“A-Tian, stand up a bit, will you?” Fan Yi brushed back the loose strands of hair on Wu Lingtian’s head. “Let me get a better grip on you first.”
“But Yishan,” Wu Lingtian rubbed his head against Fan Yi’s neck, “I’m sleepy.”
Fan Yi laughed incredulously, but he was still struggling to keep Wu Lingtian upright. “You can sleep when we get back. Or, how about you get off me first, and then I can carry you down?”
“This is comfortable,” Wu Lingtian said. He shifted slightly, only to wrap his arms around Fan Yi. “And I can keep you warm this way.”
Fan Yi looked around. Sect Master Zhong had already left and the servants were nowhere to be seen. He let out a sigh of relief and patted Wu Lingtian’s back. “You don’t need to do that, I’m already plenty warm.”
Wu Lingtian shook his head. “That’s not true. Yishan can’t hold any warmth during the winter and it’s so cold here…you must be so cold.”
Fan Yi noticed the sad tone in Wu Lingtian’s voice. He glanced at the man cuddling into his neck and pinched Wu Lingtian’s neck lightly. “I’m really not that cold, A-Tian.”
Wu Lingtian didn’t respond.
“Come on, be good. The sooner you stand up, the sooner we can go back and sleep,” Fan Yi rubbed at Wu Lingtian’s back and waited for the other man to stand. He glanced at him again, “You didn’t fall asleep, did you?”
Wu Lingtian shook his head.
“Then straighten up,” Fan Yi said coaxingly. “If you do, I’ll give you candy.”
Wu Lingtian shook his head again.
Fan Yi was surprised. “You don’t want candy? Then, I’ll give you a kiss.”
Although Fan Yi had been joking, Wu Lingtian immediately straightened up. His expression was serious and his eyes weren’t even glazed over. If Fan Yi hadn’t seen the way Wu Lingtian had completely failed to sense his presence, he really would have wondered if Wu Lingtian was drunk right now or not.
“I did it,” Wu Lingtian’s words broke Fan Yi from his daze.
“Huh?”
“I straightened up,” Wu Lingtian said. He looked a bit wronged. He was like a puppy, silently asking his owner where his promised treat was.
Fan Yi quickly made sure there was no one else nearby before kissing Wu Lingtian on the cheek. “Alright, you did well. Now, let’s go back.”
However, Wu Lingtian didn’t move. He cupped his cheek and stared at Fan Yi with wide eyes.
Fan Yi stared at Wu Lingtian quizzically. He observed the scandalized look on Wu Lingtian’s face before laughing incredulously. “You’re the one who told me to kiss you. Why do you look as if you’ve been harassed?”
Wu Lingtian took a step back and clamped another hand over his cheek. “You kissed me.”
“You asked me to,” Fan Yi said, dumbfounded.
“But you did it,” Wu Lingtian said accusatorily.
“Should I not have?”
“Yishan, you kissed me.”
Hearing his real name used in such a way, Fan Yi couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. “I-I apologize?”
Wu Lingtian immediately looked hurt. “Why are you apologizing?”
“Then…what do you want me to do?” Fan Yi asked.
“Do it again.”
“…Huh?”
“Again,” Wu Lingtian turned his cheek towards Fan Yi.
Fan Yi pursed his lips. He held his head and looked at Wu Lingtian. “I think if I do it again, you’ll regret it tomorrow morning.”
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.
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“Randomly…touch…”
“But I really want to be closer,” Wu Lingtian mumbled, obviously distraught. He snuck a glance at Fan Yi before taking a few steps back. He shook his head and began to walk across the bridge.
Fan Yi stared after Wu Lingtian before quickly following him. He wasn’t worried that Wu Lingtian would fall into the water, since he walked steadily, but the man’s pace was really too fast. “A-Tian.”
“No.”
“No what?” Fan Yi raised a brow.
The moment his pace quickened, Wu Lingtian began to speed walk as well. When Fan Yi tried harder to catch up, Wu Lingtian began to jog. By the time the two men had reached the steps, Wu Lingtian was sprinting while Fan Yi was forced to follow him at an unreasonable distance.
“A-Tian, stop running! I won’t try to get close to you again!”
Wu Lingtian abruptly stopped. He looked up the steps at Fan Yi gloomily. “Really?”
Fan Yi froze.
At this stage, should he say yes or no? If he said yes, Wu Lingtian looked like he might explode into tears. But if he said no, then the younger man would start running again. Even if he seemed and acted perfectly…well, maybe not perfectly fine, but even if he didn’t seem inebriated, it would be a hassle if he ended up tripping down the stairs. It wouldn’t hurt a cultivator like him, but Fan Yi didn’t want Wu Lingtian to wake up in embarrassment and regret the next morning.
“I’ll stay,” Fan Yi walked down a few steps until he was right beside Wu Lingtian, “this far away. Is that okay?”
Wu Lingtian looked at the gap between them. If he just reached over, he would be able to hold Fan Yi’s hand. After a thorough examination, Wu Lingtian nodded seriously.
Fan Yi glanced over at Wu Lingtian with a slight smile on his face. He lowered his gaze again and let out a soft sigh. “Do you like me that much?”
“Mn,” Wu Lingtian hummed. “I like you very much.”
Fan Yi felt his heart jump. He let out an awkward laugh. “Did you know, when my father was courting my mother, it took him three years to get her to finally stop running from him? I didn’t think she was that cowardly.”
“Rather than being cowardly, I think that love just takes a lot of courage,” Wu Lingtian said.
Fan Yi glanced at Wu Lingtian. “So, if I decided to run off, you wouldn’t think I’m cowardly?”
Wu Lingtian shook his head. His gaze was concentrated on the tip of his feet as he walked down the steps. “If…Sect Leader truly decided to leave, I wouldn’t blame you.”
“You wouldn’t chase after me?” Fan Yi asked. “What if I was just teasing you?”
“As long as you still want me, I will always be by your side,” Wu Lingtian replied. “If you don’t want me anymore, you can just abandon me.”
Fan Yi felt his heart sour. The playful smile on his face melted away and he stopped walking. Seeing that Fan Yi stopped, Wu Lingtian also turned around. He looked up at Fan Yi and waited patiently.
“I would never abandon you.”
Wu Lingtian smiled, but a response never came. The younger man lowered his head and began to saunter down the steps again. His pace was slow and dragged, unlike his usual brisk walking pace. He lingered on steps for a second too long and would pause every now and then as he waited for Fan Yi to catch up.
By the time the two of them made it back to the inn, Wu Lingtian didn’t bother to change from his clothes and directly fell asleep on the daybed.
Fan Yi made his way over and quietly sat down beside Wu Lingtian. His fingers tugged at the hairpin that kept his hair in a neat bun and slipped the crown from it. He inserted the hairpin back into the crown and set it aside before turning back to Wu Lingtian. He gently brushed back the younger man’s hair and moved to take his shoes off.
When Fan Yi straightened his waist again, Wu Lingtian had rolled onto his back. His expression was peaceful and his lips were slightly parted as he breathed in and out.
Fan Yi chuckled and went to grab the extra set of blankets from the cupboard. When he returned, he took care to tuck Wu Lingtian in. He leaned his elbow against his thigh and watched the younger man in silence.
“Why would you like me?” Fan Yi wondered. His gaze drifted slightly away from the younger man. “It’s not like you’re a child anymore, so what could you like about me now? I was hoping that you’d get rid of your silly little crush. But after so many years, I was the one that ended up yielding instead.”
He reached back and pinched Wu Lingtian’s nose. “You’re really a little con artist, aren’t you?”
Fan Yi released Wu Lingtian with a sigh and stood. He headed for the roof and made himself comfortable until sunrise.
When Fan Yi woke up, Wu Lingtian was already dressed in a new set of robes. His hair was immaculately tied up once more and, by his waist, hung the Rui Sword. He had scooped out a bowl of congee as Fan Yi swung down from the roof. He looked up with a small smile.
“I already prepared a basin of water for you, Sect Leader,” Wu Lingtian said. He set the bowl down across from himself and sat down. “I didn’t want to wake you so early, so I was going to keep a heating talisman over the food. It’s a good thing you’re awake now.”
Fan Yi raised a brow as he walked over to the basin of water. “You’re going somewhere?”
“I received a Midnight Hawk earlier,” Wu Lingtian said. His spoon combed through the congee as he fell into a silent contemplation. He looked back up at Fan Yi, “It isn’t urgent, but it’s best if I look after it now.”
“Who are you meeting? Lord Wuma?”
Wu Lingtian nodded. He drained the bowl before setting it back down and standing up. He readjusted his attire and turned to Fan Yi. “It seems that he somehow found a way to track Xiao-xiong.”
“Then, why is he meeting with you?” Fan Yi asked.
“I guess you could call it a comradery,” Wu Lingtian said. He met Fan Yi’s gaze, “We’re similar in many ways. He must find it more comfortable to speak to me than to Situ Hong.”
“So, you’re going now?” Fan Yi stepped towards the table and sat down.
Wu Lingtian nodded. “I will be back before noon. I still need to stop by Frost Cliff Pavilion.”
Fan Yi leaned against his hand and looked up at Wu Lingtian. “Before you go, can I talk to you about something?”
Wu Lingtian straightened seriously. “Of course. What is it you want to talk to me about, Sect Leader?”
“When I said you were my soulmate, I meant it,” Fan Yi said. “I’ve never met anyone else in my life that I’ve felt so comfortable around. When I’m with you, whether it’s sitting around in silence or fighting demons and ghosts, I enjoy every second of it.”
Wu Lingtian stared at Fan Yi in a daze. “…Thank…you, Sect Leader.”
“And I also wanted to say that I also like you.”
“…Huh?”
“I also like you. I can’t say I won’t ever get tired of you, but I’ll never abandon you. I want to stay by your side in this life and for eternity.”
Wu Lingtian’s hands clenched at his side. He silently blinked at Fan Yi as the words echoed in his mind. He wasn’t sure if he had had too much to drink the night before and he was still hallucinating, but seeing Fan Yi’s prompting look, Wu Lingtian’s mouth could only open and close mutely.
“A-Tian?”
“…Alright.”
Fan Yi’s smile slowly grew on his face. “’Alright’?”
“…Then, if that’s all, Sect Leader, I’ll head out first.”
Fan Yi shifted forward and covered his smile with his palm. He nodded. “Go ahead first.”
“Mn,” Wu Lingtian bowed and promptly left the room.
Fan Yi silently stared at the door. A chortle escaped his lips. He held his head in his hands as his shoulders began to shake. However, before he reined in his laughter, the door opened again. Fan Yi looked up as Wu Lingtian strode over to him in wide-steps.
“What’s wrong?” Fan Yi pressed his lips together as he tried to keep his voice from trembling.
“I forgot to ask something before I left.”
“What is it?”
“May I…kiss you then?” Wu Lingtian asked.
Fan Yi nodded amusedly. “You may.”
Wu Lingtian hesitated for a moment before leaning down and placing a quick kiss against the corner of Fan Yi’s lips. He straightened again and clasped his hands together politely, “Then, I’ll really be leaving this time, Sect Leader.”
“A-Alright,” Fan Yi choked back his laughter. “Take your time.”
Wu Lingtian left the room about as quickly as he entered. He gently closed the door behind him. He continued to walk until he reached the top of the stairs. There, he slowed to a stop and leaned against the railing. He stared down absentmindedly.
“…Master?”
“Am I still asleep?” Wu Lingtian asked.
“No, you’re awake.”
“Then what was that?” Wu Lingtian began walking down the steps again. When he got to the second landing, he turned back around and looked up the stairs before continuing down.
He walked out of the inn and headed to the temple at the edge of the city, where Wuma Qiongling claimed that he would be.
Qingliu Temple stood proudly on top of a hill. It stretched proudly and high into the sky and housed the god of prophecy, Lord Ling Wan. Although the world of cultivators rarely worshiped any gods or buddhas, the Hall of Impartiality was an exception. According to their legends, the great Lord Ling Wan had been the one to gift them their method of cultivating Heaven’s Eye. Those in the Hall of Impartiality were Lord Ling Wan’s subjects so, every third month, they would have to hold a festival in his honor and those who lived in Xing City worshiped Lord Ling Wan for prosperity and protection.
However, since today was not any auspicious day, the area around Qingliu Temple was rather empty, leaving only Daoist priests to tend to the grounds with a few devote worshippers coming in and out.
Standing by the large, bronze incense pot was a man dressed in plain, simple garb. His hair was pinned back by a nondescript black clip while the rest of it fell past his shoulders. Despite his rather bland way of dressing, there were still civilians and priests that would sneak glances his way whenever they passed. His face was the type of handsome one might assign to an immortal—ethereal and godly. And, of course, his aura was something that few could ignore.
When Wu Lingtian had reached the top of the steps, Wuma Qiongling had already lifted his head.
He watched Wu Lingtian walk over. His eyes scanned the other man from top to bottom before he approached him. With his voice condensed using his internal energy, he spoke to Wu Lingtian, “Why are you dressed like that?”
Today, Wu Lingtian wore a set of wide-sleeved dark turquoise robes with a rounded collar. The mask that sat on his face was one of a plainer design than he had been wearing and his hair was done similarly to Wuma Qiongling’s. He looked more like a scholar than a martial artist.
“No one’s supposed to know about my presence in Xing City,” Wu Lingtian replied as his folding fan snapped open. “I don’t know how Lord Wuma managed to find out I was here.”
Wuma Qiongling frowned at the folding fan before turning back to Wu Lingtian. “Are you joking or not? I wanted to send a Midnight Hawk out, but I saw that it flew straight to an inn nearby, so I called it back and rewrote my message. Originally, I was just going to ask you what I should do.”
Wu Lingtian snapped the fan shut and slipped it into his wide sleeves. “Shall we find somewhere more private to talk?”
“I’ve already rented a private room at a restaurant,” Wuma Qiongling gestured for Wu Lingtian to follow him. “What is that fan?”
“I thought it tied my outfit together.”
“You’re much better off without the fan. And your gait is off,” Wuma Qiongling criticized. “Walk more like your purple friend—now, that man walks like he doesn’t know how to fight.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at Wuma Qiongling. “Lord Wuma has become much more unrestrained with his words.”
“Shall I return to being uptight and courteous?” Wuma Qiongling drawled indifferently. “My apologies, Young Master Wu, but I only act like that when I’m surrounded by an entourage of fifty people and I am standing in front of the cultivation world’s best of the best.”
“No, no, I quite like this,” Wu Lingtian said. “It’ll make it easier to talk about personal business.”
Wuma Qiongling let out a soft sigh. “I really don’t know where I went wrong.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at Wuma Qiongling. “You never told me how you two met.”
Wuma Qionling met Wu Lingtian’s gaze. “Oh? Is Young Master Wu interested in this humble one’s love story?”
“I’m already helping you with your romantic exploits. I may as well also know how it all began,” Wu Lingtian said.
“He’s never told you?” Wuma Qiongling asked. However, before Wu Lingtian answered, he shook his head. “Of course, he never has. To me, he was my savior, but perhaps to him I’m just an unfortunate calamity.”
Wu Lingtian glanced at him. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” Wuma Qiongling mumbled. “Well, if you want to know, I suppose I could tell you. Where should I start?”
The man fell silent as they traveled through the streets of Xing City. The city had been awake for a few hours now and the stalls and shops were all open. The civilians began pouring into the streets, buying groceries or goods before they headed off to their own jobs.
In the noise, Wuma Qiongling slowly lowered his gaze and slowly began his story. Wu Lingtian glanced at him and no longer saw the arrogant demon lord that everyone was so fearful of and so disgusted. Instead, he saw a frivolous youth who dared to love and dare to hate, who got revenge for his family, and who took up the mantel of the number on evil on this continent, just so no one else would have to experience the hurt that he went through.
Finally the confession !! So happy
But I need details on Wuma’s love story! ❤️
👀 there’s an entire extra dedicated to them don’t worry
It’s a testament to his cultivator patience that Wu Lingtian can even pay attention to Wuma’s story. He has a very good reason to be distracted 😄
SCREAMINGGGGGGGGG AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA