Heavenly Soul

∘―o―∘

Sprinkled with plentiful of stars, the night sky glittered brilliantly, stretched over the flower garden in the Feng household in all directions. A wide, paved path cut through the carefully cultivated shrubs in the garden, with clear gla.s.s...o...b.. the size of a palm resting on the edges. Soft, b.u.t.tery yellow light spilled out of these orbs, suffusing the garden with warm light. A sense of comfort and peace filled the quiet s.p.a.ce.

Past the boundary of the paved path and nestled between flowering bushes was a white stone bench. Bathed in the gentle yellow light from the gla.s.s...o...b.., the bench looked homey and inviting. Sitting on it relaxedly with four empty jars of wine beside him was a dazed Qinghe. The sweet scent of the wine along with the heady smell of strong alcohol permeated the s.p.a.ce around him.

Reaching out a hand towards the nearest flowering bush, Qinghe plucked a few flowers blooming brightly in yellow. After picking out the flowers' petals and collecting them in his lap, Qinghe threw away the bare stems and began slowly eating the petals one by one, his expression absentminded.

Meanwhile, Yang Baoyu was walking over the wide path and looking around the garden. He'd seen Qinghe enter here just a while before, so he was planning on 'accidentally' b.u.mping into him and spending some time together. Spotting Qinghe sitting off the path, Yang Baoyu slowly approached the bench with the intention of talking to him.

But as Qinghe came into full view, Yang Baoyu's steps suddenly faltered, his polite smile freezing on his face.

Qinghe's eyes were dewy and dazed, making him look very innocent and childlike. His cheeks bore a slight flush due to intoxication, his l.u.s.trous pink lips slightly parted and glistening with traces of wine. His posture as he leaned on the bench's backrest was loose and languid, his every movement looking simple yet elegant. As the warm light from the orbs tenderly framed his stunningly beautiful face and traced along his perfectly proportioned figure, it made him look incredibly enchanting. Swathed in tranquility and temptation as he was, he overshadowed the gorgeous scenery of the garden around him that was filled with flowers in vivid colors blooming gracefully while bathed in the starlight. It instead seemed as if the garden was merely here to serve as his background and to accentuate his beauty.

Yang Baoyu had to swallow to wet his suddenly dry throat. His dark green gaze flicking to the empty jars of wine beside Qinghe, he hypothesized that the other man had come here to drown his sorrows in drink. Remembering how just recently he'd seen this person's lover coldly leave him behind to go work, Yang Baoyu couldn't help but wonder at the other man's stupidity. How could he even think of abandoning such an alluring being like this while there was a stranger in the house who could covet him? But Yang Baoyu felt very grateful that he was able to get some time alone with this beautiful person while his defenses were weak due to the wine.

Suppressing his gleeful emotions, Yang Baoyu strived to look pleasant and charming as he walked up to the bench and sat beside Qinghe. Relocating the jars to the other side of the bench, he crept closer and spoke, "Young Lord Feng? Did you drink all these jars on your own?"

Qinghe turned to look at Yang Baoyu as if just noticing him and nodded. Sighing out an alcohol-tinted breath, he complained melancholically, "He's still not here. I've been waiting for so long and it's already night…but he's still not here."

Yang Baoyu showed an expression of understanding. "Maybe Lord Wei is still busy with work, though I don't think the Offices of Judgment would be unfair enough to ask anyone to work this late… No, how could Lord Wei leave you alone at night if it wasn't for something very important? I'm sure he's just busy."

Qinghe's expression grew even more dejected and sullen as he pouted. Then seeming to remember something, he looked up at Yang Baoyu and asked unsteadily, "You…no, Fourth Prince Yang, why are you here?"

Looking at Qinghe with eyes that expressed his sincerity while his lips bent in a teasing smile, Yang Baoyu answered, "I was just taking a walk when I came upon a stunningly exquisite b.u.t.terfly sitting here among these flowers. I wonder if the b.u.t.terfly minds my company?"

Blus.h.i.+ng and looking away, Qinghe coughed delicately. His eyes seemed to gain more awareness as he replied, "Your Highness praises me too much. Of course you are free to sit wherever you wish."

Yang Baoyu's expression turned intent as he admired how soft and inviting Qinghe's fair skin looked while flus.h.i.+ng deeper with that tender pink. It made him want to brush his fingers over it to see if it really was as warm as it looked. Yang Baoyu's eyes deepened in color.

In truth, he was only trying to seduce this person to create a rift between him and that Lord Wei, which would hopefully destabilize the Feng household enough to distract them. He would then undo those wards over the egg chamber where he'd learned the Feng family kept a clutch of wyvern eggs. If he could steal even just a few of those eggs, he could use them as leverage and gain the favor of the true dragons who were also interested in getting their hands on them. Giving the eggs to the dragons and gaining their support would mean he would be increasing the negotiating power of the Wu Jin nation while it was discussing its merging with Heaven.

But still… Yang Baoyu couldn't help but feel that wooing this bewitching person called Feng Qinghe and having him for himself wouldn't be such a bad thing either. He'd mulled over this possibility back in the Heavenly Palace itself. Considering Qinghe's performance in the throne room before and the rumored extent of his potential, he might even become an a.s.set, not to mention his connections with this powerful Feng household and his status as the future Heavenly Emperor after his father. But what tempted Yang Baoyu the most was still that coldly beautiful yet strangely innocent face. If he could have such a person beneath him every night, crying out his name sweetly with those adorable lips…

As Yang Baoyu's heated gaze fixed on his lips, Qinghe obliviously lifted a yellow petal from among the ones he'd gathered on his lap and slowly nibbled on it. The contrast of the bright yellow with the dusky pink of his lips made Yang Baoyu swallow thickly. It looked so innocent and sultry at the same time. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Does it taste good?"

Qinghe chewed and swallowed the rest of the petal and turned to him with a smile. "I won't say that it is delicious, but it has a uniqueness to its flavor nevertheless. It's an acquired taste, so I don't think Your Highness will like it all that much."

Yang Baoyu's eyes gleamed. "Oh? Now I'm curious."

As he lifted his hands and reached towards the petals on Qinghe's lap, Qinghe quickly gathered them up and held them away. In a teasing voice, he stated, "Now, now, there are plenty of other things Your Highness can eat if you're hungry. These petals are min― ehem, I mean, these are not good for you."

Yang Baoyu chuckled. It seemed that his host had become much more playful and forthright under the influence of the alcohol. It was very endearing.

c.o.c.king an eyebrow, Yang Baoyu said with a grin, "You just don't want me to eat your stash of petals, don't you, Young Lord Feng?"

Qinghe puffed his cheeks, his body lightly swaying under the effects of the alcohol. "N-No, why would I…" Lifting a hand, he rubbed it over his cheek as if to try and rub off his drunkenness.

Seeing the other man looking even more dazed, Yang Baoyu couldn't help the l.u.s.t shooting through him, blinding his reason. Raising a hand, he brushed it against one those flushed cheeks. Ah, it was even more soft and warm than he'd imagined…

Qinghe startled, his hand instinctively lifting to push away the other man's fingers as he frowned. However, his wrist ended up being captured by Yang Baoyu, who only seemed to get more excited at this sign of Qinghe's befuddled resistance.
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His smile turning heated, Yang Baoyu tightened his grip on Qinghe's slender wrist and pulled it towards his lips to place a soft kiss on his knuckles. "Mm… Young Lord Feng, your skin is so much more soft and fragrant than the petal of any flower I've ever touched. It makes me want to feel all of your body against all of mine."

Despite being slowed due to the effects of the alcohol, Qinghe still tried to struggle harder while lifting his other hand to tug on Yang Baoyu's wrist. The flower petals clutched in that hand escaped from his fingers, fluttering everywhere. His cheeks turning even redder in indignation, Qinghe said, "W-What are you trying to do? I…I already have a lover!"

Yang Baoyu's eyebrow twitched at the mention of Wei Xiang, then his smile widened as he spoke in an enticing voice, "Ah, but since your lover isn't here to give you the care and attention you need, why don't you let me show you how a proper lover should be? You're too young to waste yourself on someone who doesn't know how to treasure you. I promise I'll be much more gentle than some beast and treat you how you deserve to be treated."

Qinghe looked confused, his mind seeming too muddled to understand just what he should do. Just then, Yang Baoyu leaned forward, extending his tongue out to slowly lift one of the petals that had fallen onto Qinghe's shoulder. Qinghe's eyes widened as he jerked back. "Ah! W-What are you… Hey, that's my petal! I told you not to eat them! Spit it out!" Qinghe looked childishly angry, his eyes unfocused.

But purposefully taking the little petal into his mouth and chewing it slowly, Yang Baoyu swallowed it and chuckled. "Young Lord Feng, you're so adorable. Now I know for sure that you were purposefully misleading me about its taste just to keep me from eating it. This petal is actually sweet. Or is it because it was on you that it tastes so good?"

No sooner had Yang Baoyu spoken so that he found the sweet taste on his tongue unexpectedly turning sharp and bitter, filling up the entirety of his mouth. A burning sensation began spreading from his throat and stomach as he suddenly felt his body weakening.

The soft befuddlement and innocence in Qinghe's face were replaced by cold amus.e.m.e.nt. "And here I was expecting more of a challenge. I wonder why Your Highness never considered that just like how you wanted to seduce me, I might have prepared a few traps of my own for you as well?"

Yang Baoyu looked extremely confused. But before he could process the sudden change in the situation, he quickly lost all strength in his limbs. His body slumped down and fell onto the ground with a thump. No matter how he tried to struggle and stand up, his body remained unresponsive.

Qinghe unperturbedly stood up from the bench and leaned down over the other man, his hands lightly clasped behind his back. Strands of his long hair slipped down, brus.h.i.+ng the paved ground just beside Yang Baoyu's cheek.

Smiling, Qinghe motioned towards one of the petals lying beside Yang Baoyu with an elegant tilt of his chin and explained, "These petals are definitely edible for me, since my body has already built up immunity towards them after continuously eating them all this time. I've even gotten used to the taste. But for a deity not yet habituated to it, eating a whole petal can be toxic. It's nothing much, just a few hours of paralysis, but I hope Your Highness learns his lesson and never touches someone who isn't willing to be touched."

"You… Were you…pretending…to be…d-drunk…?!" Yang Baoyu forced himself to speak.

Qinghe chuckled uncaringly. "I most definitely am drunk. I finished four whole jars, you know? But in front of someone untrustworthy, why would I let down my guard? Only my dear loved ones will ever have the opportunity of seeing me let go of my control even while I'm drunk."

Yang Baoyu gritted his teeth. "Y-You…can't…do this… Th-The law…prohibits…p-poiso…ning…" With every word, his body turned more and more rigid until his jaws refused to move. Rings of light seem to dance in his vision, making it difficult to see.

With a small smile, Qinghe calmly refuted, "Oh, but I didn't poison you. No one from the Feng household did. You went and ate that petal on your own. I even tried to dissuade you and asked you to spit it out, didn't I? As such, I have fulfilled my obligation as your host. You are not a child, Your Highness. You should know better than to put random things in your mouth, no matter how tempting they may seem at that time. If you choose to take this to the heavenly court and accuse us, you will be laughed out of the throne room."

Straightening, Qinghe casually continued, "By the way, this garden is my mother's. Did you really expect the flowers grown by the Heavenly General Feng Chunyi of all people to be normal?"

Chuckling and shaking his head at Yang Baoyu's naïveté, Qinghe began walking towards the Feng residence leisurely, leaving behind the p.r.o.ne figure on the ground. Their guest would be safe enough there until the effects of the paralyzing toxin wore out in a few hours. Of course, his body might be incredibly sore and stiff after hours of lying on the hard ground without moving, but Qinghe blithely decided not to bother himself with the tiny details.

Entering the house again, Qinghe headed straight to the egg chamber where he felt his lover's presence through the soul bond. After pretending to go to work, Wei Xiang had used the shadows to return and wait until Qinghe distracted Yang Baoyu before beginning to prepare the new egg chamber.

After finding Wei Xiang, Qinghe finally let go of his control. Letting his drunkenness wash over him, he rushed into his beloved's arms with a wide smile while yelling, "Chiaaaang!"

Wei Xiang's lips twitched. 'Chiang'…? Chuckling helplessly, he asked, "I take that it went well?"

Snuggled in his lover's embrace, Qinghe peeked up and nodded cutely, then buried his face back into Wei Xiang's chest. Then suddenly leaning back, he frowned and said, "Xiang, he touched my cheek! I don't like it!" Diving back down, Qinghe promptly began rubbing his cheek against the fabric over Wei Xiang's chest.

Raising an eyebrow, Wei Xiang teased, "Then are you sure you want to rub it on my robe, love? When you hug me later, won't it get back on you?"

Qinghe froze and looked up at Wei Xiang with a horrorstruck face. Wei Xiang wanted to burst out laughing, but suppressed the impulse and said in a reasonable voice, "How about this, you can wipe your cheek on me all you want. I'll just go and change my outer robe later, alright?"

Blinking his dewy eyes at him, Qinghe asked, "It won't be troublesome?"

Wei Xiang couldn't help smiling as he shook his head. After all, he didn't mind indulging his adorable little lover's drunken whims in the least.

Rea.s.sured, Qinghe resumed rubbing the cheek Yang Baoyu had touched on Wei Xiang until the chafing turned it red. Meanwhile, noticing something yellow in his beloved's hair, Wei Xiang frowned and lifted it out with his fingers to examine it. It turned out to be a flower petal.

His eyebrows rising up, Wei Xiang spoke, "Qinghe, love, don't tell me… Did you give our guest a petal from the sunbloom flower?"

Qinghe's smile oozed smugness as he replied, "I didn't give it to him. He ate it all on his own!"

Wei Xiang shook his head amusedly.

For the past few years, Feng Chunyi had been forcing everyone in the Feng Household to take regular doses of various types of poison and toxins in small and harmless amounts so that they would build up immunity against them. But for some reason, Qinghe had ended up taken a liking to a few of those weird-tasting toxic flowers, munching on them like snacks.

"I hope you didn't leave him a way to blame our household for it," Wei Xiang said.

Puffing his cheeks and acting offended that his lover even needed to ask, Qinghe declared, "Of course I didn't!" Then thinking of all the hard work he'd done in acting and whatnot, Qinghe suddenly started to feel very tired. Letting out a long yawn, he leaned his weight lazily on his beloved and complained, "Xiang, I'm sleepy."

Wei Xiang pulled his little lover back by his collar and said, "Now, now, love. Though I finished the rest of the preparations in the new chamber, we still have to move the eggs."

Qinghe pouted pitifully.

Dipping his head to peck his beloved's puckered pair of lips, Wei Xiang coaxed, "Come on, we can use the shadow realm for now and quickly transfer the eggs. Then I'll change my clothes and we can go cuddle in our room. Your intoxication should've worn out by then too, and we can have some fun on the bed. Wouldn't you like that?"

Qinghe had already been won over at the mention of cuddling. His eyes lighting up, he enthusiastically nodded. "Then let's move the eggs quickly!"

And so the pair of lovers set off to do just that.

...

In the royal palace of Wu Jin, Feng Huixin sat in a darkened room, the light of the moon and stars that was flowing in through the open window the only source of illumination. As a deity, his eyesight was sharp enough that he could see clearly despite the lack of light, and so he had decided not to waste his hosts' lamp oil. Sitting in lotus position on the neat bed, Feng Huixin's back was straight and his face relaxed as he meditated to pa.s.s the time.

An impatient knock suddenly broke the quiet.

Feng Huixin opened his eyes and gracefully got up from the bed before heading towards the door and opening it. On the other side stood a coy-looking Yang Ruanyu, the third-born princess of the Wu Jin royal family.

Yang Ruanyu was attired in layers of fluttery fabric the color of a freshly bloomed rose. Her bright blue belt was cinched tight around her waist, accentuating its slimness while simultaneously making her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and hips seem rounder and fuller. Her dusky skin was smooth and flawless, appearing especially soft, while her thick and curly hair was arranged into an elaborately complex knot atop her head, a simple and elegant jeweled hairpin holding it together. A subtle floral fragrance emanated from her, clean and feminine. Fluttering her thick lashes, the princess looked up at Feng Huixin with eyes the color of l.u.s.trous emeralds.

In a smooth and lilting voice, Yang Ruanyu asked, "Lord Feng, how have you been settling in? Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?"

Feng Huixin shook his head. "I'm fine, thank you, Your Highness."

Yang Ruanyu t.i.ttered cheerfully. "Now, now, there's no need to be so stiff, my lord. Sitting here in this dark room all alone must be terribly boring. Why don't I give you some company?"

"There is no need to trouble yourself. I am perfectly content with the current arrangements. If that's all, then please excuse me," Feng Huixin said and immediately began closing the door.

Yang Ruanyu quickly shot out a hand and stopped the door from shutting just in time. f.u.c.k! It looked like she should stop dancing around and start seducing him straightforwardly. After all, with that serious face, this man didn't look like someone who'd understand when a woman was trying to hint at intimacy. If she let him push her away now, she would fail to charm him with her seductive wiles and wrap him around her little finger like she wanted. If that happened, then how would she be able to fulfill her father's instructions of gaining this man's support in the negotiations of their nation merging with Heaven? No, she couldn't risk it. If she had to put aside her pride and be forthright, then so be it!

"L-Lord Feng, please, listen to me! I didn't come here to just chitchat. I…I want…"

Feng Huixin's brows furrowed imperceptibly. "Yes?"

Yang Ruanyu tried her best to act like a demure and pure maiden as she shyly bowed her head, her slender fingers fiddling with her sleeve. "Lord Feng, ever since I saw you, I-I was smitten with you. I couldn't think of anything but you for these past few hours. I finally gathered my courage to come and tell you that I w-want you." Then looking up bashfully and blinking her limpid eyes with adoration, she asked, "Lord Feng, will you please spend the night with me?"

Feng Huixin wanted to sigh. "I already have a wife."

With sparkling eyes, Yang Ruanyu proposed, "She doesn't have to know."

His eyebrow twitching once, Feng Huixin firmly denied, "Pardon me, but I refuse." Not waiting for the shocked princess to regain her

A m.u.f.fled thud sounded as if someone had just hit their fist against the other side of the door, then the sound of footsteps getting farther could be heard. Feng Huixin sighed in relief, once again sinking into peaceful meditation.

But a few minutes later, Feng Huixin's eyes snapped open, a faint hint of surprise in them as he turned to look at the open window. Without thinking, he raised a hand to summon the wind, then halted. Feeling the seven sets of bangles weighing his arms and serving as deity-suppressing restraints, he sighed. Getting up from the bed once again, Feng Huixin made for the window.

On the other side, Yang Ruanyu had slipped off her dainty shoes and was climbing up the wall to Feng Huixin's window with grim determination. In her heart, she was grumbling angrily. How dare she, a princess, be rejected?! No matter how pretty a person was, what right did they have to turn her away so directly, without even leaving her a shred of dignity?! Did that Lord Feng think she would give up that easily after he treated her that way? Hmph! Dream on! Now she would climb into his room through the window and push him down on the bed. Let's see how he'd resist her feminine appeal then!

Her fingertips finally reaching the edge of the wide window ledge, Yang Ruanyu pulled herself up while trying not to make any sound to alert the person inside. Perched precariously on the ledge of the window, she panted lightly to recover her breath and lifted her head to sneakily peer into the darkened room―

―and found Feng Huixin standing directly in front of her, looking at her with hints of exasperation in his gaze.

Yang Ruanyu's eyes widened as her entire body jerked in surprise. She'd just opened her mouth to say something when Feng Huixin suddenly closed the window and bolted it as if he couldn't even see her. Curtains were soon drawn over on the other side, leaving Yang Ruanyu with her mouth open awkwardly.

For a moment, she could only stare.

Then her hands clenching into fists in anger, she banged them against the window while shedding all pretense. "f.u.c.k this! Open the window, you d.a.m.n b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Who do you think you are, shutting out the princess of this palace?! Are you that against f.u.c.king me, huh?! I'll have you know that I have a long line of men and women just waiting for me to even spare them a single look, and here you are acting so haughty against this great one! You arrogant a.s.s! Just wait and see how I'll…"

And so, as the dignified royal princess of Wu Jin squatted outside his window uncouthly while banging on the gla.s.s pane screaming obscenities and threats, Feng Huixin casually ignored the disturbance and went back to meditating.

More than an hour of unceasing noise later, Yang Ruanyu felt her throat hurt from all the yelling while her hands ached from hitting the windowpane, so she finally decided to let it be. She didn't want to compromise her dignity any further by pressing on to seduce their guest after already being rejected so clearly. But still determined to make him pay, she instead decided to let her lecherous older brother, the first prince Yang Yehuo, have a go. And so, still muttering curses, she jumped down from the window and left.

Inside the room, Feng Huixin heaved a breath in relief, but that relief was short-lived. Within ten minutes, someone knocked on the door again. The sound was heavier this time, the thumping knocks sending vibrations through the wood.

Getting up once more, Feng Huixin made his way to the door, his patience running out. When he opened the door this time, he found a leering Yang Yehuo looming in the doorway. The first prince was taller than Feng Huixin by a head, his shoulders broad and his frame covered with bulging muscles that seemed about to rip apart his straining robes. Though he was neatly groomed and well-dressed, something about his posture and expression screamed that he was a thug who preferred to settle things with force. Standing in front of him, Feng Huixin looked like a pet.i.te child not even half his width.

Keeping the door half-opened, Feng Huixin asked in an inflectionless tone, "Yes?"

Yang Yehuo grinned, the action a controlled baring of teeth meant to intimidate. "Lord Feng, since I heard that you weren't satisfied with my younger sister, I came here to magnanimously offer myself."

Feng Huixin's brow twitched, but he showed no other reaction. "There is no need for First Prince Yang to go so far. I intend to remain faithful to my wife, so I'm not looking for a bed partner. If there's nothing else, then I will―"

"There's no need to refuse me so hastily. Why don't you invite me in, Lord Feng? Or if you don't want to do that, then you can just come out and talk here in the open. There's no need to hide in your room so shyly as if I'll rip those robes off of you at any moment." Yang Yehuo threw back his head and laughed boisterously.

Feng Huixin's eyes darkened with a dangerous emotion. It seemed that being polite wouldn't work. Stepping out of his room with measured steps, Feng Huixin carefully closed the door behind him. "I've already stated clearly that I have no interest in taking any of you to bed. It is nonnegotiable. What more do you want?"

Yang Yehuo looked amused. "Ooh, getting testy, are we?"

Then moving forward suddenly, he pinned Feng Huixin's wrists to the wall, his muscled body pressing against the other man's smaller one. His smile stretching wide with glee, Yang Yehuo said smugly, "Lord Feng, it's your fault for being so beautiful. Remember that you are the one who tempted me into doing this by crossing my line of sight. Flaunting such a f.u.c.kable face and figure in front of me, what else can I do but defile your delicious body until it breaks?"

Feng Huixin's eyes turned half-lidded as he spoke softly, "Does First Prince Yang know that you will be breaking the law by attempting to force me to lie with you?"

Yang Yehuo laughed without care, his head bending towards Feng Huixin's impa.s.sive face with l.u.s.t clearly painted in his expression as he crooned, "Of course I know. But who cares about the laws when there's such a good-looking beauty in my arms, eh?"

"If you know, then that makes this much easier."

Before the prince could digest his words, Feng Huixin twisted his wrists easily out of Yang Yehuo's hands and brought up his knee between the other man's thick thighs with force. A startled Yang Yehuo felt his fragile genitals being crushed into his groin while his pelvis shattered under the power of the sudden a.s.sault. Letting out a pained wheeze while his eyes seemed like they would pop out of his sockets in surprise, Yang Yehuo staggered back and crumpled onto the floor. As the pain finally registered, he let out a long, ululating screech, his body curling up while his hands tried to cup over the injured area protectively. But the pain was so horrible that even the slightest of touch felt like the torturous press of hot iron over the sensitive area. Though he wanted nothing more than to retrieve some pills for the pain and to heal himself, Yang Yehuo's mind was in too much disarray, his concentration completely scattered due to the agony, so he was unable to manipulate enough spiritual energy right now to reach into his storage s.p.a.ce.

Feng Huixin merely watched the desperately screaming man on the floor with cold eyes. "Since it doesn't seem like First Prince Yang has anything more to say to me, I will retreat into my room. However, because this corner of the palace seems relatively isolated, Your Highness might have to shout a bit louder to summon help."

With that, Feng Huixin returned to his room and closed the door again. Ignoring the sounds of howling and writhing coming from outside, he calmly went back to meditating on the bed. Since he could easily justify Yang Yehuo's current predicament by citing the laws for self-defense, Feng Huixin didn't worry about this matter landing him in hot water.

A few hours later, after a noisy Yang Yehuo was finally carted away, yet another knock sounded on the door. This time, it was hesitant and gentle.

His opened eyes glinting in the darkness, Feng Huixin silently rose to open the door once more. If it was someone wanting to play games on him again, he had no qualms about being even ruder than he was to Yang Yehuo.

...

In the Feng residence, after carefully moving all the wyvern eggs from the old chamber to the new one, the drunken Qinghe fussed over them, insisting that each of them should be settled comfortably so that the eggs wouldn't hurt themselves while turning over in their sleep.

Feeling endlessly amused at this strange reason, Wei Xiang decided not to argue and obediently helped his little lover with arranging plentiful of soft padding around each and every egg. Technically, the eggs wouldn't really move unless it was a few days before hatching, and even then they would only wiggle a little. But seeing Qinghe looking so happy to take care of his future children, Wei Xiang was content to leave it be.

By the time they were done settling the eggs and Qinghe finished setting up something in the old egg chamber, a few hours had already pa.s.sed. Qinghe's intoxication had almost worn off by now as well. Exhausted but satisfied that the eggs would at least be protected better now, Qinghe and Wei Xiang retired to their room to rest. Qinghe immediately flopped down onto the bed, while Wei Xiang dutifully changed his clothes as he'd promised before.

As Qinghe let the comfort of finally lying down soak into him, his eyes closing in bliss, he suddenly became aware of Wei Xiang standing by the bedside looking at him with an unreadable expression. Blinking his eyes open, Qinghe got up. "Xiang? Is something wrong?"

Pus.h.i.+ng his little lover back on the bed, Wei Xiang got up on it as well to straddle him. Lowering his face to bury it in the crook of Qinghe's shoulder, he nuzzled his beloved.

Feeling confused, Qinghe lifted his hand to pat the back of his lover's head. In an uncertain tone, he called, "Xiang?"

Pausing his nuzzling and leaning up, Wei Xiang complained in an aggrieved voice, "Qinghe, be it that Black Fang leader Yuan Sheng from before or our guest today, you're able to act so seductive with them…but how come you never try to seduce me, your lover?"

Qinghe blushed shyly while feeling strangely warm at how Wei Xiang seemed to be acting spoiled and pouting while asking for his affection. Coughing, Qinghe replied softly, "Xiang, truthfully, I don't really know how to behave to make myself feel more seductive to you. After all, I am only able to put on an act that appears seductive to those other people because what they consider most tempting is me showing weakness. B-But with you…it's not like that, is it?" Qinghe looked up at Wei Xiang through his long lashes.

Wei Xiang felt pleased at this reasoning and bent down to give his little lover a small peck on his cute nose. "Yes, you're right. I like your weaknesses, but also your strengths—your cunning, your adorableness, your ability to empathize, your skills in martial arts, your competence… there are too many things I like about you. But even without all those things, I feel that I'd be just as drawn to you. No matter what aspect you show or don't, no matter your perfection or imperfection, I will still love you and find you incomparably attractive."

Qinghe turned a deep red with both bashfulness and pleasure as he turned his face away and nodded. In a barely audible voice, he whispered, "Y-Yes, I know."

Wei Xiang quirked an eyebrow and playfully prodded, "Oh? When did my dear little lover figure out that I was completely and irrevocably smitten with him?"

Though it was spoken teasingly, Qinghe still looked into Wei Xiang's eyes and seriously answered the question, "I knew for a while that you loved me. I thought I understood the depth of that emotion, but it turns out that you…you liked me more than I ever hoped was possible." Qinghe looked away, an unfathomably deep emotion filling his eyes. Turning back, he cupped Wei Xiang's cheek and asked with a small smile, "Do you know when I realized it?"

Unable to look away from the emotions expressed in his beloved's eyes, Wei Xiang shook his head slowly.

Qinghe let out a deep breath and confessed, "It was back when my core was cracked."

Wei Xiang frowned, trying to remember if something notable had happened at that time that could have shown the extent of his affection for his little lover, but he came up blank.

As if to answer his befuddlement, Qinghe explained, "One day, after my core was damaged, I was bathing in the stream in my backyard when I realized that my skin felt a bit rougher and looked less healthy than usual. I've never really paid attention to my skin or its appearance my entire life, and that was the moment I realized that not only would my ability to fight suffer due to my cracked core, but my physical appearance would also deteriorate due to my inability to circulate spiritual energy to keep my body healthy and in perfect condition. Because of that, for the first time, I feared that I wouldn't be attractive to you, even though I know that my physical appearance is only a small part of me. I've never before wanted to be found attractive by someone before, so I was tensed and panicking. I didn't know if you would feel yourself becoming less interested in me because of that. I…I was very afraid I would lose some small part of you."

Wei Xiang gentled his expression and laid down on the bed beside Qinghe, silently holding him closer. "You know that's impossible. My affections towards you are not that shallow," he said with quiet confidence. Settling his head more comfortably on the pillow, he asked, "What happened then?"

Qinghe happily snuggled into Wei Xiang's warmth, his lips curving into a soft smile as he continued, "After that, I went around to arrange a few things while you worked on something for the Order. When we met again that night, I was still very anxious. When we moved to the bed, it felt very difficult for me to remove my clothes and let you see my imperfect body. I was so scared that you'd notice all the little ways my physical appearance had deteriorated till then and end up feeling less aroused."

Closing his eyes, Qinghe went on, "But that night, you didn't say anything about the flaws in my body at all, as if you didn't even notice them. I kept trying to find signs that you'd discovered some defect, some small thing that bothered you, but you acted as you usually do. Your eyes were fixed so deeply into mine, and I saw the same affection and need in them as was burning in me."

Hearing all this, Wei Xiang realized that he vaguely recalled that something like this had indeed happened. Back then, he'd chalked his little lover's unusual behavior up to the stress of organizing the counterattack against Xie Xingye, but it turned out to be like this.

Thinking back, Wei Xiang remembered how stiff Qinghe had kept his body that night, seeming uncomfortable and uneasy. When Wei Xiang had tried to prepare him with his fingers, Qinghe's pa.s.sage had remained clenched tight as if he couldn't relax himself. And so, Wei Xiang had instead proposed that rather than doing what they usually did, they could take things a bit easier today so as to not tire each other out too much. Qinghe had hesitantly agreed, but after Wei Xiang had started touching him everywhere as if he couldn't have enough, painting his body with wors.h.i.+pful kisses while telling his little lover just how much he drove him crazy, Qinghe had looked like he would cry.

Hugging Wei Xiang close, he'd said, 'Thank you for giving me what I need.'

Wei Xiang hadn't known why his beloved was thanking him at that time, only patting Qinghe's back and soothing him. But now, after realizing how insecure his little lover must have been feeling then, Wei Xiang finally understood.

Bringing his mind back to the present, Wei Xiang stated, "Mn, I think I remember that incident now."

Qinghe hugged his lover and smiled wider. "Yes, and because of that, I was finally made to understand how your love went much deeper than I could expect. It set my mind at ease and I've never doubted you after that."

His chest filling with warmth as his eyes turned tender, Wei Xiang smiled. He knew that his beloved always had trouble believing that he was loved, not just by him, but also his master, fellow disciples, friends, and parents. But it seemed that slowly, even his stubborn little lover was beginning to realize how precious he was to the people he loved.

And now, seeing his adorable Qinghe smiling with shy happiness as he spoke about Wei Xiang's love for him, Wei Xiang felt the need to shower more affection on him. Swooping down to kiss Qinghe on the mouth, Wei Xiang let his hands begin moving to undo his beloved's clothing. It turned out that his Qinghe didn't need to actively try and seduce him after all, because his little lover always ended up seducing him in so many little ways without even realizing it.

Qinghe let out a surprised gasp at feeling Wei Xiang's lips over his while his lover's hands sneakily slipped into his quickly undone robes. Those familiar fingers trailed fire over his skin, awakening his own need. They caressed him with both gentle care and ruthless precision borne out of experience with his body, making him part his lips to let out a breathless moan. A slick tongue tasting of his Xiang thrust into his mouth, eagerly sliding over the soft and sensitive tissue inside before finding his tongue and playing with it. The scent of warm metal and woodsmoke suffused him, the familiarity of it making him feel more relaxed and comfortable as he let his mouth be energetically ravaged by his beloved. Qinghe felt his body softening under the sensual a.s.sault as his own hands rose to do away with Wei Xiang's clothes before starting to explore the lines of his lover's firm body.

Disengaging from the kiss to slide his lips down the smooth column of Qinghe's arched neck, Wei Xiang murmured into the warm skin, "Love, maybe I should wors.h.i.+p your body with mine to show you how much more I love you now and work to set your mind at ease a bit more, just in case."

Qinghe let out an unsteady laugh. "Xiang, you should stop finding excuses to do it and just start preparing me already."

His eyes turning molten, Wei Xiang decided to do just that.

While the lovers were thus enthusiastically enjoying each other, outside the room, a certain green-eyed figure was expressionlessly listening to the loud moans and groans filtering through the door.

His eyes boring into the wise and majestic silver-colored tiger inlaid into door whose eyes seemed to be staring right back at him, Yang Baoyu sneered. How dare that Feng Qinghe make a fool of him by pretending to not be on good terms with his lover, then just carefreely traipse off to have fun with said lover while he was left laying completely paralyzed in the garden! He thought himself so clever for outwitting him that once, did he? Well, he would show him that this Fourth Prince Yang wasn't to be messed with! The look of despair and regret that would twist that beautiful face when he realized what had happened to his children while he was off rolling in the sheets would definitely be a sight to see!

His lips curling at the thought, Yang Baoyu walked towards the egg chamber to resume undoing the wards, not knowing that he was only stepping deeper into the trap Qinghe set for him.

...

Hearing someone knocking on his door for the third time this night, Feng Huixin went over to open it again. But his patience having already run out by now, Feng Huixin was determined to make the other person pay if they showed even the slightest sign of wanting to embroil him in their schemes or to force him into their bed.

However, upon opening the door, he found that the one who knocked was a polite and slightly shy young man holding a woven basket full of fresh fruits. His face bore hints of immaturity while his eyes were wide and clear with traces of innocent honesty. His posture conveyed his hesitancy and anxiety openly.

"Second Prince Yang, is there something I can do for you?" Feng Huixin asked in an inflectionless tone.

His head bowing while his shoulders curved unconsciously, Yang Xuehua expressed in a pleasant yet unsteady voice br.i.m.m.i.n.g with sincerity, "L-Lord Feng, I've come to apologize on behalf of my siblings. They might not think so, but I know that they must have caused you a lot of trouble and unpleasantness with their thoughtless words and actions. As one of your hosts, I beg your forgiveness for any offense they may have caused you. Please accept my apology!"

Giving a deep ninety-degree bow, Yang Xuehua held out the basket of fruits seemingly in recompense.

Feng Huixin's eyes narrowed as he used his senses to detect any threats or hidden weapons on the young man and the basket of fruits. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he carefully accepted the basket. "Please rise. Their actions are not Second Prince Yang's to compensate for. There is no need for you to apologize."

Straightening, Yang Xuehua gave an awkward laugh. "Normally, that might be so. But considering that our nation is going to merge with Heaven again and how Lord Feng is in an important position in the heavenly court, wouldn't I be remiss as one of Wu Jin's princes if I didn't try to make amends and get on good terms with you?"

Seeing him explaining his reasoning so openly, Feng Huixin relaxed a bit. This prince didn't seem like he had come with any ulterior motives this time, and he also seemed much more clearheaded than his siblings when it came to his duties as a prince. Encountering such a sensible child after all the senselessness from before, Feng Huixin felt a hint of appreciation for Yang Xuehua.

"And, L-Lord Feng, I must admit that I also had a selfish reason of my own for coming here…" Yang Xuehua confessed timidly while fidgeting.

Feng Huixin raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Seeing that Feng Huixin didn't seem angry and was patiently waiting for him to continue, Yang Xuehua relaxed a bit and lifted up his head. His eyes s.h.i.+ning with excitement, he said, "Lord Feng, I already know that you are the Deity of Judgment…and I've admired you for a long time! When I was a child, I'd always dreamed of becoming an officer of judgment under you, protecting people and punis.h.i.+ng bad guys. It sounds childish when I say it out loud, but, well, I still hope that I can fulfill my wish someday!"

His enthusiasm fading to shyness again, Yang Xuehua continued, "So…uh…Lord Feng, do you mind i-if I…well, could we talk for a bit in your room…please? Only if I wouldn't be disturbing you, of course! I completely understand if you don't want to let me inside your personal s.p.a.ce, especially after the way my siblings behaved, so…I, uh…talking anywhere else is also fine…and, so…"

By now, both of Feng Huixin's brows had risen up high in the face of these unexpected words. But feeling that this awkward child was somewhat adorable, he decided to agree to talk to him. He would still keep his guard up, of course, but there was no need to refuse such a harmless request.

Opening the door fully in a silent invitation, Feng Huixin walked into the darkened room to light at least one lamp in a show of hospitality. Looking as if he was trying to suppress his bubbling happiness, Yang Xuehua entered the room and mindfully closed the door behind him before looking around. Spotting the only thing Feng Huixin had brought with him—the box of sweets given by Qinghe—on the table, Yang Xuehua walked up to look at it curiously.

"Lord Feng, if it isn't too presumptuous of me, may I ask what is inside this box?"

Feng Huixin easily answered, "It contains the sweets my son made yesterday especially for me."

Speaking about it brought s.n.a.t.c.hes of his son's clear voice to resurface in Feng Huixin's mind:

'Father, which flavor do you prefer? Peach or rose?'

'Eh? Even that much sweetness feels strong to you? Father, your sense of taste really is too delicate! How did you even survive Mother's cooking till now?! You must really love her to put up with her toxic food!'

'Father, here, I made a small sample for you. Open your mouth and say aah~'

'You liked it? Then let me make you a box to take to work whenever I'm home! No, it's no trouble at all. I'll be very glad if I can do this small thing and make your day even a little bit better!'

Thinking back to his son's cute and earnestly happy face when he'd said that, Feng Huixin's eyes softened with love. Ah, how he wished he could pinch his Qinghe's cheeks or rub his round head right now… He really missed his adorable son too much.

Hearing the pride in Feng Huixin's voice when he spoke about Qinghe and seeing the affection in his face now as he seemed to be thinking about his son, Yang Xuehua asked wistfully, "Lord Feng, you…do you love your son very much?"

Breaking out of his thoughts, Feng Huixin looked at Yang Xuehua askance. "Yes, of course. I love both of my sons very much."

Yang Xuehua's expression turned bitter. "Your sons are really very lucky then. I wish my father could've also…" Trailing away, he shook his head to clear it. Showing a bright smile again, he simply said, "I wish Lord Feng could've been my father too. Anyway, the sky outside is really clear and beautiful today. We can see so many stars. Lord Feng, do you want to stargaze on the windowsill? The windowsills facing this direction were all made thick and wide exactly for this purpose. We can even eat the fruits I brought as snacks."

Feng Huixin looked at the widely smiling young man with a deep gaze, then softened his expression while nodding in agreement.

His smile turning more sincere, Yang Xuehua walked to the window and opened it. After climbing up to sit on one side of the windowsill, he placed the basket of fruits at the center and looked back. "Lord Feng, come and sit here on the other side of the basket. I've left plenty of s.p.a.ce for you."

Feng Huixin nodded and walked over to gracefully sit down as well.

And so, with the basket of fruits settled between them, Feng Huixin and Yang Xuehua looked up at the glittering stars covering the dark sky. The white dots twinkled with sharp light, each of those little points more brilliant than a diamond. As such, the many cl.u.s.ters of bright stars gathered densely above in the sky was even more dazzling, truly a sight to behold.

As a comfortable peace settled over them both, Yang Xuehua smiled and turned to lift two pears from the basket, taking one for himself and offering the other to Feng Huixin. "Lord Feng, would you like one?" Then suddenly seeming to realize something, he widened his eyes and stammered out, "Ah, b-but if you don't trust me, you d-don't have to take it! I'll completely understand, so please don't worry about―"

His eyes gleaming with silent amus.e.m.e.nt, Feng Huixin took the offered pear. "Second Prince Yang, please don't worry." Then right in front of Yang Xuehua's disbelieving eyes, he took a small bite from the pear, carefully chewing and swallowing.

Seeing this sign of faith, Yang Xuehua's cheeks turned a faint pink in happiness as he lowered his head shyly. "Th-Thank you for believing me." Lifting his own pear to his mouth, he took a large bite, crunching the crisp and tart fruit.

Feng Huixin remained placid as he continued to eat the pear. In truth, he still didn't trust the young man completely. But what he did trust in was his Chunyi. These past years, due to Feng Chunyi continuously feeding everyone in her family strange concoctions to make them develop a resistance to most types of toxins and poisons, Feng Huixin was confident that even if these fruits were poisoned, they wouldn't be able to do much to him. And this way, even if Yang Xuehua was planning something, he would think that Feng Huixin really had let down his guard and show his hand soon.

But thankfully, the fruits were not poisoned, and the pair slowly munched on the fresh fruits while enjoying the calm night sky encrusted with sparkling stars spread over the world high above.

Letting out a soft sigh of awe, Yang Xuehua turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Lord Feng…can I ask you about the Offices of Judgment? Since I will not be a prince after Wu Jin merges with Heaven, I'm really hoping to be able to join it someday, which is why I'm very curious to know how it operates. Of course, rest a.s.sured that I'm not asking about any secrets or things like that!"

Feng Huixin's head was tilted back slightly, his deep black eyes reflecting the stars in the sky with crisp clarity. In a mellow voice, he stated quietly, "Other than the confidential information pertaining to ongoing investigations that are kept from the public so as to not alert the suspects involved, the Offices of Judgment does not have any secrets. In any large organization, secrets left to rot in the darkness will create corruption. That is something I will not permit, especially in a law enforcement agency that is meant to protect the order of the realm."

Yang Xuehua looked at him with barely-hidden wors.h.i.+pfulness. "I see. As expected, Lord Feng really is as righteous and impressive as they say! I wish I could become like you one day! If it's not too much trouble…can you tell me what the officers do every day?"

Feng Huixin replied in the same quiet voice, "The Offices of Judgment is a complex ent.i.ty. There are too many people with different jobs and responsibilities, and each of them is equally important. But let me simplify it. The ones who are just coming off an a.s.signment or those who need to file certain permits to continue their investigation need to submit the appropriate paperwork and gain approval. The ones who are going to head into a new case have to form a group if necessary, the most qualified officer getting a.s.signed as the leader, and then they will research, interview the victims, eyewitnesses, and any persons of interest to gain a better idea of what they're dealing with. Some officers have the job of keeping an eye on certain people, organizations, and situations to know about any drastic changes in advance and suppress them when they get volatile to prevent any disturbance that could occur. Officers are also a.s.signed routes to patrol according to a flexible schedule to prevent petty crimes or note suspicious activity. The officers off duty will either spar to keep in shape or spend time with their family, spouse, or lover. Meanwhile, there are also hearings for criminals in the justice court and other small things that take place every day."

Yang Xuehua stared at him agog. "It sounds very busy and complicated… And here I thought that catching troublemakers and punis.h.i.+ng them was supposed to be simple. I suppose it only goes to show that I don't know much." Giving a self-depreciating laugh, he continued, "The biggest impression I have is of patrolling. It started as something I did as a kid to make myself feel important, as if I really was looking out for bad guys and keeping the people safe. I know, it sounds so silly. But the habit stuck, and even now, I take walks to 'patrol' the surroundings and try to see if there's anything suspicious… Speaking of which, I noticed something strange just the other day."

Feng Huixin turned to look at the thoughtful young man. "Strange in which way?"

After taking a moment to think back, Yang Xuehua answered, "I saw a cave in a rock face nearby, hidden behind loose branches and uprooted bushes. But I could swear there wasn't a cave in that place before. At least, not that I noticed in all these years of patrolling. For a moment, I even thought that it might be the secret hideout of the Dark Lotus, but that couldn't be, right?"

Yang Xuehua tried to laugh it off, but hearing it, Feng Huixin sank deep into thought.

The Dark Lotus was the underground organization that bore a large part of the responsibility for destabilizing the nation of Wu Jin. It had started out as a cult wors.h.i.+pping a certain very powerful demonic being that was supposed to have been vanquished by a previous Heavenly Emperor with great difficulty. This demonic being had then been sealed under an ancient mountain that later turned to plains, then rose back up to become hilly terrain naturally before being occupied by the deities who founded the nation of Wu Jin.

By now, the Dark Lotus had developed from a simple cult wors.h.i.+pping that demonic being to a large underground organization that dealt in everything from smuggling the newly discovered materials for the deity-suppressing restraints to terrorism and a.s.sa.s.sination of high-ranked, powerful individuals. Unconfirmed rumors said that the ultimate goal of the Dark Lotus was to undo the seal on the demonic being they wors.h.i.+pped and set it loose on Wu Jin to 'cleanse' it, leaving only the members of the Dark Lotus to reign over these lands.

Even if it sounded farfetched, it wasn't entirely impossible for the Dark Lotus to have carved a hidden cave or two for themselves in the capital, though it was difficult to believe that they would be gutsy enough to make one right under the nose of the royal palace.

In a serious voice, Feng Huixin asked, "Have there been any movements from the Dark Lotus here in the capital recently?"

Yang Xuehua's eyes widened. "Lord Feng, do you think…it really might be them? But… No, wait. Yes, there really have been a lot more a.s.sa.s.sinations of lords and ladies with important positions in the royal court recently, and they happened very close to the palace too. I've heard Younger Brother Baoyu speaking about it with Father. All those a.s.sa.s.sinations were so smooth that they were suspecting that there might be a mole in the royal palace who was feeding the Dark Lotus information or something."

Feng Huixin's gaze turned sharp. "We can't be sure it really is related to them, but it is still better to check and make sure. Does Second Prince Yang mind showing me to that cave tomorrow morning? I would like to a.s.ses it for myself."

His eyes turning wide, Yang Xuehua exclaimed, "Eh?! But Lord Feng, I heard that you had those deity-suppressing restraints on you that won't let you use your power… Is that really alright? If we really met someone from the Dark Lotus when you're in this state, wouldn't we be at a great disadvantage?"

But Feng Huixin didn't seem bothered. "Suppressive restraints like these only act on one's spiritual power. They have no bearing on my physical strength."

Though Yang Xuehua looked uncertain, he still nodded obediently. "Alright then, if you're sure. I'll come by early tomorrow morning and take you to that place."

Feng Huixin gave him a grateful look. "Thank you. For now, I feel tired due to the traveling today and would like to meditate to restore my equilibrium. Second Prince Yang, I will see you tomorrow."

Understanding that he wanted to rest alone, Yang Xuehua quickly said, "Then I won't impose on Lord Feng anymore. Please rest well."

With that, he left.

Alone in the room, Feng Huixin snuffed out the lamp and plunged the room back into comfortable darkness, the light of the stars and moon flowing in from the window the only illumination again. His gaze wandering to the box on the table, Feng Huixin considered finis.h.i.+ng the last one-third of the sweets left as well, but decided to save it for later. Letting out a sigh, he went to sit cross-legged on the bed like before. But rather than meditating to center himself and calm his thoughts, he instead reached out with his mind to complete certain other types of preparations just in case.

A few hours later, dawn hid away the stars and lightened the skies, heralding a new day. Yang Xuehua knocked on the door right on time. Getting up from the bed where he'd sat unmoving till now, Feng Huixin opened the door and followed the young man to visit the suspicious cave.

At the same time, in the capital of Heaven, Yang Baoyu stood with his hands pressed to the egg chamber's glowing wards and grinned. He was almost there. As an expert formation breaker, he had already finished undoing all layers of the barrier except one.

But little did Yang Baoyu know that his own undoing laid just past that door, where Qinghe's traps eagerly awaited.

Uncaring of all these different entrapments that were slowly closing over their prey, the morning sun rose languidly, casting its light upon the world.