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It was a rare afternoon for Yang Ziqin to be free. Usually, at this time of day, he still needed to run around, making sure that everything was working. From the daily report to the Renovation Division, to checking the sect's hall, then the lecture hall and by the afternoon, it was checking Qiongzhen Pavilion. Yang Ziqin's work is endless.
So to have free time right before noon is a very rare thing for him; after all, there's a sect that he needs to run.
Of course, the others still helped. Like Xie Wentian, for example, always offering help in everything, but unfortunately, despite being the strongest among them all, his ability to talk is not the best. Or how Wei Hong runs around tinkering with his new inventions, creating new gadgets for the sect. Everyone has their own role, but there's only one person whom Yang Ziqin can peacefully relay the important works.
Now with a rare free time, Yang Ziqin's feet unconsciously brought him to the spiritual fields of Misty Valley.
"Yang-shixiong, what're you doing here?"
Qi Yan, the one whom Yang Ziqin relies on the most. The one who greatly bears the burden to save the sect, the one who runs around helping everyone despite his busy schedule running the spiritual fields.
Yang Ziqin jolted in surprise, not realising the younger's presence. He looked around only to find his junior taking a bath at the lake. His silky hair unbound, his clothes nearly folded on a rock, his entire body wet from the water.
Oh, he's naked.
Yang Ziqin felt his own face start to warm.
He coughs. "Qi-shidi, uh.. I didn't expect to see you there. I'll just leave—"
"No, no!" Qi Yan immediately stands up, catching Yang Ziqin's arm, not bothering to put on any cover. He observes how Yang Ziqin's face slowly turns red, and it's definitely not because of the heat.
"Are you embarrassed?"
Yang Ziqin trembles. "Shidi, please put something on first."
"Oh? Why? We're both men. Don't tell me you're embarrassed to see my body? I know I'm gorgeous, but is it really that envious?"
"Yes, yes. Qi-shidi is gorgeous, that's why maybe cover up a little. Have mercy on this shixiong."
"Hm…" Qi Yan hums amusedly, slowly making his way towards Yang Ziqin. The older could see the water droplets falling from his hair to the ground, and Yang Ziqin didn't dare to raise his gaze any higher. "Then this shidi is giving Yang-shixiong the privilege to observe his body. So go on—"
Qi Yan, the menace that he is, finds the current, embarrassed Yang Ziqin utterly adorable. To make it worse, he even guides Yang Ziqin's hand to rest upon his naked waist, causing the hand to tremble violently.
"Shidi!"
"Yes, shixiong?" Qi Yan answered innocently.
Seeing Yang Ziqin's entirely red face, Qi Yan couldn't help but laugh, finally releasing his hand and jumping back into the water.
"Alright, alright. I was just teasing."
Yang Ziqin sighed in relief. He finally raised his head, opening his eyes to see Qi Yan back in the water, obscuring the sight from his waist downwards. Thank god.
"Shidi shouldn't act like this with everyone. Some are not as tolerant as others."
Qi Yan snorts, not caring. As if he would let anyoen see him like this. He crossed his hands on a nearby rock, leaning his head into his arms.
"How about you?"
"Hm?"
"How about Yang-shixiong? Do you mind seeing me like this?"
Qi Yan tilted his head; his white hair fell to the side, sticking wet on his pale skin. His face has a slight flush from the heat; his eyes are wide, looking up at Yang Ziqin curiously.
Yang Ziqin would not be human if he weren't seduced by this sight.
"I don't mind." And it's better if he were the only one who would ever see Qi Yan like this. "But not everyone is like me."
Qi Yan smirked. Yang Ziqin suddenly felt like he had fallen into a trap, as dread slowly crept into his chest.
"Don't worry, I don't do this to anyone. It's only for Yang-shixiong to see," Qi Yan playfully answered, winking to his senior. "After all, Yang-shixiong isn't just anyone, right?"
"H-huh?!!" Yang Ziqin gasped, stammering his words, not knowing how to reply.
Qi Yan laughed loudly; his pleasant voice rang inside Yang Ziqin's ears. In the moment of weakness, the younger pulled Yang Ziqin down with him, into the water causing a big splash.
Yang Ziqin coughs, holding onto Qi Yan in reflect, catching his breath. The younger man's laughter still echoed through the valley, as if it were pouring sweet honey into Yang Ziqin's ears.
"Ziqin."
Yang Ziqin opened his eyes just to meet his junior's face only inches away from his. He can feel their breath linger together, and the soft, warm skin of the younger man on his finger. The white, wet hair framed the delicate and youthful face so beautifully that Yang Ziqin's breath stopped.
And then, there was a kiss.
A pair of soft lips hesitantly falls into Yang Ziqin's own, contrasting to the previous brave and teasing demeanour. Qi Yan's hands trembled under the water, holding onto Yang Ziqin's arms before pushing himself away, backing Yang Ziqin.
The flushed red ear was very eye-catching compared to the rest of Qi Yan's pale, white complexion.
"Oh wow… look, it's time to feed the worms. Haha, I'll just—"
Yang Ziqin's hand catches his junior's arm, pulling him back until their chest pressed against each other. Qi Yan raised his head to meet Yang Ziqin's fiery gaze. His heartbeat quickens, the sound thrumming inside his head.
"Shixio-"
"Qi Yan," Yang Ziqin called, his voice full of fondness. "You— we— You like me."
That was a statement.
Qi Yan uncharacteristically lowered his head, too embarrassed to meet Yang Ziqin's eye. His only response was a slight nod, but that was enough for Yang Ziqin.
"I thought you liked Xie-shixiong…"
Qi Yan immediately raised his head in disbelief. "Xie-shixiong?! Are you kidding me? Him? What makes you think I like that aloof sword-brained guy?"
"Well, you gave him tea every day—"
"I gave him tea because his room is beside yours, and it feels awkward if he saw me giving you food every day with nothing to give him." Qi Yan sighs, the embarrassment faded to the back of his head, and he bravely circled his arms around Yang Ziqin's neck.
Qi Yan tilted his head, looking up at Yang Ziqin, purposely pressing himself closer into his senior's embrace. Yang Ziqin catches him and holds his junior's naked waist under the water, stopping their lower parts from pressing against each other.
That was dangerous.
"I didn't cook steamed crab every day just for a random senior brother." Qi Yan leaned his face closer until their noses touched. "You're the one I like."
It was Yang Ziqin who threw away the distance between them and pulled Qi Yan close into a passionate kiss.
They came out of the water many hours later, when the sun finally set. After many kisses, a lot of skin contact, and both of their clothes wet, their clothes thrown to who knows where, both climbed out, only to continue inside Qi Yan's small residence in Misty Valley.
"Stay in the valley for a few days, hm? This shidi can help shixiong 'cultivate' every day." Qi Yan whispered as he lay inside Yang Ziqin's arms, playfully caressing his senior's neck.
"Qi Yan, sleep."
"Fine."