichen replied, and Yixuan felt very proud to have such a younger brother, and he was absolutely right.

"You're right, of course... It's just that I'm a little sentimental sending you to the harshest place in the world, but it's true that you'll go there sooner or later, so at least I can be close to you and do my best to protect you, and if things get really tough, I'll be there for you." At that, Yichen smiled with the love he had always felt for his protective brother and swore to himself that he would bring him home each time without fail.

"Come on, let me take you to greet our father so you can talk, and then we have dinner before we head to the Citadel." Zhuo Yichen said, standing up and offering his hand to his brother to help him up as well. They walked back to the main hall and then to the library, where his father was working on different kind of protective talismans that he would present to the local Demon Hunting Bureau in Tiandu in the hopes of providing greater security for both demon hunters and ordinary citizens. Their father was a retired demon hunter trainer from the Bureau, but he always hoped to help all demon hunters, even if it was in simple matters.

It was a happy reunion after months of separation, and when the time came to part, both sons embraced their father and bid him farewell, while the eldest in turn gave them a blessing for their safety on the battlefield and a safe return home. The journey to the Citadel was thrilling for Zhuo Yichen, despite the dangers that come with fighting at the gates of the demon world. His brother was a legend in his own right, as a descendant of Bing Yi, but he wanted to walk his own path with his Cloud Light sword and longed to hunt down the demons who had taken so much from them.

The journey to the Hunters' Citadel will take ten days on horseback, giving them time to rest and ensure the journey goes smoothly. Zhuo Yichen was very glad to be able to spend more days alone with his brother before parting ways again, for who knows how long. Once at the Citadel, Yichen will be assigned to his own unit of demon hunters, and afterward, they will be sent into the forest for their first fight in the outer part of the forest, or outer ring, where the demons were less ferocious. As they gain experience in this hostile environment, they will advance towards the central region to finally reach the gates of the demon world, where the most powerful demons come from and where the war is the most intense.

"Seriously, Yixuan, how bad are things in the inner circle, where the convergence is strongest? I've heard stories from other veteran hunters, as well as from our father, but I think they're just sugarcoating their stories to make them seem less disturbing. I need the truth to prepare for what lies ahead." Yichen asked, and Yixuan looked at him in the light of their campfire, giving his brother a shadow of mystery.

"As I said before, it's a place of slaughter for hunters and demons alike, where you have little time to rest, but plenty of time to fight for your life. Appearances can be deceiving, as the forest isn't entirely set in our human world, but in theirs as well, a mix of both that sometimes confuses you. It's as beautiful as it is deadly, so never let your guard down while hunting demons there, no matter which of the three rings you're in. An innocent-looking bunny, for example, can turn into a ferocious beast in seconds, and someone who looks human can become a dangerous demon and those are the strongest of them all."

"Those shape-shifting demons are tricky, as they are cunning and can hide their demonic aura and impersonate other demon hunters. Many hunters have fallen for that trick in the past centuries, making the fight against them tougher every year." Yixuan explained as his younger brother listened intently.

"Have you fought human-like demons before? How do you distinguish them from other hunters then?" He asked curiously, wanting to be as prepared as possible to face such threats.

"Yes, I have fight with them many times, but as for telling them apart... all units have their own ways, a sort of code that only a demon hunter can answer and also, there is a spell that can give a demon away, but all of those you will learn once your unit is established. Just be very careful who you trust outside of your own unit, especially in the inner ring." Yixuan warned him, and Yichen nodded in understanding.

"Is there a particular demon you can't defeat?" Yichen asked, having heard a name that made other hunters shudder.

"There's one particularly strong demon who puzzles all of us, because his power is unlike any other, but he rarely use it. You see, he can kill any number of demon hunters with a single word, but... he doesn't seem as interested in fighting seriously as the rest of the demons under his command. To be honest is a relief that he only appears occasionally when we have the upper hand. We believe he must be a high-ranking demon, the most powerful one that has shown up in the forest so far. His name is Zhu Yan and you only survive an encounter with him if he let you." Yixuan warned his brother, causing him to reflect on the information he had just revealed.

"How strange, a strong demon who doesn't like to fight? Why is he there then?"

"No one knows for sure, but it seems he's only there to prevent us from invading his demon world."

"As if we could go that far. We've fought demons for centuries, and just to keep them at bay in our world, how can they even think we have enough strength to fight them in their own world filled with millions of them?"

"That's why it puzzles me. If he truly wished for this war against us to end, with just a few of his word spells, he would have massacred us permanently, but he seems to be opposed to it. Perhaps killing us is beneath his status or something. He must think we're too weak to take us seriously."

"Then one day I'll prove to him that we're not what he thinks we are."

"I'll be blessed by the heavens if you never come face to face with him."

"I'm a descendant of a god. I can handle him."

"Me too, Yichen, and having a god's blood running through your veins isn't enough to defeat a great demon. In a way, they're also descendants of their own gods, and unlike us, their blood is awakened while ours remains dormant. I know that in your case, Bing Yi's power run stronger than the rest of us, but is still not fully awaken. You'll soon discover that being a descendant of a god isn't so special. Remember, my beloved Yichen to never doubt yourself, but don't underestimate your opponent either." Yixuan said seriously, and Yichen blushed in embarrassment at his own sudden arrogance. Seen that Yixuan patted his little brother shoulder with affection.

"You are very precious to me, Yichen, so be careful out there and take good care of yourself, as well as those close to you." Yixuan said with his usual kindness and Yichen blushed deeper, but this time because of his deep respect for his brother and the way he cherished him so adorably.

"Of course, brother, I will take your wise words to my heart. We should get some rest now, we have a few more days to ride." Yichen said as he yawned and Yixuan smiled before going to lie down on his bamboo sleeping mat.

A few days later, they finally arrived at the Hunters' Citadel, which was bustling with activity everywhere, with demon hunters coming and going, performing their duties and enjoying their free time, and Zhuo Yichen was introduced to his superior Fan Ying, who was excited to finally have the most talented descendant of the dragon god Bing Yi join their ranks.

"Zhuo Yichen, I've heard so much about your talent with the Cloud Light sword from your brother and superiors in Tiandu City, that I'm honor to finally have you here. I know that the sudden decree lowering your entry age to twenty is a little premature from what you expected, which was two years from now, but I'm sure you'll make a name for yourself in no time at all." The older man in his late forties, dressed in a silver and black Hunter uniform, offered him a seat in front of a round, reddish wooden table that already have four other demon hunters seated.

"Mr. Fan, the honor is mine." Yichen welcomed him back with a respectful bow before sitting next to a blond young man who smiled brightly at him.

"Is this for real? Zhuo... Zhuo Yichen! I can't believe it! I finally see you again! It must be fate!" Another young man in front of him exclaimed, well basically shouted, looking at him with the same dreamy eyes he stared at him since he came inside the room.

"Hmm... Do I know you?" Yichen asked, a little embarrassed by such a strong reaction that made the two women at the table chuckle softly.

"Of course! You saved me from a demon five years ago, when I was traveling through the forest toward another village. It was amazing! You heard me scream and came like an ethereal god in the night, with that beautiful powerful sword and those shining eyes, and you killed that demon who had me pinned to the ground like it was nothing! You've been my hero ever since." The young man explained, and Yichen did his best to remember something so far back.

"Really? Well, I'm glad you're okay then. Hunting demons is my duty, so you don't need to make me your special hero. All demon hunters are amazing, including you, which is why we're here right now." Yichen shyly reminded him, as everyone in that room was a demon hunter, probably carefully chosen to form their own unit.

"Well, I like that he's both handsome and modest, a rare sight in such dark times as ours." One of the young women dressed in white robes whispered to the other sitting next to her.

"Rare indeed." The other older woman responded simply.

"Oh, allow me to introduce you all so you can get to know each other better before we officially depart on our respective missions in a few days. Everyone present at this table is an exceptional demon hunter with special divine bloodlines. First of all, as you've heard, the blue-eyed youth there is Zhuo Yichen, the youngest of the Zhuo demon hunting household and heir to the dragon god Bing Yi, the former protector of humanity." Yichen merely blushed slightly at this introduction, and the young man from before nearly squealed with joy.

"It is a pleasure to be here, at your service." Yichen said and the others nodded in greeting.

"Beside him sits Ying Lei, heir to the current mountain god Ying Zhao in Mount Kunlun. In addition to being an excellent demon hunter, he specializes in divine barriers and seals. He may be young, like all of you, but he knows what he's doing and values ​​life so much that he even became a chef so everyone can enjoy good health." Fan Ying praised the young man, who smiled even more dashingly than before.

"Nice to meet you, Ying Lei..." Yichen greeted him first, and so did the others.

"Beside him is the youngest healer accepted into any demon hunter unit. Although he's only seventeen years old now, even under the new decree, his healing abilities are so extraordinary that we can't form this special unit without him. He's also an heir to the goddess Bai Yan, a direct descendant of the Divine Tree of Mount Kunlun. His name is Bai Jiu, so please take care of him. I know he can do his part, as he's a master with needles, but he's still the youngest here." Fan Ying then introduced him.

"I'll make sure to keep him safe, just like I did before." Yichen smiled at the young man, and Bai Jiu nearly fainted from happiness. It was amusing to him all his childishness, but it was refreshing in a way and pleasant to be around.

"Then, let's move on to the ladies. The one in white is my beloved adopted daughter, Wen Xiao. She's an expert in demon lore and poisons. If you need an ingenious way to escape danger, she's your key player. She's also a descendant of the goddess Baize, who died protecting Nuwa in the war between gods and demons." He said, and Wen Xiao smiled charmingly at them.

"Expert in poisons and demon lore... that's quite an accomplishment for someone so young." Yichen praised her.

"I may look young, but I'm much older than you, Zhuo Yichen. I'm actually twenty-five." She corrected him sincerely.

"You're still young." Yichen replied.

"Thank you." She added.

"And finally, we have Pei Sijing, the eldest of the unit and, in her own right, the most experienced demon hunter. She is lethal with a bow and dagger, adept at tracking, close combat, and reconnaissance. She will be your Commander as she have experience life withing this city walls and out into the dangers of the forest, so everyone can develop their full potential under her protection. She possessed the bloodline of the archer god Hou Yi, once known as Shen Yi. She can also hear at great distances, so you are undoubtedly in good hands." Fan Ying finished the introductions as the young people looked at Pei Sijing in amazement.

"That's amazing, Sister!" Wen Xiao exclaimed, smiling at her with pleasure, and Pei Sijing smiled back, though she didn't say much more than a shy 'thank you' in return.

"Here you are, your fellow members of this unit in person. We will show you to your quarters shortly after dinner. Spend the next few days getting to know each other, your strengths and weaknesses, so that when you head to the outer ring within the Forest of Convergence, you can return safely. I have high expectations for all of you, so please ensure that humanity can survive this calamity for a while longer." Fan Ying truly expected great things from them and will pray with all his might that their decision to form a unit of divine bloodlines will be the ultimate solution to their endless struggles.

The unit ages: Zhuo Yichen, 23 _ Wen Xiao, 25 _ Ying Lei, 21 _ Bai Jiu, 17 _ Pei Sijing, 29 _ Zhuo Yixuan, 27 _  Zhu Yan, Immortal

Romantic Pairing: Zhuo Yichen/Zhu Yan _ Wen Xiao/Pei Sijing _ Ying Lei/Bai Jiu _ Zhuo Yixuan/Li Lun by popular request that turned to be quite fun.

AN: This is an AU version of Fangs of Fortune, so many things will be different. Their ages for example. Thanks for reading and I hope someone like this. Bellow a small view of the Hunters' Citadel and Yichen training. I try to recreate it with AI word to picture generator and this is what I got. A warning for bad English, sorry I can't help it.

Chapter Text

They spent the next few days together as a newly formed unit, getting to know each other and learning how the demon hunters worked in the Forest of Convergence. They received a briefing on what to expect within the inner circle, which was marked by a three layer barrier they had been created to minimize the escape of demons to the Citadel or nearby cities, such as Tiandu. There were always low-level demons who managed to bypass the barriers, but because of this, they constantly patrolled the forest, as well as all the nearby cities in local Demon Hunting Bureaus from where all of them came from.

They were also informed by their Commander about many other things, but were told that only by experiencing them for themselves would they fully understand their systems and dynamics, hence the reason why they were walking inside the Forest of Convergence, towards the first barrier, which was the safest for new recruits like them despite their own experience in their respective local Demon Hunting Bureaus for years.

Even so, the forest was a strange place filled with dark power, that makes your skin tingle, strange plants and trees, a purple fog sticking to the ground, that made it hard to see your own feet, not to mention something else that could be lurking, it was cold in some places, while warm in others, then there were patches of strange lands, Yichen was told that they belonged to the demon world, strange birds and other creatures that made them all keep their hands on their respective weapons, as well as their internal energy spread out like a sensor to sense any threats that their eyes couldn't see.

The dark forest also has its own beauty, with magical glowing flowers that seem to come from the celestial realm, bright, colorful, and rich in fragrance, sometimes disorienting. Because of this, most of the enormous trees were covered in yellow talismans, marking the areas where you need to be alert, while red signals full attention to potential dangers and black signals deadly encounters, which they were told they would only encounter in the inner ring.

In case of emergency, they only needed to infuse any of the thousands of talismans surrounding the entire forest or the one they always carried with them. The barriers' emergency protocol requires activating it directly at one of the towers containing the empowered stones that form the rings. All of them were heavily guarded by Masters, so it was highly unlikely that a simple unit would activate an emergency call from any of the towers in all three rings.

They were also given maps of the entire forest already marked with their specific hunting grounds, as well as special compasses that would guide them there for the next few days, as the area they were assigned was far too vast to explore and hunt any demons they encountered in just one day. It was a sort of test for the rookies, to see if they could actually pull it off, or, if they couldn't do that simple hunt in the safest area, then they will be send back home. For all of them, this was a bit offensive, as they prided themselves on their skills and had hunted stronger demons several times in their respective cities. However, rules were rules, and it gave them time to adjust to this crazy new environment.

Pei Sijing kept her special hearing sharper than ever as they slowly moved forward in formation. Yichen stood right behind her, her second-in-command, occasionally glancing at the hilt of his sword, which had a magic stone embedded in it to detect the presence of demons. Normally, the stone remained crystal clear when nothing with demonic energy was nearby, but it would turn bright blue when it detected a demon in the vicinity, while glowing a blinding white if the demon possessed very strong demonic energy. Up until now, it had remained clear, but once it began to glow, at least they would have more time to prepare for a possible imminent battle.

Behind Yichen, Bai Jiu looked around nervously, wishing he could grasp Zhuo Yichen's long thin chains, ending in small bells, to feel more protected. He was a talented local demon hunter, stationed in a different area of Tiandu, where his path with Zhuo Yichen had not crossed, as the city was very large and Yichen's office was in the center, where the city was more prosperous and attracted the attention of more demons. Although he had joined the demon hunters since the age of fifteen, as that was the minimum age for local posts to be trained and join the city patrols, he was still the youngest member and was not as experienced in tougher battles as the others, which made him a bit anxious.

Ying Lei, beside him, smiled at him from time to time to encourage him, but Bai Jiu preferred the calmness of his childhood hero, Zhuo Yichen, to that of any other member of the unit. Wen Xiao was simply amused by Bai Jiu's fascination with Yichen and Ying Lei's with Bai Jiu, despite being four years younger than him. She could sense the drama brewing in the future of her unit, though she was quite interested in their stoic commander, Pei Sijing. Then, Yichen's sword glowed bluish, though it was quite faint, however they all stopped and changed their forward formation to a circle one, to look to all sides at once.

"Commander, have you heard anything that might give us a clue as to what's watching us out there?" Yichen asked as he drew his sword with a fluid motion from his many years of wielding it.

"Nothing special, this forest confuses my hearing with so many strange things around."

"Is it strong?" Bai Jiu asked as he opened his leather pouch in which he carried his combat needles, infusing them with his energy.

"No. Just a minor demon with barely enough energy to call it a true demon." Explained Yichen.

"There are several mutations in this forest, animals that were originally normal but with demonic energy seeping in from the demon world, mutated into something in between. They are called Xiyou and while the larger ones can be very dangerous, the smaller ones are usually harmless." Wen Xiao stepped forward and explained, making Pei Sijing smile.

"You really are well informed." She praised her as she held her bow at the ready for any movement. Her senses told her that whatever was out there was right in front of her, perhaps only several meters away.

"Either way, stay alert. We don't know what it is, and appearances can be deceiving. My older brother already warned me that a simple rabbit can turn into a flesh-and-blood fereal demon with greater demonic energy once transformed." Yichen warned them, and Pei Sijing nodded in agreement.

"That's right... my grandfather also said the same thing, so he taught me a spell. Should I try it?" Ying Lei asked, looking at Pei Sijing for approval.

"Go ahead. We need to use all our abilities when necessary to strengthen our demon hunting unit." She gave her approval, and Ying Lei made several fast hand seals, gathering divine energy and releasing it upwards, to form a dome over them that exploded in all directions with golden light. The divine energy impacted something, causing it to quickly flee for its life.

"Should we chase it?" Wen Xiao asked.

"It fled too fast for us to catch it, and I don't sense any more demonic energy nearby." Ying Lei looked at Yichen's sword, which had become clear again.

"It's really gone." Yichen confirmed, and everyone relaxed.

"Well done, Ying Lei. Let's maintain the previous formation and move forward. We still have a lot of ground to cover on our first day here." Pei Sijing gave her instructions and they continued walking while remaining alert for anything else that might come their way.

Several hours passed, and they only encountered a few lesser demons that were easy to defeat. The barriers worked well to keep the stronger demons at bay, allowing only those who posed no real danger to the Citadel to pass through, and that patrolling demon hunters like them could hunt without problems. Soon, the forest grew even darker, which meant it was already nightfall and they halted their advance in a small clearing where they could make camp for their first night there.

Yichen insisted on taking first watch and Bai Jiu gladly offered to accompany him, as he was too nervous to fall asleep despite having several ways of hitting the bamboo mat without a care in the world. Seeing no way out, as his young companion was quite adamant about staying by his side, he agreed and let him sit closer to him by the campfire, as it was a bit cold in that part of the forest and Ying Lei had erected a protective barrier around their camp, just to be on the safe side. Although Yichen was beginning to believe that more than keeping them safe, he was trying to impress Bai Jiu with his abilities as a descendant of a mountain god, that unlike other gods that are gone for good, many of them were still around, especially in the Kunlun Mountains where he was from.

"Can I call you Xiao Zhuo?" Bai Jiu asked excitedly, and Yichen smiled despite himself. The young man was enthusiastic, and he granted it, since they were going to spend most of their lives together, there was no problem with being a little more friendly.

"I suppose so, and if you don't mind, can I ask you for something in return?" Yichen asked the young healer, who almost jumped on him as he came even closer, causing Yichen to blush slightly as he moved away so they would have enough space between them.

"Of course! Ask me anything!"

"Please keep your voice down, we're on dangerous ground." Yichen reminded him, and Bai Jiu pursed his lips as he stared into the fire.

"I'm not scolding you, I'm just giving you a reminder." That cheered the young man up again.

"Why did you decide to become a healer? You must have a very good reason if you're so good at your age. Most kids just prefer to play games rather than learn difficult skills, harsh training, demon hunting and deal with all kinds of illnesses."

"Ah... When I was younger, my mother fell ill. The local healer said that a demon had poisoned her in the forest where she was gathering medicinal herbs. That demon had terrorized our small village for years, but I was very ill, and she risked her life to save me. She was a healer too, though not officially, but from what she had learned from her own mother."

"Wait, you say that demon was terrorizing your village for years? I wasn't aware of that."

"You see, only cities have Demon Hunting Bureaus that deal with demons that breach barriers and patrols, and when the village is as small as ours far away from the border of the city, they aren't too interested in sending hunters to get rid of them. Since she was poisoned with something the local healer couldn't cure, it gradually change her and she turned into a tree. When that happen I left the village with my father and travel to Tiandu and stayed there ever since." He paused for a moment looking at the fire as he could see inside them the horrors he faced when younger.

"I asked father if I could study healing, and he introduced me to the best in the city. I learned quickly since I already had some knowledge of herbs, remedies, potions and so on thanks to my mother and when I was strong enough to travel on my own, I returned to try to get rid of that demon who took my mother's life. Hunting him down is where you end up rescuing me in those woods. So, in a way, not only do you save me, but you also give my mother the justice that I couldn't give her." Sadness overcame Yichen's heart and he unconsciously patted the young man's head, as if he was his little brother and Bai Jiu let some tears fall down his cheek.

"I'm sorry for bringing you bad memories..."

"Oh no, I'm not crying because I'm sad, but because your kindness touches me. I know that incident was so long ago that you may not remember it at all, but you did the same thing at the time. You patted me on the head and held me when I started crying until I calmed down, and then you sent me home safe and sound."

Bai Jiu finished his story, and soon after, Ying Lei, who was listening, also shed a few tears at the sad and heartbreaking story. That explained why Bai Jiu was so infatuated with Zhuo Yichen, as he was not only grateful to him for saving his life, but also for being the one who had given his mother peace in the afterlife. It was too heartwarming, for all those who listen, which also included Pei Sijing and Wen Xiao.

"I'm sorry for not giving your village the protection and justice it deserves. When I return to Tiandu, I'll be sure to point out that mistake so it doesn't happen again." Yichen promised, and even Pei Sijing considered doing it herself.

"Thank you, but there's no need. My father and I filed a complaint years ago, and my father even applied for a position in the Bureau, so as he rose through the ranks, the situation improved greatly for the villages and small towns. It's alright now, I make sure to patrol outside the city since my post is in the border."

"May I ask who your father is?" Yichen asked, curious to know if he had met him before.

"He's Wen Xiao's father, Fan Ying's assistant. Situ Ming..." Bai Jiu began saying, but stopped to look back, as did Yichen, when Pei Sijing heard something beyond their conversation in the distance. It sounded heavy, as if something enormous was plowing through the forest, heavy with demonic energy. This wasn't just a low-level demon, and soon everyone was standing side by side, with weapons in hand.

"It's coming." Pei Sijing warned them, but they could all feel it slowly approaching. Wen Xiao extinguished the fire, letting their eyes adjust to the darkness before it showed its beastly figure.

"No one should face that thing alone, we are a unit now and must work together. If someone is better suited to take it down, the others will assist when there's a chance to attack." Pei Sijing instructed, and Zhuo Yichen's Cloud Light sword lit up like a beacon of cosmic stars with a celestial brilliance that made Yichen frown in surprise.

"It's a powerful demon." Yichen warned the unit, but everyone could see the sword's gleam and its meaning.

"Wait, aren't strong demons supposed to be sealed within barriers?" Bai Jiu asked to no one in particular.

"It's strong, but not strong enough that it needs to be sealed, I guess?" Wen Xiao tried to understand the logic that seemed to elude them.

"Perhaps this is part of our test?" Ying Ling asked, as if it were a possibility.

"It doesn't matter if it's a test or something else. The thing is, we can't allow it to get any closer to the Citadel. That's why we're here." Yichen drew his sword, and they all waited for the creature to get closer until they could see it clearly with their trained eyes.

"It's a Heilian! A species of mutated reptilian demon that can absorb dark energy to grow in size, which explains why it passes through barriers. Its demonic energy is unstable and initially it can be a simple lizard. We must act quickly, because the more that demon absorbs the energy from this forest fog, the more dangerous it will become." Wen Xiao quickly provided the necessary information while Yichen tightened his grip on his sword.

"Let me test its strength first, Commander. Its skin should be difficult to pierce, so my divine sword may be the best choice for this hunting." Yichen offered and Pei Sijing placed an enchanted arrow on her bow and adjusted the direction before releasing it and everyone watched as the glowing arrow bounced off the thick scales without doing any damage to the Heilian demon.

"Come on then, we'll follow your lead and support you until we have an opening!" The moment Yichen heard her command, he lunged forward in a blur of glowing energy, coming from both his inner divine core and the Cloud Light sword.

The Heilan, a huge lizard beast with long horns, cover in dark scales with spikes, and red eyes, also lunges forward, its long sharp claws outstretched with killing intent, but Yichen is quick and raises his Cloud Light sword masterfully, striking confidently with each blow. The sword glows brightly, illuminating the dark clearing and giving the unit a better view to act when necessary. The demon's massive jaws snap shut in empty air each time it tries to catch Yichen off guard, but Yichen deftly dodges each time, making the demon more enraged and ferocious.

Flashes of light illuminate the surrounding trees as the demons' guttural roars compete with the sound of steel against hard scales. The Heilan's hide was indeed very thick, but Yichen was just getting started, and the others were eagerly awaiting their opportunity. The battle unfolds in a flurry of motion, and Cloud Light's sword glitters as he arcs with grace and power, striking the Heilan harder, eventually managing to wound it, though the wound was shallower than he had hoped. Thus, he continues to strike, imbued with the strength of his fury, giving way to the thick scales with each swift blow he lands on the same spot, giving the others a chance to strike the Heilan on the opposite side as well while he distracts it.

Bai Jiu throws one of the battle pills he created with alchemy, and the Heilan roars in pain as the pill shatters into corrosive powder that melts part of the scales almost instantly. Wen Xiao uses the opportunity to create a seal with divine power that causes golden chains to rise from the purple, foggy ground, wrapping the beast tightly as it tries in vain to escape.

This gives Yichen the opportunity to deliver the final blow, channeling all his energy into the divine sword as his eyes shined bright blue. The sword strikes with precision, piercing the demon's heart. A brilliant light bursts from the wound, illuminating the entire forest area, and with a blood-curdling scream, the Heilan demon implodes into a cloud of glowing particles, dissipating into the night air.

"Well done, everyone!" Pei Sijing praised her unit as they all smiled in well-deserved victory.

"I'm very surprised to learn that you also know alchemy." Yichen turned to look at the young healer, who blushed slightly at his sudden attention.

"I'm far from a master, but I can manage some things to defend myself. As you can see, I'm not exactly a close-range demon hunter. I don't have the physical strength for that." He said timidly, and Ying Lei put an arm around the young healer's shoulders and pulled him closer.

"Let me tell you, it was amazing! I wish I could have cool things like that in my magic pouch, but there are only talismans and food ingredients there." Ying Lei was about to show him some when they all heard Bai Jui's stomach growl at the mention of the ingredients, which made him realize how hungry he was. The others laughed for a moment.

"Dear Ying Lei, I think he'll appreciate your cooking skills right now. Me too, to be honest." Wen Xiao cheerfully confessed, and soon everyone was sitting in a circle around the new campfire, chatting quietly as Ying Lei happily prepared their food.

Seeing this, Zhuo Yichen was glad to be part of this amazing group, and with them, he was sure they could achieve anything if they put their minds to it, for the sake of humanity.

AN: Thanks for reading, bellow the picture of the Heilan. Hope you like it, see you next time

Chapter Text

As the group chatted leisurely and ate in good company, a pair of men dressed in the customary black and silver uniform of demon hunters watched them with approval and pride. Zhuo Yixuan had volunteered to stand guard for the group until they were officially assigned to work unsupervised, when their superiors deemed them ready.

"I must say, Zhuo Yixuan, your younger brother is as good as you say. I could sense the power of the Cloud Light sword even from a distance, and he hadn't even awakened yet. He will be a force to be reckoned with in the future and a hope for all of humanity to finally defeat the demons and send them back to their realm." Fan Ying gladly shared his thoughts with his companion.

"Wen Xiao also did well, you should be proud. She's come a long way since you adopted her all those years ago, when a demon killed her healer father. I believe that, aside from my younger brother and Ying Lei, the others have all been through heartbreaking tragedies." Yixuan sighed as he looked at the unit with a mixture of happiness and sadness.

"I agree, as their commander Pei Sijing suffered her own tragedies with the death of her younger brother Pei Siheng at the hands of the only human-like fox demon who managed to deceive us all, and then when his soul was attached to a branch of a demon tree by his sister. It was our own mistake that gave rise to that tragedy, and we owe her a lot, which is why I couldn't punish her for using a forbidden spell . We have suffered so many losses over the years that we are even sending our future to fight in our battles ahead of time." Fan Ying did not fully agree with the decision to lower the age for hunting demons in the Citadel to twenty, since the previous age, twenty-five, was an ideal age where those interested in being part of the real mission of the hunters in the Forest of Convergence, would already have enough training and experience from the local Bureaus to join the greatest fight of all and minimize the casualties.

"Don't blame yourself for that decision, because as much as it pains us to send them to war earlier than planned, it was inevitable. My little brother was even eager to join our forces. He's too impatient." Yixuan smiled tenderly at the thought of his little brother.

"To be fair, with a brother like you, even I would be eager to join you. As a brother, you are too good, and he has always followed you since childhood, like a chick to its hen." At that, Yixuan smiled.

"Our mother died giving birth to him, it was only natural that he would turn to me in her absence."

"Even so, you were always the best brother, and he'll follow you to the ends of the earth. Have you considered honoring your father's legacy by getting married? Right now, you've earned the time to court whoever interests you. I know for a fact that several of our female hunters have their eyes set on you. Besides, there's a beauty on your own unit." Fan Ying finally decided to bring up the subject he was sure Yixuan had avoided for so long. Yixuan smiled wearily.

"My services are still needed at the Citadel, as you know, Lord Fan." Yixuan avoided the topic, making Fan Ying sigh.

"And what about your little brother? He may still be very young, but he's quite handsome, upright, strong, and with a bright future ahead of him. I'm sure he had a long list a women who will love to enter your prestigious household."

"Ah, Yichen is too shy and focused on being an outstanding demon hunter to even think about marriage. And what about your daughter? She is a beautiful woman with many talents, I'm sure she must have her suitors too." Yixuan suggested, but seeing the man's expression, it might not have been a good idea.

"She's also a lost cause. Her true love is reading, and her ideal marriage is extracting poison from either man or woman." The two looked at each other and sighed in unison.

"Perhaps we're getting too far ahead of their future." Zhuo Yixuan whispered.

"Perhaps..." Fan Ying nodded as they watched the unit from a safe distance. Their inner energy completely suppressed so they will never notice them.

Deep in the Forest of Convergence, another man... well, another demon watched the distorted night sky with apprehension, longing to be somewhere else. He was not fit to guard the gateway to his realm. He was a lazy demon who loved peach trees, peace and quiet, and simply wished to continue cultivating to finally overcome his final phase and free himself from the responsibilities of his own kind.

What he longed for most was to explore the world of humans. From his elevated position, he could see that it was more interesting than the dull world of the Wilderness. He wanted to walk through that enchanted forest, beyond the barriers the humans had erected, and gaze at the beauty that stretched beyond. He could do it whenever he wanted, but of course, the reason he was there prevented him from abandoning his post. Besides, humans distrusted him and occasionally tried to kill him, which was a nuisance, and he wasn't in the mood to kill others weaker than him.

It had been quite a torture having to kill a bunch of humans a while back and he hated it, so he opted to stay out of their sight so he wouldn't be forced to kill them in another round. However, there was one particular demon hunter who attracted his attention among the humans that usually came that far, letting him get away with certain things to avoid killing him, because he could smell on the handsome hunter the blood of the one who 'killed' Ying Long, their demon god, the dragon god, Bing Yi.

He guessed that the man was a direct descendant of Bing Yi, which was intriguing in itself, as he had never imagined that humans could carry the powerful blood of the ancient gods, with their fragile bodies and short lifespans. However, there was no doubt that the one he was face to face with once was, indeed, Bing Yi's blood relative. Of course, the human legends about their gods were a complete mess, turning Bing Yi and Ying Long into eternal enemies in a fierce battle that killed the demon god, when their story was not one of hatred and enmity, but of sacrifice and love. How sad, Zhu Yan thought as he took a sip of wine from his special bottle.

That night, reclining on one of the branches of the tallest tree in the Forest of Convergence, his favorite tree,  he felt particularly bored. Perhaps because he had smelled Bing Yi's blood, which piqued his curiosity, he felt anything else was difficult to bear. So he focused his energy on the one he had once marked with a touch of his power so he would always know where he was, and smiled when he located him on the outer ring. However, as he sharpened his senses, he was surprised to find another with an even more intense scent.

"What is this? Are they brothers?" Zhu Yan wondered as he tried to better sense the young man's divine energy, finding it blinding. With a gasp, Zhu Yan opened his eyes in pleasant surprise and excitement, and unable to contain himself, he transformed into the form of a small white ape and rushed down his tree like a cloud, completely hidden by the purple fog on the ground, bypassing the two barriers without activating any of the safety measures. Humans understood very little of the true power of a great demon, but he was in no hurry to correct their shortcomings. He lacked a killing intent, his power was firmly sealed within him, and his tiny appearance was so insignificant that he seemed like a mere failure of a demon.

From a safe distance, he watched the object of his curiosity in awe. From there, he knew they were brothers, though the younger one was like a mirror image of the dragon god Bing Yi. This brother was strikingly more handsome, face bordering on ethereal, pale flawless skin, a waterfall of soft silk black hair down his straight back, captivating blue eyes, slim figure, strong, self-confident, alluring and intriguing, to the point of wanting to get closer. But then, the sword in the younger brother's hands glowed faintly, betraying his presence, even though his demonic energy had been reduced to almost nothing.

This was impressive in itself, but he could not expect less from the Cloud Light sword, making his heart flutter with the expectation of an interesting adventure that would make him feel truly alive again instead of just bored and longing for what he couldn't have. There was a reason he was indefinitely posted there, on the gateway to his world, and it wasn't because of what the humans thought it was, but the complete opposite.

Then the blond youth in the group, with the divine energy of a local mountain god, cast a spell of detection, but he dodged it, fleeing faster than any of them could have tracked him, and returned to sit in his favorite tree branch. That entire small group was made up of descendants of the gods, and he smiled in anticipation to meet them face to face for when they reach the inner ring. He would be waiting, and he hoped it wouldn't be for long.

⨳⨳⨳ The Demon Hunter Unit ⨳⨳⨳

For the next few days, they hunted only lesser demons, but that allowed them to better understand their individual abilities, which they could use in different scenarios involving different types of demons. Pei Sijing, as their leader, mentally designed several offensive formations based on different approaches to hunting demons, then discussed them with her unit to shape and name their formations so that they would know what to do when the opportunity arose and they needed to act under her command.

It had already worked well, one of them would be the lead hunter, while the rest would support or wait for an opportunity. Depending on the type of demon, the lead hunter could switch to maximize the outcome and deal with the threat with more efficiency. While working on the various strategies, Wen Xiao volunteered to write down the reports on every demon they hunted, including its location, strength, and how they find it, as well as how they handle it.

Since the Forest of Convergence was vast, as were the barriers of the three rings, there were several hunter shelters throughout the forest, mainly for those rainy days when the units preferred to rest in a dry place instead of under the torrential rain and wet ground, like the one they were experiencing at that moment. Since Pei Sijing had hunted demons in the outer and middle rings before, she knew where most of the shelters were and they headed towards the one closest to their location until the rainstorm passed and they could resume their mission.

They walked in the cold rain for hours, their boots splashing on the soaked ground, each step heavier than the last, as night drew near. On normal days, walking was part of their daily routine, easy and necessary, but when it rained, it became exhausting and uncomfortable, not to mention even more dangerous, as visibility was further diminished by the purple mist that rose between the showers.

"Look, it's the shelter!" Ying Lei called out when he finally spotted what they were looking for. There, silhouetted against a backdrop cliff of swirling purple fog like the embers of a long-extinguished fire, stood the demon hunting shelter. The fog curled around its base, giving it an ethereal quality that shimmered in the dim light filtering through the clouds. The ancient architecture blends into the rugged landscape, its wooden beams, intricately carved with dragon and phoenix motifs, symbolize the eternal battle between good and evil.

Everyone was soaked when Pei Sijing opened the shelter door for the others to enter first. A gust of warm air poured in like a hug, mingling with the cold, rain-soaked fabric clinging to their skin. As they stepped inside the threshold, a spell enveloped them, making their clothes dried instantly like a ray of sunlight. The sudden warmth enveloped them like a soft blanket, soothing their chilled bones. Inside, the shelter revealed itself as a magical haven, a spacious room lit by the flickering flames from a large fire pit at its center.

Within this shelter, two traditional black shelf beds stood against opposite walls, crafted for comfort and practicality. Each could accommodate four hunters snugly beneath their own yellow satin curtains that flutter softly in the cool breeze of the rain, offering both privacy and a touch of elegance even amidst shared quarters, a necessity when units were mixed during hunts. Wen Xiao let out a sigh of relief as she moved closer to the fire, extending her hands toward its warmth and the others soon follow her example.

"Oh my god... this is paradise." Bai Jiu was delightedly as he looked around in awe, not expecting such luxurious accommodations in simple shelters. The air carries a hint of wildflowers and dampness, mingling with the faint scent of incense emanating from an ornate lantern on a table. Its warm glow casts dancing shadows on the walls, illuminating ancient scrolls detailing demon hunting techniques. For his part, Yichen opened one of the shelves and found a few hunter uniforms, they could be changed into if theirs ended up getting ripped in battle. It was a nice touch that he appreciate it, and he smiled.

Ying Lei moved to one of the beds and pulled back a curtain slightly, peeking inside as he imagined resting there after such an arduous trek. He could not deny the fact that walking for so long under the rain, wet clothes and cold it was exhausting and he will not mind have a break for a few hours. The rain was not going to stop for a while anyways, so there was nothing they could do, as there were not demons in the vicinity in their entire walk there.

"We should rest up after a warm meal. It will not take me too long to make something and we had tea here." He suggested quietly but firmly, glancing back at Pei Sijing for approval and she nodded appreciatively before settling on one of the benches surrounding the fire. Outside, thunder rumbled ominously, an echo of nature's fury, but inside this shelter was a refuge against both weather and weariness. They were no longer just hunters facing demons, they were comrades sharing warmth and camaraderie in a sanctuary forged by spells.

While Ying Lei prepared some food for them, and the others chatted by the warm fire on such a cold night, Yichen offered to check the protective talismans that formed the shelter's barrier and went out onto the small balcony overlooking the cliff, pausing for a moment to admire the scenery. The scene outside the shelter looked like something out of a fairy tale. The night was illuminated by flashes of red lightning that sometimes didn't even make a sound. The fog had almost completely disappeared due to the constant rain, allowing him to get a better look at the edge of the cliff.

They were at the top of a very tall one, beneath a ravine of towering trees, some with blossoms that glittered like stars as they moved in the diamond-like rain falling upon them. Then, more beautiful flowers burst from the crevices of the rocks, radiant petals in shades of white, pale pink, blue, yellow, and lavender, giving the shelter the pleasant scent they release at night. 

There were a few traces of the fused energy stretching into the distance like the northern lights, shifting from shades of green, pink, yellow, and orange, to blending with cerulean, sometimes faint like threads in the breeze, sometimes like a silk blanket rippling in the darkness. It was beautifully enchanting, and Yichen was mesmerized for a moment before noticing the faint light from his sword strapped to his belt.

It felt like that time when Ying Lei cast the detection spell and the creature fled, but he didn't sense any demonic energy nearby, so he focused on the other side of the cliff. The trace on the sword was very faint, almost nonexistent, but Yichen knew it was coming from one of the beautifully lit trees. Curious, Yichen used some of his divine dragon energy, and his eyes changed color, turning a brilliant turquoise with emerald green flakes.

He scanned the trees on the other side of the ravine until he finally spotted something equally curious watching him. It was a small monkey with a pure white fury that almost shone like the snow falling on the highest mountains under a full moon. Its curious reddish eyes met Yi Chen's gaze with an intensity that sent chills down Yichen's spine for some unknown reason. The monkey tilted its head curiously, as if gazing at that solitary figure, standing in awe at the edge of a cliff.

For an instant, time seemed to freeze and their worlds connected, as if they were both guardians of their realms, which at least he was, but the concept of a little monkey with no power, being a guardian of the demon world was ridiculous, but maybe he was just exhausted. Despite himself, Yichen smiled at the monkey, sensing no hostility or demonic energy, because demon or not, he found him quite adorable, perhaps for his pure white fur and Yichen could have sworn the little monkey smiled back before disappearing from his sight. Thunder rumbled overhead, bringing him back to reality, and he sighed before checking the powerful talismans and heading back inside.

AN: Thanks for reading. There you have their first real encounter between Yichen and Zhu Yan who was so intrigued by him that now he is kind of stalking him. Of course, Zhu Yan is an ape, but as usual Yichen see him a a monkey. 🤭😅 Bellow, Zhu Yan tree and the hunters shelter.

Chapter Text

Outside, the shelter was quite chilly, so it was a cozy feeling to return to the warmth of the fire and the members of his unit. Wen Xiao was now sitting by the long table eagerly reading one of the scrolls that had been left for any demon hunting unit that needed them. Ying Lei was engaged with Bai Jiu in a friendly discussion about the properties of some ingredients and Pei Sijing was reviewing Wen Xiao's report. He smiled as he sat down next to Wen Xiao, curious as to what had her so interested.

"What kind of scroll do you have?" He asked and she looked up at him with a wide smile on her pretty face.

"Ah, this one is about the history of demons in ancient times, do you want to hear it?" She asked him eagerly and he nodded, as Bai Jiu sat down beside him, again quite close to him, though not as close as before, leaving him at least some personal space.

"Xiao Zhuo, did everything work out well outside? It's raining hard and it took you quite a few minutes to get back inside."

"Come on, give the man some time to himself, you'll get on his nerves if you demand his attention at every moment." Ying Lei protested, almost pouting and Wen Xiao laughed.

"It's okay, I was just admiring the scenery. This place may be dangerous at every corner, but it's also quite beautiful. Besides, I found the little thing that eluded us earlier in the detection spell you cast. It was on the other side of the cliff, in a tree, watching me." Yichen said with a gentle smile that piqued the interest of both Wen Xiao and Bai Jiu.

"What was it?" Wen Xiao asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"Should we be worried about a demon following us?" Ying Lei asked, stirring the contents of the large pot with some anxiety.

"Is that thing stalking you?" Was Bai Jiu's question, which all three of them asked at the same time.

"Well, it was a small white monkey, quite... harmless, if you ask me. I didn't react any better to my Cloud Light's sword than I did before, and whether it's really following us for an unknown purpose or just out of curiosity, I have no idea." Yichen answered all the questions at once, and Pei Sijing closed her eyes to concentrate, trying to listen as best she could beyond the crackling of the fire, the distant thunder, the rain, and the rustling of branches and flowers in the drizzly wind.

"There's nothing worth our attention right now. If this little monkey is following us, at least it's gone for now. We're safe in this shelter, so don't worry too much." She said it in a reassuring tone, but she was still going to be on full alert, just in case something was brewing in the darkness that could turn into a potential danger later on.

"Well, if our dear Commander says we shouldn't worry about it for now, how about listening to a story while we wait for Ying Lei's meal?" Wen Xiao asked and Yichen, quite avidly to hear the story, signaled her to begin her tale. Beside him, Bai Jiu dared to grab one of his hero, hair bells, just in case it was a scary story, but make sure not to pull his long hair, so he won't get mad at him, not like Yichen will really mind, though.

"Okay, here goes. In ancient times, when the gods created the world, divine energy abounded everywhere. Therefore, some animals and plants began to absorb it and cultivate it for centuries. This led to the birth of divine beasts and trees, which pleased the gods. Dragons were especially beloved by Nuwa, while tigers, phoenixes, and turtles were loved by other gods, who decided to leave them as guardians of the world while they returned to their heavenly realm."

"Centuries passed, and all was well. More and more beasts and plants were cultivated and acquired the ability to shape, adopting those that most resembled the gods. Because of this, the strongest beasts became imposing, self-confident, and, at one point, conceited. It was during this period that they began to change. They became selfish and aggressive toward each other, then territorial, and finally, they shed blood everywhere, polluting the lands and killing humans. Thus, what began as divine beasts and plants became demons, and the gods were no longer happy, and so the war between them began."

"Nuwa had already created humanity, just before the divine beasts became violent, and the war, of course, affected them. The demons, in their fury, slaughtered many villages, wanting to take their lands and not share them with lesser beings without cultivation or sufficient strength to defend themselves. The war between gods and demons grew fierce, and the gods managed to lock the demons away in their own realm. However, in times of instability and war between celestial powers and demonic energies, a rift opened that not even Nuwa knew how to close, for the demons, cunning and strong, for some reason could not completely escape their realm, but the rift could not be closed either."

"Even so, the Forest of Convergence was the place where the two realms merged, releasing demonic energy into our lands and creating more demons into our side. Humans were doomed at first, but Nuwa refused to allow her creation to be annihilated and granted humanity special bloodlines from the gods who fought side by side with her against the demons. And now, here we are, a product of that blood given to us to protect us from the demons that still cross realms. Thus were born the demon hunters and the only hope of survival for all of humanity." She told them, though it was a story most knew by heart, her voice was soft and charming, and it was a story about their origins that should never be forgotten.

"That was well told." Pei Sijing praised her, and Wen Xiao smiled happily.

"Yeah... I'm glad it wasn't a scary story like the one about the demon god Ying Long." Bai Jiu said with a long sigh, releasing Zhuo Yichen's  hair bells.

"Well, I can tell you that one. I can even recreate his fight with the dragon god Bing Yi if you want. I have a particularly vivid storytelling spell, and..."

"Idiot! Didn't I just say I don't want to hear it? Are you deaf?" Bai Jiu threw a pillow at him, while Ying Lei laughed, dodging it with ease.

"You're such a scaredy cat... but that's also your hero's ancestral history, you know? He's a descendant of Bing Yi's blood and all..." Ying Lei pointed and Bai Jiu gasped as he looked at Yichen with embarrassment, which made him gently pat his head.

"To be honest, Bing Yi's story remains a mystery even to me. We all know that he faced the demon god Ying Long, who was also a dragon, in a fierce battle that lasted for days and the story goes that he killed him in the end, but disappeared without a trace ever since. I don't know what really happened between them or if he also died in the fight, perhaps mortally wounded, but that is something we will never know for sure, as no one recorded his death or escape." Recounted Yichen on his own.

"Well, maybe he's still alive somewhere. He is an immortal, after all." Ying Lei suggested as he examined the contents of the pot.

"Who knows? Perhaps he's just dormant, or perhaps he ascended to the heavens like the rest of the gods." Wen Xiao offered his own opinion on the matter.

"Whatever he lived or died, the important thing is that he left his lineage to help us in our struggle, something for which we are very grateful, just like the rest of the gods who give us the opportunity to survive our own war." Pei Sijing said with such seriousness that it sounded like a tribute to the gods, their ancestors.

"That's true... we were blessed with the blood and sacrifices of our ancestors. The Baize goddess, Wan'er, died in the war against the demons, saving Nuwa and humanity too." Wen Xiao said sadly as she looked at her wrist, where the goddess's blood flowed through her veins.

"Bai Yan, the sacred tree still exists on Mount Kunlun... but is too far away for me to go there and see it..." Bai Jiu had always been curious about who he inherited his divine blood from, but his father never agree to let him go that far from the city protection after that incident with the demon that Yichen save him from.

"I can take you there whenever you want. I had a teleportation artifact, a relic from the time of the ancient gods, though we still have some minor gods around here, like my grandfather's, for example." Ying Lei offered, and Yichen looked at him in amazement.

"A teleportation artifact? Do you have it?" He asked excitedly. Ying Lei opened his magic bag, expanded several times over with a divine spell, and took out an incense burner shaped like mountains and temples, made of black jade, which looked quite ordinary, if you ask him.

"Is that all? Isn't that an incense burner?" Bai Jiu asked, eyeing the object and about to grab it, but Ying Lei pushed him away before he could approach with the agility of a mountain god.

"How mean! I just wanted to get a better look, that's all." Bai Jiu snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest in annoyance.

"It may look like a fancy incense burner, but it's the fastest way we mountain gods teleport from hills and mountains, not to mention the many temples surrounding the Kunlun Mountains. This is what we call the Shanhai Portal, powered by our divine energy, and it can go anywhere we've been before, even once." Ying Lei explained, and everyone stared at him in awe and admiration.

"This can save our lives..." Wen Xiao whispered as she tried to get a better look, but the owner also stopped her.

"It might get us out of a tight spot, but it's not something you can use for everyday work. Crossing mountains requires a lot of energy, especially over long distances, and in this place, surrounded by so much demonic energy, it's quite difficult to activate, so I agree to use it only in emergencies." He said, and Pei Sijing was genuinely glad to have another emergency escape plan if they ever needed it.

"All right, Ying Lei. All the divine relics and artifacts from the time of the gods take their toll on us mortals. We do our jobs as we should, but if we ever face something we can't handle no matter the reason, we escape, and this will be our quickest way out, for emergencies only. Understood?" She asked, and the unit nodded wholeheartedly.

"Then I think it would be wise to review the demonic lore of the first ring. It will refresh our memory on what to expect in this part of the forest, the type of demons we are likely to encounter, and how to deal with them. There are several scrolls on the wall to review, but I think we all prefer to hear them from the one who enjoys telling stories, our demon expert." Said Pei Sijing as she looked at Wen Xiao, who gladly accepted the task and walked to the wall to find the correct scroll with the required information. 

Once she found it, she read it aloud until it was time for eating. After a hot meal shared with new friends, they decide to lie down for a few hours until the downpour passes. The women occupied a bed on the right, while the man occupied the one on the left. As the beds were wide and they were all quite slender, there was no problem fitting in.

Pei Sijing smiled fondly at the reassuring presence of her younger brother watching over them and didn't mind Wen Xiao coming closer for more warmth despite the thick blankets. Bai Jiu, meanwhile, practically hugged Yichen once asleep, which was placed in between the other two men, while Ying Lei had his back to him. Aside from the rainstorm outside, with an occasional thunder, it was a peaceful night and, unknown to them, also a pleasant one for a certain great demon who now had great expectations of their unit and wanted nothing more than to have them closer as soon as possible.

AN: Thanks for reading, bellow a mix of what I imagine for the interior of thr shelter and Ying Lei's incense burner. I think that the one from the drama was too simple and about the room, I imagine the beds in the first picture, but the shining talismans, scrolls and table from the second one. I will try cinematic pictures of a scene for every chapter, if the AI program let me, of course.

Chapter Text

What woke Zhuo Yichen up in the middle of the night was the warmth and weight of two bodies on either side of him, as Bai Jiu and Ying Lei had brazenly decided to use him as their personal pillow. Yichen sighed, trying to ignore two extra pairs of limbs that didn't belong to him, and swore to himself that this was the first and last time he would share a bed with these two cuddling beasts.

Outside, the rain had stopped falling and the fire in the center of the shelter had gone out, leaving the room in shadows of soft golden glow from the protective talismans that guarded them. Yichen looked up and, for a moment, swore he saw something looking back at him from one of the wooden beams of the shelter, so he instantly sat up and jumped over Ying Lei, who was startled by his sudden movement, as was Bai Jiu, but Yichen focused on the ceiling, trying to find what he thought he had seen before.

"Wow, what's wrong, Xiao Zhuo?" Bai Jiu asked as he leaped out of bed in a heartbeat, along with Ying Lei and the girls opened the yellow curtains to see what had suddenly happened, having woken up as abruptly as the rest of their unit.

"There was something watching us from the wooden beam..." Yichen explains as he looks around the room, but saw nothing but the glow of the talismans and his sword that was still crystal clear, which meant that what he had seen before was either his imagination or the thing had vanished in smoke.

"Xiao Zhuo?" Wen Xiao asked, looking at him, and Yichen couldn't help but blush at the intensity of the stares, not just from her, but from everyone else as well.

"I swear I saw something watching us, but... maybe I was wrong..." He whispered as he looked away, embarrassed. Bai Jiu laughed out loud at the expression of his hero and cute blush. He was adorable in his eyes, and Wen Xiao giggle with equal amusement. Even though she was rudely woken up, he was so cute that she couldn't hold a grudge.

"What did you see?" Pei Sijing asked, sensing that he had accidentally seen her brother, who was watching over them while they slept.

"I... I'm not sure... a pair of blue eyes that almost glowed in the dark..." He said, and Ying Lei looked up briefly.

"Perhaps something up there reflected your eyes?" Ying Lei suggested, since the young man, as heir to the Bing Yi bloodline, also had pretty blue eyes.

"Unless I'm channeling divine energy, my eyes are dark blue... this thing has sky blue eyes. Well... maybe I was still half asleep, sorry for waking you up so suddenly..." He apologized, but Pei Sijing knew better than to make him think he was imagining things when he wasn't, and his instincts were very sharp.

"No, what you saw was the figure of my brother. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him sooner, but... it's not something I feel comfortable talking about." Wen Xiao noticed the pain in her usually stoic Commander face and gently took her hand.

"Xiao Sijing... you've already heard the tragic story of the Bai Jiu family. My father was also killed by a demon eight years ago, and my mother passed away from an illness she couldn't overcome when I was five. So, if you want to talk... we'll listen attentively. We're your unit, your new family, and we're here to help you with whatever you need." She said so gently that Pei Sijing was deeply moved, and tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Come out, Didi." Sijing whispered and a swirl of golden smoke came out of her magic pouch in an incorporeal form, then gradually turned solid until a tall man with sky blue eyes, short hair tied in a ponytail, with long bags on both sides of his young face, with a dark headband tied on his forehead and dressed in dark robes stood right in front of them.

"Is him a... ghost?" Bai Jiu asked as he subconsciously grabbed Zhuo Yichen's hair bells, lightly tugging on them as he took a few steps back. The handsome young man smiled at the young healer, trying not to scare him further, and his sister reached over and grabbed his arm. It wasn't a warm touch anymore, but at least she could still touch him nevertheless.

"Yes and no. Technically he is dead, as he no longer has a mortal body, but his soul is still alive, just attached to another body, made of wood." She explained and they looked at each other a little lost as to how such a thing could happen. With their divine blood, things that normally don't work on ordinary humans might actually be possible for them, but still, a living soul attached to a wooden body was a little... crazy.

"He's three years younger than me, and when he turned twenty-five, like any other demon hunter, he arrived at the Citadel to fulfill his duty. In his second year here, something happened in the inner ring. A very strong fox demon took human form and managed to deceive the hunters patrolling the ring. He was able to bypass the inner ring and enter the second. There he killed several units and ours was among them. I was the only one who survived, but I was badly wounded and used what was left of my divine power to bind my brother's soul to a piece of ancient wood before he died. In a way, he could now be considered a demon, since the wood I used in my despair was already on its way to becoming a cultivated demon. But still, I managed to do the impossible with a forbidden spell for which I was punished..."

"Punish? But why? It wasn't your fault the other hunters were deceived. It's so unfair..." Bai Jiu said as he approached the young man, releasing Yichen's bells.

"It was their mistake, but what I did wasn't exactly encouraged, since binding a soul to a demonic tree is forbidden for more than one reason."

"But still... it was an emergency..." Ying Lei tried to show sympathy, but didn't know what to say.

"It is forbidden, but if I were in your place and my brother was dying right in front of me, no matter the reason... I would have done whatever it took to save him, even if it put me behind bars." Yichen said as he looked at the young man kindly, and Pei Sijing felt very grateful to have them all as her unit.

"Even though I did do something prohibited, my punishment was light, as I was only sent back to the city until I was called up for this unit."

"Then I'm glad my father was so kindhearted. Xiao Sijing, we'll take good care of your little brother as well, so don't worry, he can come out and stay with us whenever he can and wants." Wen Xiao let her know and hugged her for a moment, before something unexpected happened.

A strong shock wave hit the shelter flaring the protective talismans like red flames, making them shine deadly crimson, while the hit of the energy wave sent them sprawling to the floor, although not internally hurt, thanks to the barrier that surrounded the shelter. 

The first one to get up was Zhuo Yichen and he hastily took the Cloud Light Sword, which had burst to life with blinding brightness and went out to see just what happens. He used his divine power to enchant his vision and he gasped in shock to see that very far in the distant a demonic storm had brewed, more or less in where the inner ring was and his heart beat with a kind of fear he had never experience before.

"Yixuan..." It was fear for his brother who should be around that area and the others gasped in equal shock when they saw the mass of red and blue energy ravaging the land in the distance. Even if they could not see exactly what was happening there, the ominous clouds, illuminated by purple and red lightning, as well as the energy released, so fierce and powerful, they all knew that more than one great demon was at the center of it all.

"Commander, what's going on?" Bai Jiu asked as he watched in fear at the gathering storm and the force of the demonic energy that seemed to absorb everything around it, causing the air to crackle with electricity, pressure, and two types of imposing essence he had never felt in his short life. It was a terrifying power even from where they stood, so far from the epicenter.

"Great demons..." Pei Sijing whispered.

"Zhu Yan..." Yichen whispered, gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly that his hand turned pale, drained of the blood pounding wildly in his heart.

"I need to go, my brother must be in there somewhere." Yichen said and Bai Jiu instinctively grabbed him by the arms in fear that he would indeed go and face something they were definitely not prepared to even come close to.

"Please don't go, that power surpasses ours by a landslide! We can't go there as we are now..." Bai Jiu almost pleaded, but Wen Xiao also knew how he felt and had to admit that she would have wanted to go there too, even if her power was just a pebble in a vast ocean.

"My father is there too. This isn't good. Legend has it that every few hundred years, another great demon crosses the gate to our world and wreaks havoc. The last time it happened was three hundred years ago, and now he's back, in our time. His coming is described in the old scrolls like the fall of the divine beasts that open the door to the gods war, a calamity. It is said that by comparison, the great demon known as Zhu Yan is a passive demon, which is why no one can tell why nor understand his constant stay at the gate... and they will battle for days." Wen Xiao said, almost entranced, as she gazed into the distance.

"There's nothing passive about any of those two demonic energies. Ying Lei, may I use your teleportation incense burner?" Yichen asked the man beside him, who looked at him with mixed feelings.

"It won't do you any good, unless you've been inside the inner circle before, because I sure haven't." Ying Lei said, expecting a protest from the young man, but he didn't say anything else, just staring into the distance, frustrated at being too far away to be of any help to his brother.

"I know a place in the second ring, it's a high cliff, not too close but not too far either from where we can get a better view of what's going on. I know that both you and Wen Xiao will want to help your love ones who are doing their best out there, but I assure you that in such chaos, no demon hunter will get close, so rest assured that your brother and Wen Xiao's father will be fine for now. Once things unfold one way or another we will return to where we should be and wait for instructions. Is that alright with all of you?" She asked and the rest nodded in agreement with her. 

Thus, Ying Lei instructed the Commander how to activate and channel her divine energy into the portal and they all gathered together to be teleported to the place she was referring to. Once there, everyone gasped at the ferocity of what looked like a battle between high-ranking demons and the terror that the vision burned into their hearts.

⨳⨳⨳⨳ Li Lun/Zhu Yan ⨳⨳⨳⨳

Zhu Yan was on high alert the precise moment he sensed the concentration of dark energy at the gate of his demonic world. It was a strong, ancient and immovable power that he knew all too well and had to deal with every few hundred years. Honestly, he had expected that their duel would come after a few more years, but no, he had to come to bother him just at the moment when he was excited to meet someone who had aroused his interest a lot. How awful it was that now that he wanted to appear trustworthy and inconspicuous, he would be forced to show humans his true nature as a great demon once more, now that he was one step away from becoming a demon god. He sighed.

"Li Lun... are you here to challenge me again? Can't we schedule this in another year or two?" Zhu Yan asked once the figure of a handsome man show up, dressed in black, with long black hair flowing down his back, fair skin, tall, slender, with beautiful dark eyes that matched his long eyebrows, imposing and self-confident, as he had always been, even when they were still friends.

"Of course not. Why, is something good finally happening to you? Did you fall for one of the humans you cherish so much? Get real, humans and demons don't mix."

"I disagree. They are quite interesting and to be honest, some of them are quite beautiful."

"Disgusting. No human could ever compare with the beauty of a demon."

"Again, I disagree, demons change shape to resemble the ethereal beauty of the gods. Humans were created to look like the gods."

"Which is Nuwa's biggest failure if you ask me. Those demon hunters in the distance are nothing more than trash. Maybe I can kill a few of them along with you this time around."

"We have our rules. No killing humans when we duel."

"Ying Long died a long time ago, so why do we need to obey his rules? The human world should have been ours ages ago. It's only your stubbornness that had prevented the rest of us from taking what is ours."

"You're wrong. The human world was created by the gods, and it's their choice who ends up living in it."

"We are stronger! It was our world before it became theirs!"

"True, but it was our fault we lost it. Ying Long warned us several times not to kill humans, not to taint the lands, not to wage war among ourselves, and not to oppose the gods.  We started the war and now  faced the consequences."

"Why should we be trapped in a realm with far fewer resources than the human world? We deserve better... Ying Long betrayed us all..."

"The demons betrayed their god, who tried to protect us from the gods' wrath for centuries until he could no longer prevent what we brew, and yet he died to give us a realm of our own where we could thrive without harming others."

"It's not as beautiful as the world humans inherit!"

"Yes, but it had everything we needed. We are demons, beasts, and plants that cultivated for centuries, needing no food, shelter, or sleep. We can do almost anything with our spells,  rain won't touch our skin, wind won't dirty our clothes, cold won't make us shiver, and water won't drown us. We only need our demonic energy to continue cultivating to the next level, and we have plenty of it in our demon realm."

"However, this rift still unites our worlds, it is here to give us freedom."

"The rift exists because the divine beast Cheng Huang betrayed Nuwa, nearly brought about the destruction of our realm, and stole the mending stone to close the gate before Nuwa and Bing Yi could seal it."

"I see you will still not listen to reason. You rather kill your own kind, like your father before you."

"I follow my heart, just as you follow yours, and I haven't laid a hand on a demon that born in this forest that didn't try to kill me first. It's the only reason I let them fight the humans, as it not my place to punish something that was created here, but I also won't allow you to invade what isn't yours. My father, Ying Long, entrusted me with guarding this gate until it's fully closed. Even if I have to go against someone I once called a friend, my blood ties will remain stronger, as will the merit of his cause and sacrifice."

"Then you will die here, Zhu Yan."

"You can always try me, Li Lun. Let me see if you can make your words come true."

"I have grown stronger over the centuries, Zhu Yan. You can say that I am already at the level of a divine beast."

"That's fine, as I am at the brink to became a god. Do your worst Li Lun, see if you can truly defeat me and conquer this world." As they stare at each other, a palpable tension descends upon the Forest of Convergence and electrifies the air, permeated with an ominous energy that vibrates between realms. Zhu Yan cast a containment spell several miles away from where they were to ensure that no humans would interfere and that the chaos that was about to ravage the land would not reach the Citadel, or beyond the inner ring.

The trees, ancient sentinels of that mystical place, stand tall and twisted, their gnarled branches intertwined like fingers grasping the sky. Shafts of moonlight filter through the dense canopy, casting a kaleidoscope of shadows across the foggy forest floor, where the very essence of demonic energy and chaos churns.

A dull rumble echoes through the forest, heralding the clash of demons. Zhu Yan, shrouded in a swirling mist of crimson energy, stands with lethal grace. He stood tall and imposing, his form cloaked in an aura of endless demonic energy that pulsated like a living entity. His claws gleamed menacingly in the dim light, sharp as obsidian blades. His eyes glow like crimson rubies as he calls upon his power. Dark tendrils of boundless demonic energy dance around him like flames licking through kindling. With a swift motion, he unleashes a deadly, one-word spell.

"Raise!" And a wave of destructive force rips out, leveling the undergrowth and leaving scorched earth in its wake and the power surged upwards, creating a demon of tangle branches, charged with his demonic energy, crimson and deadly to signal the start of their fight. That should be more than enough to warn the demon hunters in that part of the forest to get away as far as they can.

Across from him, Li Lun responded with an unyielding calmness that belied his own formidable power. Dark vines snake beneath his feet, responding to his will with unnerving sensitivity as he did the same creating a colossal demon made of vines, then send them back down towards Zhu Yan with unnerving speed. As they reached Zhu Yan, they twisted and curled violently around his limbs, seeking to restrain him.The forest echoed with their battle and the rustling of leaves caught in whirlwinds conjured by Li Lun's fierce will. 

He summoned gusts that swirled through the trees, scattering leaves like confetti in a chaotic celebration of nature's fury. But Zhu Yan was relentless. He summoned a powerful seal etched into the ground beneath him, the spell glowing fiercely as it absorbed the ambient energy around them. 

"Consume!" Zhu  Yan roared, breaking free from Li Lun's grasp as he unleashed a torrent of energy back at his foe. A wave of searing energy surges forward, colliding with Li Lun's defensive vines that twist and coil protectively around him. The impact sends splinters flying as bark erupts from nearby trees like shrapnel.

The forest seems to hold its breath as these two great demons engage in their cataclysmic duel. The weather grows increasingly unstable, dark clouds loom overhead, crackling with latent energy, as if the heavens themselves anticipate the battle. A fierce wind lashes through the trees, carrying with it fragments of their furious spells. Leaves torn from the branches swirl around them like a doomed dome. Zhu Yan's claws gleam menacingly as he frees himself from Li Lun's vines, counterattacking with another spell.

"Bind!" This time it's not just pure energy, but an intricate seal that surrounds Li Lun's limbs with glowing runes of power before he can react. However, Li Lun smiles defiantly, his small drum drumming firmly at his side, a rhythm that resonates with dark power. He strikes its surface with fervor, unleashing a shock wave that shatters Zhu Yan's seals into glowing particles that scatter into nothingness.

"Your strength is admirable, great demon Zhu Yan." Li Lun taunts amidst the chaos. His eyes flash with determination as he summons even more vines to trap Zhu Yan once more, but Zhu Yan's red energy causes them to explode into thousands of harmless pieces of wood. Then Li Lun struck his drum once more, and dark demonic energy reverberated through the ground and sent stronger shock waves towards Zhu Yan, who created his own shield to withstand the powerful force and cause it to bounce off somewhere else again and again.

With every exchange, blows and spells, sparks fly and shadows dance across their faces, illuminated by flashes of lightnings from the storm their power unleashed. Each clash sends tremors through the whole forest wide and far, a reminder that they are fighting not only with each other, but also for control of the land that unites their worlds. Between swirls of demonic energy, the moon could be seen between dark clouds like a celestial audience witnessing  this epic battle between two formidable demons whose powers threaten to tear apart the stability of both realms.

As darkness clashed against darkness, sparks flew and bursts of energy lit up the forest like fireworks against the night. Zhu Yan's demonic power surged once more as he gathered his strength for one final strike. Usually, he held back to give Li Lun more time to show his strength and growth, but this time Zhu Yan was impatient and wanted to end their fight in just a few hours instead of a few days.

"Struck!" With this command, a burst of pure energy erupted, a force so powerful that it shook the roots of the ancient trees surrounding them. Li Lun attempted to counter it with another whirlwind of his own demonic power, but he was too late. Zhu Yan's spell completely engulfed him in blinding light before crashing down on him like a tidal wave.

The impact threw Li Lun backward into a cloud of leaves and debris, collapsing under the weight of defeat. As silence returned to the clearing, Zhu Yan stood victorious among the smoldering remains of their confrontation, the embodiment of unfathomable power in this realm where worlds converge. Above them, thunder rumbled ominously, as if even nature acknowledged his triumph.

"You lost, now go back where you belong." Zhu Yan said through gritted teeth, feeling both triumph and sorrow wash over him like waves crashing against rocky shores. Li Lun meets his gaze with unwavering resolve despite the fatigue etched into his features. 

"You were always stronger... a shame." Li Lun whisper softly but firmly. 

"But strength alone does not decide fate. One day you are destined to fail, and it will be your end along with the humans you never tire of protecting. Things are changing in the demon world. Something stirs, awakening from a deep slumber. I came to warn you, Zhu Yan, that your time is running out. Something bigger is coming, and it might be more than all of us can handle." In that momentary pause filled with unspoken words lies their story, a bond forged in an ancient friendship, now twisted in this tragic confrontation.

Zhu Yan sighed, tired, not from the fighting, for he had yet to use his full strength, but because, despite having protected humans for the last thirty-four thousand years, they still saw him as their greatest threat, and he was tired of it. He wanted to finally be a part of them, an integral part of them.

"Thank you for your warning, Li Lun... but no matter what happens, I can't leave, nor can I allow demons to destroy humanity, it's not right, and you know it. Before, we were close friends, and you were never interested in conquering others, never liked being around those who did, but when it came the time to choose your path, you left and joined the other demons, choosing to do what you didn't like before, and even trying your best to destroy me. With this warning, you're not concerned about my well-being, you're just worried that you've chosen the wrong path now in the long run, because things could go downhill in the demon world too."

"You're as cunning as ever, but what may come is too much for even you to handle... not alone that is." Li Lun said as he stood up.

"Then I should get help." Zhu Yan said as he looked at Li Lun as he did before their paths parted, with the affection of a friend he cherishes.

"I won't join forces with the humans, you are on your own."

"I never asked you for help and who said humans can't defend themselves? If you can't stand by my side, as you once did, then I'm sure someone else will be willing to risk their life to protect what's important."

"Even if you manage to subdue them, none of them have the strength to defeat you, let alone something stronger than you."

"Ah, but the gods are on my side... and they've left their gifts among them, and they're finally beginning to awaken."

"Stupid monkey... you are impossible." Li Lin rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"'Ape, for heaven's sake I'm a white ape.'" Li Lun snorted.

"Fine, soon to be white ape demon god... good luck, you will need it." Then Li Lun left, but not before discreetly leaving behind some of his infused leaves, as he had no intention of waiting another hundred years for their next encounter and Zhu Yan rushed himself to meet with the one that will likely change his fate.

AN: Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the epic battle that lasted for hours. Bellow the pictures of their colliding energy they all watched from different points.

Chapter Text

Once they saw Pei Sijing's unit safely enter one of the shelters to take cover from the rain and rest for the remainder of the night, Fan Ying gave up his supervision of the unit for the time being and they returned to one of the inner ring towers to see how things were going in the days they had been away. High-ranking officers also carry teleportation talismans made with a special golden ink of divine power, so it only takes a moment for them to return to their duties while the unit rests.

"Lord Fan, Zhuo Yixuan, it's nice to see you back." One of the small tower's master hunter greeted them with a respectful bow.

"How are things going tonight? It's been stormy, but we all know rain is no problem for demons. Are there any signs of disturbances anywhere?" Fan Ying asked the master demon hunter in front of him.

"Not so far, my Lord, the inner barrier is as steady as ever, but tonight is unusually quiet, if you ask me. Some demons tend to be more active in weather like this, but.... I don't know if you can sense it too, but there's something lingering in the air." He tried to explain himself, but felt he was coming up short of what he really felt. He had watched that tower for many years and this was the first time he had ever felt so restless.

"I know what you mean, I can feel it too... Could it be the great demon Zhu Yan?" Yixuan asked as he stared into the distance, his eyes glowing amber. This was one of the many things that differentiated his divine power from Yichen's, and not even his father could understand why his two sons, born of the same mother, had such distinct powers and abilities. That was why he didn't inherit the Cloud Light sword, as it refused to awaken in his hand, but it did glow brightly in Yichen's even as a child.

"No one can know for sure... it's quite a mystery. He spends much of his day perched in his favorite tree. We assume he cultivates demonic energy that way and can remain in that same position for weeks or months. Sometimes he disappears, sometimes he comes closer, but he never shows true killing intent, just curiosity... but then, when we get too close, he shows his ominous energy, but he never charges into battle first. The few times he attacked have been because some foolish demon hunters had challenged him. I've always wondered if he wants us gone or not, maybe he is just lazy." The man said, also looking towards Zhu Yan's tree. It was too far away to be seen from the tower, but everyone knew where he was.

"He's a true enigma, I agree." Yixuan whispered, finding the great demon a fascinating disturbance.

"You're the only one who's seen him face to face and lived to tell the tale. What do you think?" Fan Ying turned to Yixuan, who smiled slightly.

"It was just once, and I think he was curious, nothing more. I even think he wanted to ask me something, and for some reason, sometimes I feel like he's looking for me." Yixuan explained, recalling that time their paths crossed and he was impressed by his imposing figure, but he radiated... calm, serenity, peace, the very opposite of what one would expect from the strongest demon in the Forest of Convergence.

"Perhaps he has a crush on you? I mean, he's been alone for so long, and suddenly he comes face to face with a human beauty. We know that demons don't care about gender, so who can blame him?" Fan Ying joked, and the master demon hunter laughed while Yixuan sighed.

"It's not that... I think he expects something from me, or maybe it's not really me, but the blood that runs through my veins." Yixuan theorized and Fan Ying arched an eyebrow in surprise.

"You mean the god dragon Bing Yi?" The master hunter asked bluntly.

"Yes. From what we know, Zhu Yan is several thousand years old and may have met my ancestor at some point in his long life, but that's just my thinking. Don't take it to seriously, I may be quite wrong." Yixuan tried to dismiss his own beliefs, but Fan Ying could see the merit of his reasoning.

"If he's truly interested in your bloodline, then things might improve for us, hopefully. If he's not an unreasonable demon, perhaps we can offer him something mutually beneficial. What do you think, Yixuan? Would you be willing to meet with him and speak with him on behalf of humanity? It would greatly aid our limited understanding of him, even if he only answered the question we all want to know, what he truly wants, or why he's staying on the edge of our world, without actually entering it." Fan Ying offered Zhuo Yixuan this unexpected mission. 

He had known Zhuo Yixuan for years. First, because his father and he were good friends back when they worked in the same Bureau in Tiandu, and second, Yixuan was a valuable member of his first unit when the boy was fifteen and he was a Commander. Therefore, he trusted that precious young man with his life, so if there was really a possibility to reason with the great demon, even if it was not because he was a descendant of Bing Yi, he would have offered him the proposal anyway, as Yixuan's kind and patient personality was perfect for the mission. Yixuan considered the possibility for a moment and finally nodded in agreement.

"If there's a chance for this war against the demons to end peacefully, I'm willing. As I said before, I'll do whatever it takes to make my brother's life easier, and if he no longer needs to fight the demons, all the better." At that, Fan Ying smiled proudly and patted Yixuan on the shoulders. But then all hell broke loose and a surge of demonic energy hit them hard, sending them against the tower walls and activating the emergency barriers that now glowed bright red.

⨳⨳⨳⨳ Demon Hunting Unit ⨳⨳⨳⨳

The chaos they witnessed from their vantage point, far away but close enough to see the divine exchange between two forces beyond their comprehension was quite terrifying and Bai Jiu glued himself to Zhuo Yichen's arm, while Wen Xiao did more or less the same with Pei Sijing and Ying Lei simply watched the battle in the distance with a mixture of shock and fascination. 

It wasn't every day that you could witness a battle between great demons and it wasn't every day that you felt like you were fighting a futile war in which you had no real hope of winning. Ying Lei had grown up among real gods, even if they were not major gods, they were still divine, but he had never felt such raw power coming from them, such pure destructive waves of demonic energy, like in that moment.

Yichen was in his own inner conflict, for he wanted so badly to protect his people that risking his life was a worthy price, but even he had to admit that no human so far had awakened enough divine power to go against the full real strength of something that was closer to the gods than anything else. How could he stand against this demon Zhu Yan or the one he was fighting? What about both of them? They knew nothing of the great demons, especially since Zhu Yan had inspired deep fear in the hearts of demon hunters for centuries and they learned to stay away from him the hard way.

However, if no one took the first step to try to stop that striking force, then they were all doomed. Perhaps just one unit of god's inherited blood was not enough to defeat Zhu Yan, let alone the one fighting him, but who else could take their place? His brother? Yes, his brother was strong, smart, careful, quick and patient, but even he was no match for that demon and the rest of the demon hunters, even the veterans were also not enough to fight a demon at full strength, but then what, offer them their world on a silver platter? No, he would rather die than let that happen.

The barriers glowed a deep red for hours, but thankfully most of the destructive force remained within the inner ring, which was a relief as Pei Sijing was right in saying that no demon hunter would dare to come close to such a battle unless they had a death wish and both demons were focused on their own duel, a show of strength the likes of which they had never witnessed in their generation.

"Why do you think those two demons duel? Why every few hundred years? And why did Zhu Yan stay within the inner circle when he can clearly cross over whenever he wants?" Wen Xiao asked to no one in particular, and Yichen pondered such questions as he watched the end of the battle and the eerie silence that followed, once all the pent-up demonic energy settled back into the land.

"Who knows, what's clear is that we were fooling ourselves with the demons. So far, we've only faced the lowest levels, probably demons on our side of the gate... against great demons from their realm..." Pei Sijing paused, hearing something approaching rapidly.

"You don't stand a chance..." Someone else behind them said and they all turned to be face to face with a tall and strikingly beautiful man, his presence both alluring and intimidating. 

His long, flowing black and gray hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall of silk darkness mixed with creamy white, framing a face that could have belonged to a celestial being. His lips curved into a playful smile, his skin light and smooth under the moon. The man's eyes glittered like crimson rubies, dressed in dark robes embroidered with intricate patterns that seemed to vibrate and dance in the moonlight, exuding an aura of unfathomable power and mischief. With every breath, it felt as if the air around him thrummed with energy. This was the great demon Zhu Yan in the flesh.

The Cloud Light sword glowed with blinding power, pulsing in Zhuo Yichen's hand, but not with the intent to kill, for what Yichen felt from their connection of fated sword and master, was not their shared desire to get rid of the demons that were killing their people, but the recognition of someone or something with which the sword was familiar and they had just been reunited.

"That's... great... great demon Zhu Yan!!!" Bai Jiu shouted his name so loud, that Zhu Yan thought the boy might have ruptured his eardrum, along with those of Pei Sijing who was momentarily paralyzed by the shock of being face to face with her greatest enemy out of nowhere, just like the rest of her unit. However, Yichen stepped forward and unsheathed his Cloud Light sword, because ready or not, he was facing the demon head on.

"Ying Lei, use the portal and leave now!" Yichen shouted as he lunged forward to try and hit Zhu Yan, but only got empty air.

"Oh, you're the type to hit first and ask questions later, huh? Should I praise your bravery or mock your youthful foolishness?" Zhu Yan asked and Pei Sijing readied her bow as the others prepared for a battle they might not win, but they wouldn't back down either.

However, Zhu Yan didn't want the other members of that young man team to interfere, so he cast a one-word spell on them to freeze them over on their spot and allowed only Bing Yi's descendant to move, so he could confront him. The air between them was thick with an eerie stillness, at the edge of a high cliff, where jagged rocks jutted out like the fangs of some slumbering beast, their two figures facing each other in a dramatic standoff that crackled with tension.

"What did you do to them?" Yichen's expression was fierce yet determined as he asked the question. He knew he was up against the most formidable being in existence, but he was not going to let the demon toy with his friends without a fight.

"There's no need to look so fierce, they're perfectly fine, and unharmed. I just want to play around for a little bit, you don't mind, right? It's been very boring lately." Zhu Yan said as if he hadn't just rampaged through the forest in an epic battle that lasted for hours against another great demon.

"Fine! I can entertain you, but only the two of us. You won't harm any other members of my unit." Yichen said as he challenged the great demon with his intense gaze, summoning his divine power into his sword, and tried to strike first in their limited space at the top of the cliff, but that only made Zhu Yan smile.

"So righteous, I like it. Come, show me what you got." And so, Yichen obeyed fearlessly. 

He had no idea why Zhu Yan had ended up there after his battle with the other great demon, but if he wanted more fun, he wasn't going to show any less determination, even when his skills were nowhere near the great demon's. He might not win, but at least he could be cunning and try to find his blind spots or his weakness. So he charged in with sword and spells to test the waters and better understand his fighting style, his spells, and his movements. All of that was valuable information to glean from him, and for the moment, aside from the extent of his power, which practically everyone in the forest could see or sense, Yichen could tell that Zhu Yan was the kind of mischievous, teasing demon.

As they exchanged blows, Zhu Yan danced around Yichen with ethereal grace, their movements almost blurring as they clashed steel against black claws like iron, resonating through the night air like thunder. Yet it was painfully evident that Zhu Yan's playful demeanor only concealed his overwhelming superiority, with each parry and thrust, Yichen struggled to keep pace.

Suddenly, during one heated exchange, Yichen try to get away from Zhu Yan's claws and miscalculated his closeness to the edge of the cliff and stumbled backward toward a perilous drop into an abyss where shadows coiled like serpents waiting to devour him whole. In that split second between falling and fate, Zhu Yan's expression shifted from enjoyment to concern as  he wasn't ready for this encounter to end so abruptly. He mean that beautiful young man no real harm.

With swift reflexes born from centuries of experience, Zhu Yan lunged forward and caught Yichen by the waist just before he tumbled off into oblivion. Thus Yichen found himself suspended in mid-air for a heartbeat longer than time itself with their faces mere inches apart. Their bodies were too close for comfort, but Yichen clung to him like a lifeline for salvation and grabbed onto the great demon's shoulders for dear life.

"Careful now." Zhu Yan teased lightly, though there was an unexpected gentleness in his grip that contradicted his earlier relentless strikes. Yichen's heart raced faster than he wished, as he regained his footing on solid ground once more. A rush of conflicting emotions surged within him, gratitude for just saving his life even when they were enemies and frustration at his own near-folly, not to mention inferiority in power. 

"Why save me?" Yichen challenged through clenched teeth as he stepped back cautiously. Zhu Yan chuckled softly, releasing him quite slowly, but maintaining eye contact that felt charged with something unnameable, a mixture of amusement and respect. 

"You said no harm to your unit, which of course, includes you. I am a man of honor." Zhu Yan respond him while raising his head in a sign of dignity.

"You are no man, more like a monkey for all the time you spend perch on that tree." At that Zhu Yan sighed.

"I'm an ape, a white ape. Have you forgotten me already? You give me such a charming smile that make my heart flutter and I have too run away." Zhu Yan said without a trace of shame, and then Yichen understood what he meant and blushed. The great demon Zhu Yan was that tiny monkey he had seen just a few hours ago on the other side of the shelter. The one he had find it cute.

"That monkey was you?" He asked in embarrassment.

"An ape, but yes... I enjoy our little dance tonight quite a lot. Tell your superiors that if they want a truce, I'm willing to meet with the Bing Yi bloodline brothers." Zhu Yan replied enigmatically before stepping back into the shadowy depths of the forest, leaving Yichen both bewildered and intrigued.

AN: Thanks for reading, hope you like it. This was fun to write. Until next time, take care.

Chapter Text

So much happened in a matter of hours, and it ended so abruptly that everyone remained motionless, even as the spell wore off. Yichen was stunned, finally realizing that he had faced a great demon who could easily kill him, yet saved him. Not only that, their first encounter had been kind of enchanting, for lack of better words. Now everyone was at a loss for what to do next, considering they were face to face with the source of that destructive power within the inner ring with most of them paralyzed by a single spell, leaving Zhuo Yichen alone to fend for himself and nearly lose his life in the process.

"That was... one hell of a scare." Bai Jiu's body was still trembling at the thought of being so close to the great demon Zhu Yan, having his hero fight it and nearly die, albeit accidentally, and then being saved by the very demon who toyed and even flirted with him.

"I thought it would be the death of us..." Ying Lei sat on the ground, unable to stand much longer with such a close call.

"Was he really offering a truce?" Pei Sijing asked, unsure if the great demon was serious or just playing tricks on them. Wen Xiao, however, had better ideas, as for her, what she had witness wasn't exactly terrifying, but rather promising. A possibility of an open door between humans and demons, yet her first concern was to see if Zhuo Yi Chen was really okay, because he seemed shaken, and with good reason.

"Xiao Zhuo... are you alright? Were you hurt in the fight?" She asked, and Zhuo Yichen finally snapped out of his daze when he realized that Zhu Yan had not only offered a truce to him, but also to his brother, which meant that the great demon had also set his crimson eyes on his brother, causing him to panic.

"Ying Lei, can the Shanhai Portal be used to teleport near someone? If I focus strong enough on his essence, could I reach him?" Yichen asked, ignoring Wen Xiao's questions.

"To be honest, I've never tried it that way, but since this can be considered an emergency, we can give it a try, although I can't guarantee it will work. It might send us to an unknown location if it fails." Ying Lei knew exactly what Zhuo Yichen wanted, and whether it was possible or not, he was willing to risk it to reunite two brothers that holds humanity fate in their hands.

"Thank you, Commander... I know this might be considered inappropriate since you're in charge of this unit, but he mentioned a truce with us brothers, which means he knows about my older brother Yixuan and might try something like what just happened, and I'm not even sure of his intentions, so..."

"Let's all go, Zhuo Yichen. This doesn't just concern you, after witnessing the true strength of a great demon. We can't let this opportunity slip away like water. Go ahead, Ying Lei, teleport us all to Zhuo Yixuan's location and I'll take full responsibility if we're punished for breaking the rules." Pei Sijing declared, and everyone gathered together, just like before. Ying Lei instructed Yichen on how to channel his focus towards the Shanhai Portal and after a few seconds of divine sand surrounding them, they disappeared into the night.

⨳⨳⨳⨳ Zhuo Yixuan ⨳⨳⨳⨳

Zhuo Yixuan was still in the same tower, stunned and unable to do anything just like everyone else in that forest, for the powers they had just witnessed were too strong to act against and now he truly feared for their future. His previous encounter with Zhu Yan had been passive, just a few deep glances before the great demon walked away to return to his tree, but in that instant, Yixuan had seen Zhu Yan as more than just a dangerous demon, but as a man curious and capable of holding back if he wished. That was why he had even told his brother that a demon hunter could only escape from Zhu Yan if he allowed him to and how true that had been. Yixuan knew his one-word spells and how deadly they could be, but never in his worst nightmares did he imagine him to be so overwhelmingly fierce and terrifying.

"This is too much..." The master hunter whispered, watching as the clash of energies created stormy winds imbued with demonic energy that could threaten the stability of their barriers, which now glowed a deep red around the three rings surrounding the immense forest.

"Yet, we can't do anything to prevent what may arise from this." Fan Ying said as he gazed into the distance.

"We are being protected... there is another barrier over where they are fighting." Yixuan said, his eyes glowing golden, his vision enhanced with his divine power and even from there he could see a demonic barrier that was containing most of the dangerous energy waves, letting out only a small fraction that could be considered harmless compared to the cataclysmic energy inside.

"What do you mean? What do you see?" Fan Ying asked the young man, and Yixuan told him exactly what he saw.

"There's a demonic barrier that contains most of the destructive energy. Like I said, we are being protected." He repeated.

"By the great demon Zhu Yan? But why would he do that? If another demon comes to challenge him, why not join forces and wipe us out? They're demons, after all." The master hunter said, but both Yixuan and Fan Ying sensed that what they thought they knew about demons might have been wrong from the start.

"Yixuan... we have know each other for a long time, so tell me..."

"Yes, I know what you're thinking. There's more to the demons story than we've been told. After watching them fight,  is fair to think that Zhu Yan might not have been there to hunt us after all... otherwise, he might have done it hundreds of centuries ago." Yixuan voiced and the master hunter was beginning to acknowledge what he was saying.

"I agree... but then, what's his purpose for staying there for so many centuries? I mean, what does he have to gain by standing at its doorstep and not actually crossing into our world? Is it because he can't get in or doesn't want to?" Fan Ying asked, but no one could answer his questions. After a while, the fight finally ended, and Yixuan felt the great demon Zhu Yan's energy heading somewhere else, away from his usual tree, and for some reason, this made him a little anxious.

"Fan Ying... tomorrow morning I'll try to speak with the great demon Zhu Yan on my own, and if he's willing to communicate with us, I'll do my best to see if we can reach an agreement. So, please take care of my younger brother in my absence. After tonight's display of power, I know Yichen will be a little shaken..."

"Don't worry about Yichen. I'll make sure he's safe along with the rest of his unit. You know, Wen Xiao is also with him, so there's no need to worry about them. They're in good hands, and I'll always keep an eye on them until they're adjusted enough to work unsupervised. You're such a caring brother, he's lucky to have you by his side."

"I'm the one who's lucky to have him as a brother, but right now... I can't shake the feeling that Zhu Yan is heading for something... I don't know how to explain it, only a feeling that after this battle, something has changed. I feel it in the air and in my heart. This battle between great demons is only the prelude to something greater to come, and Zhu Yan is at the center of it all... and perhaps even Yichen..." Yixuan said, his normally dark eyes still shining with a golden glow.

"I suppose it's Bing Yi's blood working its magic in you. While Yichen inherited his sword, his power over water and ice, and Bing Yi's raw energy, you... you have his divine spirit, his transcendence, his foresight, and his golden aura that can purify demonic energy, radiate calm, and even connect with something divine in another realm, if only in a dream. Your father was always puzzled by the differences in your divine powers. However, in my view, as I have tell him before, the essence of the dragon god Bing Yi should have split over the centuries, and the two of you inherited it separately, one aspect of his essence for each of you as if you were twins. I believe that what the two of you can achieve, if combined, will be extraordinary and beyond the limitations of this realm. Something that could even match or even surpass the great demon Zhu Yan."

"Perhaps, we have never try to combine our divine energies as they are quite different... but I still don't think Zhu Yan is the one we should be worried about in this war. Of course, that remains to be seen, but..." Then Yixuan stopped halfway, feeling his brother's energy approaching with inexplicable speed. He felt it like never before, as if something inside him was beginning to awaken, further strengthening his bond with his brother in a much deeper way.

"This shouldn't be possible, he's coming!" Yixuan said in alarm as he ran down the tower stairs in a hurry, not knowing what was happening why he would sense Yichen approaching from so far away.

"Wait! Yixuan! What's coming?!" Fan Ying followed the young man down the stairs, and just as Yixuan reached the bottom, delving deeper into the misty ground, a cloud of golden sand materialized right in front of him, revealing a group of people. No, it was a unit, Zhuo Yichen's unit to be precise, which should have been impossible in the first place. How did they manage to teleport so far into an unauthorized area of ​​the Forest of Convergence?

"Yichen!" Yixuan ran towards his brother, as did Yichen, who collided with him in a tight hug and Yixuan breathed out in relief to at least have him safe in his arms, even when he shouldn't be there.

"Brother... I know I deserve to be scolded for my recklessness, but I swear it was absolutely necessary. You won't believe what happened, and I think we're in trouble. But first, tell me, did he come to see you too? Did he try to do anything to you? Are you okay?" Yichen asked question after question while tenderly examining Yixuan's body for any injuries. However, Yixuan chuckled and stopped his worried brother.

"I'm fine, Yichen, don't worry about me. You, on the other hand, what are you doing here? You're not supposed to come to the middle ring, under any circumstances, especially when two great demons are fighting each other. All the barriers should have been significantly strengthened after the emergency wave was activated. How did you accomplish such an impossible feat?" He asked, and Yixuan saw his brother blush slightly as he coughed nervously, trying to explain something that could land him in serious trouble. The rest of his unit had similar expressions and Pei Sijing was about to give Zhuo Yixuan the explanation, when someone else spoke up first.

"Commander Zhuo Yixuan, Father, there was an urgent emergency on our end and this was our only way to contact you and tell you what happened after the battle with the two demons. We have legitimate reason to believe that your safety might be compromise, so we came quickly to warn you." Wen Xiao explained with her usual bravery, both in place of Zhuo Yichen and Pei Sijing, who sighed not exactly in relief, but in resignation at what was coming. This was because Fan Ying was not so easily sway and he was also not happy with their unexpected arrival.

"Wen Xiao! I'm not your father right now, but your superior, and you shouldn't be here at all! What reason do you have to ignore all the safety protocols in place to keep everyone safe and away from the danger that you are not ready to face yet? Zhuo Yixuan and I are veterans in this field, so we can protect ourselves, as long as we don't come face to face with those two great demons, that obviously we are not a match for!" He exclaimed furiously, as Wen Xiao raised her head in defiance and approached her now enraged father.

"Very well then, Lord Superior, let me tell you that the same demon you just said you are no match for, fought against this newly appointed demon hunter, Zhuo Yichen, which is considered an emergency to me, though not to you, and we came to report it, worry for your safety too. What about that? Is that reason enough to use unauthorized methods to report as soon as the great demon release us from his one-word spell?" At this, Fan Ying swallowed his reproachful words in his shock and looked at Zhuo Yichen, who looked a little shaken, but fine. However, this time it was Yixuan who was checking his brother for any injuries or drops of blood.

"Xiao Chen... what's this about Zhu Yan fighting you? One-word spells? You can't, not him... and he can't mess with you... I swear, if he hurts you in any way..." Yixuan's eyes flashed a fiercer amber this time. His usual unwavering calm was finally broken for the first time in his life. His golden energy radiated warm ripples that dissipated the purple demonic energy on the ground. However, with just his brother's gentle touch on his cheek, Yixuan released his sudden burst of anger, and his eyes returned to their usual dark brown.

"Xiao Xuan... I'm fine. The great demon just wanted to play a bit. He said he was bored, but he asked me to give you a message. He's willing to talk to us, you and me, as descendants of Bing Yi. Some kind of truce, I don't know... but since he mentioned you, I thought... I thought he was also coming to find you, and I panicked... so I came here to find you. I'm sorry for breaking the rules... but I really thought he was going to fight you next..." Yixuan simply hugged his beloved little brother, who, despite the danger he had just faced, was only concerned about his safety. What should he do with such a loving yet reckless brother?

"Tell me everything, Didi and don't spare any details. We'll listen to it all. Everything's fine now..." Yixuan said as he carefully guided his brother toward the stairs leading to the top of the tower, and the others soon followed silently. The master hunter of that tower, who had heard everything, would never have believed that such an encounter between a newly appointed unit in the outer ring could face off against the most powerful demon in human history and survive without a single scratch, not even in his wildest dreams.

After hearing everything, Yixuan was more convinced than ever that Zhu Yan was more than they had believed in the past. Although he was reluctant to involve his younger brother in a possible truce, he wasn't sure if there was a way to avoid it, since the great demon personally sought out Yichen and even tested him. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity about what Zhu Yan knew about his ancestor, Yixuan was about to try something new, the astral projection with his unique golden aura.

However, Yichen wasn't willing to let him risk it alone and offer himself as his anchor. Their divine energy might look and feel different, but in the end, they were both part of the same whole, so they sat opposite each other in the lotus position, knees touching, while the others watched. After a few minutes of deep meditation, something unexpected happened, with a golden mist covering them, and their spirits suddenly where teleported straight to the tree where Zhu Yan was anxiously waiting for them.

Although their real bodies were still in the tower, their astral projection was quite solid, the only difference being that they seemed to be covered in a golden glow. Yixuan had landed right in the middle of a branch of Zhu Yan's enormous tree, but Yichen wasn't so lucky and landed with his feet right on the edge of the same wide branch, causing him to lose his center of gravity under his own weight and fall backward, back into Zhu Yan's arms, who easily caught him and pressed him against his chest, while Yichen clung to Zhu Yan's shoulders. They stared at each other for a few seconds before the great demon smiled charmingly at Yichen's golden spirit.

"Be careful there, you always seem to accidentally end up in my arms. Not that I mind, but may I ask your name, dear demon hunter? It's about time, given our intimate interactions during our last two encounters, don't you think?" Zhu Yan taunted, and still a little dazed from experiencing this new form, Yichen didn't notice that he was still wrapped in Zhu Yan's strong arms, nor the blush that colored his cheeks.

"I... I'm Zhuo... Zhuo Yichen and the one with me is my brother Zhuo Yixuan." He whispered, while his brother raised an eyebrow in a mixture of amusement and a hint of concern.

"Ah, such a beautiful name. As I said before, Xiao Zhuo, be careful, because even in spirit form you can get hurt." Zhu Yan warned the young man in his arms, feeling his warmth increase tenfold.

"You! I didn't ask you to call me so... so casually! We just met!" Yichen blushed even more, but felt strangely comfortable around him, despite his harsh words.

"But I'm a great demon, Xiao Zhuo... I don't have human customs to follow, and back in my time, when we shared this world, there was no need for formalities. We just called people whatever we wanted without any fuss." Zhu Yan explained while still gently holding the man by his slender waist.

"I don't care, that's inappropriate nowadays. It was you who asked for this meeting, so follow the rules, our rules." Yichen challenged him and Yixuan felt a pang of dread. His younger brother was too bold for his own good.

"Yichen!"He wasted no time in scolding him before he could dig his own grave.

"You see? Even your dear brother can hear reason. What's a mere formality against a peace offering? Surely you can tolerate that little inconvenience, even if you're a stubborn young man. I find your refusal very sweet." Zhu Yan teased him even more.

"You evil monkey, let go of me!" Yichen yell as he finally tried to escape from his arms, but his movement only caused them to struggle for balance over the branch and the great demon to hold him even closer.

"Ape, I'm an ape."

"Whatever, just let me go."

"Fine, but I must say that you are just as stunning as your ancestor Bing Yi was. Your brother Yixuan seems to have inherited his personality and divine aura, but you, Xiao Zhuo, inherited his fire in battle." Zhu Yan said, and saw his eyes widen in surprise.

"Wait... what? Are you seriously that old?" Yichen asked so innocently that Zhu Yan felt like laughing, but decided to humor him instead.

"That's rude, Xiao Zhuo. Remember your own words about what should be appropriate." Zhu Yan chided him in a gentle tone and Yichen blushed.

"I meant that you met Bing Yi personally and that was a long, long time ago." He tried to correct himself.

"Fair enough... it was indeed a very long time ago. Want to hear his real story? It's a bit different than what you humans had pass on." At that Yichen chuckle.

"Can I trust it? How can I know if you're not just making it up? Like you said, you're a demon after all, without human morality to stop you from lying." Yichen pointed and Zhu Yan sighed.

"I see, good point. How about you spend some time with me? That way we can get to know each other better. I can teach you my demon ways, and you can teach me yours as a human. It seems a lot has changed in your world and I'd love to know how humans evolved." Zhu Yan offered.

"What's the point of that? Don't you demons want to take over this world?" Yichen asked, the crucial question they had all been asking themselves.

"Yes, you're right. The demons of my world do want yours, but contrary to what you believe, I don't share that desire. My reason for being here is proof enough of that, and I believe your dear brother, your other half, is convinced of it, right?" He asked, finally looking at Yixuan, who wasn't sure what to make of that encounter. He could see that Zhu Yan had a special interest in Yichen, but it wasn't necessarily physical attraction, as being mischievous was part of his demonic nature. He could be just playing with his poor brother and nothing more.

"Yes, to be honest, I've thought about it. But then, what is your motive for staying here for so long? Can you indulge me with this curiosity of mine?" Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan smiled at him in pleasure.

"Of course." He agree.

"But please, could you let go of my brother first? He's usually very shy at such a young age, so I'm sure you won't mind, right?" Yixuan asked, thinking they'd been hugging each other for too long. It was time to go down the tree and find a more appropriate spot with at least a little personal space between them.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Xiao Zhuo. Then let's find you a better, safer place so we can talk properly." He said as he jumped down with Yichen still holding on to him. The young man yelled as they descended a considerable distance, but Zhu Yan simply lifted him in mid air, to hold him bridal style, before finally releasing him on the ground to stand on his feet. However, it was all so sudden that Yichen staggered slightly, but before Zhu Yan could grab him again, Yixuan landed next to his brother and helped him steady himself.

"Good. So where should we go? We have several towers and shelters throughout the forest." Yixuan asked Zhu Yan, but the latter simply smiled.

"I know about them, but I prefer to stay near the gate after a great demon has just emerged from it. I hope you don't mind me asking how many members your unit has, Zhuo Yixuan. I already know how many Xiao Zhuo's unit has, as they were quite an interesting group." Yixuan should have been more cautious around this demon, but for some reason, perhaps because of how gently he held Yichen during that long conversation and because he hadn't forced them into anything so far, he felt like he didn't mean any harm.

"Just like him, five members including me. One female, the rest male." He said, and Zhu Yan closed his eyes after accepting the information. Then, with a single word and some strange hand seal, to their utter astonishment, suddenly, a three-story traditional house materialized right next to that enormous tree he loved so much, leaving them both speechless.

"What do you think? Do you like it? One floor for each unit, and the top one just for me and any other guest we may have." He said proudly, but neither Yichen nor Yixuan heard him as they stared in disbelief at the magnificent house rising out of nowhere.

"How the hell...? Certainly that should be..." Yichen started.

"Impossible..."Yixuan finishes for him, equally stunned and Zhu Yan took their surprise as the finest compliment. He laughed.

AN: No, you are not reading a chapter from Naruto fanfiction, sorry. If a ninja can make a house out of wood ninjutsu or genjutsu, don't remember anymore which one, so can an almighty great demon with the power of a god. LOL. Hope you like this little treat and Yixuan with gold eyes. To those who celebrate it today, happy Father's Day. 

Chapter Text

After the initial shock, Zhu Yan led them inside the house he had conjured out of thin air. The place was spacious, elegantly decorated, comfortable, and warm. However, the brothers weren't particularly interested in the accommodations, as they both had many unanswered questions about their ancestor Bing Yi and the true power of the great demons, not to mention the reason for Zhu Yan's presence in their world. 

Thus, although Zhu Yan was very eager to show off his power and refined taste as a host to impress the two brothers, he was ultimately largely ignored, rudely by Zhuo Yichen and politely by Zhuo Yixuan, and so they ended up sitting on the comfortable floor cushions next to an elegant table to obtain the information the great demon had offered them as bait to make them stay longer.

"I know you're very curious about your ancestor Bing Yi, so ask away, dear Zhuo brothers, though it's your decision to believe or not what I will tell you." Zhu Yan looked at Yichen for a moment, waiting for his snark remark, but the young man kept his mouth shut, and Yixuan smiled.

"Of course, great demon Zhu Yan, and in return, you can ask us anything you want to know, and we'll gladly answer all your human curiosity, unless we can't for safety or personal reasons." Yixuan warned, expecting  that Zhu Yan would dig deeper into Yichen's life, as he could see his interest growing with each glance directed to his brother.

"Okay, I'll answer one question from each of you, and you guys will answer one in turn. Zhuo Yixuan, your question first, as the eldest brother, you have that right." Zhu Yan said, showing respect to Yixuan for being the first to catch his interest, which led him to meet the second brother with he had so much joy.

"Well then, why do you stay here and not wander around or attack us like the other demons do?" Yixuan asked first, and Zhu Yan looked at him with a serious expression, then at Yichen.

"I made a promise a long time ago to my father, Ying Long..."

"Wait, what? You're the son of the demon god Ying Long?" Yichen interrupted, and both Zhu Yan and his brother sighed.

"Didi, please let him explain." Yixuan kindly said to his brother, who blushed slightly, returning to his usual shyness under his brother's gaze.

"Yes, I am Ying Long's son. When my father was still alive, he wasn't a demon, but a divine beast, a dragon, just like his best friend, Bing Yi. Back then, they were both very powerful, almost gods. Bing Yi achieved godhood first and was appointed guardian of humanity by Nuwa. Centuries later, my father became a god and assisted him in his labors. They spent centuries protecting humanity until things started to change. My father warned many arrogant and bloodthirsty divine beasts that they were getting out of control and not to overdo it, but they didn't listen and instead rebelled against the gods." 

"It was then that the divine beasts became demons, tainted by the evil energy coming from humans, as Nuwa created them from the earth, which was already contaminated by the chaotic energy from the creation of the world. Because humans born contaminated, as they grew in number and faced hardships, they released malicious dark energy, and over the centuries, that energy gave rise to new demons, changing the energy that the divine beasts cultivated, contaminating them to the point that they could no longer share the world without seeking blood and dominance."

"This wasn't what Nuwa intended, but since she had already realized her mistake in using earth for her creation instead of divine energy, or something that wasn't already tainted, she couldn't undo what was too late to stop. My father tried to reason with the tainted divine beast and demons, and spent centuries trying to prevent the impending war with the gods, but ultimately failed, and war broke out anyway."

"My father and Bing Yi, at some point during their many centuries together before the war, became lovers, but when war broke out, they were forced onto opposing sides. Bing Yi was bound by his duty to protect humans, and Ying Long couldn't allow the demons to be destroyed, because if humans weren't guilty of Nuwa's mistake in their creation, the demons couldn't be either, as it was their energy that tainted them, slowly changing them, with some becoming violent and others unwilling to follow the rules the gods had imposed on them."

"Then the war began, which lasted a long time. Many demons were killed, but also gods, mostly minor ones. If the war escalated, it could end up destroying heaven and earth. So my father and Nuwa came to a truce and a solution. My father's power was that of creation, and Nuwa also possessed hers, as well as the power of sealing. Ying Long offered his life to create a separate realm for the demons, where they would be at peace and no gods would interfere, which they called the underworld. Nuwa was supposed to seal the realm completely so that no demons could escape, but while she was sealing it, a rogue divine beast fought her, and Bing Yi intervened, fighting the fox beast, giving Nuwa time to seal the realm. But when she was about to finish using the last stone, the rogue divine beast stole the celestial stone, and Bing Yi went after him, with rumors saying he sealed him away somewhere, but never returned to confirm that rumor as a fact."

"With the job still incomplete, demons could cross the still-open rift between the two worlds, and since sealing demons was the reason my father offered his life, I accepted his job and crossed the gate to protect it until it could be fully sealed. By the time of the war, I was young, but quite powerful in my own right, and before he died, perhaps fearing something would go wrong or later reunite with his lover Bing Yi, he transferred some of his power and soul to me. Thus, when demons attempted to cross the gate, I was powerful enough to stop them, killing those who refused to return, causing other demons to fear me to the point where only great demons, like myself, would come to challenge me every few centuries."

"That is, of course, why I can't leave this place, for if I do, a greater demon might find the opportunity to cross over and wreak havoc on this side, killing countless demon hunters before I can stop or prevent it. My father was a soft-hearted god, as was Bing Yi, and that softness of heart breaks them in the end, so to prevent the same thing from happening to me, I choose to stay away from humans, avoiding contact with them for centuries I lost count on. I also served ties with my demon friends from before the war, all to keep my father's promise to never allow another war, to never let the demons seek their own destruction, as my father also has the gift of foresight." 

"My father knew that if the war escalated further, the gods would eventually kill them all, overpowering the great demons, which were still essentially divine beast, and if his sacrifice gave them at least a chance to avoid that fate, even in isolation from this world, he was willing to do it. He bound his power to all demons and created a world for them to thrive on, but most demons were unwilling to give up what they had and many demons, especially beasts, now have a taste for human blood, so they still persevere and will keep doing so until the rift is finally close." Zhu Yan explained it in detail, and Yixuan found it quite truthful. 

It made sense and explained many things that didn't fit with human legends. If the great demons were tainted divine beasts, then that explained why Zhu Yan had such overwhelming power; it also explained why he had never left the gate and why he didn't conquer humanity on his own, when he clearly could have done so without any humans strong enough to stop him; and it also explained why other great demons appeared every few centuries but never reached even the inner ring barrier. Yixuan had seen with his own two eyes, eyes that cannot be deceived, how Zhu Yan had built a barrier to protect the demon hunters from their fight and felt the great demon retreat from where he came from. His entire story fit together perfectly, and even if he tried his best to find a loophole, he couldn't deny the facts.

"Okay, that sounds about right, I give you that, but then why contact demon hunters now? What made you change your mind? Because I doubt you're simply bored. And what about the demons in the forest? Where did they come from if not the demon realm? And if we humans created this malicious dark energy, where is it concentrated now? We're not turning into demons or beasts, we're not killing indiscriminately, we..." Yichen started to say, but as he said it, he realized that it wasn't entirely true, as humans had killed indiscriminately before. There were humans who acted like demons and beasts, especially in small villages controlled by powerful people, and he remembered that even Bai Jiu's small village had been abandoned for many years by the Demon Hunting Bureau. That help they so desperately needed never came, leaving the boy motherless and turning him into a demon hunter. If humanity in general weren't busy fighting demons, how much would they differ from them?

"Yes, we are indeed tainted... we have been since the beginning of time." Yixuan said, coming to that conclusion as well.

"But..." Yichen tried to insist, but Zhu Yan leaned too close, causing him to flinch from his sudden proximity and intense gaze.

"Xiao Zhuo... you've asked so many questions, and I've answered as I said, but I haven't received anything in return. When is it my turn to ask? When can I find out more about you...?" That last question was whispered directly into Yichen's ear, and he blushed as he moved away so quickly that he almost fell to the ground if Zhu Yan didn't hold his back to prevent him from falling.

"You! Why do you always touch me?"

"Why do you always fall?"

"I didn't fall!"

"You were about to fall just now, same with that cliff and the tree. Am I wrong?"

"No, but I'm not even in my real body right now."

"So should I let you fall just because your body is somewhere else? Didn't I warn you before that even in spirit form you can get hurt?"

"I wasn't going to get hurt."

"Oh, should I let you go then...?" Zhu Yan said as he was going to remove his hand from his back from where Yichen still have most of his weight.

"No, wait!"

"Make up your mind, dear Xiao Zhuo... you're confusing your brother too." Yichen looked at his older brother, who seemed to be indeed a little confused by his antics. He could see that Zhu Yan was teasing his brother and enjoying it greatly, but it seemed like his brother didn't really mind the touch either, despite his protests.

"Ge, it's not like he said! He's just trying to tease me." Yichen said as he settled back onto the floor cushion. However, Yixuan was already beginning to suspect that his little brother might be inclined to fall in love with someone from the same sex, the same way he was, and he sighed. Not because he disapproved, but because he hoped Yichen would provide their father with an heir. Now it seemed that the possibility of their Zhuo surname extending for several more generations was becoming increasingly remote.

Then he remembered what Zhu Yan had said before about Bing Yi's love for Ying Long, and he finally understood. Divine blood was powerful and usually contained traces of the original blood. It was passed down through generations that Bing Yi's inheritance did not come from a direct child of Bing Yi, but from an already born child of the original Zhuo family, who had been bestowed with his blood along with a seal, so that the baby could absorb the blood slowly as he grew, rather than all at once, which would have killed the child.

"Didi, it's fine, but be fair to the great demon. He gave us answers, now let him ask." Yixuan said, now starting to feel the exhaustion from the prolonged absence of his real body.

"But he...! He..." Yichen protested, blushing even more, and Zhu Yan was close to laughing.

"What? Xiao Chen?" Yixuan asked.

"He said he wanted to know more about me." At that, Yixuan looked at Zhu Yan, who looked back. There was mischief in his gaze, yes, but also something deeper, something that perhaps, like them, was reflected in his blood, inherited from the demon god Ying Long. Could it be that he, too, was attracted to Yichen because of his resemblance to Bing Yi?

"Great demon Zhu Yan, were you born the same way as Bing Yi's descendants? For us, it was a drop of his divine blood in our lineage, in a child. I know it's your turn to ask, and I apologize for being rude, but I see you have a special interest in my brother, and I wonder..."

"You're wondering if it's because of his resemblance to Bing Yi. Well, the answer will be yes and no. Yes, because like your Zhou family, I wasn't born from Ying Long in the way humans are conceived, but as a white ape, and I've been cultivating divine energy since before it was tainted. However, I was a child when I met them, and Ying Long, always curious (or perhaps because of his foresight) and kind-hearted, granted me his blood so I could accelerate my cultivation and be stronger, as he found me so small that he thought I was dying."

"Were you?" Yichen asked with interest, which didn't go unnoticed by either of the other two men in the room.

"No, I wasn't dying, but I was very weak. Perhaps if we had never met, I might have died over time, as another, stronger demon could have killed me."

"So then what?" Yichen asked again.

"He granted me his blood, which in my case wasn't sealed, so I assimilating it and Bing Yi helped me stabilize and cultivate it. From then on, I became a great demon, born of Ying Long blood. In return, I became his son, taking on a human appearance very similar to his, though not entirely, and I traveled with them for centuries. So yes, it's in my blood to be attracted to Bing Yi, but Xiao Zhuo only resembles him in appearance, because his personality is completely opposite to that of the dragon god. So no, it's not just because of his blood. Otherwise, I would like Zhuo Yixuan more, as he quite resembles Bing Yi when he lived in this realm."

"But that means you're interested in him, right?" Yixuan wanted to clarify that point the most.

"Again, yes and no. Yes, because there's something about him that attracts me, and no, because it might be curiosity and loneliness. After so many centuries alone, protecting humanity, and still being considered a bloodthirsty demon, when I only killed when I had no other choice... I'm growing tired and seeking my own freedom. There's also unexpected news from the demon realm, which also pressures me to contact you."

"What news?" Yichen asked more.

"Something is awakening somewhere within the demon realm, and if it's the one Bing Yi was rumored to have sealed, that means trouble not only for humans, but for all demons."

"Why?" Yixuan asked this time.

"Because the one who fought against Nuwa, that fox demon, was a divine beast that became a god before it was named a demon, a chaos god rather than an auspicious beast, and before Bing Yi dealt with him, he tried to kill both gods and demons, for he hated them fiercely."

"Why?" Yichen asked curiosity was surprisingly constant.

"That will be a story for another time. I need something for when you get back, right?"

"Why are we going back? Haven't you already given us enough information?" Yichen said, and Zhu Yan chuckled.

"You're ungrateful, what a disgrace to the noble lineage you carry in your veins."

"That's because you shamelessly told me and right in front of my brother you were interested in me. So what now? Will you court me or something for information?"

"May I?" Zhu Yan asked as he looked at Yixuan, who understood that he was just teasing his little brother, who blushed more, although the golden glow they have makes it a little harder to notice.

"Don't look at my brother. The answer is a resounding no." Yichen exclaimed outrageously.

"Xiao Chen, he's not serious about pursuing you, at least not for now. However, I think we indeed, need to go back for more. Right now, I'm almost at my limit, as this spiritual form is new to me, and I'm afraid I need to return to my body soon, we both need to go."

"Oh..." Yichen said, and to Yixuan that sounded somewhat like he was disappointed.

"You can go back and report to your superiors what I have told you and then return with your respective units here. The reason is very simple. Whatever may come your way may be more powerful than me and I will need your help this time, so I plan to train you all, to awaken your divine blood."

"Can you do it?" Yichen asked in surprise.

"Of course, and I have much to teach you from my time with Bing Yi. So, are you interested now, my Xiao Zhuo?" Zhu Yan asked him as he moved closer, causing Yichen to swallow his heart at the closeness, their lips about to touch.

"Great Demon Zhu Yan, please be nice to my brother, he's too young to understand some games."

"I don't play games... but you're right, he's very young and easily teased, how adorable. Xiao Zhuo, you're just my type."

"You cheeky monkey!" Yichen's face burned, making its golden glow almost blinding, and Zhu Yan laughed.

"Bring him back, Zhuo Yixuan, or can I call you Xiao Xuan, since you're both Zhuo and Yi?"

"I don't mind, I understand that formalities are unnecessary with demons."

"Good, then return by teleportation, like Xiao Zhuo did with his unit, and everything will be ready to receive you. I may be teasing younger brother a little, but I'm completely serious about one thing, we need to join forces to survive whatever may come. It's for both our sakes, so return as soon as you can. I don't know how much time I have to try to awaken your blood and train you, so a second earned is a second not wasted."

"I promise we'll return as soon as possible. I need to gather my team, but Xiao Chen's team is already with him. I'll ask my superior to come, but they could at least be here in a few minutes. Is that alright with you, great demon Zhu Yan?" Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan smiled pleased.

"Of course, but please call me Zhu Yan..."

"Zhu Yan, then... he'll be back very soon."

"I will be eagerly waiting..." Then they just disappear the same way they suddenly appear in his tree.

AN: The reason the gods would overwhelm the demons in a prolonged war was simple, the powerful gods were many while the great demons in league with their power were fewer. Thanks for reading I hope you like it, see you next time, until then, take care.

Chapter Text

Their return to their bodies was a bit abrupt, as both were thrown back, where they sat in the lotus position, falling to the ground with a gasp, as if they had breathed for the first time in hours, which was just the aftereffect of leaving their bodies while still joined and then rushing back.

"Xiao Zhuo!" Bai Jiu instantly went to his brother, helping him sit up while the rest of his unit gathered around him. Fan Ying and the tower's master hunter helped Yixuan up, as he seemed a little weak after the experience. Apparently, using the golden aura to project two spirit elsewhere took its toll on both of them, but more on Yixuan, as it was his ability.

"What happen? Xiao Zhuo, are you okay?" Wen Xiao asked first, and Yichen coughed lightly before he could answer.

"We met with the great demon Zhu Yan. He told us a lot about the story of the demon god Ying Long and Bing Yi, and guess what? He's Ying Long's son and was here before the war of the gods began. According to him, our legends from that time have been wrong from the start. Wen Xiao, you will be thrilled to hear everything he knows about our past history and the most unexpected thing of all is that he wants to teach both, our unit as well as my brother's because..." At that moment he looked at Yixuan for his approval, which he gave while nodding his head.

"Because what? Come on, man! Don't leave us hanging." Ying Lei asked excitedly, intrigued by their encounter with the great demon. The long wait for them seemed eternal, and they worried that something would happen to the brothers, because although Zhu Yan didn't seem inclined to harm them, he was still a demon and perhaps he was only luring them to do something evil behind their backs.

"He said that something else is stirring in the demon world. Something that might cause us great harm along with the demons in their realm. That Ying Long was the one who sealed all the demons to end the war with the gods and died for it. Then, Zhu Yan was tasked with ensuring his father's sacrifice will hold and he had been protecting humanity in the shadows, for well... forever." Yichen said, and a silence fell among the group, staring at each other as they processed the rushed information.

"Fan Ying, I know this may sound crazy, but I know what he told us is true. You know that I have previously mentioned to you that there was more to the history of the demons than what we inherited from the legends, and I let you know that Zhu Yan protected us from his fight against the other great demon with his barrier and that he, so far, has done nothing to show that he wants to conquer us. We should listen to his advice at least this time, because he said that he might not be able to deal with that demon or god that could destroy us completely and that he would need our help. If he is telling the truth, and I believe he is, if he succeeds in awakening our divine heritage completely, that will only benefit us, even if he lied." Yixuan said to the man that have never doubt the young man sharp instinct.

Ever since his youth, Zhuo Yixuan was special, with keen instincts that couldn't be underestimated. His insight and ability to discern others, even when they were lying, and his ability to purify and even tame lesser demons with his golden aura, along with his many skills as the son of one of the best trainers in the city, were exceptional. Therefore, he had no reason to believe that his divine powers wouldn't work on the great demon, for he was certain that the stronger the demon, the more Yixuan could use his divinity, as he did when he attempted astral projection and went straight to him, like a moth to a flame.

"I believe you, Zhuo Yixuan. What are the conditions of this training? Did he demand anything in return? Can we trust him?" Fan Ying asked, and Yixuan looked at his brother, thinking that even if Zhu Yan didn't make any demand to train demon hunting units, he had at least made it clear that he wanted to get to know Yichen better. 

He had to admit that he was a little worried about it, but in the end, his brother was already an adult capable of making his own decisions, and so far, from what he had seen, from the way they argued, the way Zhu Yan flirted with his brother, and the way Yichen allowed it, even excited to see him again... it was something that was inevitable. Sometimes fate was too stubborn to let go of things that were meant to stay together, like Bing Yi being with Ying Long in the past.

"He hasn't made any demands... at least not yet." Yixuan replied, seeing his brother realize that maybe, just maybe, he was the only thing that intrigued the great demon, or at least amused him, enough to want them around, when he had never allow a human by his side before. Though Yixuan doubted it was out of simple boredom, but out of curiosity and the calling of their blood.

Zhu Yan didn't mention it, but he was sure that the reason he even contacted Yichen and tested him in combat was because he had Bing Yi's blood and it was also the reason why he had approached him that time they locked eyes, not to mention asking for a meeting with both of them, so he already knew that they were brothers, meaning that he must be keeping an eye on him for more than just a staring contest.

"It's highly unlikely that a great demon would offer help to humans for no reason. He must desire something, even if he doesn't say so openly yet. Very well, as the highest-ranking demon hunter here, I'll go meet this demon and see for myself if he's truly offering us help out of pure kindness or not." Fan Ying said, but Yichen knew he shouldn't remain silent when they finally discovered the relationship between his ancestor and the demon god.

"You have a point, High Commander Fan Ying, but I think this is more of a personal level for him. Zhu Yan knew Bing Yi for a long time, and now it turns out that two of his descendants are out in the forest hunting demons at the same time. You could say he's feeling somewhat... nostalgic, as he recognize our blood, a blood from his long past." Yichen explained, though Yixuan still believed it was more than nostalgia, but perhaps there was something to that as well.

"Ah, I see... Were they friends?" Fan Ying just had to ask the one question Yichen didn't want to answer nor explain it, thus subconsciously, Yichen blushed. 

This didn't go unnoticed by his fellow unit member, Wen Xiao, who was now beginning to put the pieces of Zhu Yan's puzzle together. The demon's keen interest in Zhuo Yichen, the way he held him so tenderly when he was about to fall, Yichen's blushing at his proximity, their bickering, the way the great demon seemed to be amused by toying with Yichen in battle while flirting with him for no reason at all. It was obvious that Zhu Yan was looking for something in Zhuo Yichen more than his older brother, and he doubted it was friendship.

"More or less..." Yichen said trying to avoid eye contact with the others, but the redness in his ears and the nervousness in his voice made it clear that wasn't the case. Seeing him so nervous, the master hunter laughed out loud, imagining what those two demons would have been like in the past if the young Zhuo had been so embarrassed.

"Well... they were... I mean... Bing Yi and the demon god Ying Long... in the past, they..." Yichen struggled to say it, so Yixuan sighed and smiled kindly at his brother. There was no need to be embarrassed to say that the two gods loved one another and were together as mates.

"They were lovers when they walked this realm, so in a way, Zhu Yan is indeed interested in Bing Yi's descendants. Besides, he made a promise to Ying Long before sacrificing himself for the good of all the realms, and he's keeping it. I don't think he had any ulterior motives, but of course, that's for you, Fan Ying, to judge for yourself. He requested that Yichen's unit meet with him and you, using the teleportation you used earlier. I'll gather my team and use mine as soon as we're all together. He said time is of the essence, so you must leave now. The accommodation is already prepared, we were already there." Yixuan said, and Fan Ying nodded, so Pei Sijing's unit and their High Commander gathered together. Yichen used Ying Lei's teleportation relic, and they soon arrived at the gates of an extraordinary three-story building brimming with luxury, leaving most of the unit speechless.

"Where did this come from? It wasn't here an hour ago..." Fan Ying whispered, just in time for Zhu Yan to see his shocked expression, similar to that of the brothers who preceded them.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I hope you like it, it's been a while since I've been in human houses." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen huffed on his comment.

"Yeah, right... I bet he knows more about human accommodations than we do." He whispered softly under his breath, which Zhu Yan of course hear it like he had said out loud.

"Xiao Zhuo, really, you know I've been here for thousands of years, that it's not a secret." Zhu Yan said, approaching the young demon hunter.

"Yes, you're old, alright..." Yichen chuckled as he looked away, but the great demon only saw an opportunity to mock him further.

"That's right, Xiao Zhuo... and being old means I have more experience than you imagine, so of course, I can gladly teach you about your ancestors' divine magic and about yourself, of how to become a better hunter, or how to enjoy some well-deserved and pleasurable fun in the right hands..." He whispered those last words directly into Yichen's ear just before blowing on it, causing Yichen to take several steps back, blushing like an erupting volcano with an indignant expression that spoke volumes, even if the other didn't hear his last mocking comment.

"You shameless monkey! I should finish you off right now!" Yichen shouted as he grabbed the hilt of his sword, which was glowing a deep blue, just as his blush glowed equally intensely red, and his heart beating like he had been hunting demons for hours. Zhu Yan laughed as he approached again.

"Oh really? Are you that eager to dance with me again, Xiao Zhuo? I'd love to, as it would take more than superficial threats to defeat me, but you can always try..." He whispered with a wink, unnerving Yichen even more, who was about to accept his offer. Fan Ying stood in front of Yichen to try to calm things down, and Bai Jiu grabbed his new brother's arm and pulled him away, fearing they would start fighting for real.

"Great Demon, he's so young, don't mind him..." Fan Ying said, but Wen Xiao stepped forward and greeted Zhu Yan with a small bow.

"Great Demon, Zhu Yan, I see you've discovered he's very easy to tease since your last meeting, but please don't push him too hard. He's very kind-hearten, and by the way, I'm Wen Xiao, and this man is our High Commander, Fan Ying, and also my father. The one with the golden hair is Ying Lei, the woman beside him is our unit's Commander, Pei Sijing, and holding Xiao Zhuo is Bai Jiu, our youngest member. We're delighted to meet you, and I'm told you have wonderful stories to tell us about our past and history." She said with the courtesy of a diplomat, and Zhu Yan looked back at her with a charming smile.

"It's a great honor for me to be standing before the descendant of the Baize goddess, Wan'er."

"Did you knew her?" Wen Xiao asked in surprise.

"She was my father's best friend, and also mine, and we both mourn her passing with deep sorrow. I can also say that I met Ying Lei's grandfather, a wise great mountain god, whom I deeply respect. I met Bai Yan when the gods and demons weren't at war, but sadly, it was only a fleeting moment, a greeting. As for Huo Yi, the archer god... well, he had better things to do than spend time among divine beasts, or demons, as they called us afterward." Zhu Yan said.

"So you know about our divine blood?" Bai Jiu asked from behind Yichen.

"Yes. Divine blood carries special scents, each fused with its own power embedded in the blood, just like mine, which other demons will recognize from miles away. That's why none of them  comes near this place, so I assure you, as long as you remain here, under my protection, no demon from this forest or my demon realm will harm you. So, I welcome you all to my humble home, and to your home as well, from now on." Zhu Yan said as he gestured for them to come in, as the door opened to let them in.

So they did, and the moment they entered, they were amazed by the grandeur of the place, beautifully decorated rooms with vibrant colors, hallways, comfortable seating, tables and luxurious cushions, living rooms, silk curtains gently swaying in the night breeze, beautiful plants with glowing flowers. Zhu Yan walked them around the first and second floors, where their unit would house their bedrooms.

He showed them the dining room, a kitchen that was both Ying Lei and Bai Jiu's dream come true with a variety of exotic herbs Bai Jiu have been dying to get his hands on and so much ingredients for Ying Lei to make whatever he wanted. Also a cultivation room, a small training ground that pleased Yichen, a steamy pool that will remain warm by a spell, for bathing that they all wanted so desperately, and even a girls' room, as he called it, so they could have their alone time and rest when they got tired of the men's antics, which made Wen Xiao laugh and Pei Sijing smile.

Because their previous rest was cut short by the fight between the two great demons, Zhu Yan showed each member of their unit to their rooms, and they all believed the place to be magically enchanted, as the interior of the house was much larger than it appeared from the outside. Zhu Yan promised Fan Ying that they would have a talk once everyone was rested and both units were present, and escorted him to his room, leaving Zhuo Yichen for last.

They walked down the second-floor corridor until they reached the last room, whose sliding door had a magnificent dragon painted in shimmering blue against the screen paper covering the door. Of course, Zhu Yan would go so far as to mark his room with a dragon, having seen a similar one on the sliding shoji door of the first room on the first floor, but that one gleamed gold, meaning it was for his brother. Why was one blue and the other gold? Yichen was curious as to how a great demon like him, who knew Bing Yi personally, could see them so differently, when they both shared the same blood.

"Are we really that different into your eyes, Zhu Yan? I mean my brother and I." Yichen asked, looking at him.

"Although all humans are different in personality and physical appearance, even as brothers, in terms of divine blood inheritance, in the same family, it is quite unusual for two brothers to have such different abilities. I don't know what happened in your Zhuo family lineage, but something went wrong at some point and Bing Yi's divinity split, causing you both to inherit only a portion, instead of the full divinity." Zhu Yan said as he opened the door and let him in.

"So... is really unusual... I wonder what could have happen. Father was always puzzle by it too, since is the first time it happen for as long as he knows..." Yichen said as he finally look inside the bedroom assigned to him and gasped at the sight.

"Zhu Yan, you..." Yichen whisper as he enter the wide room, elegantly adorned with oil lamps, shining mahogany tables and floor, with a few jade vases filled with exotic blue flowers, an exquisite wall painting of an almost realistic colored azure dragon soaring into the sky, just behind a king canopy bed adorned with soft silk curtains of blue and green color, gently swaying in the night breeze of an open door that leaded to a balcony to the outside with a breathtaking sight of the forest and that magical three with glowing flowers Zhu Yan love so much.

"Do you like it?" The great demon asked, and Yichen sighed.

"I'm starting to realize you're quite dramatic. You either do things big or not at all. I'm just a simple demon hunter, used to sleeping on the hard forest floor or on the Bureau's beds when I'm on duty, which aren't exactly comfortable either, but this... this is a bed fit for a king. It's too big for one man, not to mention too fancy..."

"But Xiao, into my demon eyes you look like a king."

"Well, I'm not, so how can I feel comfortable under such luxury? Not even my room back at home is this... extravagant." Yichen said as he pointed at the wide bed.

"You will need this, believe me. When you are as exhausted as you will feel when your training begins, the last thing you will think is that this room is too much for you, but you will be glad you have it and rest like a king when your whole body aches."

"Then, can you get rid of the flowers? I'm a man who appreciates the beauty of nature, but I certainly don't need so many of them around expensive vases."

"I put them here for their special scent, which won't wither or diminish over time. The scent will help you rest better and also help you meditate, which is essential for your cultivation and the awakening of your divine blood."

"Then a smaller bed, I don't need that much space."

"Who said you won't need it? It's a bed for two, with enough room to move around without falling out..."

"You shameless monkey! I won't sleep with you even if it costs me my life!" Yichen shouted indignantly, as he blushed deeply.

"Xiao Zhu, you're so young, but it seems your fantasies are getting ahead of you. A bed is more than what you imagine just now, and perhaps you'll soon find out what I mean. The day will come when you will want me to stay here while you sleep."

"I doubt it, unless you try some dirty spell or trick..."

"I don't need any of that. I'm referring to your nightmares..." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen's eyes widened in shock as he took a step back.

"How do you know that?" He asked, with his guard up as he saw that Zhu Yan knew more about him, or perhaps all of them, than he was letting on.

"I've touched you enough to read the flow of your energy, to reach your divine core and notice the disturbance. You're unbalanced, something is disturbing your qi, which means your mind has been affected, probably when you're unconscious, hence the nightmares. I can see they're getting stronger... like I said, you'll eventually want me to wake you up. Your sword is also connected to me, as you sensed when we first met."

"How did you...?"

"It was made from my father's bones, blood, and scales, so it recognizes me as Ying Long's son, and I can sense the intent of the Cloud Light sword. That's why I also know about your nightmares. You are both resonating with something I can't yet identify, and it's spiraling out of control." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen gulped, fearing what might happen.

"Can you do something about it? Since I was a child, I've had nightmares for a while, then they disappear and return again in a strange cycle. My parents try almost everything to make me stop having them, but they only manage to delay them." Yichen asked, a little embarrassed by his previous accusation.

"I'll try to find out the reason for your disruption, but unless I conjure you to sleep, which you won't want, I can't do anything to stop them, except for what I've already prepared in this room for you to relax and rest better, or whatever that little doctor brother of yours can prepare for you with his own knowledge and experience." He said and turned to leave, but Yichen unconsciously grabbed his arm to turn him around and face him.

"Zhu Yan, I... I'm sorry for what I said earlier... I went too far. It's just that you're provoking me so abruptly, that it's really get to me, but thank you for all your help and for protecting us from other great demons as well. I still don't know if everything you said is true, but I'm willing to believe it... Also, thank you for saving me in that cliff. You could have let me fall... I owe you one for that, and I promise I'll pay you back someday."

"You don't have to thank me or promise me anything, Xiao Zhuo. Though if you insist, I won't mind living out your fantasy... In fact, I'm looking forward to it. I can't wait to find out how much you imagine me doing to you in bed." Zhu Yan suggested mischievously, making Yichen blush even more intense this time. He grabbed the pillow closer to him and threw it at the monkey demon with all his might, which Zhu Yan easily dodged, of course.

"Never mind, you shameless demon! I take it all back! There is no way in hell I will fantasy with you, much less you doing anything to me, nor the other way around!" Yichen yelled in hot embarrassment.

"Oh? So you are already into a point of mutual exploration? Xiao Zhuo, you have such hot blood..." Zhu Yan teased more.

"Get out, you pervert monkey!"

"I'm an Ape..." 

"Who cares?! Get out!" Zhu Yan laughed, pleased with his adorable shyness and embarrassment as he heard the young man's heart pounding as fast as the wave of heat across his face and ears. He was so easy to tease, and he loved it, very much. He left the room in delightful amusement.

AN: Ah, Zhu Yan, don't tease poor Yichen like that, mind his young heart, but then again, I love when he infuriated Yichen, making him blush. Yichen in this story is a bit more bold and challenging, as this time he grew up with a caring brother and father for all his life, thus, spoiled and self confidence, as he was well trained since childhood. Thanks for reading, I hope you like and see you next time, take care.

I am low on internet right now, so no pictures for now but will load them later.

Chapter Text

It was a pleasure to return to the Hunters' Citadel after a few days of walking through the Forest of Convergence, watching his brother progress, but now back to the familiarity of his own unit, its dynamics, its jokes, and its warm welcome. The Citadel was on high alert, as the fight between the two great demons had activated the barriers' emergency protocol, so his unit awaited his instructions in their shared room, where he teleported after leaving the barrier tower of the central ring. As soon as he arrived, as expected, he was swarmed by questions from his unit members, as well as a warm embrace from the only woman on his team, Mei Lin.

Yixuan had to admit that Mei Lin was as resilient as the beautiful jade flower her name suggests. She was strong, fearless, reliable, caring, and hard to beat, not to mention too stubborn to be defeated or give up on anything she set her mind to. So, of course, being in love with him, even though he hadn't shown any interest in a romantic relationship for a moment, was yet another obstacle for her to overcome with no real reason to give up when there was no one else to catch her Commander interest, from either female or male.

"Xiao Xuan... I'm glad you're back. We were very worried about those patrolling the forest just when all that demonic energy hit it and spread throughout the Citadel. Are you okay? Where's High Commander Fan Ying? And your little brother and...?"

"Oh, come on, Xiao Mei, give the man a break and let him recover. He must be exhausted after his trip to Tiandu in horseback, then to the forest to take care of his little brother, and now with the unexpected arrival of a second great demon, all in such a short time without any rest, while we're left here on free time for weeks." The one who had intervened was his second-hand and best friend, Huang Yiming, and Yixuan smiled at him, while Yiming gently pulled Mei Lin away from Yixuan, releasing him from her tight embrace, from which he was quite grateful.

Yiming and he had been friends since childhood, as he was trained in the Zhuo Demon Hunting School, so the man knew Yixuan like the back of his hand and knew that Yixuan had no real interest in a romantic relationship with Mei Lin, or anyone else for that matter. So, to keep things in order, Yiming took it upon himself to control Mei Lin's advances, as he knew Yixuan was too kind to do it himself. That soft idiot... it was thanks to that that Mei Lin didn't give up on him, even when she knew Yixuan wasn't interested in her that way.

He had always suspected that Yixuan had a thing for men, but since he never spoke to him about it, Yiming never brought it up, even when they were alone, since his sexual preference did not change in any way the brotherhood between them or their respect for him as their commander and his exceptional humanity of which all of them in their unit were proud to be part of.

"Commander, can you explain the situation at a time like this? What are our orders?" The one who asked that question was Ren Jiang, the ever-serious man, their ever-vigilant vanguard, weapon expert, the one they all trusted with their lives. Yixuan smiled at him before beginning to tell them in detail everything that had happened while he was away from his unit.

"So, from the very beginning, we were mistaken about this great demon Zhu Yan, and now he wants to teach us? Teach us what exactly, because I believe our unit is already quite adept at hunting demons." That was Cao Wei, their team's demon expert and spell master, a trickster and a mischief-maker.

"Idiot! Didn't you hear him? He said he was going to awaken their divine blood through training and cultivation, and that the latter could be beneficial to all of us, plus training with him will be very interesting. Or are you going to tell me to my face that you can take on Zhu Yan just as you are right now?" Mei Lin asked, and of course, everyone knew the answer, a resounding no.

"This is a good opportunity for everyone. We can learn not only how to awaken our heritage, but also about demons, their past, and better ways to deal with them. We know now that demons don't come from the demon world, so the ones we have here are our problem, and since we know nothing about them beyond how to kill them, this is a good opportunity to learn from our lack of knowledge. Yes, we've gathered a lot of information about their types of demons and developed many tools and skills to hunt them, but we don't know how they cultivated or where they can do so. That because even with all the precautions we take here, at the gate of their world, cities, towns, and villages still suffer from demonic attacks. We used to believe they were escaping from the Forest of Convergence, because they were too weak to be detected or something like that, but in fact, it's very likely that the demons we had in our cities had cultivated on their own near human civilizations, which means we've been approaching this demon hunt all wrong." Yixuan explained.

"It makes sense, now that you mention it. We had focused on hunting demons in the forest, where they are the most numerous, believing they came from the gate there, but if they can cultivate elsewhere, the problem will never be solved if we focus on the forest and ignore those who can cultivate and become demons at our houses doors." Yiming said.

"But Zhu Yan is still a great demon. Can we trust his words? What if he's just deceiving us for something we don't know about? Demons have their own nature and one as powerful as he is most have his own agenda." Cao Wei asked in turn.

"That's a valid point. Can we trust the strongest demon in human history?" Ren Jiang also asked, and everyone looked at Yixuan, because they all trusted his judgment.

"If you ask me, the answer will be yes. My instinct tells me that he has been honest so far, that he has protected us for centuries, that he did it to keep the promise he made to his father, that he meant us no harm, and that his offer to make us stronger is sincere, but I can't guarantee he has our best interest at heart. It's one thing how I feel, and another how he truly is. The worst thing is that he had been there, near that gate, without straying too far for the vast majority of our existence, but no one thought of approaching him for any other purpose than to kill him, because mankind feared him for centuries and only tried its worst, not to talk to him or reason with him, so we lose the opportunity to check if he was really true to his words. We have proof that he did not hunt us directly, he only acted against us when we tried something with him first, that is a fact, but about the rest of the demons... he had no control over them or at least he does not seem inclined to command them, but If he is willing to share the knowledge on how to hunt them, even I cannot be sure that he would act against his own race, but there is a possibility now that the door is open for us to cross it."

 "I'm in, Xiao Xuan, you can count on me for everything." Mei Lin said, and Yiming almost rolled his eyes. Of course she was going to said something like that.

"I'll follow your lead to the death." It was Ren Jing's choice, a fairly predictable one in Yiming's mind. He was always death serious.

"Of course, as your second-in-command and best friend, your decisions are also mine. My support will always be unconditional." Yiming said with a soft smile.

"Well... if I can't defeat a great demon with strength, perhaps I'll have a better chance if I outsmart him. How about I give it a try? I could win, right?" Cao Wei laughed, and everyone else did too, with the same humor his unit usually had after a serious discussion and they joked around how Cao Wei was planning to outsmart Zhu Yan, all which Yixuan was sure will fail if he ever try them, not that he was serious anyways.

"Okay, then pack your things, just something light, because Zhu Yan...well let's just say he's a bit on the grandiose side and has prepared a three-story mansion for us, and from the looks of it, you can expect the finest accommodations you've ever seen." At that whistle from Cao Wei.

"That's my kind of things, I like him already, and I haven't even met him face to face yet. I'm sick of hard beds, even if they look luxurious on the outside and cheap on the inside." Cao Wei joked.

"Oh... I haven't been inside a mansion in a while, apart from Xiao Xuan's, of course. It was a very special moment for me." She said with a faint blush and a dreamy smile.

"It was just a one-time thing, with all of us present, and we didn't stay long, so don't start fantasizing about something that will never happen." Yiming broke her romantic bubble.

"You're always a pain. Want a fight? I'm willing if you feel like it." She challenged him.

"Oh? Are you still dreaming of defeating me too? Wow, what a brave woman you are!"

"You stupid idiot, come at me and I'll make you eat your words!"

"It's your challenge, you move first. I don't like abusing women."

"I'm a demon slayer, not a little rose!"

"I'm glad you see yourself the way you are, you have very few feminine qualities."

"Now you've done it! Come on, you prick!"

"Bring it on, you foolish woman!" Yiming shouted, though he didn't really mean it, but Mei Lin was furious and about to lunge at him. Yixuan sighed.

"Please, not now. Pack up your things, we'll leave as soon as you're done. No fighting allowed. We need to make a good impression on Zhu Yan. So you two, please restrain yourselves. It's fine to challenge and argue one another from time to time and I can see you have been quite bore the past weeks. However, always remember that we're not just a demon-hunting unit, we're a caring family willing to sacrifice their lives to save others." Yixuan said as he turned to walk into his room, feeling a headache coming on. His unit, he loved them all and cared for them like family and although he enjoy their bickering as a part of who they are, sometimes it was too much.

Those two certainly were an incredible pair. Mei Lin would hit on him at every chance she got, without a hint of shame on her pretty face, even when he turned her down, and Yiming... that fool was so in love with her that he only infuriated her to show it to her in the strangest ways. Yes, she enjoyed a challenge, she had a fiery spirit, but sometimes Yiming just got too carried away. 

It was hard to believe that when he was barely nine he had a crush on him, but he was glad he moved on from that disaster before it could explode on his face. He just hoped Yichen would have a better time with his unit and that he would stay away from Zhu Yan's grasp before the great demon tried to seduce him with the same boldness as Mei Lin use on him.

AN: Thanks for reading, it take me a bit of time to get Yixuan's team and their dynamics, (I hope you like them) and I write a few versions but stick with this one at the end.

↓ Mei Lin ↓

↓ Huang Yiming ↓

↓ Cao Wei ↓

↓ Ren Jiang ↓

Chapter Text

"Wow! Where did this mansion come from? I'm sure it wasn't here the last time I saw this tree from a tower." Cao Wei asked once they teleported next to the colossal tree where Zhu Yan used to sit most of the time.

"It seems like great demons can also create domains this way." Yixuan said as he admired Zhu Yan's enormous mansion from the outside.

"So that's a domain? Like a damn dimension of its own?" Mei Lin asked, stunned by the great demon's magnificent work. She was glad that he at least had such extravagant taste.

"Yes. As I see it with my divine vision, this is a form of domain. One that only those he wants or invites can enter. There's also a powerful barrier around this whole hill." Yixuan said, looking at the others with golden eyes, and Mei Lin blushed at the beautiful sigh.

"Now I like this Zhu Yan even more. Ah, finally something comfortable to lie down on without worrying about demon attacks at any hour of the night." Cao Wei smiled broadly as he appreciated Zhu Yan's work, so unlike Yichen, Zhu Yan had to admit it as he went out to greet Zhuo Yixuan's unit.

"I'm glad you like what I've created for all of you. Welcome to your new home for as long as you wish." Zhu Yan greeted them, and Yixuan's team bowed courteously, while Yixuan acknowledged his words of welcome and offer his thanks on behalf of his unit in return. Once the cortesy was done, everyone followed him inside, to be even more amazed by the endless luxury of the place, which seemed like a palace.

He showed them the same things he did to Yichen's unit and was pleased with the compliments he received as he showed them around and escorted them to their own rooms, leaving Yixuan for last even as his room was the first they passed through and when the rest of the unit settled in for the rest of the night, he showed Yixuan to his own room, which had a golden dragon on the door.

"This one is yours, as you may have suspected when you walked past it upon arrival. Yichen's room is the last one on the second floor with a blue dragon on the door. There's no missing it, although I know you have your own way of sensing your little brother's energy."

"Of course. So what do you want to know? Because I'm sure you're leaving me for last for a reason, right?" Yixuan asked in his usual soft voice that reminded Zhu Yan of Bing Yi.

"You're quite perceptive, but I have a feeling that's your gift. Bing Yi was like that too, and your resemblance to his personality is surprisingly so close that it's frightening."

"Really? Will you tell us more about him?" Yixuan asked as he looked at the great demon.

"If you want, but first there's something I need to ask you."

"Is it about Yichen?"

"Yes."

"Did you really like him then?"

"I won't deny it."

"You can't deny it, even if you want to, Zhu Yan. It's so obvious."

"Not to your brother."

"Oh, he knows. It's just that he's too young and timid to dwell on it too much. What worries you about him?"

"Oh... you sense it too? I'm quite impressed. You honor the blood of your ancestors, and if Bing Yi were alive, he would be very proud to discover that the Zhuo family, with whom he chose to share his blood, has not only remained honorable throughout the generations, but has also passed on its divinity along with his kidness."

"I'm honored by your words."

"They are true, but now let me ask you about Xiao Zhuo's nightmares. I sensed a disturbance in his Qi energy and divine core, and he just confirmed that he's had them for a while now..."

"Oh... You've already smitten my little brother to that extent? Should I be worried?" Yixuan asked half-jokingly, half-seriously.

"I'll never do anything your brother doesn't consent to, other than teasing him, I assure you. I can even swear an oath if you want, a blood oath, which is how a demon can be bound to the heavens."

"I trust my instincts, and so far they tell me you're sincere, but keep in mind how Yichen feels. He's inexperienced, young, and impulsive."

"I know... there's no need to worry, I don't really plan on charming your little brother with a hidden agenda in mind. Whatever grows between us will happen naturally. In the end, he might not even like me that way anyway..." At that, Yixuan was tempted to laugh. Who was he kidding? Yichen was already wooed enough to tell him his deepest secret, which was his nightmares, which he usually disliked talking about, even to him, his beloved older brother.

"My brother is old enough to make his own decisions, so you won't have any problems from me unless you intentionally hurt him, which I will never tolerate or let go. I love him more than myself. So, remember that the only reason I let you get close to him is because that has been his will so far, but the moment he seriously disagrees, back off." Yixuan said, his eyes shining with a deep golden glow and his aura growing fierce. Zhu Yan could feel Bing Yi's power pulsing around him, almost taking the form of a golden dragon coiling around him to protect him.

This older brother had taken his warning to heart, and even Zhu Yan, essentially a divine beast on the cusp of becoming a god, had to admit that his aura ran down his spine with a chill he recognized whenever Bing Yi got angry at something he said or did as a child. They were so similar that if he had inherited Bing Yi's physical appearance like Yichen, he would be a perfect copy of the dragon god his father loved so much.

"You really are like Bing Yi... you're so scary when you're angry..." Zhu Yan confessed, unconsciously crossing his arms to warm himself.

"I'm not angry. I just want to show you that my brother is very precious to me."

"Of course he is, and Bing Yi was precious to me as well, so I will never harm his descendant, who carried on his legacy with such devotion. That would be disrespectful to both him and my own father, whom I respect even more than the ice dragon."

"Then, if your paths cross according to fate and the will of the heavens, I won't object."

"I'm glad, otherwise, I believe you have enough Bing Yi's spiritual power to do me serious harm." At this, Yixuan was surprised to hear such a thing from Zhu Yan, when it was already abundantly clear that all the living demon hunters of that era were no match for him and he was no the exception.

"What's that supposed to mean? No human is a match for you right now."

"Your divine power is no joke, Zhuo Yixuan, and neither is Yichen's. The only things holding you both back are, first, that you still bear the seal of Bing Yi, as your human bodies cannot fully wield the true power of a god, and second, that Bing Yi's divinity has been divided... although perhaps there is a reason for that..."

"Can you find out why?"

"Not for now, but I can tell you that both of you can combine abilities once they awaken, and it will be quite terrifying to see the result. Bing Yi was the most powerful divine beast in his time, a king when compared to humans."

"I see... so, about Yichen's nightmares, he's had them since he was young. They aren't very frequent, but they aren't very occasional either. He always wakes up drenched in sweat and in pain, but it goes away after a few minutes."

"Pain? How strange, no nightmare can cause physical pain."

"We thought so too, and we feared that he was being stalked by some kind of demon that caused him both the nightmares and pain, but every time I look at him with my golden eyes, which see through illusions, I never see or feel a demon nearby."

"Your golden eyes are close to my Truth Eye, which some great demons possess, not to mention gods, but you're still human and unable to fully use their potential, so there are high-level demons who can escape it."

"So, can you use yours to see if anything's wrong near my Didi?"

"Are you asking me to stalk him in his sleep? Ah, what a bold brother you are Zhuo Yixuan." Zhu Yan said touching his heart, feigning scandal, and Yixuan laughed.

"Come on, we both know you are going to do it anyway. I've noticed that Yichen's room, on the second floor, the farthest of all, just happens to be the closet to your favorite tree. With those eyes of yours, capable of seeing great distances, a shoji door is nothing, not to mention Yichen often leaves the door open to feel the night breeze. What a perfect place, right?" This time, Zhu Yan smiled.

"I like you, Big Brother, you are so sharp."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Just take care of Yichen. He's the apple of my eye, and if you can help him get rid of those nightmares that are tormenting him, I'll be eternally grateful to you." Yixuan said, bowing slightly to the great demons.

"I'll find the cause, I promise, though it might give your dear brother the wrong impression of this innocent demon." Yixuan smiled.

"My little brother is innocent and pure, but you, on the other hand, are far from both of them. Be gentle and don't tease him too much. He gets flustered very easily, as you know."

"I take his purity to my heart."

"Shall I make you swear that with blood?"

"It's so late, so why talk about blood when there's a very soft bed waiting for you? Rest well, Zhuo Yixuan, your brother is in good hands... well, claws..." Yixuan snickered.

"Then good night, Zhu Yan. If you need my help to handle him after a nightmare, you know where to find me."

"Do you think he'll have one tonight?"

"Yes, I'm sure, I even have a feeling about it... I have dreams too, but his are always worse."

"Interesting. Can you tell me about your dreams?"

"They're faint, as if something was trying to reach me from behind a veil of darkness in a very cold place. A vague figure I can't see clearly or hear its words, as if they're being carried away by the cold wind. There's no pain, just a sense of danger, but no knowledge of what."

"You two brothers are united by your blood and inherited divinity in a special way. Although your ways of experiencing things are different, your connection with one another is remarkable. If it weren't for the obvious differences, I'd think you were twins."

"My father also said the same thing. Please ease his pain, it's quite intense, at least for the first ten minutes and sometimes it lasts much longer..." Yixuan said as he opened the door to his room and looked inside, sighing.

"You really like to make it as ostentatious as possible. We're not royalty..."

"What a coincidence, your brother said the exact same thing." Zhu Yan said with a gentle smile before walking away toward the front door under Yixuan's watchful eye, because, of course, he knew he would sit by Yichen's bedroom door, whether it was open or not.

Back in his room, Yichen had to admit that the bed, despite its size, was quite soft, very cozy, and inviting. The sweet scent of flowers was even better than any incense or relaxing tea. So, shortly after lying down, he fell asleep, even though he had only lain down to wait for his brother's return, but his body betrayed him, or perhaps it was Zhu Yan's trick, and he fell asleep anyway.

His mind also drifted off into a peaceful sleep as he strolled through a beautiful field of wildflowers gently swaying in the pleasant breeze. The clouds were tinged with gold, and he could hear the soft murmur of running water from a nearby river. In the distance, he could see tall mountains with their snow-capped peaks. Butterflies flew around the beautiful flowers and some bunnies hopping here and there, while some curious foxes showed their orange-white faces behind the tall trees.

It was such a peaceful place that he couldn't resist the temptation to lie down and contemplate the sky and its golden clouds swaying slowly in the wind. After a few minutes admiring the beauty of the place, he closed his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the relaxing atmosphere and preventing his mind from obsessing over dangerous, handsome demons who made his heart race and eager to see him again.

Wait a minute... Handsome demons? What was wrong with him? Why would he be thinking about demons in such a peaceful world? There were no demons there, he couldn't sense any around him, and the place seemed too pure to give birth to demons who cultivated tainted energy from human darkness, let alone one named Zhu Yan, with captivating dark eyes tinged with red like distant stars in an endless galaxy, who was able to touch him so gently even as he could tear at his flesh with his dark claws.

"Zhuo Yichen, what the hell are you thinking? Did that great demon cast a spell on you without you realizing it?" Damn wicked demon, he should never trust one, no matter how trustworthy they seemed. Yichen scolded himself as he opened his eyes, feeling everything around him freeze the moment he uttered that name. 

To his immense shock, he was no longer in that beautiful and peaceful field of flowers. Instead, a wave of purple energy impacted everything, transforming the beauty into a polluted forest, much like the Forest of Convergence. That same energy now gave rise to demons that emerged from plants and trees and from previous harmless animals to ferocious beasts that bore no resemblance to their original forms. Yichen felt caught between the past and the present, between how things were before the rift and how they were now. As he reflected on it, the landscape around him changed once again into something even more oppressive.

Now he was trapped in an ice cave filled with glittering crystals that possessed a power he had never felt before, something too powerful to even belong to Zhu Yan, the strongest living being in the entire world. Moreover, right in the center, hovering above the snowy ground was an enormous golden sphere that pulsed with insane, divine power. The sphere was almost perfectly smooth, save for a few cracks on the surface that coincidentally crack a little more as he stare at it  and then pain hit him like a scorching flame eating him from the inside out.

He fell back onto the snow as his body writhed in pain between heat and cold, between an overwhelming power that threatened to shatter his core but simultaneously held him in place. Yichen screamed, his voice echoed through the cave as if it suffered along with him, and when the surface of the sphere cracked again, Yichen felt his pain intensify.

"Zhuo Yichen!! Xiao Zhuo!!" The voice of the demon he just cursed yelled at him with urgency, but he could not do anything but to scream his pain out, over and over until he felt a wave of healing energy around his core, something that he though should be familiar but he could not place it from whom. Then, he felt the strong presence of something that called to his blood coming from inside the sphere and his world became a freezing cold black void.

AN: Oh no, Yichen! Well, you will wake up soon enough. What you think of Zhu Yan and Yixuan conversation? Was it too much? Thanks for reading and take care, until next time.

Chapter Text

Back in his tree, Zhu Yan watched Zhuo Yichen sleep, with his beautiful face slightly turned towards him, making him wonder if Yichen would really be waiting for him to come and join him, as he left the door wide open and the soft curtains half closed, leaving a nice view of his bed with nothing blocking it. He was sure he hadn't expected to fall asleep so soon, underestimating both the scent of the flowers he chose to help him relax and the comfort he had been deprived of for a while.

The great demon smiled, because the young man sleeping peacefully in his bed was too bold. He dared to become a temptation without regard for his own safety, because even if he wasn't a mindless and uncontrollable wild beast, he was still a demon with natural urges, and with a man he had already set his sights on so openly unguarded... well, let's just say he was taking a risk. Zhu Yan sighed.

"Xiao Zhuo, you're too trusting, and your older brother is overprotective of you. His warning came just in time, because your carelessness makes me want to kiss those soft, plum-colored lips... You're a sight to behold, so what can a young demon do in the face of such a heavenly gift?" He said to himself as he watched the young man for a while, letting the night breeze calm his inner burning. He thought the torture was too much and was about to go to bed in his room when he noticed Yichen starting to stir in his bed, moaning something that even he, with his supernatural hearing, couldn't distinguish.

"So he did had a nightmare..." Zhu Yan easily jumped down from his tree to land on Yichen's balcony and silently walked over to the enormous bed, noticing the beads of sweat that were beginning to accumulate on his forehead. He gently wiped them off his soft skin with his long sleeve and sat by the edge of the bed, trying to figure out whether his nightmares were caused by external or internal influences.

It was a fact that no demon less powerful than him would be able to cross the barrier he had set up on that hill, which was equivalent to no demon coming close for several miles all around, for no demon in the human world was a match for him. And even if Li Lun had left some of his spaying leaves behind, presumably to keep an eye on him, he wasn't physically there either, or at least not yet.

Still, as he watched Yichen mutter in his sleep, there was nothing in that room to give him a nightmare. That only meant that what was happening to him wasn't external. So he placed his hand on Yichen's chest to have an insight of his internal energy and core health, once again sensing a disruption in the flow of his Qi, noticing that the seal at his core, formed on its own since birth to prevent the death of the baby with a power too great for him, was beginning to crack.

"Xiao Zhuo... Xiao Zhuo, wake up." He called out as he reached over Xiao Zhuo's shoulder to shake him slightly, but upon hearing the young man mutter his name laoud and clear into his hearing, everything fell apart. Then Yichen screamed in pain, gasping at the sheer intensity of it and thrashing about as if possessed, forcing Zhu Yan to hold him down so he wouldn't hurt himself.

"Yichen! Zhuo Yichen! Wake up!"Zhu Yan screamed as he restrained him. He had already set up a soundproof barrier in the room, as nightmares usually involve screaming, but Yichen's convulsive pain was far worse than he expected based on Yixuan's description. What Yichen was feeling wasn't ordinary pain caused by injuries or illnesses, but the gut-wrenching pain of feeling as if his soul was being torn from his body along with his essence, and for the first time in his long life, Zhu Yan panicked.

His dilated eyes turned a deep red, with two crimson tattoos peeking out on either side of his cheeks, his long, half-tied hair turned pure white, and a puff of dark red smoke became like a second skin. This shouldn't be happening, because Zhu Yan had learned self-discipline from both, his father and Bing Yi and had mastered it over the centuries to near perfection, but seeing and hearing Yichen screaming as if he was being killed right in front of him, trying to tear himself apart with his bare hands was something he wasn't prepared to handle, no matter how many centuries of control he had behind him.

"Zhuo Yichen!! Xiao Zhuo!!" He tried to send a wave of healing energy through his meridians, but as Yichen kept fighting against him in his torment, both internally and externally, it proved useless as long as Yichen was not himself. So he let go of the young man and moved to place himself over Yichen's lap, pulling him towards him in a hug, for Yichen to feel his warmth as he began to freeze, as well as his reassuring words and energy.

"Yichen... Yichen, I'm here. Zhu Yan is here to protect you, come back... Xioa Zhuo, please..." Zhu Yan felt hot tears running down his cheeks and buried his face in Yichen's neck, trying to contain the sudden despair that assaulted his senses, while he hugged him tightly, trying to soothe his pain so he would stop screaming and trembling until, a minute later, he did. His body felt weak in his arms, but it was soon replaced by Yichen holding him back, though Zhu Yan was stunned to feel the shift of energy inside Yichen's core, to one he had known and missed for a long time.

"Bing Yi..." The name escaped his lips before he opened his eyes to see bright blue ice tattoos on Yichen's neck and the previously silky and lustrous black hair, turned curly and grayish blue, not to mention that when he let go of Bing Yi, he stared at the god with bright blue eyes and two small horns on either side of his forehead.

"Zhu Yan, my child, long time no see..." Bing Yi greeted him with a gentle smile devoid of the pain that had hurt Yichen earlier, though there were still traces of sweat between his small dragon horns.

"Bing Yi... It's been so long since I heard from you that I doubted you were still alive... How... what happened to you? Where have you been all this time?" Zhu Yan managed to ask as he took in Bing Yi's ethereal appearance, suddenly aware that he was straddling him and was about to move away when Bing Yi held him in place.

"Never mind that, I have very little time to possess this body, because no human can bear my soul for long and he is your fated one, so I don't want to hurt him more than is necessary."

"Fated one?"

"Ah, Zhu Yan, my child, it was no coincidence that your father and I fell in love and traveled the world together. Ying Long and I were destined as well and our blood will always seek each other out no matter how many times we reborn. If you had used your Truth Eye on us, you would have seen the red thread of fate tied to our fingers, just as you can see it in your hand, connecting with that of this young man, my descendant if you look at yourself."

"Is that so? I... I got the feeling that he was special from the first time I laid my eyes on him, but that's something I'll have to find out later. Your time is limited, tell me what you need. Where are you, are you hurt?" he asked as Bing Yi looked paler than his usual fair skin, though that body was not his original one and Yichen was already feeling the strain of his possession.

"My battle against that demon was fierce, but I managed to seal him inside my domain. However, I suffered serious injuries and have yet to recover, as my power was used to keep him sealed. However, I grow weaker and weaker with each century I keep him trapped. To be honest, I don't know how much longer I can keep the seal before my core breaks." Those words hurt Zhu Yan worse than a stab wound directly to his heart.

"No! Bing Yi... you can't die. I will find you and heal you. We're are you?"

"Listen to me child, even before you were born into this world, Ying Long knew of your coming, he searched for you for centuries, because he knew that one day you would carry the fate of the world on your little shoulders, together with this boy who inherited my blood. There is no need to worry about me, do you still have with you Ying Long star domain?"

"Of course, it's been my only company all this time." He said as he took from inside his robes the bronze chain around his neck that containing an oval crystal gem that reflected the stars on its smooth surface. Then, Bing Yi gently held the precious gem in his hand and reverently kissed its surface.

"Ying Long... it's been so long since I held you this close and I miss you so much... my love." He whispered as tears streamed down his face and the crystal throbbed gently in his hand in response to his pain, as if it were its own.

"A small part of his soul patiently awaits your reunion. My father saw it, and it was one of the reasons he decided to sacrifice himself for the world you were meant to protect." Bing Yi smiled at the talisman still in his hand.

"He was always too noble and kind-hearted to allow the gods to exterminate the demons. You must find the stone Cheng Huang stole from Nuwa, and complete his work of permanently sealing the demons away to their world. Should Cheng Huang escape my seal, both worlds will perish beneath his fury. Ying Long's visions were always accurate, but the one thing he could not see was the Nuwa Stone... yet he saw you with it in your hands, he saw you restoring balance, he saw you sharing your life with this young man, which is why I have sought to find you through him."

"So his nightmare since he was a kid..."

"Unfortunately, it was I who cause them trying to contact you, for I knew you would be near him at some point. Your destinies are strong, and your deeds will be legendary in both worlds... Bring Li Lun back, let him experience time with this young man's older brother, let him experience the good side of humanity, their struggles, their inner strength, their love, and he will be willing to help you in your quest. Awaken their power, war is coming, so prepare yourself... be strong and protect each other. Do not repeat our tragic history..."

"Your story was never meant to be tragic, Bing Yi. We will find you and save you, while we repair what's broken and take care of the work you couldn't finish. Wait a little longer, Father... let your children build you the happy ending you've always deserved." At those words, Bing Yi smiled.

"You were always the optimist... and this is the first time you have called me father, even when I'm not... you were always our blessing, Zhu Yan, our pride and joy... Take care, son, and if we never meet again, know that we love you very much and appreciate the sacrifices you made to help us in our duties and the rest of the demons despite their objections..." He whispered as he tenderly kissed Zhu Yan's forehead. Then his body relaxed again, and Zhu Yan hugged Yichen's weakened body with a sob. Since he was unconscious this time, he was able to effectively soothe his pain and stabilize his energy, which finally relaxed him as he gently let him lie down on his bed and hugged him tightly.

As he hugged Yichen like a precious treasure, allowing himself to silently grieve for everything he had held onto for centuries, he remembered Bing Yi's words about him and Yichen being bound by the threads of fate, and used his Truth Eye on both of them. He smiled at the sight of the red thread, covered in a golden sheen, tied to Yichen's heart finger and extended all the way to his own hand, which rested on the young man waist. 

Zhu Yan couldn't feel it tied to his finger, but it was certainly there nevertheless, and it was proof that their union was, indeed, predestined by the will of the gods. So, now that he had definitive proof that he could even show Yixuan, he had the man made for him right where he belonged, in his warm arms, and Zhu Yan didn't plan on letting him go anytime soon.

AN: Ah, such a bitter sweet reunion for Zhu Yan, there will be a bit of fluff and a lot of bickering in the next one. 😂 Yep, Li Lun will be back soon too, so prepare yourself Yixuan, because he may give you some troubles. 🤭 Thanks for reading, I hope you like it and see you soon, take care.

Chapter Text

The first thing Zhuo Yichen noticed when he regained some consciousness hours later, was that his body ached, as if he'd been fighting a great demon that was mercilessly bully him. He groaned in pain as he pressed himself against the source of warmth, which, in a way, soothed him with its scent alone. Still half asleep, Yichen nuzzled Zhu Yan's neck, searching for the perfect, most comfortable spot to rest, while his arm pulled him even closer. The extreme softness of the bed, the warmth emanating from both the blanket and Zhu Yan, was so pleasant that Yichen unconsciously clung to him, causing the great demon, who had been touched all over and used as a pillow, to smile with pleasure.

Outside, the sun hadn't fully risen yet, so the tired sleeping beauty, already stirring in his arms, still had time to rest before his trained body fully awakened after long years of patrolling the city early in the morning or on missions to hunt down demons wreaking havoc elsewhere. Not to mention the many years of training to become the demon hunter he was today, so skilled with his father's sword, which made him a little melancholic. 

Bing Yi needed help, but for now, he had no idea where he was, and the only one who might have a clue was so tired from his ancestor's sudden possession that he hadn't yet realized he was clinging to the great demon he swore never to invite into his bed and had even chase him out of his room in scandal to the very suggestion. The situation would be ridiculous if it weren't for the fact that Yichen had been suffering so much, with his core simultaneously shattering and reforming from Bing Yi's divine power, which was too much for his human body to handle. 

Luckily, his core had returned to normal after Bing Yi's departure, but the pain left behind was no joke, and even if he had used his own healing energy on him to ease the pain, Yichen would still feel the aftereffects for a while, more so than on other occasions where the possession was shorter. Still, Zhu Yan was quite pleased with the male beauty clinging to him as if he were the most comfortable pillow he had ever owned. 

He had to admit that the resemblance to Bing Yi was uncanny from the start, but Yichen had a charm of his own that have nothing to do with his ancestor. He particularly loved that long black hair, so soft to the touch that it tempted him to run his fingers down its length down his back all the way to his hips, his eyelashes were long and thick, his skin fair and smooth, his lips full and tender that made him want to kiss them gently at first to savor them and then passionately to redden them even more, his slender body was not flabby in any way, but with muscles from all the years of training he endure that he could feel when Yichen pressed him closer. Altogether, along with his unique dark blue eyes, along with his innocent look, the young man was a heart killer in his book.

"Xiao Zhuo..." Zhu Yan called, unable to resist, for admiring his beauty wasn't enough. He wanted to hear his voice, see him open his eyes to look at him sleepily before fully registering the closeness between them, the intimacy of his possessiveness over his body as he claimed it, felt it, enjoyed it as he breathed on his neck, tickling it intensely. But his soft call received no response.

"Xiao Zhuo..." He tried again, a little louder, but Yichen only lowered his head slightly, once again seeking a more comfortable position on his chest.

"Zhuo Yichen, do you know who's calling you?" Zhu Yan asked close to his ear this time, his voice barely a whisper, and perhaps because he said it so close, Yichen moaned in protest.

"Zhu Yan..." Yichen whispered, still with his eyes closed and relaxed against his chest. Ah, how lovely he was when he wasn't fighting him.

"Yes, that's right. Tell me, Xiao Zhuo, are you comfortable where you are?" Zhu Yan asked bemusedly as Yichen so sweetly ignored him.

"Mmm, it's warm..." Yichen nodded, sighing, and Zhu Yan smiled.

"Well, it's warm indeed. Are you still in pain?" He asked next, a little guilty for waking him up so early.

"I'm sore... tired..." Yichen said, raising his head again, bringing it closer to his neck.

"Do you want to rest more?" The great demon asked in his ear.

"So tired... weak..." Yichen replied, burying his head further into his neck, gripping Zhu Yan's robes in protest, his silky hair falling over the side of his face and down arm.

"I see... then keep using me as your best pillow. I don't mind, and I like it when you kiss my neck. It's exciting..." Zhu Yan whispered very softly.

"Kiss neck... sure..." Yichen leaned even closer, as if he'd been ordered to kiss him for real. When his lips touched the warm, soft skin that throbbed beneath his touch, Zhuo Yichen's mind finally snapped out of its trance and he registered what he had just done. He opened his eyes wide and found himself lying on the demon's wide chest, hugging him tightly after kissing his neck. This made him blush like crazy as he sat up so quickly that he almost fell off the bed, if not for how big it was.

"You!!! What the hell? Why are you here? What did you do to me?" Yichen cried in astonishment, his face burning hot at the sight of himself in such a messy state, with his hair tangle, his white inner robe wrinkled and revealing more than just a bit of neck, although it wasn't untied.

"Me? I'm the one who should be asking you that question, and believe me, you have no control while you sleep, none at all. Should I tell you how much you play with me, or perhaps show you my memories, so you can see for yourself how daring you are when you're unconscious?" Zhu Yan said, watching that adorable rush of blood intensify even further.

"You're taking advantage of me! You shameless monkey! I told you to get out!"

"Ah, yes, but then you had a nightmare... a really bad one, and you started screaming at the top of your lungs, even calling me by name, so I came to help you. How ungrateful demon hunters are, they ask for help, and when they receive it, they yell at you again and accuse you of taking advantage when I could have done it last night if I really wanted to. You're quite tempting after all..."

"Perverted monkey! Get away from me! This is going too far!"

"Away? Me? Who kissed my neck just now?"

"Ahhh! Stupid monkey, come out!" Yichen picked up two pillows and threw them at him, but they didn't even come close to touching him.

"Sorry, I can't do that... there's a very important matter we need to discuss."

"In your dreams, monkey! I'm not sleeping with you again."

"Xiao Zhuo, I'm flattered that you consider this sleeping together, but this falls short of the real thing..."

"You!!! Where's my sword? I'll make monkey stew with you!"

"I'm an ape... but seriously, calm down. You're quite adorable when you get worked up, but..." Zhu Yan watched as Yichen got out of bed and grabbed the Cloud Light sword, intending to fight Zhu Yan right there, but to his utter surprise, the sword didn't move out its scabbard no matter how hard Yichen tried to pull it out.

"Did you seal it?"

"Of course not. The sword recognizes my blood as my father's, from which it was created, so it won't hurt me when you get angry with me." At that, Yichen glared at his sword as if it had betrayed him, and the Cloud Light sword's glow dimmed slightly, as if apologizing to its owner, making Zhu Yan laugh.

"It's actually sorry to go against your will. My father would have been proud to see you master it so well. Seriously Yichen..."

"I may not be able to use it to cut you, but I can still hit you..." Yichen lunged at Zhu Yan, who was still sitting on his bed, but naturally, Zhu Yan took advantage of Yichen's momentum to grab him and flip him underneath him, grabbing his arms as he struggled to free himself.

"Yichen... Bing Yi just possessed you. You're in no condition to fight a lesser demon, let alone a great one. I greatly appreciate your fighting spirit, but right now all you will achieve is further harm. What happened to your pain and weakness? Was it all a bluff to keep using me as a pillow?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I do feel weak..."

"You don't look it, judging by the way you're struggling beneath me." Yichen blushed again.

"That's because you are stronger and..."

"Yichen, did you hear me? Bing Yi, your ancestor, my father's lover, just possessed your body. A god, Yichen, a spirit who could have severely damaged your core, used your body to get to me..." Yichen stopped struggling as he absorbed the information.

"But Bing Yi is dead. Isn't that what you said?"

"I never said he was dead, I said he'd disappeared since his fight with the rogue divine beast."

"So why did he disappear for so long?"

"Time is no factor for demons and gods. For humans, hundreds of centuries have passed since then, but for him, it was like a year or two, locked away in his own domain along with the demon he was fighting, and right now he's seriously injured... so please, Yichen, help me find my second father..."

"How can I do that? I don't even remember being possessed."

"Your nightmare... do you remember it? You must have had a vivid experience before Bing Yi possessed you."

"I never remember the nightmares upon waking, only the pain."

"Please, Yichen... please, if Bing Yi dies, this world will face more than just lesser demons, it will face a tainted divine beast, another demon god. How can you possibly hope to defeat it?"

"I'm not lying! I've never been known to do so, nor could I possibly do so to save my life." At those words, something inside Zhu Yan broke, and he let go of Yichen's hands as he sit over his lap as he gasped, trying to contain his own pain and sadness.

Below him, Yichen saw Zhu Yan's mood shift from playful to heartbroken, which made him feel sorry for him. If what he said was true, then he just saw his second father, who had told him he had been mortally injured for centuries. He could see the suffering on his face as he looked away, and he felt a slight trembling in his body, as if he were about to breakdown, something he understood well, as he too had lose a parent. 

Losing a father to save two worlds was bad enough, but two and his ancestor on top of that? Yichen couldn't ignore that, because his tender heart would never allow anyone, much less a great demon who had protected humanity alone for centuries, to collapse like that without someone to comfort him at the very least. So, taking pity on the great demon, Yichen pulled him towards him, hugging him, as he gently rubbed his back. 

"If you need to cry... I can hug you. You can use me as a pillow this time, alright? Go ahead, let it all out, then we'll talk properly... Sorry... for the misunderstanding... but I get it now, I got you, Zhu Yan." 

Yichen whispered into Zhu Yan's ear and felt the great demon let out a sob. Then he breakdown in his arms, hugging him back as tears wet his neck and robe, but he didn't mind it at all. That Zhu Yan could cry like that proved that both demons and humans feel pain, sorrow, loyalty, and love... a kind of love that broke hearts when gone.

So Yichen close his eyes as Zhu Yan cry over him, keeping him wrapped into his warmth and trying his best to remembering his nightmare, his own pain diminish by the sorrow that was coincidentally or not reflected outside the mansion, as rain started to fall, heavy and steady for as long as Zhu Yan cried.

AN: No words after Zhu Yan's great pain. Thanks for reading, hope you like little fluff, the bickering and the tenderness. I hope you didn't find it too silly. Until next time, please take care.

Chapter Text

That night, Zhuo Yixuan couldn't sleep, despite all the effort Zhu Yan had put into making his room the most comfortable place he could have ever wished for. The reason was very simple, his little brother was probably being closely watched by Zhu Yan, and although he had promised not to interfere as long as Yichen consent it, he was still worried about him. Normally, he was the one who was near Yichen when he had a nightmare, watching over him, easing his pain, and calming him down, but now he had allowed a stranger, a great demon of all people, to take his place, not knowing if Zhu Yan would know how to handle an impulsive young man while he screamed at the top of his lungs in pain.

Yes, he knew Zhu Yan was far more powerful than anyone present, but what worried him wasn't that Zhu Yan couldn't physically deal or heal his little brother, but rather the after effects of the nightmares in where Yichen's felt weak and vulnerable. So for most of the night, he paced around his room with the balcony door wide open, so that he could hear Yichen shouting if he had, indeed, a nightmare, but he hear nothing at all, until he felt a strange presence coming from that part of the mansion. 

Yixuan was sure that it wasn't because of the presence of another demon, because he sensed no demonic energy, no evil intent and nothing that portended danger. What he sensed was something more powerful than even Zhu Yan, and it belonged to the divine side... a godly presence of a sort, if he had to guess, which was unlikely, since no god had visited their realm since they left after the war against the demons.

However, the presence nearby his brother's unsettled him, for, evil or not, it was powerful and Yichen was not alone. What if it was after Zhu Yan? What if his brother could be injured for getting in the way? He asked himself over and over again, and just as he decided to leave his room to take a look at Yichen's, on the second floor, a torrential rain began to fall out of nowhere, cold and steady, with a hint of sadness, as if the sky were crying for something it sensed was related to what was happening in Yichen's room. Yixuan hurried out, but found someone unexpectedly close, but not close enough to overhear a conversation in the middle of the hallway.

"Wen Xiao..." Yixuan whispered as he approached her.

"Ah, Zhuo Yixuan, I see you feel it too. To be honest, we all feel it, at least in our unit, but we decided not to interfere, since our Commander said Xiao Zhuo was fine and that there was something between them beyond our understanding and reach. Right now... he's crying... and I can feel his pain, a grief so deep that even the rain was summoned. To be honest, even I feel like crying..." She said, and Yixuan looked toward his brother's door.

"Do you mean it's Zhu Yan who's crying?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Yes. Pei Sijing had extraordinary hearing, but I have a great talent for empathy, and if someone's feelings get out of hand or too strong, I can sense them, sometimes, I even feel them as my own... I feel an overwhelming sadness coming from the great demon, and I can feel Yichen trying to comfort him, so please let's not disturb him. I promise Xiao Zhuo is fine and I feel that whatever is happening in that room is important to him, it is his destiny."

"You are truly a group of talented young men and women. Your words soothe my heart, thank you. I fear my brother was dealing with something much bigger than he can handle and worry too much."

"You're a good brother, but things are changing faster than we can process them. The Baize goddesses had the ability to see through illusions, lies, evil, hatred, and love... and well... what I see there, even if the great demon had put up a barrier over the room, is heartbreaking. I'm sure your little brother can handle it. Like you, he had a soft heart, after all. Don't worry, now I'm more certain than ever that Zhu Yan will never hurt Xiao Zhuo... he cares for him too much."

"And I agree that the great demons don't want to harm my brother or the rest of us, but there is much uncertainty in our future, and be careful under such circumstances, it's never too much."

"Of course. Now, I take my leave. There's nothing to worry about. Zhu Yan is more than just a great demon, and before the godly presence reached this mansion, I had a dream about the Baize goddess, Wan'er. In the dream, she assured me that Zhu Yan was not evil and that his offer was sincere. She assured me that we should accept his guidance, follow his lead, and help him defeat whatever would pose a greater threat to us. Since the gods hold him in such high regard, to the point that they even manifest from the other side, it's no longer surprising that another god would come here. Xiao Zhuo will never be in danger around him." Wen Xiao said, and Yixuan smiled sweetly at her.

"Indeed, you can sense what the others feel. I'm glad my brother had such good comrades in his unit." 

"Ever since our unit was formed, it felt special to me. We bond and care for each other sincerely. Just a moment ago, Ying Lei had to restrain Bai Jiu from entering Xiao Zhuo's room, because the young healer was so worry about his hero, and Ying Lei even had to drag him into his own to ensure he didn't do anything foolish. Interrupting a god is never polite or wise. If we must know, Xiao Zhuo will tell us personally. I just stayed here to wait for you."

"Oh? What for?"

"In the dream, Wan'er gave me a message for you. She said that a great calamity could befall humanity, something that was left unfinished in the last war, and that only with the collaboration of humans and demons can it be overcome. For that to happen, our paths will diverge; one task for us to deal with and another for your unit, and because of that, another great demon could come to our realm, or rather, permanently stay instead of coming every few hundred years. This demon heart had begun to waver due to his old friendship with Zhu Yan, but he still needs to be a little..." Wen Xiao suddenly stopped her speech, blushing slightly, making Yixuan more curious.

"A little, what?" Yixuan pressed gently.

"Hmm... well... tamed..." She said with a hint of mischievousness and Yixuan chuckled.

"Tamed? By whom? Me?" He asked with some amusement.

"More or less, yes. She said that only you can change his mind, that not even Zhu Yan can persuade him like you can. Just be careful... Surely you know which great demon she's referring to, right?"

"Of course. The one who just fought and lost to Zhu Yan just a while ago."

"Hmm. He's a little sore for that defeat... but she said that you'll understand his heart better than anyone else... that's your gift... that he is not immune to your calming aura."

"I see. Thanks for letting me know this in advance. Did she give you that demon's name?"

"Li Lun. A pagoda tree demon, as old as Zhu Yan, best friends before the war with the gods."

"All right. Go back to your room and rest. As you said, everything is moving faster than we can understand, but at least we know that humanity still has the gods on their side, which is a relief, really..."

"That's right. Good night, Zhuo Yixuan. We have your brother and Zhu Yan under our care, you don't have to worry about them. As for the great demon who's coming, we're counting on you to look after him... he's not exactly a human lover yet, and to be honest, we're all a little afraid of him..."

"If the gods think I can handle him, don't worry. I will deal with him diligently, as foreseen. Good night, Wen Xiao." He said, turning his back on her and heading down the stairs back to his room.

"Li Lun..." He whispered the name as he lay down on the bed to rest. The name didn't felt familiar, but there was something about it...

"Fate..." Yixuan spoke the word, closing his eyes for the first time that night and finally falling asleep.

Inside Zhuo Yichen's room, still on the bed, Yichen kept his hold on Zhu Yan even after they changed positions so that they could lie on the bed side by side, as Yichen still felt sore and weak and Zhu Yan's weight was a little heavy after he had held him back for a while when he was crying. Right now, he was no longer shedding tears, but Yichen could still feel his great sadness, so he let him stay there with him, feeling that he should not be alone when he was in such a state.

"Zhu Yan..." Yichen whispered as he brushed a stray strand of hair away from his face. In all their struggles, they were both disheveled, but he could see that Zhu Yan's beauty was still dazzling, even after all that crying, and a part of him felt the urge to admire it, to touch that soft skin still slightly damp from tears. His heart had beaten fast at having him pressed close to him, his own tears mingling with his, unable to contain his sadness at seeing a great demon cry so heartily for a god who was like a father, for an ancestor who had blessed his Zhuo family with his power and trust by which they felt honored.

Although they had seen Zhu Yan as a great threat to humanity for centuries, he couldn't find fault with him even if his life depended on it. The demon was mischievous, yes, but also kind, so he no longer saw demons the same way, not after seeing him completely fall apart, opening his heart to a stranger that could have easily stab him when lowering his ward so openly, and allowing them to come close when they all represented the destructive force humanity had, forced to hunt and kill his kind. 

They had never given demons a chance, they had only hunted them down on sight, but if demons who could attain human form could be reasoned with, maybe they could find a way to coexist with them, maybe not all the demons in that forest were ferocious beasts, and maybe Zhu Yan could help them understand the heart of demons a little better. Maybe he could understand Zhu Yan's own heart better, because he was not a beast, he was actually more human than many heartless men committing crimes in their cities.

"Zhu Yan... are you asleep?" Yichen whispered again, and this time he gently caressed the demon's cheek, completely wiping away the wet remnants of his tears. To his surprise, Zhu Yan gently took his hand and kissed his open palm. The sensation made Yichen shudder with something he couldn't quite place.

"Are you okay now?" Yichen asked, unwilling to let go of Zhu Yan's hand, even though he could.

"Yes... thank you... it means a lot to me that you hold me like this when I was staving for it..." He said, still with his eyes closed.

"I know that pain... but if Bing Yi is still alive, perhaps there's a chance you will meet again." Yichen did his best to comfort him.

"Do you remember the nightmare then?" 

"Hmm, no... but as a great demon, I'm sure you have your ways of discovering what I can't. You said before that you could share your memories with me, so how about I share them with you? Will you be able to see what I don't remember?"

"That depends. Since it was induced by Bing Yi's possession and he's a god, if he erases them, no matter how hard I try, I'll never find out."

"But Bing Yi cares about you... he must care about you a lot if he's been trying to contact you for so long. I've had those nightmares since I was a child, so his search for you was desperate, to say the least. He must have wanted you to find him, it's just that the ways of the gods are always mysterious..." At those words, Zhu Yan smiled gently, pulling Yichen towards him.

"You're so kind, so caring... Really, I don't mind falling for a human beauty with a heart of gold."

"What nonsense are you spouting now? Don't get me wrong, I don't like you being sad or hurt like this, but that doesn't mean I'll let you do whatever you want with me. I know better than to fall for a great demon." Yichen's stubbornness resurfaced, and Zhu Yan sighed. He was getting so much closer to him.

"Why? I assure you, I'm not the evil beast you think I am."

"I never said you were an evil beast, but you're still a demon, while I'm just a human with traces of divine blood. Do you think that matches?"

"It matched Bing Yi and my father, who are somewhat the same as us."

"Bing Yi is a full god, just like Ying Long, while I am still human, a human who will die in the blink of an eye in your eternal demonic life." At that, Zhu Yan held his breath for a moment, for there was some truth to what he said. However, he once again used his Truth Eye on the young man, so that Yichen could see the same thing he did.

"Look closer at our hands, Xiao Zhuo... I use my Truth Eye on you, so you should be able to see it now, right?" Zhu Yan asked as Yichen stared wide-eyed at the golden-red thread tied to his finger at one end and Zhu Yan's at the other.

"String of Fate..."

"That's right... our paths were destined to cross even before you were born as Zhuo Yichen. You're a human right now, but that doesn't mean you'll remain one until you die. When fates intertwine and when gods are involved, nothing is impossible between one thing and another. You can fight it if you want, but in the end, it will still lead you to where you were meant to be."

"Well, I won't fall for that..."

"You're so stubborn. I've been alone for so long, don't you feel sorry for me?"

"That's not my fault."

"Of course it is. I've been waiting for you for centuries."

"You didn't even know I existed until recently."

"Xiao Zhuo, didn't you just see our string of fate?"

"You are a great demon, you can easily trick my eyes with a spell."

"Oh, please... fine, let's have it your way then. I'd love to see you fall in love with me anyway, and then... maybe I'll be the one who rejects you."

"I won't fall in love with you, so that's fine with me."

"Xiao Zhuo... the gods have gift me with something difficult to crack."

"I'm not your gift, nor a chestnut that can be crack broken. I feel sorry for you, though, so I'll let this nonsense slip for now. Go to sleep already, I'm so tired..."

"Demons don't need sleep, you know?"

"But that doesn't mean you can't, does it?"

"Will that make you feel better?"

"It'll reassure me that you can rest, even for a little while. The rain... it fell because you were sad, now let it fall to lull you instead."

"That sounds romantic, Xiao Zhuo..."

"You! Never mind..." Yichen moved away to his side, so his back was to Zhu Yan and soon he felt the great demon's arms embrace him once more, making himself comfortable as he held him, with Zhu Yan's breath very close to his neck.

"Alright... I don't mind falling asleep holding you like this, and if you want a relaxing rain shower, you can have it... sweet dreams, Xiao Zhuo, you will have no more nightmares." Zhu Yan said, and before Yichen could protest, another wave of rain fell, but this time, the gentle sound it brought lulled him to sleep, and he soon returned to the dream world along with a great demon.

AN: Sorry guys, this is so much fun, so no get them together that easily yet. Hope you like this little treat as well as Yixuan warning about Li Lun's incoming. Lol. Thanks for reading, until next time, please take care.

Chapter Text

The sun's rays infiltrating through the soft silk curtains of Ying Lei's room filled it with light, warmth and golden, heralding the start of another day and Ying Lei stirred in his sleep, feeling refreshed and strangely rested despite the many things that had happened the night before that had deprived them of lying down fully for more than just a few hours. To be honest with himself, although he remembered feeling inexplicably drowsy all of a sudden, he did not remember falling asleep in his bed, as he had been trying to reason with Bai Jiu, not enter Zhuo Yichen's room, from where everyone could sense the presence of a god.

Basically, he dragged Bai Jiu to his room and restricted him with a seal, trapping him there. Bai Jiu, ever since declaring himself Zhuo Yichen's younger brother, had taken this new role very seriously, wanting to protect him even when the younger of the Zhuo brothers didn't need him to, being one of the strongest in their unit just after their commander. Thus, convincing him that his Ge was fine, that Zhu Yan wasn't hurting him, and that there was probably a good reason for the great demon to be in his room had become quite difficult, as the only option left was to restrain him.

After that, he tried to calm the young healer down, telling him that he would let him go after he promised not to interfere in whatever was happening in that room, as it seemed quite serious, when the rain came down falling hard at first, bringing a feeling of sadness that made him want to cry for some unknown reason, to a drizzle that became so relaxing that he felt sleepy and then everything else turned into a black void.

His head ached for a few seconds as he tried to move to remove the blankets he didn't remember using to cover himself, but then, an arm that didn't belong to him landed on his chest and Ying Lei heard a soft groan so close to his shoulder that make him freeze in panic, before slowly moving his head to look to his left side, finding himself almost face to face with Bai Jiu's, who was starting to open his dark eyes and then....

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" A very loud shriek assaulted his ears and Ying Lei covered them in pain as Bai Jiu screamed even louder, moving away from him in shock of waking up in someone else bed and Ying Lei of all people, making his heart race like he was been chased by a demon.

That scream of course woke up all the guests of Zhu Yan's mansion, including the host along with the young Zhuo who was once again using him as a pillow before waking up with a start, sitting up in bed slightly dizzy, unable to recognize where he was for a few seconds before everything rushed into his mind, but Bai Jiu's screech made Yichen move on instinct and jump out of his bed, despite Zhu Yan's protest and he charged out of his room towards the source of the screech, finding himself, along with Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing right in front of Ying Lei's door.

"What's wrong?" Yichen asked the two women, and Wen Xiao laughed softly coming closer to him.

"Oh, I guess those two got caught in the rain spell last night and woke up... well... where they shouldn't have been." Wen Xiao said as they watched Ying Lei's bedroom door open and the young healer, his face as red as fire, rush out and away from the tall, blond man who was massaging his forehead, wondering if he would lose his hearing after those consecutive shrieks so close to his ears. Seeing Yichen there, Bai Jiu ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Ge! You're okay, I'm so glad." Bai Jui whispered, while a great demon breathed with a deep wave of annoyance, seeing the teenager hug his Xiao Zhuo so tightly. Something that didn't sit well with him, even though it was nothing more than a hug between brothers, because well... there were not.

"What do you mean, you're glad I'm okay? This is probably the safest place in the world, so why wouldn't I be okay?" Yichen asked the young man who refused to let him go.

"I thought you were in great danger." He tried to explain, burying his face in Yichen's chest.

"Danger from what, Xiao Jiu... there's nothing to fear here." But then Bai Jiu pointed to where Zhu Yan was standing, visibly annoyed.

"But he was inside your room! He even sealed it, and then there was the presence of a god, and I thought you were in trouble. That perverted monkey... he was trying to take advantage of you, wasn't he?" Bai Jiu accused the great demon, and everyone stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter, with the sole exception of Yichen, who was now blushing like mad. Pei Sijing tried to hide her laughter with her hand, Wen Xiao didn't even bothered, nor did Ying Lei, and Zhu Yan grinned as he looked at Yichen with amusement. 

"Xiao Jiu! Don't say such things!" Yichen scolded, but the young man simply clung to him.

"I know he doesn't have pure intentions towards you, not by the way he looks at you. You're my Ge, and I'll protect you from his claws." He said, letting go of Yichen and turning to face the great demon, although he felt his knees weaken in fear. Zhu Yan approached the young healer and lowered his head to stand face to face with him.

"Kid, you said he's your Ge and that you're going to protect him, but just so you know, his real brother has already given me permission to pursue him as long as he consent it and we're fated, which we are, so who are you to interfere in your Ge's private life? Back off or else..." Zhu Yan warned as he snarled at the young healer, making him squeal again as he backed away, almost falling to the ground if Ying Lei hadn't caught him.

"Zhu Yan! That was rude, unnecessary, and out of line! Apologize!" Yichen scolded, and Zhu Yan put on an innocent face, almost pouting.

"But he accuse me of things I'm not. First, I'm not a pervert, and second, I'm not a monkey, I'm an white ape."

"You scared him and threatened him at the same time, whether seriously or not. He is our youngest member and had been severely traumatize by demons when a kid, so he had reasons to fear them, reason to believe they cannot be trusted and he only worry that you may be taking advantage of me, which is not entirely false, although not fully truthful either. Also, you have no right in asking others to back away from me, that's for me to decide. So please, apologize to him." Yichen insisted earnestly, while the others held their breaths from the sudden tension.

"Xiao Zhuo..." Zhu Yan whisper in protest.

"Alright, I'm leaving this mansion, then. This is my unit, and we stick together. If Bai Jiu messes up things, he will apologize for his mistakes as he should, but so will you." Yichen ordered, and Zhu Yan panicked as Yichen turned to walk away, so he grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving.

"Very well... I'll apologize if he does too." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen looked at the young man Ying Lei was still half-holding.

"Will you, Xiao Jiu? This is the great demon's home, one he built exclusively for us with his demonic power, so that we'll have a nice place to stay while he teaches us. Therefore, it's rude to accuse him without having all the facts. There was a reason he was with me last night, something I'll tell you myself later, so you were also in the wrong." Under his stern gaze, Bai Jiu felt a little embarrassed, so he lowered his gaze in shame for his childish behavior.

"My apologies, great demon. I got too carried away... He means a lot to me. He saved my life once when I was younger, and I've admired him ever since. I made a promise to myself to repay his kindness if one day our paths cross again and protecting him is the least I can do in return." Bai Jiu said as he bowed slightly to Zhu Yan.

"I apologize too. I shouldn't have scared you, since you're my guest and a cherish member of his unit. To be honest, I am glad that he had such loyal comrades that will go that far for his sake. You are in fact a good kid, so let's get along and protect him together." Zhu Yan said as he offered his hand to Bai Jiu, who took it, though his trembled slightly when they touched.

Ying Lei saw it all and almost whistled at Zhuo Yichen's bravery, for no one else would dare to scold a great demon in his own domain, let alone have enough power over him to convince him to do as he asked. Their Xiao Zhuo was just way too cool and his admiration for him just grew a lot more. Even Pei Sijing though that he had Commander material, the same as Fan Ying which was standing on the stairs of the third floor and Yixuan's unit, standing on the ones in the first floor.

"Zhu Yan, let me give you a friendly warning of my own. Acting possessive of me won't bring you any closer to me. I may be young, but I'm too used to being my own, not anyone else's property." Yichen whispered into the great demon's ear, after gently taking his arm and walking back to the door of his room so only he could hear the warning. Zhu Yan smiled.

"Of course, Xiao Zhuo, but having dragon blood mixed with my original white ape one, along with the teachings of two dragon god parents, makes me act like one. That's why, as a demon, it's ingrained in me to be possessive, because dragons choose only one partner for life. Only one Yichen, which means I've waited for you for centuries, whether you want it or not, you can't expect nothing less from me. It's in my nature, after all." That small fragment of information was like an explosion of energy in his face, for he thought he understood Zhu Yan's nature, even if only partially. But now it was clear to him that the nature of this great demon was more complex than he had ever imagined.

"Wait, does that mean you have two forms? Two different demonic energies at once? Is it even possible to be two demons in one?"

"Why do you think so few demons try to cross the gate from the demon world to confront me? If it were another demon guarding the rift, you wouldn't have a world right now. White ape demons are very rare, and there is even an old legend that says white apes are born from the blessing of both gods and demons, and there is only one in existence so far, and that is me. So I am an anomaly even among my kind, two beasts in one fine body, and with the blood of a god to boot." At this, Yichen's eyes widened in genuine surprise, having underestimated Zhu Yan's power, believing him to be a simple, yet powerful great demon, when in fact he may be a new type of species of his own.

His true power was incredibly overwhelming, even among the sealed great demons on the other side of the gate, to the point that most didn't dare face him in battle, which truly explained why more great demons hadn't crossed worlds to conquer them before. Zhu Yan was, in truth, more of a god than a demon, and one with an unknown power that was apparently feared among other demons.

"Did that impress you, Xiao Zhuo? Wait until you see my true form. As I have more than one form, it cannot be seen with the Truth Eye, but I assure you, the combination of my two blood types is breathtaking, and upon seeing it, you won't be able to resist touching it, just like my two godly parents couldn't resist when they first saw it. The fur is very soft..." Zhu Yan whispered into Yichen's ear, making Yichen blush as he imagined how his hand could run along the spine of a white dragon covered in soft fur instead of hard scales. He even closed his eyes subconsciously in his fantasy, making Zhu Yan laugh.

"Go back to your room, Xiao Zhuo, change your clothes and comb your hair. You look like someone kept you busy all night. No wonder others have a bad impression of me..." He whispered to the still-blushing Yichen, then turned around to leave him stunned, while the others tried to hold back their laughter once more. 

Yes, Zhuo Yichen could obviously tame the great demon as easily as he breathed, but so could Zhu Yan, with the impulsive young man, who was just as easy to tease.  As Zhu Yan walked down the stairs to the first floor, he passed by Yixuan's unit and patted Yixuan himself lightly on the shoulder to let him know that everything was under control.

"That's enough entertainment for one morning. Gather everyone, along with Fan Ying in the living room and let's talk about serious matters. Bing Yi visited me last night, we have serious problems coming." He said softly to Yixuan, who understood the gravity of his words and forgot for a moment the commotion of the morning, doing as he had asked.

AN: Just for further information, Zhu Yan had three forms, one his ape one, his dragon one and his mixed one, all pure white. Bellow the cute version of Zhu Yan mixed form when first transforming that neither Bing Yi nor Ying Long could resist. He is not a white ape, but also not a full dragon either. Thanks for reading, I hope this one wasn't too hard, as Zhu Yan need to make boundaries around Yichen, and that will push Bai Jiu more into Ying Lei in turn, please don't hate me for that, they will still have their cute monuments. 

Chapter Text

Zhu Yan explaining of what had happened last night in his brother's room, left everyone stare at him shocked. Of course, Yixuan knew about his younger brother's nightmares and the intense pain they caused him, but he would never have imagined that the cause was his ancestor, the divine dragon Bing Yi, who disappeared and was thought to be dead centuries ago, and now remains alive and gravely injured, trying to reach the only demon who could help him and understand his warning.

That, in itself, was shocking, but knowing that Bing Yi's death could lead humanity to its total doom, as his disappearance was due to his own confinement within his domain to seal a rogue divine beast that once tried to kill both gods and demons, was an even stronger blow to their already shocking state.

"So... if this divine beast breaks free from Bing Yi's seal, our world will be destroyed?" Mei Lin asked, just to make sure all her facts were correct.

"Yes, Bing Yi warned me that a great calamity would befall humanity if Cheng Huang were released. He was the reason the gap between worlds still exists, the reason the demonic energy from the demon world leaks into this forest, creating more demons that humanity had to face for centuries, the reason humanity was left without a guardian to protect them from the demons born in this forest because of the pure demonic energy of the gate and the reason why I was left here, to guard the gate and prevent an early extinction of your species. Nuwa wanted humanity to thrive, live, and progress on its own, but even the plans of the gods are not completely foolproof when anomalies with the power to change destiny are born."

"Wait, what's that supposed to mean?" Yiming asked.

"Anomalies are beasts born from special circumstances. I myself was born as an anomaly, as I am two demons in one body, given that I am a white ape with dragon god blood, making me far stronger than even great demons who only have one essence at their core, when I have two. Cheng Huang is a divine fox mixed with a divine deer, a beast created for auspicious purposes. His presence in the human world brings the blessing of good things, hope, prosperity, and good times to the realms. However, after his lover, the goddess Baize Wan'er, died in the war against the demons, taking a deadly attack meant for Nuwa, he went mad, hating both demons and gods alike. As an anomaly, my power is superior to that of divine beasts and demons. That's why only a few demons, or rather one stubborn idiot pagoda tree, cross worlds to confront me, for they know that my power is much closer to that of a god than a great demon, forcing them all to remain where they're supposed to be. However, Cheng Huang, is also an anomaly, which means that we're more or less on equal footing in power and there's a good chance I could be defeated by him since he's much older than me, not to mention that he's strong enough to put Bing Yi in such bad shape, and I assure you Bing Yi is insanely strong." Zhu Yan explained.

"Then finding the dragon god should be our top priority. We must avoid this calamity at all costs." Fan Ying said, feeling the life-or-death urgency of a mission that she prioritized over everything else,  the offered training.

"Finding Bing Yi isn't that simple. Even I, who grew up with him, wasn't sure he was still alive until he possessed Xiao Zhuo and informed me of his weakened state and the seal. Finding a sealed god is nearly impossible, even for me. The only clue to where he is lies in Yichen's nightmare, but since it was a god-induced dream, he has no memory of it, and attempting to delve into it could cause him harm if isn't meant to be found." Zhu Yan said as he looked at Yichen, who had already offered his mind for him to search, but Zhu Yan himself was reluctant to do so.

"Then what about me? I too have Bing Yi's blood in my veins, and while my past experiences may be different from my brother's nightmares, I did have strange dreams that, now that I think about it from another perspective, could be due to Bing Yi's influence in our blood too." Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan smiled at him. 

"Bing Yi certainly used his blood as a channel to connect with his descendant. However, he was seeking a specific soul, one he knew was destined to cross paths with me at some point, as our lives were intertwined by fate long before he was born. He may have touch you too in turn before Yichen was born, creating a spiritual connection with you, but he is a god, and he must have known you weren't who he was waiting for, which is why he never possesses you, never wanting to hurt you unnecessarily. He may still be there, deep within your mind, but his connection to Yichen is stronger, allowing him to possess him completely, even if it's just for a few minutes. Therefore, unless Bing Yi himself opens that spiritual connection for you, there's nothing you can do to reach him."

"But can I? I told you, I'm willing. He is my ancestor after all." Yichen asked.

"Being possessed by a god is no joke. If it were not for Bing Yi's own power, reforming your core, you would already be dead. He knew the pain he inflicted on you, and I'm sure he didn't like it, even if he had to do it to warn me of what might come, for me to make the necessary preparations. I doubt he'd allow you to suffer that pain again, much less without his protection. So, no, I don't think you can reach him back again."

"Then what else can be done? You're a great demon who's lived for hundreds of centuries. There must be something else, some kind of ritual or your very nature as an anomaly that can change destiny, that can be used to find him..." Fan Ying insisted.

"I may be an anomaly, but I lack my father's foresight, and as for rituals... no demon can reach a god with one, and no mortal has the strength to summon a god, much less a sealed one."

"But, Zhu Yan, we are not mere mortals. We carry the blood of the gods, and I am certain that if our divine blood awakens, we can overcome that limitation and, with enough luck, reach the dragon god before it is too late." Wen Xiao said and Zhu Yan stared at her for a moment.

"I see you've also been touched by a god. Goddess Baize is no longer alive, but her spirit remains, perhaps due to Cheng Huang's rebellion against the gods, his hatred of Nuwa, and the demons who dealt her the fatal blow. Her touch was subtle, though clearly, spirits are easier to handle than a full-fledged god. What did she say to you?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yixuan felt that this conversation would lead to endless mockery from his fellow unit members once Li Lin's name was mentioned, and that he was supposed to take care of him when he returned.

"She told me basically the same thing Bing Yi told you, a great impending calamity that could only be averted with the collaboration of humans and demons. She said our paths would be diverging, our unit alongside you on a mission to find Bing Yi, presumably when the time is right, and another for Zhuo Yixuan's unit alongside the great demon Li Lun, who she claimed the Commander would know how to handle, since he's, in a way, the most adept at... erm... how to put it... well, talking some sense into him." Yixuan had to admit that Wen Xiao did his best to avoid saying that he had been tasked with taming the wild pagoda tree, but his unit caught the hint anyways and were soon looking at him with complicit smiles on their handsome faces. Oh hell, they're not going to let that one go.

"So you were told about it too? Then that idiot will definitely come back soon. Bing Yi also warned me of his arrival. Zhuo Yixuan, you're in for a tough time. I'm warning you, he is stubborn, as immobile as the tree he is, hates humans for no real reason, other than humans are weaker, so we should be the ones to inherit this world instead of them, he is quick to anger, vindictive, hard to deal with, competitive, narrow minded, unforgiving when it comes to humans, and..."

"What, there's more? Are you crazy? How do you expect my brother to handle a great demon who already harbors a deep hatred for us?!" Yichen protested as he glared angrily at Zhu Yan beside him.

"Xiao Zhuo, calm down. Is none of us who wants this to happen, but the gods themselves. And if they foresaw it, it means you should have more faith in your brother's ability to tame a great demon than you give him credit for." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen looked at him with a deep blush.

"He's not taming any demons... don't make fun of my brother." He whispered and Yixuan was glad that his little brother feel the need to to both protect him and shield him, but that was unnecessary.

"Xiao Chen, I know you worry about me dealing with another great demon and one that is not as willing as Zhu Yan is to help humanity, but we are descendant of gods, so we should trust them that they will aid us in our tribulations. If they believe I can take care of the great demon Li Lun, then it means I can, Xiao Chen." Yixuan said as he took his brother's hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Let me tell you little brother, our Commander looks calm and collected but he is quite scary when mad..." Cao Wei said as he shuddered in his seat, and Zhu Yan did the same.

"Agree." Zhu Yan whisper.

"You stupid monkey, what do you know about that? You barely know him." Yichen whisper back.

"He already give me his warnings... he is just like Bing Yi... and let me tell you that even Li Lun tremble when Bing Yi was mad. So trust me, your brother can handle him, is the will of the heavens." He said as he looked at Yixuan with his Truth Eye, seen that he did have a red string on his finger, although the other end of the thread went inside the demon gate, meaning he was also fated to a great demon, Li Lun himself, most likely.

"Fine, Zhuo Yixuan will handle Li Lun, as I'm sure that if the gods saw him helping us he is not as unwilling to help humanity as we may believe." Fan Ying said and Zhu Yan assented.

"That's right. Li Lun can really be a piece of work when he is on his bad side, but not everything about him is bad. There was a time when the two of us were best friends and he was loyal, protective, playful, loved the world, his freedom, helped many lesser demons with their cultivation, treat them with care and always quite respectful to our elders. Before the war, Li Lun had great respect for both Bing Yi and my father and although he disliked humans, finding them arrogant and abusive against demons who were weaker than them, he never killed one, even though he could do so quite easily. He wasn't a bad demon in general, we were quite happy before the war, it's just that when he had to choose sides when the war started, he had no real choice, but to join the rest of the great demons who were fewer in number and the ones he cared about. He only saw the bad side of humans, never took the chance to watch them when they lived in harmony, never knew their good side." Zhu Yan said.

"Then it is my task to make him see what he overlooked. I promise to do my best to make him see us as more than just arrogant abusers of the weak. That there is more than one color to our prism and that we are capable of compassion, reason, loyalty, and... friendship." Yixuan said, almost letting the word love slip out of his mouth, because even if that possibility was out in the open, he wasn't fooling himself on that aspect, in the end, it all came down to choices. Good or bad, they could still choose and even if he didn't have one, he was sure that Li Lun did have his own, as the gods have no control over demons.

"That's quite reassuring, however, we still have the problem to find Bing Yi." Fan Ying pointed again.

"There is no point in dueling over it. The opportunity will come when it has to come, for now I think it best for me to train those with god blood. Worst case scenario, at least with humans with awakened powers, we'll be able to hold out longer, until a better option presents itself. It is also the reason you are here. I can give the others better training to hunt demons that kill humans, but I will ask you not to touch the ones that don't. Not all demons are born evil, just like humans are not all bad." Zhu Yan said as he looked at the members of Yixuan's unit and Fan Ying.

"If we were only bloodthirsty for demons, without conscience, we wouldn't be here at all, great demon Zhu Yan. To be honest, we've all seen your white monkey form all over the forest for years. We even take it as a good omen, for every time a unit of demon hunters sees a small white monkey around, it means no harm will come to us for the rest of the night and even for days, giving us a breathing break to our tired bodies and minds. So no experienced hunter chased after you, even if you were a demon. No one knew it was you, but on behalf of our hunters, I thank you, for giving us hope and we will not kill those demons who do not try to kill us first. I promise you." Fan Ying said and Zhu Yan smiled.

"Well, now that you mention it, I was bored from time to time, so I watch you closely, but every time I come to the forest, other demons run away when they sense my demonic energy, since even if I seal my power to the minimum, they know my white ape form. It was unlucky that Yichen's unit stumbled upon a Heilan that cowers when I'm around, but becomes aggressive when I'm not in proximity. However, I was confident that you can handle it and Xiao Zhuo was mesmerizing when he fought." Zhu Yan added, making the young man beside him blush.

"What are you saying? It was a team effort and Bai Jiu did most of the damage, so he deserves the praise more than anyone else." At that, the young healer sitting quietly beside Ying Lei puffed out his chest in pride and smiled broadly, while Ying Lei rolled his eyes. The other smiled in good spirit, as the younger unit was a mix of personalities that could be called uncommon.

"So, it's settled. For Zhuo Yixuan's unit, I have a special training session, and for Xiao Zhuo and Commander Yixuan's, there will be one as well of a different kind. After breakfast, we will all head to the training ground in where I will explain to one group what to do, and afterward, to the meditation hall. It is critical that you begin cultivating your cores properly. The awakening of the seals will be done individually, one per day, since your inherited powers are all different and cannot be haste, with the sole exception of the brothers, who share complementary seals. When not in training, you can study in the archive room, where you will find ancient scrolls from the times before the war between demons and gods of almost anything you can imagine or simply rest where you feel most comfortable." At the mention of an archive and long-lost ancient scrolls, Wen Xiao and Bai Jiu's faces lit up with excitement. 

Wen Xiao's love for knowledge was as great as Bai Jiu's, and Yichen was also eager to visit the archive, something they hadn't done before because that cheeky monkey hadn't mentioned or shown it to him when they arrived together as an unit.

"Are there books on ancient medicine? Perhaps about methods long forgotten in our past, but quite effective in such a magical age where mortals and demons coexisted?" Bai Jiu asked helplessly, forgetting his earlier fear of the great demon, and Yichen smiled at him fondly. He had to admit it was a pleasure to see him so happy and quite contagious.

"Of course. Have you heard of traceless healing?" Zhu Yan asked, and Bai Jiu squealed in amazement and excitement.

"What? Are you kidding me? Of course I have hear of it! It's every healer's dream come true! It couldn't be true that you have the written technique, right? It was supposed to be a legend! I can't believe it!  Can I skip breakfast? I swear I'm not hungry. Just let me take a look at that scroll, and I'll make sure to mastered it, or I'll die trying. I promise not to disturb anyone, please... I beg you to at least let me see it, and maybe touch it, or..."

"Bai Jiu, calm down. It's rude to thoughtlessly demand things from our host, who has already made his own plans that will greatly benefit us all." Pei Sijing tried to contain his impulsiveness a little, and Ying Lei sighed at the sight of the young healer overwhelming happiness. He was still so young, still with a lot to learn, other than long lost miracle medicines.

"Ah... you're right, Commander, my apologies, great demon Zhu Yan." Bai Jiu said as he looked down at Ying Lei's gentle touch on his knee, to anchor him to reality.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong, and to answer your question, yes, there is a scroll about traceless healing, but even if you memorize it, no human can perform it as it's a great demons and above skill. However, once you unlock your divine power, perhaps you can master it to a certain extent, though even then it will take you quite a while to understand the process and the required energy." Zhu Yan said as he looked at Yichen for a moment, knowing that pampering the healer, a little bit, would earn him points to steal his heart.

"Don't look at me like that, even I know it. You have other, less pure motives for making him so happy..." Yichen whispered so softly that only Zhu Yan and probably Pei Sijing could hear him, blushing, and Zhu Yan laughed, amused by his young demon hunter's wit.

"Xaio Zhuo, you're too cunning..." Zhu Yan whispered, ignoring the gazes of the others, now completely focused on them, which made Yichen blush even more.

"Stop it. Even a blind man could see through that... have a little shame and stop joking."

"Of course, but if I stop, how else can I win you over?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yichen was now completely burning from head to toe, with inner energy swirling in his chest like a storm. This time, Cao Wei couldn't hold back and laughed. The others quickly followed suit, including Yixuan, who thought his little brother was still too green to handle such source of shamelessness. For most, those two were too much, the flirting too open to ignore, and Yichen cursed himself for giving Zhu Yan more fuel to light his fire. Where was the Cloud Light sword when you needed it to take down an wicked demon, great or not?

“Alright, stop teasing my brother Zhu Yan. I'm sure his sword must be shining with a blinding light in his room, so don't provoke him too much. I think we all have a great interest in this archive of yours, so let me ask you, are the scrolls there collected over centuries or are they the product of your hard work?" Asked Yixuan.

“Both. My father loved collecting books and he wrote quite a few, both he and Bing Yi, including ones on how to properly use the Cloud Light sword, how to channel energy more efficiently, how to use it as if it were made of water and ice, an element rather than steel, and how to dance with it, which is in a way a technique in itself. My father loved it when Bing Yi showed him his moves. A beautiful sight, if you ask me, and perhaps one day Xiao Zhuo can show us how it's done.”

“Even if I learn it, hell will freeze over before I show it to you, you shameless monkey.” Yichen refuted, and Yixuan sighed in resignation. He tried to stop them, but seriously, his brother wasn't helping at all.

"It's fine. You see, I can freeze Hell whenever you want me to. It's actually quite easy..."

"You!"

"Xiao Chen, don't mind him. It's in his nature to tease you, but Zhu Yan, remember, he had a loving brother who would always protect him." Yixuan said with a cold tone that left Zhu Yan freeze in place.

"Sure, so what do you want to eat? I can create almost anything except food, so I'll have to summon it from the Citadel's kitchens."

"Wait, what? You're going to steal from our Hunter's Citadel? What's wrong with you? The High Commander is here, you know?" Yichen pointed out.

"Ah, it won't be stealing. If we want to reach an agreement, it's only fair that both parties offer something in return, so I'll gladly offer food from the Citadel, as it's for our hunters anyways, since the demons don't need to eat."

"I'd appreciate it then. We can set up a location, and I'll summon it from there."

"About that... I can offer to cook for everyone. I made it for our unit, so I'll gladly continue doing so while we're here, and I can use my own teleportation relic to gather the ingredients and bring them back in a few minutes. I just need a written order from the High Commander, and I can collect everything I need from the kitchen in a jiffy... if he agrees, of course." Ying Lei offered, and Fan Ying stood up, glad to have a reason to leave, as there was no point in discussing terms that he knew would be useless to Zhu Yan, given that his true goal was to woo the younger Zhuo.

"I agree. The Citadel will provide you with everything you need, and if Zhu Yan wants anything for himself, even if it's not necessary, we'll gladly bring it to you. Would you like to try something? I assure you, human food is very good, and there's a wide variety to suit all tastes." Fan Ying offered, and Zhu Yan pondered for a moment.

"I've always been curious about the taste of something in particular. The smell is so sweet that even I'm tempted to bite into it and see if it tastes as sweet as it smells." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen looked at him in surprise.

"What caught your attention so much?" Yichen asked, and Zhu Yan was tempted to reply that, aside from him, he only wanted one fruit.

"Peaches..." He said, and upon discovering that Zhu Yan liked sweet fruits, he thought of something else.

"Let's add pears too... I'm sure you'll like them." Yichen said, and Yixuan widened his eyes in genuine surprise. His brother only knew how to cook one thing and that was peach soup... How sweet his brother was and he just hoped Zhu Yan would appreciate it and don't end up breaking his brother heart later. For now, he will let it slide...

AN: Ah, it got quite long, so I hope it wasn't boring. It started too serious, so I try to light the mood with what we love, which is their bickering and flirting. Hope you like it and until next time, please take care. By the way, the archive mentioned was not shown because is another dimension he carries with him, but soon they all will be able to access it.

Chapter Text

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This is a very special B-Day chapter, as it's my birthday tomorrow. Therefore, I decided to skip some explanations and go straight to Li Lun's arrival, as many were expecting it. So, thanks for the support, here is this special chapter of Li Lun's first meeting with Yixuan and of course of another treat of our main couple.

Li Lun gazed at the crystal-clear lake that reflected the stars, giving it an ethereal and magical look. This lake was his favorite place in the demon world. It wasn't far from the gate, so it was the perfect place not only to admire its natural beauty, but also to communicate with Ao Yin, on the other side of the gate, and see how Zhu Yan was doing. That stubborn monkey, was going to be killed one day if he continued to deny them access to the human world, as the great demons grew increasingly greedy with each century, and soon, perhaps they would even join forces to try to take on the white ape anomaly, as if possessed by something evil.

He had sensed the change in their demeanor a few centuries ago. Back then, they were sealed by Ying Long's power of creation, but since Nuwa couldn't completely seal the world Ying Long created with his own sacrifice due to Cheng Huang's betrayal, his world still maintains a connection to the human world, and something emanating from there seems to be taking root in the demons on their side. Little by little, it made them hate humans more and more, to the point that another war could soon break out.

Therefore, every few centuries, he would cross the gate and fight Zhu Yan, returning defeated, to prove to the other great demons that Zhu Yan was still the strongest, with power too overwhelming to be harmed, let alone killed. He had to exert great effort each time, as he was second only to Zhu Yan, to prove that it was unwise to challenge him, since even if he had fought seriously against the stupid monkey, for Zhu Yan it was only a warming up. However, this external influence from the human world was making the great demons less fearful of him, and soon others would be able to challenge Zhu Yan as well, and perhaps in greater numbers.

After the war, many great demons were killed. Although their number was smaller, it was still a significant number if they decided to unite again for a common cause. The only things that had prevented it before was one, that Zhu Yan possessed more than one power, which meant dual blood and greater growth of Qi energy. His 34,000 years of cultivation as a white ape was equivalent to 68,000, with his additional cultivation as a white dragon and up to 102,000 when he was in his strongest form of the combinations of both. 

That was why he was so close to becoming a god, a very terrifying one with the same power of creation as Ying Long, and also with the blessing of Bing Yi and Nuwa, which was why he was born into the world, although not as a great demon, he became one when still consider as a baby monkey. Secondly, demons were typically territorial creatures who disliked working together, seeing others as a threat to their domain, which was one of the reasons the gods were destined to win the war and why Ying Long ended up sacrificing himself.

He was aware of all this, but there was nothing he could do but try to convince Zhu Yan that he would lose in the end, that he was forging his own destruction, that his stubbornness was futile, that they deserved to rule humans, that in many ways they were worse than demons, that Ying Long had been wrong to cage them, and that humans did not deserve salvation. He could only try to get him to abandon his beliefs, but nothing he tried had worked, even though he had tried hard to present himself as his worse enemy in the hopes of awakening something in him that would make him change his mind, if only for the sake of their former friendship, which he had to admit he missed.

It was because Zhu Yan was an anomaly that they became friends, as Li Lun never saw the little white monkey as a threat, and they got along well. They traveled together on their own journey after Ying Long suggested it, so that they could both gain experience and grow independently without anyone else's influence. They were the strongest of the great demons, so they feared nothing and traveled great distances, cultivated in remote places, helped other demons along their paths, and lived a carefree and happy life until the demons became more bloodthirsty, tainted, and then the war began.

He tried everything to try to get Zhu Yan to side with him, but he failed and even when they were sealed, he failed to convince him to help his own kind instead of those who were weaker than them. That was because, Zhu Yan always showed a kind of fascination for humans and when they approached a human town, he always stayed there for a few days or even weeks, which was the only time they parted, as he wanted nothing to do with humans, so he waited for Zhu Yan to finish exploring away from the town and that's when he stumbled upon Ao Yin, who was being chased by some humans who only saw demons as monsters and since she could shape-shift, they blamed her for everything bad that had happened to the town, even though she wasn't behind many of the things they accused her of.

He rescued her from them, as she wasn't very powerful, and her main power lay in shaping shapes to escape trouble, or occasionally, cause it. So, while he waited for Zhu Yan, he trained her to be able to defend herself once they left, though he always knew she followed them at her own pace and spent time with them when Zhu Yan wasn't around. Then, when the war broke out, she joined him, but during the day they were sealed, he used his transport leaves to go through the rift into the forest so she could blend in with the escaping demonic energy and merge with it. Nuwa and Bing Yi were busy fighting Cheng Huang and Zhu Yan in preventing the demons from crossing the gate, and as she was a lesser demon with no power other than shapeshifting, she was lucky enough to avoid him and remain in the forest.

Since then, she has been his eyes and ears, as they could still communicate through the leaves he used to teleport her and the ones he left around every time he went back. So now as he looked at the surface of the lake, with his leaves floating in circles on the water, he saw her familiar and beautiful face rippling slightly with the surface of the water.

"My Lord, are you all right after your fight with Zhu Yan?" She asked, and Li Lun greened at her.

"Despite his harsh words, Zhu Yan has always been a softie, so yes, I'm perfectly fine. You know our fights are just for show. He will never truly hurt me unless I make him really angry, which has never happened before and I have no reason to believe he will now." He said reassuringly.

"That may have been true before your fight, but perhaps not so much now. It's been three weeks, and to be honest, the changes in such a short time are considerable."

"Changes? What do you mean? What could possibly change with that stubborn monkey? He's so narrow-minded that he's stayed in that cursed tree for centuries, staring wistfully at the human cities, wanting to explore them, but never doing so. What a fool! It's as if he's the demon in the pagoda tree instead of me." Li Lun chuckled. 

"That's no longer the case, my Lord. A few weeks ago, he welcomed a group of demon hunters to his cultivation sanctuary and even built a mansion for them to stay there with him. He had erected a strong barrier so I couldn't get close, but I can see that the humans there are growing stronger. One of them, a blond young man, teleports to the Citadel to gather food every week, and his divine core is awakening, oozing even greater power into his meridians, amplifying his Qi energy. I assume it's the same with the others who inherit divine blood."

"What did you say?" Li Lun asked incredulously as he stood up from the soft sand on the shore.

"Human hunters are staying with him, and one man in particular looked quite similar to Bing Yi, a younger version of him, though still human, and Zhu Yan never left his side. Even when they occasionally went down to the forest, the great demon was never far from him, as if he were too precious to lose." That made something inside Li Lun snap, and anger surged through him, causing his demonic energy to seep out in waves, disturbing the surface of the water.

"My Lord... I can't see you clearly anymore..."

"No need, I'll be there right away. Get out of Zhu Yan's sight, and I'll find out what the hell is going on there before the other demons discover his stupidity. I will contact you after that."

"Yes, my Lord. I will eagerly await your arrival. It has been so long since we last met in person." She said sadly, and Li Lun had always been aware of her yearning, with her spending time in human villages, learning about the kind of love he could not reciprocate, as the only thing he learned from them through Zhu Yan was friendship and brotherhood.

Now was the time to return and tear that monkey from his long slumber once and for all, because if the other great demons found out he was collaborating with humans to hunt demons, they might be enraged and try to kill him in another war.

※※※※ Back to Zhu Yan's Mansion ※※※※

For Zhuo Yichen, waking up in the morning, going downstairs to have breakfast with the others, and meditating with the breathing technique Zhu Yan had taught them to cultivate their core had become routine. Then, the others would use one of the dimensional spheres the great demon had created as a training ground. Each sphere contained a hunting technique in different scenarios, and there were about twelve, each more difficult than the last. This kept his brother unit quite entertained, as they liked a challenge, and mastering one, let alone all twelve, was the greatest challenge of their lives.

For his unit, they would sit in the meditation room where the archive was located, as it turned out to be another dimension, showcasing Zhu Yan's almost infinite power of creation. Within the dimension, they could read and study the immense variety the archive offered. When it was their turn to awaken their core, they would sit in front of him, follow his instructions, and endure his work on the intricate seal of their core.

Since no human could withstand the full power of a god at once, they had to allow the divine energy to gradually change their bodies into something that could hold the power as it grew. The seal was made of several layers, if one had to give them a name, and each layer that was undone meant great pain for everyone, as their bodies slowly adapted to their own divine blood. Bai Jiu gave them a bowl of medicine from an ancient recipe he found in a scroll in the archive, which relieved the pain and illness that followed the breaking of the seal. When it became unbearable, they rested in their rooms.

That was why they now understood why Zhu Yan wanted to awaken their core power with just one of them per day, so that they would have time to recover before the next layer was undone, weakening them while strengthening them at the same time in a weird balance. On their days off, they went down to the forest to test themselves, not exactly to hunt demons as they have promise, but to harness their power, their enchanted vision and senses, their now deeper understanding of the demonic energy surrounding the forest, how it in turn awakened more demons, and how to identify the trees, plants, or animals that had begun to cultivate.

Despite the pain, it was becoming a valuable learning experience that had turned them into a family, sharing both the pain and the growth, making them closer and a certain demon even more attached to him. Every night, when it was Yichen and Yixuan's turn, Zhu Yan would use the excuse that his body became much colder with Bing Yi's icy energy to sneak into his bed and help his weaker body warm up. That shameless monkey always found an excuse to cuddle him at night, just like he was doing right now.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to get into my bed? You shameless monkey, you take advantage of me when I'm weakest. Why don't you offer your warmth to my brother? He must be freezing as much as me." Yichen asked as he leaned his head on Zhu Yan's shoulder.

"He will kill me if I try, so I can't do that." Zhu Yan protested, hugging him tighter.

"Should I kill you instead?"

"Why would you? I'm just doing you a favor out of the kindness of my heart. Isn't my heat spell so wonderful that even if you refuse it with your mouth, your body still craves for it?"

"Yeah, right... if I weren't so tired and the Cloud Light a bit more more obedient, I'd kick you out of my room forever." 

"Ah, don't blame, poor Cloud Light. Your sword isn't ordinary, it was made from the bones and blood of a demon god, so you should know it can cultivate and change shape. Haven't you noticed how it reacts to your mood lately? It burns brighter when you're angry and dims when you annoy with it."

"Wait! What?" Yichen moved painfully to get a better look at the sword, which glowed almost like a pulse, but Zhu Yan prevented him from doing more than lying back down on him.

"You really didn't notice, even after a few layers of awakening? Xiao Zhuo, you need to put more effort into your perception."

"So it can also take human form?" Yichen asked excitedly.

"Yes, though it might take a little longer for it to show up. The sword awakens along with its true master, which was originally Bing Yi, but after he was gone, it remains dormant in your family for generations until you were born and recognize you as its next master."

"Now that you mention that, why the sword recognize me as its master if Bing Yi, is still alive somewhere?"

"That's easy, as Bing Yi sealed himself from everything, so his connection with the sword was served and still is as you are it master whatever Bing Yi return or not."

"So have you seen its human form?"

"Yes."

"Is it like you, as you both share Ying Long's blood?"

"No. Cloud Light human form doesn't look like us, he likes a younger appearance, fresh and jovial."

"Then why haven't he change form?"

"He is shy, right Guang?" Zhu Yan asked as he turned his head to look at it over the table beside the bed and the sword once again pulsated, making Yichen smile.

"There is no need to be shy and helping me discipline a wicked monkey is not the same as trying to kill him. You should join forces with me, he too strong for me to deal with him on my own..."

"Xiao Zhuo, even Guang can tell you are lying to yourself. You actually like my affection for you more than you like to admit it."

"I don't."

"That's called denial."

"I'm not in love with you, shameless monkey."

"I never mention love, just affection..." Yichen went red and Zhu Yan smiled.

"You are blushing..."

"It's your heating spell."

"Then push me away..."

"I'm freezing, can't you feel me shuddering under the covers, by your side?"

"If it is the spell only, then why clinging to me? The spell may still work without me..." Yichen blushed further.

"As if you will give me that chance. Should we give it a try? Why not leaving the bed now? I'm not stooping you..."

"Alright, Xiao Zhuo, you win, let me cuddle you to keep you warm. Is not like I have try to do anything else than hug you."

"Which is why you still have your hands."

"So violent, Xiao Zhuo, you need to work with that side of you too..."

"Why? I only act like this with you, is not a fault in my personality, its yours..." At that Zhu Yan laughed.

"That's a fair argument. Alright, you win this round."

"Then will you let me sleep? I'm so tired, cold and in pain..."

"I'm here for you Xiao Zhuo... I can sooth your pain more than your little brother's medicine. Let me take your pain away."

"Ah, finally something we can agree on... I will appreciate that kind of help quite a lot."

"Then will you make me another bowl of pear soup, like you did after Ying Lei brought back all the ingredients?" Yichen smiled pleased to hear he wanted more.

"Did you really like it? It was to thank you for all your help. We have make great progress in our cultivation thanks to you. I'm not prideful enough to deny that fact."

"You are not prideful, just shy, like your sword..." Zhu Yan whisper as he placed a hand on Yichen's back and started soothing his pain, which felt like heaven, almost making Yichen moan in blissfulness.

However, as Yichen enjoyed the soothing sensation running through his body, a surge of intense power struck Zhu Yan's barrier, causing it to glow like the moon itself. Zhu Yan hurriedly got out of Yichen's bed.

"Stay here, Xiao Zhuo, you're safe inside this barrier."

"Wait! Is that Li Lun coming back?"

"Yes, but don't worry. I can handle him. Just stay inside, and no matter what happens, don't come out. You're not at your best, and you can't do anything againts him."

"But Yixuan..."

"Your brother will know what to do, and I promise I'll never let Li Lun hurt him. That would be going too far, and Li Lun doesn't want me to get angry or lose control. Stay inside the mansion." He said, sitting next to Yichen and placing a soft kiss on his forehead. Then he left his room.

As he hurried down the stairs, he ran into Zhuo Yixuan, who, he could tell, was also feeling the effects of the seal being undone one more layer. His usually calm face, tinged with tiredness, that made him feel a little guilty for focusing only on Yichen's discomfort and ignoring his older brother, who, although handle the strain a lot better than Yichen, was still in some pain and cold. judging for his white snow coat.

"Is it Li Lun? I felt the same energy from your last fight approaching, but it could also be another great demon." Yixuan said, and Zhu Yan was truly impressed that Yixuan could sense Li Lun's demonic energy better than he could. Yes, he was distracted by Yichen cuddled adorably in his arms, but he had never failed to sense his arrival before reaching the barrier.

"It is indeed Li Lun. As annoying as ever when he wants attention." Zhu Yan said, and Yixuan chuckled.

"Did he take you by surprise? Should I be worried about what is keeping you so distracted?" Yixuan asked as they both walked toward the door.

"Of course not, I was just helping him with the cold and pain..."

"Sure, everything counts, right?"

"Ah, what an understanding brother I've gained..." Yixuan smiled.

"I just ask that you take good care of him."

"Just like I'll take care of you. You don't have to come with me now, you know? If your fate is the same as Yichen's and mine, you will have your chance at your own pace. I know Li Lun wasn't serious in any of his previous attempts, but things are changing, and he's never gotten this close to the tree without me noticing."

"If it is in our destiny, why wait? Sooner or later, I will have to see him face to face, and we've all been waiting for this moment for three weeks now."

"Ah, your unit was betting like crazy. I wonder who will take home the prize. Will it be your first encounter a violent or peaceful one? Which are you hoping for?" Zhu Yan said as he opened the door for Yixuan.

"I dreamed we were staring at each other in a kind of trance, though I could only see his figure dressed in dark blue and black, not his face."

"Well, if it ends in a staring duel, I suppose your best friend Yiming will get the price, much to Cao Wei's dismay, since he bet double against a peaceful encounter, and your admirer, Mei Lin, will end up heartbroken when another great demon snatches her beloved away." Yixuan sighed.

"Isn't it a bit too soon to be considering such possibilities? It may be destined for him, but the gods have no control over Li Lun's fate."

"You're wrong about that. I was born from the blessing of three gods, Bing Yi, Ying Long, and Nuwa, and anyone destined to cross me will fall under the control of the god of fate. Not even Li Lun can escape that, so even if Li Lun tries to attack you on your first encounter, he will soon regret it." Zhu Yan explained and Yixuan had those words echoing in his mind as they finally reached the edge of the barrier and he finally got to see the great demon, Li Lun, that he had heard so much about and in the second they eyes met, the rest of the world disappeared for him.

Right there, a few meters away from him, beneath the pearly moonlight shining overhead, stood a tall, slender man, just like in his dream, with long black hair cascading down his back, dressed in dark blue and black. It was what he had expected, but as he gazed into the demon's face, he was captivated by the ethereal beauty he had only seen in his brother and Zhu Yan, but even more intense than theirs. Yes, there was much darkness in his aura, for he was a great demon at his core, but he carried himself with a pride and dignity that surprised him. The way he looked at him reflected neither hatred nor hostility, but only surprise, or even curiosity, and his face was the most beautiful he had seen yet. But his dark eyes were what attracted him most, for they seemed to see right through him, stripping him to his very soul. From the other side of the barrier, he could see that Li Lun was also deep in his trance. His eyes widened as he looked at him, and then he heard him murmur a name Yixuan was already getting used to.

"That's impossible... Bing Yi...?" Li Lun whispered. Although, unlike Yichen, he didn't even resemble the dragon god, his aura seemed to be the same and strong enough to paralyze the second-strongest great demon in history in place.

Yixuan's heart pounded in his chest as his golden aura unconsciously spread beyond the barrier and reached Li Lun, who closed his eyes to feel it, nostalgic for those better days, when he walked carefree and happy alongside his best friend and the most powerful gods in the human world. That aura he had grown so accustomed to feeling in the past, so strong yet so gentle, like the night breeze by a lake, sensing the fresh, clean scent of the springs, the energy of Bing Yi... the greeting of a god lost in a mortal body.

Ao Yin had told him about a human similar to Bing Yi, but this one, although physically unrelated to him, was so similar to how he felt, that for a moment he was at a loss for what to do. He respected the dragon god, but he also fought against him for the sake of his species, and this one obviously carried his blood with such nobility that he could do nothing but stare at him, covered in a white robe, making him also look like a descend god from the moon.

"Ah, Huang Yiming won after all... you are undoubtedly your ancestor, descendant, you even overwhelmed a great demon with just your calming aura." He heard Zhu Yan's whisper, and Yixuan felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Although Li Lun may still attack him after his initial surprise, he was now certain they were destined. He felt it the very instant those dark eyes pierced him and he smiled.

Before he felt as if something was missing in his life, but now he found that piece that belonged in the middle of his puzzle and thinking about the way Wen Xiao had described their interaction, he found that she had interpreted it the wrong way. He was never meant to tame him, that was impossible from any angle he looked at it, he was only there to put Li Lun's pieces in place in the same way his very presence had made him feel complete. The rest... the rest was a gift, a very precious gift.

AN: Ah, here you have it! Their very first eye contact. I hope it didn't disappoint, as I know this was highly anticipated. Now happy birthday to me and thanks for reading this little story of mine. It's made with a lot of love, so until next time, please take care. Bellow is Li Lun's lake and the Cloud Light sword human form which he will take at some point in the story.

Yun Guang (Cloud Light Sword Human Form) He even resemble Bing Yi a bit 🤭

Chapter Text

Li Lun was momentarily dazzled by the unexpected presence of this human who behaved so much like Bing Yi, but when Zhu Yan said something to him, he snapped out of his sudden trance and stared back at his old friend. He seemed more relaxed, happier even than the last time he was there, like if he had finally found that he had been waiting for so long. Was it because of who was by his side? Or because he was now surrounded by the humans he cared about so much? But why now, when he had been alone in that tree for so many centuries?

"Zhu Yan, what does this mean? I know you've always been fascinated by humans, but it's not like you, after all this time, to let them approach you when they've never tried to approach you before with good intentions. Now you're surrounded by them? Could it be because the one by your side carries Bing Yi's blood?" Li Lun asked from the other side of the barrier, and Zhu Yan chuckled at Li Lun's words.

"Isn't he amazing? It's one thing to inherit good blood from birth, but it's quite another to carry a divine aura as a human. This one, as you call it, is capable of that in such a degree that it's a miracle. Did it catch you by surprise too?" Zhu Yan asked mockingly, and Li Lun sighed.

"Even though he carries a divine aura, that doesn't change the fact that he is and will remain human until the end of his days. What do you think you'll achieve by conspiring with humans with divine blood? Even if they are the strongest among humans, they will never be a match for great demons, and what you're doing could bring them knocking on your door in waves. Are you crazy, you foolish monkey? You might start another war, even though I've done everything possible to prevent it!" Li Lun shouted at Zhu Yan, who looked at him more seriously. 

"There may be another war, but not from where you think it will come. You see, it turned out Bing Yi is still alive..." At that, Li Lun's eyes widened in surprise.

"That's impossible. He never returned from his fight with Cheng Huang, and that bastard was also a god, more cunning than the other gods, if you ask me. That's why he took them all by surprise, and no matter how strong Bing Yi was at that moment, dealing with a mad fox who had just lost his beloved and had nothing left to lose, he wasn't going to come out unscathed. A mortal wound to a god is the same as to a human, it'll kill you sooner or later."

"Indeed, this proves that Bing Yi's resilience is unsurpassed and his strength of spirit unwavering. However, he is in a desperate situation, and if he dies, Cheng Huang will return with twice as much hatred toward the gods and demons, but most especially toward the demons who killed Wan'er. What do you think will happen to the demon world if he returns for revenge? Certainly, the great demons who complained about being sealed but lacked the conviction to cultivate their strength to higher levels and idle around all day plotting against me in their anger are nothing compared to a rogue divine beast god with 300,000 years of accumulated cultivation. Do you think spitting hatred at him will make Cheng Huang take pity on them? Even humans are more organized in their own war with the demons in this forest than the great demons in their world, and that's because they can unite under a common cause and work together to achieve their goals, but demons distrust and fear each other, yearn to dominate others instead of working together. They have simply lived alone in their own territories for so long that they have become accustomed to being individual parts rather than a whole. Strength alone is never enough, and even you, should give it credit where it's due. "

"Even if Cheng Huang cultivation is high, it's still only one against a world full of demons. Even you, being the strongest among us, won't be able to win against such adversity, and having a descendant of Bing Yi won't make a difference," Li Lun replied as he looked at Yixuan with contempt, believing himself superior to him, which made Yixuan smile.

This was his chance to prove him wrong, that humans were not beneath the great demons, that their strength came not only from the power of their core, from the flow of Qi energy that gives them a chance to fight, but from their determination, their desire to live, to protect, form the fire of their will. In response to his thoughts, his own Qi energy erupted like a furious thunderclap in a stormy sky, and time seemed to stand still as everything was tinged with a golden mist. 

Yixuan's golden eyes bore into Li Lun's own surprised and dark, his still gentle, yet determined to show Li Lun that they were not weak or helpless. Unconsciously, he began to make a hand seal, a heavenly one that Zhu Yan had seen Bing Yi make sometimes, to show off his feelings to his father, which always made Ying Long laugh. His efforts were undoubtedly paying off, and now Yixuan could even make heavenly seals, even without having been taught one. 

The rest of the units, who were watching the spectacle as they stood outside with curiosity, including Yichen (albeit his was worry), were astonished to see the mist condense into an enormous golden dragon that rose into the night sky and roared before it explode like a firework. A shower of countless snowflakes bathed in golden light fell on the forest, including Li Lun and the mansion. Yichen peeked out to feel the snow on his skin, like the embrace of someone very dear to you, so full of love, so warm, so tender, so affectionate, that he couldn't stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks, because it was his brother's soul open for all to see and feel what he felt in deep his heart, and it was beautiful.

Li Lun's gaze never left that young man's, because that was the kind of thing Bing Yi did to show his love for Ying Long. Although the dragon god mist was blue, this golden snow was warmer, deeper than any he had ever felt before, so open, so trusting, so calm and patient, so tolerant and accepting that overwhelmed him. How could a human master such a spell and make it seem so... noble and beautiful? No wonder Ying Long loved it so much, it made your heart flutter for some reason, just from the intensity alone of feelings he didn't fully understand, but that he could feel nevertheless.

"Who are you?" Li Lun finally asked, and Yixuan bowed respectfully before answering.

"I am Zhuo Yixuan, descendant of Bing Yi. It is a pleasure to meet you, great demon Li Lun. I know your experience with humans in the past hasn't been the best, but I assure you, we are more than what you've seen and stronger than you think. The great demons are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, but even so, the human spirit is as unbreakable as Bing Yi's determination to save our worlds. He loves the same way this snow feels right now, and only by joining forces can we save our two races from impending calamity. Zhu Yan was right to say that strength alone is not enough, as we humans have fought the demons in this forest for centuries, and we are still here, fighting for our survival, for our people, for our loved ones, for our family and friends. We have the drive that keeps us afloat, and no matter what happens, we will persevere until our last breath. Can you said the same with your kind? Will they remain united through thick and thin for the greater good, or will they eventually fall, driven apart by their own desires? Seek the answer in the way the other great demons have acted thus far. Can they truly defeat Zhu Yan? Can they outsmart him? And even if they can, what do you think will happen once thay conquer this world? Will they stop at killing only humans or will their start fighting for territories again? Will the bloodshed stop?" Yixuan asked in his usual gentle voice. Although Li Lun had been more or less scolded for his narrow-mindedness, he felt no anger. Perhaps it was the warm snow melting the ice in his heart, but he saw no flaws in his reasoning.

Now he understood that it wasn't because of superiority that they were losing the war, otherwise the gods would have annihilated them from day one, but because they didn't know how to fully unite. Ying Long had tried his best to prevent as many deaths as he could, but even if he tried to command them, the great demons still acted on their own, ignoring his advice, thinking that he would betray them for his lover Bing Yi, forcing him to sacrifice himself to prove them wrong and save their lives. They were, indeed, destined to lose, just as they would lose against Zhu Yan or Cheng Huang, with the only difference being that neither Zhu Yan nor Cheng Huang were going to sacrifice themselves for them a second time.

"And where is he? Where did Bing Yi sealed that bastard?" Li Lun asked, and both Zhu Yan and Yixuan released the breaths they were holding.

"That's the problem right now. No one knows where he is, since Bing Yi sealed himself with Cheng Huang."

"Then why aren't you searching for him? The humans won't be in any better position against Cheng Huang, since the war started because of them."

"There's no point in searching the world aimlessly. That will only waste time, time we should be using more efficiently. Awakening the divine power of these humans is a step forward. One of them, my lover..." At that moment, suddenly feeling an icy aura emanating from his back, make Zhu Yan turn to see Yichen cold gaze on him, even under the glow of the warm snow.

"Who's your lover, you shameless monkey?! Get a hold of yourself, that will never happen!" Yichen yelled and Yixuan tapped Zhu Yan's shoulder in sympathy.

"You ask for it..." Yixuan whisper to Zhu Yan who panic yet again under his beloved rage.

"Wait, Xiao Zhuo, that was the wrong word. I'm sorry, please, don't misunderstand. What I mean is, my beloved... yes, my beloved sound better, right?" He asked like a heartbroken puppy, and Li Lun was once again stunned by Zhu Yan's submissive attitude toward a human and his uncanny resemblance to the dragon god Bing Yi. This human was the one Ao Yin had been referring to earlier, not Zhuo Yixuan, whom he believed might be the one she was referring to, and in a way, he felt a measure of relief deep down his soul.

"Zhu Yan! Stop talking nonsense! Do you want to make that great demon see you like a love sick white monkey with a human, when it's so obvious he hates us?" Yichen asked, ignoring Li Lun's frown.

"I'm part dragon. It's in my blood to love my chosen one, which is undoubtedly you, and if anyone... and I mean anyone, dares to do anything to hurt you..." He said, letting his dark and oppressive aura erupt from his slender body in a whirlwind that coiled around him. His eyes turned red with crimson lines on his cheeks, and his hair turned a pure, glowing white. Li Lun swallowed hard as Zhu Yan turned around. It was a serious warning, not the typical joke he was used to hearing, even when what he was letting slip was just a grain of sand on an endless beach.

"Stupid monkey, that's enough! I swear, this time, even if I have to use someone else's sword, I will do my best to take you down and make monkey soup instead of pear soup!" Faced with Yichen's threat, Zhu Yan regained control in record time. Everything happened so fast that all Li Lun could do was laugh, causing everyone to stare at him.

"I never thought the day would come when the great white ape, that white anomaly so feared even by the great demons, would find its equal in the body of a human, almost an exact copy of his father lover." Li Lun said, but Zhu Yan took no offense.

"As you've already seen, Xiao Zhuo is not like Bing Yi, even though he resembles him physically. The one closer to my fathers lover is in fact Zhuo Yixuan, his brother and other half... but I suppose you already sense that, right?" Zhu Yan asked, and Li Lun looked again at the man, tall and imposing, even though he was just standing there with a relaxed air surrounding his figure. He certainly looked more like the Bing Yi he knew, calm, noble, handsome, gentle, but with something about him that made you want to bow down to him, even though he never liked formalities. That was the aura of a god, pure and simple and he even performed Bing Yi's seals.

"Indeed." Li Lun admitted.

“So, will you give us a chance, great demon Li Lun? For the sake of everyone, for the survival of both worlds, will you join us? It doesn’t have to be unconditional, as you still distrust humans, so you can lay down your conditions if it leads you to accept the offer. I can’t speak for Zhu Yan, but I can for my people, for the humans I represent as a Commander. I assure you that every human here, divine-blooded or not, has the utmost interest in our survival, which gives us the ability to adapt to new ways of coexisting. And I swear that since we arrived almost a month ago, we haven’t hunted demons in the forest, but instead learned to identify their kinds, so we won’t kill those who mean no harm. There was also an order from our High Commander to all demon hunters to never strike first, and only kill when there’s no other choice. We can evolve, we can learn, we can change our ways… can you?” To Li Lun, that was a challenge, and he smirked. If he wanted one, so be it. 

"Okay... I can also change if circumstances require it, but I have one condition."

"That's fine, name it." Yixuan said.

"You will train under me instead of Zhu Yan. At the end of your training, you will fight me, a life-or-death kind of match, do you agree?" Li Lun asked as he looked at Yixuan, who did not flinch under his intense gaze.

"Wait, what? No way!"

"Xiao Zhuo!" Zhu Yan moved to stop Yichen, grabbing him by the waist and preventing him from approaching the barrier.

"Let your brother handle this... believe in the task he had been given, nothing is going to happen..." Zhu Yan whispered softly in his ear and pulled him closer.

"We have a deal, Li Lun." Yixuan nodded with a soft smile, and something up in the heavens finally fall in place under a golden snow of a god blessing.

AN: Ah, Li Lun, he is not going to be tamed by you. LOL. That will be fun to write! I hope you like their challenge, until next time, please take care.

Chapter Text

After Zhu Yan allowed Li Lun to enter the barrier with his promise not to harm any of the members of the two demon hunting units, a sort of tension remained, despite the warm lingering feelings of Zhuo Yixuan's spell still falling over the forest and the mansion as if it really was winter. Most of the group gathered in the kitchen, where a long table was set up for drinks. Ying Lei offered the wine to try and erase the sudden serious atmosphere and Bai Jiu offered to help him serve the drinks as they all sat staring at the window outside, the golden glow falling down like countless tiny fireflies. It was a beautiful sight still and they drank in silence, knowing that on the third floor, the two great demons were doing the same, supposedly having a friendly chat for old times' sake.

"Why is it so tense now? We all knew he was coming, and I think Zhuo Yixuan handled the situation quite well. The spell he used was not only beautiful, but a way to show Li Lun what we humans are capable of, that we can be loving and sincere, even if the spell drains him of energy and he has to lie down in his bed afterward." Wen Xiao said as she looked at the others.

"He had a kind heart, and Xiao Zhuo's love for his brother is also heartwarming. He refused to leave his side, even when I assured him that he was only tired from the strain of the spell and that he'd be as good as new after some rest." Bai Jiu said as he took a sip of his drink.

"The brothers have always been like this. Yixuan will stop at nothing for his younger brother, and Yichen would even dare to defy the heavens if it meant keeping his brother safe. I know this from my many years of friendship with Zhuo Yixuan, their relationship has always been very precious to both of them and always will be." Yiming said with a broad smile on his face.

"Then I suppose it's their destiny to each have a great demon as a partner." Ying Lei added, and have a beautiful, though jealous woman, staring at him as if she were throwing daggers with her eyes.

"Zhuo Yichen is undoubtedly smitten, but my Xiao Xuan will never fall for that demon. They're complete opposites, so get that idea out of your spiky, blond head." She said, and Bai Jiu chuckled at Ying Lei's side.

"Come on, Mei Lin, you always knew our Commander had no romantic interest in you. He'd even told you several times that he saw you as a dear sister, nothing more." Cao Wei said without flinching.

"Who's asking your opinion? Not me, of course, so keep it to yourself, you stupid trickster." 

"Xiao Mei... I think you really should let it go this time. That spell he cast... we could all feel how open and willing Xiao Xuan is to make this work, and Li Lun's reaction was no different. Didn't you see how he closed his eyes and let the emotions wash over him? I know it hurts, but wishes don't always come true." Yiming said, and Mei Lin abruptly stood up to storm off. Yiming sighed.

"Sorry about her, but you should understand how difficult it is to forget a first love." Yiming added, and they both simply nodded.

"Will she be okay on her own?" Wen Xiao asked, willing to help her if necessary, even if it was just by staying close, as she didn't interact with her much.

"No, she'll be fine. To be honest, she saw it coming, she just refused to accept it. She's stubborn by nature, and Xiao Xuan is such an exceptional man that, well... let's just say, he's any woman's dream man." Cao Wei drank more from his cup.

"Actually, both brothers are." Pei Sijing said, and Wen Xiao smirked.

"True... Xiao Zhuo is charming in his own way, and cute too..." Wen Xiao said, and Cao Wei raised an eyebrow. Not that his charm would ever reach Wen Xiao, for she was already lock her sight into Commander Pei Sijing's beautiful eyes, which was the most composed of them all.

"I agree, my big brother is amazing. I wish I could be more like him..." Bai Jiu said, and Ying Lei tapped his forehead with his finger, forcing him to rub it while glaring at him with a sour face.

"What was that for?" Bai Jiu protested.

"What are you talking about? You're amazing too. Aren't you the youngest healer in history? That even the higher-ups make an exception to their rules to include you in our unit? Didn't Xiao Zhuo praise you when we dealt with that Heilan demon, nor did Zhu Yan praise you for integrating ancient medicine from the archives to mix with your own recipes and create better medicines? We're all very grateful for your hard work in easing our pain during our awakenings, and to the other unit for your faster energy recovery elixir. You even manage to fully grow a tree in a minute with a peach I brought from the Citadel. Zhu Yan definitely loves that tree more than the bright one and its in full bloom all the time." Ying Lei pointed out, making Bai Jiu blush at the praise, and Cao Wei laughed too. 

"Seriously, you guys are all so full of love, no wonder Xiao Xuan caught the love bug too. I wish our unit was that lovely, it would be better to have fewer grumpy ones and more sensible comrades..." Cao Wei said, and Yiming hit him in the leg under the table.

"Speak for yourself. The only bad thing about our unit is you." Yiming said, while Cao Wei rubbed his leg and looked at Yiming, who pretended to ignore how he got hit.

"I think you guys are pretty lively, even betting on your Commander's first meeting with Li Lun... that was quite interesting." Wen Xiao chuckled, and Cao Wei slumped onto the table with a loud thud, remembering how he lost that bet. Yiming laughed, and Ren Jiang patted his friend on the back.

"That's right, you lost, Cao Wei... remember that this time you owe us big time, and you deserve it. How could you not trust that our Commander could handle a great demon? If only, for the example Zhuo Yichen and Zhu Yan gave, you should know by now that the Zhuo's are not even normal humans, they are magnets for great demons! Big, great demon attractors!" Said Yiming, and Ren Jiang nodded with all seriousness.

"I take it back, Wen Xiao, you're mean... why mention that now?" Cao Wei said, defeated, and Wen Xiao laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm sure my healer friend here can help you pay off your debt. He has some amazing pills that will help you master those 12 dimension spheres that are causing your unit so much headaches. If they cancel your debt, you can get them for free, one for each of you, which will help you accumulate more Qi flow and therefore become stronger. What do you think?" She asked, and Cao Wei almost cried upon hearing her generous offer.

"As I said before, you're the best! Is that okay with you, Bai Jiu?" Cao Wei asked, and the young man smiled.

"Of course." He said, since he was going to offer them help to strengthen their Qi flow anyways, as he had already told Wen Xiao and Ying Lei when they were in the archives, so he knew why Wen Xiao was offering them this way out and it was brilliant. With the offer, she killed two birds with one stone. First, she promoted friendship between the units, and second, she showed them that the team's unity was unconditional and that they were willing to help without expecting anything in return, which in return made Yixuan's unit support them just as unconditionally in the future.

"See? Everything's in order now. I just hope Mei Lin gets over her love for Yixuan, because I don't think he'll ever be with anyone other than the person destined for him from before he was born. The gods sometimes like to play with our fates, but it's never for the worse, and I think Zhuo Yixuan had been waiting for Li Lun for a long time. I felt his loss, his emptiness when he poured his heart out to us, and I also felt his fulfillment of that void when Li Lun embraced his feelings. It was a very beautiful exchange, even if the great demon didn't realize it." Wen Xiao said, and Ren Jiang looked up for a moment, toward the upper floor.

"Can we be sure the rooms were sealed, making them soundproof for Li Lun? Otherwise, he might skin us alive one by one for talking about him behind his back." He said, but Pei Sijing offered him a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure. Right now, not even I can hear what they're saying on the third floor, where Li Lun and Zhu Yan are talking, nor what's happening in Zhuo Yixuan's room. Therefore, it's quite safe to talk freely inside the rooms, not outside, nor in the living room, which is more open." She explained, reassuring the man a little.

"I wonder what those two are talking about..." Said Ying Lei, referring to Zhu Yan and Li Lun.

"I wish I could be with Xiao Zhuo... that shameless demon takes up most of his free time. I miss my older brother... but I know he misses his too." Bai Jiu said sadly.

"Come on, Xiao Jiu, your older brother is caught in a web he can't escape, but you can always show him that you'll be there for him. How about we do something special so he can think of you even when you're both busy with other things?" Asked Ying Lei, and Bai Jiu's eyes filled with happiness.

"That's a good idea! Thanks, Ying Lei... I think I know what to do. Can you buy me some things next time you go to the Citadel?" He asked excitedly.

"How about we all go? I'm sure now that Li Lun is here, Zhu Yan can give us a free day at the Citadel, and we can all buy something to celebrate our special day or even our own festival. No, wait, we can make it as a welcoming party for Li Lun. We can decorate the mansion and courtyard, I'll prepare a delicious dinner, and we can exchange gifts if we want to make it more fun. We've been training for almost a month now, so we need some fun too." Ying Lei suggested, and everyone was delighted.

"Sounds good. I'll make the request to Zhu Yan tomorrow morning, and if he agrees, we can go back to the Citadel and spend some time there." Pei Sijing said, and Wen Xiao smiled charmingly at her.

"Deal. It's almost like going on a date..." She laughed.

"Wen Xiao, you're becoming as shameless as Zhu Yan, but I like it. Who wants to go out in a date with me?" Cao Wei asked, but only got empty air.

"Brother Cao, you can go out with Mei Lin... keep her away from Yixuan, so he can have fun too, he deserves it." Yiming intervened and suggested it.

"What? No. That's your job, brother Huang. It's not like you'll object, and she might even start looking for something more than the impossible. Give yourself a chance too, Yiming, is been so long since you think on your own happiness." Cao Wei said in a serious tone, very unlike from his usual mocking tone, and Yiming sighed.

"I wish it was that simple." He whispered.

"Oh, but it is that simple. The gods are on our side, so I'm sure they'll include you in their blessings, after all, we're all here for a good reason, chosen for a greater good and for our willingness and sacrifices, I'm sure our wishes will be granted." Wen Xiao assured him, and for the first time in a long time, Yiming wanted to believe that he, too, could win the heart of the woman he loved.

※※※ Third Floor ※※※

"Zhu Yan, you're getting desperate with age. Before, you hated it when I called you a monkey, yet you let that human not only call you that, but do whatever he wanted to you. Aren't you the strongest great demon? It's scary to watch you fall down like this." Li Lun said, and Zhu Yan drank from his cup. The wine Ying Lei made was quite good, right after Xiao Zhuo's pear soup on his list of favorites.

"Xiao Zhuo is pure, youthful, and impulsive, and although he sometimes acts a little harsh, he's also very caring. When Bing Yi fully possessed him, when he told me about the sealed dimension and how Cheng Huang would be able to escape if he died, I was deeply saddened. Even when his body was aching, he hugged me all night, spoke soft words in my ear, rubbed my back comfortingly, shared my pain, and didn't push me away. Almost everyone feared me before, but that young man never rejected me, and even though he denies it, he also has feelings for me, something real, Li Lun, the kind I've only seen in Bing Yi and Ying Long. How could I not fall in love with him? It's in my blood, calling to me, my dragon side, telling me he's the one I've been waiting for, and I won't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with my destined self slip away. Perhaps one day you'll understand this feeling too, and it will be fun to see what you will allow him to do, something no one else will dare to do."

"I have no interest in humans."

"But you agree to be here and even train one."

"He challenged me."

"As if that's enough to provoke a tree head like you."

"How can a human challenge me? I'll teach him a lesson."

"Will you? His aura was enough to unsettle you. In fact, it overwhelmed you for a moment. He's not a simple man, not even I dare mock him like I do Yichen all the time. His resemblance to Bing Yi is terrifying, especially when he's very serious or angry."

"I fear no one, and I agree to be here for Cheng Huang. I agree that his escape from Bing Yi's dimension will be a disaster for the demon world, so it's in my best interest to find Bing Yi as soon as possible." 

"You won't find him. Wan'er herself said your path leads somewhere else."

"Wan'er is dead."

"Yes, but her spirit still lingers... perhaps because all this calamity stormed with her death."

"It all started with the humans..."

"Yes, we agree to disagree." Zhu Yan drank a little more, and so did Li Lun.

"How can one find Bing Yi?"

"I don't know, but the key lies with Yichen... he probably saw the location of Bing Yi's dimension in his nightmare, but he doesn't remember it." He drank again.

"That's easy to solve. Just get into his head more than you want to get into his pants." At that, Zhu Yan nearly choked on his own drink, causing him to spit the wine he had just drunk directly onto Li Lun in a fit of coughs.

"Oops... that was your own fault, so don't go blaming me now and you deserve it. How can you say that?!" Zhu Yan offered him a small towel to wipe himself off.

"How could I not, you silly monkey, if all you talk about is Yichen this, Yichen that! Just bed him and be done with it."

"I dare you to try that with Zhuo Yixuan, because I warn you, he'll freeze you to your very soul." Zhu Yan smirked.

"Unlike you, I have no such interest, and besides, no human can freeze me, let alone try to reach my soul. I don't have a soul. My heart is only filled with the darkness of the demonic energy I cultivate. I don't know why you're so full of those things Ying Long or Bing Yi told you, they won't work, nor will they turn out the way they hope."

"Now you sound like Yichen..."

"Stop thinking about him already!"

"I can't, he's my soulmate..."

"I'm warning you, Zhu Yan, if you continue like this, I'll go find Bing Yi on my own. It'll be less annoying that way."

"Aren't you curious?"

"Curious of what?"

"The feelings Zhuo Yixuan let slip for you to grasp. Aren't you also intrigued by how those feelings can fill your emptiness? Before we were friends, you seemed truly soulless, and in a way, our friendship relieved that emptiness in your heart, but when you take them in, didn't it feel right? Didn't you see their beauty? You see... they are still calling for you..." Zhu Yan said as he looked at the open sliding door that led to the golden snow spell.

"How long will that snow fall?" Li Lun asked as he looked at it, still bright, still beautiful and warm, so welcoming, so comforting...

"Perhaps until you recognize them."

"Then it will fall forever."

"Ah, I miss my Yichen..."

"Stupid monkey. I regret coming here."

"Oh, you won't... I assure you, when you start training Yixuan, you'll only wish you had come sooner. My father was never wrong, and you only need to use the Truth Eye on yourself to see how badly both of us are messed up in Siming and Yue Lao's handy work." Zhu Yan suggested, and knowing that Siming was the god of destiny and Yue Lao the deity of matchmaking with his book of marriage and red strings, he did as he was told and used his Truth Eye to peer deeper into himself. He discovered, with genuine surprise, that in his hand he had tied a red string that, as he saw, reached down to Zhuo Yixuan, who was resting with his brother in his room, who was also carrying Zhu Yan's string.

"Impossible..." Li Lun whispered.

"Still, it's there, isn't it?" Zhu Yan smiled while Li Lun paled.

※※※ Zhuo Brothers ※※※

It had been many years since he shared a bed with his older brother. When Yichen was little and had nightmares, Yixuan would lie down beside him and hug him, hoping that his younger brother would stop having nightmares that night. But as he grew older, even though he continued to have nightmares, he never asked Yixuan to stay, though he did hold his hand until he fell asleep again. However, now, with his brother's comfort, even when they both felt cold from their own awakening, it felt like a blessing, and Yichen was still too absorbed in his brother's spells that expressed so much love.

"Xiao Chen... there's no need to cry, I'll be fine. I know the challenge sounds threatening, but I assure you it isn't. No matter how hard Li Lun tries, I won't show weakness or bow to him, so please don't cry..." Yixuan said softly as he wiped his brother's tears, looking at his beautiful blue eyes tint red.

"That's not why I'm crying..."

"Then what?"

"Your spell..."

"Ah..."

"Your soul is so beautiful... how could that demon not see it?"

"Because he doesn't understand Yichen."

"What do you mean?"

"He hated humans, so he never learned to love like we do, never experienced the things we experience growing up; learning from our mistakes, connecting with others, being part of a community, sharing his life and burdens with others, loving like lovers do when the feeling gets too intense. He only knew the friendship of Zhu Yan and of parents, from his time traveling with Bing Yi and Ying Long, but even that wasn't a long time, so he still doesn't know much. That's why I open up to him, to let him know there's more, that if he's willing, I can teach him about them, so he can experience them one at a time."

"So, will you really fall in love with him?"

"I don't know, will you fall in love with Zhu Yan?"

"I won't." Yixuan smiled.

"That was such a quick refusal. Xiao Chen... denying your feelings isn't wise. That doesn't mean you're letting him dictate the pace. You may have your own, but you even let him hug you at night. Do you think that's what friends do?"

"It was because of the cold."

"You're cold right now, but do you feel the same in my arms as you do in his? Think about it, Xiao Chen. Is it the same? Being hugged by a caring brother as by a loved one? It should be warmer in his arms, not because of the heat spell, but because of the feelings you already share." Yixuan asked, and saw his brother's cheeks flush.

"It's different..."

"Of course it is."

"But he's immortal..."

"Ah... I see... so you don't want to accept it because he will outlive you?"

"I'll grow old too..."

"Yes, of course, but Yichen... do you think the gods will be so unfair to us? If they bound us by fate long before we were born, if they granted us the blood of a god, do you think it was just to fight demons?"

"I don't know..."

"Yes, that's true, we don't know, Yichen, so why torment ourselves with something that might not even be a problem in the future? And even if it is, I think the most important thing is to cherish what we have, because if not, we might regret it one day. What if another war breaks out and Zhu Yan dies? What if we die? If our time is limited, why not live it to the fullest?"

"Are you shipping us, Ge?" Yixuan smiled.

"I think so... I want your happiness, and now I'm sure you're too valuable for Zhu Yan to hurt you. He's already made it clear and even seriously threatened his friend for you... his feelings are sincere, and yours?"

"I do like him... a lot." Yichen blushed more.

"Just like?"

"Can we leave it at that?"

"Yes, we can. Just remember to be honest with yourself. It'll save you pain."

"Then, if the opportunity presents itself, will you let Li Lun in?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I've been empty for so long... If I have the chance to fill that emptiness, I'll be glad..."

"You're too good for him." Yixuan laughed and hugged his brother tighter.

"But I don't object... I want you to be happy too, Ge." Yichen whisper, making Yixuan smile.

"Then, thank you, dear Didi. Your Ge is very grateful for your understanding."

"So... should I give Zhu Yan a chance?"

"That's up to you, Didi. Follow your heart. It will never let you down, even if everything else fails you. Just remember that the most powerful demon in the history of humanity is madly in love with you."

"That sounds great..."

"You're Didi... now, get some rest. Tomorrow could be a very long day."

"Mnn. Good night, Ge."

"Good night, Didi." And snuggled up in his brother's arm, Yichen fell asleep, just like when he was a child. Protected and loved.

AN: Ah, they are so cute, what a sweet brothers they are. This chapter had a bit of everyone interaction, which was about time, since I skipped things, so I hope this one fills a bit more those gasp left behind and warm your heart. Also Yixuan is trying to advice Yichen, because he is still young and inexperience. Thanks for reading, until next time, please take care.

Godly notes:

Siming: He is a complex figure, sometimes seen as a deity and sometimes as a celestial asterism, overseeing the lifespan and destiny of individuals. The "Greater Siming" and "Lesser Siming" are mentioned in ancient Chinese poetry, potentially representing different aspects or functions of the deity.

Yue Lao: This deity is particularly known for his role in matchmaking, using a red string to connect those destined to be together. He is often depicted holding a book of marriages and is the deity people pray to when seeking a partner in temples.

Chapter Text

The next morning, everyone gathered in the dining room after helping Ying Lei serve the dishes and waited patiently for the great demons to appear. It didn't take long, except that Zhu Yan came down from the third floor alone and sat in his usual chair with an pout expression as he looked at Yichen, who blushed at the memory of his conversation with his brother.

"Xiao Zhuo... I missed you last night..." Zhu Yan said, and the others smiled, already expecting something like that from him, even at that time of the morning.

"You have your own company, don't make a fuss now." He said in return, averting his gaze from him to stare at the food on the table.

"He's an old friend, and he got drunk pretty quickly after... a shocking sighting. I tell you, Ying Lei, your pomegranate wine is the best, and I don't know what spell you use, but it works perfectly. Even a grumpy great demon was knocked unconscious after... well, let's say quite a few glasses. Congratulations, you outdid yourself." He said happily, which made him smile in turn, glad that Zhu Yan had enjoyed his wine, which was his pride and joy, just as the pear soup was for Yichen and the peach tree was for Bai Jiu.

"Zhu Yan, speaking of which, last night Ying Lei had an idea that I think fits our current mood. Since great demon Li Lun has agreed to join us, how about a welcoming party? We can all go to the Citadel, buy things, decorate the mansion, and celebrate the completion of our team and our hard training. Besides, exchanging gifts will strengthen our relationships, and it's been a while since we've done anything but train. I know we still have a big task ahead of us, but a day and a night of celebration wouldn't hurt, right?" Pei Sijing asked.

Zhu Yan was momentarily surprised at the request, but he was overjoyed by the suggestion and the many possibilities it could bring. Outside, the golden snow had stopped falling, but it still hadn't melted and was sparkling on the ground like a field of golden clouds. It was such a beautiful sight, so fitting for a celebration, and he wasn't going to waste the opportunity. 

"I'm fine with a celebration, though you can forget the welcoming. Li Lun just arrived, so he still holds a grudge against humans and won't appreciate your efforts, even if they are made full of good intentions. That said, it doesn't mean you can't show him how humans enjoy life, care for others, and celebrate special occasions. You can go down and enjoy your free time. I can do the decorations myself while you're away."

"Ah, great demon Zhu Yan, but it's better if we do it as a team. If we all join in, it will be more meaningful, more special..." Ying Lei said with a broad smile.

"And we can take the opportunity to bring gifts from the Citadel, go looking on the market like on a date..." Wen Xiao suggested, and Zhu Yan glanced at Yichen, who blushed again. Yixuan, beside him, was about to laugh. Wen Xiao was getting bolder, but it was a good opportunity, even for him.

"That's even better, the gifts sound great. I wish everyone a good time in town." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen stared at him.

"Wait, aren't you going with us? For real?"He asked Zhu Yan in disbelief, who smiled sadly.

"I can't leave the gate, and as a great demon, my presence in the Citadel could cause trouble. After all, it's a town made of demon hunters." He explained.

"But you... I thought..." Yichen was speechless, as he was looking forward to strolling through the town market with him, giving himself the opportunity to be closer to him in a different way. He was going to make the effort to stop pushing him away for once, as this was the best opportunity so far. That damn monkey was now playing hard to get!

"It will only be for a short time, and you can hide your demonic energy quite well. Besides, the Citadel already knows about you and that we've misjudged you, so even if you go there in a parade, it won't be a problem anymore." Yixuan said, giving Zhu Yan a surprised look, like what are you thinking of wasting such a heaven-sent opportunity for both of you? For one, to go to the town like he had always wanted and second, to be around his brother who was quite eager to start anew after their conversation. He worked hard to make that happen, yet... Zhu Yan, you fool.

"It's not that I don't want to go, but I've already failed once to sense a great demon crossing the gate. I can't let my guard down again, for everyone's sake, please understand." Zhu Yan said as he looked at Yichen, who he thought was on the verge of tears. Did he really want him to go to the town with him so badly? He would love to spend time with him in the Citadel, but guarding the gate was his task, his responsibility, and if anything happened while he was gone, it was entirely on him. He couldn't risk it, not even for his beloved, who for once seemed eager to go somewhere without protest.

"How ironic, you're so madly in love with your precious Yichen, yet you refuse to go with him to the place of your dreams? And only because of the gate? Are you seriously this tragic on your old age? I have several of my leaves around it, go and make a fool of yourself with the humans, I'll stay here and guard the gate for you. It's not that I like a town full of demon hunters, but you do, so go." Li Lun said from the door, taking everyone by surprise, making them stood and Zhu Yan to walked over to him and hugged him tightly.

"I knew I could count on you, old friend... thank you..." Zhu Yan said, making Li Lun a little uncomfortable. He wasn't used to hugs, much less one from Zhu Yan, whom he always avoided them, even when they were children.

"What old friends? Just yesterday we were enemies, so let me go, you clingy monkey." Li Lun tried to push him away, but the damn monkey was too strong.

"No, I'm showing my gratitude for having you back. We were never real enemies, we just drifted apart for a while."

"Zhu Yan, don't you have any shame? What would your beloved Zhuo Yichen think of this?"

"He knows I'm completely devoted to him and you need this hug. You are not avoiding it this time." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen sighed.

"You! Don't just stand there, sighing like it's nothing for your lover to hug others in front of you. Get your monkey back before I blast him away along with this dimension!" Li Lun shouted at Yichen, who was on the verge of laughter. There was no way he could blast Zhu Yan, nor his dimension when one of his powers was that of creation and Zhu Yan looked kind of cute when acting like a child. However...

"That's enough, Zhu Yan. Let's go down to the town together, alright? Isn't that what you've been waiting for so long?" Yichen asked, and instantly Zhu Yan let go of Li Lun to hug Yichen instead, squeezing him even tighter as he inhaled the scent he'd missed so much last night.

"What's wrong with you? This isn't like the usual you..." Yichen asked, patting him on the back.

"Is the lingering effects of your brother's spell. It affects me more than others, as I understand his feelings and am more sensitive to them than anyone else here. Is it Bing Yi's spell, after all, and it also bring back memories from my past of a happier time with them. I miss it..." At that, Yichen closed his eyes and let him hold him for a while longer before gently pushing him away without resistance. He then looked at his brother, who smiled at them both.

"I'm sorry, Zhu Yan, I didn't know the spell will last so long." Yixuan offered him a small bow in apology, and Li Lun narrowed his eyes at the respectful gesture. Was he finding it hard to believe that humans could respect demons?

"But I'm glad that it did! We can have a fight in the warm, sparkling snow! Let's enjoy the feeling a little longer, because this is a once in a lifetime chance. Let's go!" Ying Lei said as he grabbed Bai Jiu's hand and pulled him along, laughing as Bai Jiu yelled in protest as they stepped out to the mansion's entrance.

Unable to resist Ying Lei's contagious enthusiasm, his unit followed them, only to watch them playfully fight. However, Ying Lei wanted more than just to make Bai Jiu happy, so he threw golden snow at them too, who soon joined them in laughter, taking advantage of the opportunity to play with the only warm snow they would ever have in their hands. The battle was Bai Jiu against Ying Lei, Wen Xiao against Pei Sijing, and Yichen against Zhu Yan, who threw several snowballs at him, drawing him into the game. 

As they chased each other and threw sparkling balls, Yichen's heart beat even faster, because a happy Zhu Yan was a sight to behold, too beautiful to stop admiring, and his smile was enchanting. And seeing that, he thought that maybe they were truly meant to be together, because he couldn't contain his own happiness, his feelings were also running wild, maybe from playing with a spell full of emotions or simply because he had truly fallen in love with the monkey, despite his best efforts not to.

Zhu Yan for his part, could barely keep his hands off the younger Zhuo, but unlike before, Yichen didn't push him away and instead sprinkled snow all over the great demon's clothes and once even gently put some on his cheek, giving Zhu Yan a chance to pull him closer and almost kiss him, but a wild shot from Ying Lei caught them both and they separated while laughing. Yichen ran away to get Ying Lei and Zhu Yan to rescue Bai Jiu from Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing.

"Xiao Xuan, I think what whatever you said to your brother last night, pay off. He looks very happy..." Yiming said as he watched them play.

"I'm glad... because the less he resists, the happier he'll be." Yixuan whispered and looked at Li Lun for a second before a set of snowballs were thrown at him by both Yichen and Zhu Yan, causing Yixuan and his team to join in the fun in the sun bathed golden battlefield.

From the steps at the entrance of the mansion, Li Lun watched them laughing, playing, and simply having a good time, so free of malice or anything negative as he would expect to see in any human, and he watched Yixuan's every move with a kind of hunger. To him, his smile was the warmest. His white and gold robes blended with the snow, giving him an ethereal look, and happiness washed over him like rain.

However, all good things must come to an end, and the snow fight ended a while later when everyone heard Bai Jiu's hungry stomach growl and they laughed, ending the war for breakfast and preparing to teleport back to the town. Since there were gifts involved, once in the Citadel they would separate to choose them in private, so it would be a surprise for later that evening. However, just as they were ready to teleport away, Yixuan announced that he would not be joining them at that moment, as he did not want to leave Li Lun alone in the mansion.

"I can take care of myself, Zhuo Yixuan. Go with them." Li Lun demanded, but Yixuan simply smiled at him.

"Didn't you say you were going to teach me? Then we can hold the student-teacher tea ceremony while they go to the city, and when they return, I can go alone."

"What nonsense, I won't allow you to call me Master in every sentence."

"Then what should I call you?" Yixuan asked, almost letting out a mocking smile. The sudden question startled Li Lun for a moment, unsure of how to respond, as he had never accepted an apprentice before, but he didn't want to hear the word "master" come out of his mouth at every single time. It didn't feel right for some reason.

"Li Lun should do it, or grumpy tree head, if he protests." Zhu Yan offered, and Yixuan smiled. 

"That will be interesting... but kind of disrespectful, Zhu Yan, please don't be mean with my Master." Yixuan mocked.

"Don't call me that! Just leave already, you annoying bunch of mortals, and don't come back until nightfall or never at all." He suggested, but since everyone simply staried at him, he snorted. 

"It's no secret that I'm not a fan of humans, so stop staring and leave now." Everyone ignored him and looked at Yixuan instead.

"Can you handle it yourself, Commander?" Cao Wei asked with a mischievous smile.

"Of course. Have fun and take care of Zhu Yan, he may be a bit lost as to how to use human money. Whatever he wants to buy, it will be on the Bureau without limits, but only his, Cao Wei... I warning you, no tricks to make him buy stuff for you. Yichen and Commander Pei Sijing will be there and all the expenses will have to get their approval." He said looking at Yichen, who assented in understanding.

"Wait, maybe I should stay with the Commander, it will be rude to leave our leader alone..." Mei Lin began, but Yiming hastily interrupted her.

"Who said he is alone? He have his Master now... I mean the great demon Li Lun, so no can do, Xiao Mei. I'm sure they can entertain themselves. Let's have some fun, we might not get another chance for a long time. Why waste it now?" He asked, and she looked at Yixuan, who turned serious as he looked back at her. He was aware of Li Lun's gaze on him, so he remained steadfast in his cold stare.

"Yiming is right, Mei Lin. Go have fun, real fun... don't worry about me, my path has always been this one and nothing can change it..." He said as softly as he could, but he still sensed a hint of dark energy at his back.

"That's right! Now, let's buy something nice for our Commander." Cao Wei said, and Ren Jiang took Mei Lin by one arm and Yiming by the other, leading her away from both their Commander and the great demon who was glaring daggers at her.

"Come on, Ying Lei, use the incense thing right now." Cao Wei urged, and after a few seconds, they disappeared in a storm of golden sand, leaving behind an amused Commander and a tense great demon that didn't know what to do with a handsome human he ask to take as an apprentice out of anger. He sighed, while Yixian smiled.

AN: This chapter was inspired by the cast of FOF playing with the snow in the behind scenes. I though it was very cute, fitting for the happy atmosphere of this chapter. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy their fun, as the real cast looked happy while playing like kids.

Bellow, the only HD video I found in Youtube of their playing, the credit is for the owner.

Chapter Text

Zhuo Yixuan/Li Lun

Soon the silence between them became too thick, and it was up to Yixuan to break the ice that had formed between them, as Li Lun was certainly, not in the mood to please a human.

"So... did you really get drunk last night?" Yixuan asked nonchalantly, trying to get something to talk about, but Li Lun only seemed to tense up further.

"That's none of your concern." He replied coldly, but Yixuan wasn't put off in the least by his coldness.

"You know, humans have many remedies for a hangover. I don't know if demons get it after drinking enough to pass out, but if you want, I can make one for you." He offered.

"I don't eat human food, nor do I need it." 

"Sure, but since Zhu Yan seems to like our variety of tea, it won't hurt to try it too. And since you like our wine enough to drink a lot, perhaps a cup of warm ginger with honey won't do you any harm and will help with your hangover if you have one. I'd like to make you congee, but that would be too much for you."

"Oh, so you know how to cook?"

"Are you surprised?" He asked as he walked into the kitchen, closely followed by Li Lun. "Demon hunters mainly do three things in their lives of duty; training, patrolling, and hunting. And since we spend most of our time outdoors, all of us hunters must learn to survive without the comforts of cities or towns. If we don't learn to cook, we don't eat, then we starve and die."

"You say it so simply, but don't you always work in units?"

"We work in units to have a better chance of survival, but the demons are strong and often massacre us. When you become the sole survivor, things get complicated, so you need to know how to survive on your own."

"They kill because you hunt them."

"We hunt them because they kill us. In the past, many villagers were slaughtered by demons for no reason, which is why the gods intervene, hence the war."

"I disagree. Human hearts have always been tainted, and they tainted the energy cultivated by demons, hence the gradual change in demon behavior toward humans. They cause their own downfall."

"In a way, we did, but it wasn't our fault. We were created tainted, and it's not that every human being couldn't suppress the darkness in their hearts; otherwise, we wouldn't have survived and thrived until this moment and age. I agree that there are many humans with malice and wickedness in their hearts, but there are also many more who simply want to live in peace, to be able to take care of their families, protect them, give their children the chance to grow up and be happy, get married, and keep the family strong and united. I grew up in that kind of circle; as descendants of Bing Yi, we don't give in to malice or the dark side of humans, we train ourselves to protect and love our world. As you have already seen before from our harmless snow fight, we can release more than just darkness into the world, but also positive energy that can heal it."

"I will give you credit for the fun display you all put on playing in the snow. It was childish, but at least it made Zhu Yan happy..."

"Just Zhu Yan?" Yixuan stopped just as he was about to pick up a teapot, to look at him.

"He's in tune with your ways, I'm not."

"Oh? But I saw you looking at us with a smile on your lips at some point. Did I imagine it?" At that, Li Lun looked away, and Yixuan smiled.

"Would you like something sweet? I see wine doesn't affect demons the way it does humans. Perhaps ginger is too strong for your first time, so how about some peach tea? Bai Jiu, our young healer, had divine tree blood, so he can make plants and trees grow exponentially fast, and he made one grow in our garden, always in bloom, always with peaches for Zhu Yan to eat. I know you two are different, but since I don't know your tastes yet, I can only go with what Zhu Yan likes. If you'd rather try something different, just let me know."

"Are you really going to go through with that tea ceremony you mentioned earlier?"

"Will you allow me to do that?"

"Hell no!"

"Then you have the answer. I want to do something good for you and I don't need a reason for it. Not all humans had ulterior motives."

"Then surprise me." He said, and Yixuan smiled even wider as he decided to make him some tea with the sweet blackberry leaves Ying Lei brought from the Citadel. It was a rare tea, but since he liked rare ingredients, he brought some for them to enjoy. Zhu Yan liked it too, so perhaps it was his way of introducing him to their tea customs.

Li Lun waited patiently as Yixuan carefully prepared the tea, and soon the sweet aroma of the leaves warming in the hot water filled him, and his mouth watered with anticipation, something he had never experienced before.

"You can also try the peaches; it will not interfere with your cultivation, and they're delicious. If you like them, you can pick them from the backyard." Yixuan said as he placed the teapot and cups on the table and opened the windows to enjoy the beautiful view of the forest, the peach tree with its soft pink flowers, and the still unmelted golden snow. Everything was covered in snow as far as the eye could see, creating an otherworldly scene, and Li Lun's gaze remained fixed on him, almost in admiration.

"Try it... but only a little, since it's still warm. Then tell me if you like it. I hope so, because I don't want to fail in my attempt to impress my Master on the first try." Li Lun chuckled.

"I see that humans really like to tease others."

"Only humans? Zhu Yan tease my brother all the time."

"He's a monkey-dragon in love, the fool..."

"Why fool?" Yixuan asked as he sipped his own tea.

"The relationship between humans and demons always ends in tragedy." Li Lun said as he tasted Yixuan's tea, the sweetness tasting quite delightful.

"He seems to think they're fated." And then he almost repeated Zhu Yan's mistake of spilling the wine he had just drunk the night before on him, but Li Lun didn't want to burn Yixuan, so he swallowed it with a cough, the hot, sweet liquid burning his throat as he force it down.

"Hey, are you okay?" Yixuan stood up and patted him on the back with genuine concern.

"I'll be fine... but I'm not used to this." He lied, and Yixuan quickly took the water jar from the table, used his cold energy to cool it, then poured it into another cup, and offered it to Li Lun.

"It'll help soothe the burning sensation a little, at least until your own demonic energy heals it. I'm sorry..." Yixuan apologized, looking at Li Lun with such compassion that it made his heart race for a moment.

"You didn't do anything wrong, so don't apologize."

"Even so..."

"Zhuo Yixuan, don't waste your kindness on me, I'm not grateful for it. I'll take a look at the gate, it's the reason I'm staying here anyways. Don't look for me, the gate is no place for humans." Li Lun said, storming out through the open windows in a cloud of leaves, fleeing in shame from a human, all thanks to his sudden treacherous heart.

"Perhaps he is indeed, a grumpy tree-head..." Yixuan whispered in amusement before laughing and sitting down to savor the rich sweetness of his tea. There was no need to worry about him, he was going to be back soon enough and leaving him alone give him the chance to work on his gift without having to make an excuse to to be alone. He smiled.

Zhuo Yichen/Zhu Yan + A Bit Of + Ying Lei/Bai Jiu

Zhu Yan had seen the Citadel grow from a set of hunter shelters, to a small village, to a town and citadel over the centuries, but seeing it with his enchanted vision was not the same as being there, smelling the air, less polluted with demonic energy, mixed with the aroma of food at the various stalls, along with the noise and colorful decorations of the market, where a few merchants sell their wares, from hunter uniforms, tassels, books, boots to weapons of all kinds, talismans and potions.

In front of them, Ying Lei and Bai Jiu were moving excitedly here and there, stopping to look at something that might interest them and running to another with their usual enthusiasm, which made the others smile. Everyone could see how much Ying Lei cared for Bai Jiu, he always kept him in sight, always pull him close when a horse ran down the street on an unknown errand, took his hand to guide him somewhere he liked, with a permanent smile on his handsome face. 

Back in the mansion, Bai Jiu's plate was always the fuller, giving the fact that Ying Lei was the one serving them most to Cao Wei's protest of favoritism, even when Bai Jiu offered Yichen a piece of meat or vegetables, and when he was preparing medicine, Ying Lei was always the first to offer his help, even if it was just crushing herbs or keeping an eye on the pots. And when they were outside, he'll help Bai Jiu climb his peach tree, so he can eat some and make tea with them, using spells to dry them out.

They had become so close over the past few weeks that it wasn't unusual to see them holding hands now as they walked in lively conversation and while it was mostly innocent, sometimes Ying Lei would look at Bai Jiu like a man would look at someone he loved and even if Bai Jiu joked around mostly around Ying Lei, he too would sometimes blush when they got too close.

"I think we should leave them alone for a while. It's not like they're paying attention to the rest of us, or even Bai Jiu's dear older brother..." Wen Xiao said mischievously.

"It's because Zhu Yan is by his side, which makes him shy away. If the great demon weren't here, he'd be all over his beloved Ge." Yiming said in return.

"Not on a date. He likes Ying Lei more in that regard." Wen Xiao insisted.

"I agree with her... but can you tell me why people are staring at me like that?" Zhu Yan asked, noticing some hunters walking through the small market looking at him, and Yichen chuckled at his side.

"Don't you have as good an ear as Commander Pei Sijing? Word has spread that the great demon was going to appear in the Citadel, so, many want to catch a glimpse of you. Surrounded by two elite units of demon hunters, with those white streaks in your hair, do you think you've gone unnoticed?" Yichen asked as he looked at Zhu Yan.

"Should I change my appearance then?"

"Why? Aren't you proud of your good looks? Let them stare at you all they want, and let's see how much this encounter becomes a legend." Yichen said, and Zhu Yan smiled at him, finding his approval charming.

"Then we can hold hands and make the legend even better? Imagine the poems that could be written about a handsome great demon and his beautiful young demon hunter lover."

"What lovers? We're not there... yet.." Yichen added very, very faintly, but Zhu Yan still hear him and smirked.

"Yet? Does that means that I finally have a chance? We can turn our legend into an epic tale of love, devotion and..."

"You two are also a couple to be left behind. You're practically lovers now. Who's with me? We can meet up later with the many lovebirds in our group for lunch." Cao Wei asked.

 "Then if that's the case, I'm sorry, guys, but the Commander and I have a date. See you later..." Wen Xiao said as she dragged Pei Sijing with her, while laughing.

"Look at her... so daring and shameless, just like you, Zhu Yan. Just what did you teach her when undoing her core layers..." Cao Wei pointed.

"And while we're at it, how about we get Xiao Xuan something good, Xiao Mei? We can get something to eat later, and I swear I'll buy you that metal fan that turns into daggers you liked so much from the last time we were here."

"You'll pay, right?" She asked cheerfully.

"Sure, let's go!" And taking her by the hand, they strode off too, leaving Cao Wei with his jaw dropped.

"What was that? Are you all on dates? Then..." He turned to Ren Jiang.

"No way in hell! Get away from me, Cao Wei, go date a pole..."

"But is only the two of us now!"

"I don't care! Get lost!" The serious man walked away as Cao Wei followed him in protest, making Zhu Yan and Yichen laugh, finally alone, while other hunters looked at them curiously, and women even giggled as they passed.

"Did you see him? He's the great demon. Who knew he was so handsome?" "Yeah, what a waste to be alone for so many centuries." "Will he come to the city more often?" "I wish..." "Maybe he will be looking for a bride soon?" "That will be too good to be true, but I so hope for it!" These were just a few of the comments Yichen overheard as they walked down the street together, making him feel a little out of place about Zhu Yan's attractiveness to the opposite sex. He was also a man, and while male-male relationships weren't totally uncommon among demon hunters, who spent most of their time living in units comprised primarily of men, it wasn't too common either.

"Xiao Zhuo... take it..." Zhu Yan offered his hand, and Yichen stared at it as if it were on fire. He hesitated, unsure if he wanted to take that step in front of the Citadel citizens, who were sure to spread the news all the way to Tiandu. They hadn't even kissed, though Zhu Yan had already tried that morning.

"Zhu Yan, I..."

"Not sure? Then let me give you a little encouragement. Fan Ying knows how I feel for you, so your superiors probably already know it too, plus I have the approval of your brother, your unit, and the gods. This... can't be helped, Yichen, only postponed. Do you want that?" Zhu Yan asked seriously this time, pausing to give him a chance to think.

"I want... to try, but..." He blushed as he open his hand slightly.

"Don't be shy, we've been sleeping together for almost a month now, haven't we?" Yichen blushed even deeper and closed his hand into fists.

"Not like that, you perverted monkey! Don't say it like we've been doing something else!" He stormed off, and Zhu Yan smiled. Yichen was too young and innocent, so he didn't mind waiting a little longer.

"Xiao Zhuo!" He followed him and did his best to calm him down, asking him to buy him some fruits since he couldn't buy them himself. Yichen finally stopped sulking and bought him persimmons, yangmei (bayberries), and loquats. Since Bai Jiu wanted dragon fruit, he got those too and let Zhu Yan try some as they walked closer than friends, but not exactly holding hands.

They stopped at a few stalls to buy things for Yichen's unit and Yixuan. The hunters' market didn't offer as much variety as in ordinary cities, but Yichen got at least one thing for each member and his brother, except for Zhu Yan, who stood there like a shadow, enjoying the view and the friendly atmosphere of the hunters, who sometimes dared to speak to him a little, offering their thanks for keeping them safe.

Some of the more daring female hunters flirted with him, but Zhu Yan placed a hand on his lower back to keep him close and dismissed them in record time, saying they needed to go meet up with the others, which truthfully pleased Yichen quite a lot. 

To prolong their time together, Yichen showed Zhu Yan beyond the market street. He showed him the place where they had stayed when they first arrived, the Demon Hunting Bureau building, the training ground (where he performed a short sword dance for him), which earned him high praise from the hunters that were training there. Zhu Yan also showed off his skills with an umbrella someone gave him for the task, and they became a sensation in no time. 

Many of the demon hunters gave them gifts, such as the umbrella he used for his dance with Yichen, and Zhu Yan thought it would serve him well as a defense. Once they left the training ground a little warmed up from exercising, Yichen bought them something cool to drink, with sweet desserts, and they rested for a while while simply chatting or interacting with curious demon hunters that never believe they could stand that close to a great demon. Afterward, he showed Zhu Yan the spots with the best views of the forest before heading back to the market street. In such a good mood, he was set about buying Zhu Yan something special, and they walked down the long street to the very end, where something finally caught Yichen's attention.

"Zhu Yan, please wait here for a moment. I need to buy something very fast."

"But..."

"If you stay here and promise not to look my way, I'll kiss you." Yichen said with a mischievous smile and Zhu Yan turned around in a flash to let Yichen do what he had to do and wait patiently for him. In the process, he saw Ying Lei and Bai Jiu approaching with happy faces.

"Zhu Yan! Come with us, we'll meet up for lunch with the others!" Ying Lei shouted, and Zhu Yan was about to decline the invitation when Yichen grabbed his hand and hold it as he passed by him, dragging him towards them, leaving him sulking for not having received his promise kiss. 

However, after eating and buying some decorations and other things, they decided to return to the mansion to start decorating it. Just as the others entered before them, Yichen closed the door and gave the great demon a soft kiss on the cheek just before opening the door and entering, madly blushing. Outside the mansion, Zhu Yan's heart melted, as he laughed. At the end he did got to hold hands with him, dance with him and got his kiss, although not the one he expected, but there was still time before that day ended.

AN: I initially wrote a different interaction for Li Lun and Yixuan but it turn out too plot heavy, so I decide to rewrite it as I want them too have a good happy time before things start to get messy. Because there are so many pairs, I decide to focus and the mains and a little bit of the others when the celebration start. I hope you like it and see you next time, with a bit more fluff and perhaps some kissing.🫣🤭💖💖

Chinese Tea-Fruits: Warning, I know very little of Chinese teas or fruits, so I found this Chinese sweet tea made of blackberry leaves with mellow flavor and fruits on a google search.

↓↓↓ Bai Jiu's peach tree in bloom in where Ying Lei helps him climb to pick the peaches ↓↓↓

Note that Zhu Yan can use his fall spell, so... 🤭💖💖

Chapter Text

"Where's Li Lun?" Yichen asked his brother when he returned to the mansion and found him alone. The others had go to their respective rooms to either work on their gifts or prepare for the celebration. Yichen, however, unlike the others had run directly to his brother, finding him alone in his room. He hadn't expected the great demon to stay with his brother for so many hours, but he at least hoped he would be there when they arrived and he didn't sense his demonic energy inside the mansion.

"Ah, he went to the gate to make sure it was okay like he promised, but I'm sure he'll be back soon or at least before dark. Don't worry about it. Did you have a good time in the town?" Yixuan asked, and if the deep blush on his little brother's handsome face was any indication of his joy, then his brother had had a very wonderful time, so he smiled at him.

"Yes, I guided Zhu Yan around the best spots in the Citadel, and the hunters around us were very kind to him. They even gave him a bunch of gifts when he gave a performance at the training grounds with an umbrella. I even did my sword dance, and they cheered us on a lot. I bought him more fruits, and I also got some for you, Ge. Are you hungry? Of course, you are, we left you alone here, but I brought food from the place where we eat and..."

"Xiao Chen, calm down. I can take care of myself, and as you know, I'm no stranger to cooking."

"But I brought you something delicious, your favorites, and some fruit too. I think I brought too many for Zhu Yan to eat on his own, and he still has the peach tree that's been bearing fruit nonstop. Do you know how to make another fruit soup? Or maybe some peach wine? Should I ask Ying Lei? Ge, I'd love to make some for you too. It's been so long since I've cooked for you, and..."

"Didi, it's fine." Yixuan smirked and stopped Yichen from rambling for a moment, pleased to see him so happy.

"You know I'd love anything you make for me, but you must be tired from all the walking and practicing on the training grounds. I know how enthusiastic you get about sword dancing. You love it so much that the last time you did it, you barely noticed me watching you, so go freshen up first."

"Ge, I'm not tired. In fact, for some reason, I feel full of energy. I haven't felt this good in a while. It's strange, isn't it?" Yichen asked as he took his brother's lunch out of his dimensional pouch.

"It's not strange, Xiao Chen, you are just filled with the excitement to go out and have a good time with the person you love..." He said softly, and Yichen stopped placing the food he had brought on the nightstand next to the bed to look at him in surprise.

"Ge, please not you too. I've had enough with Zhu Yan teasing me like that all day. I swear, he just likes to embarrass me, so please, no more."

"Xiao Chen, did I seem like I was teasing you? Do you think your dear brother would be so cruel to you?" Yixuan asked seriously, and Yichen lowered his gaze, realizing that he had indeed misunderstood his brother.

"No, I'm sorry. Ge is always the best... he will never hurt me physically or emotionally." He confessed.

"Then you should believe what I said is true, because I see how much my little brother has come to love the great demon. Haven't you realized it yet?" Yixuan asked, seeing a hesitation that shouldn't have been there at that point in their relationship. He figured he should thank Zhu Yan for not pressuring his brother too much, as he was still too innocent and unsure of his own feelings.

"I... I don't know... I've never been in love before."

"Then let me help you figure it out. Tell me honestly, do you like spending time with him?"

"Yes." Yichen said after a few seconds of thought.

"Do you like it when he gets close to you?"

"Well... I guess so. He always finds an excuse to sneak into my bed at night and snuggle up with me until morning, right before I wake up, and I... don't mind his warmth next to me, it's better than shivering from Bing Yi's energy." Yichen blushed, a little embarrassed to confess this to his brother. They never did anything inappropriate, but he was still his Ge.

"Does your heart beat faster when he's around?"

"Definitely." Yichen admitted, as his heart raced out of control all day, but he thought it was because he was having such wonderful free time.

"You wanted to buy him a gift at all costs?"

"Yes... I even... offered him something, so he wouldn't know what I picked out for him."

"Oh? So what did you offer him to make him so obedient?" Yichen blushed even deeper.

"A... A kiss... but it was on his cheeks, don't get me wrong."

"Why would I get you wrong? But Xiao Chen, tell me, did you expect him to actually kiss you? Before, you seemed like you didn't mind, even if you were interrupted. Would you like him to kiss you for real?" Yichen's face was totally on fire by now, because he certainly feels the heat rising more and more.

"Ge, do I really have to answer that?" Yichen asked embarrassingly, and Yixuan smiled.

"No, you don't. I already know the answer."

"So... Can I ask you something back? Have you fallen in love before, Ge?" Yichen asked shyly.

"Yes."

"With whom?"

"Huang Yiming." At that, Yichen was stunned.

"What? But isn't he your best friend?"

"Yes. Normally, we fall in love with the people we're closest to, first."

"But Ge... he... likes..."

"Women? Mei Lin, to be more specific? Yes, I was always aware of it."

"But then..."

"Don't worry about it, Xiao Chen. You could say it was puppy crush when I was a kid, a first love that didn't last long. However, it makes me realize that I like men. So, since your brother can fall in love with a man, there's nothing wrong with you falling in love with a great demon. As descendants of Bing Yi, who was in love with Ying Long... perhaps it's in our blood."

"But..."

"Yichen... we were born into a family of demon hunters, raised to fight, protect, and survive in a never-ending war, so our family never prioritized love. That had to wait until we'd done most of our duty as hunters. Therefore, the men in our family married late, and if they were lucky enough to fall in love with a female demon hunter or a healer, like our father, who met our mother early in his life while training hunters. You found love so young, Didi, so don't let it slip away. If you've come to love him, don't doubt it, because I assure you, despite all the teasing he plays, his feelings are real. Zhu Yan would give his life for you without a second thought. I know it's in his nature, so if your feelings are also sincere, then give yourself a chance. You've already tasted what it feels like to be with him, and you've never been happier, right?" Yixuan asked, and Yichen couldn't help but remember the feeling he had with Zhu Yan. 

He was really happy and excited enough to go tell his brother about it, like it was the most amazing thing in the world, not to mention that although he usually only thought about buying things for his brother first, this time he had to admit that Yixuan had come in second while he was with Zhu Yan. So now he understood what he meant now.

"Thank you, Ge... I've been blessed with the best brother I could ever wish for. I just hope you find yours too... the one made for you, the one who can bring you this kind of happiness. If it's Li Lun, even when he leaves you alone, when he's cold and distant... so be it. I'll believe you can warm his heart, just as Zhu Yan warmed mine." Yichen hugged his brother for a moment, just before leaving him alone in his room. 

"Oh, Didi but he is not as cold as you believe... not at all..." Yixuan smiled at he look at the wooden box he had prepared for Li Lun as a gift, hoping he will join them in their celebration tonight.

The next few hours were spent decorating the mansion with great enthusiasm. They moved some tables outside, as they were going to enjoy the beautiful golden view of Yixuan's spell, as well as the stars and moon in the sky. They placed red lanterns outside to illuminate the darkness of the night and created an open space for the performances. When Yixuan's unit heard about Zhuo Yichen and Zhu Yan's performance for the hunters at the Citadel's main training camp, they also wanted to show off their skills. So, it turned into a celebratory dinner with music (mainly provided by Ying Lei and Bai Jiu, who brought noisy instruments, as they weren't particularly good at playing them) and a performance.

When everything was ready, they helped Ying Lei with the trays of food, placing them on the two long tables and lighting the lanterns to create the celebratory atmosphere. Zhu Yan opened the evening festivities with a one-word spell for fireworks that neither went off nor made a sound. They cheered at the beautiful sight, ate and drank happily, and then watched the performance on the golden snow.

Mei Lin was the first, as Yiming had just gift her with a new metal fan she loved, and she danced in her elegant white and turquoise robes, along with her fan. She moved with unexpected grace to the awful noise Ying Lei and Bai Jiu made, displaying her skills with her fan and agility, causing Yiming to almost droll at the sight and the others to mock him endlessly, even though he knew she had performed mostly for Yixuan, but it didn't matter.

Next, the trio of Cao Wei, Huang Yiming, and Jiang Ren performed a skills demonstration with throwing weapons, showing to the others their unit's unbeatable coordination, the accuracy of their throws, and their mastery of the weapons. It was an amazing display from a unit that has been together for so long, to the point where they no longer need words to communicate. Yichen, impressed, cheered them, occasionally smiling at Yixuan to let him know that he believed his unit deserved to be considered elite. There was no doubt about their mastery.

Then Yixuan asked Yichen to join him in a sword dance of golden and blue radiance. Yichen's Cloud Light sword shone like a blue moon, while Yixuan's, imbued with his golden aura, shone like the sun. Zhu Yan was fascinated by the brothers' elegance, their delicate movements, the way they dance in unison or chased each other, while Yichen smiled warmly, not to mention Yixuan's gaze never leaving Yichen's. It was a dance born of family bonds, of two brothers who had trained together, learned together, grown together to become stronger, yet with a certain nobility to their gracefulness, soft and caring. Their swords merely displayed their differences in divine energy, yet they were in tune, like two halves of a whole.

The golden snow at their feet, which occasionally rose as the energy of their swords pulsed with power, sent golden particles swirling around them like a god blessing. It was enchanting, beautiful, magically perfect, a heavenly dance, and Zhu Yan was simply more in love with the young man than ever... and not far from them, another great demon was also entranced by Zhuo Yixuan's beauty and grace, feeling that their dance was, in a way, an invitation to both Zhu Yan and him, a pull on two great demons, by two brothers who shared the same divine blood. 

Though he was almost certain that Zhuo Yixuan had something more to him, something he might not even be aware of, something his brother didn't seem to share. Perhaps he need to talk to Zhu Yan later and see if he noticed anything unusual about the older brother while he was undoing his seal. However that would be for another day, because tonight, he was caught in the enchantment the humans place on them.

After the brothers' heavenly display, Ying Lei and Bai Jiu put on a comical performance and they laughed while they make fools of themselves. Finally, Pei Sijing and Wen Xiao danced together, not in perfect harmony like the brothers, theirs was more clumsier, but very fun, just enjoying an free dance to off-key music as they laughed. That was because Ying Lei played a drum without tempo and Bai Jiu a similar instrument, but made from a piece of bamboo, equally out of pace. It was loud and horrible, but also fun. A night without restrictions for real fun. 

After eating, drinking, and enjoying the night events, they exchanged gifts. Bai Jiu gave Ying Lei a set of kitchen knives; Yichen, hair bells; Wen Xiao, a book; Pei Sijing, a hairpin, and the elixir he promised to Yixuan's unit, one for each member on behalf of the entire unit. Ying Lei gave Bai Jiu a beautiful set of bowls and bottles for his medicine and elixirs, with a wooden box he could carry for traveling, Wen Xiao a novel, Yichen a jade tassel, and Pei Sijing a set of enchanted arrows. Wen Xiao gave Yichen an interesting book, Bai Jiu medicinal herbs, Ying Lei rare spices, and Pei Sijing a sturdy bow. Pei Sijing gave Wen Xiao a beautiful purple orchid hairpin and another book she liked, Bai Jiu a remedy book, Ying Lei a recipe book, and Yichen a set of three headbands. 

Yichen gave Wen Xiao a set of calligraphy brushes and ink, Bai Jiu a bigger bell for his hair and medicinal seeds to grow, Ying Lei rare tea leaves and pompoms for his braid, and Pei Sijing a set of beautiful earrings. To Yixuan he gave hair bells, a set of headbands in every color, a long tassel with a golden dragon on it, fruits he liked, sweet teas, and a promise to make him and everyone else peach wine as soon as he learned how. Yixuan gives his brother a special set of hair bells with a protection and clarity spell on them, a white monkey pendant (which makes Yichen laugh and Zhu Yan pout), a blue dragon tassel, and for their unit, the kind of knives everyone loves so much, since their unit was specialized in combat, so the rest of the unit exchanged similar gifts between them, all weapons of different styles and uses. For Yichen and Yixuan there were also special gifts, but they would be given privately.

In the end, they cleared the tables and put them back in their places inside the mansion, said goodnight, and returned to their rooms to rest. Yichen wasn't surprised when Zhu Yan followed him to his room and even opened the sliding door for him, waiting for him to enter before closing it at his back. It was better for him to enter through the front door, than the balcony door to sneak in like a thief in the night, though since it was a beautiful cloudless night, Yichen opened the door to Zhu Yan's magic tree and let the pleasant breeze in.

"Are you tired, Xiao Zhuo? You drank a lot tonight." Asked Zhu Yan, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at him.

"You drink more than me, which reminds me, I also have something for you, a gift." Said Yichen as he moved away from the door to one of the shelves, where he picked up a reddish wooden box and offered it to Zhu Yan.

"It's not another white monkey, is it? You should know that I am a powerful white ape, and also a dragon. It was very mean of your brother to give you a monkey."

"Come on, Zhu Yan, don't be so sensitive. It was a gift for me, not you, so stop pouting. It's not like there were many things to choose from on the market street, and my brother went alone after we got back."

"What do you mean, alone? He had Li Lun following him like his shadow. I could feel his demonic energy spike so many times while he was in the Citadel."

"Wait, what? But Li Lun hasn't appeared since he left this morning."

"He still hasn't gotten used to being around humans, but that doesn't mean he's not present. I assure you, Zhuo Yixuan hasn't left his sight today, and I assume he's still watching him as we speak."

"I don't understand. Why don't he just show up and stay with him at the mansion? My brother is so kind..."

"And that may be precisely the problem. Li Lun hates humans, but he can't hate your brother for any reason, especially when your brother welcomed him so openly. He must be at a loss for how to treat him, which is why he ran away from him this morning."

"Ah... never mind then, open your gift." Yichen urged, and Zhu Yan sighed, expecting a full size white monkey. But upon opening the box, he found inside, carefully wrapped, a beautiful bottle of wine, with a soft pink background, and peach blossoms exquisitely painted in vibrant colors around it. It was beautiful.

"Xiao Zhuo..."

"For when I make you peach wine, but promise me you won't drink too much. 

I know it seems a little feminine, but you like peaches so much that I thought... it looks pretty and I will make the wine smooth..."

"Wine doesn't affect me the same way it does humans, it's more like a sweet juice to me, a delicious juice that my beloved Yichen will prepare for me. I love this, just as much as I love you." Yichen blushed, with his heart racing, as Zhu Yan stood up and walked over to place his hands on the young man hips.

"I accept your gift. It's beautiful, just like you..." Zhu Yan closed the distance between them until he was almost kissing him.

"Xiao Zhuo... it's such a magical night... can I..." But then, Yichen grabbed Zhu Yan by the collar of his robes and brought his lips together in a kiss. Since he was inexperienced with kissing, he hesitated about what to do next, but Zhu Yan wrapped his arms around his waist, taking control of the innocent kiss and turned it into a passionate one for both of them.

Yichen let Zhu Yan guide him, let himself be carried away by the intense sensation he was experiencing: the heat coming from down his belly, the softness of his lips, the warmth, the rush of blood, the excitement, the wetness that tasted of the sweetness of Ying Lei's wine. It was all new to him, and he moaned under Zhu Yan's lips, unable to contain himself, which pleased Zhu Yan immensely. Because it was something they both desired so intensely, they kissed for a long time, absorbed in their feelings, wanting more of each other, until they ended up on the bed, wrapped in each other arms, then Zhu Yan kiss down Yichen's neck, having a taste of his fair skin, feeling the blood pulsating on his main vein, taking in his icy scent, enjoying the way he moaned and trembled at under his touch. 

"Xiao Zhuo... if you let me continue..."

"Don't stop..."

"I know this feels good, new, exhilarating, and wonderful, so I don't blame you for wanting more, but I still can't let myself get carried away by passion. It's your first time experiencing this... So I'll be the one taking advantage of you if we end up making love right after our first kiss, which is wrong. I don't want to ruin this, because you're very special to me...

"You're special to me too..."

"Then let's enjoy it a little longer, one new thing at a time, before we dive into deeper waters. I want you to experience a lot more of what feels to be loved before that. Let me give you my gift now."

"Let me guess, a blue dragon? It seems you like them everywhere near me. The door, the walls..." Zhu Yan kissed him to silence him. A long kiss that made Yichen pull the great demon on top of him to feel his weight pressing down on him, their closeness almost melting together.

"Xiao Zhuo... I'm already about to lose control, so please don't take advantage of me..."

"Stupid monkey..." Zhu Yan laughed as he gave him a soft kiss on the forehead before pulling away from Yichen to sit on the bed.

"You should already know what I do best, right?"

"Yes, dimensions are your specialty... Would you give me one?"

"Yes. It is a place where you can practice all of Bing Yi's techniques, as I have created a mirage of him inside. There, you can meditate better and, with a little persuasion, also interact with your sword in its human form. This way, you can learn directly from him the best way to maximize his power, the best moves, or create your own. In case of emergency, you can use it to escape danger, as only you can enter."

"Why does it sound like you're preparing for the worst-case scenario? We will find Bing Yi and you won't fight that kind of war again."

"Indulge me, Yichen. It's a gift I made with the intention of protecting you, as well as making you stronger. There is nothing wrong with that." He said as he use his one-word spell to manifested a teardrop-shaped pendant with what looked like clouds moving inside it, border it with glowing gold.

"It's beautiful, Zhu Yan... will you put it on me?" He asked as he sat by his side, so he could place it on him. It felt a bit cold the touch but unexpectedly lightweight.

"I'm glad you like it, now... we can kiss some more..." Zhu Yan pulled him closer and kiss him for a while longer before they lay down on the bed to rest. However, the night was still far from over and there were other pairs feeling the enchantment of the celebration and good time as well.

AN: Yep, the next chapter will cover the romance of Ying Lei/Bai Jiu, Wen Xiao/Pei Sijing, Li Lun/Zhuo Yixuan, and a bit of the other unit, so what do you think of Zhu Yan/Yichen? I found Zhu Yan protection of Yichen's innocence quite amusing. Yixuan would be proud of him. Lol. See you next time, thanks for reading.

↓↓↓ For dear MunBirdy, because I think this one looks better for drawing. ↓↓↓

If you are curious about this, go look for her Li Lun/Yixuan story and give it a try. Meeting Under the Snow Covered Tree, a nice warming story.

Chapter Text

Wen Xiao/Pei Sijing

"Commander Pei, what was that we did tonight? What an awful way to dance! Too stiff for an occasion that should be much more relaxing." Wen Xiao remarked, sitting on the edge of her Commander's bed.

"I've never been any good at dancing, I have spend most of my time training to excel as a demon hunter, anything else, like learn how to dance was not important. There was no good music to inspire, either." Pei Sijing defended herself, testing the strength and string of the bow Wen Xiao had given her.

"Ah, but having Ying Lei and Bai Jiu making fool of themselves, was so much fun and we had a great time, more or less doing the same. It was so silly, but special at the same time. Although Mei Lin danced with her fan so gracefully despite the noise, so we should have done at least a little better..."

"You have a good eye for weapons, this bow is very good, and Ying Lei's magic arrows are the perfect match."

"Pei Sijing, are you listening to me?" Wen Xiao pouted, causing Sijing to look at her adorable, pretty face, which soften her expression an little bit.

"I am, but even so, I'm still not good at dancing, let alone in public. We could have done the same thing as Cao Wei, Huang Yiming, and Jiang Ren did, a demonstration of skills. We both have them, it's just that we haven't reached their level of coordination yet."

"Are you only thinking about weapons on such a beautiful night? Commander Pei, don't be so cold with me. No one is around, and I know you're warmer than this in private." Wen Xiao said, looking at her with fire in her eyes.

"You're drunk." Pei Sijing asserted, seeing her flushed face and excitement.

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you were drunk before we danced in public. That was the only reason I let you convince me to do it. I didn't want you start crying if I refuse it, because when drunk you are more sensitive."

"Ah, so you care about me that much... Come here, Commander, let me show you my love too..."

"Wen Xiao!" Pei Sijing shouted, making Wen Xiao laugh as she stood up and hugged her anyways.

"I mean, let's dance again, but better this time. A dance where we just enjoy each other's company, hold each other, move softly and just talk. It'll be closer and less silly..." Wen Xiao smiled at her, and Pei Sijing sighed. That young woman was pleading with her eyes in such a charming way that once again she could not refuse, or to be more honest, she didn't want  to refuse her at all.

"Okay, but I'm warning you, it will still be bad."

"It won't be, let me guide you."

"We don't even have that awful noise..." Pei Sijing pointed, but as the words left her mouth, a puff of smoke rose, revealing Pei Siheng next to his sister, startling Wen Xiao for a moment before she realized it was her brother and giggle.

"Were you listening to us?" She asked embarrassed, blushing a bit harder this time.

"I always am, but I don't mind. I know my sister is happier with you."

"Why didn't you go out earlier? You could have celebrated with us. Don't you feel lonely? You know that we don't mind you around, you are one of us too." Wen Xiao told him sadly, but Pei Siheng just smiled.

"I thank you you guys, but I am never alone. I always talk to my sister every day when she had time for herself, also before she goes to sleep, so I don't feel as lonely as you think."

"Oh? Then, I'm taking your time with her now? For the gods, please forgive me, I didn't know. This is the first time I've entered her room, I will go now." She let go of Pei Sijing and turned to leave, but Pei Siheng stopped her before she could give more than a few steps away from his sister.

"Why are you leaving, Wen Xiao? Didn't you ask for a dance? You exchanged gifts tonight, so let me give you mine. I play the flute rather well, perfect for dancing. I still have the flute my sister gave me before I became like this... and will gladly use it for you two, to have a good time." Wen Xiao's eyes filled with tears. Perhaps she was indeed, drunk, as she was feeling very emotional at the moment, and the siblings' tragedy was heartbreaking.

"Why are you crying? My brother plays very well, and he is offering it to you us a gift. He and I have all the time in the world to talk. He's not going anywhere, and neither am I, so don't be sad..."

"But you must miss each other a lot... the dance Xiao Zhuo and his brother performed was so beautiful, and it showed how much siblings love each other..."

"Indeed, it shows how profound it can get and it is the same with us, we just do it in a different way that's all. Now, let's dance Wen Xiao. I will be honor and I promise to try harder for you."

"But..."

"Come on, it's okay, like you said before, this is a special night, so enjoy it. I'll play for you, and I'll enjoy it too, because my sister's happiness is also mine."

"That's... so beautiful, yet so sad... Come here, brother, let me dance with you first." At that, Pei Siheng panicked as he looked at his sister, who simply smiled at him.

"But there's no music..."

"I can hum a tune. It's not very pretty, but better than the wild rhythms of Ying Lei and Bai Jiu together." And remembering their disastrous 'music', Pei Siheng laughed.

"Okay, then give me your hand, sister." He said to Wen Xiao as he extended his hand, which she took and allowed him to gently pull her closer. As they moved, she hummed with pleasure and laughed when he turned her around or did some unexpected moves. 

Pei Sijing watched them dance, with her heart filled with happiness for her brother, as it was rare for him to have such opportunities, but her unit was nothing like any other she had before. These young people were very protective of each other, and one smile on their faces was a source of joy for everyone.

After their brief dance, Pei Siheng kissed her hand gallantly and left the room to play the flute on the balcony, while admiring the great demon tree. It was so massive it was impossible not to stare at it when outside, and its glowing flowers were so beautiful that it was difficult not to gaze at it and lose yourself in its beauty. He could understand why Zhu Yan like it so much, so whith such enchanting sight for inspiration he played an old tune, soft but sweet, filling the room with the music. This time, Pei Sijing offered her hand to Wen Xiao, pulling her towards her, and they slowly danced in circles with Wen Xiao's head resting on Pei Sijing's chest.

"This is so much better..." Wen Xiao said with a satisfying smile.

"It is. Are you sleepy? I can tell you can barely can keep your eyes open."

"You are so observant, Commander. I'm just a little tired, but this dance, along with the soft and relaxing sound, it feels like a dream. I feel like I'm inside one of my novels. You're my heroine, and I'm the damsel in distress, escaping the clutches of an evil demon when you came to rescue me." She giggled.

"You read too much, besides, in this real story we're living, you're not a damsel in distress, but the one who defeats the demons who want to harm us, shoulder to shoulder with me." Wen Xiao chuckled.

"That's oddly sweet. Did you enjoy our date at the Citadel?"

"Of course I did. Did you doubt it?"

"No, really. By the way, I loved your gift, it's a beautiful hairpin. I think I'll give the one I'm wearing now to your brother. He can compose beautiful music with it, since it's a brush made into a hairpin by my father.  Since I always tend to lose mine, my father thought of that way for me to always have one within reach and not have to buy me a bunch of them every week." Wen Xiao smiled.

"A gift from your father is something you should keep."

"I have several more, and I think your brother can use them better than I can, so he won't feel so lonely when he is not out, to keep you company at night."

"Then he will love it."

"Of course. I have yours right here. Will you put it on for me?"

"Sure." She said, and after Wen Xiao gave it to her, she gently placed it on her soft hair and gazed down at her. The hairpin was a masterpiece, but it only complemented her natural beauty.

"You're pretty too, and it suits you."

"Ah, Commander, are you trying to seduce your subordinate?" Wen Xiao asked with feigned innocence, and Pei Sijing chuckled.

"Isn't it the other way around?" She asked, and Wen Xiao laughed.

"Maybe? Is it working? I don't know, sometimes you're too serious and..." But the next thing she knew, her Commander was gently lifting her head, placing her hand under her chin, and then kissing her as they stopped moving around.

Wen Xiao was surprised, first because, although they had been interacting for a while and the attraction between them was palpable enough to dare to do some things, it was mainly on her part. Secondly, her brother was outside playing a tune for them, and since she was so introverted, it was surprising that she dared to kiss her while her brother was watching.

Still, she didn't mind, because she wasn't shy, nor one to reject a delightful offer for the possibility of been watched. Otherwise, she would never have invited her on a date in the Citadel, where she had held her hand quite often while strolling through the market street, bought her things, eaten together in a more than friendly closeness, as she teased her with the food, and called her by her Xiao Sijing when they split up to buy gifts. To everyone who saw them on the street, it was obvious that they were, or at least appeared to be, a couple.

So she wasn't going to give her a reason to stop kissing her, and she placed her hand on her neck to make sure Sijing didn't pull away just before she could truly enjoy the kiss from her beloved. However, Pei Sijing was in her own world, a world where only Wen Xiao existed and the intense surge of feelings that the kiss awakened. For her, training was everything; it was a way to keep her surname honorable and protected, and she had been content with that until she almost lost her brother. After that, things changed, and she tried to be more flexible with herself and others, which was why Wen Xiao entered her heart so easily, when in the past she would never have allowed a romantic relationship with a member of her unit, male or female.

As they kissed, they didn't notice that the flute music had stopped playing, nor that Pei Siheng had disappeared after glancing at them and blushing.

Ying Lei/Bai Jiu

After the celebration ended, as it was getting late and they had drunk quite a lot that night, the others helped Ying Lei carry the tables and dishes back to the mansion, but since he didn't want his precious dishes to be smashed by tipsy men, he told them to rest and that he would take care of washing them. Knowing how obsessed he was with his kitchen, no one objected to his order, except for one person. That was, of course, Bai Jiu, who had rolled up his sleeves to help him clean them, whether he liked it or not. So, with a warm smile, he let the young man do as he pleased and simply enjoyed his company.

"It was a lot of fun day and night, wasn't it? Do you think we can repeat events like this from time to time?" Ying Lei asked as they finished washing the dishes.

"I think the great demon really enjoyed it, so maybe we can convince him to do a second round after a while. We still have training to do, and once the undoing of our core seals resumes, probably tomorrow, we'll be back to the pain and exhaustion."

"But it was worth it. I can say that I am a little stronger since the first three layers of my seal have been removed. Although my bones hurt a lot and burn for the first two days, I no longer feel as tired as before when training or cultivating. In addition, the amount of energy I can accumulate in my core has increased, as has my speed. How about you?"

"Pretty much the same. The divine energy released when the three layers of the seal disappeared begins to produce changes in our bodies, not too drastic, but enough to support the next layer. I must say that Zhu Yan knows what he's doing and is very careful in not to push our bodies beyond their limits. The fact that I was able to grow a peach tree from a fruit seed in a matter of seconds is proof that we're changing and that the divine energy is growing stronger. To be honest, I'm a little scared to think about how much more I'll be able to do once the twenty layers disappear."

"I'm with you on that, because it's truly terrifying to think in becoming a demigod. My sealing spells last longer, my detection spells reach further, my senses... I can do so much more, pick up so many details that previously eluded me, great distances are no longer so inaccessible. I'm starting to believe that if my energy continues to grow, I won't need the Shanhai Portal to teleport myself or a group anywhere in the world, whether I've been there before or not." Hearing that, Bai Jiu gasped.

"That would be awesome!"

"I know, right?" Ying Lei laughed proudly at his growing potential.

"It's an incredible skill to have. I wish I could do more than just grow trees."

"Who said you can't do more? Have you tested yourself in other things? You're also an alchemist, so using your divine energy, I'm sure you can create pills with extraordinary capabilities. You just need to think more about the infinite possibilities and doubt yourself less." As Ying Lei finished speaking, Bai Jiu's eyes widened in surprise. He had never thought about that before, and he had been an idiot not to realize that, by strengthening himself with his current talents in healing, alchemy, and knowledge, he was getting closer to becoming a Sage!

"Ying Lei... you... that..."

"Wait, did I say something wrong? I think you can do incredible things with more divine energy. Maybe you can achieve that traceless healing you've been longing for, I swear, I'm not kidding, you really can..." But Bai Jiu was so thrilled with his newfound enlightenment that, in his excitement, he pulled Ying Lei close without thinking and kissed him on the mouth so hard that they both ended up parting in pain, with Ying Lei's lower lip cut by Bai Jiu's euphoria.

"Ying Lei! I'm so sorry... Sorry, it was too fast..." Bai Jiu apologized as he tried to wipe Ying Lei's blood from his split lip with his sleeve, but the blond young man's heart was so frantic that he pulled away to try and calm himself. It had been a kiss, for heaven's sake! A horrible kiss, but a kiss nonetheless.

"Ying Lei... let me heal you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you... I was so grateful, so happy that you made me discover my own potential that..."

"It's okay, Bai Jiu. I understand... don't worry, even I can handle something so simple." Ying Lei turned to leave, but Bai Jiu grabbed his arm.

"It's not okay. Come, sit down and let me heal you."

"It's such a small wound. I have a remedy for this kind of things."

"Ying Lei, let me. It's my fault, after all. Sit down." Since Bai Jiu wasn't going to let him run away, Ying Lei sat down and tried not to think about what had just happened. He received a kiss, but sadly enough, it was in gratitude, on impulse, so he needed to come back to reality and not misinterpret it to what it wasn't.

Bai Jiu for his part, deeply regretted the way he kissed Ying Lei so impulsively. In terms of age, they were only four years apart, which wasn't much, and he would be eighteen in a month. But above all, he didn't want to hurt his feelings by thinking he might feel the same way. He had believed it before, that they were so in tune, so close, that their feelings had begun to transform from friendship into something deeper, which is why he ended up kissing him suddenly without a second thought. But seeing how he reacted, how he pulled away when he touched him, as if he had set him on fire, he began to doubt.

He really liked Ying Lei, and when he say really, he mean a LOT, and he felt so connected to him that even that night they had behaved like fools, not caring about anything. They liked to joke around, argue, laugh, and just be themselves while helping each other achieve their goals and aspirations. They were soulmates, but now... by mistake or by fate, he had crossed the line and didn't know how to undo it.

"Bai Jiu... your lip is cut too." Said Ying Lei, interrupting the young healer who was spiraling in panic. Hearing him, Bai Jiu ran a finger along his lower lip and looked at it, cover in blood.

"Ah... I didn't notice, how strange..."

"Then let me take care of it..."

"No, yours looks deeper. Just let me wipe it to see how much..." Bai Jiu impulsively wiped the blood off Ying Lei's lip with the same finger that had his blood on it. Then, Bai Jiu watched in amazement as Ying Lei's cut healed instantly, his own blood repairing the damage without a trace.

"What... what was that? Did you use healing energy on me or something? Can you do that now?" Asked Ying Lei, feeling a strange tingling sensation as Bai Jiu touched his lips with his finger. But judging by the way he looked at him in disbelief, he wondered what had happened to him. 

"I did it..."

"What?"

"Traceless healing! I did it, Ying Lei!" He hugged the man, feeling Ying Lei's arms tighten around him as he laughed, happy that Bai Jiu could do what he longed for and could only dream of. However, they soon realized their position: Ying Lei was sitting in a chair with Bai Jiu wrapped between his legs, his head resting on the young healer's chest, looking into those brown eyes, full of energy and ecstasy from his newfound ability.

"I'm sorry..." Ying Lei let go, but Bai Jiu didn't move, instead stare back at him with a blush.

"I know it was awful for a first kiss... but did you hate it that much?" Bai Jiu asked, almost in tears.

"I didn't hate it."

"Then why did you pull away?"

"I... Xiao Jiu... that it's a little complicated to explain."

"I'm a healer, a doctor as some call it, so why would it be so complicated to explain? I know the human body better than you do."

"It's not about the body."

"So you don't like me like that?"

"Wait, what? Didn't you say you kissed me because you were grateful?" Ying Lei asked in confusion.

"Idiot, did you think I'd kiss someone just out of gratitude? Should I kiss Xiao Zhuo Ge because I admire him?"

"Do that and a great demon will skin you alive." Ying Lei joked.

"You know what I mean."

"I thought... you didn't mean it the way I want it to interpret it."

"So you like me?"

"Do you?"

"I asked first."

"I'm older."

"Don't give me that excuse. By imperial law, I became an adult at fifteen, like everyone else."

"I know, must of us die young while hunting demons."

"Don't change the subject."

"Yes. I like you... more than as friends..."

"Ah, what a coincidence, I like you too... let me try again." And this time, Bai Jiu lowered his head to kiss Ying Lei, softer this time, though at the taste of blood, he pulled away and roughly wiped his lips.

"That was just as horrible..." Bai Jiu whined, and Ying Lei laughed as he pulled him closer.

"I don't mind..."

"It's disgusting. Let's clean ourselves up a bit, shall we?" But then, the beautiful sound of a flute was heard, and Ying Lei stood up.

"Who's playing that?" He asked with a hint of concern.

"This is Zhu Yan's mansion inside his barrier, so it must be one of us."

"But it's so late..."

"Who said love is only shown in the early hours? It's obviously a love melody."

"Ah... I see..." Ying Lei looked at Bai Jiu for a moment, and almost simultaneously, the two move toward the water basin and realizing they were thinking exactly the same thing, they laughed out loud.

"Perhaps we're being hasty..." Ying Lei whispered.

"Perhaps..." Bai Jiu blushed.

"How about some tea? We can drink it while listening to the flute."

"That sounds good."

"Understood." Ying Lei said as he walked away to make the tea, humming happily, as they were giving one step farther into the right direction. He smiled.

AN: Here you go, two pairs in this one, since is getting too long I decide to split it, Li Lun and Yixuan, as well as the other unit coming next. I hope you like it. I think that Bai Jiu will not shy away from Ying Lei, just like in the picture bellow, but face him head on. The kissing photo of Zhu Yan/Yichen in the previous chapter, as well as this Wen/Pei are from a screenshot from an Ai video I made, but can't upload it here, because it only accept Youtube links. Sorry, no Bai/Ying kiss, because Bai is a minor, although he is older in here. Thanks for reading.

Chapter Text

Zhuo Yixuan went to his room without bothering to light the lanterns, as he could see perfectly well with the door leading outside wide open, from where the light from the lanterns they had used in the front yard still shone brightly. He also hoped that by maintaining the darkness, Li Lun would be encouraged to come in, so he could give him the gift he had prepare for him.

Although he hadn't appeared before him since leaving him that morning, Yixuan could sense his presence all around him, neither too close nor too far away. He assumed his senses had become even more acute, as Li Lun concealed his demonic energy much better than Zhu Yan did to avoid giving himself away. However, Yixuan still sensed traces of it no matter how hard Li Lin tried to tone it down. He smiled to himself, as both great demons had failed to deceive him.

He was beginning to understand how the great demon operated, not directly, but in the shadows, where he thought no one could see him. It was truly amusing to feel him watching him as he walked down the Citadel's market street. He could see scattered leaves here and there, and Yixuan smiled. The leaves had been placed before he arrived at the Citadel; some merchants were sweeping them out onto the streets. In reality, there was nothing about them that would catch the attention of the demon hunter walking or working there, because they were unaware of a certain pagoda tree demon who had recently decided to stay with them, but he knew better.

Those leaves were all a bright green, very different from the dull green of the leaves on the trees in the forest surrounding the Citadel. Since the trees there absorbed the demonic energy emanating from the gate, they seemed less lush than those in Tiandu, for example, so it was obvious to him that the ones that fell "naturally," coincidentally wherever he went, were his.

On the other hand, he didn't blame Li Lun for keeping an eye on him like that, given that he hated humans and would never walk the human streets with him, but he was curious enough to endure the annoyance of following him and using his leaves to spy on him. He would have loved to show him around like his brother had done with Zhu Yan, but in a way, he still felt he wasn't alone.

Back in his room, he walked over to the shelves at the wall and picked up a wooden box, and placed it on a table. The content was not impressive, but it held a special place in his heart. He didn't hope to impress Li Lin with it, but rather to show him that human beings can be grateful, respectful, appreciate the efforts of others, offer things without expecting anything in return, and show that he cared and was glad he'd stayed to help, regardless of his reasons or circumstances.

Now he wondered whether he should call out to him or wait for him to appear on his own. There was a chance that he would appear, but also a bigger chance that he wouldn't, as he was so proud that he had deliberately kept his distance even while they celebrated outside the mansion. While they were cheering to encourage the many performances, Yixuan occasionally glanced at Zhu Yan's tree, from where he knew Li Lun was watching them. The magical tree was enormous and could conceal anyone among its numerous branches, foliage, and flowers, making it a perfect hiding place. The fact that everyone could see Zhu Yan, even from a distance, was due, firstly, to the fact that he had no need or desire to hide, and secondly, because he leaned against the lower branches with fewer leaves.

"It's a wonderful night, Master Li Lun, why not enjoy it a little? We're really not that bad, didn't you already see it tonight? We can cheer, make fools of ourselves, joke around, show affection and care with gifts. We are not just a race of heartless, evil, and ruthless people. Just like everything else, there are different sides to it, one good and one bad, as well as a mix of the two." Yixuan said aloud as he approached the balcony and looked toward Zhu Yan's tree. Then he saw a swirl of leaves approaching and moved away from the door to give Li Lun some space.

"You knew I was there?" He asked as soon as his body materialized.

"Where else could you be if not inside the mansion? I doubt you'll be watching the door for that long, will you?" He wasn't entirely lying, because inferring that he was in the tree was the answer to his specific question, and that he hadn't been watching the door the whole time was also a valid assumption. However, Li Lun realized that the man's answer was more than what he was actually saying.

"You can sense me, right?" And then he had to ask the question Yixuan was trying to avoid. If he said yes, it might hurt his pride; If he says no, he'll know he was lying.

"Do I really need to answer that question?" Yixuan tried to be polite instead, and Li Lun sighed.

"Not really. The question is an answer in itself. Since when can you do that?"

"Since you came to this world."

"Do you never lose track of my presence?"

"No. I'm the Commander of a specialized demon hunting unit for a reason, and besides, as you know, I'm more than just human. If it makes you feel any better, I can assure you that you're better than Zhu Yan at suppressing your demonic energy, because his was never very... too impressive." Yixuan admitted, which made Li Lun chuckle. Well, at least he did better than the monkey, although he believed that Zhu Yan was not very intent on hiding from humans, as he was always curious about them, which was understandable, especially for a descendant of his father's lover.

"I see that you humans with divine blood are full of surprises. I admit that what I saw tonight was harmless, at least to humans, but it was also a demonstration of demon hunting skills, all well executed and performed. Yours and your brother's, more than anyone else's, demonstrate your ability to give your all. The swords alone, charged with your divine energy, are enough to frighten the lesser demons in this forest, not to mention posing a challenge to the strongest. I can understand why the demons here struggle to survive..."

"Master Li Lun, we don't hunt demons for fun. You may think we just kill demons left and right, just because they're demons, but you never see the bigger picture, as if humans have also been hunted by demons for as long as we've existed in this world, and countless villages have died at their hands, hundreds even in a single night of raiding. A single strong demon could kill countless men, women, and children. You have the advantage of cultivation, born into the world with the means to survive and a long life that ensures the development of your powers, steadily and without fear. We must educate and protect our children for most of their lives before they can defend themselves, and most will not survive even after training. Yes, we kill demons, but not with the pleasure you imagine, but with the fear of losing what matters most to us: fathers, mothers, siblings, children, daughters, friends, and comrades, not to mention our lovers. What burdens us is not the thrill of killing, because even if we had killed large numbers of demons over the centuries, we have lost ten times as many humans, not because we wanted to, but because we had no other choice." Yixuan said as he stared at Li Lun, and for an instant, he could see that golden dragon within him coiling around him with a hard gaze. 

It was the same hard gaze Bing Yi had when he was angry, when he wanted to protect; it was the same feeling too, a way of showing his dignity as a human, his determination, his motivations for developing the ability he possessed, not out of joy, but out of necessity. And he wasn't wrong in his arguments. A human baby was an easy target, born to be fed, raised, and protected for many years, a demon born with instinct and power, and not even he could deny that. Maybe he went too far, because the man who stood in front of him was not merciless killer, but a noble man set to protect his family, his brother, his father, his friends and comrades... and perhaps a lover? Did he had a lover? And well, why not? He was a handsome man, an older brother to be the next head of the family, talented, protective and caring, a perfect catch for any woman, man or even a demon...

Seeing that he had upset the young man for no reason, by letting himself get carried away with resentment against the wrong man, he took something out of his robes to offer him in the hope of cheering him up. He liked it when he smiled, when he felt at ease, when he looked at him with those deep eyes that sometimes seemed to penetrate all his barriers and see his vulnerabilities. He had been wary of humans for most of his life, but he couldn't judge this particular man, and the proof of that was evident from watching him for most of the day. 

The way other humans respected him, welcomed him with smiles, always offering him the best products, the best treatment, the best food, the best seat, the best everything, just because he was Zhuo Yixuan, the most beloved demon hunter in the Citadel, as an old woman in a teahouse had brazenly told him, also saying she missed his presence, as he had been absent for so long. It was obvious he was highly regarded in the Citadel, and he knew why now, his kindness, his caring, his devotion. 

Yixuan's eyes widened in surprise as Li Lun offered him what looked like a resplendent and beautiful crystal flower, with a mystical, golden and bluish glow, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, especially in the darkness of his room, where the brightness made it even more enchanting. The flower looked delicate, with petals that shone crystal clear, while the leaves remained green and soft, a strange, yet captivating combination. In addition to its ethereal appearance, the flower radiated a strange energy, cold and mysterious, yet surprisingly in tune with his own divine energy, the energy of Bing Yi.

"There is an snow/ice crystal valley in the demon world, not too far from the gate. It's an enchanting and beautiful place, with crystals trees, glowing flowers reflecting the light in all colors and shining lakes you can use as mirrors, but also is one of the most dangerous place in my world. Its beauty attracts demons of all kinds, but the valley freezes and turns to crystal anything that remains within for more than a few minutes or more than you can resist the power. Only high level demons have enough demonic energy to repel the valley's unique energy and effects, and even then not for long." 

"I crossed the gate and chose this one after leaving you, for two reasons. First, you were going to exchange gifts, and seeing how excited you were, I couldn't return empty-handed, because a caring Zhuo Yixuan would not leave his so-called Master without one. Second, you put your life in my hands by accepting my challenge, and I know you meant it, so let's put the tea thing aside and accept this instead. I also risked my life to get this for you, which matches your golden aura and Bing Yi's blue energy. Besides, this flower is still young and immature, which means it needs cold energy to fully crystallize and open completely. So, it's part of your training to make it bloom fully, but I warn you, too much cold energy at once will break it, and too little will cause it to wither and close. Find the right balance, and it will bloom for you your whole life." He said as he looked down at the glowing flower in his hand for a moment.

"I'll be honest with you, I don't feel any affection for humans at the moment, but since you seem different from any human I've encountered before... I can give you the chance to make me see this world as you do. You were right when you said humans are born weak, struggling to grow and survive, so, unlike us demons, I'll grant you that. So I'm willing to learn from you. Show me everything you so passionately defend, make me want to protect the same things you do. If you can make me see humans differently, I'll swallow my pride, consider you one of my own, and protect you with my life through thick and thin, and this is proof of my promise." He offered it to him, and Yixuan was speechless for more than one reason.

First, Li Lun went out to find a gift and chose one that had put his life in danger. It was his way of showing his commitment, his seriousness, his honesty, and his heart, as open as the flower he offered. Yixuan accepted it with a gentle smile. His heart was undoubtedly overwhelmed by a demon who didn't understand emotions before, but he was more emotional than he'd realized. Secondly, Li Lun was willing, regardless of the reason, to learn as much as Yixuan was willing to learn from him, proving that Li Lun could also grow, with the right amount of care and the right feelings, he could change his view of humans and, in return, become a protector. Yixuan bowed low to him in sign of deep respect.

"Forgive me, I was too harsh earlier. I will gladly show you, to the best of my ability, that humans can be good too. I am also willing to learn from you, to learn more about the demon world, about the places you've travel, like this magical Crystal Valley you spoke of, or anything else you would like to share with me. I have always been good at listening, and even better at learning. I promise to take care of this flower, make it bloom fully, and keep it bright for as long as I live. I will accept your teachings with an open mind and heart, work hard, and do my best to live up to your expectations. As per your request, I will treat you not as my Master, but as one of my own, and I will be under your guidance until you deem me fit to fulfill my promise and fight you." Yixuan said, making Li Lun both pleased and annoyed with himself for requesting this challenge he was beginning to deeply regret.

"Forget about the challenge for now. My goal is to strengthen you enough for you to help us find Bing Yi. Zhu Yan believes the answer lies in your brother, but you were also born with his blood, so perhaps we can find a way to contact him on our own, and the sooner we find him, the better."

"About that... I must admit that I've never had the same dreams my brother had in his entire life, nor have I ever dreamed directly about Bing Yi. Since the Cloud Light sword chose Xiao Chen from birth, I'm sure his connection to him is stronger than mine." Yixuan apologized with a sad smile. 

"You never know until you try, right? Ever since you cast that spell, I knew you weren't ordinary and your divinity is far more developed than your brother's. Just a few minutes ago, I could have sworn Bing Yi was surrounding you. I find it a little strange that your aura is gold while your brother's is blue, but you resemble Bing Yi so much that no one can deny you're his descendant."

"Alright if you are set on it, we can try, and I'm willing to do my best, but if it fails..." Yixuan looked at the flower in his hand, feeling strange, as its energy felt familiar.

"Then it will indeed depend on your brother."

"Or fate."

"I am a great demon, fate had nothing to do with me." Li Lun assured him, and Yixuan sighed, finally grabbing the wooden box he had left on the table and offering it to Li Lun.

"This is my gift. Since I know you're not interested in human things, like we are, I thought I'd make something for you with my own hands. I don't know if you will like it, but all the firstborn of the Zhuo family do this at least once in their lives. It's a skill only the firstborn seem to be born with, and seeing your gift, perhaps now I understand why. Take a look."

Li Lun opened the long box containing a scroll, carefully wrapped in red paper. He looked at Yixuan, a little confused, not knowing what it was, but with his encouragement, Li Lun took the scroll, untied the turquoise tassel holding it, and opened it very slowly. Then, he was surprised. Right there before his eyes was a beautiful painting of a set of what he knew were white lotus flowers, slightly tinted in gold with blue leaves and a golden sky with falling snow. The painting was well done, a masterpiece if anyone ask him, but the combination of white lotus (instead of pink), blue leaves (instead of green)and snow (instead of water), which was where the flowers usually grow, was a bit odd.

"This..." He couldn't find the right words to tell him how the painting confuse him.

"Does it seem strange to you? I know you know very little about human art, but you do know plants, so I suppose you're wondering why I painted such strange combinations?"

"I'd be lying if I said no. It looks pretty good, but there's something about it... that reminds me of something else."

"Well, it should be, because it's right here." Yixuan said, showing him the flower he had given him, still shimmering with gold and blue, with a hint of snow on one leaf... he gasped.

"It's not the same flower."

"It isn't, but what I painted reflects the feeling I have. I painted a lotus flower because it's a symbol of resilience; the blue leaves, a symbol of an open mind; and the golden sky with snow, a symbol of divinity and purity... the same feelings I have when I hold this treasure in my hands."

"It's just a coincidence..." Li Lun said as he looked at the painting again.

"Is it? Then can it also be said that it's a coincidence that my first painting, at seventeen, was... a pagoda tree in full bloom, my gift to Yichen on his thirteenth birthday, just as he graduate from our academy to become a demon hunter?" He confessed, and Li Lun looked at Yixuan in amazement.

"Why did you paint a ghost tree as a birthday present?"

"Why, indeed? I was very young then and had never seen a pagoda tree before... back then, I hadn't even entered the Citadel yet."

"Then how did you know it was a pagoda tree you painted?"

"My father told me about it. He said that all the firstborn sons in our family, since they had no talent for it from the second onward, would end up painting a blooming pagoda tree, without exception. He did it as a child too, and it was like a tradition among older brothers. Yichen pouted and cried when he first heard about it, when he was about seven years old, saying that he too wanted a tradition for younger brothers, but he didn't know how to paint at all..." He smiled brightly, remembering his little brother's little tantrum, and his smile was so warm that Li Lun couldn't help but smile back.

"I guess he was more of a brat then, than he is now."

"He was very spoiled, but Xiao Chen never disappointed our family in the slightest. As a child, he behaved as he should, but as he grew up, he became very diligent, focused, and trained hard, more than anyone else in the family, including me."

"I see you brothers truly love each other."

"And I see you're learning faster than expected."

"What do you mean?" At that, Yixuan smirked.

"Now you can identify love... at least one kind, I will be very happy when you identify other kinds too." Li Lun was speechless for a second. That man was as bad as the monkey! He was a teasing golden dragon!

"I have a feeling I'll never win an argument with you."

"Did you get that right?" Yixuan smiled.

"Sure did. Thanks for the painting. We'll start training tomorrow. Don't be late." Then he stormed out of his room in his leaves form, taking the painting with him, and Yixuan laughed, with his beautiful flower still in his hands.

AN: I was going to include the others too, but once again is getting too long. I don't know if it looks silly for a man to gift a flower to another man, but I choose a flower to gift Yixuan for a very good reason, which you will find out later, so, the plot will move forward very soon. Hope you like it and prepare yourself for the coming impact in the following chapters. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care.

Li Lun 'love' flower, I mean, forget calling me Master flower. 😂😉

The 'more' realistic look of his painting.

Chapter Text

Cao Wei/Jiang Ren

Since the night had been so magical so far, it was too early for Zhuo Yixuan's unit to go to sleep, or perhaps they were too drunk and wanted to keep it going or at least those who were still conscious, since Jiang Ren was unconscious on the floor of the cultivation room. They didn't want to disturb the others, so they snuck into the larger room to 'play' with their new weapons like little kids, but Jiang Ren tripped over one of the floor cushions and stumbled onto another. Finding it comfortable in his drunken state, he stayed there, falling asleep.

"Do something about him... he can't sleep here. Zhu Yan will use this room tomorrow..." Mei Lin hiccuped as she staggered too, but remained standing.

"Yes, yes... get up buddy... Jiang Ren..." Cao Wei tried to shake him a little.

"Leave me... I'm tired." He muttered, trying to shake off whatever was bothering him.

"If you stay, Xiao Xuan will be in trouble tomorrow..." Cao Wei then evoked on his strong sense of responsibility, and the man opened his eyes and tried to stand up, but failed.

"Dude, you're so drunk... why do I always end up taking care of you? This is like... you know, I lost count already. Why do you insist on drinking if you can't handle it? When did you become my wife, Ren? Get up now." Cao Wei complained as he picked him up, putting one arm around his shoulders and the other around his waist.

"Why would a man be a wife? More like a husband..." Ren whispered as he tried to contain everything he'd drunk in and not vomit it all over his friend.

"Yeah, yeah, a very heavy husband, okay? Are you satisfied now and why are you so damn tall?" Cao Wei asked as he carried most of Jiang Ren's weight and walked away from Yiming and Mei Lin, leaving them alone for a while while he led his friend to his room.

It was a good thing Zhu Yan had given them the first floor, otherwise, it would have been harder to support Jiang Ren up those long stairs. Luckily, he didn't have to, and his room was right next to Jiang Ren's, so he escorted them first to Ren's room, which was the last one on the first floor. He opened the sliding door for them to enter and crossed the room directly to the large bed. 

The room was dark, well, as dark as it could be with bright blue flowers glowing everywhere, just like in any of his rooms. This was because Zhu Yan insisted that they help the human body relax so they get better rest, so there was enough light to see where he was going. Once at the edge of the bed, he gently pushed Jiang Ren towards it, but instead of seeing him fall onto the bed, the tall man grabbed his arms, and they both fell on top of each other, bumping heads and accidentally kissing.

"Damn it... why does this keep happening? Ren, what the hell? Do you enjoy pulling me around so much, or do you just like kissing me?" Cao Wei asked indifferently as he tried to wriggle away, but the man himself pulled him back into his strong chest.

"Stay... Cao Wei..." Jiang Ren whispered in his ear, and Cao Wei's heart skipped a beat as he felt Ren's firm body beneath him, sturdy yet warm and welcoming, making Cao Wei desire something he had buried deep within himself long ago.

"For heavens sake, you're drunker than I thought. Let me go or I'll kiss you for real this time, do you understand? Do you want that? You're always pushing me away, but when you're light-headed, you pull me closer and refuse to let me go. Make up your mind, Ren, do you like me or not? We can't play this game forever, our world can end at any moment, nothing is absolute, and we certainly don't have much time to wa..."

"You talk too much, just kiss me..." Jiang Ren interrupted him as he stared into his caramel-colored eyes, surprising Cao Wei. What the hell was that man demanding? Had he gone crazy drinking? What was wrong with him?

"What? I have no idea what you're fantasizing about, but it's just me, Cao Wei..."

"I know, kiss me..." Jiang Ren insisted.

"Are you serious? No way! I... I think I've lost my mind instead of you and I'm imagining things." Cao Wei tried to get up again, but he was already firmly restrained.

"You said you were going to kiss me for real..."

"I was trying to make you release me, you idiot. I know how serious you are. Do you think I'd dare to play with you just for fun?"

"I'm not playing... Wei... Cao Wei... it's been so long..."

"So long, what?"

"I've been keeping you away for so long... I'm tired."

"What did you say?" Cao Wei asked incredulously.

"I've always liked you..."

"How come? You never say anything. The more I try to get close to you, the more you hate it." He said, trying to understand the man, who had always been a great mystery to him, a mystery he could never unravel.

"I never hate it. It's just that you never take it seriously... At first, you didn't seem interested, and that was fine. We had so much work to do that it didn't matter. But then you went out with that female hunter from another unit, and I thought... that you just didn't like people of your own sex..." Hearing that, Cao Wei sighed.

"Idiot, why didn't you tell me before? I tried my best to get you, but you rejected all my efforts, telling me I was joking when I meant it. I've never cared about gender and why should I care about that? We demon hunters don't have that luxury when there are so few female hunters around. As long as I have feelings for that person, I don't care about gender, and my relationship with Yun Ni was like the few other demon hunter relationships have, mutually beneficial and nothing more that didn't last long." Cao Wei confessed, and Jiang Ren hold him tighter. 

"Kiss me already. I'm sick of stealing kisses, of getting drunk enough to have the nerve to be like this with you. Tonight, I couldn't hold back anymore..."

"So... is this for real? Do you want us to have a romantic relationship? I just want to make sure I got that right..."

"Will you kiss me or not?" Jiang Ren asked impatiently. This was the man who could master any weapon put in front of him: bows, daggers, swords, throwing weapons, needles, you name it; there was nothing Jiang Ren couldn't master, but he was so... so bad at mastering love that it was laughable.

"Fine! Do whatever you want, but don't reject me when you wake up, because tonight there's no going back."

"I've been waiting for eight years for you to say that." Cao Wei coughed.

"That... that long?"

"Mmm... perhaps longer."

"You're a complete idiot, let's fix that... Ever since I first saw you, so serious, so talented and dedicated, I've had a soft spot for you. I guess opposites attract..." Cao Wei said just before closing the distance between them and kissing him long and passionately.

Soon, clothes started falling to the floor as the sound of a flute drifted in through the still-open door. Since Cao Wei never had a chance to close it, with only his pants on, he got out of bed to the hall and looked up. The sound was probably coming from Wen Xiao's room, but as soon as he closed the door, the sound disappeared, perhaps because once the rooms were completely closed, they were soundproofed, once again courtesy of the great demon. That pervert probably had something like what they were about to do in mind when he made them like that... Lucky them! He thought as he returned to bed and slipped into Jiang Ren welcoming arms, his old flame, who now burned more intensely than ever.

 Huang Yiming/Mei Lin

"I swear, those two are idiots." Mei Lin said, sitting on a floor cushion, dizzy for a moment as she watched the two struggle to get out of the cultivation room.

"Actually, we're all... Why are we here again? To play with new weapons? What's wrong with us? We should be resting..." Yiming said, lying on his back on the cold wooden floor near her. He was tired, and both the day and night had been so wonderful that he wanted to remember it as a dream, because chances were when he woke up in the morning, the enchantment would be broken, and he would return to his cruel reality.

"I love the fan you buy for me, Yiming... Did you like my dance?" She asked, looking at him, who had already closed his eyes.

"It was enchantingly beautiful." He said confidently, making Mei Lin smile.

"Do you think Xiao Xuan liked it too?" She asked, and Yiming sighed. And there went his hope that reality would catch up with him in the morning, because reality had crushed him at that very moment.

"I'm sure he did." He replied gently.

"His sword dance was so beautiful, I couldn't take my eyes off him."

"We know Mei Lin, we all know it, just as you know he doesn't like you that way."

"Maybe not now, but someday..."

"Didn't you see his spell? Didn't you feel it? His fate is already tied to that of the great demon Li Lun, and we all saw it right there. It pains me to say it, but you don't stand a chance."

"Who says I don't stand a chance? I know him better, I'm part of his unit, I can take care of him better than a grumpy tree."

"Ah, enough already! You can deceive yourself all you want, but it won't change anything, no matter how much you wish it would. I've known Yixuan almost my entire life, and I always knew he wasn't interested in women, Mei Lin. Not at all! And that's not all, his fate is tied to Bing Yi's, and you know what? Bing Yi was in love with the demon god Ying Long, who was Zhu Yan's father, who is now madly in love with Zhuo Yichen, and his best friend, Li Lun was chosen to be Zhuo Yixuan's partner. The will of the gods cannot be denied, because I don't believe even Li Lun can escape it, let alone a bunch of humans like us!"

"You jerk!" Mei Lin shouted as she stood up, but Yiming did too.

"Yes, you have the right to call me that, but I'm the one who loves you, you idiot! The only one who will carry you in his heart, who will put you first, who will take care of you and pick up the pieces when you break, along with mine! I love you, damn it! Why won't you give me a chance? You don't even have to love me back, just give me the chance to try to win your heart, and if I fail, go ahead and keep suffering!" Yiming staggers as he takes a few steps back and falls on his ass.

The impact hurt, but his heart hurt the most, and he couldn't stop the tears that threatened to fall against his will, because the last thing he wanted was to break down in front of her. It was too painful, too humiliating, so he covered his face with his hands and sank to the floor, crying. He expected Mei Lin to storm out of the room, but he was surprised when she sat down beside him and gently covered his hands with hers.

"I'm sorry, Yiming... please don't cry..." She whispered as she tried to move his hands away, but he resisted, holding them still, trying to control his emotions, but to no avail. He was already tipsy and unable to stop his pain from showing, his bitterness from exploding on their faces.

"Yiming... if you can't forgive me, I'll do this..." She said as she lay down beside him and hugged him, which made him cry harder. Yet she remained still, her head on his chest, constantly repeating in a low voice how sorry she was, until he calmed down enough to stop crying and finally took his hands away. He was already a mess, so why hide it?

"I'm sorry too, Mei Lin... I... I didn't mean to hurt you. Forgive me..." He said, but she shook her head.

"You don't need to apologize. I went too far... you've never said it outright, but I knew you had feelings for me, and all this time I've been inconsiderate to you. I just wanted to pretend everything was my way, to delude myself into thinking that one day, with no one else to compete with, he'd change his mind and see me as his future wife. As the head of the family, he definitely needed an heir, so I deluded myself into thinking he will turn to look at me in time..." She sobbed, and Yiming hugged her tightly this time.

"I try so hard, but even so, the opportunity never comes no matter how much I long for it... I... I guess I blinded myself so as not to lose hope, because the fate of the Zhuo family has always been beyond my control; their divinity alone should have kept me away... it's impossible for two gods not to interfere in the fate of their descendants, and when Zhu Yan offered us a truce, I should have known... he would slip through my fingers like water..." She cried harder as her body shook with sobs, clutching Yiming's robes.

"It hurts so much, Mei Lin. We both know how deep a wound like that can be... but we can also heal..." Yiming whispered as he hugged her, patting her back.

"You're a good man, Yiming... why didn't I put my eyes on you?" She sobbed and Yiming chuckle.

"He's too special, too perfect, he had no real competition, to be honest, and I pale in comparison."

"That's not true... you have your own qualities."

"Of course it's true, we're talking about Yixuan, a divine man from every angle you look at him and who deserves it. He's the best there is, without flaws... but I never pretend to be better than him, nor do I want to be. I'm just asking for a chance, Mei Lin... I know that love takes a long time to forget and that sometimes it never goes away, but maybe... maybe, someday I can become your choice..." He whispered as he caressed her back and continued to do so until she calmed down too. Then, as they both felt a little sleepy, he lifted her off the floor and carried her to her room while the sound of a flute filled the hallway. It was a beautiful sound that calmed him as he laid her on the bed and was about to leave, when she grabbed his hand.

"Stay, Yiming, please, stay..."

"I don't think it's a good idea. We're both emotionally exhausted, but..."

"I'm not asking you to have sex with me, Yiming. I know how caring you are, even if we end up arguing most of the time. I do care about you too, and to be honest, I don't want to be alone tonight, and it should be the same for you. You're right, we're both emotionally exhausted, so let's get some rest, just rest..."

"I..."

"Please, I don't think either of us should be alone tonight. We're too hurt..." She pleaded and seeing her so vulnerable, with her beautiful light colored eyes, puffy and red from crying, he closed the door and got into bed beside her. She came close and hugged him under the covers, and he did the same. He expected to have trouble falling asleep, but perhaps, by some heavenly mercy, he soon fell into a deep sleep.

There was still a long way to go before they could become more than just friends and companions, but at least, at least this time, he could be the chosen one in the end.

AN: Ahhh, 😭😭😭 I'm sorry Yiming, I didn't want to write something so depressing for you, but it was about time you told her how you felt and how hurt you were too, so you can turn that page and start anew. As for Cao Wei and Jiang Ren... well, you guys are the first in going all out in that mansion. 😉👌😂 Things will escalate in the next one and I mean really escalate. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Zhuo Yichen woke up feeling refreshed, still curled up in Zhu Yan's arms, which made him smile broadly, because he had to admit that it was the best way to start the day, feeling welcome and protected as soon as he opened his eyes.

"I see you're in a good mood, Xiao Zhuo. If I had known you were going to be like this every morning when you woke up, I would have stayed in bed with you longer, so you wouldn't argue with me so much." He heard Zhu Yan whisper, and Yichen sighed.

"Please don't ruin it, it's a very nice feeling, let me enjoy it a little longer..."

"Ah, but Xiao Zhuo, there's a better way to make you even happier..."

"Huh? What are you talking abo..." But Zhu Yan kissed him directly on the mouth to silence him, gently, just to prevent him from saying anything else. Seeing Yichen's eyes shining with new desire, he kissed him again, this time longer, showing his young lover how to get the most out of kissing, neither forceful nor overly passionate, simply savoring the sensation, letting it sink in so that his heart beat faster, so that his senses exploded beneath the gentle tenderness, so that the heat began to grow just right.

Soon, Yichen moaned under his kiss, his body twisting to better mold into him and position himself at a more comfortable angle. Zhu Yan was overjoyed to discover that his young lover was a fast learner, no longer shy in the intimacy of his room and his touch. He followed his lead, but also demanded more, so Zhu Yan made the kiss a little more passionate, just enough for Yichen to press against him, lightly exploring his back, his waist, his hips, and ended the kiss before it became too intense. Yichen gasped as their foreheads brushed, their lips barely parted.

"Zhu Yan..." Yichen whispered, still with his eyes closed, and then kissed him again, this time opening his mouth to allow Zhu Yan to explore and have his own, letting the great demon set the pace, but also demanding more.

Zhu Yan should have known that his demon hunter, being so young and impulsive, would become greedy in the face of intimacy, but he did not care, rather, he took pride in provoking such strong feelings in him. Feelings that Yichen had hidden deep within himself, suppressing them with a coldness so unbecoming of his kind heart out of fear. But in Zhu Yan's mind, Yichen didn't need to fear anything, neither his mortality nor his uncertain future, because he was going to ensure that his parents' story wouldn't repeat itself, that their love would cross boundaries and defy fate if necessary.

"Xiao Zhuo, you're too good... but you should know that it also makes you very tempting..."

"Fine, let me be tempting..."

"What happened to my shy Xiao Zhuo?" Zhu Yan asked between kisses.

"The old Yichen didn't know any better..." At this, Zhu Yan broke off the kiss and burst out laughing, making Yichen blush.

"Stupid monkey, it was getting so good..." 

"Of course it was, but you're so adorable when you're so straightforward that I can't help but laugh."

"Please don't start teasing me..."

"I won't, but we have to get out of bed, both of us, or we risk never leaving this room at all. And I have seals to undo, a dragon god to find, and a war to end, so the weight of responsibilities weighs so heavily on my shoulders that I have to forgo pleasure with my beloved, even when all I want right now is to make him mine." Zhu Yan winked at him as he got out of bed, making Yichen blush harder. There was his shy Yichen, and Zhu Yan smiled even more pleased to discover that he could bring about such changes, from bold to shy, then from shy to bold. It was fascinating.

"Go ahead, I need to change and freshen up..." Yichen said as he sat on the edge of the bed to get out. 

"Xiao Zhuo, there's no need for that, isn't the reason I'm here to bring out the best of me? Clean. Change." He used the one-word spell on him twice in a row, just as Yichen stood beside the bed and the young man felt the reddish energy of his spells hit him with full force, causing a tingling sensation throughout his body for a few seconds before he found himself dressed in new, fancy clothes, his hair tied back in a ponytail with the bells his brother gave him falling down his back, and a clean feeling, as if he had just stepped out of a hot spring.

To say that Yichen was dumbfounded was no exaggeration, as he stood there staring at himself in amazement. The rich feel of the black and gold silk with exquisite embroidery of a dragon coiling around him, as well as the sheen of his skin, not to mention that he could almost feel the kiss of warm water tingling on his skin, was incredible.

"You... how..." Yichen was speechless.

"The power of a great demon is limitless, if you know how to use it well." Zhu Yan smiled proudly at him, and Yichen smirked.

"Show off, let's go." He said as he took his hand and opened the door for them to leave. Once in the hallway, he saw Bai Jiu coming out of Ying Lei's room, blushing, and Yichen coughed loudly, causing the young healer to turn around and blush even more.

"Xiao Zhuo, Ge, good morning." He said as he greeted him from a prudent distance, but Yichen missed their previous closeness, so he put an arm around Bai Jiu's shoulders and pulled him towards him, making him smile broadly.

"I won't ask, so you don't need to explain anything. I know Ying Lei isn't the type to take advantage of others, much less someone he likes..."

“It's not what you're thinking, he's not even in the room, he left early to make us breakfast, it's just that after helping him with the dishes last night... well, something a little embarrassing happened and I was so... agitated that I drank way more than I should have and passed out. Ying Lei took me to his room, which was the closest one...”

“Xiao Jiu, as I told you, you don't have to explain to me or anyone else what you do in your private time, let alone behind closed doors. Besides, you two make a good match.”

"So... you knew?" Bai Jiu asked as they walked down the stairs.

“The attraction you two feel for each other is no secret to anyone, Xiao Jiu. It's plain to see, it always has been."

"Like yours and the great demon?" Bai Jiu asked, glancing lightly at Zhu Yan, who was almost pouting behind them.

"Sort of, I guess... but it doesn't matter. Ying Lei suits you nicely, and you're already so close to each other that you feel like soulmates. That's amazing." Bai Jiu blushed even deeper.

"I think we kind of are... soulmates I mean. So you... don't mind, right, Ge?"

"Of course not! You're old enough to know what you want and need, and Ying Lei is perfect for you in almost every way." Bai Jiu smiled at him, and they entered the kitchen to greet Ying Lei, who was busy finishing breakfast. 

Turning to greet them, Ying Lei smiled twice as happy at Bai Jiu, who hid behind Yichen, nervously grabbing his hair bells, still a little embarrassed from the awful, embarrassing, kissing mess of the night before. But Yichen pulled him forward so he could face his partner.

"Here you have him, Ying Lei. He's a little shy right now, so treat him well." Yichen said, slighlty pushing Bai Jiu toward Ying Lei, almost feeling as if he were giving his little brother away in marriage. Ying Lei smiled.

"Of course, Xiao Zhuo. You too sit down, Zhu Yan... Bai Jiu, help me carry the dishes. I've prepared something special for you. Your favorite." Ying Lei said as he took the young man by the hand and led him to where he had placed the large jar containing his freshly made almond cheese.

"Almond cheese! Ying Lei, this is awesome! It's been years since I taste it! Thank you!" Bai Jiu exclaimed and squealed with delight as he grabbed a spoon to try it, savoring it as if it were the most delicious thing he had ever eaten, and Yichen smiled at the two of them.

"I'm happy for those two..." Yichen told Zhu Yan who sit next to him, closer than he should have, but Yichen didn't mind at all.

"Xiao Zhuo, you're happy for all of them. Your entire unit is already paired up by now." Zhu Yan pointed out, and Yichen had to agree after everything he saw last night. The awkwardness, the stares, the casual touches, the dances, he could see that even his brother's unit was also paired up, though not as smoothly as theirs.

"I agree, by the way, you didn't spy on them, did you? I mean, while I was sleeping. I know you put up a soundproof barrier in every room, but you can still see through the walls, right?" Yichen looked at him suspiciously, and Zhu Yan laughed.

"Ah, my Xiao Zhuo has an incredible imagination. Why would I want to look at others when I was holding the one I most desire to see?" Yichen blushed.

"You shameless monkey..."

"You accused me first..."

"Fine, oh, holy monkey, I was wrong..."

"Ape."

"An ape is still a monkey, right?" Yichen smirked.

"Xiao Zhuo!"

"Am I wrong?"

"Oh, you're not mistaken, he is a monkey. A very annoying one." A voice came from the open window as Li Lun's leaves manifested to give him human form.

"So you decided to show up? Tired of watching from afar? Li Lun, you're losing your touch, I assure you, Zhuo Yixuan doesn't bite." Zhu Yan said to Li Lun as the tree demon sat down beside him and they stared at each other.

"Hey! My brother isn't a dog!" Yichen scolded.

"Xiao Zhuo, a dragon can bite too, don't get me wrong. I have the deepest respect for my dear brother-in-law." Zhu Yan mocked him, and Yichen was once again reduced to a blushing mess.

“Hey! I hope there's hangover soup for breakfast, because my head really hurts like hell..." Cao Wei said as he entered the kitchen, followed closely by Jiang Ren, who seemed more relaxed than ever, even happy. Being a little suspicious about the fact that the two arrived together, since Jiang Ren used to show up much earlier than Cao Wei, who was almost always the last to arrive, Yichen observed Cao Wei more closely and saw how he placed one hand on his lower back as he walked towards the table, and as Jiang Ren walked a little slower than usual, yet he looked so pleased, he realized that they... had those two really... done it? Yichen blushed and Zhu Yan grinned, seeing an opportunity to make him burn even hotter.

“I see someone beat us to it... and most likely, there was a swap too.” He leaned over to whisper in Yichen’s ear.

“Zhu Yan!” Yichen shouted before starting to cough, and Li Lun snorted.

"If you keep teasing him like this, you'll kill him one day..." Li Lun pointed, and the two men sat down on the chairs opposite them. 

"Hey, are you okay, little brother?" Cao Wei asked innocently, as by the time Zhu Yan teased Yichen, they were still out of earshot. 

"Don't worry about him. Just kill the monkey and you'll do yourself a favor. Otherwise, your little brother will soon die in flames." Li Lun pointed, and Yichen wished the ground would swallow him up, but Zhu Yan still dared to laugh, while the others looked at them in confusion. Then the door opened again, and two more figures entered, two beautiful women, one smiling broadly and the other nodding in acknowledgment.

"Good morning, I see you're already enjoying yourself, Zhu Yan." Wen Xiao said as she sat next to Cao Wei and Pei Sijing next to Wen Xiao.

"You have no idea..." Zhu Yan said, and this time Yichen stepped on him, making him gasp while pouting at Yichen, who pretended not to see him.

"Xiao Zhuo, that was mean..."

"Serves you right, you deserve it, shut up already."

Seeing them in such high spirits, Wen Xiao smiled, but before she could join in the fun, the door opened again and two more figures appeared. These didn't look too good though with puffy eyes, some tension, and a forced smile, at least on Mei Lin's part. It was clear the pair had quite the night, most likely arguing for real this time, and even if they had entered together, there was no indication they had shared a passionate night, just a painful one.

"Mei Lin, did you and Yiming have another fight? Come on, girl, give him a break, he cares, you know?" Cao Wei pointed, but Yiming smiled at him.

"It's not like that, Cao Wei, don't worry about us, we won't fight again." Yiming said as he sat next to Jiang Ren, finally showing a more relaxed expression. Cao Wei and Jiang Ren exchanged glances but said nothing. Then Yiming looked around for a moment, not seeing his best friend among them. Ying Lei began placing the dishes on the table along with Bai Jiu.

"Where's Xiao Xuan? Isn't he usually here at this time?" Yiming asked, and everyone looked at each other.

"He came earlier and said he might be a little late. He wanted to do something before breakfast, a task he'd been given or something." Ying Lei explained, and Yichen looked at Li Lun.

"Was that your task?" He asked the tree demon.

"I suppose so, but he didn't have to do it so early, there's no time limit." Li Lun defended himself.

"Then this won't do. Today is our turn to undo the seal. He needs to eat something, because after removing it, only pain awaits us. I'll go get him. You can start breakfast without us, I will make sure to bring him back with me." Yichen said as he got up and left the kitchen to find his brother.

"What task did you assign him that he's starting to do, so diligently first thing in the morning?" Zhu Yan asked Li Lun curiously.

"I'm not going to tell you."

"Come on, don't be so stingy."

"That's none of your business, monkey."

"Grumpy tree head, you haven't changed at all."

"Neither had you..." As they argued, the others watched.

"I can almost see sparks flying between them. Are they really best friends?" Cao Wei asked Jiang Ren.

"It seems so..." Jiang Ren took a spoon and a bowl, poured some congee, and passed it to Cao Wei.

"It seems so? What's that supposed to mean? They look more like archenemies."

"That's their way of showing their friendship; after all, they are great demons with a long history, so they have their ways." Said Wen Xiao, spooning some stir-fried vegetables into Pei Sijing's bowl.

"That's weirder than those two." Cao Wei pointed at Yiming and Mei Lin.

"It's more fun." Said Jiang Ren and Cao Wei sighed, having a bit of his congee.

Back in the hallway, Yichen slide the door to his brother's room very slowly, unsure of what task he'd been assigned, or whether he should interrupt it. But of course, that day was going to be hell, so he had to take care of his brother, even if he himself neglected it. When his brother was concentrated, he tended to do so, forgetting to eat to a certain extent. Yichen had to bring him food and force him to eat by any means necessary, including pouting, crying, begging, anything his brother couldn't resist, as he was his weakness. He smiled because before, as a child, Yichen had always been his brother's weakness, but as he grew older, that weakness didn't always work.

"Ge... can I come in?" He asked, but seeing his brother sitting in the lotus position on a cushion on the floor, he remained silent and simply walked over to see what he was doing. Yes, he was most likely cultivating, but there was some sort of glow coming from his lap and oddly enough, Yichen wanted to see what it was and when he did, he froze.

The glow came from a glowing flower resting on his brother's lap, and the energy they both possessed seemed identical. In reality, Yixuan was feeding the flower with his cold energy, but Yichen was certain that the flower was connected to them in some strange way. So he gazed at that fragile, beautiful thing, and somehow his head began to hurt... badly, as if he'd been stabbed in the back with an ice axe.

"Ge... it's dangerous... don't..." Yichen whispered as he tried to move to stop his cultivation, but he couldn't because the pain in his head increased tenfold, and he grabbed his head while screaming in pain.

"Ge! It's dangerous! You'll freeze to death!" He cried, staggering forward just as Yixuan opened his eyes and saw him fall in front of him.

"Xiao Chen!" Yixuan cried, grabbing his brother and yelling his name while shaking him, but Yichen's mind was elsewhere.

Soon he found himself in a beautiful field of flowers, a river sparkling in the sun, a nice cool breeze, golden clouds and a long line of snow-capped mountains in the distance. The place was peaceful, he could even see some rabbits hopping in search of the best grass to eat, and Yichen had the feeling he'd been there before, but couldn't remember when.

Then, pain struck him, and the landscape changed drastically as a wave of dark energy hit the place, transforming it into something darker. Plants changed shape, trees came to life, and rabbits turned into ferocious beasts seeking blood and destruction. One of the beasts noticed him as he lay on his knees, unable to move due to the intensity of the pain. But just as the beast was about to hack him to death, another wave of energy hit them, this time very cold, freezing everything around them, and it began to snow, turning into crystals anything that touched.

"No!" Yichen screamed as his body began to freeze, and he looked helplessly at the only thing that didn't seem to freeze, a rose-like flower that shone gold and blue, from which the cold energy seemed to be coming.

"Yichen! Xiao Zhuo!" He heard the screams in the distance, but when he turned around, the valley was frozen, only one flower shining brightly. He was dying, his eyes were beginning to close, but just before they closed completely, he saw a brilliant golden light, a sphere floating above the valley. Then it moved away, but his eyes could still follow it as it shoot at frightening speed further and further away until it entered a large ice cave within a crystal mountain, and then descended further and further until it stopped in the middle of an ice formation in the belly of the mountain, an enormous formation made with the energy of a god. A seal.

"Bing Yi..." Were the last words he muttered before turning into crystal and losing consciousness.

AN: Now, here we go! So the chaos start and we move on to the next part of the plot. Despite what Li Lun said that fate had no control over him, he was the one who give Yixuan the flower that trigger Yichen memory, so, it was his action that put things in motion, meaning he is as much tie with that red string as the rest of them. Lol. I hope you like it, and see you next time. Take care!

Chapter Text

Horror seized Zhao Yixuan when he opened his eyes after hearing his brother scream and seeing him fall right in front of him. His body moved on its own as he rushed to reach him before he hit the ground, and by some miracle, he made it just in time. He didn't know what had happened to his brother, but he knew he was suffering, that he was in intense pain, just like when he had those nightmares caused by Bing Yi, which Zhu Yan had assured him he would never have again.

"Xiao Chen! Yichen!" He shook him a little, but his brother just curled up and moaned in pain, clutching his head in Yixuan's lap. Just as he was about to scream for help, Zhu Yan entered the room, his presence was an imposing force that eased Yixuan's heart, because now that he was there, his brother would be okay. Zhu Yan's crimson eyes opened wide at the sight of Yichen slumped in his brother's lap, pale and trembling.  With swift grace, he gathers Yichen into his arms, sensing the frantic pulse of energy radiating from him, a chaotic storm that threatened to consume him.

"Yichen, I'm here." He murmurs softly, channeling warmth through their connection as he attempts to stabilize Yichen's core with his own energy, but finds it too chaotic, threatening to spill out the kind of energy that Yichen's human body was not yet ready to absorb immediately. That's because, for some unknown reason, Yichen's core was damaged, with two or three layers of his divine seal cracking, leaking the divine power contained within that was not yet meant to be released. But how? How could something like this happen under his careful watch and protection? There was no one inside the barrier who could undo a god's seal, apart from him, and Yixuan's love for his younger brother was greater than even his own for Yichen.

The brothers had lost their mother at an early age, and their father, with a heart full of grief, was left to care for two boys and an entire household of demon hunters. Since half of the Zhuo's estate was used as an academy, he did not have as much time as he wished to devote to raising his children. Therefore, the relationship that developed between the two brothers was stronger than most, as Yixuan was not only an older brother to Yichen, tending to his every need, but also a full-time father and role model for him. So Yixuan would never do anything to hurt his younger brother, unless... No, he didn't want to believe that he had misjudge him so wrongly.

"What happened, Yixuan?" Zhu Yan asked, still with his eyes closed, trying to repair the damage. Although he knew that a broken layer couldn't be fixed, it could only be stabilized long enough to properly remove it completely, which he planned to do today. However, because of what had happened to him, he now had to undo two or three layers simultaneously, which would put Yichen under great strain, more than he could bear at once.

"I don't know. I was cultivating when I heard him scream, and when I opened my eyes, he was already falling to the ground, and I barely had time to catch him. He was in pain, just like in his previous nightmares." Yixuan replied, eager to find out what was wrong.

"Why were you cultivating so early? Why such a rush? What did Li Lun make you do?" He asked, and this time, Yixuan hesitated. The gift of the flower was something between the two of them, something private, special even, that meant a lot to him, but, of course, it was his brother who was hurt, and he needed to know if it was the flower's unknown power that was hurting him. However, he had had it since the night before and nothing had happened to him, and their cores, although different in some ways, carried the same divine power of Bing Yi's.

"It's the flower I gave him, but I swear, it was just a gift from the Crystal Valley. Something for him to learn how to control cultivation, nothing more." Li Lun said from the open door, the others, close behind him, and Yixuan was glad, because that way he wouldn't have to feel like he had betrayed either the tree demon or his beloved brother.

Hearing this, Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun, trying to discern whether his old friend was acting against him or not. He had granted Li Lun full access to his dimension, thinking that even if he disliked humans, he wouldn't be so stupid as to try to harm them under his protection, let alone his lover's brother, not to mention Yichen, whom he knew was his one and only mate. However, seen that Yixuan was indeed unaffected by whatever had happened to Yichen, or the gifted flower, Zhu Yan was sure that Li Lun hadn't harmed Yixuan, thus nor Yichen, then... why?

"Show it to me." Since the flower had fallen to the ground when Yixuan moved to catch his brother, he was the one who picked it up, once again feeling a certain familiarity, but unsure why. 

As soon as Zhu Yan saw it, he recognized that the flower was more than it appeared to be, so he used his Truth Eye on it, to delve deeper into the apparent illusion, but was utterly surprised to find that even his power could not penetrate it. As he concentrated on stabilizing Yichen's erratic core, his eyes fluttering open to reveal a glimmer of clarity amidst the chaos and pain, their eyes meeting briefly, recognition flickering in Yichen's gaze as fragments of his nightmare appeared, visions of Bing Yi hidden within a Crystal Valley.

"Zhu Yan... Bing Yi..." Yichen whispered breathlessly and Zhu Yan stared back at the flower in Yixuan's hand then at Yichen.

"Did you remember?" He asked softly and despite all the pain, Yichen assented and cling to him in search for some relief from his pain. His core was a mess, his meridians unable to contain the flow of energy escaping from his sealed core, his body was in a state of hot and cold mix that was threatening to rip him apart.

"Yes... I know... where he is... help me..." The request was unnecessary, of course, because Zhu Yan would do anything to help his beloved, he would move heaven and earth for him, but undoing so many layers at once was like sending him to an early death. It took a lot of energy to try to contain Bing Yi's divine power, because although he was close, he was not yet a god.

"Zhu Yan, let me help him! I promise, I can do it!" Bai Jiu pushed his way through the crowd gathered at the door. As he was the shortest of them all, he had been forced to jump up and down to try to see what was happening in Zhuo Yixuan room. However, upon hearing his Xiao Zhuo Ge call for help, he pushed his way through and finally saw the man he admired like a brother on the floor, with traces of cold energy slightly freezing it, while his brother was sweating.

"Now I can perform traceless healing. I just fond out that my blood not only had the ability to grow plants, but also had healing properties that restored damage, and I accidentally did it last night, so I'm not saying this without checking first. Please, Zhu Yan, let me help my Ge." Bai Jiu pleaded, and Yichen, still half-conscious and half-awake, nodded in approval. He trusted Bai Jiu as much as he did the others or even more so.

"I think you should know first that this isn't an ordinary healing, nor an easy task. I'm a great demon, one step away from becoming a god, and containing his divine power is taking its toll on me... Can you hold on? You're still human and you could end up damaging your own core as well." He warned Bai Jiu, but Yixuan placed a hand on the young healer's shoulder and smiled at him.

"I can transfer my energy to you, if yours isn't enough. You can have all of mine, if it helps my brother recover." Yixuan said.

"Then I'll offer mine too. Of all of you, my energy is the strongest, and if this happens because of me..."

"It's not your fault, Li Lun... it's fate. I can see that everything is falling into place now." Yixuan told him as Li Lun sat between the two.

"What do you mean?" He asked in confusion.

"There will be time for that later, Zhu Yan. Can it be done this way?" Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun for a moment.

"It can, but Bai Jiu is very young and new to cultivation. If Li Lun give him too much energy, he'll be overwhelmed, and that will only further destabilize Yichen's core. I think it will work best if you, Yixuan, transfer your energy to Bai Jiu, but only when necessary, and Li Lun can transfer it to you when yours is depleted. You have the strongest divinity so far, so you should be able to to handle Li Lun's demonic energy, and safely transferring it Bai Jiu."

"Alright." Yixuan nodded, and Li Lun moved to place himself behind the young healer and Yixuan.

"Are you ready?" Zhu Yan asked Bai Jiu, who nodded seriously. Zhu Yan then, untied Yichen's belt and opened his robes to get them out of the way and was shocked to find ice mark on Yichen's chest, were his core was growing longer with its icy blue shine.

"Cut your finger and draw this symbol on his chest, right over his core." Zhu Yan instructed as he used a spell on Bai Jiu to show him the seal and how to make it.

"I got it." Bai Jiu said as he cut his finger with his mouth and drew blood, carefully creating a seal over Yichen's core with his blood, making sure not to tremble while he did it, even if he was quite nervous, but he could not risk making a mistake so he concentrate in his task, trying his best to not mind his brother pain, the way his body tensed under his touch, like he was drawing lines of fire over his skin.

Zhuo Yichen's body got hotter in Zhu Yan's arms, every breath shallow, and he held him firmly, demonic energy unfurling around them like a dark storm, straining to cage the wild surges of power, muttering the spell he now knew by heart, so undo the layer that could not be repair as it was already too broken to be fixed. His jaw was clenched, his hair turning pure white, his eyes as crimson as the fresh blood Bai Jiu use on him, traces of his demonic marks covering his cheek, his concentration on Yichen's core.

"It will be alright, Yichen... hang in there." He mutter low, a voice trembling with a hint of fear, despite his reassurance. At his side, Bai Jiu worked carefully on the containment seal, his fingers pressed to the radiant ice marks that were spreading in Yichen's chest, focusing on tracing the damage core, the cracks on it, the second layer and third were damage, but he was sure he could mend them. 

"Leave the second layer and third to me, Zhu Yan... they are not as badly damage as the first one." Bai Jiu said and Zhu Yan agree. Then, Bai Jiu's blood glowed faintly as it flowed, infused with the divine gift of restoration. The blood sank into Yichen's broken seals like rain into parched earth, softening, knitting, coaxing life back into the cracks that threatened to consume him.

The clash of forces was suffocating to Yichen, heavenly light fighting to burn free, demonic shadows binding it tight, and Bai Jiu's healing essence threading between the two like the fragile balance of dawn and dusk. Yet, he pressed himself like never before, his breath came fast, sweat sliding down his temple with the strain of the effort to mend a god's core, then Yixuan was there too, his golden aura covering Bai Jiu like a cloak, replenishing his depleted energy, filling his very core with his divinity, warm and gentle, but also strong.

Yichen's lips parted, a faint groan escaping, his body shuddering with pain. Zhu Yan's grip tightened, his forehead pressed to Yichen's, as though by sheer closeness he could pour strength into him and anchored him. His body was pulsing with demonic power, red energy rolling over Yichen's skin like smoke, containing divine waves as Bai Ji worked to mend his core, their energies entwining in a delicate balance of healing and protection. His dark energy was like a wall,  strong and unyielding, but  also softer and protecting, desperate love taking form to keep his beloved alive.

"Stay with me, Yichen, I won't let you go." Zhu Yan's voice was low, a whisper against his lips, desperate and broken and Yichen endure the agony, the pain, the destruction and reconstruction of his core, the mix of energy clashing inside him, he clench his teeth, close his hands in fists as his body burned from the inside out, his yes shining with an intense blue, just like the ice tattoos on his chest.

Yichen's vision was swimming in light and shadows, his pulse thundering in his ears, but when he felt Zhu Yan's breath against his skin, when he heard the raw edge of panic in his voice, it brought him back to reality. He wanted to say something, to tell Zhu Yan that he would fight to survive for him too, but the words wouldn't come. If he open his mouth, only screams will leave his throat, so he keep himself quiet. He keep himself conscious despite the intense pain that wanted to claim him back to darkness.

Then, Bai Jiu's healing energy  was there, coming stronger, as Yixuan channel Li Lun's energy into him too, his bloody palm pressed against Yichen's broken core, the healing essence flowing from him like a river of light. His divine power was soft, gentle, like the brush of a feather against skin and with it, the seal finally began to hum, as though it remembered how to be whole again.

Bai Jiu's gaze met Zhu Yan's, and there was something unspoken between them, an understanding, the seal was mending, so both of them press themselves harder, Zhu Yan also giving him some of his strength. They were all trying to save Yichen, tied to him in ways deeper than any of them could fully grasp. Zhu Yan leaned closer to Yichen, his lips brushing over his lover's brow, brushing away a strand of dark hair. 

"I love you, everything will be over soon." He whispered. The words were too soft, barely audible, but  the sincerity in them, were a lifeline for Yichen to hold on. He believe in them, he could feel how their effort was paying off, his pain lessen, his burning started to cool off, his desire to trow up was fading and the divine energy coming back to were it belong.

Bai Jiu's blood mixed with the divine light that poured from Yixuan's body, which was taking in Li Lun's own, oddly gently, weaving around them in a delicate balance. Yichen could hear the soft thrum of Bai Jiu's healing, the warmth of Zhu Yan's hands gripping his own, grounding him. He felt the weight of their love, their care and he knew that as long as they were there, he would live.

A final pulse of energy surged through Yichen's body, but this time, it was different. It was controlled, steady. Bai Jiu's divine blood had sealed the rifts and Zhu Yan's power had held the divinity at bay long enough for Yichen to recover. And with that final push, the seals began to close, the broken threads of divine power woven back together.

Yichen's body went still for a moment with a sigh, and Zhu Yan's heart nearly stopped. But then, then his lover's eyes fluttered open, filled with an overwhelming mix of exhaustion and relief. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 

"I'm not going anywhere guys... there so much... to be done..." He murmured, his voice a rasp of warmth. Zhu Yan's chest heaved in a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His hand cupped Yichen's face, brushing away the remnants of sweat from his lover's skin. 

"Damn right..." Zhu Yan said, his voice hoarse but full of fierce affection and then he kiss him, softly, just a kiss to welcome him back, to reward him for resisting, for trusting in them, for not giving up, for staying with him.

Bai Jiu's face was pale but held both pride and happiness to see the two kiss, even if he looked away as the two shared their quiet moment. He had done it, he had saved the man who meant so much to him, the young man who had saved his life so long ago, he had repaid his kindness, his lifelong debt of gratitude. Because of that, his eyes filled with tears, unstoppable tears of joy, and before he knew it, a pair of warm arms embraced him from his back, pulling him against a familiar scent of spices, and he hugged Ying Lei back, sobbing.

"Xiao Jiu... you did it... you saved your brother... everyone did it." Ying Lei said, and Yichen's hand grabbed the smaller one and squeezed it lightly.

“Thank you... Didi... I owe you this time...” And then, Bai Jiu threw himself into Yichen's chest, who was still being held by Zhu Yan, but he didn't care. He was so scared of losing his Ge, his savior, his idol, the reason he was still alive, the reason he became a demon hunter at such a young age, and of awakening his divine blood that could save more lives. He cried, but Zhu Yan hugged them both, glad that the nightmare was finally over... at least for now.

He looked at Yixuan and Li Lun, knowing they would understand his meaning. They had found Bing Yi's location, but getting there wouldn't be easy, and the mystery of the flower still remained, as Zhu Yan was certain it held the key to something greater. As Yixuan said, it all fell into place if you thought about it more carefully.

It all began with Nuwa befriending the divine beast dragon, Bing Yi. Then, Bing Yi fell in love with his father Ying Long, the only demon god, also the one with the power of creation. The three blessed an energy anomaly, from which he was born. Then, despite the fact that demons were mostly solitary, he befriended Li Lun. They became best friends and traveled the world together for centuries, until war broke out, where Ying Long sacrificed himself, and so did Bing Yi.

Li Lun and he too separated and the tree demon remained in the demon world, but came back to challenge him every few centuries, keeping alive the only connection between the two realms. Then Li Lun warns Zhu Yan that something is stirring in the demon world (likely related to Cheng Huang, who is close to be released). He finds the brothers and invites them to stay at his mansion. He fall in love with the youngest, and Yixuan is warn that his fate is tied to Li Lun, who arrived shortly after, just as predicted. Then Yixuan casts the spell that sets their destinies in motion in the heavens and hook Li Lun strong enough for him to stay.

The celebration is born, along with the exchange of gifts, and Li Lun goes to the valley to pick the flower for Yixuan, having no other place to choose a gift. Yixuan accepts it and cultivates it, awakening Yichen's memory upon seeing the flower, finally remembering where Bing Yi is. Everything was connected from the beginning of time, and Yichen's damaged core was also part of a larger plan. The flower was meant to release the power damaging his divine core, which in turn drove Bai Jiu to try and repair it, something they would desperately need if they wanted to enter the demon world... because no simple human could stand a chance there.

Therefore, the flower was the key... it was connected to both Bing Yi and Yichen, and moreover, it revealed that Yixuan's power ran deeper than he initially believed. A blessing from three gods gave birth to an anomaly like him... the brothers divided their power, Yixuan's spell was heavenly, his aura strangely golden and warm, while Bing Yi's was blue and cold, his divinity too strong even without a single layer being undone... the spell that no human could perform without first learning it, and even then it should have been impossible to cast without being affected... the flower's power, which also didn't affect him, even when only been nearby, nearly killed Yichen. Then there was the natural way he so skillfully channeled Li Lun's pure energy, even though it was his first time...

Nuwa, Bing Yi, his father, Li Lun, him... the brothers... the difference in their powers, Yixuan, the golden aura, the impossible understanding of celestial spells... and even more so, an impossible and flawless way of channeling the demonic energy of an unknown great demon, the flower, the awakening of Bai Jiu... humans with divine powers... Nuwa, who suggested it... Nuwa, Bing Yi... the connection to the heavens...

Zhu Yan's eyes widened as he finally understood what he had been missing. Ever since he'd been working on his core, something felt off, as if he was missing something, and he had. He looked at Yixuan in astonishment, internally kicking himself for not seeing it sooner; it was so obvious that it was stupid to overlook it. There was no true split of power between the brothers, it was simply that the eldest inherited more than one, developing a mix of the two... he was a human anomaly, born with the blessing of two gods, as somehow, he carries the blood of both Bing Yi and Nuwa.

AN: Ooops, revelation time! I hope you like this one, I have insisted in pointing the difference between the two from the start, so here is why. Also the flower is more important than they thought. Can you guess why? Until next time, please take care. Bellow, a hot Yichen's picture I found on Pinterest, supposedly done with AI, but damn, so well done, so realistic, so hot!!

Horror seized Zhao Yixuan when he opened his eyes after hearing his brother scream and seeing him fall right in front of him. His body moved on its own as he rushed to reach him before he hit the ground, and by some miracle, he made it just in time. He didn't know what had happened to his brother, but he knew he was suffering, that he was in intense pain, just like when he had those nightmares caused by Bing Yi, which Zhu Yan had assured him he would never have again.

"Xiao Chen! Yichen!" He shook him a little, but his brother just curled up and moaned in pain, clutching his head and chest in Yixuan's lap. Just as he was about to scream for help, Zhu Yan entered the room, his presence was an imposing force that eased Yixuan's heart, because now that he was there, his brother would be okay. Zhu Yan's crimson eyes opened wide at the sight of Yichen slumped in his brother's lap, pale and trembling.  With swift grace, he gathers Yichen into his arms, sensing the frantic pulse of energy radiating from him, a chaotic storm that threatened to consume him.

"Yichen, I'm here." He murmurs softly, channeling warmth through their connection as he attempts to stabilize Yichen's core with his own energy, but finds it too chaotic, threatening to spill out the kind of energy that Yichen's human body was not yet ready to absorb immediately. That's because, for some unknown reason, Yichen's core was damaged, with two or three layers of his divine seal cracking, leaking the divine power contained within that was not yet meant to be released. But how? How could something like this happen under his careful watch and protection? There was no one inside the barrier who could undo a god's seal, apart from him, and Yixuan's love for his younger brother was greater than even his own for Yichen.

The brothers had lost their mother at an early age, and their father, with a heart full of grief, was left to care for two boys and an entire household of demon hunters. Since half of the Zhuo's estate was used as an academy, he did not have as much time as he wished to devote to raising his children. Therefore, the relationship that developed between the two brothers was stronger than most, as Yixuan was not only an older brother to Yichen, tending to his every need, but also a full-time father and role model for him. So Yixuan would never do anything to hurt his younger brother, unless... No, he didn't want to believe that he had misjudge him so wrongly.

"What happened, Yixuan?" Zhu Yan asked, still with his eyes closed, trying to repair the damage. Although he knew that a broken layer couldn't be fixed, it could only be stabilized long enough to properly remove it completely, which he planned to do today. However, because of what had happened to him, he now had to undo two or three layers simultaneously, which would put Yichen under great strain, more than he could bear at once.

"I don't know. I was cultivating when I heard him scream, and when I opened my eyes, he was already falling to the ground, and I barely had time to catch him. He was in pain, just like in his previous nightmares." Yixuan replied, eager to find out what was wrong.

"Why were you cultivating so early? Why such a rush? What did Li Lun make you do?" He asked, and this time, Yixuan hesitated. The gift of the flower was something between the two of them, something private, special even, that meant a lot to him, but, of course, it was his brother who was hurt, and he needed to know if it was the flower's unknown power that was hurting him. However, he had it since the night before and nothing had happened to him, and their cores, although different in some ways, carried the same divine power of Bing Yi's.

"It's the flower I gave him, but I swear, it was just a gift from the Crystal Valley. Something for him to learn how to control cultivation, nothing more." Li Lun said from the open door, the others, close behind him, and Yixuan was glad, because that way he wouldn't have to feel like he had betrayed either the tree demon or his beloved brother.

Hearing this, Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun, trying to discern whether his old friend was acting against him or not. He had granted Li Lun full access to his dimension, thinking that even if he disliked humans, he wouldn't be so stupid as to try to harm them under his protection, let alone his lover's brother, not to mention Yichen, whom he knew was his one and only mate. However, seen that Yixuan was indeed unaffected by whatever had happened to Yichen, or the gifted flower, Zhu Yan was sure that Li Lun hadn't harmed Yixuan, thus Yichen shouldn't either, then... why?

"Show it to me." Since the flower had fallen to the ground when Yixuan moved to catch his brother, he was the one who picked it up, once again feeling a certain familiarity, but unsure why. 

As soon as Zhu Yan saw it, he recognized that the flower was more than it appeared to be, so he used his Truth Eye on it, to delve deeper into the apparent illusion, but was utterly surprised to find that even his power could not penetrate it. As he concentrated on stabilizing Yichen's erratic core, his eyes fluttering open to reveal a glimmer of clarity amidst the chaos and pain, their eyes meeting briefly, recognition flickering in Yichen's gaze as fragments of his nightmare appeared, visions of Bing Yi hidden within a Crystal Valley.

"Zhu Yan... Bing Yi..." Yichen whispered breathlessly and Zhu Yan stared back at the flower in Yixuan's hand then at Yichen.

"Did you remember?" He asked softly and despite all the pain, Yichen assented and cling to him in search for some relief from his pain. His core was a mess, his meridians unable to contain the flow of energy escaping from his sealed core, his body was in a state of hot and cold mix that was threatening to rip him apart.

"Yes... I know... where he is... help me..." The request was unnecessary, of course, because Zhu Yan would do anything to help his beloved, he would move heaven and earth for him, but undoing so many layers at once was like sending him to an early death. It took a lot of energy to try to contain Bing Yi's divine power, because although he was close, he was not yet a god.

"Zhu Yan, let me help him! I promise, I can do it!" Bai Jiu pushed his way through the crowd gathered at the door. As he was the shortest of them all, he had been forced to jump up and down to try to see what was happening in Zhuo Yixuan room. However, upon hearing his Xiao Zhuo Ge call for help, he pushed his way through and finally saw the man he admired like a brother on the floor, with traces of cold energy slightly freezing it, while his brother was sweating.

"Now I can perform traceless healing. I just fond out that my blood not only had the ability to grow plants, but also had healing properties that restored damage, and I accidentally did it last night, so I'm not saying this without checking first. Please, Zhu Yan, let me help my Ge." Bai Jiu pleaded, and Yichen, still half-conscious and half-awake, nodded in approval. He trusted Bai Jiu as much as he did the others or even more so.

"I think you should know first that this isn't an ordinary healing, nor an easy task. I'm a great demon, one step away from becoming a god, and containing his divine power is taking its toll on me... Can you hold on? You're still human and you could end up damaging your own core as well." He warned Bai Jiu, but Yixuan placed a hand on the young healer's shoulder and smiled at him.

"I can transfer my energy to you, if yours isn't enough. You can have all of mine, if it helps my brother recover." Yixuan said.

"Then I'll offer mine too. Of all of you, my energy is the strongest, and if this happens because of me..."

"It's not your fault, Li Lun... it's fate. I can see that everything is falling into place now." Yixuan told him as Li Lun sat between the two.

"What do you mean?" He asked in confusion.

"There will be time for that later, Zhu Yan. Can it be done this way?" Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun for a moment.

"It can, but Bai Jiu is very young and new to cultivation. If Li Lun give him too much energy, he'll be overwhelmed, and that will only further destabilize Yichen's core. I think it will work best if you, Yixuan, transfer your energy to Bai Jiu, but only when necessary, and Li Lun can transfer it to you when yours is depleted. You have the strongest divinity so far, so you should be able to to handle Li Lun's demonic energy, and safely transferring it Bai Jiu."

"Alright." Yixuan nodded, and Li Lun moved to place himself behind the young healer and Yixuan.

"Are you ready?" Zhu Yan asked Bai Jiu, who nodded seriously. Zhu Yan then, untied Yichen's belt and opened his robes to get them out of the way and was shocked to find ice mark on Yichen's chest, were his core was growing longer with its icy blue shine.

"Cut your finger and draw this symbol on his chest, right over his core." Zhu Yan instructed as he used a spell on Bai Jiu to show him the seal and how to make it.

"I got it." Bai Jiu said as he cut his finger with his mouth and drew blood, carefully creating a seal over Yichen's core with his blood, making sure not to tremble while he did it, even if he was quite nervous, but he could not risk making a mistake so he concentrate in his task, trying his best to not mind his brother pain, the way his body tensed under his touch, like he was drawing lines of fire over his skin.

Zhuo Yichen's body got hotter in Zhu Yan's arms, every breath shallow, and he held him firmly, demonic energy unfurling around them like a dark storm, straining to cage the wild surges of power, muttering the spell he now knew by heart, so undo the layer that could not be repair as it was already too broken to be fixed. His jaw was clenched, his hair turning pure white, his eyes as crimson as the fresh blood Bai Jiu use on him, traces of his demonic marks covering his cheek, his concentration on Yichen's core.

"It will be alright, Yichen... hang in there." He mutter low, a voice trembling with a hint of fear, despite his reassurance. At his side, Bai Jiu worked carefully on the containment seal, his fingers pressed to the radiant ice marks that were spreading in Yichen's chest, focusing on tracing the damage core, the cracks on it, the second layer and third were damage, but he was sure he could mend them. 

"Leave the second layer and third to me, Zhu Yan... they are not as badly damage as the first one." Bai Jiu said and Zhu Yan agree. Then, Bai Jiu's blood glowed faintly as it flowed, infused with the divine gift of restoration. The blood sank into Yichen's broken seals like rain into parched earth, softening, knitting, coaxing life back into the cracks that threatened to consume him.

The clash of forces was suffocating to Yichen, heavenly light fighting to burn free, demonic shadows binding it tight, and Bai Jiu's healing essence threading between the two like the fragile balance of dawn and dusk. Yet, he pressed himself like never before, his breath came fast, sweat sliding down his temple with the strain of the effort to mend a god's core, then Yixuan was there too, his golden aura covering Bai Jiu like a cloak, replenishing his depleted energy, filling his very core with his divinity, warm and gentle, but also strong.

Yichen's lips parted, a faint groan escaping, his body shuddering with pain. Zhu Yan's grip tightened, his forehead pressed to Yichen's, as though by sheer closeness he could pour strength into him and anchored him. His body was pulsing with demonic power, red energy rolling over Yichen's skin like smoke, containing divine waves as Bai Jiu worked to mend his core, their energies entwining in a delicate balance of healing and protection. His dark energy was like a wall,  strong and unyielding, but  also softer and protecting, desperate love taking form to keep his beloved alive.

"Stay with me, Yichen, I won't let you go." Zhu Yan's voice was low, a whisper against his lips, desperate and broken and Yichen endure the agony, the pain, the destruction and reconstruction of his core, the mix of energy clashing inside him, he clench his teeth, close his hands in fists as his body burned from the inside out, his yes shining with an intense blue, just like the ice tattoos on his chest.

Yichen's vision was swimming in light and shadows, his pulse thundering in his ears, but when he felt Zhu Yan's breath against his skin, when he heard the raw edge of panic in his voice, it brought him back to reality. He wanted to say something, to tell Zhu Yan that he would fight to survive for him too, but the words wouldn't come. If he open his mouth, only screams will leave his throat, so he keep himself quiet. He keep himself conscious despite the intense pain that wanted to claim him back to darkness.

Then, Bai Jiu's healing energy  was there, coming stronger, as Yixuan channel Li Lun's energy into him too, his bloody palm pressed against Yichen's broken core, the healing essence flowing from him like a river of light. His divine power was soft, gentle, like the brush of a feather against skin and with it, the seal finally began to hum, as though it remembered how to be whole again.

Bai Jiu's gaze met Zhu Yan's, and there was something unspoken between them, an understanding, the seal was mending, so both of them press themselves harder, Zhu Yan also giving him some of his strength. They were all trying to save Yichen, tied to him in ways deeper than any of them could fully grasp. Zhu Yan leaned closer to Yichen, his lips brushing over his lover's brow, brushing away a strand of dark hair. 

"I love you, everything will be over soon." He whispered. The words were too soft, barely audible, but  the sincerity in them, were a lifeline for Yichen to hold on. He believe in them, he could feel how their effort was paying off, his pain lessen, his burning started to cool off, his desire to throw up was fading and the divine energy coming back to were it belong.

Bai Jiu's blood mixed with the divine light that poured from Yixuan's body, which was taking in Li Lun's own, oddly gently, weaving around them in a delicate balance. Yichen could hear the soft thrum of Bai Jiu's healing, the warmth of Zhu Yan's hands gripping his own, grounding him. He felt the weight of their love, their care and he knew that as long as they were there, he would live.

A final pulse of energy surged through Yichen's body, but this time, it was different. It was controlled, steady. Bai Jiu's divine blood had sealed the rifts and Zhu Yan's power had held the divinity at bay long enough for Yichen to recover. And with that final push, the seals began to close, the broken threads of divine power woven back together.

Yichen's body went still for a moment with a sigh, and Zhu Yan's heart nearly stopped. But then, then his lover's eyes fluttered open, filled with an overwhelming mix of exhaustion and relief. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 

"I'm not going anywhere guys... there so much... to be done..." He murmured, his voice a rasp of warmth. Zhu Yan's chest heaved in a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His hand cupped Yichen's face, brushing away the remnants of sweat from his lover's skin. 

"Damn right..." Zhu Yan said, his voice hoarse but full of fierce affection and then he kiss him, softly, just a kiss to welcome him back, to reward him for resisting, for trusting in them, for not giving up, for staying with him.

Bai Jiu's face was pale but held both pride and happiness to see the two kiss, even if he looked away as the two shared their quiet moment. He had done it, he had saved the man who meant so much to him, the young man who had saved his life so long ago, he had repaid his kindness, his lifelong debt of gratitude. Because of that, his eyes filled with tears, unstoppable tears of joy, and before he knew it, a pair of warm arms embraced him from his back, pulling him against a familiar scent of spices, and he hugged Ying Lei back, sobbing.

"Xiao Jiu... you did it... you saved your brother... everyone did it." Ying Lei said, and Yichen's hand grabbed the smaller one and squeezed it lightly.

"Thank you... Didi... I owe you this time..." And then, Bai Jiu threw himself into Yichen's chest, who was still being held by Zhu Yan, but he didn't care. He was so scared of losing his Ge, his savior, his idol, the reason he was still alive, the reason he became a demon hunter at such a young age, and of awakening his divine blood that could save more lives. He cried, but Zhu Yan hugged them both, glad that the nightmare was finally over... at least for now.

He looked at Yixuan and Li Lun, knowing they would understand his meaning. They had found Bing Yi's location, but getting there wouldn't be easy, and the mystery of the flower still remained, as Zhu Yan was certain it held the key to something greater. As Yixuan said, it all fell into place if you thought about it more carefully.

It all began with Nuwa befriending the divine beast dragon, Bing Yi. Then, Bing Yi fell in love with his father Ying Long, the only demon god, also the one with the power of creation. The three blessed an energy anomaly, from which he was born. Then, despite the fact that demons were mostly solitary, he befriended Li Lun. They became best friends and traveled the world together for centuries, until war broke out, where Ying Long sacrificed himself, and so did Bing Yi.

Li Lun and he too separated and the tree demon remained in the demon world, but came back to challenge him every few centuries, keeping alive the only connection between the two realms. Then Li Lun warns Zhu Yan that something is stirring in the demon world (likely related to Cheng Huang, who is close to be released). He finds the brothers and invites them to stay at his mansion, find out that Yichen had saved the young healer who admire him and became his sworn brother. He fall in love with Yichen, and Yixuan is warn that his fate is tied to Li Lun, who arrived shortly after, just as predicted. Then Yixuan casts the spell that sets their destinies in motion in the heavens and hook Li Lun strong enough for him to stay.

The celebration is born, along with the exchange of gifts, and Li Lun goes to the valley to pick the flower for Yixuan, having no other place to choose a gift. Yixuan accepts it and cultivates it, awakening Yichen's memory upon seeing the flower, finally remembering where Bing Yi is. Everything was connected from the beginning of time, and Yichen's damaged core was also part of a larger plan. The flower was meant to release the power damaging his divine core, which in turn drove Bai Jiu to try and repair it, something they would desperately need if they wanted to enter the demon world... because no simple human could stand a chance there.

Therefore, the flower was the key... it was connected to both Bing Yi and Yichen, and moreover, it revealed that Yixuan's power ran deeper than he initially believed. A blessing from three gods gave birth to an anomaly like him... the brothers split power, Yixuan's spell was heavenly, his aura strangely golden and warm, while Bing Yi's was blue and cold, his divinity too strong even without a single layer being undone... the spell that no human could perform without first learning it, and even then it should have been impossible to cast without being affected... the flower's power, which also didn't affect him, even when only been nearby, nearly killed Yichen. Then there was the natural way he so skillfully channeled Li Lun's pure energy, even though it was his first time...

Nuwa, Bing Yi, his father, Li Lun, him... the brothers... the difference in their powers, Yixuan, the golden aura, the impossible understanding of celestial spells... and even more so, an impossible and flawless way of channeling the demonic energy of an unknown great demon, the flower, the awakening of Bai Jiu... humans with divine powers... Nuwa, who suggested it... Nuwa, Bing Yi... the connection to the heavens...

Zhu Yan's eyes widened as he finally understood what he had been missing. Ever since he'd been working on his core, something felt off, as if he was missing something, and he had. He looked at Yixuan in astonishment, internally kicking himself for not seeing it sooner; it was so obvious that it was stupid to overlook it. There was no true split of power between the brothers, it was simply that the eldest inherited more than one, developing a mix of the two... he was a human anomaly, born with the blessing of two gods, as somehow, he carries the blood of both Bing Yi and Nuwa.

AN: Ooops, revelation time! I hope you like this one, I have insisted in pointing the difference between the two from the start, so here is why. Also the flower is more important than they thought. Can you guess why? Until next time, please take care. Bellow, a hot Yichen's picture I found on Pinterest, supposedly done with AI, but damn, so well done, so realistic, so hot!! 

Chapter Text

"Xiao Jiu... come on... I know you were very scared, but you see, your Ge needs to rest now, let go of him, okay?" Ying Lei whispered to his young boyfriend and Bai Jiu raised his head to look at Yichen and Zhu Yan, in embarrassment. He was so overwhelmed by the fear of losing him that he let it all out, hugging Yichen and forgetting everything else.

"I'm sorry... you're still hurt..." Bai Jiu apologized as he gently let Ying Lei pull him away toward him, but Yichen smiled at him.

"I didn't mind... I really scared the hell out of him, so it's alright..." Yichen said hoarsely, and felt Zhu Yan tense up.

"Just him? And what about me? What about your brother? The rest of your unit? I was scared to death too." Zhu Yan whined, eliciting smiles from the others, or giggles in Wen Xiao's case. Seen him so upset, Yichen placed a hand on his lover's face, gently caressing it, looking at him adoringly.

"Haven't you kissed me before already? Have you become a greedy great demon in such a short period of time? Will one more kiss be enough to make up for the scare I gave you?" Yichen asked, blushing, aware that all eyes, including his brother's, were on them.

"Just one to compensate a heartbreak?" Zhu Yan whined a little more.

"Then how many do you want?" Yichen obliged, smiling slightly at him.

"There's a kid right there. So, I can't tell you out loud how much I want in return for scaring me, or he'll be scandalized, not to mention driven mad with embarrassment, just like you use too." This time, Zhu Yan teased him, feeling more relaxed at the sight of his lover blushing.

"Zhu Yan! You shameless monkey!" Yichen protested, but Zhu Yan simply kissed him, making him forget everything else.

He closed his eyes and let Zhu Yan kiss him however he wanted, he owed that to him. He had already witnessed how much Zhu Yan loved him, how afraid he was of losing him, of how much it broke his heart, how much fear his gaze harbored, so he wanted to give him whatever he asked for, to erase that terrible moment from his mind. He would feel deeply embarrassed in the end, but he was sure the others would understand. Thus, Yichen felt like they had been kissing forever, when in reality it had only been a few minutes. When Zhu Yan finally broke the kiss and opened his eyes, he discovered that Zhu Yan had enveloped them in a barrier of crimson smoke, which had hidden them from the rest of the world as they kissed without restraint. Yichen smiled quite relieved for not having cause such an intimate scene in front of the others, specially his brother.

"Is that enough?" He asked, and Zhu Yan kissed him again, but this time for a shorter time.

"It'll never be enough, Xiao Zhuo... but that's enough for now. There are things to do, and you need to rest. But first... let me take care of this..." Zhu Yan said, looking at Yichen's bare chest, still covered in Bai Jiu's blood. Yichen blushed even more, suddenly conscious of his bare chest and trying to cover himself, which made Zhu Yan laugh.

"Xiao Zhuo, I've already seen you, so there's no need to be shy now. As a demon hunter, you've trained hard for most of your life, so it's normal for you to have such a toned body, very attractive, very tempting to a demon madly in love with his young wife..." Yichen moved away, in both embarrassment and annoyance. Why did he had to ruin their moment with such an unnecessary comment.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Even if I fell in love with a male monkey demon, I'm still a man, not a wife, do you understand, stupid monkey?" But Zhu Yan was stunned, unable to say anything, just staring at Yichen with his mouth half-open.

"What's with you, with that expression? Is it so shocking that I refuse to be called or be treated as a wife? Get used to it because if you ever call me that again, I will..."

"Say it again..."

"Huh? Say what?"

"That you love me..." Ah, so that's why he was so surprised, Yichen blushed again.

"Isn't it obvious by now? If I didn't love you, would I allow you to kiss and touch me like this?" But Zhu Yan kissed him again, this time passionately, with heat and fire burning through his every being.

He pulled Yichen closer, their chests brushing, pressed into one another, his arms around his slender waist, his young lover's arms encircling his neck, bringing them even closer, and as the heat grew, Yichen moaned into the kiss, feeling the pleasure course through his sensitive skin. At some point, Zhu Yan's hand moves to explore Yichen's exposed chest, tracing fiery lines on the young man's skin, making him moan louder, which only makes Zhu Yan want him more. His hands moved down with a kind of anticipation that threatened to consume him, all the way down to the hem of Yichen's pants, stopping there, feeling Yichen tremble for a second as his breathing hitched, his pulse out of control, the heat reaching dangerous levels.

If that kind of kiss continued, Yichen wouldn't be able to control himself. He was new to pleasure, new to carnal desires, new to being kissed or touched like that, and therefore, with that burning sensation in his stomach and the way his body naturally wanted to react to such intimacy, the heat that was building up just a bit lower from Zhu Yan's hand, he was going to fall prey to his own human weakness. However, Zhu Yan ended the kiss still panting, his eyes closed, trying as hard to control himself as the inexperienced Yichen.

"Clean." Zhu Yan murmured as he cast the spell that cleansed all the blood from Yichen's chest and returned his robes to their original place, belt and all.

"Zhu Yan..."

"Sorry, I got carried away for a moment after hearing you say you love me... this isn't the place or time to give way to passion. Like I said, there's a lot to do, can you hold on for a little longer? I promise I'll let you rest after we find out more about why your core was damaged, the flower, and this Crystal Valley..."

"Of course I can, but..."

"Then let's go back..."

"Zhu Yan, before that... let me say it clearly... I... I love you and I'm very grateful for saving me, for..."

"Xiao Zhuo... my beloved Yichen, there is no force on this world or any world that will make me give up on you, either we live together or die together..."

"Zhu Yan! Don't say that!"

"It's the truth..." He said as he quickly kissed Yichen neck, right over his pulsing main vein and then stood up, while helping his flustered young lover up as well and hold him close, to keep him steady. He had not forgot about his previous ordeal, his pain, suffering and how tired he must feel.

Then, he undid the barrier and found Bai Jiu and Yixuan resting on the huge bed, with Ying Lei sitting next to his healer lover, cleaning his bloody hand with a towel, and Li Lun sitting on the edge of the bed, next to Yixuan, looking at the flower in his hand, completely lost in thoughts.

The others were actually surrounding a youth dressed in exquisite white, turquoise, and silver robes, with soft blue hair half tied with a simple silver ribbon, his eyes a deep sky blue, and once the youth saw them, he walked the short distance between them and the emerged couple and in one swift motion, knelt in front of Zhuo Yichen and bowed deeply.

"Master Zhuo Yichen, I apologize for not having met you in my human form before. You were doing so well on your own, that I thought there was no need for me to introduce myself yet. I am your sword spirit, Yun Guang, at your command." He said, but Yichen was too stunned to see his human form, let alone bow to him so deeply, as if he were someone worthy of worship, to do something other than stand there staring at him in disbelief.

"Xiao Zhuo, your sword is truly awesome and beautiful too." Wen Xiao said in praise, but Yichen was still too stunned to react.

"It's about time you appeared, Yun Guang. You've been sleeping for too long. Get up. There's much to discuss." Zhu Yan said, and the young sword spirit complied, still looking apologetically at his Master.

"Zhu Yan, I swear I didn't know anything about this flower, beyond what it looks like..." Li Lun began as he stood up and approached his old friend.

"Don't worry, I know you didn't mean to hurt anyone. Just tell me how you picked the flower from the Crystal Valley. How far from the edge of the valley did you find it?" Zhu Yan asked as he lifted Yichen off his feet bridal style, catching him off guard with a gasp, and effortlessly carried him to the bed next to his brother, who greeted him with a gentle smile, even if he too was tired.

"Xiao Chen... are you okay? You scared me too..." Yixuan aked as he took his brother's hand on his and squeezed it, and Yichen leaned on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Ge... I didn't mean to. I never expected to have such a strong reaction to a demonic flower. Zhu Yan had already placed so many of them everywhere, so..."

"That's not a demonic flower." It was Yun Guang who said that, and everyone turned their attention to him.

"How can it not be a demonic flower? Didn't Li Lun pick it up in his demon world?" Asked Ying Lei, confused, since they had been told about the flower when Zhu Yan and Zhuo Yichen disappeared into the red smoke barrier he had created.

"Even though it was in the demon world, that flower is still untainted by demonic energy and full of divine power, a heavenly spell to be exact, although my memories of that time are all but gone. Still, I can recognize the divine energy of my former Master and maybe someone else as well." Yun Guang said and Zhu Yan looked at Yixuan. This fact only confirmed his suspicions, that at one point Bing Yi and Nuwa had made their own plans and the brothers, had been trapped in their pre-arrange web, with Yixuan inheriting some of Nuwa's power too, awakening it from childhood unlike Yichen who either didn't inherited it or is it still latent.

"It's Nuwa, right? The flower is indeed full of divine power and not even my Truth Eye can see through it. Only a god spell can escape it, no wonder Li Lun couldn't see it either." Zhu Yan said and Li Lun chuckled.

"I didn't see it because that damn god of fate Siming played with me! Thinking back, I was compelled to pick it up, it was so out of place, yet, so beautiful, shining like stars in his colors, and oddly unaffected by the Valley's freezing power. In other words, it was practically screaming at me to pick it up! Damn gods! How the hell did they have a grip on me?" Li Lun was furious, but deep down he couldn't regret taking it, seeing how happy Yixuan looked when he offered it to him.

Thus he turned to look at the man, expecting him to feel at least a little hurt by what he had just said, but when their gazes met, Yixuan was far from looking either hurt or offended, but rather.... amused? Li Lun shuddered unconsciously, because Zhuo Yixuan was indeed a very formidable foe, too difficult to take down or get the upper hand on him at all.

"I'm sorry, Li Lun, the answer to your question should be my fault. By befriending me, you became entangled with my fate, even though being a great demon you should have avoided it. Of course, it's not like I was aware of it when we first met, so it's not entirely my fault either." Zhu Yan said and Li Lun sighed.

Their friendship had meant so much to him in the past, his happiest years had been spent by his side and he had missed them terribly when they part ways, he still missed them even at that very moment, so what was there to complain about? If he had not met Zhu Yan, perhaps his destiny would be free, entirely his own doing by his own choices, but his life would be the loneliest, as it had been in all those centuries.

He never harbored true romantic feelings for the ape demon, as he never understood love, nor desired it, but he did starve for companionship, he was jealous of Zhu Yan for having two gods by his side most of the time, caring for him, protecting him, guiding him to become the strongest, something he desired for himself just as intensely.

"I think looking for blame or feeling angry, while it has its merit, is beside the point at this time. By choice or forced, we are all now tied to these threads and caught in the same web. Either we surrender and let both worlds be destroyed by what is destined to happen or we fight for it and save what is dear to us. If I was meant to become a big brother, I have no regrets, because it had given me great joy to raise him, to see him grow up just as happy and pride to see how well he turned out to be, but if I were to throw all that away because it was meant to be, then it is my loss and nothing can change that fact." Yixuan said as he squeezed his brother's hand tighter and Yichen fought back the tears that threatened to came out, for he could only thank heaven for giving him such an amazing and loving brother. Whatever happened he would never feel less blessed, because if he was the hero of Bai Jiu for saving his life once, Yixuan was his idol, his pillar, his admiration impersonate.

"I completely agree. Even if things go wrong for us, I don't regret becoming a big sister. It's made me who I am today, for him, for my family, I tried my best, trained hard, fought harder, just to ensure their safety and happiness. I almost lost my little brother completely in a fierce battle, but heaven was merciful enough to keep him by my side, even if not full-time. I will fight for him, for our units, and for this world by my own choice, because, whether it's true or not, it's what I believe in. I don't need anything else." Pei Sijing added, and Wen Xiao took her hand, feeling Pei Siheng manifest behind them both.

"So now, if you ask me, there's only one thing to discuss after all that heartwarming family talk. How do we accomplish this? It's obvious that Bing Yi is hiding in this Crystal Valley, within the demon world. That alone should be worrisome, as it's a world filled with demons who have little love for us humans hunters. But even if we fight our way in and somehow survive, the Valley itself can kill us effortlessly. That's not demon territory, but a divine domain whose purpose was to keep Cheng Huang locked up and all demons, from the weakest to the strongest, out, not to mention humans. That thing almost killed Xiao Chen, and we're still far from achieving anything other than training." Cao Wei said, and all eyes fell on the two great demons inside Zhuo Yixuan's room.

"There is a way, but not all of you will be able to go into the demon world and that is inevitable, only those with divine blood can pull it off." Yun Guang said, taking the attention back to himself.

"So we will indeed end up splitting up, huh?" Yiming said sadly.

"As I said, it's inevitable." Yun Guang assured him. However, neither Yiming nor the rest of his unit were relieved by the news, for it meant that their Commander and friends were going to risk their lives for the sake of humanity on their own, the youngest protecting two worlds, while they waited again, praying for their success and safe return, which in reality could be from one to none.

AN: Alright, be brave guys! Thanks for reading, I hope you like and see you soon. Take care. 💖

Chapter Text

"And how exactly do you plan to get those with divine blood into the Crystal Valley? No human can withstand the power contained there, with or without divine blood. Even I had a hard time fighting the freezing spell with every step I took inside the valley, and I didn't stray too far from the border. If this is Bing Yi's doing, he knew exactly what he was doing and succeeded to keep the demons away. I think it's best if Zhu Yan and I handle this on our own and the others stay." Li Lun said, and Yixuan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The last thing he expected from Li Lun was for him to suggest leaving them behind. Since he had only spent a couple of days with them, Yixuan was sure that his resentment toward humanity would last a while longer before he changed his mind. However, perhaps Li Lun had been lying to himself all this time and, deep down, he longed for friendship or companionship, even if it came from those he claimed to hate. But even that he doubted. A single day was enough for him to go find a gift for him, whether compelled or not, he was still willing, and Yixuan felt very honored to have been the one Li Lun had reach for.

"That won't do. Since Yun Guang doesn't remember what happened the last time Bing Yi used him, it means I'm the only one who knows the way to the valley, the formation under the snow, and the location of the cave. When I saw the flower, I remembered the nightmare I'd forgotten when Bing Yi possessed me. Now I can clearly remember how his dimensional sphere passed through the Crystal Valley and where it ended up. If you two enter alone, you'll get lost, as the valley is designed to trap and confuse demons, regardless of their strength." Yichen said, and Li Lun snorted.

"In that case, what can you do? You may know the way, but you won't last ten minutes inside that Crystal Valley." 

"I am a descendant of Bing Yi, born with his blood, I can handle it..."

"And having his blood didn't stop the flower from influencing you and nearly killing you."

"Perhaps it wasn't the flower, but my sealed memories."

"Which means Bing Yi sealed them for a reason."

"They also came back for a reason."

"So, will you let your brother take the risk? Is that how little you care for his life?" Li Lun insisted and Yichen anger was about to flare out.

"What did you say? How dare you?" Yichen was about to move in outrageous rage, but his brother held him firmly.

"Didi, it's alright, most demons are different from us. They don't see things the same way we do. Li Lun is just worry on his own way." Yixuan gently squeezed his brother's hand to stop him from arguing any further.

"But he..." Yixuan shook his head.

"Don't mind it." Yixuan said as he look at Li Lun in defiance.

"You are fragile creatures, Zhuo Yixuan. Even the greatest of my kind hesitate to set foot in that valley. Yet you humans speak of entering it as if courage could protect you from turning to glass." His voice held a hint of arrogance, but his gaze, sharp and dark, never left Yixuan.

"You think we are fragile because we did not come into this world wrapped in power, because our bodies cannot withstand serious wounds and are easier to break than demons. But, Li Lun... fragility does not mean weakness, fragility is not shame, it is proof that we value life enough to risk it. We choose this path knowing that each dawn could be our last. What matters is not how long we live, but who we protect while we can. We became demon hunters knowing that death could reach us any day. And yet, we choose this life. Not for glory, but to protect those we love."

"Love? Foolishness more likely. Love makes you blind. Your brother should have forbid you to take unnecessary risks. If he cared for you, he would not allow this. He is reckless with your life." Yixuan's lips curved faintly, not in mockery, but in patience.

"No, Li Lun. He cares enough to let me stand beside him. To ask me to stay behind would wound me deeper than any blade. For us, regret is heavier than death. To watch those you love march toward danger while you do nothing, even when there is a chance you can make the difference... that is the cruelest fate of all.  And he loves Zhu Yan too deeply to allow distance between them, when the world is in danger." Yixuan's words were not fiery. They were patient, deliberate, each syllable chosen like a stone placed into a river, redirecting the current rather than trying to stop its flow.

"For us, regret is a wound sharper than death. Living with the knowledge that you could have been with your loved ones and chose not to is unbearable. That's why I must go. Not because I seek danger, but because staying would break me like no demon's claws could." The silence stretched, and Li Lun's eyes burned, not with disdain, but with something dangerously close to fear. He clenched his fists at his sides, as if holding back words too dangerous to speak.

"You... would rather risk death than live with such weight?" Li Lun asked as his gaze intensified on the man sitting on the bed, right between his brother and the young healer.

"Yes. And if fate grants me the opportunity to protect you as well, Li Lun, I will not hesitate. That's not weakness or foolishness. It's what makes me human, it's what defines me. This is the code we carry into every battle, the code we live by." The words hung in the air, and for the first time, Li Lun faltered.

The great demon, who had hated humans for so long, felt his breath catch at Yixuan's silent assurance. He told himself it was irritation, that this hunter was infuriatingly stubborn. But when Yixuan's serene gaze fell upon him, he felt something dangerous stirring inside, an unfamiliar and unwanted ache, an impulse to protect this fragile, stubborn human, not out of disdain, but something dangerously close to... affection.

"Then by all means, go ahead and meet your end. I won't stop you... but I hope you understand that watching you die, when it could have been avoided, is also a way of break someone else's life." Li Lun stared at him for a moment before storming off in his leaf form, away from him and the rest of the senseless suicidal humans.

As soon as he left Zhu Yan's barrier, he headed for the Forest of Convergence, where he knew Ao Yin was waiting for him. It had been a while since they had seen each other face to face, and not through the waters of the scry spell. He had planned to see her yesterday, while he was keeping an eye on Zhuo Yixuan, who was going to the Citadel, but he got distracted and forgot. Since she always carried his leaves with her, it was easy for him to reach her, and since he needed to distance himself from that dangerous and stubborn man, he thought it would be best to better understand what was really happening in the forest.

Outside Zhu Yan's barrier, a low purple mist clung to the ground, swirling lazily around gnarled roots and stones as if reluctant to depart from the night’s embrace.  A chill breeze wove through the branches, rustling leaves like whispers among conspirators. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying foliage, creating an intoxicating blend that hinted at magic and menace alike. An undercurrent of tension crackled in the air, as if the very essence of the forest was aware of an impending disturbance.  

Li Lun felt restless as sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting fractured patterns on the forest floor, where a carpet of ferns rustled softly in the cool breeze. The purple mist carrying demonic energy feel heavier than usual, almost suffocating as he waited for Ao Yin to show show up where he stood with his arms crossed, his dark silhouette framed by the soft light filtering through the treetops, a figure both imposing and regal against the backdrop of twisted trunks.

As usual, he didn't have to wait long, as he could soon feel her approaching, careful but steady, moving as swiftly as the breeze, confident in the protection she always carried with her, as his leaves were not only there for them to communicate with, but could be used as a shield, as a means to easily escape any danger, activating his power to teleport anywhere she needed, including the demon world if there was no other choice.

"Master Li Lun, it is a great honor to finally see you again." She said, bowing to him in a sign of deep respect.

"It's indeed, good to see you again after so long. I thank you for all those centuries of loyalty you showed me when you had no reason to, as you are free to do as you please."

"While you walked the human world, you always protected me from humans who wanted to use or kill us, and in gratitude for your endless protection, I gladly placed myself at your service. I was never forced to do anything you asked of me, because it was always of my own free will." Ao Yin said with a smile she rarely showed to others.

"I see. Then please tell me what is really happening in this forest. Why does it feel so oppressive? Are the humans acting against the demons, as they did before the truce Zhu Yan proposed to the human High Commander?" Li Lun asked suspiciously, as although he trusted the humans inside Zhu Yan's barrier, he didn't trust those outside so easily.

"Regarding that, I have to admit that humans had decreased their hunting of demons in the forest, just as the great demon Zhu Yan had requested. I couldn't say whether they did so because they genuinely wanted to maintain the truce or because they feared his retribution if they didn't. From what I could observe myself, they did not hunt demons who retreated, fled from them on sight, or did not attack first. However, this change in approach them caused something unexpected among the high-ranking demons."

"What do you mean?" He asked, his eyes narrowing, as he listened to Ao Yin's story about how the demons reacted to been let go or less hunted, and he was quite surprised to learn of the strange behavior the forest demons were beginning to display in consequence.

"You say they are gathering to plot against the hunters?" He asked Ao Yin, his voice low and rumbling like thunder rolling over mountains. Ao Yin nodded, her brow furrowed in concern. 

"Yes, my lord. They speak quietly, trying to hunt them down, and are gathering in greater numbers to ambush them when the opportunity arises. So far they have been unsuccessful, as they do not coordinate their attacks well and the hunters in the forest are very experienced, but one or two units have had difficulty getting rid of them. As you suspected, something is stirring within them and it may not work in their favor, if they don't know how to work together. If this keep up, I'm afraid that the humans will blame Zhu Yan for not keeping the truce and start another war." Li Lun's brow furrowed, this was no ordinary rebellion among solitary beasts.

"It must be related to Cheng Huang, somehow. That divine beast is currently a fox demon god, illusions, confusion, and lies are part of his abilities. If the war escalates, it will benefit him greatly, getting rid of humanity's sole protector, which will make way for the demons to conquer them, and then he can dispose of both in one fell swoop. We must uncover his plans before it's too late." He murmured, feeling a pang of unease in his stomach.

"Will you tell this to the great demon Zhu Yan? So far, I don't think the humans suspect treason, but they might very soon. A war will only bring more death... to both, humans and demons alike." Ao Yin warned him, and Li Lun noticed a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Are you worried about humans now?" He asked, not accusingly, but curiously.

"No living demon can match human cruelty, deception and hatred, that's a fact that will not change no matter how many centuries passes, but... I also know that not all humans are beasts. There are some exceptions, very few exceptions..." She said almost timidly, perhaps afraid that he would be angry with her for trusting some of them.

"Oh? Did you run into any of those exceptions?" Li Lun asked, now fully remembering Zhuo Yixuan and their conversation.

"A few years ago, I ran into a human girl living on the streets. She stole food and clothing all over the town for herself and those she cared for, whom no other human would care for. When I first met her, I thought she was just another street thief, but as I followed her, as she steal something from me, I saw her giving the stolen food to two other children who were starving. When I confronted her, she gave me back what she stole and apologized, saying she was sorry, but that she wanted to live and protect her brothers, even if that mean taking what didn't belong to her and I... felt sorry for them. They were no different from us demons, just trying to survive a day at a time."

"So... what did you do with them?"

"Because I can shape forms, I trick humans into offering them a place to stay and work, and I take care of them from time to time. They always welcomed me with open arms, calling me their older sister and helping me with anything I needed. Even now that they've grown up healthy and productive, they still welcome me as one of their own." So even Ao Yin encountered what Yixuan insists on calling family.

"Their names?" At this, Ao Yin panicked for the first time in her life in the presence of the demon she had admired and even loved for most of her life. Li Lun, of course, knew this and smiled sweetly at her.

"If humans have proven themselves trustworthy to you, you have no reason to fear my retaliation. I was merely curious." She sighed in relief.

"Their names, Qing Geng, Fei, and Ran Yi. The three orphans I consider exceptions among humans. They have no ill intentions and strive to live a better life. They also don't harbor hatred for demons in their hearts, like Qing Geng, who once saw me accidentally shapeshift. Even if she could have betrayed me and send the demons hunters after me, she never said a word, not even to Fei and Ran Yi, and yet she always greeted me with a beautiful smile."

"I see... I'll definitely tell Zhu Yan about the demon gathering. Keep your eyes open and stay out of harms way. We don't know how long this truce will last, and a war could be about to break out."

"Of course, My Lord, be careful as well. Cheng Huang, if he ever escapes Bing Yi's seal, will kill anyone who gets in his way, and he is now the only demon god alive."

"I know, go back." He said as he used his teleportation abilities to send her back to Tiandu, where she had lived for so long.

He was going to observe the demons for a while before returning to the mansion. Despite his struggle to believe he was just another piece in a grand game between gods, he couldn't prevent the two units from splitting up, given how things were developing in the forest, just as Yun Guang had said. It was inevitable that if one unit had to go to Crystal Valley to save Bing Yi, the other would have to take care of the demon problem in the forest and prevent another war. But that also meant that his growing concern for Zhuo Yixuan would eventually lead him to fall in love with him, and hard.

AN: Oops, the three little demons turned into humans in this story (perhaps karma) and I think that Ao Yin had a thing for Qing Geng, which is unexpected, but then again, they do with me what they want. LOL. I hope this insight into Li Lun internal struggle of denial and acceptance turn out to be believable, as it happen so fast that even I am amaze. Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope you like it and until next time, take care.

Chapter Text

Inside Zhuo Yixuan's room, after Li Lun's departure, there was so much to digest about his last words that the two units stared at each other wordlessly. It was becoming clear that Li Lun cared for Yixuan more than he imagined, that he didn't want to see him hurt, and that if he did, he would deeply regret it. This, of course, filled Yixuan's heart with unexpected happiness, and he couldn't hide a smile. At that moment, he had no doubt that they were indeed destined to be together. That Li Lun's heart wasn't as filled with hatred for humans as he had led everyone, including Zhu Yan, to believe. Instead, he did cared for his demon world, but also for the fragile humans on what he believed was a suicide mission for them all. Lives where lives, regardless of species, and Siming likely wanted to intertwine their destinies so that everyone, humans and demons, could live in peace. His path was mysterious and not without its difficulties, but at least it may lead them to a final resolution they all can work at.

"Ge..." Yichen said as he looked at his happy brother, his heart rooting for his brother to obtain ultimate happiness. Li Lun, despite his rough edges, wasn't truly bad, and perhaps with more time, he might soften enough to let his brother in and give himself the chance to achieve much more than his hatred of humans had already limited his chances of a better life, as he didn't seem particularly happy in his demon world either. Not when he repeatedly came to find Zhu Yan and confront him, perhaps to combat his loneliness.

"Don't misunderstand, Didi. He's not bad..." Yixuan felt the need to defend Li Lun's small outburst, but Yichen simply offered his brother a soft smile while gently squeezing his hand in understanding.

"I'm starting to realize that, so don't worry. I think... I think he'll come around more in time, with your help, because right now, at least he cares, which is much more than I expected so soon." Yichen told him, and Yixuan nodded.

"Well... will he come back, though? He was a little angry..." Yin Lei said as he looked outside, where Li Lun's leaves had wandered into the forest.

"He will. Just give him a few hours, and he'll come back to me and ask if we're still on the suicide mission, and if he'll finally agree, however reluctantly." Zhu Yan said, trying to reassure them, telling them that everything will be okay one way or another.

"What's left for us to know is how we can accomplish the impossible. What is that way that our dear Yun Guang told us about before Li Lun opposed us entering the valley? Bing Yi is a god, a very powerful one. How can we repel his formation and stay alive long enough to reach his sealed dimension before it's too late?" Wen Xiao asked as they looked at the young man expectantly, hoping that he really knew a way for them all to enter the valley safely.

"I was born from the blood and bones of Ying Long, so I carry his power, but I also carry Bing Yi's. He was my Master for so many centuries that I absorbed enough divine energy to evolve from my original creation into something more powerful. Ying Long's visions also helped me learn many arts where the power within me can be used by a Master to aid him in quests or combat. My inner dimension stores that power, ready to be used at my Master's will. I lost my previous connection to Bing Yi, but I can still use the power and skill I learned from him. Bing Yi once taught me a spell, a formation that can be used within that Crystal Valley, so filled with his divine energy, that can help those with divine cores not only remain unaffected by the Valley's crystallization power, but also awaken their core completely with a single swift movement. Furthermore, it will make the great demons immune to crystallization too."  Hearing him say that, they were eager to know how they could accomplish such things simultaneously.

"Wait, you said inside the Crystal Valley, right? How is that possible? Can't they even stay there for ten minutes, as Li Lun already pointed out?" Cao Wei asked, looking at his Commander with genuine concern.

"Zhu Yan had granted my Master a dimension to protect him and anyone he decided to let in with him. You can enter the dimension, and I will bring it to the Valley; with my power and that of the flower, you will be able to resist the crystallization power long enough to complete the array and the spell. However, that array can only be used with those with divine power, and even then, it will be risky, very dangerous, as it will awaken their power completely, undoing the remaining seventeen layers in one fell swoop."

"No, I will not consent to that." That flat refusal came from none other than Zhu Yan. It was safer for them to continue undoing their layers one by one, even if it took longer. He can't stop Yichen from entering the Valley, but he can't undo all the remaining layers at once, because that would mean death for everyone. 

"I know what you're thinking, Zhu Yan, but I assure you that there is a risky, yet safer way for all of them to awaken their full power at once. I don't think Bing Yi taught me the spell and the array by chance, because you know as well as I do that Ying Long knew more about the future than other gods, that he was even in the same league as Siming himself. I may not remember the last time Bing Yi used me, that time he fought Cheng Huang and sealed himself with him to prevent him from destroying everything in his path, probably because he cut my connection to him at that moment, so that I could go to the Zhuo family as a relic for future generations, dormant until I recognized Zhuo Yichen as my next master, since he has been closely linked to Bing Yi since he was a child."

"I am sure that Bing Yi was aware, at least, of what could happen and took precautions, teaching me a spell that fits this situation too well, as well as an array that works best within the Crystal Valley. The reason he created it in the first place must have been so that this array could be used to accomplish the task at hand, exponentially decreasing the risk and virtually guaranteeing success. It even makes sense if all else fails and Cheng Huang breaks free, because at least he can be fought under better conditions, as Bing Yi's power will still be present there even after he is gone, a power that can be use to seal him again. Furthermore, when I hear Master Yichen shout not too long ago, everything I learned from Bing Yi and Ying Long before our connection was served becomes clear, the spell and array on top of everything else and I know that it will connect the past, present and future in such a way that it cannot be avoided as it will lead to the desired outcome, the way things should have been from the beginning." Explained Yun Guang, and Zhu Yan relaxed a little as he looked at his beloved Yichen, who nodded his head in approval. His beautiful young lover was so brave that he loved him even more at that moment.

“Then, tell me about that combination of spell/array formation Bing Yi taught you. He and my father raised me from a young age, and he also taught me many spells and arrays. I’m curious to know which of his spells fulfills the need to awaken divine cores all at once, without killing the hosts, and why it will be best to do so within his Crystal Valley.” Zhu Yan stood with amused eyes, his curiosity palpable, as he turned to Yun Guang. 

“He taught me the spell when you were exploring the world with Li Lun, which is why you don’t see which spell suits the current situation. It’s something they both created together for months, a combination that can be performed separately, but they complement each other, as they are meant to be one. The spell is a core-binding spell, allowing divine energy to be distributed among multiple vessels instead of just one, making core awakening easier as the release from each layer is shared and diluted within the group, lessening the damage. The array is a divine core awakening that can also harness the Valley’s crystallization power to strengthen their bodies without fully turning them into crystals, enabling them to withstand the full release of their divine cores. In essence, it diverts the Valley’s curse to become their salvation. Do you think that fits this situation, Zhu Yan?” The sword spirit asked, and Zhu Yan laughed. He had to hand it to his father Ying Long that his foresight was truly astonishing, seeing so far into their future, and making sure to ease their burdens right where they needed it.

"That's actually quite brilliant. A spell that unites multiple cores to disperse divine energy in a group, and an array to harness the power of a god that can strengthen their bodies, allowing them to endure the awakening without the need for the body to change and adapt with each layer, which would make the process too painful and lengthy. It's truly perfect.” Yiming pointed out the advantages of such a combination.

"Let's do it. We don't know how much longer Bing Yi will be able to keep Cheng Huang sealed, and how long we'll have to travel within the demon world, or if we'll have to fight our way into the Valley. The sooner we deal with the cores, the better." Pei Sijing said, and Yun Guang's gaze softened as he looked at her.

"It's also very beneficial for you, Commander Pei. Since a massive amount of divine energy will be released and you'll be able to harness the crystallization effect, you can take advantage of this unique opportunity to bring your brother back forever. If he binds his essence with yours, you'll be able to seal it within the crystallization of his puppet in his human form, and have him remain that way forever, stronger than ever, as he'll also acquire a divine core." At this, Pei Sijing's eyes widened in surprise, and she almost lost her balance as she took a step back, but Wen Xiao came forward to hug her, congratulating her on having a real chance of bringing her brother back for good.

"I... I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen... Bind my core for as much as you need, I have no objections and I don't care about the consequences... I'll do it. I'll do it ten times over if I have to..." She couldn't hold back the tears of happiness that fell from her face, and the others smiled at her, also happy that the siblings could have their permanent reunion.

"We have a deal, Yun Guang... you can bond us all." Yixuan said, quite pleased that everything was starting to fall into place and that the future was no longer so bleak, but full of hope.

"We'll also need the consent of the great demon Li Lin. He needs to be bond along with the rest of us, otherwise, we won't have enough anchor to diffuse the release of the layers. For this, two great demons are needed, and the bond of the cores will be permanent. Once done, there will be no turning back, all our lives will be connected in life and death." The sword spirit said and although none of them would regret saving the world and saving the life of one of their own, namely Pei Siheng, in Li Lun's case things could be seen differently. He was no lover of humans, and being bound to several of them must be a nightmare, if not hell. Once again, they looked at each other with concern.

“I'll talk to him, so when he comes back, I'll explain it to him and ask him to join us. Hopefully, even if he flatly refuses, he may end up accepting.” Yixuan sighed.

AN: Good luck, Yixuan! Maybe if you kiss him he will agree sooner! LOL. Kidding, sorry this is more an explanation chapter with little fluff, but in the next, there will some, I promise. At the matter of fact, once they bond, things will become very interesting, as they will be able to feel echoes of each other’s emotions/pain. Li Lun, what will you do when bond to Yixuan, aware o his feelings while he and everyone else will be able to feel yours! Ah, I can't... 😂 so much fun!  Thanks for reading, see you next time. 

Chapter Text

After Yun Guang told them about the binding spell that could unite them all to redistribute the effects of the seal's release among them, Zhu Yan insisted they go back to breakfast, as Yichen was still weak from what had happened earlier and somewhat sore. So without a second thought, he lifted him out of bed and carried him like a princess for the second time that morning, much to the young man discomfort. Yichen insisted that Zhu Yan let him go, blushing deeply as he held him by his neck to prevent him from falling, although Zhu Yan could actually carry him for hours without any effort.

"Zhu Yan, seriously, I can still walk just fine. You and Xiao Jiu already healed me..."

"No can do, Xiao Zhuo. Your core may be healed, but your energy is still unstable, and your body is trying to adjust to this new layer, so you'll be in pain for a few days, just like before."

"I've gotten used to it, put me down." Yichen blushed even deeper as he looked over Zhu Yan's shoulder at the others following them with not-so-hidden amused smiles.

"Don't be shy. Carrying you is much less embarrassing than the passionate kiss they already witnessed. Besides, is such a short walk, we're already here..." Zhu Yan said as the sliding kitchen door opened by itself, no doubt thanks to his power, and placed him right on top of the chair he had sat on before going to find his brother.

"There, just a little embarrassment, it's okay." Zhu Yan said as he sat down next to him. Yichen, still blushing at the sight of the others entering, trying hard to contain their laughter.

"You said that was okay? And what about my pride?" Yichen whined softly, and Zhu Yan, unable to resist his cuteness, placed a quick kiss on his blushing cheek.

"Stop it..." Yichen protested, but Zhu Yan found it even more irresistible and, aware that the others were there, listening, he found the perfect opportunity not only to mock his beloved Yichen, but also the rest of his unit in one go.

"Xiao Zhuo... you should enjoy these little moments, because once you bond with others, guess what will happen?" He looked around at Yichen's unit and Yixuan, knowing that they were all smart and would pick up on his implication right away. Wen Xiao was the first, now also blushing as she looked at Pei Sijing, who also got the message loud and clear. Yixuan, of course, simply sighed, but Bai Jiu let out a squeal before covering his mouth with his hands, which only amused Ying Lei, who let out a small laugh. Cao Wei laughed out loud too, making almost the entire Yichen unit blush, except for Yixuan sit by Zhu Yan's side.

"Guys... with those guilty looks on your faces, it looks like... Wait, for real? Are you all already paired up? But you are a new unit, barely a month formed. Oh, this must be embarrassing. What were the chances of you all pairing up right before you were offered the bonding? Will all your feelings be exposed like a ray of light to the others like open books?" Cao Wei asked Yun Guang, who was watching them from in front of the open kitchen windows.

"Once the bond is formed, yes, you'll be able to sense each other's feelings at first, since blocking emotions is possible, but it will take a while to do it properly." The sword spirit said as he looked outside at the peach tree.

"How long will it take?" Wen Xiao asked, and Yun Guang turned to look at her.

"It will depend on how quickly you master making mental shields, because they can't be taught, you have to work on them yourselves. It's usually a defense mechanism against demons capable of breaching into a human mind. A demon hunter will naturally resist it, shielding their mind to block the intrusion, but when it happens between friends... well... you could say it's a little more complicated." And of course it was, Yichen thought, as he would indeed naturally block a demon from entering his mind, but if the one sharing his feelings was Wen Xiao, or Bai Jiu, or even Ying Lei by accident, then it was harder to guard against since none of them would do it on purpose, as it was a side effect of the spell that bound them together for a common goal in where everyone would benefit.

"So even the great demons will sense it?" Yixuan asked, thinking that perhaps he could also gain some insight into Li Lun's internal struggles to have a better idea of ​​how to make him more comfortable with them, how to help him better adapt to current events and challenges, and gain a better understanding of what Li Lun is right down to the deepest of his core.

"Well... both Zhu Yan and Li Lun will sense the rest of you until you learn to shield your minds, but as for you sensing them the same way... I highly doubt it. The two of them have lived for so long that protecting their minds from others is like breathing, and they've done so for centuries." Yun Guang said, and Yixuan felt a little disappointed. He really wanted to get to know Li Lun better, and since he had such a hard time expressing himself, opening up to others, let alone humans, this opportunity might be just what he needed to bring them closer.

"It's true that we find it easy to block others when we want, but it's just as easy to let someone in. I can, for example, allow Yichen into my mind, so he can experience what I want him to, while blocking everyone else at the same time, and of course, that also applies to Li Lun..." Yixuan almost laughed, knowing that comment was meant exclusively for him, probably reading his body language. He smiled at the great demon with relief and even gratitude.

"That's quite interesting... so, over time, we can all block or allow others who share the bond if we so wish? We can control who enters and who stays out?" Wen Xiao asked, looking back at Pei Sijing.

"Yes, but, again, it may take a while to get to that point for humans." The sword spirit confirmed, but something more alarming took hold of Yiming's mind.

"So what about damage? What about wounds inflicted during battles with demons? What about death?" Yiming asked, and Mei Lin gasped as she looked at Yixuan in worry.

"In this complex web of connections, wounds, be they minor scratches or life-threatening injuries, will not longer be individual, it will resonate through the shared bond between the group. The unique link will share the pain, but also allows Bai Jiu, along with Zhu Yan and Li Lun, to accelerate healing processes, like, Bai Jiu can channel the special qualities of his blood to speed recovery, including traceless healing from all three who can perform it."

"However, this bond of shared vitality also carries significant risks. Should any member of the group die, it would not only sever the individual life force of the one down, but would also jeopardize the bond that unites you all. While it is unlikely that the death of one would result in the death of all, it is clear that the remaining members would be considerably weakened within seconds, severely impacting all of them. Of course, such vulnerability in combat could be catastrophic against formidable adversaries like Cheng Huang, if worse comes to worse, as he will give no one a chance to recover." Yun Guang explained, which was both good and bad at the same time.

"So, there's still a high probability that if one of us dies, the others will soon follow as well, since the weakness the bond would create in the rest of us would make us even more vulnerable and open to more deadly attacks." Ying Lei looked at Bai Jiu for what seemed like an eternity and took his small hand in his for a little comfort for both of them.

"There is no need to worry about that. Even though the possibility exists, rest assured that Li Lun and I will be committed to preventing such thing from unfolding. When all the seals of your divine cores are undone, there's a high chance we great demons could harness a good deal of your divine energy absorbing it into ourselves. That's why this spell needs two great demons, so we can absorbs what your bodies cannot handle at your current levels of cultivation. This would significantly increase Li Lun's and my cultivation, bringing me even closer to achieving god-level status, and Li Lun will be two to three times stronger than before the bond." Zhu Yan paused, gaining the surprised reactions of those around him before continuing. 

"If I reach that level, the bond we share will allow me to wield my power to protect you all. I can channel my strength toward you when necessary to ensure none of you fall, shield you, enhance our ability to seamlessly coordinate attacks and even communicating with each other without words, meaning we can act as one without any effort. Moreover, if the fight became critical and conditions align perfectly, I believe Yixuan may even have the ability to summon Nuwa directly from the heavens." The words hung in the air, leaving Yixuan momentarily stunned.

Zhu Yan's assurance was profound, suggesting not only a deepening of their alliance, but also a glimmer of hope in times of uncertainty or despair. However, the implication of Yixuan being able to summon a major god was unimaginable, impossible to fathom, let alone comprehend, given the immensity of power that such a feat would require. It seemed utterly impossible.

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" Yixuan asked, a hint of disbelief on his handsome face.

"As far as I know, I'm only a descendant of Bing Yi, not Nuwa, just like my borther." The idea that he could summon a god was terrifying, but also quite appealing.

"I'm sure you're aware of how different your energy feels compared to Yichen's. It's not that your brother has inherited more of Bing Yi's blood, making him appear stronger than you in some ways, when in reality, it's quite the opposite. You possess even greater power than he has so far, and with good reason. Your golden aura, as well as your golden eyes, clearly demonstrates this, making you capable of seeing more than any human can, which are partial traits of Bing Yi, and Nuwa as well." Zhu Yan paused in his explanation to let that sink in, then took Yichen's cold hand in his own to reassure him that what he had just said was surprising, but that it was fine nonetheless, he continued.

"Remember the spell you cast outside that night. That feat should have been beyond you as a human inexperienced in the celestial arts. While it may have originated from Bing Yi's spell, the energy you channeled to cast it was primarily hers. The only reason you remained standing after expending such power, which I believe reached all the way to the heavens, was because your bond with Nuwa has always been exceptionally strong, stronger than Bing Yi's since your childhood, and she herself lent you her energy and memory that night, allowing you to accomplish what should have been impossible for you. That also explains why Yichen is more connected to Bing Yi than you are, as he should have sensed Nuwa's hold on your divine core, open and ready for her to reach at any time." He leaned closer to Yixuan sat at his other side, captivated by the unfolding mystery. He was now starting to clearly seen all the webs his two fathers waved when together.

"You see, Zhuo Yixuan, it seems you inherited more than one divine bloodline. This dual heritage makes you an anomaly among humans, and you have mastered it in a very unique way. I believe you have always maintained an active connection to the celestial realm, which explains why your powers are so different from your younger brother's. You retained more of Nuwa's divinity than Bing Yi, altering even the abilities you naturally inherit from the dragon god, such as your calming aura, which should be blue but is actually clearly gold. In other words, your access to Nuwa's divinity makes you indispensable to this future bond, further strengthening the link."

"My father may have planned this, likely having Bing Yi and Nuwa act together when the Zhuo family received the blood of the gods so they could help humanity to defend themselves against the demons. With two gods acting up, it is not impossible that the blood preserved an additional seal that will undo in a certain firstborn of your family, you to be precise, and it undid itself shortly after your birth, making you different from all the other members of your family and ancestors." Thinking back, Yichen felt Zhu Yan had hit the nail on the head, as it explained a lot about the power difference that hadn't been seen in his family for generations

 It also explained why Yun Guang chose him over his brother and why Bing Yin had never tried to possess him. If he drew power from Nuwa since childhood, it also explained why he could cast such powerful spells without exhausting himself and why he could transform Li Lun's demonic energy into divine energy when they saved him... everything fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

"Ge... I think he is right... it all makes sense it you put it like that." Yichen whispered as he looked at his brother and he nodded in agreement, for now he could also see the connection between everything.

"I think so too, but am I really the only one who inherits Nuwa's power?" Yixuan asked, still with a hint of doubt about it. Something in his intuition told him that it wasn't right for him to be the only one connected to Nuwa.

"I can't completely deny that Yichen is unconnected to Nuwa, especially since he's still young and his power hasn't fully matured, but if you've had it since childhood..."

"It may not be his time yet... I have a feeling it's not the right time for Yichen to have this connection yet. His case will also be an anomaly, having a latent connection to two gods at once. Bing Yi's possession had been very painful for him since he was young, so maybe is because of it." Yixuan said.

"Ah, well... about him giving Yichen a hard time when he was a child, I think it's because Bing Yi is essentially a divine beast, a dragon with a strong divine body and power, who used to be surrounded by equally strong demons and gods and with little interaction with humans except for a few exceptions like the Zhuo family, so perhaps, it made him think that he could handle his presence having a divine core, to protect him, so his approach was a bit excessive for a human child. My sincere apologies, my beloved Yichen, my second father was unintentionally, a bit rough on you." Zhu Yan said as he took Yichen's hand and kissed it, causing him to blush immediately.

"It's okay, that's all in the past and in contrast to Bing Yi, Nuwa knew how to approach humans better than anyone, as we are her creation, which explains why my brother was never aware of her influence or touch on his core. It fits." Yichen said, and everyone agreed.

"Yes, but this will certainly make this bond interesting, as one or perhaps two of us are connect directly with two gods. Once all the layers disappear, can we all gain that connection as well?" Ying Lei asked quite curiously.

"I think there's a chance that all of you humans could gain much more than just strength from this bond. There's also the possibility of an evolution beyond humanity, something close to demigodhood, or at least greater longevity and enhanced physical endurance." Zhu Yan added, and all eyes turned to the spirit sword, still by the window. 

"Perhaps that was the deal between my former Master and her, as we all know that a relationship between demons and humans isn't meant to last long, as the human lifespan is too short. In a world where two brothers are destined to intertwine their fates with demons, it seems evident that Bing Yi will yearn for their bond to endure beyond its natural limits. Such a longing could pave the way for a deeper alliance with Nuwa, offering protection and strength to future generations of humanity with new guardians protecting it, an outcome that also aligns with her intentions.  To be honest, it makes perfect sense. It's not just a possibility, it feels like an inevitability. As we navigate these uncertain waters, the hope for a lasting union may as well be the key to safeguarding both realms in the years to come." Yun Guang agree and Cao Wei whistle.

"So, there you have it, guys. With this new bond between your unit and the great demons, you could become something akin to gods, tasked with protecting humanity for future generations. Perhaps that's why you hook up so quickly and..." Jiang Ren punched him in the stomach and looked at him with a hint of annoyance.

"Just because it took you so many years to have a serious relationship doesn't mean others can't. They've been working together long enough to have a deeper relationship. At least they are more honest and open than certain fools... eight years wasted, I swear... I wish it had been a month for us." He grumbled as he stood up and walked out of the kitchen to the training ground, followed closely by his Cao Wei, begging for forgiveness like a lost puppy. They laughed.

"Well, I guess we've pretty much covered the basics of this binding spell. There's nothing else to do for now until Li Lun agrees. Perhaps I can modify the training spheres to help you train your minds and prepare for the connection. All the demons within the spheres' dimensions are created by me.  They're not real demons, so I can modify them to be more like fox demons, known for their mental manipulations. This way, you'll gain more experience building mental shields to prepare for the real thing. What do you think?" Zhu Yan asked Yichen's unit.

"That will be welcome, Zhu Yan. I'd love that training, and as my unit Commander, we'll do our best to make it work while we can." Pei Sijing said confidently, as her unit had always worked wonderfully together.

"Go for it." Yin Lei gave him a thumbs up and Zhu Yan found it curious that the young man was so enthusiastic about the new training. He sensed that, of all of them, Ying Lei needed it the least. His specialty was shields, so creating them would be quite easy for him. But hey, he wasn't going to spoil the fun for the young man at all.

"Fine, but that'll be for tomorrow, since my Xiao Zhuo and Bai Jiu need to rest first. Besides... if I were you, I'd take this opportunity to connect privately, before it goes public." Zhu Yan joked and Yichen was on fire, as was Bai Jiu, who was actually thinking of spending some time alone with Ying Lei before the bond was established.

"You! Perverted monkey! Don't expect me to..." Yichen began in an indignant tone, but Yixuan coughed loudly to get his attention.

"Xiao Chen, he's teasing. Don't listen to him. Eat breakfast and then rest. Remember, Zhu Yan will never do anything against your will." His brother advised him, but of course, as he listened and began to eat breakfast like everyone else, he couldn't help thinking that yes, Zhu Yan would never force him to do anything, but that opened the door to what he wanted from Zhu Yan, and that made him blush so much that he was eager to finish his breakfast, so he could run to his room and hide his face under the covers, ashamed of all those impure thoughts crowding his mind. Damn monkey.

That bond was going to be the end of him, no doubts.

AN: Ah, Yichen, you can do so much in a free day, right Zhu Yan? LOL. Yep, next time the unit will have some fun. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care darlings.

Chapter Text

As soon as Yichen could, he headed to his room on the second floor, actively refusing Zhu Yuan's repeated offers to carry him again, insisting that he should be very tired, which he was, but he wasn't going to accept any of his offers because one, he could walk just fine and two, he was now quite aware of the growing attraction he had for Zhu Yan, with his imagination running wild now that their private time seemed to have been cut short.

Once inside the safety of his room, he ignored the throbbing pain throughout his body from the removal of the layer, as well as the crackling of the others and the different types of energy collapsing against themselves before his core was mended. He was tired, but he desperately needed to meditate and get Zhu Yan out of his head, not to mention trying to find a way to block him as well as the rest of his unit.

The ordeal of the bond would undoubtedly complicate things for him more than for the others. He knew about the relationship between his younger brother and Ying Lei, he was also aware of Wen Xiao's attraction to their Commander, Pei Sijing, and, of course, he was aware of his brother's possible relationship with Li Lun, having already told him he wouldn't object if it happened, and he had no problem with it. His unit was very understanding and supportive, so at most, he would feel some embarrassment on his part, but his case was different.

He was already involved in a physical relationship with Zhu Yan, who had become an omnipresent force in his life since they crossed paths. For three long weeks, he resisted this closeness, convincing himself that he didn't share the same feelings, that he was only using Zhu Yan's warmth to counteract the coldness that Bing Yi's energy often instilled in him. In truth, there was nowhere he felt safer than by his side, yet he fought those emotions, telling himself that he was only a temporary refuge.

However, everything changed in an instant when Zhu Yan kissed him, or rather, when he kissed him, encouraged by the wine they had drunk that night. That moment ignited a fire within him, one he had been blissfully unaware of until it was lit, consuming his resolve and leaving him wanting more. Now he felt lost, unable to quench this new desire or lessen its intensity. Once he have crossed that line, it was impossible to go back, but he also couldn't allow his desires to take control of his mind, especially when there was a chance that others could also see how vulnerable he was about his feelings for Zhu Yan behind his close door.

Yichen wanted to scream in frustration, but being a disciplined man, he did his best to truly meditate, to let go of everything else that wasn't necessary to fulfill his mission to keep his people safe, to save Bing Yi, to save the world, but even after a few hours of trying really hard, in the end those damn words of him telling them to seize the opportunity while they still could kept coming back to slap him in the face and laugh at his futile attempts to forget.

"That damn monkey!" Yichen yelled in frustration as he tried to refocus on his meditation to raise his mental shields.

Elsewhere, Zhu Yan smirked at the sound of his beloved Yichen cursing him, knowing full well why he did so, having seen him struggle in his meditation while sitting on his bed in the lotus position. He was amused to see Yichen frown as he meditated, not because of the pain or discomfort of having undo a core layer that morning, but because he probably couldn't get over what he had said earlier. Zhu Yan could even feel his young lover's heat from his favorite tree where he was looking down on him. It was too easy to provoke him, still so young, but he knew that in time, Yichen will grow and mature, and then he will be the one in troubles, when his lover learns to tease him back, in an even more irresistible way. Ah, he was looking forward to that moment.

However, that would be for much later in their relationship, as now he needed to ensure that everyone survived the imminent threat looming over them. Not only did he have to worry about Bing Yi being confined within the demon realm, but he also sensed an increase in the ferocity of the forest demons. The demons of the Forest of Convergence had been mostly hostile among the demon hunters, as it was in their nature to do so, though not to the extent he perceived. Perhaps Li Lun was right, and something was influencing not only the demons inside their realm, but those in the human world as well. So far, he sensed the change, but not the reason, though that could likely spell trouble for the demon hunters still patrolling the forest.

Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away from Zhuo Yichen and focused on the depths of the forest. He could see the towers the humans had built for both protection and barriers, and the numerous units ensuring no demons entered the Citade, something that was now routine, but he could also see some high-level demons going out of their way to... gather? Since when did demons work together?

Surprised, he listened intently as the demons murmured their plans, their desire to kill humans, massacre them, enter cities outside the protection of the Demon Hunter Citadel, then when the demon hunters left his dimension to fight them, they planned to kill them too, painfully and even some whisper to want to eat them and open a path for other demons from the other realm to tempt them in as well. They had grown thirsty for blood and power in the few weeks that the humans had shown them mercy. They had also forgotten to fear him, since he had allowed humans to enter his personal dimension.

Perhaps he had been too distracted by the humans in his mansion, most of all, Yichen, that he hadn't been able to keep a better eye on things outside the mansion. Since his barrier couldn't be breached by any of the forest demons, he had neglected his previous careful surveillance to keep an eye on them and now they think they could do as they pleased in his territory?

Deep anger erupted inside Zhu Yan chest. He had waited patiently for things to develop as they were now, had endured centuries of solitude waiting for his destined one, and now that he was delighted to have him by his side for the rest of eternity if it was up to him, no other demon, weak or strong, would ruin the happiness he finally enjoyed. No will will take away what he cherish, love and will die for, more less feed on it! NO ONE!!! Feeling a little guilty for having to intrude into his young lover's mind when he was struggling to keep him out, Zhu Yan connected with all the humans within his mansion and mentally told them not to panic or leave the barrier, as he was about to manifest above the forest, having detected an unwanted change in the forest's demons.

Then, to the astonishment of the demon hunters in the inner ring and the many towers overlooking it, they saw a huge white dragon in all his magnificent glory manifest above the forest as it roared with power. For all the demon hunters who saw or heard it, that was the first time in who knows how many centuries that the great demon Zhu Yan had displayed one of his true forms and terrifying power. 

Everything in the forest for hundreds of kilometers around felt the pressure of his demonic energy, felt his anger deeply rooted in their bones and souls, and Li Lun, still somewhere within the forest, almost collapsed to his knees under Zhu Yan's demonic pressure, forcing him to root himself to a tree to avoid it and he is the second strongest demon within the human world, which speaks volumes about how much energy he was releasing at once, barely holding on to the remainder of his crushing power, as any more pressure could even break bones. Zhu Yan was mad, no, he was enraged and Li Lun thought it was about time he figured out what he had missed, but it was clear that he was also overdoing it.

"Here me out, demons of this forest... this is my territory. Don't you dare think you can start another war under my watch. I warn you that although I was previously reluctant to get involved in the affairs of this world and allowed you to do as you pleased, that is no longer the case. Any attempt to massacre humans here or in nearby cities will be met with my wrath multiplied tenfold. Next time I will reduce you to ashes, one by one and I will enjoy it!" The deep voice, a mixture of something animal and human at the same time, could be heard all the way to the very foundations of the Citadel, where alarm bells were ringing everywhere.

Fan Ying, like all the other demon hunters in the Citadel, watched the forest as Zhu Yan delivered his warning. He was pleased that the great demon had been attracted to the young Zhuo, which strengthened his desire to protect humanity on a deeper level, because if he ever decided to switch sides, nothing could stop him. Demonic pressure was something that all demons with great power had, but how they used it depended entirely on how they needed it, so only demons could feel it in their bones, but judging from the resonance of the voice, clearly not completely human, Fan Ying could tell that Zhu Yan was enraged and wasn't exactly holding back on those who had made him like this.

Then, he also watched as the purple mist that used to cling to the ground across the thousands of miles of the forest began to recede, as if it had been absorbed by the colossal white dragon with its shining scales that reflected the sun, giving it an almost heavenly golden glow. This mist was the source that the demons used to cultivate, and if Zhu Yan removed it, it would weaken those who had yet to acquire the ability to change form and curtail the power of those who fed on it to become stronger. In short, Zhu Yan's fury was truly terrifying, and by the time he was satisfied, only a third of the mist remained in the forest and all the demons shrank under the pressure that threatened to break them as easily as branches break in a wind storm.

Back at the mansion, Yichen and the others went outside to watch Zhu Yan on his dragon form, which shone in the sun like a god, terrifying and fascinating at the same time, as it glided through the sky above the forest like a hunter watching for its prey. Yichen heard Wen Xiao say that this was the only time Zhu Yan had manifested in human history, and he found it hard to believe that such a powerful beast was his lover, his soulmate, the source of his desire and at times, even despair.

"Xiao Zhuo Ge... Is Zhu Yan angry with us too?" Bai Jiu asked from beside him, fear evident in his caramel innocent eyes. Yichen smiled at him as he put an arm around the young man's shoulders.

"Of course not. I don't know what happened, but you heard it too, right? Before he took his dragon form, he asked us not to panic and his anger wasn't directed at us... but still, this is too much..."

"Do you think so?" Bai Jiu asked, looking at him with intrigue.

"Yes, he's showing off, as always." Yichen replied, which greatly relaxed him.

"I wonder what happened to him to make him act like this. Did the forest demons act against him in some way?" Ying Lei asked, and a breeze whipped through them, bringing leaves that took human form right next to Zhuo Yixuan.

"The demons were planning a war against the humans inside the Citadel. He just found out..." Li Lun said as he looked at Zhu Yan's dragon form.

"Did you knew about it?" Yixuan asked.

"How long have I been here... three days at most? Yet, I've just been informed of the unusual activity of the demons living in the forest. It should be a shame for Zhu Yan to discover that they've started acting in his territory. Of course, doing that it's not only foolish, but also dangerous. They used to fear him, but since he briefly looked away, they've become too arrogant, and a dragon with a human mate right inside his territory isn't something you want to threaten. It's a miracle he didn't burn the forest and everything inside and only took the demonic energy away. He'll need to cultivate it for a couple of days, but he will be even stronger when he's done with it." Li Lun explained.

"I suppose we should stay out of his way, right?" Cao Wei asked, as the others stared at Li Lun.

"Not really. Zhu Yan's anger is directed at demons, so I guess I'll be the one to get out of his way. Not that he will take it on me, he's too soft for that." Li Lun said, and Yichen smiled.

"That he is, but I think it's best to leave him alone for a while, at least until he calms down." Yichen suggested, and Li Lun laughed at his naiveté.

"Zhuo Yichen, with an enraged dragon acting to protect his mate and those he equally cherish, he will seek you out for comfort once he cultivates the energy he just absorbed. I'm afraid you won't stay away from him, as he will be in heat..." Yichen looked at him in surprise, his face burning with flames.

"Heat?" He managed to ask, though he already had an idea of ​​what it meant.

"Yes, heat. When a dragon goes into protective mode, his instincts are ignited. He will seek you out right after he finishes his cultivation, and what he does next will depend entirely on his self-control and your willpower, which is the only thing that can stop him. Zhu Yan will most likely be torn between the primal urge to wrap you in his fierce embrace, wanting to take you in a way to mark you as his, and the conscious decision to temper that instinct with restraint, since you are still human. Until that protective fervor subsides, he will be completely devoted to you." Li Lun said with an intensity that sent shivers down Yichen's spine, not really knowing whether to fear this new side of Zhu Yan or not.

"And how long will that last?" Yixuan asked, somewhat worried for Yichen, although he knew Zhu Yan would never hurt his brother.

"I don't know. I've never seen it before. I only know the old stories. Dragons are fierce lovers, which is why they mate with only one partner for life. Consider how a threat will feel to your lover, even if that threat comes from someone of lesser power. The mere thought of someone trying to hurt what is so precious to him is enough to infuriate him, and in return, only his partner can calm his fears, whether rationals or not."

"You'll have a hard time, Xiao Zhuo..." Wen Xiao said with a mocking smile, and Yichen blushed even deeper. Not only was he now unable to forget Zhu Yan, but the great demon too was going to follow the same path. Of course, he knew how it would end, and worst of all, a part of him longed for it.

"By the way, Li Lun, there's something else we need to discuss regarding the upcoming mission to the demon world. Can we talk a little now? Not that there's anything else to do, now that Zhu Yan needs a few days of cultivation. I promise to be brief, as I need to go to the Citadel and assure the High Commander that Zhu Yan has no disloyal intentions toward humans." Yixuan said politely, and Li Lun stared at him for a moment before sighing.

"You're too polite. I... will no longer oppose your plans to come with us. If you want to risk your life, that's your right, not mine." Li Lun admitted a little uncomfortably, and Yixuan smiled at him.

"I'm very glad you agree, but what I need to ask you is something else, I'm afraid no less disturbing than the first matter that enraged you." Yixuan explained, making Li Lun frown. What else had those crazy humans plan in the few hours he'd been gone?

"What now?" He asked, almost afraid of hearing his answer.

"A group binding spell with you included if you agree, of course." Yixuan said as he gently took Li Lun's by his arm and guided him back inside the mansion, somewhat in a dazed from which Li Lun didn't want to wake up. Damned humans...

AN: LOL. Ah, poor Li Lun, but well, you will benefit greatly of it. 😏😉 Next, there will be some heat! I hope you like this development and until next time, take care. Thanks for reading!

Chapter Text

Since arriving in the human world, Li Lun could say that he hadn't had any real time to rest or take a break with all the crazy things those humans came up with at every turn. Although he had to admit that this time the forest demons had acted too recklessly, whether due to outside influence or their own violation, he didn't trust humans very much either. He knew that humans liked to take advantage of any opportunity to do terrible things, and he was sure that Zhu Yan had created that open door in his anger, so he had asked Zhuo Yixuan to take him with him when he returned to the Citadel to explain things to his superiors.

That's why he found himself walking toward the Demon Hunting Bureau with him, even though the last thing he wanted was to enter a human town with everyone staring at him every step of the way. He had to admit that their gazes were not hostile, but rather curious and a few women even smiled at him, yet none of them had tried to approach him, but walking among humans made him uneasy, even though the person next to him was sending out calming waves to sooth his mood and evident distrust.

Yixuan had told him about the group bond, and Li Lun had asked for time to think it over. Although a bond of that level would bring him some notable benefits, he still needed to thoroughly analyze it in the long term. A permanent bond should never be taken lightly, no matter how good it seems, as there are always consequences to bonding with someone, even if they don't seem obvious at first glance. He didn't mind being linked with the Zhuo brothers which he have a degree of trust on them or even Zhu Yan, since they had known each other for so long, but he wasn't sure about being linked with the others, and anyway, it wasn't like they could do so right away since Zhu Yan was now 'sealed' in his room on the third floor for who knows how long.

They climbed the long stairs to the Bureau, where numerous demon hunters greeted them respectfully. A man Yixuan had called Fan Ying was waiting for them at the top of the stairs with a smile that, while not insincere, was at least somewhat forced. He was told that the man had dealt with Zhu Yan before, so he was more or less comfortable with his presence. However, Li Lun didn't exactly seem happy to be there, so to the humans, he seemed more imposing than Zhu Yan, even if Zhu Yan was a lot stronger than him.

"High Commander Fan Ying, I came to inform you of what happened and what we have learned since our last conversation regarding the search for the dragon god Bing Yi. This is Li Lun, the great demon we spoke of earlier, who had come to aid us in our quest. I assure you that he is someone Zhu Yan trusts, as I do, and although he has had his doubts about human sincerity, having witnessed some of our worst behavior over the centuries, he is still willing to help, as previously foreseen by the Baize goddess." Yixuan introduced him with a slight bow in a sign of respect, but Li Lun didn't move at all, not even to greet him with a simple nod.

"I see, come in. There are some things we must discuss." Fan Ying said, leading them to a room where they could talk privately. Once inside, Fan Ying cast a sealing spell, just in case, as the Citadel, although independent, still served the king, so it had spies everywhere. Li Lun was glad that at least this man was smart enough to keep the conversation private. 

"Zhuo Yixuan, tell me what that was. I know Zhu Yan's warning was for the demons, but if you could explain things further, that would be wonderful. Before this display of fury from Zhu Yan, we had seen some unusual behavior from the demons, but nothing that threatened us more than usual, which was why we didn't act more forcefully against them so as not to jeopardize our truce with Zhu Yan." Fan Ying said as he sat down and gestured for the other two to do the same. 

"You're right to fear Zhu Yan, because he's quite terrifying as a demon. I know his charming personality and love for humans make him seem tame, but you had no idea how deadly his true nature can be. There's a very good reason why he was chosen to guard the gate to the demon world and why other great demons fear him enough to stay inside. Even I struggled to stand in the forest while he unleashed his demonic pressure, and that wasn't even a ten percent of what he can do, as he only used his dragon form, which is very powerful, but nowhere near his strongest." Li Lun said, and Fan Ying gulped.

"I can see how strong he is. Don't worry, we won't think he's easy to manipulate, or at least not us, the demon hunters who have been fighting against them for decades and want this war to end for good. We owe a lot to Zhu Yan for protecting humanity from the demons on the other side and also from the demons in this forest. Before we met him personally, there was a legend passed down from generation to generation among the demon hunters of this Citadel, about a small white monkey that was considered a good omen for all who saw it, as whenever they saw it around the forest, no demon would attack the hunters for thousands of miles or even days."

"Back then, we didn't know that this small white monkey was none other than Zhu Yan, so when we found out it was him, he became our symbol of protection and we are very grateful for having saved the lives of many hunters, even if it was just by his presence, as no other demon would come near when he strolled through the forest, not coincidentally when one or more units needed that rest when seriously injured or at their limits. He gave us a respite and a break for our tired bodies ​​for centuries. I am an honorable man and as long as I am in charge of this Citadel, no demon hunter will ever act against him, nor will they even want to, as he made a very good impression when he came here last time and our demon hunters like him quite a lot." Fan Yin assured him, but Li Lun wasn't satisfied with that.

"It's fine that the demon hunters in this Citadel respect him, but I know how scheming humans can be, and after such a display of power, some humans with a hidden agenda might think they can take advantage of it, especially when his lover is a young human hunter who can be used against him."

"Li Lun!" Yixuan protested, but Li Lun wasn't finished yet. 

"This Citadel is one thing, but humans have such a complicated system of command that not always go along with the same view. Your king might see Zhu Yan as a threat after what he did in the forest, even though all he has done so far is protect humanity. I fear they will use your brother to try to manipulate and subdue him, or who knows what else. However, before any of you humans think of doing anything like that, let me warn you that Zhu Yan cannot be manipulated, as he has been blessed by the three major gods, one of whom was the creator of humanity, and if you ever try anything against him or his destined lover, you humans will receive divine punishment. If you want confirmation of this, you can ask Nuwa herself, as Zhuo Yixuan is directly connected to the heavenly realm, and I am sure she is listening to every word we say here right now." Li Lun said, and as if on cue, Yixuan's eyes flashed gold, while a strong golden energy was released with a huge smoky golden snake coiling around the room, as proof that Nuwa was indeed listening. 

Then Yixuan, still under Nuwa's control, stood up and extended his hand. Golden flames burst from his palm, and several objects emerged from the heavenly fire. The first was a golden pendant, the second a heavenly seal, the third a jade bottle, the forth a golden sphere and the last a small bell.

"I have foreseen that the king might want to take advantage of my son, Zhu Yan. Although Ying Long was the one who blessed him with his blood, Zhu Yan is as dear to me as he was to him, for I too blessed the energy from which he was born. This pendant will protect you from those who wish to harm or use you. Be sure to wear it at all times, and no court minister will be able to gain control over you. This seal must be presented to your king if you are ever summoned into his presence. This will remind your many kings that their rule comes from the heavens, as they like to proclaim far and wide, and that the heavens will judge them according to their sins if they ever stray and act only to serve themselves rather than the people or for the good of their world. I once made a mistake that led to war, but I will not allow my children to cause further harm in my name. This bell is for the protection of this Citadel from both greedy humans and demons. Simply throw it into the sky outside this Bureau, and the bell will protect anyone who remains faithful to humanity and expel those who do not. And finally, the pills inside this bottle..." She took a golden pill from the jade bottle and offered it to Fan Ying, who was understandably deeply surprised by the presence of the mother of humanity, widely revered in the human lands. He took it in his hand and bowed to her.

"Call for a night of celebration in the Citadel, and inside a large jug of wine, place the pill and give all the hunters wine from the jug to drink, which will never be emptied. This will protect the hunters against the demons if they rebel and try to exterminate them, as they will not receive mortal wounds, so make sure all the bottles are filled with this wine. The remaining pill is for those within the Zhu Yan dimension." She offered the bottle to Li Lun, who took it and safeguard it on his robes, while staring intently at her golden eyes. It was unsettling that, even though it was Yixuan's body, it was her voice that spoke.

"Great demon Li Lun, this child will be free from my influence as soon as this matter is resolved. I know you see me as your enemy in the past war, but I assure you that I am not and never have been. The reason demons complain that the world Ying Long created for them is not as luxurious as the human world is not because he look down on his own kind, but because the seal that was meant to contain Ying Long's power of creation was stopped before completion, and the energy leaked directly into this world. If we manage to seal the demonic realm completely, you will enjoy a world even more beautiful than this one. The war did not happen because we gods hate you, but because you gave in to your corrupt side and massacred millions of humans, both wicked and innocents alike. This made us realize that you could no longer share the same world, so Ying Long created a better one for all of you to live in peace."

"The bond that was offered to you, please accept it. Not because I said so, but because it will give you more than you can imagine. It will open a door you believe was close and give you the one thing you have always seek. When you first cross path with Ying Long, back when you had barely take human form, he saw your future and seal it inside this..." Nuwa said as she offer Li Lun the small sphere, which was the last of the items she summon. Li Lun hesitate for a moment to take it, but he did it anyways, placing it on the inside of his black robes too.

"If you have ever wished to be truly happy alongside someone who loves you just as you are, without questions, this is your opportunity, your choice. Have a look at the future Ying Long envisions for you and decide if it's what you desire or simply nonsense created by an ancient demon god, as you once called him. Nothing is set in stone, and that future may never come true if you discard it, but if it tempts you, hold on to it and don't let go. Take good care of him, all my children within Zhu Yan's dimension are trustworthy and will never harm you. They were carefully chosen for that reason, as a sign of our desire to bring a peaceful end to a war that should never have happened." She said, and once she stopped wielding her influence over Yixuan, Li Lun found himself catching him with his strong arms before the man could fall to the ground.

Then Yixuan spat out a little blood as he was released from her sudden possession on him, and he looked up at Li Lun, who was still holding him in his arms while looking at him with mixed feelings that Yixuan couldn't decipher, as they quickly faded away.

"Hey, are you okay? Your brother was pretty hurt from Bing Yi's possession." Li Lun asked him, as Yixuan wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled at him.

"It's not that bad, but... You knew, Li Lun? About my connection with Nuwa?" Yixuan asked the pagoda tree demon, who smirked at him in amusement.

"I wasn't sure, just guessed as much. The spell you cast during our first meeting, for example, was created by Bing Yi, meaning only a god could perform it, yet you did it as a human, without learning it and with relatively little effort, which should have been impossible unless you had someone powerful backing you up.  Also, the flower I gave you affected your brother's core, while yours didn't, why is that? The answer for me was that there's someone else protecting you, if not Bing Yi, who is sealed and your connection to him is weaker than your brother's, nor Ying Long, who sacrificed himself for the demons, then who?" Li Lun asked, and Yixuan, understanding his logic, smiled quite pleased with his wits.

"I guess that leaves Nuwa. You're very cunning, Master Li Lun." Yixuan teased him as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders, not caring that Li Lun didn't seem to be in any hurry to let him down.

"Enough about the Master thing. The point is, what I suspected is confirmed, and you are her human vessel, meaning she will be ware of what happen until we resolve Cheng Huang's problem. Fang Ying, do as the goddess said and use the bell to show humans that this man in my arms as well as those in Zhu Yan's mansion cannot be touched, not even by the king himself. I assure you, as I've personally witnessed, that heavenly retribution is so destructive it could turn your imperial city in a pile of ashes in the blink of an eye." Li Lun warned, and of course, Fan Ying knew this very well and was even happy to have a very good card in his favor if things got complicated and the king tried to take the opportunity to try something more drastic.

"Of course, the goddess's wish is my command, please lead the way..."Fan Ying said as he looked at them both. 

"Li Lun... you can take me down now..." Yixuan said, a little embarrassed. It was one thing to be seen like this in the presence of a friend, but it was quite another to be carried like a bridegroom in front of the entire Citadel population, as the Bureau was the tallest building in the Citadel and easily visible from the main gate.

"Why would I do that now, if this clearly shows that you are affected by her possession?" Li Lun asked, somewhat amused, seeing Yixuan's face finally show that rosy hue that was almost permanent on his younger brother with all of Zhu Yan's teasing. And to Yixuan's dismay, Li Lun used his power to open the gate and left with him still clinging to the great demon like a lost child.

At the top of the long staircase, Li Lun stop, attracting the attention of all the nearby hunters, especially when Yixuan's white robes was visibly stained with blood. Fan Ying took out the golden bell he was holding and rang it once. 

"Listen to me, demon hunters of this Citadel. We have been blessed with the presence of the mother of humanity, the goddess Nuwa, whose Zhuo Yixuan is now her vassal, and she has blessed our fortress with her protection so that nothing will happen to us until this war is over. Here, fellow hunters, witness the power of our goddess and her will!" Then Fan Ying threw the bell into the sky, and the small bell, a sacred gift from the goddess Nuwa, leaped into the sky and rang with a sound that shook the heavens.

Inside the fortress, the demon hunters stopped in awe. They witnessed a magnificent transformation as golden radiance transformed into a celestial seal, with countless divine symbols that danced in the air like starry whispers. Then a colossal serpent emerged from the celestial light, its scales glittering like precious gems. This majestic creature coiled around the Citadel, its gaze piercing the hearts of all who dwelled within.But this was not just a display of divine beauty, it was a judgment. The great serpent, embodying the wisdom of Nuwa, scrutinized every soul within its reach. It blessed those whose intentions were pure, those who were ready to protect and defend, marked those whose hearts harbored deceit and malice with a rejection seal.

Those who came not to help, but to plot for their own gain were mercilessly expelled through the Citadel's four gates. With each expulsion, they were met not only with rejection, but with an unbreakable seal of exclusion from the sanctuary the goddess wanted. The gates slammed shut behind those few, that were forever barred from entering.As tranquility returned to the Citadel, bathed in the lingering glow of Nuwa's blessing, those who were left stood united. They felt an unwavering purpose, guardians chosen by fate and divine will, to fulfill their sacred duty against the forces of darkness. The bell had not only heralded protection but had also strengthened their resolve to remain vigilant against any threat that dared to invade their homes. In the mist of cheers and cries of celebrations from been protected by the gods, Li Lun and Yixuan disappeared in a whirlpool of leaves.

AN: Sorry, sorry, I promise some heat, but this got in the way first, but worry not, I will double update so you can have your heat right away and not wait at all and as a bonus is a double heat!!Enjoy! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Bellow the cinematic scene of the snake and judgment, which is the golden fire like shine on the street, which expel all those who were unworthy. The spell cast away around two dozens of hunters, meaning that the vast majority of the demon hunters were true to their call to protect and save humanity from extinction. 😁

Chapter Text

ↆ Well, I guess you know what the flame hearts mean, right? Explicit content bellow. ↆ

Zhu Yan/Yichen

Five days after Zhu Yan unleashed his demonic pressure on the forest in his angry rampage and Nuwa created a seal over the Demon Hunters' Citadel, sending a message to all those with ulterior motives for the Citadel and the demon hunters, Yichen went to the steaming pool in one of the mansion's rooms after another hard day of training with Li Lun, who had taken Zhu Yan's place, so they could learn how to protect themselves from external attacks and mind control, not to mention to keep the privacy of their minds. Since Li Lun couldn't create dimensions or control the ones Zhu Yan had already created, he decided to train them personally while they hunted as a unit within Zhu Yan's training dimension, but with the added bonus that he was also hunting them down and trying to control their minds.

The first day of such grueling training was hell, not only physically, as they had to fight high-level demons in a mythical forest within the dimension, but also trying their best to block Li Lun's mental attacks, which were painful and practically impossible to deflect, except for Ying Lei and his brother Yixuan, which both managed it quite easily. Then Bai Jiu begged Ying Lei for a hint on how to protect themselves from Li Lun's control, which sometimes forced them to do embarrassing things as punishment (like Bai Jiu acting like a chicken, Pei Siheng barking like a dog, Wen Xiao howling like a wolf, Pei Sijing braying like a donkey, and him... well, he didn't even want to remember that humiliation). After Ying Lei laughed contentedly at all their animal imitations, including his behaving like a frog, which traumatized him a bit, Ying Lei explained how to create mental shields, and although their second day of training was just as humiliating, at least it lasted less that time.

The third day was a true mind war, as they slaughtered all the demons in their way mercilessly and prepared for Li Lun's painful assault. They resisted his commands for the first few minutes, and even if their shields were broken, they were able to raise them again and again. By the fourth day, it was easier to resist Li Lun for longer periods, and by the fifth day, they were able to defend themselves, and even when their shields were broken at some point under his pressure, they were still able to resist his commands to act like animals.

During those five exhausting days, he had missed Zhu Yan in his bed terribly, realizing how pampered he had been each night when Zhu Yan soothed his pain, hugged him to share his warmth, and made him feel safe. He also craved his closeness, his gentleness, his arms wrapped around his waist, his soft kisses, his innuendos, and even his shameless comments. Now, the softness of his bed was useless without him, as he only fell asleep exhausted without any real rest, and he wished he had his perverted monkey back by his side.

Li Lun had told him that Zhu Yan's cultivation was probably higher than expected, as he had absorbed so much demonic energy from the forest, but once he achieved it, he would be the first one he would seek out no matter where he was: in his room, in his training dimension, in the cultivation room, in the kitchen, outside, in the forest, in the Citadel while bringing supplies along with Ying Lei, or anywhere else he happened to be. Although Zhu Yan didn't possess natural teleportation powers like Li Lun, that didn't mean he couldn't travel great distances, after all, he was also half-dragon.

With a sigh, Yichen clean himself of all the sweat from training after so many hours of running through the creepy demon-infested forest that Zhu Yan had created for training, as well as all the effort it had taken to block Li Lun's repeated intrusions into his mind, not to mention all the attacks he had launched with his damn vines! He was bruised all over, not to mention the scratches he gained when dragged across the ground, just like the rest, including poor Wen Xiao, who demanded that Li Lun heal her face every time she got a cut. Yichen smiled to himself remembering that, as it seemed that the women in his unit were fiercer than the men by far.

"Come on, Zhu Yan... I miss you... Please come back now... Li Lun is too much..." Yichen whined as he submerged himself in the warm water of the large magical pool to try to relax his aching muscles and clean his long hair. 

As he hurriedly stood up, gasping for air, moving his head back in time with the motion of his body to get his wet hair away from his face, splashing water at the back of the pool where he bathed alone (since all of the men refused to bathe with him in case Zhu Yan suddenly show up, for which he bathed at night after everyone got out), he didn't notice that he was being watched. Well, that was not exactly right, but rather a demon who had just finish his cultivation was admiring him with great hunger in his eyes. As Yichen wiped the warm water from his face, said demon approached his lover, with crimson eyes, demonic tattoos on his cheeks, long pure white hair, and pitch-black claws instead of nails, all that because he was still caught in the small remnants of his cultivation.

Then Yichen turned his head to look back and was surprised to see him standing there, looking even more like the demon he was than Yichen was used to seeing. Even so, the young man stay there, almost paralyzed by the mesmerizing sight of Zhu Yan after five long days without his presence.

"Zhu Yan..." He whispered as he watched the great demon walk slowly to the edge of the pool, like a predator to his prey, his eyes never leaving Yichen's bare chest, as the steaming water reached his ribs, which only increased Zhu Yan's desire for the beautiful man he could call his own.

"Xiao Zhou... you are too beautiful, too perfect, too tempting right now, that I'm afraid I may not be able to control myself this time..."

"I was told you were going to be in some kind of heat after your cultivation..."

"Who told you that?"

"Li Lun."

"That stupid grumpy tree head... was he the one who gave you those bruises too?" Zhu Yan asked hoarsely.

"Him and some other demons in your training dimensions. Let me tell you, they're all chillingly creepy. We trained with him in your absence, and he was merciless, but even I had to admit that his training, ruthless as it was, somewhat paid off. We are better at building shields and fighting high-level demons now. It was your initial idea before you... well, got angry and absorbed most of the forest's demonic energy, so we thought it was better to follow it, so not to waste the time and let you cultivate as long as you need it."

"So, you didn't miss me?" Zhu Yan almost pouted, and Yichen laughed.

"Are you kidding me? I prayed every night for you to show up, and I'd rather have you train me than Li Lun. At the very least, you would have healed my wounds after training, hugged me, stayed in bed with me, warmed me up... kissed me..." Yichen whispered, blushing, but he didn't take his eyes off Zhu Yan, whose crimson eyes shone with a deeper desire.

"Yichen..."

"I know what you seek from me. I have five days to understand what it means to become a demon lover. Even though you may look human most of the time, deep down, you're still an monkey..."

"An ape... a white ape, or a white dragon, for that matter." Zhu Yan sighed, and Yichen smirked.

"Of course... because an ape isn't a monkey..."

"Xiao Zhuo, you..."

"Zhu Yan, I'm willing... I'm willing to be with you however you need, not because I'm forced to, but because it's what I want too. Just one thing..."

"What?"

"Whatever we do, don't mark me, don't make me your mate yet." Zhu Yan cursed Li Lun under his breath, suddenly badly wanting to set a pagoda tree on fire, which made Yichen smile.

"It's not his fault, in fact, it's a good thing he told me about your heat mode. I sincerely love you Zhu Yan and miss you like you have no idea, but even if I want to be your mate as much as you do, that can't interfere with what we still have to do. The stakes are so high that we can't reveal who we are before we reach the Crystal Valley, otherwise, this mission could be over before it even begins. So promise me, Zhu Yan, that you won't mark me until we find Bing Yi, everything else is allowed."

"Everything? You sure about that?" Zhu Yan asked in eager anticipation.

"Yes."

"Then I promise you, Zhuo Yichen, that I will do my best to restrain my instinct. If I break my promise and mark you before we find Bing Yi, you can kill whenever you want, since only with death can my mark be erased."

"Stupid monkey, don't curse yourself like that!" Yichen exclaimed angrily and Zhu Yan laughed. Then in a movement so quick that Yichen didn't have time to see or register it, Zhu Yan was in the water, pulling him close and kissing him with passion, making his heart overwhelmed with strong emotions he had keep under lock while Zhu Yan cultivate.

Yichen had been fantasizing about this moment for a while, so he let Zhu Yan set the pace, follow his passion, let him touch his already naked body as he pleased while he moaned with the intense pleasure. He loved him badly enough to offer himself to him, so he relaxed and simply let Zhu Yan love him back. He knew that Zhu Yan will never hurt him, thus he trust him, there was no need to hide anything nor shame in what they shared. And Zhu Yan make his blood boil with every deep kiss, make his mind go dark as his heart threatened to blow inside his chest.

"Yichen... I love you..."

"Me too, please don't stop..." He whisper between kisses and didn't resist when Zhu Yan lifted him on his arms and sit him at the border of the pool, exposing him in full as they keep kissing, while Zhu Yan press him closer. Then he give up on his mouth to explore his wet neck, which Zhu Yan licked with his warm tongue from his earbud all the way down toward the curve of his shoulder. By then, Yichen was rock hard and the intensity of the sensations over his heated skin, as long as his member slightly rubbing over Zhu Yan's fancy wet robes, make him moan as he arched his back. His wet hair falling like dark rivers over his back and pool floor as Zhu Yan claws retrieved into normal nails that very softly traced down his wide shoulders, pass his spine and down his hips, sending pleasant fire sparks signals all over his skin that make Yichen crazy.

"Zhu Yan... Oh gods..." But the great demon was only just getting started and he gently pushed Yichen away, just enough so that he could admire Xiao Zhuo's fair skin, his tall, slender body that was just too alluring, perfectly smooth and toned in all the right places and even if there were traces of training bruises, Yichen was beautiful in his crimson eyes and most of all, he wanted to taste that pink fountain of his desire that was pulsing with anticipation.

Yichen, on the other hand, felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as he caught Zhu Yan's gaze. He was shy most of the time when Zhu Yan relentlessly teased him, but he couldn't deny the intense feelings that stirred inside him, already burning him from the inside out. He had always admired Zhu Yan's confidence and beauty, and he found himself drawn to the great demon, which was still unfairly dressed.

"Take off your clothes..." Yichen ordered Zhu Yan, but Zhu Yan only smiled mockingly in return.

"Xiao Zhuo, that's your job. Come and undress me piece by piece." Zhu Yan said, opening his arms in invitation. Yichen blushed even more as he grabbed his belt with trembling fingers. His robe, a deep wine and gold, floated in the water after being release from the belt hold. Then Yichen pulled Zhu Yan between his legs to remove the first layer, letting it completely fall into the water. The second layer had a small bow that he easily untied and once again, let the precious piece fall, as did the next, until the last one finally revealed what he wanted to see, Zhu Yan's perfect skin, his nipples already hard from previous touches and kissing.

He stared with intense ardor at Zhu Yuan's nakedness, memorizing every curve of his skin, every bone, every muscle that made him so alluring. When Zhu Yan looked at him in amusement, Yichen kissed him hard before he could ruin the special moment by asking him if he liked what he was admiring. Stupid monkey, but he was so turned on by him that he too explored that beautiful masterpiece beneath his fingers and found it hot... and he meant really hot, since Zhu Yan's heat was apparently literal, beyond what it implied.

So he played with Zhu Yan's nipples as they kissed, earning a deep moan from him and a more desperate kiss, but Yichen wanted to hear more from Zhu Yan, much more and his hands ran all the way to the edge of his pants which made Zhu Yan gasp, then went lower right over Zhu Yan's hardness, throbbing hard as he wrapped his hand over it.

Although Yichen was inexperienced by all means, it didn't mean he didn't know how to please a man, being one himself, thus he did to Zhu Yan all those things that he wanted done to him. He wanted for Zhu Yan to feel not only his desire but his love, which was the fuel to his sudden boldness and confidence that he could make him yell his name while lost on feelings. And he tasted Zhu Yan's hard nipple while rubbing his hard erection under the warm water and was pleased to find that Zhu Yan was quite satisfied with his performance so far, as more red demonic tattoos came to life on the sides of his pulsing neck and on his shoulders, also as he gently teased Zhu Yan's sensitive head underwater, seen traces of his skin turning glossy, with a hint of scales.

"Xiao Zhuo... If you don't want me to mark you... don't tease me too far..." Zhu Yan warned him, as he gently gather Yichen's flushed face in his hands, loving when his beautiful eyes brighten to electrifying turquoise blue, but Yichen had dream with that moment for days and he wanted to prove that he can be a good lover for a half monkey, half dragon, demon. The strongest of them all, the one who love him so tenderly, the one who make his heart go wild, the one he has come to treasure and want him by his side for life.

So he suddenly pushed Zhu Yan backward into the water. Taking Zhu Yan by surprise as he sink and feel warm lips kissing him as their bodies pressed together below the water, until Zhu Yan pull them both above to breath and kiss again. The kiss became intense, the caresses scorching, and when Yichen pulled down Zhu Yan's pants and rubbed his own erection against his. Zhu Yan found it hard to resist what his entire body was screaming at him to do, because he wanted that beautiful man, he need him, he could feel it in his very soul that he no longer could go on living without him by his side.

Yet to his intense dismay, his once timid Yichen was turning into a wolf in sheep's clothing, even more so when he pushed himself to wrap his legs around Zhu Yan's waist while holding him tightly by the shoulders. The feel of Yichen's strong legs around his waist made his member harden even more, and his desire increased tenfold. His young lover was practically offering himself to him on a silver platter, but by that moment Zhu Yan was already fighting hard against his natural urge to claim him, to mark him, to tell the rest of the world that this magnificent young man belonged to him, that Zhu Yan, the great demon, loved him desperately and would die for him with a smile on his face if it meant saving his life.

However, Yichen pushed his instincts even further as he began to move up and down, whispering his name, their erections rubbing so deliciously together as their mouths collided with passion, desire, and need, that Zhu Yan could feel more of his skin turn into scales. Then, those sinful moans escaping Yichen's throat drove him wild as Zhu Yan kissed his neck feeling his fast pulse under his lips, he could even hear Yichen's heartbeats race inside his chest as he so deliberately press and moved over him, enjoying every bit of what he was feeling in turn. An 'I love you' escape from Yichen's lips and Zhu Yan set himself to worship him, kissing everything on his reach, his lips, his chin, his ear, his neck,  his shoulder, and Adam's apple in a near frenzy. One he was starting to lose.

"Yichen... please... if I can't take you because that would make me lose myself completely, then you take me this time. I'm as much yours as you are mine, have me your way... don't hold back..." Zhu Yan offered instead, and with a voice that was barely human.

Yet Yichen was not going to take advantage of him, knowing that he was about to lose control,  so he went to dawn and carefully pushed Zhu Yan once again into the border of the pool, so he could sit, which Zhu Yan did as his long white wet hair stick into his well defined chest and Yichen pull out his pants all the way out of his legs, making them part.  Zhu Yan closed his eyes expecting for Yichen to push him back  again, but his hot young man, seemingly determined to make him lose his mind, took his erection deep into his mouth and sucked it instead, then he fell backward with a spasm of pleasure, arching his back, making his erection hit deeper into Yichen mouth.

"This is madness... Xiao Zhuo... have mercy on me." Zhu Yan moaned at the feel of that soft, hot tongue on him, while he held the base of his erection with one hand and caressed his balls with the other. Zhu Yan was tempted to roar, a dragon-like roar that would break his will even further, so he bit his arm to hold it in while Yichen continued his wonderful work on his member. Soon, Zhu Yan couldn't hold it in any longer and pulling himself up, he gently grabbed Yichen's long black hair and pulled it slightly, freeing himself from this deadly but quite desirable torture.

"Zhu Yan.. why..." Those innocent shining blue eyes, showing doubt for the first time were his doom. He didn't pull out because he didn't like what he was doing, but because he was losing his control under such intensity.

"You're too good, Xiao Zhu... If you keep this up, I may even turn into a dragon right here." Zhu Yan whisper as he look down on him, now seen surprise followed by an enchanting smile mixed with that lovely blush he adored so much.

"You like it Zhu Yan?" His beloved asked him and Zhu Yan almost laughed at his cuteness.

"I didn't just like it, but love every single thing you did to me. Now, let me return the pleasure, my Xiao Zhuo." With little effort, he lifted Yichen from the water and gently placed him on the ground. This time, he was the one taking his hard erection into his mouth, showing Yichen the same extreme pleasure he had given him, drowning in his young lover's gasps, moans, and whispers, telling him he loved him. So, Zhu Yan kept up the pace, driving Yichen closer and closer to the edge until he climaxed with spasms, his slender body shuddering as Zhu Yan took it all before coming too in waves of pleasure and words of love.

This was only their first intimate encounter, but Zhu Yan came so close to losing control it was almost laughable. Who said inexperienced young men couldn't please more experienced lovers in their first time? Because to him, Yichen couldn't have been more perfect, and he told him so, overjoyed at the charming smile Yichen gift him. After a few minutes of resting and cuddling on the cold floor, Zhu Yan finally stood up and lift Yichen up before putting him down to use a spell to clean, dry and dress back. As they stepped out of the hot spring pool, the mansion was quiet and plunged into darkness, so they walked upstairs hand in hand to snuggle back under the covers. Then Zhu Yan healed all of Yichen's bruises, leaving him in a deep, blissful, and very cozy sleep in the arms of the one where he belong.

Li Lun/Yixuan

That night, Li Lun finally took out the sphere Nuwa had given him, while claiming it was Ying Long's memory of the moment he had a vision of his future. He didn't entirely trust Nuwa's words, but as he trained Yixuan and the rest of the unit, he began to connect with them, getting to know them a little better. Despite his initial refusal to look at the memory, he eventually couldn't resist the temptation. Zhuo Yixuan was very talented, and with Nuwa's protection, he didn't need the training to block him or anyone else from his mind. It had been a pleasure fighting alongside him, experiencing his strength and limitations, and finding him very adaptable and smart in combat. 

Zhuo Yichen was undeniable strong for his age and with his mastered Bing Yi techniques, he moved with the agility and energy of a youth, speed, stamina and precision, and was difficult to catch with his vines most of the time and he seem to have a certain sense of his demonic energy that prevent him from taking him by surprise before he could strike. However, like most members of his young unit, he had difficulty with mental shields. While he was surprisingly good at most aspects of being a young demons hunter, trained by one of the best in the field, which was his own father, he lacked the experience of someone who had risked his life for decades, giving Li Lun an opening to play with him a bit. Zhuo Yixuan, on the other hand, was strong and experienced, and seemed to enjoy their brief exchange a little too much.

Li Lun had lived long enough to recognize physical attraction, but right now, he wondered if that was all there was to it, and it made him curious about the future they were supposedly destined to share. That was why he held that golden sphere in the palm of his hand, eager to discover the secrets within. So, with a curse, for been unable to resist the lure, he plunged into memory and found himself face to face with a smiling Ying Long, just as he remembered him from their brief time traveling together. Strong, yet tender, that was what Li Lun think of him, which only brought him a wave of nostalgia and mourning. Ying Long was a very caring demon god, difficult to hate, no matter how hard he tried to convince himself of it.

"Li Lun, I knew you'd find me here, someday." Ying Long said in that soft, reassuring voice that reminded him of Yixuan.

"He is really very good for you and you know I have never lie to you, Li Lun, for I've seen how much you need someone by your side, and since I took Zhu Yan from you, I feel somewhat responsible for your centuries of loneliness." 

"I have other friends too, so don't talk nonsense."

"Oh, you mean Ao Ying? I suppose she helps you fill that void from time to time, but what you two develop isn't exactly friendship. At first, it was unrequited love on her part, but after she got over it, your relationship became more like spy and master than friendship."

"That's still nonsense. I didn't come here to hear about Ao Yin's past. She had her own destiny, which she could freely choose, whether by my side or not."

"That's true, so let me show you what a possible future could be. You were very young when I had this vision, so bear it with me, as it began when you and Zhu Yan became best friends."

In his vivid memory, he saw himself playing with Zhu Yan in an open field filled with flowers. They chased butterflies, like the children they were, for he had cultivated human form from a young age for a pagoda tree. But back then, the world energy they used to cultivate was purer and stronger, and if one became aware of their own existence and focused hard on cultivating that energy to its very roots, anything could reach the depth of cultivation necessary to transform within a relatively short period of time. Of course, this focus couldn't waver due to distractions until reaching a high level of cultivation; otherwise, the cultivation would fail and have to start all over again. This was the reason why very few plants or tree demons took longer than animals to transform.

He was fortunate that his seed grew near a steep cliff, in a misty forest overlooking a deep valley, quiet and solitary for most of the time, with the occasional visit from a stray animal. With so few distractions, he quickly gained strength, to the point where he no longer needed to bury his roots in the earth, as he could sustain himself with the energy he absorbed from his surroundings. He then took human form and began to explore the world, its wonders and dangers, before encountering a small demon with long white hair and red eyes.

As a tree demon, he shouldn't be too curious about other demons, as he had learned the hard way that not all were friendly, especially beasts. However, Zhu Yan was different, he was an curious child, eager to play with anything or anyone under the watchful eyes of two powerful gods. At first, he met Zhu Yan alone, and they became friends almost instantly, but when the two gods came looking for him, he was afraid to approach them. However, Zhu Yan couldn't take a no for an answer and introduced him to his parents, who welcomed him with a kindness and warmth he'd never experienced before. So he ended up following them and growing stronger alongside Zhu Yan.

It was there that Ying Long had his vision, as he watched them play from afar in that beautiful and peaceful valley of flowers. Now, he began to see himself grow, becoming Zhu Yan's best friend, cultivating together, training together, growing stronger and more mature to embark on their own adventures, traveling the world, gaining experience, exploring, fighting the increasing numbers of uncontrolled beasts, and deepening their cultivation. By the time they left the protection of Bing Yi and Ying Long, they were already great demons, but still far from the strongest. Because Li Lun was obsessed with strength, Zhu Yan followed him suit, and they soon reached their peak, becoming known among other demons, starting to forge their own legends.

Then the war came and Zhu Yan decided to fight alongside Bing Yi, as he too believed that the demons had become too bloodthirsty and were killing way too many humans to be left unchecked. He was always fascinated by humans so this decision didn't really come as a surprise to him, but it pained him nonetheless as Zhu Yan was his faithful companion for so long that he hated the prospect of being alone after learning what companionship was and hated both Bing Yi and Ying Long for taking that blissful part away from him for so long.

The images then move forward beyond the war, beyond his many centuries of solitude in his demon world, a cage Ying Long created for them, but he still longed to break out of it, challenging Zhu Yan from time to time. But beyond that, there was Zhuo Yixuan, their first meeting, his trip to the Crystal Valley, the picking of the flower, their training, his yearning and upon sneaking into Yixuan's room one night just like that one and watching him sleep, he understood why Yixuan was chosen. 

His beauty was captivating, but what drew him most was his personality, his kind heart, his promise of true companionship beyond that he received from Zhu Yan. Unable to resist the temptation, he leaned in and kissed his soft lips as he slept, which, of course, woke him up and opened the door to a painful onslaught of further future scenes where they kissed passionately, made love, fought together, traveled together, and lived together in both the human and demon worlds. He saw himself smiling, happy, enjoying that life, praying it would never end, taking care of Yixuan to make sure he never lose him to his human side, and unwanted tears run down his cheeks.

That Li Lun had obtained everything he had ever wanted: companionship, love, affection, friends who were there for him and Yixuan, whether he wanted it or not, and so much happiness. His handsome face even had small wrinkles at the corners of his lips from smiling and laughing for so many years, something he never imagined he could do, and he wanted it all. He desperately needed that connection, which, when taken away from him, plunged him into darkness, into hatred for humans, into resentment toward Zhu Yan, Bing Yi, and Ying Long, even though all of it was useless, for it couldn't fill the void.

However, Zhuo Yixuan, with his calm personality and sincere caring, could make all the difference. He could be the one to finally end his darkness and fill his emptiness, as he had seen in the years to come. If such a future were possible, if he could achieve such bliss, if he could be cherished and loved as he saw Yixuan do, not for a short time, but for almost an eternity despite their differences, he didn't mind being greedy. He wanted it, he craved it, and determined, he left his room on the third floor like a thief in the night and used his power to gently open the door to Yixuan's room. 

He wasn't sure Zhu Yan had more than soundproof seals on every room, so he used his power to enter and see him there, resting peacefully in his bed, his long, soft hair spread out over the sheets like a silky fan. He was beautiful, human or future demigod, it didn't matter, what mattered was that he was there, always open to him, always willing, never judging him for what he was by nature and he was a fool to deny himself this opportunity offered to him almost as a gift to become who he truly wanted to be and stop being the shelf of his former self.

That night, as he had seen it, he stood at the foot of Yixuan's bed, his dark brown eyes locked onto the man who had open his heart for him to enter. He was confident in his looks, and in the way Yixuan welcome him, but as he watch him sleep, he hesitate, despite his previous reassurance. He could see the rise and fall of Yixuan chest, the way his lips parted slightly as he slept. 

Li Lun's heart suddenly pounded harder in his chest, a mix of anticipation and fear. He had never felt this way before, never wanted someone as much as he wanted Zhuo Yixuan at that moment. Yixuan stirred in bed, perhaps sensing his presence and his eyes fluttered open as Li Lun's sit by his side and let his fingers gently traced the line of his jaw. 

"Li Lun?" Yixuan whispered, his voice hoarse from sleep and a hint of surprise, but not rejection.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he sat up and looked at him with those beautiful caramel eyes, calm and patient, as always. Encouraged by his willingness, Li Lun leaned down and his lips brushing against Yixuan's ear.

"I couldn't stay away. I took one look at the future that Nuwa promise me and decided I want it if you want it too." He murmured with a low growl. Yixuan held his breath, his body responding to Li Lun's words and he reached out, tangling his fingers in Li Lun's long hair as he pulled him closer.

"Yes, I do. How about we try something simple first? You can leave if it's not what you want, if you don't feel anything, or if it doesn't seem like what you expected. I won't be offended or pressure you into anything you're not willing to have." Yixuan whispered, and Li Lun smirked.

"You're such a confident man, what's up with that?" Li Lun teased.

"You dislike humans, and I'm still one."

"You are, but if that future can come true, believe me, I don't care about that anymore."

"What did you see?" Yixuan asked curiously.

"Happiness... a life full of it..." Yixuan smiled.

"So you want to try?" Yixuan asked as he leaned toward him, making Li Lun feel his warmth and his own body yearn for him.

"Yes." Li Lun's lips crashed into Yixuan's in a passionate kiss that left him breathless, his tongue exploring the depths of his mouth and Yixuan moaning as he arched his body against Li Lun's to deepen the kiss. It felt good, it felt incredible, it felt like the missing pieces of his puzzle were finally falling into place, and Li Lun could no longer deny that Yixuan had him hooked from the start, from the moment he cast that spell that had him trapped ever since.

"Li Lun..." Yixuan whispered against his lips.

"What?" he murmured, capturing Yixuan's mouth once more in a fiery kiss.

"Did I pass?" Yixuan teased, and Li Lun leaned over him, gently pushing him onto the bed, this time with his full weight on top of him.

"By far..." Li Lun whispered, continuing the frenzy of kisses, not wanting it to end anytime soon. It was still too early to take another step, but for now, Li Lun was content with what had started, eagerly awaiting that wonderful future without any more pain, as he had always want it.

AN: Ah, such lovely pairs, hope you like the heat, sorry, not Li Lun/Yixuan hot scene yet, they are just starting, while Zhu Yan and Yichen had already miles ahead of them. Thanks for reading and until next time, please take care. Also, thank you dear Mun, I hope you like your gift. 😁

Chapter Text

Very early in the morning, Zhuo Yichen woke up from his peaceful sleep under Zhu Yan's soft gaze. The first thing he saw was that beautiful face giving him a charming smile. He was back to his old self, his hair was no longer pure white, nor were his demonic tattoos or crimson eyes visible.

"Xiao Zhuo, how are you feeling?" Zhu Yan asked softly, as he was being cuddled in a warm cocoon of arms and legs. Yichen blushed as he remembered what had happened the night before, the sensations, the caresses, the love and how wonderful everything had been.

"Why are you asking me that? We didn't do anything that hurt at all..." Yichen said, while Zhu Yan smirked and gently caressed his beautiful face.

"I meant your bruises. Are they gone? Did it still hurts?" Of course, he would tease him like this first thing in the morning just to see him blush, but this time, he simply kissed Zhu Yan to wipe away that smile. He was too happy to have him back to let it get to him in an endless argument, when they could use their free time for better things.

"Xiao Zhuo..."

"It's all healed now..."

"You're so hot in the mornings..."

"I missed you..." Yichen said between kisses.

"Mmn, I'm glad to know... Yichen..."

"You left me for five days, and it was horrible..."

"My bad. Did Li Lun bully you that much?"

"You have no idea..." Yichen kissed him deeper, hoping to forget that humiliation.

"Xiao Zhuo..." Zhu Yan moaned softly.

"I really miss you..."

"Did he agree to the bond?" Zhu Yan asked as they broke apart to take a breath.

"Yes, my brother convinced him, which is why he agreed to train us as well. By the way, are you okay? When you came to me, you still retained traces of your demonic side. Did your cultivation go well? Yichen asked with some concern, but Zhu Yan simply kissed his forehead.

"Cultivation was a lot. I guess I overdid it a bit when I heard those demons planning to eat you if they get their claws on you..." Zhu Yan closed his eyes, and Yichen gently caressed his beautiful face.

"They'll never catch me, Zhu Yan. I may be young, but I know how to defend myself, and I also had Yun Guang with me, so please don't take their threats to heart; they'll never succeed, even if they try." Yichen whispered softly as Zhu Yan kissed his lips just as gently.

"I'm glad you can take care of yourself, but still... it's in my nature to protect you from all harm, even threats."

"That's sweet, Zhu Yan, but unnecessary here in the human world. You can worry more when we enter the demon world." Yichen pointed out, and Zhu Yan sighed.

"We need to bond before entering the demon world. I must admit that, although I crossed the gate at the beginning and saw what it looked like, I didn't stay there long, so the bond will give us all a good perspective from the one who lived there for centuries."

"You mean Li Lun's memories?"

"Yes, since we'll all be linked in mind and body, sharing memories will be quite easy, and so will having telepathic conversations." Yichen's eyes widened in amazement.

"That will also be awesome and useful too."

"Indeed. Now, tell me how good you've become at making mental shields with Li Lun's training?"

"We still need to practice; we haven't mastered it yet, but we can handle outside intrusions and keep our minds private for now." Zhu Yan smiled and kissed the top of his head.

"You work hard. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you then..."

"It's fine, and I think it's good that Li Lun taught us. He needed to get to know us better, to test us so he'd understand that we don't mean him any harm, we just want to survive and protect what we love."

"Perhaps you're right. He definitely need to soften up a bit."

"I think... I think my Ge has that cover..." Yichen blushed slightly, which made Zhu Yan laugh.

"Of course he had that cover. Your brother is just as amazing as you. Yun Guang! Do you think the binding spell can be performed tonight? Is it better to draw power from my father stars. Since he was so cunning and insightful, he should have seen this coming, right?" And a flash of cold blue light make them known he was about to change forms.

"He did..." Yun Guang said and stood by the nightstand, near the bed.

"The spell Bing Yi taught me is based on his so-called Nine Stars Spell, which, of course, is no coincidence that the number of people involved in this spell is nine in total, including me."

"Wow, Ying Long sure saw too far into the future." Yichen said with genuine admiration.

"He was Siming's rival..." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen smirked.

“I bet so... So, when the spell ends, will we immediately enter the demon world?” Yichen asked as he untangled himself from Zhu Yan's arms and sat up in bed.

"I don't advise it so soon." Yun Guang said, looking at them both more seriously.

"Why?" Yichen asked curiously.

“Getting used to being bonded to other people takes a little time, so it will be safer to train for a few more days under the spell and learn how to handle it. It may feel a little uncomfortable at first, but it will get better as we all get used to it.” Zhu Yan explained.

"I think it's a good plan and... well, you won't let Li Lun bully us this time, will you?" Yichen asked hopefully, and Zhu Yan could not hide a grin.

"Of course not, my Baobei... this time it's my turn to have fun..." Zhu Yan sneered.

"S-stupid monkey! You will pay for that..." Yichen said as he threw himself at the great demon and, to Zhu Yan's surprise, he simply attacked him with tickles, as he knew exactly where to use his fingers to tickle him and soon he became a mass of laughter.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Once night fall over the forest, under the light of the stars, the nine-star constellation from which the spell drew its power, Ying Long's dragon stars was clearly seen from were they stood. Zhu Yan cast an additional barrier on his dimension so that when they gathered outside the mansion, no demon or human could see through the barrier, for great powers were going to be at play with only the moon as witness. They gathered in the formation that Yun Guang had taught them, each stepping in the correct place under Yung Guang's gentle command. The front yard was large enough for the ritual to be performed there, and Zhu Yan's tree seemed to shine even brighter that night.

Yun Guang stood at the head of the formation that mimicked Ying Long dragon constellation on the ground. As he sacrificed himself for the demons, his energy turned into stars that formed his constellation, something that Bing Yi could observe until they met again,(or at least that was Ying Long's wish as he turned into dust, even though external factors prevented him for ever seeing it). The sword spirit was in his human form, his delicate blue and silver robes shimmered slightly and swayed in the night breeze. His soft blue hair seemed almost white; his turquoise eyes shone like the stars from which he was about to draw his power. To the humans, he looked like a god, ethereal and beautiful, strong and mythical.

Zhu Yan was next in the zigzagging line. As the strongest of them all, he was the pillar of the spell, already blessed by the two gods, and his presence was what bound the demons and humans together. He was the reason they collaborated in the first place and was therefore the heart of the spell. Behind him was Zhuo Yichen, who body and soul connected his lover and companions, a pillar of support for both of them. Next was Zhuo Yixuan, bound by the power of Bing Yi and Nuwa, granting the link a connection to the heavens, the past and future, as well as Nuwa's extended protection to demons and humans alike.

Next up was Li Lun, whose great demonic power offered the link ferocity, strength, resilience, and after a night spent in closeness with Yixuan (including several kisses), protection as well. He no longer hated the humans he was to bond with, having meddled with their minds in training, gotten to know them better and the sincerity of their hearts. They mean no harm, no deception, no danger to his world, or demons who don't seek their own death by attacking first or killing those they so devotedly wanted to protect. At his back stood Wen Xiao, offering the bond a connection to the goddess Baize, the reason Cheng Huang had once lost his mind in grief over her death. That in turn connected them to the lingering spirit of the goddess who now extended her protection, a shield even against Cheng Huang's deep hatred.

Then came Pei Sijing, her strength and will cemented their resolve. Through her the bond gained enhanced hearing, precision, and unshakable focus. Then Pei Siheng, looming at her back, his soul flickering out to retain human form, something their bond would help achieve. Then there was Ying Lei, descended from a mountain god, from the god Kunlun himself at his root. He was as solid as the mountains he descended from, the source of great stability, an anchor of mind and heart, of space and land. His sense of land endowed the link with no more earthly boundaries, as soon they too would have a greater sense of distances. 

Not far from him was Bai Jiu, a healer, something more divine running through his veins, a source of life, of rebuilding, of long life and rebirth, his blood being the oldest, even that of the two great demons, as the Divine Tree had been there since the beginning of time, revered by all, gods, divine beasts, and demons alike. He was the one who closed the circle, imbuing their shared connection with faster healing, stamina, and longevity that will materialize once his core is fully awakened, just like all that of the others will bring too.

Yun Guang watched the others closely to ensure they were ready to join in body and soul for life. They had spent the last five days in brutal training with Li Lun to learn how to shield their minds from both intruders and allies alike. Seen them answer his silent question with calm determination, he smiled, overjoyed to be about to unite his consciousness with theirs, a worthy group that both Bing Yi and Ying Long had chosen centuries ago. Thus, he raised his hand and began performing celestial seals that caused the star formation between them to begin to glow beneath their feet, with a star manifesting in a smaller-scale reflection of its true appearance beneath each one, enveloping them in a column of brilliant golden light.

The pillars of light were warm, pulsing with the energy of the stars, of Ying Long's wish for them to succeed, survive, and live the eternal happiness he had envisioned for them all before sacrificing himself for the demons. Their light illuminated the night, and a door deep within the celestial realm open to them. Nuwa took over Zhuo Yixuan's body, possessing him for an instant to connect heaven and earth, so they could receive the blessing of the gods and strengthen their bond.

Knowing the binding spell like the back of her hand, she also whispered it in her ancient and forgotten celestial language, which awakened Bai Jiu's ancient blood, making him glow with a deep green light. One by one the others follow, Zhu Yan with a crimson red, Li Lun with a dark blue, Yichen with a sky blue, Yixuan with a deep gold, Ying Lei with an orange, Pei Sijing with a light brown, Wen Xiao with a lavender, Pei Siheng with a dark brown, and Yun Guang with the same crimson red as Zhu Yan, as his sword was forged and born from Ying Long's blood and bones.

From the sky, the sight of the earthly star formation seemed as if shining souls were opening up to unite in the deepest way possible, for both humans and demons. Their traces began to connect with each pillar of light under the guidance of Yung Guang, who recited the spell and sealed them with his hand signs and the influence of Nuwa, who was drawing her true strength from the heavenly gate to bless them all, ensuring their lives and bodies were joined in perfect balance.

There was no pain as their souls united, only the warmth of Nuwa's blessing and their own energies mingling like ingredients in a hot soup after a cold rain, which once mixed together, gives that delicious taste that makes you drool, but can no longer be separated. As the spell worked, they could feel their connection growing stronger and stronger, making the humans more aware of things otherwise out of reach coming from both Zhu Yan and Li Lun, and they could all feel Li Lun longing for Yixuan's absence, as Nuwa had possessed him, but his longing was short lived, as with a knowing smile Nuwa returned Yixuan to his body, so that he could feel what Li Lun truly felt for him. Of course, all of that paled in comparison to what two other lovebirds felt for each other as Yichen blushed at Zhu Yan's deep affection, strong and real, vast and endless.

Once everyone was linked, threads of light spread beneath their feet, forming an intricate celestial seal. It came alive as their soul threads intertwined uniting all the colors into one, forging the bond. After that was done, a celestial energy entered their bodies forcefully, causing them to fall backwards from the force of their combined bond, but without any harm being done. 

As they gasped at the feeling of this new, yet stronger energy within their cores, they looked at each other and then laughed, as their first link was quite loud, with all of them thinking about different things at the same time and Bai Jiu was on the verge of panicking as he looked at Ying Lei, causing his feelings to spill open up to the others like a page on an book, much to their amusement, making them laugh. He was still the youngest after all and it took more effort for him to block his growing feelings for Ying Lei from his mind. At least this time, the young healer didn't scream at the top of his lungs like he always did when he got scared or excited.

AN: I hope this bonding is good for you guys. Soon we will go into the demon world, but just a little bit of more bonding first. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care.

Chapter Text

Li Lun/Yixuan

After the bonding spell was done, they retired to have some rest and get use to the new feeling of being linked with others. That night, Pei Sijing's unit along with Yixuan were alone in the mansion, as Yixuan's unit was called back to the Citadel to take on a new mission that Fan Ying will personally lead. This was because of the warning that Li Lun had given him that the demons in the forest needed to be monitored at all times, because in the very moment that they found out that Zhu Yan was gone, they will act and slaughter all demon hunters in the forest on each ring to then head for the Citadel and so on.

Their mission was to quickly take care of those demons that had enraged Zhu Yan so badly, to prevent them from keeping gathering to ensure the safety of both demon hunters patrolling the forest and the Citadel stronghold. By Fan Ying's command, all towers in the tree rings were on high alert and that would be triple when they enter the demon world. When that time comes, Yixuan's unit will return along with Fan Ying to keep an eye on the gate as well as the rest of the forest.

However, that would be for later, because, at that moment, Zhuo Yixuan was sitting on his bed, surrounded only by the light coming through the open door, coming from the moon and the stars. He was there alone, his eyes closed and his calming aura spreading, sensing the presence of the others here and there sporadically, not completely present, but in glimpses. 

So far, after two hours of their bonding, Yixuan couldn't sense any of the great demons, as he had expected, but he could sense a bit of his brother flashing in and out, perhaps when he argued with Zhu Yan or... kissed him? He wasn't sure, as his Xiao Chen had a special talent for harboring several emotions at once, all tangled up together, which makes it difficult to unravel them all and guess what caused each spike.

Pei Sijing was doing an excellent job shielding herself, and he could only sense happiness in her, probably because now her younger brother was gathering strength to be able to remain in his human form more permanently. The bond was giving him everything he needed, so Yixuan was also happy, and Wen Xiao, for her part, felt the same happiness that made him assume they were together. Their feelings were very subtle, almost like a caress of the wind moving away in the distance, as quickly as it had arrived.

Bai Jiu... Yixuan smiled at the slight panic that the young healer still felt, but he was getting better at controlling it, as it was not as intense as before, probably because Ying Lei had taught him how to tone it down and keep his shields stronger. Ying Lei himself was an unbreakable wall, as the shield master that he was, with a will as strong as the mountain god from whom he had inherited his blood and the teachings he had received from the only gods left in human lands.

Yun Guang, now that he had returned to his sword, was a blank page, except perhaps for a slight feeling of satisfaction. Was he happy that the spell was working as intended or that he liked their bond? He couldn't tell, as the sword spirit wasn't human. In a way, he was as complex as Zhu Yan and Li Lun.

Li Lun... thinking about him forced him to focus, to  keep his feelings to himself. Since they kissed last night, he couldn't hide his smile every time they locked eyes. He could swear the tree demon could hear his heartbeat drumming so loudly it might burst. Their kisses had been long, very long, and had awakened a side of him that had lain dormant for years, and he was almost certain that awakening had been mutual. Two lonely souls finally finding what they were looking for, what they longed for, what they needed, and Yixuan had felt that loneliness for too long, even when his own was only a shadow of what Li Lun had live with for centuries.

Perhaps because he couldn't completely hide those feelings, Yixuan heard the sliding door to his room open and close shortly after, followed by very soft footsteps approaching. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who had entered, as the scent alone betrayed Li Lun—a scent full of sweet flowers and wood. Then, at that moment, Yixuan wondered, given that Li Lun's true form was a tree, was he in bloom right now? Pagoda trees in their human world bloom mostly white, but since he was a demon tree, would his flowers be white as well?

"My flowers, when they bloom, are brightly translucent. They glow with the intensity of my blooming, which means they can change color according to my feelings." Li Lun explained softly as Yixuan smiled and opened his eyes to gaze at the beautiful man on the edge of his bed.

"What color would they be shining right now, if you were blooming?" Yixuan asked, patting the side of his bed, to encourage Li Lun to accept the invitation and join him in bed.

"Red, a very bright red. While looking at you, no other color can better reflect my feelings like that one. Are you letting me into your mind on purpose, Zhuo Yixuan? You were always much stronger than this before." Li Lun asked, sitting beside him, looking at Yixuan with genuine curiosity.

"To be honest, I don't know. I was concentrating on the traces the others were giving, and then I thought of you. Did that make you come to me?"

"I was already on my way." That made Yixuan smile.

"I see. How are you handling this bond? I know you can block us all out, but if you want to understand humans better, this is a great opportunity," Yixuan suggested, and Li Lun took Yixuan's hand and pressed it lightly against his lips, something that pleased him greatly.

"Will you open up to me more?" Li Lun asked as he stared at the young man who was stealing his heart.

"I will if you do too." Yixuan responded with a gentle smile that made Li Lun wish he could see on his handsome face forever.

"Deal. You first." Li Lun replied, and Yixuan closed his eyes again to let him into his mind. His past, his family, the loss of his mother, then the care he gave Yichen since he was very young. He remember his brother, small and fragile, crying in silence after their mother's death and how that had broken his heart. Of the promise he made to himself to never let Yichen carry a burden that was not his. Then how from then on, they became inseparable for years. Their training together and how devoted they were with one another.

He remembered all those nights when Yichen always waited for him on the steps of the Zhuo family's front courtyard when he became a demon hunter in Tiandu City. While still very young, Yichen was always there to welcome him back, only failing when he fell ill. Even then, Yichen would sneak out of his room with a high fever to wait for his Ge. That fact cemented his love for his brother and family, his determination to keep them safe, and the reason why he agreed to go to the Citadel with his specialized unit before reaching the standard age, as he was barely in his late teens when he joined the hunters guarding the Forest of Convergence.

"You love your brother so much... with such purity... it's... something I never expected from a human," Li Lun confessed as he immersed himself in Yixuan's purity, finding it beautiful, bright, comforting, and inviting.

"Then I'm glad you can understand now. Just like demons, we can be much more than tainted beasts. Humans can become a variety of things, with will and actions, with values ​​and compassion, with teachings and love, not only for ourselves, but for others as well. My bond with Xiao Chen is still special, however. Because our mother died when he was very young, he didn't fully understand what death meant at first, and even had a short period of time where he somehow believed it was his fault she left. Because of that, he became emotionally withdrawn, always doing what was expected of him or told without complaint, and he especially wanted to please me in any way he could, perhaps thinking that if not, I would leave him too..." At that, Yixuan paused as he tried to control the surge of emotion that the memory brought back, and Li Lin squeezed his hand to show him that he was there.

"It was painful to watch him cry alone, when he thought no one was watching him, and he did so almost every night, mostly alone in his bed, sometimes for hours, until I could no longer allow him to carry a burden that didn't exist. One night, I explained to him in more detail than our father, what death was, that our mother loved him tenderly and that he wasn't the reason for her death, that it was simply her time to join the stars. Then, after gazing at the bright stars that night for a while, I stayed with him to hold him until he regained his composure. The next day, I took it as my brotherly duty to look after him in our mother's place. After that, we become one at heart, and Xiao Chen looked up to me even more than our own father..." Yixuan smiled.

"That's so like you... from what I see, you are very protective of him." 

"I am, and so is he, but as we grew older, our protective instincts grew as well—toward my unit, where everyone was my friend, toward our people, and toward our fellow demon hunters. That's why we took this job despite the risks it entailed," Yixuan explained, and Li Lun nodded.

"I see that and I guess that's why Bing Yi choose your family in the first place." He whispered.

"Just one more thing." Yixuan whispered as he allowed him to see deeper into his soul, as he grew, loved and cherished, but lonely on the inside. He'd felt a deep emptiness for most of his adult life, unable to find anyone capable of filling it, and Li Lun understood that all too well. 

"Zhuo Yixuan... you..." Li Lun started.

"Then how about you let me in?" Yixuan interrupt him, and Li Lun gently placed a hand on his neck to pull him closer until their heads touched.

This time, Yixuan saw Li Lun's memories, from when he was a small sprout, his travels with the gods and Zhu Yan, to his involvement in the war and his lonely life in the demon world. His extreme loneliness at parting from Zhu Yan, not because he harbored romantic feelings for him, but because he had come to appreciate and cherish that way of life, where he was cared for and welcomed as a friend and even as family. Something he lost when the war broke out, leaving him only with resentment at being forced to be alone, when he had known companionship and longed for it for centuries.

As all those flashes of memories came to life in his mind, he was thrilled to see Bing Yi and Ying Long as they had been hundreds of years ago. He finally understood why Zhu Yan had told him that, physically, Yichen looked very similar to Bing Yi, although his personality was closer to his own. 

The resemblance was striking, almost identical, except for the blue-gray hair, the small horns at the sides of Bing Yi's head, and his imposing, yet calming aura. Ying Long, too, looked strikingly similar to Zhu Yan, and seeing them meet again, (like a reincarnation of the originals), he felt as if the incomplete circle of Bing Yi and Ying Long had been repeated once more, hundreds of years later, with almost the same lovers trying to close it this time, hopefully with better luck.

He also had a very good look at the demonic world for the first time and, unlike what he expected, he saw an ethereal beauty mixed with danger. The demon world wasn't barren, nor impossibly polluted with malicious energy, as he would have expected. On the contrary, it overflowed with living, strange, luminous flora that made him feel as though he were walking inside a divine dream, and perhaps, in a way, he was.

After all, this was the world Ying Long had created for the demons, a world born of his wish for them to live in peace, without needing to cross into any other realm.  So in a way, creating a world filled with ethereal beauty made more sense than endless barren lands covered in purple fog, where demons simply crawled around looking for their next prey. Ying Long had given them a world where they could cultivate purer energy and find joy beyond survival. It was a strange world, yes, but also deeply magical.

Seeing such wonder from his human perspective, Yixuan felt a pang of sadness. Li Lun's intense loneliness, so similar to his own, had blinded him to such an extent that he had denied himself a better life. Moved by that  thought, Yixuan closed the distance between them and kissed him. Soft and tender at first, to make him feel he understood what it meant to be alone, even when literally surrounded by people he cared for, but none of them had been the one he needed as a partner, like his soulmate, the one he had waited for almost his entire life. Li Lun dove in too, savoring his unexpected similarity to Yixuan with something deeper than mere desire. With his power, he shield them both, so they could give in to that opening of their hearts. So that night was also one of long kisses, but also of deeper feelings.

Wen Xiao/Pei Siblings

The last time her brother had been with them, for a short time, they had danced, enjoying the feeling of having not only a loved one nearby, but also her family. Pei Sijing had been the happiest at that moment, but as for that night, she was in ecstasy. The three of them gazed at the stars from the balcony. Wen Xiao lay close to her, one arm around her waist and hers around her back. Pei Siheng lay beside them, smiling as he inhaled air, feeling it descend into his lungs, enjoying the sensation the bond gave him back.

He was sure it was the combination of Bai Jiu's restorative power and the enormous energy of the two great demons that had returned him to what he once was. A young man who became a demon hunter to protect his beloved sister, but sadly failed. Back then, when the demon took his soul and placed it in that puppet, he cursed himself for not being strong enough to prevent it, leaving his sister to carry that burden for years, saddening her and making her even more determined to hunt demons.

However, if everything goes as planned, he will have a second chance at life, to do better and improve. But this time he will not fail, this time he will protect his sister as she deserves, and of course, her lover as well. In fact, although he hadn't been physically present most of the time, he was aware of everything that was happening around his sister, which always carry him with her. So, he had come to care for her unit as much as she did, kind, young souls who accepted his fleeting existence without fear.

"Xiao Heng, you look so much better, even with just the moonlight and stars. Is it working as planned?" Wen Xiao asked, and he gave her a warm smile.

"Yes, I feel my soul strengthening, with a better hold of my humanity. Perhaps Bai Jiu's energy is reviving not only my soul, but also my wooden body, making it more human." He said, and Pei Sijing was soon hugging him tightly, tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Can you feel this, Didi?" She asked between sobs, and Pei Siheng rubbed gentle circles on her back.

"Yes, you're very warm... I had forgotten that fact." His sister hugged him tighter, tears of happiness falling even more heavily, and then Wen Xiao approached to hug him from the other side as well.

"You'll be human again in no time, dear brother-in-law." Wen Xiao said and he laughed, a heartfelt laughter making his chest expand and contract, as if it were alive. He hugged Wen Xiao as well, his happiness practically uncontrollable, surrounded by the warmth of his beloved sister and Wen Xiao. For him, this was already like paradise, and he was just beginning to feel what it was like to be human again, after so much time of cold emptiness and endless regrets.

"I hope so, and if one day that wish comes true, I'll invite you two to dinner. No, I'll ask Ying Lei to help me prepare dinner for everyone, and of course, with a special dish for my dear sister and sister-in-law." He said.

"That sounds good, Xiao Heng..." Pei Sijing whispered as she gently pulled away from his embrace to wipe her tears, as well as those of her brother, who closed his eyes at her gentle touch. It was such a wonderful sensation that he leaned into her touch and kissed her on the top of her head.

"Would you, lovely ladies like to dance again? A private performance this time, and as long as you don't start kissing, I can play my flute for you all night if you like." Wen Xiao laughed.

"I'd love to, so no kissing, dear Commander. Let's not embarrass your brother right away this time." Wen Xiao joked, and Pei Sijing smiled as she took her hand and led her into her room, closing the door firmly this time right after her brother. When the flute melody started, she offered her hand to Wen Xiao and held her close in their dance for half the time, while her Xiao Heng danced with them both, even without music.

It was such a special night that she didn't hide her happiness from the others, because thanks to them, she had the opportunity to experience it once again, and for longer than she had in years. She felt blessed and most of all, light, as a heavy weight had lifter from her shoulders, giving her the chance to have a family again.

AN: So this is how the bonding is making changes in this part one, making them closer and happier. I'm sorry if their dancing seems repetitive, but I think is Pei Siheng way to show them his love after years of been unable to do much than that. I hope you like it, next will be Ying Lei/Bai Jiu and of course Zhu Yan/Yichen. Thanks for reading and until next time, please take care. Bellow a screenshot of the guys before they dance, it's hilarious 😁👌 but since I can't upload it here, I left the link for if you want to see it. This shows that Pei Siheng loves to dance too, so it's not just me forcing him. Wait, come on, they all dance at the end of every chapter, we love to see them dance! 😂🥰

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/701083867033109676/

Chapter Text

Bai Jiu/Ying Lei

Since the night was so beautiful and clear, and the stars shone unusually brightly, perhaps due to the spell they had used, that was now giving them stronger senses,  Ying Lei decided to lead Bai Jiu to the backyard instead of simply returning to their rooms. The scent of the peach tree, which was still in full bloom, was a nice touch and, in a way, relaxed Bai Jiu a little, which was what Ying Lei most desired.

"Am I still open to you?" Bai Jiu asked as he looked at Ying Lei somewhat panicked, not knowing how to stop it. Yes, they had trained for that. However, training was one thing and putting it into practice in a real situation was another. Bai Jiu knew the principle of creating mental shields. Yet, every time he looked at Ying Lei, with that devastating smile always on his beautiful face, his heart became his worst enemy. Betraying him in the worst possible way. He had come to like him so much, because Ying Lei was so friendly, so willing to help in everything and they had so much in common that it was inevitable that he wouldn't end up falling for him. So... he really couldn't help it!

"Xiao Jiu, I understand that bond with others when you're struggling with your own feelings is a little difficult, but you are very talented, and I'm sure you can handle this. Just breathe, take in this sweet peach blossom fragrance, and relax. Come on, do some breathing exercises with me." Ying Lei encouraged him, as he did so first, taking a deep breath, holding it and releasing it, while instructing Bai Jiu to follow his example and inhale and exhale, letting go of his nervousness.

They did this for a few minutes until Ying Lei felt him more relaxed, less open to the bond, and smiled at him, proud that he had calmed down and had begun to shield his mind. Once he calmed down enough, Ying Lei pointed to different stars in the night sky and told Bai Jiu the legends his grandfather had told him about them on Mount Kunlun.

Bai Jiu, for his part, listened to them with fascination, as Ying Lei was good at telling stories, and the ones he told were very interesting, so it wasn't that he liked the way he used his hands and facial expressions to make them more dramatic. He laughed so hard his stomach ached at the stories Bai Jiu was sure Ying Lei had made up on the spot at one point, just to amuse him. To keep him relaxed, and it made his heart swell with deep affection. In the end, they returned to the kitchen to make tea, and while Bai Jiu waited patiently for him to finish, he said:

"Well, after this we'll rest a little, shall we?" Ying Lei suggested as he strolled into the kitchen.

"Sure, are you making me some bedtime tea?" Bai Jiu asked jokingly, but because Ying Lei took it seriously and nodded so sincerely, Bai Jiu sighed.

"Ying Lei, I'm not a kid anymore. I'll be eighteen soon." Bai Jiu let him know while Ying Lei was busy preparing their tea.

"Yes, technically you're already considered an adult. A big guy in everyone's eyes, even if you're a bit short." Ying Lei teased him a little. He knew perfectly well that his healer was considered fit enough to become a demon hunter, and no less, an elite member of the Hunter's Citadel. Than Bai Jiu cleared his throat, causing Ying Lei to look at him.

"So, you know we can... we can have a serious relationship if you want it too." Bai Jiu blushed, and seeing Ying Lei smile so radiantly at him, his face flushed even deeper, but he still held his gaze to show him he meant it.

"I know, Xiao Jiu, it's just that I don't want to pressure you," Ying Lei finished his preparation and sat down on the chair next to his.

"You are not pressuring me. It's me insisting we can be more. We'll soon enter the demon world, and who knows what awaits us there. Of course, I'm confident we can make it out, but... there's also the possibility that not all of us will... and I'm the weakest by far..." At that, Ying Lei looked at him with genuine surprise at those words, as if he couldn't believe they had come out of his mouth. 

"Xiao Jiu... do you really think that? How is that possible? Haven't you realized that you're one of the strongest? Don't you feel that Pei Siheng is getting stronger thanks to your healing talent? You are bringing him back his life. You're the foundation of our bond, the one who will keep us in one piece out there. How can you look down on yourself like that? It's not true at all..." Ying Lei let him know, feeling that he was truly looking down at himself, just for been the youngest, which was wrong.

"But..."

"No buts..." Ying Lei interrupted him, cupping Bai Jiu's small face in his hands, and kissed him, this time the right way, deeply and with need, since Ying Lei wanted to make sure that his young healer understood that he was wonderful and a very important part of their unit, of their bond. That without him, the bond could not hold, and their hopes of achieving semi-divinity would be impossible without him.

This time, Ying Lei didn't hold back. He stood as they continued kissing and gently lifted Bai Jiu from the chair to the top of the freestanding counter to embrace him. He wrapped his arms around Bai Jiu, and now their bodies were pressed together, causing Bai Jiu to let out a soft moan. Then Bai Jiu put his arms around Ying Lei's shoulders as they deepened the kiss. 

It was such an invigorating sensation that for a moment Ying Lei thought Bai Jiu was going to lower his mental shields. However, his young healer didn't disappoint him and kept their kiss private, safely contained within a secret mental vault, locked and unbreakable. 

They only broke apart when a soft whistling sound came out of nowhere, taking them both by surprise. Bai Jiu subconsciously pushed Ying Lei away forcefully. He probably thought someone had entered the kitchen and see them kiss. That almost made Ying Lei fall. But when they realized it was only Ying Lei's ceramic teapot, signaling the tea was ready, they laughed out loud.

"Sorry, sorry... let me get the tea..." Ying Lei apologized with a charming smile, as he removed the teapot from the heat and poured it into two cups. The sweet aroma, one of the ones Bai Jiu had gift him, filled the room.

Bai Jiu's face was still red, but he was very happy, because that kiss had been divine. It had been perfect, full of longing and passion. Of hidden feelings that came to life as they enjoyed the closeness of their bodies. It was as it should be, dreamy and enchanting. Not the fiasco he had given Ying Lei before. Just thinking about that kiss made him blush even more with embarrassment. That awful kiss would haunt him for the rest of his life.

"Stop being embarrassed, we'll have more of those, I assure you. Now, have some tea. It's aromatic and good for relaxing. It will help you sleep." Ying Lei placed a cup in front of him, now that he had returned to his chair, and Bai Jiu smelled the delicious aroma before cooling it slightly with a gentle blow and tasting it.

"This is wonderful, sweet but not too sweet and very tasty, the perfect blend." Bai Jiu praised him, which quite pleased Ying Lei, who sat down next to him with another cup.

"Hmm... Ying Lei..." Bai Jiu fiddled with the edge of his sleeve, trying with all his might not to cower now that he had made the decision to become something more.

"Yes?" Ying Lei also blew on his tea and tasted it.

"Will you sleep with me tonight?" Ying Lei chocked, spraying tea across the table, coughing profusely as Bai Jiu gently rubbed his back.

"Hey, are you okay?" Bai Jiu asked, and after Ying Lei wiped the tea from his mouth with his sleeve, he glared at him.

"What? Did you just ask me to sleep with you?" Ying Lei was still too choked up to believe what the young man was suggesting and, for the first time, blushed. Bai Jiu, catching the clear implication of his question, gently smacked his blond boyfriend on the back of his head, embarrassed.

"I didn't mean it like that! Just... you know, lying next to each other, cuddling, that kind of thing, not... what you have in mind, pervert!" And Ying Lei laughed. 

"Ah, sorry, but you asked that so bluntly, what else should I have thought?" Ying Lei tried to defend himself. 

"Not that!" 

"Okay, okay, it's fine. Just a simple misunderstanding, and yes. I'd love to sleep next to you," Ying Lei reply as he got up to clean up the mess he'd made. 

"Then I'll wait for you upstairs in my room," Bai Jiu said as he got up too and headed for the kitchen door. 

"Wait, Xiao Jiu, your tea!" Ying Lei pointed out, amused.

"You spit it out." Bai Jiu replied, his ears red, now in a hurry to bury his hot face under a pillow and enjoy the lingering sensation of the kiss for a moment, before calming down again so they could sleep together.

"But we kissed, so you've already tasted me!" Ying Lei teased harder.

"Shut up! Just come join me when you're done cleaning!" Bai Jiu said and of course, he ran away from the intense embarrassment of his implication and as soon as Bai Jiu closed the door behind him, Ying Lei laughed some more.

Zhu Yan/Yichen

Zhuo Yichen felt a little peculiar standing directly beneath Zhu Yan's colossal tree. His awkwardness wasn't because he didn't find it beautiful—as it was truly breathtaking, ethereal and fragrant, like something out of a dream. Rather, it was because, of all the places they could have been resting at that moment, the tree wasn't exactly the option he would have chosen.

"Zhu Yan, I know you love this tree, but... really, what's wrong with you? I thought you were a little more romantic than this," Yichen complained as he looked at his lover, who, oddly enough, seemed amused, not angry or dramatically offended.

"Xiao Zhuo, it's such a lovely night. Of course I'll give you something romantic to look forward to. My Baobei, don't be impatient and just go along with me. The last time you were here, you fit so well in my arms... ah, it was such a lovely moment, so wonderful that I engraved it in my memory."

"Flirty monkey, what do you want to do here? I'm warning you, I won't put on a public spectacle. My Commander, her brother, and Wen Xiao are all out there watching." Yichen pointed at the tree figures gazing at the night sky from the second-floor balcony.

"Ah, Baobei, it's fine. Do you think I'll let anyone else watch us, even by accident? Right now, we're invisible to them. Your dear husband is very talented..."

"What husband? When did we get married?"

"Didn't we already enjoy our wedding night? You were so hot..."

"Stupid monkey! I'm leaving!" Yichen exclaimed in frustration and turned to leave in fierce blush, when Zhu Yan grabbed him from behind, pulled him closer, and placed a soft kiss on the crook of his neck.

"My beloved, you're so stubborn. Have a little more faith in me." Zhu Yan whispered in Yichen's ear, and Yichen melted at such intimacy.

"Fine. Shall we climb the tree, then?" Yichen gave in and turned to hug his lover too. He liked it when they hugged, when Zhu Yan's arms wrapped around him, holding him close, making him feel special and loved.

"No need. Like I said before, your husband is very talented, so there's no need for that. Up we go!" Zhu Yan hugged Yichen tighter and with a slight push on his feet, he jumped up impossibly high, taking Yichen with him and landing perfectly on a very wide branch.

The view from that height, overlooking the forest, was truly beautiful, with those rare bright flowers visible even from that distance, and even the yellowish glow of the inner barrier could be seen. It was a little strange to have such a clear view, as Zhu Yan's tree had thick foliage and was filled with bright flowers, but they could still see far into the distance without anything in their way.

"Can we see this clearly from here, thanks to the bond?" Yichen asked as he looked around, enjoying such a beautiful view, so clear that he could even see the leaves of the trees swaying in the wind.

"Yes, you are seen the forest through my eyes, just as I see it. Look closer," Zhu Yan encouraged him, still hugging him, sensing Yichen's excitement. 

As he looked closer, he could even see the ground where the purple mist, now less dense, drifted through the forest. He could see the glow of the night flowers and even smell them. The vastness of the Forest of Convergence was within reach: the numerous streams surrounding the dense woods, the towers, the units hunting demons like his brother unit, deadly and swift as a breath, and then the Citadel glittering under Nuwa's seal.

"So you could always see us? I mean all the humans inside and outside the forest."

"Yes. I enjoyed watching the hunters go about their Citadel on their daily tasks and fulfill their duties as hunters over the centuries. I saw them train, hunt and sometimes hold small festivals to lighten the atmosphere when it became too stifling. I also saw them light lanterns to honor their dead. It made me sad to see them fly away, even though they were beautiful."

"So it was true that you wandered around as a monkey and saved some units?"

"Ape."

"Yeah, yeah, oh my almighty white ape." Yichen smiled.

"Yes, I did. I didn't like the night sky filled with those lanterns. Sometimes, when the demons overwhelmed the humans, I would give them a break. Whenever I went down to the forest, no demons dared to come closer. They ran for their lives as far and fast as they could." Zhu Yan smirked at the thought.

"Thanks to that, humans near me and for miles away could rest easy, recover, and call for reinforcements if necessary. When I did that enough times for the humans to notice me, the legend of the auspicious white monkey was born, even though I was an ape." Hearing that, Yichen smiled and gently caressed Zhu Yan's face, giving his a soft kiss on his lips.

"Thank you for that." Zhu Yan kissed his hand before letting it go.

"It was also from here that I first saw your brother for the first time."

"He told me that you two once met face to face."

"Right."

"Were you stalking him?"

"Not really. I knew he had Bing Yi's blood, so I was curious and always kept an eye on him. Then I saw you, and from then on, you've stolen my heart." Yichen pressed himself to his great demon.

"That so sweet..." Yichen whisper as he kissed him deeper. When they part again, he look back at the forest and saw small demons walking here and there, fearfully looking their way, which made Yichen grin.

"You really scared the demons in the forest to death. Even now, after almost a week, they still stare at your barrier as if you might hunt them down at any moment."

"They're right to fear me, now look up," Zhu Yan suggested, and Yichen complied, gasping at the sight.

Before, the stars seemed brighter, but with Zhu Yan's eyesight, they were gorgeous, like countless pearls and gems glittering in different colors on a vast ocean of black silk. They looked so close that you almost believed you could pick them up, one by one and harvest them. Then, there were Ying Long nine stars... and Yichen sensed Zhu Yan's sadness, so he turned to look at him.

"You miss him... just like I missed my mother when I was young," Yichen said, and Zhu Yan led him to the base of the tree, where he sat down, his back against the trunk and his legs spread, and invited Yichen to join him.

Yichen no longer felt embarrassed, as they were both invisible and well-covered by the tree leaves, so he sat down as well, resting his back against Zhu Yan's chest, with the great demon arms wrapped protectively around him. It was a magical feeling to be with him like that.

"I miss him, yes. My father was, humanly speaking, an incredible man. He was very powerful, but also the kindest of them all. His love for Bing Yi only added to his charm. They were very affectionate, very much to Li Lun's annoyance. I remember him dragging me away whenever my father kissed Bing Yi for more than a few seconds." Zhu Yan smiled, and so did Yichen, in his arms.

"Did he dislike them together?" Yichen intertwined their fingers over his flat belly.

"No, it wasn't dislike, more like embarrassment. My parents could kiss for ages when feelings got too strong. I think that was the main reason he asked me to travel with him. To explore the world just the two of us." Zhu Yan laughed a little.

"Did they kiss too often?" Yichen asked, gently rubbing Zhu Yan's finger with his thumb.

"Not that often, just enough to show their love from time to time. Li Lun was just a grumpy tree head, even back then." This time Yichen laughed.

"You gave him such a... angry nickname," Yichen joked.

"He got really grumpy sometimes."

"I believe you..." Yichen whisper as he closed his eyes for a moment to bask in Zhu Yan's warmth.

"Baobei, don't fall asleep yet. There's something else I need you to see."

"I'm not asleep. I'm just enjoying this..."

"It wasn't so bad, was it?"

"No, it wasn't, I'm sorry..."

"Ah, my handsome Xiao Zhuo. You have me completely at your mercy." Zhu Yan pressed him closer, nuzzling his neck, which made Yichen laugh, as it was a ticklish spot.

"You still owe me for this morning..."

"Weren't you going to show me something else?" Yichen avoided the subject.

"Ah, that... look..." He pointed to his right, in the direction of the gate, and Yichen turned his body on Zhu Yan's chest to observe the place for the first time.

No human had ever crossed Zhu Yan's territory before, aside from them. They were too afraid to approach his tree. Only hunters who believed themselves brave enough to try to fight him did so. As if a great demons were easy to defeat, when even the gods had difficulty fighting them. Those hunters never returned.

His new vision allowed him to see through the density of the trees, right where a thick purple fog came from a crack between the two worlds. Humans had called it a gate, but it was actually a place where the two worlds merged into one. It was like seeing two worlds constantly overlapping one another. Sometimes you could see the same forest stretching for miles, and sometimes something otherworldly.

At times, on the other side, there was also a forest, but one that humans were used to. It was a forest full of colors: gold, deep ocean blue, blood red, translucent, silver, hot pink, sea green, indigo, lime green, purple, yellow, you name it. Those were the colors of the leaves of strange trees, some with moving vines. At times the ground glittered with crystals with strange shapes. 

Some flowers were enormous, some trees looked like wired mushrooms. There were others whose trunks looked like they were made of stone. He even saw a plant with a strange flower that looked like a ball of light, and then the strange, colorful world disappeared to become a normal forest, only to return to normal after a few minutes.

"What do you think of my father's world?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yichen smiled fondly.

"It's beautiful..."

"Yes, but also very dangerous, as demons have cultivated there for thousands of years. So be careful with the beauty of the demon world. Those enormous plants, for example, can swallow you whole."

"I thought demons didn't need to eat."

"Before, no. But that changed when they become tainted. Now, under Cheng Huang's influence, they can be even more vicious."

"Can I take a look at the demons there?" Yichen asked, looking at him with puppy-dog eyes that made Zhu Yan laugh, and cupped his face.

"Not now. I don't want to scare you before time."

"I won't be scared. After all, I'm a demon hunter." Then he pouted, very cutely, that made Zhu Yan's heart go wild.

"Oh, you're so adorable, Baobei! Let's go to bed and let me kiss you senseless." And since he could now draw power from Li Lun, he teleported them to their room to kiss and enjoy their love for each other before sleeping.

AN: Awww, they are all so cute!! How you like the second round. Until next time, please take care. Bellow, examples of how the demon world could look. I have some internet problems so no cinematic pictures for now. 😂

Chapter Text

It was around two in the morning when Li Lun felt Zhu Yan's energy approaching the gate where he stood, gazing at the colorful forest that belonged to the other side. He could see far from the rift, but the leaves he had scattered throughout the demon world gave him a clearer view of what was happening beyond. These leaves could retain information about their location. Something that would be useful for their next mission. He had already absorbed the most recent information, integrating it into his memories, so he could show it to Zhu Yan later. But since the monkey had arrived there so early, the place was as good as any.

"Zhu Yan, I'm impressed you left your lover's bed to come here. You're always so obsessed with him and reluctant to leave him. Zhuo Yichen also clings to you, like the monkey you are, every time you two are alone," Li Lun said without turning around, and Zhu Yan stopped beside him.

"My Baobei is very possessive at night, true. But when I need to, I can trick him a little. He is so adorable hugging my pillow, thinking it was me. He's so beautiful..."

"You're so wiped, but so was Ying Long before you." Li Lun stared at him for a moment, and Zhu Yan smirked.

"You're no different either, Li Lun. We could all feel you sulking when we bonded because Yixuan's consciousness was absent for a short time. I bet for you to have come to yearn for his presence so deeply, you should have at least kissed him, right?" Zhu Yan asked with a dare on his dark gaze, and Li Lun narrowed his eyes.

"What we did is none of your business."

"Of course, the same thing my Baobei and I do too. Now let's talk about our purpose here. What can you see from the other side? I can see quite far, but I'm aware that things, may not necessarily be as I see them. The demons have evolved while the dimension's energy was tainted."

"Some high-level demons are approaching the gate. They may have feared you before, even more so when you release your demonic pressure, which should resonate within the demon world as well. However, those high-level demons, now under Cheng Huang's influence, might dare to do something regardless of fear. I'm afraid we're running out of time."

"Our humans aren't yet ready to try them without knowing how to use the bond. At least in a basic way that can help them save their lives. If we enter without proper preparation, it could backfire on us."

"That's true, which means we'll have to work through a single, very tough training session. And for goodness' sake, don't take it easy on them—the demons outside won't hesitate to kill them if the opportunity presents itself."

"You bully my Baobei enough. He was even traumatized when you made him behave like a frog. He had bad dreams about it."

"Yet, I'm sure that was a great opportunity for you to take advantage of. Still, that might save his life in a future. Zhu Yan... you've known me for a long time. I won't dare bully those who are yours without a good reason, and they learned pretty quickly after that."

"I agree. They did," Zhu Yan admitted with a sigh. "Let's switch places this time and I will be the mean one for this. I'll remake the dimension to mimic the demon world, its beauty and its dangers. Since you're more mobile and can scatter your leaves farther, you'll ensure no one gets hurt. I'll make mirror demons of those you saw coming, if you're willing to share your memories," Zhu Yan said, and Li Lun smirked.

"Of course," he said, using his demonic energy to extract the memories from his forehead, and pass them to Zhu Yan. The dark blue light of his power, light Zhu Yan's forehead and after a moment, Zhu Yan opened his eyes and glanced back at the mansion.

"Nine of them, the nine demon stars. That might be a bit troublesome. None of them are easy to defeat unless I use my full power, but that would give me away, and more demons will come and try to kill us all." Zhu Yan expressed his concern about what he perceived from these demons. He knew them from the war, strong and ferocious.

"Indeed. Fortunately, they're not working together yet, which means we must defeat them one by one, quickly and stealthily. Besides, they're several days away, which may give us extra time for them to get used to the bond."

"Come back with me, Li Lun. We have a lot to do. Once my Baobei and his friends wake up, we'll get into this. We may need more than just a bond with those demons. Luckily for us, most of them, besides being strong, aren't too smart."

"So true," Li Lun smirked, "but Huanjing is on another level. He won't be easily fooled," Li Lun said, and Zhu Yan turned back for a moment.

Huanjing was an old fox demon, cunning, lethal, and difficult to kill. He could use his fox magic to poison, confuse, and possess others, as well as predict the future to a certain extent—not too far ahead like his father, as he hadn't yet become a great demon, but enough to be difficult to kill.

"The fox demons have always been the most troublesome, including Cheng Huang, who is also half-fox. They become overly obsessed when they lose something, and wish to burn the world down for it. It's sad that the demons my father sacrificed his life for, became even worse than they were in the war. If Nuwa had completed the seal, his power of creation would have purified them of the tainted energy they gained from human malice." Zhu Yan wished with all his heart that one day his father's dream would come true.

"Zhu Yan... about Ying Long... the war... I..." Li Lun could now see many things that he had either blinded himself to or denied due to his own stubbornness. He traveled with them for so long, knew them all well, but in the end, he fought against them.

Seeing Li Lun's mood darken, Zhu Yan patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.

"My father never thought ill of you, not even when you joined the demons and fought against us. In demonic terms, you were very young when the world was engulfed in blood and flames. That you chose the demons over humans was only natural. Don't feel bad, because it was probably meant to be. But now, we can fight on the same side. Travel like we did thousands of years ago. Not alone, but I think you don't mind the company this time, do you?" Zhu Yan joked, and Li Lun smiled, a sincere one.

"No, I don't mind. I... It feels better than when we first met, when we became best friends. Zhuo Yixuan... he..." Li Lun paused on their way back to the mansion.

"Come on, Li Lun, you don't need to explain anything to me. I have a Zhuo too, remember? But I bet you don't mind kisses like my parents used to give each other anymore, now that you're doing them yourself... Wait!" —Li Lun flew with the night wind like a flurry of leaves and Zhu Yan laughed.

"You grumpy tree demon head! I take it back!" Zhu Yan cried in amusement. Then he walked the rest of the way, to meet his beautiful Baobei in the cold night and hug him to his heart content. And Yichen, unconsciously, clung to him and nuzzled his neck with his nose, which was his new way of showing his affection. A dragon way, that his parents used often. Perhaps his beloved was starting to awaken his dragon blood. Either way, he was too cute.

The next morning, after breakfast, they returned to Zhu Yan's training dimension. However, this time, as far as the eye could see, standing on a high cliff overlooking a magical forest, everything was bright and colorful. The sight was breathtaking for those who had yet to glimpse it, strange and mystic, yet quite odd to their human aesthetic.

"Is the demon world really like this? I imagine something less... bright," Bai Jiu asked in amazement, and Zhu Yan nodded.

"Yes, but don't be fooled by its beauty. This is not a safe place for humans. In that forest, any plant can trap you and absorb all your energy and life force, yin or yang, divine or not, and leave your lifeless body to dry up. Because of this, you cannot enter the demon world as humans." At Zhu Yan's words, Bai Jiu frowned, staring at the great demon as if he had gone mad.

"What do you mean by that? We're human, and nothing can change our nature unless we reach semi-divinity, which we won't achieve until we reach Crystal Valley." The young healer pointed, and the rest of the unit looked at Zhu Yan expectantly, but Yichen had a bad feeling about it.

"Sure. It's true that your human nature can't be changed, but that doesn't mean it can't be disguised. As a powerful great demon, I can use an illusion spell on you to change your appearance to demons. With it, I can mask your scent and divine energy so you seem demonic." Zhu Yan explained, and for some reason, Yichen and Wen Xiao exchanged looks of understanding.

"This is going to be bad," Yichen thought, and Wen Xiao's eyes widened as she stared at him, as if she'd heard his voice in her mind.

"Did you hear me just now?" Yichen asked, not quite sure how he did it, but Wen Xiao smiled at him with a thumbs-up.

"I did, Xiao Zhuo. This link is great. Can you hear me too?" she asked into their mental connection, and he nodded.

"Loud and clear, Wen Xiao."

"I had a bad feeling about Zhu Yan using a disguise spell on us..."

"No kidding, he's bound to go too far."

"He'll make us look hideous, right?"

"Absolutely, yes. And he will enjoy it." Yichen vouched for it when, almost as if on cue, Zhu Yan used his one-word spell on Wen Xiao and then...

Yichen was no longer looking at the beautiful Wen Xiao he was used to, but at something else. He coughed a little in amusement at her demonic appearance, causing Wen Xiao to lower her gaze and scream at what she saw.

In her place was a petite, slightly plump demon woman with enormous eyes. One indigo blue and the other red. Her limbs were somewhat exaggerated, with short arms ending in big hands, adorned with long fingers, sporting blue claws. Her hair was a striking cascade of gravity-defying wavy strands, styled in two high ponytails, falling on her chest, adorned with ribbons. Their colors were dramatically uneven. One half, a bright electric blue, and the other a deep crimson red.

Her skin was a soft shade of pink, dotted with tiny freckles that gleamed in the light, wearing a black leather dress that framed her plump body to her knees. Her ears were full of fur and pointed like a cat's. She also had small horns protruding from her forehead, painted in mismatched bright colors, each a different size. And to complete her new look, she had a fluffy tail playfully wrapped around her waist. Overall, she was odd, in a funny way.

"Zhu Yan, you wicked monkey! What the hell is this?! This can't be how a real demon looks like! Change it!" She demanded, while Bai Jiu, Ying Lei, Zhuo Yichen, Pei Siheng, and even Li Lun tried to hide their urge to laugh out loud, but Pei Sijing eye her with admiration, and Yixuan with visible amusement.

"Why? I think it suits you wonderfully. You're always so fearless, so straightforward, you can wear this disguise with pride. Right, Pei Sijing?" Zhu Yan asked, giving Wen Xiao the final blow.

"Sure, she looks completely adorable," Sijing confirmed, covering her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

Wen Xiao wanted to cry her eyes out, and turned to look at Yichen in a silent plea for help, but her friend was obviously busy trying to hold back his laughter. Then she gazed at Siheng with her mismatched eyes, and her brother-in-law couldn't hold back any longer, and burst out laughing uncontrollably. He was still beginning to feel human again, which made Wen Xiao feel both happy and upset at the same time. The others also gave in, so there was only one hope left. She looked at Zhuo Yixuan with large, pleading eyes that almost made him burst too, but he held back.

"Zhu Yan, she looks cute —in a way, but as someone who has hunted demons for just over a decade, her appearance is too flashy to be convincing to a real demon. At least, fix her mismatching her hair color, eyes, and horns... the rest... well, it should more or less do," Yixuan said apologetically, as he hadn't asked to completely change her, but for Wen Xiao, that was more than enough.

"Thank you, Zhuo Yixuan, your kindness is endless. I will be eternally grateful for this." Wen Xiao gave him a slight bow, and Yixuan find it a bit awkward, to have her bow to him while looking like that.

"No need." Yixuan dismissed her offer and turned to Li Lun. A silent plea reflecting in his sharp gaze too, and Li Lun caught it almost as if he'd said it out loud.

"Zhu Yan, no matter what, Zhuo Yixuan is mine to disguise. Don't you dare try anything with him," Li Lun warned the mischievous monkey, and Yixuan sighed in relief, as he gave him a charming smile.

"Of course, Li Lun. It's not like I can mess with my dear brother-in-law or my Baobei would kill me." Yichen snorted.

"You're absolutely right," Yichen muttered softly, knowing Zhu Yan would hear him loud and clear.

"And I thought Li Lun was the mean demon. How wrong I was!" Wen Xiao grumbled as she stared at the lovers, prompting Yichen to give her a guilty smile.

"Right, who's next?" Everyone took a few steps back, except for Wen Xiao and Pei Sijing, which meant their commander would be next by default. However, Pei Sijing wasn't one to back down from a challenge and smirked at Zhu Yan.

"Go ahead, great demon. Do your worst!" she challenged him, and Zhu Yan moved his hand to perform his next one-word spell, and after hitting her with a puff of red smoke, her new appearance was revealed. And what look she had!

Her face exuded an intensity that evoked great experiences. Her full, vibrant red lips, contrasted sharply with her light, ghostly gray skin, resembling scales that gleamed in direct light. However, her eyes were perhaps her most captivating feature. They were large, but unlike Wen Xiao's, hers were almond-shaped, shining like molten gold, with slanted pupils that hinted at her ferocity.

Pei Sijing's demonic form had thick, wavy hair, that gleamed with deep black hues and silver streaks. The tips of her hair seemed to flicker like flames, enhancing her ferocious appearance. Protruding from her head, were two delicate horns, elegantly curved and adorned with intricate carvings. Her hands ended in sharp, black claws, and she was now at least three heads taller than Yichen. She wore obsidian-black leather pants and top, which highlighted her defined feminine figure. Overall, she was both attractive and dangerous.

"Oh, my lovely Commander, you look stunning, beautiful, and sexy. I wish I could look like that..." Wen Xiao complained once more, as she drooled over her lover, making Sijing smile.

"I must say, she looks great—fierce and dangerous, yet with the charm of a demon seeking prey. This should be a perfect one." Ying Lei pointed out, hoping that when it was his turn, he could look just as fierce and alluring.

However, in reality, when it was his turn next, he turned to be more like a red panda demon than anything else. His body was slender, but slightly muscular, reminiscent of the playful creature with agile limbs, perfect for swift movements. His fur was a soft, warm beige, flecked with subtle, deep red spots and black. The hues shift slightly in the light, showcasing his mystical nature.

Overall, he was adorable, with rounded cheeks and a small, upturned nose. Yet, his sharp canines peek out when he smiled, hinting at his demonic nature. His ears were pointy, but adorned with tufts of fluffy fur. His hair was styled in wild, tousled spikes, not too different from his own, but with different color. Its layered appearance, gave it volume and movement. To top it off, he had glowing amber eyes, with golden flecks that seemed to sparkle mischievously, and his woolen robes closely matched his real ones. Additionally, he had a long, bushy tail with vibrant red and white stripes.

Immediately after seeing Ying Lei looking so fluffy, Bai Jiu touched him. To feel how soft he was with a big smile on his face, which made Ying Lie feel ticklish, and try to move away from the young healer while laughing.

Next up was Bai Jiu, who was already expecting something impressive. However, Zhu Yan had other ideas for him, than making him look stronger. What he got, was something cute, but practically harmless. Damn Zhu Yan for being so soft on him, and Wen Xiao welcomed him into her club, for inappropriate demons, but at least he was charming.

Bai Jiu's disguise was that of a rabbit demon. A rabbit demon! Even a red panda was more ferocious than a rabbit. And even Li Lun joked that he was like something any real demon would pounce on. Soft and fluffy, with slightly moon-like fur, making him an easy target, with nothing to defend himself with. His skin was pale, with a pearly sheen, giving him an unearthly glow. On the backs of his hands, traces of white fur could be seen, blending seamlessly into his skin. He was still small, only a few inches taller than he was in reality.

To match his adorable appearance, his hair was long and silky, cascading down to his shoulders, silver, almost white, with hints of lavender here and there. He had long ears that rose from the top of his head, fluffy and oversized. The insides of the ears were a soft pink, contrasting beautifully with the silver fur. However, his eyes were a captivating, almond-shaped shade of pink, enhancing his innocent, and playful demeanor. But to his horror, a fluffy, dotted tail, peeked out from under his flowing robes, made of a light, airy fabric in shades of pastel blue and cream. Everything about him screamed softness! Hey demons, come and eat me!

"Xiao Zhuo Ge! The great demon is harassing me again. How come I'm a rabbit demon, of all things? With this appearance, I'll attract demons from miles away!" Bai Jiu also complained, grabbing his arms and looking at him with adorable, watery eyes, that only made Yichen want to hug him, instead of asking his mischievous great demon to change him again. He was so lovely and friendly, that it was a shame to change him.

"Ah, Xiao Jiu..."

"Xiao Zhuo Ge, please..."

"Zhu Yan... perhaps he's really too cute." Yichen tried to resist those soft pink eyes.

"He liked Ying Lei's fluffy red panda form so much, that he even chased after him to touch him. So I gave him the second-cutest one. It was his decision, not mine." Zhu Yan whined, which was somewhat true.

"I like it, Xiao Jiu... come here. I'll protect you, my dear little rabbit." Ying Lei teased him.

"Ying Lei!" Bai Jiu was still on the verge of tears, but Ying Lei cupped his cheeks, placed a soft kiss on his slightly pink nose, and hugged him. After that, the complaints instantly ceased.

Wen Xiao sighed, having not received the same tender persuasion from her girlfriend, but seeing her so depressed, Sijing, pull her closer, and keep an arm around her shoulders, making her feel happy again.

Of course, Pei Siheng was going to be done before the Zhuo brothers' transformation, and he wished, almost begged inside his mind, for Zhu Yan to give him an imposing form, instead of a pretty one. When the red smoke from his spell dissipated, he glanced down at himself and gasped.

Just as he had so desperately desired, he was tall and imposing, with a commanding presence that radiated both charm and intimidation. He turned to Zhu Yan, who had heard his pleas clearly, and gave him a gentle smile. The poor young man had suffered enough, so he granted him exactly what he wished for. Siheng, overjoyed, approached his sister and hugged her tightly. His figure was slightly taller than hers.

"Jiejie! I wish my puppet body was like this. So I could protect you from all harm!" He whispered to her, and Sijing smiled at him with tears in her demon eyes.

"You were always a good demon hunter, Didi. We just encountered a demon stronger than us," she said softly. To demonstrate his strength, even if that form was an illusion, he lifted her off the ground and spun her around, making her laugh and the others smile with a warm feeling in their hearts.

The reason he was so happy was because, although he resemble a puppet demon, it was one, any demon would fear. In that disguise, his body was slender, with the elongated shape of a wood puppet. His muscles were well-defined, displaying strength while retaining an ethereal grace.

Because of his puppet-like appearance, he had a unique blend of human and wood, with a pale complexion and faint, intricate patterns resembling dark wood grain, that subtly ran along his arms and neck. He had piercing eyes of a striking aquamarine hue, with slanted pupils reminiscent of a predator's gaze. His hair was long, straight, and black, tied back in a high ponytail, with some strands cascading down the sides of his face.

His flowing crimson robes, were intricately embroidered with golden threads, depicting mythical creatures, billowed dramatically with his movements. However, what made him seem so imposing was his aura, with an almost palpable sense of dark demonic power, that made the shadows seem to deepen in his presence, and a whip that radiated traces of poisonous, smoking power, deadly and as black as the darkest night.

Finally, it was Yichen's turn, and although he told Zhu Yan not to overdo it, he did. Transforming him into the most beautiful water demon they had ever seen. He was tall, with a lithe yet toned body. His skin was very pale, almost luminescent, adorned with intricate silver patterns, that flowed down his arms and chest like glowing tattoos. His long hair, was a silver waterfall that caught the light in shades of teal and blue, with soft bangs falling over his temples. His eyes were hypnotic turquoise orbs, flecked with gold that gave him an otherworldly feel.

He had long, translucent, bluish horns on top of his head, imposing and resembling frozen water, revealing his power over of both, water and ice. His attire was a masterful combination of elegance and mobility. He wore delicate robes in shades of teal and dark blue, that flowed around him like water itself. The robe was half-open at the front, revealing a bit of his well-defined torso. The sleeves were long and billowing, tapering at the wrists with silver embroidery that mimicked the patterns on his skin. But above all, Yichen brimmed with extreme power.

"Of course he had to make it so extreme. Zhu Yan, you pervert." Li Lun chuckled as Yichen hurriedly closed his robe, blushing brightly, adding a hint of color to his pale skin, while giving Zhu Yan a deathly cold stare.

"Is he a water demon?" Wen Xiao asked, with a mockingly amused smile, and so did Li Lun.

"Come on, do you think he'll make it so simple? Think again," he challenged her.

"A water dragon?" Bai Jiu offered his own guess.

"Dragons are divine beasts. Ying Long was called a demon, because he went out of his way to help them, and some considered him a demon too. It's very rare to find a dragon in the demon world. I, of course, have never seen one, in all my travels. Nope, he is not a dragon," Li Lun explained.

"So a water snake?" Ying Lei suggested next, and Li Lun sighed.

"No. A snake isn't imposing enough."

"A male mermaid?" Sijing voiced her wild thought.

"That would be physically tempting, with all of them being highly attractive. Yet nope, they are not too powerful."

"So what?" Pei Siheng asked, abandoning speculation.

"A damned Leviathan, as some call it, a king. A ruler over all other creatures of the sea, a demon god. Like I said, he overdid it. No demon will believe what he feels like. They no longer exist," Li Lun said, and Yichen closed his eyes in resignation.

"Zhu Yan..."

"Baobei, you look so handsome that I couldn't help it. This is just for training. I promise to change it when we're ready to enter the demon world. This form is so suitable for you, that it's a shame not to show it off." Yichen felt a headache coming on and rubbed his forehead.

"Perverted monkey, all you wanted was to show off!" And almost everyone present agreed, including Yixuan.

"Nothing less than my Baobei," Zhu Yan admitted proudly, and Yixuan gently patted his brother's shoulder, feeling the exquisite fibers of his robe, even though they were not real, as well as his tremendous power.

"I swear, you're a dead monkey!"

"Baobei, how can you say that to your husband?" Zhu Yan whined.

"Y-you..." Yichen was sincerely speechless, while Wen Xiao laughed.

"Xiao Chen, calm down. Let's get on with it for now. We have important things to do and we need this training," Yixuan whispered, releasing a calming aura, that instantly relaxed his brother.

"Fine." Yichen gave in.

Thus, it was finally Zhuo Yixuan's turn, and since Li Lun would be masking him, instead of Zhu Yan, everyone watched as Li Lun pulled him close to ask something in his ear. Something only the Zhuo's older brother could hear.

"What do you want to look like?" Li Lun asked, putting an arm around Zhuo Yixuan's back.

"Surprise me. I trust you'll know what's best for me. To protect our unit and to make you proud of your choice." Yixuan murmured with a hint of mischief, and Li Lun almost laughed. That man... That man knew him too well.

"Very well. It will be my pleasure to offer you my best masking work. You'll be a masterpiece," Li Lun whispered to him, before using his demonic power, to envelop him in a whirlwind of leaves. When they fall to the ground, revealing his disguise, Li Lun smiles, quite satisfied.

Zhuo Yixuan turned out to be the complete opposite of his brother. If Yichen was an ocean god, Yixuan was a fire demon god, tall and powerful. His appearance was that of a young demon of approximately his actual age, mischievous and otherworldly. His eyes were hypnotic pools of flaming gold and orange. They possessed a captivating intensity that could both attract and intimidate. His long hair fell freely over his sturdy back, a silky river of crimson and reddish orange, like fire, which sparkled like flames in the light.

His skin was a warm, sun-kissed bronze hue with a soft glow. He wore an exquisite robe, crafted from an iridescent fabric that ranged from glossy black to deep red. Adorned with intricate golden embroidery, that simulated flames licking at the hem. A deathly aura surrounded him, palpable and oppressive. It sent shivers down the spines of those who encountered him. His presence was distinguished by a faint scent of smoke and ash, hinting at the fire he commanded. A fire god in Li Lun's eyes, but in terms of the power he unleashed, he was more like a great demon than an actual god.

"He's so handsome..." Yixuan heard Wen Xiao whisper, but his eyes remained fixed on Li Lun's. Longing to be alone, for that was how Li Lun imagined him, aware of the burning fire still sealed deep within his soul, patiently waiting to be released. Yixuan was surprised, yet delighted.

"So you know..." he internally murmured to Li Lun. Their souls, now joined, were closer than before.

"Of course. Every kiss you gave me spoke of the fire you harbor. One day... I will let it consume us both." Yixuan smiled at that promise.

"But first we win this war," Yixuan added to their private mental connection.

"Agree," Li Lun replied, and their little enchantment broke, when Zhu Yan coughed several times.

"You two are too hot. Let's get started with this training session. There's a lot to learn, and time is limited." Zhu Yan interrupted them, and they returned their attention to what they needed to do first.

AN: Ah, Li Lun and Yixuan are feeling the heat! LOL. I hope you like the disguised, it was fun to write. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care. The last picture is found on Pinterest, the first is a mix. 

Chapter Text

After finishing their disguise, albeit temporary, they sat in a circle on the soft grass to listen to the explanation of what they could do while united and the threat looming at the gate with nine demons approaching. This made them a little nervous, as facing high-level demons was no easy task, and they would be fighting nine of them in a row before reaching Crystal Valley.

"So, one of the things we can use is mental communication. Wen Xiao and I already tried it, and it worked perfectly. It's not difficult once you focus on the person you need to communicate with. I suppose there's no distance limit, right?" Yichen asked, looking at Zhu Yan sitting next to him.

"Of course, there is none. As long as we're bound, distance doesn't matter, and it's not limited to just one person at a time. If you open your mind completely, you'll be able to communicate with the entire unit at once. This is crucial when fighting a high level demon, because one mistake can result in your death, or the death of everyone else. The demons we'll be facing aren't just physically strong. Some are experts at mental manipulation. If they trap your mind and you close yourself off from the rest, we all lose," Zhu Yan explained to the group.

"But isn't that also dangerous? If we're all mentally connected, wouldn't it be easier for a demon to trap us all at once?" Wen Xiao asked, and Li Lun nodded.

"Technically, yes. If everyone gives in to a mind control, it's over. But with Ying Lei, the mind shield expert, and Zhuo Yixuan, with his purifying aura eliminating illusions, anything like that is unlikely to happen. Of course, we great demons, will also prevent the demons from mind controlling you. However, the demons will fight fiercely to keep us busy, while they try to trap you, so be careful. If something suddenly feels off, it's very likely an illusion." Li Lun answered Wen Xiao's question.

"In times of crisis, you can also force your instincts to act accordingly. If someone sees another in mortal danger, we can all mentally command any member of this bond to move right, left, up, and down as needed. For example, if a demon attempts a sneak attack that Bai Jiu isn't aware of, but Yichen sees it coming, he can prevent it by commanding Bai Jiu to move for a few seconds, giving him a chance to counterattack or escape. However, this isn't something that can be done during an entire fight. Only in emergencies. For any of you to do this, you only need to want to save someone strongly enough to impose your will on the bond, and it will respond instantly." Zhu Yan continues the explanation.

"So what if more than one of us see it coming? Wouldn't different wills interfere with each other?" Bai Jiu asked. 

"The bond between us, is not a thing that is unaware of itself. It's as much alive as everyone of us is. The first to force their will to act to save another, will be the one allowed. The others will be naturally, nullified." Zhu Yan answer.

"I think it would be best if they discovered for themselves everything they can do by experiencing it. Zhu Yan can create some mid-level demons and push them enough to use the connection naturally, as they would in the demon world. After all, they're no strangers to hardship," Lu Lun suggested, and almost everyone trembled under his serious gaze.

"He really is a demon..." Bai Jiu whispered, remembering his past training and how awful it had been. Ying Lei smiled at him and squeezed his arm lightly.

"I think the great demon Li Lun's suggestion is very sound. Rigorous training forces trainees to push themselves and grasp things more quickly. Besides, mid-level demons are far below what we might face once inside the demon world. High-level demons, after all, are a step below great demons, and there may be some who are closer to becoming one. We don't have much time to learn new things, so the sooner we master our capabilities and limitations, the better. Survival has always been the best way to awaken hidden abilities. As Commander, this is the kind of training I myself would have undertaken if our unit had been formed under normal circumstances. I remind you that, despite feeling like we had been working side by side for a long time, we had only been on our first mission as a unit for a few days when Zhu Yan show up and invited us here," Pei Sijing pointed out, since they had indeed been a unit for about a month, and most of that time had been spent training by him and later Li Lun. Under Zhu Yan's tutelage, they cultivated, while their core seals were undo layer by layer.

"Then I think we shouldn't face mid-level demons. If time is of the essence, let's face things head-on. We're going to do it anyway, so we might as well experience something as close to reality as possible. Do you have any information about the demons approaching the gate?" Wen Xiao asked, and Zhu Yan smiled.

"Of course I do. In war, you need to know your enemy far better than your friend. The nine approaching demons are well-known. They're all very powerful, but their fighting styles differ. Some are highly intelligent, which poses the greatest challenge; others, not so much. Let me show you what we're up against..." Zhu Yan cast a spell that took the form of a demon: a pale but strikingly beautiful woman with glowing red eyes. She was tall, with black hair streaked with white, pale as a ghost, yet possessing an ethereal beauty that chilled the blood.

"She is Gu Yue, better known in human history as Baigujing. Have you heard of her?" Zhu Yan asked, and, as expected, all eyes turned to Wen Xiao, their expert on the subject of demons.

"Yes, I know her. She's a demon who, it's said, absorbs the energy of the sun and moon, born from the bones of a maiden. With the power of the sun and moon, she can be very dangerous and shapeshift at will. It's said she can transform from animal to man or woman in an instant. While she roamed the lands in the time of demons and gods, her greatest pastime was hunting maidens, whom she would usually deceive in harmless forms, such as rabbits or weak-looking women or men seeking help. She killed a great number of humans that way, and, to be honest, if the demon god hadn't trapped her along with the rest of the demons in the dimension he created, she would have been a serious threat to all the demon hunters who came after," Wen Xiao explained as Zhu Yan nodded in agreement with her accurate information.

"Wen Xiao is very wise for her age, as expected of the daughter of a High Commander." Zhu Yan praise her knowledge.

"However, she is now more powerful than before, cunning and swift, lethal and manipulative. Her shapeshifting ability makes her extremely dangerous. She likes women, but she can take any form she desires, even ours. Therefore, the upcoming battles will not be based solely on brute force, but will also be strategic. We must keep this in mind and be cautious at every turn." Zhu Yan warned them in advance, as fighting high-level demons was completely different from what they were used to hunting in the cities they came from, where they fought more beast demons (who were not as smart or as dangerous), than those that could take human form. 

"Of course. Throughout human history, many demons disguised as humans have caused great calamities and killed hundreds of people, absorbing human yin and yang energy for their own growth. Two centuries ago, a fox demon, disguised as a human, tricked around fifty-five young men from different cities and towns, absorbing their life energy and leaving only their dry corpses behind. The deaths of these young people remained unsolved for ten years in all the Demon Hunting Bureaus, until the fox demon chose as her prey a demon hunter renowned as one of the most powerful of the time. She knew his reputation, but it was said that he was so handsome that she couldn't let him escape her cunning clutches, believing she could defeat him, since she was a high-level demon, thousands of years old. She lured him into a trap and almost succeeded, but the young hunter's will was ironclad, and he broke her spell at the last moment, killing her. History has taught us that demons are not only dangerous but also cunning, so it is to be expected that those who inhabit the demon world, with insane levels of cultivation, should be approached with the utmost caution." Wen Xiao added, as she wanted for the two great demons to know they will never underestimate the strength or the intelligence of a high level demon, unless it proven to be a rare case of brute force with no brain.

"Shapeshifters are the most troublesome. If this demon can also take our form, what can we do to prevent it?" Asked Bai Jiu, as the youngest, seeking advice, since, given his young age, he hadn't hunted as many demons as the others.

"Before, if we encountered demons like that, we'd be in serious trouble, since we wouldn't rush to kill one of our own if there was a chance it wasn't a demon. However, right now we have a great advantage over shapeshifters," Ying Lei told his young lover, trying to reassure him, assuring him that even if they faced such a threat, they could distinguish a fake from a real one. But wanting to demonstrate the difficulty, Zhu Yan used a one-word spell, and after a cloud of red smoke dissipated, they discovered that several Zhuo Yichen's surrounded them, including the real one.

"Now, tell me which one is the real one," he demanded, as all of the ten Yichen's stared at him with expressions of annoyance similar to the real one, which was rather awkward.

"You stupid monkey? Why are you using me for this demonstration?" one of the Yichen asked, and Bai Jiu pointed at him, immediately.

"That's the real one," he replied without thinking, knowing that Yichen would say it without hesitation. Zhu Yan looked at Bai Jiu and smiled.

"Are you sure?" he asked as Bai Jiu looked at "his" chosen older brother and hesitated for a moment. He was identical in every way: posture, presence, familiarity, the way he returned their gaze and crossed his arms in annoyance. Looking at the others, they all looked and felt exactly the same.

Ying Lei could recognize the real one behind Zhu Yan, but he wasn't the one who had spoken earlier. To be honest, the real Yichen was so outraged that he couldn't utter a word. However, when Bai Jiu pointed to the Yichen on his left, he was surprised, as were some others, to see that they were also imitating him.

Yixuan could also recognize his brother, for he knew him better than anyone, having grown up and trained together, and also because of the bond that united them. Although they all looked and even felt the same, there was one key difference between them. His brother's life force was intertwined with theirs and pulsed through the threads that connected them, strong and vibrant, with his vitality at its peak.

"Xiao Jiu, my brother, is the one right behind Zhu Yan. Their resemblance is astonishing, physically speaking, but we are connected by a spell, so if you look closely, you can sense the real one trough the link," Yixuan explained the simplest way to distinguish a friend from an enemy. However, Li Lun understood the danger of relying on their bond for this purpose, since, in reality, their bond was meant to protect them from instant death by sharing the damage around them, but it was useless in preventing a demon from copying it, even if the demon couldn't use it.

"Zhuo Yixuan, it's certainly clever of you to use our bond to identify imposters, and if we were facing mid-level demons, I would have commended you for it. However, humans understand very little about high-level demons, as they are rare even in the Forest of Convergence. A fox demon is undoubtedly one of the most cunning of our kind and quite difficult to face, but even fox demons have different levels, depending on how many tails they grow. I heard about the fox demon Wen Xiao mentioned from someone else, and let me tell you, it barely had three tails. If a nine-tailed demon were born in the forest and Zhu Yan had never guard the gate, humanity would be annihilated so easily they wouldn't even realize what was happening. No demon hunter without cultivation, can face one and survive. Its fox fire alone could reduce the forest itself to ashes, along with the Citadel and all the surrounding cities, including Tiandu. To be honest, humans have been lucky that the demons that cultivate in this forest are mostly low- or mid-level, with only the occasional high-level one. Also that he was so afraid of Zhu Yan, that he fled to human cities and stayed there, killing a few humans in ten years..." Wen Xiao glared at Li Lun in anger after hearing that.

"Fifty-five people is not a few humans!" She exclaimed, unable to contain herself.

"Oh? Let me give you a reality check, then. A nine-tailed demon can annihilate an entire city, all by himself, in a single night, with just a snap of his fingers? How many inhabitants did a city like Tiandu have? Do the math and multiply that by ten years, and now tell me if I'm right. In ten years, that single demon could exterminate humanity a thousand times over. Let me give you an example of what a true high-level demon can do." Li Lun used his own demonic power this time, and after the dark blue cloud of his energy dissipated, they found themselves surrounded by dozens of copies of each one of them, all replicated to perfection down to the smallest detail, and, more importantly, all reflecting the pulse of their bond at an incredible level.

Yixuan, of course, was stunned. He could only distinguish his brother Yichen among the fakes, for their bond was deeper than the one provided by the spell. It was a natural bond, born from sharing the same blood, and becoming so accustomed to their energy, that recognizing it was like breathing. However, this only applied to his younger brother, as he was unable to distinguish the forgers from the genuine ones in anyone else. For the others that didn't share blood ties, there was no way to distinguish anyone at all.

"A high-level shapeshifting demon can see through bonds too. It is an innate ability they cultivate for centuries until they perfect it. Let me tell you something else. Demons see beyond the flesh. That's why most demons can identify the cultivation level of other demons, and that's why both Zhu Yan and I must suppress our demonic energy to lower levels, and avoid using our true power, which would give us away from miles around. Wen Xiao, I don't mean to disrespect human life, but despite the knowledge accumulated throughout history, it barely stirs the surface of an infinite ocean. The reason the gods fight against the demons drags on for so long, was precisely because demons cultivate to levels that rival their own. So don't make the mistake of underestimating them, or it might be the last thing you do. Zhu Yan, you shouldn't be lenient with them, as that might lead them to mistakenly believe they have the upper hand, when they don't." Li Lun looked at Yixuan, who understood his hidden message of 'don't make that mistake,' clearly reflected in his beautiful eyes.

"So, if a demon can copy us so accurately, how will we know who is the real one and who is the impostor?" Pei Siheng asked the two great demons, having no idea how to resolve this question.

"Even if a demon can copy the feeling of our bond, that doesn't mean it can use it as we do. We can use our will, as we were told before, to test whether one of us is the imposter. But Li Lun had a good point and we should not underestimate the capabilities of high level demons. I think the previous suggestion, Commander Pei talk about, is the best and we need to experience what we're truly up against on this mission, and find our own way to deal with whatever comes our way. We also can't rely on the great demons to overcome every obstacle." Yixuan said and looked at Zhu Yan next.

"Zhu Yan, please, prepare a training for us that closely resembles the power of real demons. Make it as difficult to deal as it would be in reality, so we can thoroughly prepare for the battles ahead. It will be for our best to hit the stone head on, instead of avoiding it, and be slammed later without a way out." Yixuan demanded, and seeing the rest of the group nod in agreement, the great demon sighed.

"Then, prepare yourselves for true hell," Zhu Yan warned them as he performed a hand seal, followed by a complex spell that drastically transformed everything around them, leaving them momentarily confused, as they absorbed the new reality.

The place was as vibrant as anything they had seen before in the demon world, and it seemed all too real. They could see strange plants and trees swaying in the gentle breeze, but the atmosphere was oppressive, as if a hidden force were trying to catch them by surprise. Everything around them seemed poised to hunt them down, and every step they took was watched, making the tension palpable.

Their instincts kicked in, and they unconsciously regrouped into the standard demon-hunter formation they knew by heart. Yichen held Yun Guang as they advanced cautiously, as a unit, as demon-hunters, just as they had been before Zhu Yan had appeared in their lives. Their steps were calculated, slow, and silent on the mist-shrouded ground. None of them sensed the nearby presence of the high-level demons, but they knew they could suppress their demonic energy at will.

Yichen brought up the rear of the formation alongside Ying Lei, both scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes, searching for any threat, any misplaced shadow, any sudden movement or noise that could harm them. But despite Yichen's search for potential attacks throughout the forest, he never imagined that danger would emerge from the undergrowth shrouded in purple mist, much less from a seemingly harmless plants with large red flowers that suddenly showered them with toxic pollen. 

The forest seemed to suddenly spring to life, and what they thought was solid ground was covered in countless vines and roots. As they inhaled the pollen-laden air, which felt like fire, their feet were seized and pulled with such force that even Yichen, who had skillfully escaped Li Lun's vines during their previous training, could now only try to grab hold of something to slow his momentum.

"Yun Guang!" Yichen cried, feeling as if he were about to burst into flames. His sword obeyed, slicing through the vines that held his feet with a swift movement, freeing him. Yun Guang then assumed his human form and placed a hand on his master's chest. With a burst of energy, he expelled the toxins from the inhaled pollen, causing Yichen to vomit, while the healing energy of their bond began to work on his burning throat. The others were in a similar predicament, so Yichen ignored the sharp pain and rushed after Ying Lei, who was closest to where the vines had dragged him.

The young man had used a seal as a shield, cutting through the vines and protecting himself from further attacks, while he also used his internal energy to expel the toxins from his body.

"Ying Lei!" Yichen shouted as he helped him to his feet.

"Damn it! This is the worst I've ever felt in my entire life as a demon hunter. Xiao Zhuo, let me tell you, your lover is a hundred times worse than Li Lun at training..." Ying Lei complained, as his insides ached in burning pain. However, if this was even a tenth of what things were really like in the demon world, then Li Lun was right, and they were all far too arrogant to think they could kill nine high-level demons when mere plants could inflict them so much damage.

"We asked for this, and to be honest, it's better to face it beforehand, because encountering this kind of aggression simply by entering a forest in real life would have killed us right at the gates of the demon world. Let's find the others," Yichen urged, and they ventured deeper into the forest to help and reunite with the rest.

As they struggled to rejoin the rest of the unit, scattered throughout the forest, they fought relentlessly against things they never expected to encounter, making it difficult to simply run to find their comrades. Ying Lei even exhausted a great amount of  his energy creating shields as they raced to find Bai Jiu as quickly as possible, while Yichen used his ice energy to freeze vines and branches before they could ensnare them again. For them, it was a fight for survival, no longer training, as everything around them, from the oppressive atmosphere to the pain they felt when they were wounded, was all too real.

At some point, Yixuan also joined them as they raced through the living forest, and they soon found Bai Jiu covered in green vines that were feasting on his energy. Ying Lei was genuinely frightened when he saw his young boyfriend looking so pale, so he cut through the vines and cast his most powerful barrier spell to transfer some of his energy to him and compensate for what he had lost.

"Ge... this... this is worse than we imagined..." Yixuan was breathless from all the fighting and running, and Yixuan wasn't any better, even with the power of two gods.

"We truly underestimated the demon world. Now that we know everything around us is a death trap, we must find a way to defeat it. Ying Lei, how is Bai Jiu?" Yixuan asked, and Ying Lei answered without even looking at him, focused on healing him.

"He's exhausted, and even though the bond is healing him, it's not fast enough for him to recover and be able to face an entire forest.  I'm transferring some of mine to him to speed the process. In a situation like this, it's best if you two go find the Commander, her brother, and Wen Xiao. My barrier can hold off the attacks for a while, so go rescue the others before it's too late. I know this is supposed to be training, but if Zhu Yan is serious about it, we should be too." And both brothers agreed.

"Go, Xiao Zhuo Ge... I'll be fine..." Bai Jiu's weak voice wasn't exactly reassuring, but at least he was conscious now.

"Yichen..."

"Ge, I trust Ying Lei's strength to create barriers; he's the best among us, as solid as the mountains from where he comes from. After all, he's a descendant of Kulun, and I know he won't let Bai Jiu die on his watch." Yichen's confidence in his friend's skill was reassuring, and Yixuan closed his eyes to sense the life force of the rest of the unit, locating them not far away, to the west of their position.

"Alright, we'll be right back," Yixuan agreed. But before leaving the barrier, he cast a spell to strengthen it even further. Then, the two brothers ran frantically toward their comrades.

Separately, the Zhuo brothers were a formidable force, but together they were lethal. They sliced ​​through vines, trees, plants, branches, insects of all kinds, and anything else in their path with lightning precision, already adapting to the hostile environment and even channeling energy into their feet to dispel the purple mist that concealed the vines underground. They moved swiftly, and once they reached the other three, who were fighting for their lives, they annihilated everything there too, and rushed back to Ying Lei and Bai Jiu to regroup inside their barrier.

"This is troublesome. How are we supposed to fight high-level demons and nature at the same time? Does anyone know of a spell that can immobilize an entire forest? Because we'll need it, and we'll have to keep it immobilized for who knows how long." Pei Siheng was just as worried by this sudden revelation as the others.

"I'm sure Li Lun, as a tree demon, can handle the forest, but since he's not here for this training, we'll have to find another way to repel this threat," Ying Lei pointed. Howevers as the others discuss their current predicament, something unsettled Yixuan as he watched outside the golden barrier.

Yes, the forest seemed to be coming alive, and vines were lunging at the barrier, trying to push them out. They were in an unfamiliar place, filled with palpably tainted demonic energy, which made everything around them seem alive, but to such a degree that it felt almost unreal. Demonic energy was also present in the Forest of Convergence through the gate, but the forest itself was relatively safe, with the obvious exception of the numerous demons that lurked within it. There were tree demons there too, not to mention plant demons, but these weren't particularly strong, so why were the two worlds so different?

The answer was that the demon world possessed a greater amount of tainted energy, allowing more living beings to cultivate it, including a forest. Yet, there was far too much life inside. It was as if each plant in the forest had cultivate for centuries, acquiring its own consciousness and becoming a lethal weapon for any demon who ventured into it. This made no sense to his human mind. Li Lun had entered and left that place unharmed. Yes, he was a great demon, so the lower-level demons feared him, and he could even travel great distances in his leaf form, but still...

"Is this an illusion?" He wondered aloud, as he scanned the forest.

"Ge? What is it?" Yichen asked, approaching him, and Yixuan used his golden eyes to try to scan the surroundings.

When Zhu Yan's dimension shifted, the first thing that attacked them was a shower of gigantic red flowers that covered them in fiery pollen, and then the forest sprang to life. Was the pollen making them imagine everything they did after inhaling it? His golden eyes usually could see through illusions, but everything there had been created by Zhu Yan, so he couldn't see through his divine skill in creation. Then... he used hand seals to cast a dispelling spell with his golden aura that seemed to halt all activity in the forest, as they lay on the ground covered in purple dust.

"What the hell?! Was it all an illusion?" Bai Jiu asked in astonishment as he found himself covered in pollen, lying on the ground in the same spot where they had took their unit formation. This meant they had never moved from there, not even being dragged by draining vines or running through the forest fighting for their lives.

Seeing that it was all a side effect of the pollen from some flowers, Yichen nearly burst out laughing.

"He warned us that this was more than just a brute-force struggle; it was also a mental battle. Zhu Yan... you proved it so convincingly that I never doubted it..." he whispered, breathing in the oppressive air. Yet, he felt no burning sensation, even though they were covered in purple pollen.

They had failed in their very first test and that was harder to swallow than any imaginary fire pollen and burned hotter than it did in their illusion.

"Baobei, don't be mad with me..." Yichen heard Zhu Yan's voice whisper in his ear. He felt himself lying on his lap. Though he couldn't see him, he felt the warmth of Zhu Yan's hands holding him. They were still inside an illusion he had created, but feeling him through Zhu Yan's spell brought him comfort instead of anger.

"I'm not mad... this was the right thing to do..." Yichen murmured as he looked at his brother, who also seemed to be supported by an invisible force that he assumed was Li Lun, and he smiled. As a child, Yixuan had been his hero, and as a young man, he still was.

AN: Sorry for the delay, many things keep me distracted and heartbroken, (🕯️🐟, if you know what that means), but I'm here now. Thanks for reading and I hope you like this one, even if doesn't have fluff.

Gu Yue - Bone Moon

(Lady in White)

Chapter Text

Still half-elevated from the cold, purple-fog-shrouded ground by Zhu Yan's invisible body, Yichen felt the great demon tighten his grip on him. As if trying to strengthen Yichen, after being trapped in yet another illusion, and mercilessly experiencing how unprepared they were to face the demon world and survive. Yes, they managed to break free from the illusion, thanks to his brother's golden aura, and both Yixuan and he, managed to free the others before the illusion shattered. However, they had to fight very hard to survive the illusory pollen of a few flowers, with no high-level demons in sight. Thus, if mere flowers could deceive them so easily, breaking free from an illusion didn't feel like a victory, but a failure. One they had to face and overcome if they wanted to survive in the true demon world.

"Baobei... don't be discouraged, you can do this. You just need to better understand everything around you, including the members of your unit. You need to understand the true meaning of the bond, not just because of a spell, but also because of the blood you all carry from the gods." Zhu Yan's voice was calm and encouraging behind him, and although Yichen couldn't see him, since both great demons remained invisible to him, he felt his energy envelop him, as if trying to heal him, even though they hadn't suffered any real harm.

Everything they experience before was not real at all. Not the burning sensation, the fatigue, the numerous bruises he felt tearing across his skin, as he was dragged across the ground with lethal force, the loss of energy, the struggle against nature. None of that happen in reality, but in their minds. There was nothing to heal, but Yichen was glad to feel his familiar, soothing energy, for it had been his faithful companion, ever since he shared his bed with Zhu Yan.

"If you want the training to end, I..."

"Don't end it. If we want to prevent those demons from crossing into our world and avoid our destruction, we need this training. However difficult it may be, no matter how many times we stumble or fall, we must find a way to overcome this obstacle. I won't give up..." Yichen's words were meant to be heard only by Zhu Yan, but both Ying Lei and Bai Jiu were close enough to hear them, as Bai Jiu was nestled in Ying Lei's arm.

"He is right, Zhu Yan. We can't give up just because things didn't go our way. I know we can do better. I won't accept that all I'm capable of in the demon world, is falling into a trap and endangering others while rescuing me. I may be young, but I'm definitely better than what I was reduced to, in this illusion, so we must keep going. I need to become stronger..." Bai Jiu's words conveyed wounded pride, pain and confidence, but his determination to do much better next time was clear, and Yichen understood that perfectly.

"I agree. This isn't what we're truly capable of as a unit. We did much better training with Li Lun, so I won't accept that we can't fight the demon world either. We were chosen by destiny to carry the blood of the gods. Sealed or not, we are here to do greater things, for our world and perhaps for theirs as well. We can't give up. We aren't destined to fail in this quest." Ying Lei added as he looked not at Yichen, but at the invisible force that held him, Zhu Yan.

"There you have it, from someone other than me. We humans don't give up so easily. So don't you dare try to drag us out yet. We have very little time to do this right, before the demons get too close to the gate and make this mission even riskier." Yichen felt Zhu Yan kiss his forehead, so he closed his eyes and smiled.

"I'm so proud of you, Baobei. When this is over, I promise I'll devote myself to you and have you in bed with me for days..." Zhu Yan teased him, which made Yichen blush hotter, and he sat up so quickly, away from Zhu Yan, that both Ying Lei and Bai Jiu burst out laughing, making him blush even more.

"You perverted monkey! Get lost!" He shouted, attracting the attention of the others, who looked at him, amused.

Li Lun smiled mockingly, as he steadied Yixuan, who sat directly in front of him, with a hand on his back, transferring some of his energy, because Yixuan had used a lot of it to break Zhu Yan's illusion.

"I'm starting to feel sorry for my brother..." Yixuan whispered, amused.

"He's a lovesick monkey, don't pay him any mind. Be careful next time, Yixuan. Although this training doesn't mean any harm, the energy you expend is real, so don't overdo it."

"How could I not? If we treat this like mere training, we won't learn anything and will progress even less. Let us exhaust ourselves, as we would if this were real. You can always transfer some emergency energy through the bond if we go too far, or pull us out, if we endanger our lives through sheer stubbornness."

"I can definitely see something like that coming..." Li Lun sighed, watching the others mocking the hot headed Zhuo Yixuan.

"Don't worry, we may seem fragile, but we're very resilient."

"I never said I was worried."

"There's no need to, I hear it as clearly as water flowing in a river in your voice. Li Lun, I think we're close enough now for me to know how you truly feel. You may be acting tough, but I know that's not the case... I see your true self beneath that protective layer." Yixuan's words startled Li Lun, who looked at Yixuan's wide back, feeling exposed in a moment of genuine panic.

However, Yixuan turned around, sensing the shift in energy, and although he couldn't see him, he smiled at him gently and calmly, as always. Then he took his hand.

"Li Lun... you can't expect less from someone you choose to be with." Yixuan murmured, and soon he heard him sigh and gently squeeze his hand in return.

"Of course... I chose you, just as you chose me." Li Lun's body heat drew closer, and Yixuan felt his soft lips brush against his, making him smile.

"You're learning too much from Zhu Yan..." Yixuan teased and Li Lun chuckled.

"No one can see me, so it's fine. No harm done."

"It wouldn't have caused any harm, even if you were visible. I have no problem with an open relationship... nor does the rest of this unit. My brother's relationship with Zhu Yan already proves that."

"True, but I'm not Zhu Yan..."

"You are Li Lun, the great demon who fought Zhu Yan every few centuries for this world, the great demon who hated humans for thousands of years, and yet, you left all that behind not only for the sake of your own world, but also for ours. You are one of us, Li Lun, bind with us, not only by duty, but by choice, and you are as cherished as Zhu Yan. That was proven at the Citadel when we went together, so yes, you are not Zhu Yan, but you are still one of us..." Yixuan couldn't finish his sentence, as a cloud of blue smoke suddenly enveloped him, and he felt Li Lun's lips on his again, but this time with hunger and urgency, and he pulled him into his arms to deepen the kiss.

Outside the blue smoke bubble, Yichen blushed. Zhu Yan had used a similar one on him, so he knew exactly what was going on between his dear brother and Li Lun. Fearing that Zhu Yan would follow suit—he had already suggested they stay in bed for days—Yichen stood up and sat closer to Wen Xiao, Pei Sijing, and Siheng.

"Are you trying to escape your handsome monkey, Xiao Zhuo?" Wen Xiao teased him cheerfully.

"Not you too, Wen Xiao. Please have some mercy on me. I worked hard inside the illusion. And Zhu Yan is much worse than Li Lun when he shows..." He blushed. "...affection for me." Yichen pleaded shyly, and Wen Xiao smiled at him.

"Yes, we know..." Sijing said.

"Oh, please... I can keep it private too. Baobei, what do you say? Want to give it a try?" Zhu Yan's voice hung in the air, teasing.

"Shut up!"

"But Baobei..."

"I told you to shut up, or I swear I won't let you back into my bed ever again..." Oops, that didn't help at all! Why the hell did he said that! Was he losing his mind already? Yichen's face burned as the others laughed with his extreme embarrassment.

Feeling she should help the burning youth, Pei Sijing patted Yichen on the back in sympathy.

"You were very brave earlier, Xiao Zhuo, and so were Ying Lei and your... busy brother..." She glanced at the blue bubble, and Yichen blushed even more as Zhu Yan sat down near him again, placing a soft hand on his knee—not jokingly this time, but supportively.

"But we have to be better. Much better, if we want to survive this. We've been trained as demon hunters for years, so we can't even fathom the idea of ​​us being hunted instead." Wen Xiao's eyes widened, as if she hadn't thought about it before, and she realized he was absolutely right.

"We definitely need a new approach. Perhaps if we take in this whole place and sense its vitality, we'll be better prepared to face it," Pei Sijing suggested, and Ying Lei and Bai Jiu also moved closer.

"I agree. We treat this world as if it were ours, when in reality there are differences not only in appearance, but also in how things work. Even flowers that haven't cultivated for long enough to change forms, can be a problem. So we can't just focus on sensing high-level demons. We already had make that mistake." Ying Lei was right, of course.

"What if we cultivate right here? Let our minds feel the energy, even if it's tainted, because that will help us understand it better. We also have the blood of the gods, already protected by seals; this energy won't harm us. Ying Lei can create a barrier, and we can wander as we delve deeper into the bond and the mind, assimilating everything and learning to identify not only the nine demons, but everything that already possesses some cultivation, small or large.  Although our eyes can deceive our perception, our own cultivation can pierce through it," Bai Jiu suggested, still somewhat resentful of how useless he had been back then.

"Let's do it. I can also try sharing my golden eyes with you. I may not see through Zhu Yan's divine power of creation, but it will help you identify cultivated plants or trees. Insects and animals too." Yixuan, now out of his cozy cocoon, sat down next to Pei Siheng, the last free space in the circle they had unconsciously created.

"Ge..." Yichen looked at him, a little nervous.

"This is the right approach, Didi. Don't let Zhu Yan or I distract you. I think we can try a group cultivation. Since we're all bonded, why not cultivate together too? What do you think?" Yixuan looked around as everyone accented to his idea.

"How do we do that?" Pei Siheng asked curiously, having lost quite a lot of his cultivating, as a soul trapped inside a puppet.

"Holding hands?" Ying Lei suggested, earning a playful slap on the arm from Bai Jiu, who was standing next to him.

"Idiot, this isn't some shady spiritualism session to connect with ghosts. We're dealing with demons." Bai Jiu teased his lover, who rubbed his arm with an endearing pout.

"Xiao Jiu, don't be mean to your sweetheart... I think he's right." Wen Xiao saw the potential instantly.

"Really? How will holding hands help us?" asked Pei Siheng, who wasn't as convinced as she was.

"Physical contact has always been a way to transfer energy, right? Why not use it to share? We have nothing to lose by trying, but if it works, we're on the right track to conquer this strange world."She explained, and Bai Jiu immediately took Yichen's cold hand and Ying Lei's warm one with delight.

"Let's give it a try, Xiao Zhuo Ge." Bai Jiu smiled at him first, and when Ying Lei pouted again, he kissed his hand to reassure him, which pleased Ying Lei, whose face lit up with happiness. Wen Xiao laughed at their overload cuteness and then took Pei Siheng's hand between her own and Yichen's other empty hand.

"Wen Xiao, don't get too carried away. He's mine..." Zhu Yan's voice was audible again.

"Stupid monkey, don't talk nonsense now, please ignore him, Wen Xiao." Yichen tried to apologize for Zhu Yan's rudeness, but she knew that great demon wasn't serious, and Li Lun struck back at Zhu Yan for his brother-in-law sake.

"Relax, no one will steal him from you," Li Lun told him, and Zhu Yan hunched over as he looked at Yichen's clasped hands with others. Li Lun, standing behind him, sighed once more. And he was suppose to be the strongest great demon? He looked more like a grown kid, infatuated with his first crush than anything else.

"Well, now that we're holding hands, let's see if this works. If not, we can always try something different. Perhaps the great demons will give us some clues instead of remaining invisible." Wen Xiao complained, and Li Lun rolled his eyes.

"This is for your own good. You can't always rely on us; we'll have our work cut out for us too." Li Lun countered, and Yixuan smiled. Those two were always at odds, but not in a bad way.

"Yes, yes... now let's begin. Ying Lei, please use a barrier on us, just in case." Wen Xiao's plea was quickly answered. The young man did as he was told, cast a spell, and sealed it with four powerful talismans for extra protection. Then, they all closed their eyes in concentration, leaving their failure behind to start anew.

At first, they could only sense the energy they gathered from the forest, stored in their cores as they cultivated it. It was astonishing that, even though the entire dimension was fake, the energy flowing within, was one hundred percent real. Yichen smiled fondly as he absorbed the energy Zhu Yan offer them. It was indeed tainted, but not to the extreme, as that of the demon world. It was obvious that both energies stemmed from the same power, though the tainted one originated from somewhere else, other than the human realm.

Perhaps it was Cheng Huang's doing? There was also a hint of Bing Yi, as he was directly connected to him by more than just blood. He had also been possessed by him in the past, not to mention shown the path to his current seal. Perhaps his energy came from the Crystal Valley? Yichen couldn't be sure, since this was Zhu Yan's dimension, not the demon world, but at the same time, he felt a connection, somehow.

So Yichen concentrated even harder, letting the energy flow and expand into the bond and beyond. There, in the profound emptiness of colored threads, he could feel his whole unit intertwining into one. The Nine Stars formation protected them, as if Ying Long's hand were covering them from the other side. It was warm and very much like Zhu Yan's. His father, his world, his legacy, and Bing Yi had tried to protect it with his own life. Two fathers, and a son sacrificed themselves for two worlds. It was heartbreaking.

A tear rolled down Yichen's cheek, though his eyes were still closed, and he felt Zhu Yan's hand gently brush against his back, not to interrupt him, but to anchor him. Thus, he concentrated more intently, his energy flowing into the bond, sensing the others drawing closer as well. Although they all had the blood of gods, their energy projected different colors in their auras.

Ying Lei was brownish, like mountains; Bai Jiu, green, a healing energy. Wen Xiao, purple, enveloped in something he could only describe as a covering by a mantle of the long gone goddess Baize. Pei Sijing, orange; her brother's weaker aura, darker, like the wood in where his soul resided. Then there was his brother, blindingly golden and his own sky blue. There were three more, Zhu Yan's deep crimson and Li Lun's dark blue; but what bound them all together was Yun Guang's silver thread, for he was a sword with a soul, the core connecting them to the Nine Stars constellation and Bing Yi.

Yichen smiled, feeling the pulse of his sword at his side. It was silent most of the time, but always reliable, and even when they were trapped in the illusion, he responded to him like a safe line. If his sword hadn't possessed a spirit, he wouldn't have been able to break free from those draining vines. He was grateful to have been chosen to carry such a legendary legacy.

"Bing Yi..." The name escaped Yichen's lips like a blessing, and something stirred within him.

From outside the circle the humans had created, Zhu Yan watched as their energies intertwined and Yichen's surged considerably. He was in deep meditation, almost on the verge of shedding another layer of his sealed core, which worried Zhu Yan, but since he didn't seem to be in pain or discomfort, he let it be and continued watching. His beloved glowed, his body temperature fluctuating between warm and cool, but what struck him most was not that his lover was so deeply immersed in their connection and his own core, but that the pendant around his neck, the dimensional oval that carried a fraction of his father's soul, was also reacting to him.

"Is he really connecting with both worlds?" Li Lun asked incredulously, also sensing that Zhu Yan's dimensional energy was beginning to shift.

"This isn't the demon world. He's calling out to my father and Bing Yi, and they're resonating with his will."

"Is that even possible? Ying Long is dead, and Bing Yi is still sealed in the Crystal Valley."

"He's a descendant of Bing Yi, and if he could be possessed by him while sealed, Yichen could also reach Bing Yi in return."

"Then what are you waiting for? Stop him! We can't allow him to disturb Bing Yi when he's barely maintaining the seal trapping Cheng Huang."

"He's not disturbing Bing Yi. He's... he's using the power of the Nine Stars constellation to awaken his own core."

“That idiot! Did he want to die? He still can't undo the remaining layers! They're not ready for that yet.” Li Lun was about to touch Yichen, but Zhu Yan grabbed his hand and pulled it away.

"It's not just him, look around, Yixuan too... and Ying Lei, Bai Jiu... they're all starting to resonate with their cores." Zhu Yan pointed out, and Li Lun watched the humans light up with cultivation auras like festival lanterns in a deep night, one by one.

"What in hell is that? How can their cores resonate so deeply?"

"They're taking this seriously... and since they're trying this hard, let's put them to the test."

"This is getting dangerous. They could suffer serious damage connecting at this level. Are you crazy?" Li Lun grabbed Zhu Yan by the collar, fearing Yixuan might have a devastating backlash.

"Ah, you grumpy tree-head... Would I dare harm my soulmate? I will only test them, not attack them mercilessly. They want to transcend their own humanity so they can fight with us on equal terms in the demon world. The only way I can honor their determination is to ensure it happens, prepare them, and give them the strength they need."

"So what then? Will you pop-up Gu Yue, the Lady in White?" Li Lun asked, but Zhu Yan just chuckled as he pulled away from Li Lun's hold.

"Not her..."

"Then who?" 

"Ye Fengbao, the Black Calamity." And when the name struck Li Lun like a buckle of ice water, he turned to see the area begin to be enveloped in a thick layer of black smoke with flashes of golden lightning. A terror that was not only deadly, but a force of nature itself. Li Lun paled as he felt the terrifying energy of one of their most lethal enemies. One of the three most powerful demons approaching the gate.

"Oh hell..." And for the first time in ages, he force himself to remain still, when in reality he wanted to protect all of them.

AN: Ah, Li Lun is finally coming around, good for him. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care. Also Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate it this coming Thursday.

Ye Fengbao (Night Storm, Black Calamity)

Chapter Text

The instant the area began to darken with a dense black fog charged with demonic energy, the entire unit knew a high-level demon was approaching—a very powerful one. As Yixuan had offered before, he used his golden eyes to try to see through the fog. The others, united by his power, also saw through it, along with the many things, bearing traces of cultivation.

There were several trees and plants around them that could ensnare them, like those flowers, but this time they could see them clearly. They could either fight them or destroy them along the way. They all stood at once, their gaze fixed on the direction from which the demon was coming. Not in human form, but as a mass of energy, similar to when Li Lun took the form of a whirlwind of leaves.

Yichen's eyes glowed a deep blue with his own power as he gripped Yun Guang, who also shone not only with his own power, but also with that of the Nine Stars. Between them, the Master and the sword spirit united in body and mind, Yichen stepped forward and, gathering his inner energy, unleashed a powerful wave toward the mass of black energy, destroying everything it touched like a raging force of nature. It created an immense clearing, like a gaping scar in the dense forest, burning everything with blue flames that Yichen had never used before, nor even known he could summon.

The heat of his divine fire was scorching, but the unit felt the chill of Bing Yi's energy surrounding them. The demon of the black cloud managed to escape, sending golden thunderbolts toward them, but Ying Lei summoned a set of shields forward with such force that the clash between the two forces caused an explosion of gold on gold, shaking the ground beneath their feet and clearing the purple demonic energy that enveloped them with a strong gale of wind.

Yixuan released his golden aura that took a dragon form, like a shield surrounding them, and Pei Sijing readied an arrow on her bow, charging it with her inner energy, making it glow orange, like fire waiting to be unleashed. Bai Jiu placed a hand on the ground, and roots sprang to life, encircling Ying Lei's barrier, ready to act at the precise moment it was needed. The roots he summoned shone not with the color of his aura, but with a brilliant white, emanating from the pure energy cultivated by the Divine Tree. He was after all, a descendant of a Divine Tree capable of more than healing, he possessed the power of the earth, and those roots, acting like whips, could strike anything with divine power.

Pei Siheng's invisible threads were fueled by the energy of their bond, powerful and steady, waiting for an opportunity to act and Wen Xiao unconsciously summoned a divine flute that she was sure could bind, even if she had never use it before. But that wasn't all. As she watched the dark cloud of smoke coming closer, she realized that, somehow, she could anticipate its movements.

"Sijing, let me guide your shots." She placed a hand on her lower back for a more direct connection with her, before she let go. Pei Sijing aimed her attacks straight at where she was been shown inside her mind, by Wen Xiao. With the gained insight, she could now anticipate the path of the black cloud with greater clarity.

The first shot from her bow flew like a red comet in the darkness, and the cloud had to split in two to avoid being pierced by the powerful force and then regroup, changing direction in the blink of an eye. However, Sijing, still guided by Wen Xiao's foresight, kept pace, firing arrow after arrow, and even when she ran out of them, she could still create new ones with her own energy.

The black cloud then, send several thunderbolts in their direction, and both Yichen and Yixuan used their own cutting waves to intercept them. Yixuan's dragon swallowing several of them as it flew to attack the cloud too. Even so, the demon moved very quickly until it was close enough to strike them. They changed formation, forming a circle inside Ying Lei's barrier, weapons in hand.

Then, for the first time, the dark cloud took shape, and a tall man with black and copper hair, violet eyes, and dressed in pure black, stood before them with a mocking smile on his handsome face. With his hand, he unleashed a massive golden thunderbolt that could change direction, followed by several balls of lightning that came from all directions at once.

However, Bai Jiu's divine roots created a dome of white light that, surprisingly, absorbed the energy of both the lightning and the balls, sending it crashing to the ground outside their barrier, impacting everything within a radius of a mile all around. The demon transformed into a cloud just in time to avoid being hit by his own attack and fled upwards at terrifying speed, leaving the humans, still within a tight protective circle, astonished that they had forced him to retreat, even if he wasn't the real one, and also by the collective awakening they all experienced thanks to their determination to save their world and become strong enough to face the demon world.

Then, the forest illusion chattered away, and they returned to where they had arrived the first time, before Zhu Yan changed their appearances. However what they saw, was not what anyone would have ever want to see anytime soon. Close to where they stood, they found Li Lun holding Zhu Yan, who had traces of blood trickling from his mouth.

"Zhu Yan!" Yichen immediately rushed over and take his weight on his own as Li Lun looked like he was about to fall too. Seen that something had gone terribly wrong, Bai Jiu, was right behind Yichen to offer his expertise. Yichen gently laid Zhu Yan on the ground and Bai Jiu place his small hand on his chest to see what was wrong and how badly he was hurt.

"What's wrong? Why are you like this?" Yichen asked, wiping the blood from his lover lips, and looking at him with deep concern. Zhu Yan was breathing heavily and his eyes were closed, but at least he wasn't unconscious, as he took Yichen's hand and squeezed it. His forehead was also covered in sweat, and his heart was racing.

"Your illusion wasn't designed to contain the fusion of seven true divine powers awakening simultaneously. It really surprised us both. That was too much for a mere illusion. Luckily, the damage was spread between us, and both Yun Guang, which the bond chose to share the damage as he is a sword and I took a third of the blow, spearing the rest of you." Li Lun explained as he staggered backward, but Yixuan arrived before he could fall and caught him.

"Xiao Jiu, please help him..." Yichen urged his younger brother to heal Zhu Yan, who tried to smile at him but failed because of the pain. But since he had his own regenerative power, he could greatly accelerate the healing process now that the training was over.

"I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt you..." Yichen whispered to Zhu Yan, his red eyes opening.

"Don't apologize, this is a good thing... your cores resonate, awaken, and fight as one. You were so hot... literally hot..." Zhu Yan tried to joke, but Yichen, still worried and feeling guilty, wiped the sweat from his forehead and kissed him, gently and deliberately, taking his time to pull away. Bai Jiu, who was transferring healing energy to him, blushed slightly but smiled at their tenderness.

"Don't joke around. Why didn't you stop us before we hurt you?" The question made Yixuan look at Li Lun in his arms, now that they were seated too.

"Why indeed? I told you to pull us out, if we got too carried away," Yixuan asked Li Lun with all his seriousness and deep concern. His usual calming aura showed a trace of disturbance for the first time in a long while. As if the only one capable of piercing his armor was the great demon he held as if his life depended on it. His gaze was deep, so intense that Li Lun could feel it deep within his being.

"Your awakening was worth nourishing, even if it was dangerous." Li Lun's voice was calm, but it conveyed his hidden feelings. Watching him become so powerful through sheer willpower, was not only astonishing, but also captivatingly beautiful. The way his golden aura spread, then turned into a stunning dragon, his energy condensed and stroke those lightning bolts, as if they were made of wood, his defensive stance, his concentration, and his fierce protection... it was all mesmerizing.

"Li Lun..."

"Don't be angry, Yixuan... we are great demons, far stronger than you can imagine. Your awakenings took us by surprise, but we can withstand a thousand times more damage than this."

"Liar, you just said it was your luck that the bond shared the damage between your tree."

"Yes, but that was because the damage was internal to our bond, not from something external. I assure you we can handle much more. There's no need to worry or feel guilty. We can also heal ourselves quite quickly. You can test me if you don't believe me." Li Lun challenged him, and Yixuan placed his hand on his chest, accepting the offer. Closing his eyes in concentration, he felt Li Lun's demonic energy restoring itself faster than any of them, humans could ever manage. He sighed. 

"Don't scare me like that again ever again..." Yixuan whispered as he gave him a soft kiss, taking the others by surprise, not because they didn't know the two were connected from their first encounter, but because they had never done it so openly.

"Come on, Baobei... where's mine?" Zhu Yan whined, and Yichen smiled smugly.

"I see you are still the same perverted monkey, meaning that now, you're perfectly healthy again. I'm getting rid of you now..." Yichen teased, but Zhu Yan pulled Bai Jiu's hand away and cling to him like the monkey, I mean, ape, he was.

"Don't be cruel, Baobei, it hurts..."

"Yeah, right. Just keep lying like that and I won't stay in bed with you for days, like you wanted," Yichen whispered into Zhu Yan's ear, who smiled with delight.

"Then it's a promise, my Yichen..." Zhu Yan murmured, before taking his face in his hands and kissing him passionately. Yichen responded to the kiss with equal passion for a few seconds before pulling away, embarrassed.

"You shameless monkey!" Zhu Yan laughed, as did the others, and since the training had been more successful than expected, they returned to the mansion to rest and recover their lost strength.

Needless to say, each pair retired to a single room, with the sole exception of Pei Siheng, who had entered the room Zhu Yan had assigned him, to meditate. He was still imbued with the other's divine energy, so he needed to harness it before it dissipated. He was growing stronger, and if he continued to infuse his thread with the power of the Nine Stars, he could be of great help in the fights inside the demon world.

AN: Ah, some small bit of fluff special for Thanksgiving. Hope you like, as I was really inspired with this one and write it in record time. See you next time darling and take care.

Chapter Text

For dear DaNa020521, because you ask how couples celebrate their success in private. 🤭 So this is for you, a little extra teaser.

Zhu Yan/Yichen

One of the things Zhu Yan loved about his young lover Yichen was that, once they were completely alone and out of sight and hearing, he shed all the sharp edges that defined his youthful, defiant personality. Inside his room, Yichen was a mass of tenderness that Zhu Yan adored deeply. More than that, he loved him to the ends of the universe and beyond, especially when he felt guilty, as he did now.

"Zhu Yan... are you sure you're alright? You're not damaged in your core? Please be serious, I'm worried..." Yichen's voice, as always when they were in each others arms, was gentle. But Zhu Yan was genuinely delighted to feel Yichen's hand caress his face as if it were made of the finest material in the world.

"Baobei, I'm perfectly fine. I'm healed, and what happened wasn't your fault. Li Lun and I agreed to continue the training, so that your collective awakenings can show you how much more you can do."

"But I could have hurt you badly..."

"I stopped the training before it got to that point. I tell you, all of you were incredible, but you especially. That celestial fire was something Bing Yi used in the war against the demons. Seeing you standing there, so imposing and powerful, gave me goosebumps. You looked so much like him, but your stubborn self too." Zhu Yan nuzzled Yichen's neck with his nose, and Yichen smiled, tilting his head to one side, so his lover could reach him better.

"I felt... I felt a different kind energy fueling me at that moment. I think we all feel it, and that's why we suddenly become so powerful. Ah, Zhu Yan..." Yichen moaned his name as his great demon gently nibbled his neck, sending shivers down his spine.

"That was the power of the Nine Stars constellation. You connected with it and drew power from it."

"Hmm... but the Ying Long constellation is so far away in the heavens... How could I draw power from it? I'm sure I don't have the blood of two gods, like my brother..." Yichen asked as Zhu Yan kissed his jaw this time.

"My father's constellation is closer than you imagine. And so you know, you're connected to him through me. My father's power will always answer your calls, as if it were my own..." Zhu Yan kissed him, and Yichen completely forgot his curiosity and let himself be swept away by the mischievous demon, who made his blood boil not only with anger, but also with passion.

They kissed for a long time, as they had done ever since Yichen had opened up to him and confessed his love in the privacy of their sanctuary. In that room, Zhu Yan had cried and felt cherished like never before. It was then that Zhu Yan knew for sure, that the young demon hunter was the man of his life, sometimes rude, easy to tease on other occasions, but deep down in his heart, Yichen was a diamond, pure and bright from every angle you look at.

"Yichen..." He heard Zhu Yan whisper his name, but Yichen was reluctant to letting go of what he needed. 

He loved Zhu Yan with all his heart, and though he was shy in the presence of others, when he was alone, he never tired of his great demon. Behind closed doors, was the time when he opened up to him and allowed Zhu Yan in as well, so they could love each other in their own way. Sometimes passionately, sometimes as gently as the fluffy fur Zhu Yan swore he had when he was in his combined form. He was curious to see it. Perhaps someday he would, but for now, he just wanted to enjoy being in the arms of the man he loved, feeling his kisses, his caresses, and his playful mischievousness. It was addicting.

"Yichen..." Zhu Yan try again, after ending a heated kiss.

"We can still kiss some more..." Yichen whined, his heart still pounding out of rate.

"We can, Baobei... but you need to rest..." The young man blushed.

"It's still early... I can sleep later..." Zhu Yan laughed and kissed him again, this time more gently, so that Yichen could taste their love, their union, and their bond. The more days they spent together, the more Zhu Yan felt their bond strengthen, to the point that he sometimes felt like claiming him. But of course, that was not the right time yet.

They still needed to rescue Bing Yi and survive their fight against Cheng Huang himself, if he managed to escape from Bing Yi's prison. There were so many uncertainties to resolve, and no way of knowing if it would end well. His father had envisioned a happy ending for everyone before sacrificing himself, but as he had always remind him before, no future was set in stone, and a different decision could change everything for better or for worse.

"Zhu Yan..." It was Yichen who murmured his name this time, as they continued kissing.

"Do you want to rest now?" Zhu Yan asked, looking at his beautiful lover, who had placed his arms around his neck, to pull him closer. Desire was reflected in those captivating blue eyes, that became brighter along with his many emotions.

"No... there's something unusually warm coming from your chest. Are you alright? Did you lie to me? Is your core damage? Zhu Yan, please, don't hide things from me..." But Zhu Yan silenced him with another soft kiss.

"Oh that? It's not my core that's acting up, Baobei... it's my pendant..." Zhu Yan moved back enough to take out his father's pendant and show it to him.

"What is this? I... I've never seen it before, and we... well, I... I took all your clothes off once..." His face turned ten times redder, and Zhu Yan chuckled, amused.

"Oh, you certainly did, and it was so hot..." Yichen's face flushed again.

"Zhu Yan!" He protested in embarrassment.

"Don't be embarrassed now, my Baobei. Intimacy is part of a relationship, we both desire. But to answer your question, the pendant is usually invisible to anyone, unless it wants to be seen." Yichen looked at Zhu Yan in confusion as he held the warm pendant. Then he took Yichen's hand and gently place it over his father pendant.

Yichen's eyes widened as he felt not only the heat emanating from it, but also its pulse, like a heartbeat. Not only that, but he also sensed a strange, very powerful, yet quite familiar energy, as if it had been there, surrounding him all his life, but he had never noticed. It was enigmatic.

"What's that supposed to mean? Does that pendant have a will of its own? Is it another dimension you created? But you gift me one, and it's never been invisible, nor feel like this one. I've kept mine safe in this room, until we enter the demon world. You said I could train with Yun Guang there, but... we haven't had the time yet..."

"Of course, my Baobei have been very busy training with another master during my absence. On the other hand, to answer your question, yes, this pendant is very special to me and has a mind of its own. It belonged to my father and contained a fragment of his spirit." Yichen's eyes widened in astonishment.

"What?! What do you mean...?"

"A part of my father's spirit lives on within the dimension he created, and he passed it on to me before his body died. Early on, when you began cultivating the energy of my illusion, and delving deeper, my father's spirit responded to your silent call and lent you the power of his constellation, which is also stored within the pendant, keeping his spirit strong until the day he can be brought back." Yichen was even more stunned now.

"Bring him back? Then... then Ying Long can also be saved?" Yichen asked, almost breathless.

"Yes, if things go well. It might not work if things go badly. While cultivating for days and years on my tree, I often joined my father in spirit within this pendant. That's why you demon hunters thought I remained motionless like a statue for long periods while sitting on the tree branch, exactly where we sat last time." Yichen sighed.

"Zhu Yan... Why are you hiding something like this from me? Didn't you trust me enough now?"

"I've entrusted you with my life, more or less, since the first time I saw you on that cliff, in front of the shelter where you took refuge from the rain."

"But you didn't..."

"Yichen, as much as I trust and love you, this secret isn't mine to reveal, but my father's. So I couldn't tell you before, not because I didn't want to, but because it wasn't my right. But now it's different. He's reacting very intensely to you these last few hours. Perhaps he wants to meet his son-in-law..." Zhu Yan teased, and Yichen blushed as he gently patted him on the arm.

"Stupid monkey, don't joke about something like this." Zhu Yan laughed.

"I am an ape, Baobei, but tell me... would you like to meet my father? His dimension is his domain, so I have no control over who enters. That said, my father might invite you, if you agree. Since he knew you before you were born, perhaps he would like to see with his own eyes the person for whom his son feels such passion and is so crazy about. He bound our destinies long before you came into this world, so his energy has always been yours as well... and always will be, since he and I share the same divine blood." Zhu Yan explained, and Yichen was genuinely moved to meet Ying Long, a man who had seen too much and forged the path of his destiny.

"I would love to meet him. The same goes for Bing Yi. If I have the opportunity to see my ancestor face to face, it will be my greatest honor, too meet both of them."

"Then you may... he will love you too... as I do." Zhu Yan said and, once again, closed the distance between them and kissed him tenderly. Yichen smiled as he surrendered to the delicious sensations of having him close, not to mention the love that fuels it all.

He hoped that Ying Long would summon him to his dimension someday and then, he will humbly ask him for his permission to claim his son. In the end, it might be Zhu Yan who claimed him instead, but that didn't matter. He was thrilled by the thought of seeing his legendary father-in law, a hero of the past, and asking him, if he had somehow touched his life, while he was unaware, guiding him to find his rightful place beside Zhu Yan.

As they kissed, deep within the Ying Long's dimension, the dragon god smiled tenderly. He had chosen well; the child was exactly what his son needed, and he longed to see Bing Yi again. That moment was drawing near, and he prayed fervently that it would unfold just as he had foreseen.

Later that night, as Yichen lay fast asleep in Zhu Yan's arms, he found himself walking beneath the light of the moon and the brilliance of countless stars, in an endless field of fragrant flowers of every color. Peace reigned, the breeze was gentle, and he could hear a magpie singing in the stillness of the night. It was a song of happiness, capable of inspiring countless poems and romantic novels. Perhaps now he was dreaming of one of those stories, a beautiful nightscape, countless fragrant flowers that soothe the heart and soul, the song of an auspicious bird, while longing for his beloved to show up.

Yichen longed for more of their relationship, as his private time with Zhu Yan had been cut short, because his great demon insisted he needed to rest, and regain his lost energy. He had no choice but to sigh and obey. After all, Zhu Yan had been considerate, so he couldn't blame him for anything. To his surprise, he fell into a deep sleep soon after closing his eyes in the safety of Zhu Yan's arms.

Now he awoke in this enchanting place, likely a dream, as he had never visited such a magical place in human lands. But looking around, he didn't see Zhu Yan anywhere, which ultimately disappointed him. He sat in the field for a moment, admiring the beautiful scenery, and then lay down on his back. The fragrance of the flowers relaxed him, and he was almost asleep again when he heard someone approaching.

"Zhu Yan, it's rude to keep your lover waiting so long. You certainly took your sweet time. Please don't tell me you will use a lame excuse, like you were beautifying yourself to meet me. I will not buy it, and you were the one who..." Yichen began to complain as he sat down hurriedly, happy that he had finally arrived, despite his harsh words. However, the man standing barely a meter away from where he sat, watched him with a different kind of amusement than he was used to. He looked very much like Zhu Yan, but he wasn't exactly him.

"Zhu Yan...? Is that you?" Yichen asked, observing the man in front of him more closely.

His figure was practically the same; but the robes he wore were white and beige, two colors Zhu Yan didn't fancy. His face was almost identical, but this one had a long black tattoo on his forehead and a black straight line running from the border of his jaw to his neck. His hair was long, but with soft waves that moved in the night breeze. His eyes were as deep as an ocean, and his aura made him feel as if he were in the presence of the universe itself. He had never feel Zhu Yan's aura with such depth. Then it hit him.

Yichen's mouth fell open in disbelief, because although the resemblance was astonishing, this man was not Zhu Yan. There was a hint of mischief in his smile, but it wasn't the same playfulness as his white monkey. His presence was that of something overwhelming, a god who transcended life and death, a man who could see both behind and beyond, and he felt his inner core start to resonate once more with his presence.

Yichen knelt on the ground and clasped his hands together in a respectful greeting, unaware that icy, gleaming blue tattoos were beginning to form on his neck and cheeks, then on his shoulders, arms, and hands. His eyes turned sky blue and his hair bluish-gray. Then, his body began to ache.

"Bing Yi... this isn't our time to meet again. Don't possess the child now. We will meet when our destinies are forever intertwined. It won't be long, so please be patient a little longer. Release the child, or our son will kill us both with his bare hands; after all, he is his lover." Ying Long pleaded softly, and Yichen was released from the embrace Bing Yi was beginning to place on him, coughing up a little blood.

"Please forgive my lover for trying to possess you again. Sometimes, he forgets how strong he is and that you're still human, not a demon like Zhu Yan." Ying Long excused Bing Yi, helping Yichen to his feet and placing a hand on his chest to heal him.

"Ying Long..." Yichen tried to kneel again, but Ying Long stopped him before he could and smiled kindly.

"There's no need for so many formalities, child. Since Zhu Yan chose you as his life partner, we are now family." His voice was soothing, like gentle waves, very different from Zhu Yan's mocking tone. Ying Long smiled again.

"Forgive his teasing; he means well, and I assure you he would burn worlds and universes for you."

"Can you read my thoughts?" Yichen asked, blushing.

"Yes, but that was pretty obvious of you, so don't be shy. I haven't read your mind, just your expressions."

"Dragon God Ying Long, please grant me your approval to be your son mate. I swear my love for him is true, despite our constant arguments. He teases me so much that it sometimes makes me furious, and then... he gets too forward, and then I get really embarrassed..." Ying Long didn't let Yichen finish his list of complaints, as he burst into laughter. Yichen blushed and was surprised when Ying Long hugged him.

"Child, I approved of you even before you were born, and you make my son the happiest demon when he's around you. Arguments and all, he loves it, and with his personality, he wouldn't want you any other way. Don't worry, you're made for each other, blessed by the god of fate himself..." Ying Long patted him on the back before letting go.

"I am honored. I promise to give my life for him if it means saving him. I may not be as strong as him, but I am improving, and I can protect him on this journey ahead or die trying..."

"You will grow stronger, Zhuo Yichen. I have seen it, and I will also aid you in your quest. I only want destiny to take its rightful place. As an anomaly, Cheng Huang altered many destinies, including those of countless demons he deliberately tainted before Bing Yi sealed him away. But Zhu Yan also altered the destinies of humans, so they had balance the deviation from the original fate in their own way. Once the two anomalies clash, destiny will straighten out as it was meant to be."

"So, will we win this battle?" Yichen asked, hoping for an affirmative answer.

"Both of them have the power to rewrite destiny, so I cannot guarantee a happy ending, but I trust my son and you, to lead this mission to victory. You were all chosen thousands of years ago for this monumental task, not because you are incapable of achieving it, but because your determination and courage allow you to fight gods and demons alike. The fact that you were born human, was never an obstacle in your path, but rather a strength to overcome obstacles." Ying Long softly pat his shoulder.

"The demons you captivate with your own hearts will never fail you. Even if one is mischievous and the other overly serious. They are both the strongest and the most loyal. I firmly believe you will conquer everything, as long as your hearts remain on the right path. Now return; my son is very concerned for you." Ying Long smiled as he gently placed a finger on Yichen's forehead, who suddenly awoke back into Zhu Yan's arms.

"Yichen! What happened to you? I felt you trembling, and you spat blood..." Yichen gently placed a finger to Zhu Yan's lips to silence him.

"It's nothing... I just meet with your father..." Yichen explained, and Zhu Yan sighed in relief.

"But this blood... my father would never hurt you."

"Bing Yi got a little sentimental. He wanted to see Ying Long so badly..."

"Ah, so he try to passes you again? He's still too rough... but don't worry, Baobei, I'll make him apologize for the pain he caused you when we meet him, and if he doesn't listen, I'll beat him senseless..." Yichen laughed.

"Beat Bing Yi senseless? Are you nuts? Can you even do that? He is still a god, you know."

"Are you doubting me? Baobei, I have beat Bing Yi since I was a child." Zhu Yan proclaimed with exaggerated pride and Yichen laughed some more.

"Yeah, sure. You must have been such a strange family..."

"Why do you think I grew up like this?" Zhu Yan teased.

"But I love you just the way you are..."

"Ah, Baobei, come here..." Yichen was soon subjected to a tickle attack by Zhu Yan's hands, making him laugh until his stomach burned from laughing so much. After that, Zhu Yan changed tactic and kissed him long and passionately, just as Yichen had wanted for most of the night.

AN: LoL. How cute. I have other couples celebration times in mind, but this one got too long, so that will be for a next time. Thanks for reading and until next time, please take care.