A short cackle entered Langxia’s ears.
“He doesn’t seem to like you.”
“Better than you,” Langxia said as he flicked his staff. “He doesn’t even remember you.”
A low growl warned Langxia that he shouldn’t provoke the creature any further, but his smile only grew. The iciness and indifference in his eyes would have made any of his attendants and even Gui Yin take a few steps back.
Langxia placed the tip of his staff against the tree trunk and ran it down. “How does it feel to be able to hear and see, but not touch? Excruciating, isn’t it?”
The voice did not answer, but Langxia knew that the presence had not withdrawn itself yet.
“What do they call it? Karma?” Langxia chuckled. He swung his staff and struck the tree. The strike caused the leaves to sway and the trunk to creak.
Langxia lifted his staff again and sent down a second strike. The tree was beginning to collapse, but Langxia withdrew his weapon. He leaned against it casually and looked at the tree that was teeming with demonic energy.
He tilted his head, as if he were listening to a voice. The casual look on his face split into a smile again. A boyish laugh spilled from his lips and he looked up at the tree with a rare impishness.
He raised his staff again and punctured through the trunk as his smile faded and his eyes cooled.
“That’s enough,” Langxia whispered as a sharp screech pierced the sky. “He isn’t something you can just take back when you want to.”
Langxia concentrated his true energy around his staff and thrust in one more time. The tree split apart, as if it had been struck by lightning. Slowly, a glowing object floated to the top. The sounds of screaming ghosts filled the devilish night sky, welcoming the rebirth of a Holy Weapon.
Langxia stepped forward nonchalantly and took the Stygian Claw from the tree. He held it in his hand and glanced at the charred tree.
He dropped the claw to the ground, lifted his staff, and smashed it downwards.
The Holy Weapon shattered, but that was not enough. Langxia lifted his staff and smashed it down about a dozen more times until the weapon was reduced to dust and scattered to the wind. He bent down and picked up one remaining claw. The claw no longer shined as brilliantly as it used to. He turned the claw in his finger and crushed it in his hand.
The white scales on the back of Langxia’s pulsed with a faint close before fading off again. He turned away from the tree and headed back into town to find Gui Yin.
An energy different from his regular form rolled off of him, causing the ghosts around him to be aware of his existence. But the ghosts that came any closer would run away, obviously frightened by this new presence. The Ghost Guards that had been patrolling the area stopped when they noticed Langxia. The duo approached him, but froze in their tracks when they met his slitted eyes.
“So, it is a dragon’s descendent,” the Ghost Guard fumbled. He clasped his hands together and bowed. “Please, excuse our ignorance.”
Langxia tore his gaze away and languidly walked the rest of the way back.
By the time he entered town, he had changed back to normal. His claws had rescinded. His eyes were a honey gold and the slits had returned to regular pupils. A soft sigh exited him as he dismissed his staff. He found the dilapidated house and stepped in.
Gui Yin glanced up. “You’re back.”
Langxia smiled softly, but remained at a distance. “Mn. The Stygian Claw was in the tree. I’ve already destroyed it. When morning comes, the resentment should have lessened. We’ll be able to leave.”
Gui Yin hummed. He glanced at Langxia and then at the distance between them. “…Why are you standing so far away?”
Langxia’s smile turned a little awkward. “Are you still angry?”
Gui Yin’s expression tightened. He raised a brow. “What do you think?”
Langxia lowered his gaze. He shifted from one foot to the other and slowly backed out of the house. “Then, I’ll sleep outside tonight.”
Gui Yin watched him coldly until the door shut. He set his shoes to the side and laid down. Since the person was back, there was no need to wait for him any longer.
For spirits and demon spirits alike, leaving a scent behind on a person was a very territorial thing. It was like when a dog peed on their favorite spot or when a cat would rub up against someone’s legs—it was showing others that this person was theirs. No one was allowed to touch it. It showed that they had previously been there.
Langxia had already left his scent behind once, when they first met in Devil’s Desert. Now he did it again. Both times were to protect him from vicious parties, but it still made Gui Yin uncomfortable.
His feelings for Langxia may have developed to the point of “like”, but that didn’t mean that he enjoyed being treated as someone else’s property. If Langxia was going to leave a scent, he should have at least asked for permission.
Gui Yin irritably rubbed at his neck when he thought about Langxia’s warm touch again. He turned to his side and glared at the wall.
He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.
But in the middle of the night, the door slowly opened.
Langxia walked to the edge of the bed and crouched down. He reached out his hand, planning to let his fingertips just barely touch Gui Yin’s back, but before he could even get close, his hand was suddenly twisted.
He looked up at Gui Yin’s murderous glare and wilted. “I…”
“What?”
“…You need spiritual energy to control the madness,” Langxia explained. “I angered you earlier, so now you’re more susceptible to resentful energy.”
“You know you angered me?” Gui Yin asked. He released Langxia and glared at him.
Langxia lowered his gaze. “I know. I should have asked. You’re not mine to claim. Even if I was trying to keep others away, I should have respected your opinion first.”
“If you know, then why did you do it?” Gui Yin snapped.
Langxia glanced at Gui Yin. “That…thing.”
“What thing?”
“…There was something gross trying to get to you,” Langxia said. There was a childish pout to his voice. “It was disgusting me, so I acted on impulse.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Gui Yin stared at him. “I used a Breath Vanishing Pill. What could have seen me?”
“Pa kjrc’a j utbra, la kjr rbwf xlcv bo vfwbc,” Ojcuzlj fzqijlcfv. Lf rtbbx tlr tfjv. “Slatfg kjs, P rtbeivc’a tjnf vbcf atja. P’w rbggs. Dea mjc sbe ifa wf ulnf sbe rbwf rqlglaeji fcfgus? Tbe’ii offi yfaafg joafg.”
Xel Tlc’r lgglajalbc wbrais rafwwfv ogbw atf foofma atf gfrfcaoei fcfgus tjv bc tlw. Lf xcfk atlr, yea atf raeyybgc rlvf bo tlw ralii jnfgafv tlr ujhf.
Langxia pouted. “Qinle, it’s me who was wrong, so why are you punishing yourself?”
“…Because I won’t be angry once I let you do it,” Gui Yin said.
Langxia nearly laughed. He pressed his lips together and softly coughed. “Still, this is about your health. If you don’t consider me, then consider yourself. If you don’t consider yourself, then consider your disciples.”
Gui Yin’s brow twitched. “Now you’re using my disciples to threaten me?”
“Qinle,” Langxia whined, “you were standing in such a concentrated spot of demonic energy. Even with my barrier, you inhaled a lot. Be good. Just give me your hand.”
Gui Yin glanced at him. The man looked up at him with a small pout and puppy-like eyes. He let out a short sigh and held out his hand.
Langxia smile softly and placed his hand against Gui Yin’s.
A warm, soft stream of spiritual energy slowly entered Gui Yin’s body. The irritableness he had been carrying for the past few hours seemed to have vanished in an instant, but the discomfort in his heart still remained. He indulged in Langxia’s warm palm for a moment longer before glancing at him.
“Isn’t this enough?”
“A little more to hold you over the morning,” Langxia insisted.
Gui Yin glanced at him. “You used your internal energy to protect me today and you even destroyed a Holy Weapon. Aren’t you tired?”
“I have a lot of spiritual energy,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin frowned. “It’s enough.”
“Just a little more.”
“Are you not going to listen to me?”
Langxia stilled. He obediently pulled his hand away and stood. “Sorry.”
He hadn’t been forgiven for one thing, yet he had committed another taboo.
Gui Yin glared at him before shifting and laying back down on the bed.
Langxia turned and headed for the door. A soft sigh sounded behind him when he had set his hand against the handle.
“Where are you going?”
“Outside?”
Langxia glanced over his shoulder.
Gui Yin was no longer experiencing any strong emotions, meaning that the madness had been temporarily suppressed again. Now, he was at his most normal.
“Come back. Do you want mosquitoes to bite you to death?”
Langxia grinned as he strolled back over. “My skin is thick. They wouldn’t be able to.”
“Oh. Then, get out,” Gui Yin scoffed.
“No, I like it better here,” Langxia said as he quickly abandoned his shoes and got under the covers with Gui Yin. He retained a respectful distance. “I’m really sorry.”
Gui Yin slowly breathed out a sigh. He turned and looked at Langxia. “No next time.”
“Mn.”
“Most people give three chances. I only give two,” Gui Yin said. He grumbled as he turned back around, “It’s not like you’re a child.”
Langxia smiled softly. “Mn. There won’t be a third time.”
Gui Yin closed his eyes.
Langxia watched him for a moment. He felt that he really couldn’t apologize enough this time around. He fell silent and shifted onto his back. His gaze cooled when he thought about the second scent that had been on Gui Yin when he left Qi Du Tower.
Disgusting. Dirty. Irritating.
…But if he left his scent on Gui Yin, wouldn’t he be the same as that person?
Langxia found himself a little more irritated. He flopped back onto his side. “Qinle.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…I already accepted your apology.”
“I know, but I wanted to say it again,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin felt a laugh bubbling at his throat. He opened his eyes as his lips curved into a smile. “Forget it.”
“Oh.”
Langxia stared at Gui Yin in a daze. He couldn’t quite identify the emotion he was feeling. Was it guilt? Or was it something else? His brows were tightly furrowed and he hadn’t noticed that Gui Yin had turned to his side again. He felt a soft breath against the bridge of his nose and he slowly looked up.
“Why are you sulking?”
“I’m reflecting on my actions,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin smiled despite his best efforts. “Even though I accepted your apology?”
Langxia hummed. “I acted impulsively and on instinct. It was unbecoming of me.”
“Is that so?” Gui Yin chuckled. He reached out and lightly squeezed Langxia’s earlobe. “It’s good that you know.”
Langxia lowered his gaze. “There really won’t be a third time.”
“Alright, alright. Don’t you get tired of being so long winded? Sleep. You worked hard today,” Gui Yin said.
Langxia glanced at Gui Yin. “You’re not angry anymore?”
“Do you want me to be angry?”
Langxia shook his head.
“Sleep. If you sleep, I won’t be angry anymore.”
Langxia smiled softly. He glanced at Gui Yin and stilled for a moment. Gui Yin looked at him quizzically before whispering, “Still not sleeping?”
“Few people would still look nice this close,” Langxia whispered.
“Are you complimenting yourself?” Gui Yin asked. What was this guy doing? Staring at his own reflection through Gui Yin’s eyes.
“I’m talking about you.”
Gui Yin’s cheeks slowly warmed. He smacked Langxia’s forehead with the heel of his palm. There was little to no force behind this touch, but it was enough to surprise Langxia.
“Sleep!”
The one word punctuated their conversation.
The next morning, the two of them managed to make it out of Beihua Town. According to the people in the town over, it was already the fourteenth. Upon hearing this, Gui Yin breathed a sigh of relief.
They had really cut it close, but thankfully the gods were on their side.
Gui Yin and Langxia returned to the Upper Realm the same day, but when they were deciding where to go, they came to a standstill.
“I have to go back and write a report.”
“Reports can be written anywhere. You need to visit Lord Xun first,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin looked at him wearily. “Er’lang, this is work, not child’s play. If I visit Lord Xun, I’m going to be stuck there for weeks.”
“Not necessarily. The madness is barely skin deep,” Langxia said. “It’ll easily wash off.”
Gui Yin and Langxia were at a standstill.
“Come back to Kunlun with me,” Langxia said.
“I—”
“I’ll help you write your report.”
Gui Yin stilled. He looked Langxia up and down. “You?”
“Mn.”
“There’s a proper format you have to follow. I don’t want to have to rewrite it,” Gui Yin said. He turned and began walking. When he noticed Langxia hadn’t followed, he looked back quizzically. “What are you doing? Are you planning on flying into Kunlun?”
Langxia dazedly followed Gui yin.
He still hadn’t quite processed what happened until they were halfway up the steps of Kunlun.
“Are you still spacing out?”
“I was just thinking.”
“What about?”
“About how sneaky you are,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin stared at him incredulously. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re very good with words.”
“…Did you hit your head last night? What’s wrong with you?”
“I—”
“It’s you again.”
Distaste riddled the voice of the newcomer. Gui Yin glanced around briefly to make sure they were the only ones on this path before he redirected his attention to the person who had walked up to them.
The man was dressed primly in dark robes. The horns protruding from his head signaled that he was part of the dragon clan, but he didn’t have the silvery hair of Bai Aosun. Instead, his hair had a soft, greenish hue. His eyes were a dissonant shade of green and the cold expression on his face told Gui Yin that he was nothing but trouble.
Langxia glanced at the man with disinterest and turned to Gui Yin. “Let’s go.”
The dragon spirit scoffed. “What kind of manners are these? Your mother birthed you, but didn’t want to waste any effort raising you, right? Or is it because your father abandoned you that you don’t have manners? You know, if you’re going to walk around parading the fact that you have that dirty southern dragon’s blood, at least act with dignity. You’re a dragon, after all.”
Gui Yin squeezed his fan. He turned abruptly to glare at the dragon spirit, but Langxia paid him no mind.
“Really ignoring me?” the dragon spirit called out. He glanced at Gui Yin and smiled. “You must be Lord Ninglan, right?”
“And?” Gui Yin asked.
The dragon spirit smiled. “Let me tell you a little thing about that one up there. Anyone he ends up caring about will meet a tragic fate. That’s his curse. So, you’d better watch yourself before he—”
A sudden strong wind blew past the group. Logically, all of them should have become equally messed up, but when the wind passed, only the dragon spirit’s robes were in disarray. His neat hair was a tangled mess and his previously arrogant eyes were widened to the size of tennis balls. The attendants that followed closely behind him were in a similar state. When the dragon spirit looked up and saw that Gui Yin and Langxia were fine, his expression became furious.
“You—!”
“Goodness gracious!” Gui Yin gasped. He fanned himself leisurely as he took a step towards the dragon spirit. “How careless of you! Why are you walking around looking like that, my good sir? Aren’t you part of the dragon clan? Shouldn’t a member of the dragon clan carry himself with more dignity? What’s wrong? Did your mother never teach you how to properly tie your hair? Did your father ever only teach you how to scold people?”
“You attacked me!” the dragon spirit accused.
“Me?” Gui Yin fanned himself. “Attack you? Where’s your proof?”
“That fan in your hand!”
“This one?” Gui Yin raised a brow as he dangled it in front of the dragon spirit. “I used it to fan myself. How could it suddenly get so windy that it blew into your direction? Did you leave your brain at home?”
“Lord Ninglan! Don’t think just because we call you courteously means you can offend a member of Kunlun so blatantly!”
“You’re the one randomly running around scolding people, pointing fingers, and pinning crimes on their heads,” Gui Yin said. He snapped his fan shut and tapped his chin. “Where have I suddenly gone and offended a member of Kunlun? If anything, I’m the one who feels offended. Who do I go to tell?”
“You’re being utterly unreasonable!” the dragon spirit shouted.
“Yes, yes, yes, I’m being unreasonable. But what can I do? My mother birthed me, but she couldn’t be bothered to raise me,” Gui Yin said. He blinked innocently. “Are you going to pick a fight with someone as uncouth as me?”
“You think I don’t dare?!”
“Enough.”
Gui Yin and the dragon spirit turned to Langxia, but beside him was another man.
Bai Aosun held his head and let out a short sigh. He cupped his hands and bowed to Gui Yin. “My apologies, Lord Immortal. It seems that one of my clansmen has offended you?”
“He’s yours?” Gui Yin asked.
Bai Aosun glanced at him. “Not exactly. But we all are dragons.”
The dragon spirit glared at Bai Aosun and turned away. It seemed like his issues with his own race didn’t stop at Langxia.
Langxia let out a soft sigh. “Qinle, let’s go.”
Gui Yin hummed. He glanced at the dragon spirit and gave him one last mocking look before he high-tailed after Langxia.
“Er’lang, who was that brat?” Gui Yin asked.
“Qiáo Mòyǔ (乔墨雨),” Langxia said. “He’s Liushui Palace’s (流水宫) only son and successor. His father passed not too many hundred years ago and he’s been in power since. He used to be quite timid, but for some reason he changed not long after his father passed. His temper became extremely bad and he especially enjoys provoking me.”
Gui Yin scoffed. “He thinks that just because he got a little bit of power, he can rule the world now? Please. He’s nothing but a stupid little reptile who can control the weather a little. He doesn’t even have any contributions under his belt and he’s going around blowing snot out of his nostrils.”
Langxia glanced at Gui Yin. “Why are you so irritated?”
“Are you not?” Gui Yin said, staring at Langxia incredulously. “He said all those annoying things about you.”
“They weren’t untrue.”
“Even if they weren’t, you shouldn’t have had to take it,” Gui Yin said. “You didn’t ask to be born like this. You didn’t ask for your father to leave you. You didn’t ask for your mother to die. As for that curse…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it. Really, what an absolute piece of work. There really are all sorts of people in every race. I thought this type of person only existed amongst those trashy second-generation cultivators. Who would have thought I’d see something novel today.”
Their steps had slowed at some point and they eventually came to a stop just under Huigu Palace.
Gui Yin glanced at Langxia, who was watching him steadily. The rate at which Gui Yin fanned himself slowed.
“…What?”
“I’ve never had someone yell at another person on my behalf,” Langxia said.
Gui Yin snapped his fan shut. He awkwardly cleared his throat. “What? Did I overstep?”
Langxia shook his head. He smiled. “Thank you.”
Gui Yin can be stubborn in the cutest ways (๑˃ᴗ˂) AND HE ATTACK EHEHEHEH i love to see it. i also really enjoy how Langxia can go from Sexy Destroy mode to Pitiful Repare mode. love to see it +1…. i just love to see them, huh akchsjxhs
(ALSO BAI AOSUN hiiiiii)
He’s a multifaceted man 😌 thanks for reading!
I loved Gui Yin opinion on consent. In almost every novel I read it seems like consent doesn’t really matter, so his opinion is so good, and also, Langxia’s reflexion on himself was very good also. He knew that that was wrong of him and apologized, what a cutie!! Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for reading!!!
Ahh! Thank you for the chapter! I love protective Gui Yin!
Thanks for reading!!!
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH 😭😭😭😭
thanks for reading!!!!