"Having fun, are we?" Yichen asked with amusement, staring intently at the two of them, while behind him, Zhu Yan laughed, hard.
Actually, Yichen wasn't surprised to see two mischievous young men; well, at least one of them was, and the other, though considered ancient, looked to be in his middle twenties. He already knew about them from Zhu Yan, who somehow seemed to know practically everything that happened within his mansion, down to the smallest detail.
Perhaps it was his right, as the creator of the dimension they lived in, or perhaps he was simply showing that he had inherited more than just his father's power of creation, and could actually know things, that otherwise should remain secret or private.
So, going back about fifteen minutes, before reaching that point, Yichen woke up that morning in a very good mood, thanks to the astonishing success of their last training, and the different kind of core awakening, they all experienced. Zhu Yan had greeted him with a blazing smile, as he opened his eyes and a soft kiss, as was their custom.
Ever since they became romantically involved, Zhu Yan has made sure Yichen has everything he liked, so every morning, before getting up to start their new day, they exchange passionate kisses, words of love, and tender touches. However, when Yichen looked at the stand Zhu Yan had specially created for Yun Guang, to make him 'comfortable', he found it empty.
"Where's Yun Guang?" Yichen asked, looking around, but he couldn't see him anywhere. Zhu Yan, of course, knew better, so he approached Yichen from behind, hugged him, and placed a soft kiss on his neck that made him shiver. The monkey certainly knew where to kiss him, to melt him in record time. So he closed his eyes and let Zhu Yan turn him around to give him some more passionate kisses.
"Don't worry about Yun Guang, he's busy with other... personal matters. He'll be here soon, though, so let's wait a little longer for him to show up," Zhu Yan assured him as Yichen wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Personal matters, you say? What kind of personal matters could a sword have so early on?" Yichen asked innocently, and Zhu Yan chuckled.
"Baobei, you're still very young, so let me ask you. Can your sword change form?"
"Of course he can. He's done it a couple of times already. You know that, you cheeky monkey, why even ask me that?" Yichen complained, and Zhu Yan squeezed him even tighter, kissing him just below his right ear, which made him moan softly, barely audible to anyone, aside for the one holding him, which had a demon super hearing.
"It means that sometimes he goes around doing more than just cultivating and channeling energy to bind us together. He's also a man, a living spirit who, for lack of a better comparison, being in a league of his own, is closer to a demon than you can imagine," Zhu Yan replied, kissing him breathlessly, before pulling away, with Yichen blushing, as he loved it.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yichen asked, looking at Zhu Yan, curiously.
"He needs to have some fun too. In that respect, your divine sword, is no different from any of us..."
"Fun? What kind of fun? Come on, you old monkey, tell me..." Zhu Yan made a dramatic gesture, as if offended by being called old, but knowing him, Yichen simply ignored him and smiled, before Zhu Yan retaliated by attacking Yichen where he knew he was most vulnerable, right where he felt a tickle.
"Stop it! I'm sorry... you're the greatest... the most handsome of all demons... Zhu Yan... not this again..." Yichen laughed as he tried to escape his mischievous and playful demon lover, finally ending up falling onto the bed, where Zhu Yan led him in his hasty escape, only to be immediately covered by a grinning monkey.
"I'll stop if you promise not to call me old again..." Zhu Yan taunted him, torturing him a little more, and, laughing, Yichen obeyed.
"Okay, I promise... this is so childish, enough already..."
"Baobei, but this closeness is what I mean. Your sword needs warmth, fun, and to live, just like anyone else..." Then Yichen understood what he meant and blushed.
"But... well, I don't mind, and it's his right to... you know, have fun, but... with whom? I mean, aren't we all paired by now?" Yichen asked, and Zhu Yan looked at him amusedly.
"Are you sure we're all taken?" After Zhu Yan's question, Yichen reconsidered how they had been paired up. He, of course, had Zhu Yan, his older brother had Li Lun, his younger brother had Ying Lei, his commander had Wen Xiao... so, that only left...
"Pei Siheng?" Yichen asked in surprise, and Zhu Yan smiled.
"Bingo! Baobei is very clever..." Yichen smacked Zhu Yan's arm slightly, feigning offense, and Zhu Yan closed the small distance between their bodies to kiss him again, but more briefly this time.
"Wait, Zhu Yan... Is Siheng interested in him?" Yichen asked, and Zhu Yan chuckled.
"A very handsome man in his prime, caring and protective, a loner, and who understands him better than anyone? Why not? He's practically his soulmate, the one who can give him a new life and take care of him. Do you think he'll reject him? Especially when he's drunk?" Zhu Yan asked, and Yichen was surprised for a second time that morning.
"Wait, he can't take advantage of him when he's drunk..."
"They both were, so it's fair... and, from what I can tell, Pei Siheng wasn't bothered by his presence or closeness at all... he even wanted it, to be honest."
"Seriously, Zhu Yan, how do you know all that?" Yichen asked, and Zhu Yan kissed him one last time, before getting off his lover and helping him up as well.
"They're coming..." Zhu Yan said, and Yichen heard hurried footsteps from the balcony and, amused, opened the door before Siheng could touch the shoji door from the other side and looked at them.
Pei Siheng's inner robe was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, his lips slightly swollen, and Yun Guang beside him was no better, which validated Zhu Yan's previous insight, since his sword was always immaculate in human form. So, he asked if they were enjoying themselves, while Zhu Yan laughed behind his back.
"Zhuo Yichen, I apologize for keeping Yun Guang away for so long, it wasn't my intention at all." Siheng said hastily, as he fell to his knees, apologizing, and Yun Guang followed suit as he bowed to his Master.
"I'm sorry, Master, I lost track of time." Yun Guang added, which further amused Zhu Yan and made Yichen sigh.
"Why are you two apologizing like this? Siheng, you didn't do anything wrong, so you don't need to apologize for being human, because you finally are, which is something to celebrate, not to forbid. As for you, Yun Guang, I think it's about time we had a heart-to-heart conversation." Yun Guang bowed even deeper to the ground and nodded in agreement with his Master's wish.
"Then, I'll take my leave, so you can have your desired conversation in private." Pei Siheng quickly got up to leave, still trying to process what had happened between him and Yun Guang. Although they had only kissed and touched, there was still much to process. However, Zhu Yan had other ideas for his desire to run away than what he wanted.
"Wait... before you go anywhere else, let me help you sober up." Zhu Yan stopped him, and as Siheng turned around in surprise, he was struck with the great demon's one-word spell.
"Pool." And with a yelp, Pei Siheng found himself falling, about three meters into the warm water of the bathing pool, with a splash. The pool water was shallow, so he only needed to stand up to catch his breath, but he still cursed Zhu Yan.
"Zhu Yan! That was unnecessary! I don't even have a change of clothes! Do you hear me?!" The young man shouted, and out of nowhere, a set of clean, folding clothes appeared on a dry side of the pool, making him jump slightly in surprise.
"So this isn't soundproofed? I thought this place, more than any other, would be soundproofed..." Siheng wondered aloud, a hint of a blush on his cheeks, as he looked around.
"It is, but we're still connected, remember to always guard your mind... take a bath and sober up, otherwise your sister will know you snuck into the kitchen and got drunk." Hearing that, Siheng shuddered, and not from the water, but from the thought of his sister discovering his unexpected, mess-up, with Zhuo Yichen's precious sword spirit.
"You won't tell her, will you?" He asked Zhu Yan, who chuckled.
"Of course not. In fact, I approve. If that's what you want." Then Zhu Yan left his mind, and Siheng finally relaxed. Taking off his wet clothes, he enjoyed a warm bath.
Meanwhile, back inside Yichen's room, Yun Guang sat beside his Master on one of the floor cushions next to the low table Yichen used for tea and reading, with Zhu Yan pretending not to be listening on the opposite side.
"Master..."
"Please, let me speak first. I owe you an apology for not acknowledging you more deeply, before this. Perhaps my only excuse for not doing so, is that I grew up believing you were just a sword, a very special one that I treasure, but a sword nonetheless. I grew up with you, as my loyal companion and sometimes, my companion in sorrow, because those times I cried alone, you were always in my hand..."
"Master, it was my fault for not revealing myself to you sooner..."
"Perhaps part of it is that, but that doesn't excuse me from not approaching you like this before. What happened this morning, made me realize that being a sword spirit means you have a will of your own, you're not just a tool for hunting demons, but a soul that has needs and desires..."
"I am your tool..." Yun Guang protested, as he didn't want Yichen to think, that now that he had changed form, he was no longer his. However, Yichen simply patted Yun Guang very gently on the back, to reassure him, which made him feel special and cherished.
"No, you're not... just as you probably weren't in the hands of my ancestor Bing Yi, either. Besides, Ying Long's blood, is also a part of you, and they were both compassionate gods, who never intended for you to be imprisoned within your inner core for eternity."
"But I am happy with you, Master. I chose you for a reason." And he did, as he had always liked Yichen and his kind heart, even when he was a child.
"And I'm so grateful that you chose me, because I probably need it, but that being said, things are different now. You're alive, and that gives you the right to choose your own path. There's nothing wrong with wanting companionship, or even love if it comes to that. I'm not here to block your chances of happiness, I'm here to help you achieve it, just as you've helped me throughout my life."
"But..." Yun Guang was about to argue further when Yichen hugged him very tenderly.
"Yun Guang... you are free to want, free to walk away, free to hope for something better than always remaining in someone else's hands, free to choose your own destiny, free to experience happiness and anything else you desire. I may be young, but I will never be selfish enough to hold you back. It's not shackles I want to offer you, but freedom... And I will grant you that freedom, once we succeed in our mission. If you want to experience life as a man, do it. If you want to stay by my side, you will be welcome, but not out of duty, not because you are obligated, but because it is your choice... nothing less than that." Yichen whispered, and Yun Guang was overwhelmed by strong emotions, in the young man's arms.
When Yichen was a child, he felt a connection to him, considering him worthy of being protected, of becoming his next Master, because deep down, the boy was just like both, Ying Long and Bing Yi combined. Sometimes he was stubborn, other times cute and braty, but most of the time he was brave, and compassionate, in a way that made him shine with a blinding light. He had chosen him because the boy's spirit was strong in more ways than one, and then tears streamed down the sword spirit cheeks.
For a moment, Yun Guang set aside his hidden feelings, and hugged back his Master. He never expected to be talking about freedom, because he never saw his bond with the young man as a shackle, but quite the opposite. He bond with Yichen of his own free will. However, he was so grateful and honored to serve such a man, that even considered giving his own sword the option to leave or stay on its own terms. Not just anyone would do that for a weapon, divine or not, and he appreciated it very much. Then, Zhu Yan cleared his throat a couple of times, which made Yun Guang chuckle.
"Don't mind the monkey, this is between you and me..." Yichen smiled at Yun Guang, who nodded happily while wiping away his tears.
"I chose well, Master." Yun Guang let him know, and Yichen gently wiped the remaining tears from his cheeks.
"Don't call me Master anymore, because from this moment on, you're not just my sword, you're my family, Ge." Yichen called him warmly, and Yun Guang smiled broadly.
"Alright, Didi. Now, let go of me, before Zhu Yan cuts me in half." Yun Guang joked, and Yichen stared at his lover, causing Zhu Yan to pretend once again, that he didn't notice.
"So, Zhu Yan, I guess that makes me your brother-in-law too, huh?" Yun Guang teased the great demon, just like he used to when he was younger.
"I swear, he have way too many brothers these days..." Zhu Yan pouted, and Yichen smiled.
"That means your lover is very kind, treasure him." Yichen told him, and Zhu Yan leaned closer.
"Oh, but I treasure my Baobei very much." Zhu Yan almost swore.
"Then don't be so jealous and give him a break once in a while. I can, you know, tell him lots of stories, like when you were a very mischievous child..." Yun Guang teased, enjoying seeing Zhu Yan show a hint of panic, which made him laugh.
"What stories? Ge, I'm all ears..." But then, Zhu Yan once again used his one-word spell and sent Yun Guang down the path to Pei Siheng, straight into the warm pool with a big splash, that soaked Siheng again, just as he was half-dressed in his new clothes.
However, unlike Siheng, once Yun Guang emerged from the water, he laughed as he wiped his long, light blue hair from his face. Then he looked at Siheng and had a feeling of déjà vu, once again, half-naked in front of him. He laughed again, because, perhaps, it was indeed, destiny.
It goes without saying that, back in Yichen's room, a naughty monkey was beaten with pillows.
AN: LOL. More warm relationships that I hope you enjoy too. Thanks for reading and until next time, please take care.