"So, Zhu Yan kicked you out too? Figures—he sighed as he looked at himself, all wet again. Now, I'm back in the same mess we were in back there." Siheng complained, not seeing why being thrown into a hot spring pool was funny enough to laugh at.
"Ah, don't worry about that, I can take care of this mess. Zhu Yan, is just been who he is by nature. You didn't get hurt, right? I mean with the fall. It wasn't a great distance, but you're still something between a human and a puppet, so... you didn't get hurt?" Yun Guang asked as he slowly approached Siheng across the water, taking in every detail of his appearance.
His wet, dark clothes, hide what was behind the fabric, but not the shape, since it was stuck to his body like a second skin and Yun Guang had fallen into the pool, at the exact moment when Siheng was putting on his inner robe, that was still untied, exposing a good part of his chest. Seeing Yun Guang staring, Siheng immediately closed up his robe and ties it, while blushing.
"Come on, don't be a pervert now. You saw more of me last night than this little bit." Siheng pointed out, as he grabbed a second layer of robes from the wet floor and shook them a little to dry them a bit. Yun Guang got out of the pool and took the piece of cloth in his hand and looked at the upset young man.
"Let me help you with that. In a way, it's my fault they are wet now, and I'm not a pervert. I was making sure you were okay." He said as he used a spell on both, the black robe in his hand and the one Pei Siheng was already wearing, to dry them.
"Wow, you can do that too?" Siheng asked, as he no longer felt wet, nor did his clothes or even his hair.
"Of course, turn around for me. I swear, my intention is pure. I'm sober now." Yun Guang mocked him a little, and Siheng chuckled, but turned around as asked, allowing Yun Guang to help him dress in more layers and turned again to close them, but his hands met those of Yun Guang, who also reached for the ribbons of the robe at the same time he did so.
They both froze at that moment, their hands still overlapping and Siheng felt his face get hot, but he didn't move his hands away. Yun Guang's hands were cold, but they were gentle, despite his known strength, and it reminded him of when, that same pair of hands had touched him with delicacy, as if he were about to break, even if they were both drunk.
"Siheng... I don't feel, that what happened between us last night was a mistake, but if you feel it that way, say it and I will never approach you like this again. You said you were confused, but for thinking like that, you must have felt something, even if it was just a little..."
"Do you think I would kiss you like I did, if it were just a little bit? To be honest, I don't know what to think about it, but I can be sure that it felt too good and right. Maybe we had both been alone for too long, maybe it's just attraction, maybe the gods are messing with us, like they had with others, like Zhuo Yixuan and Li Lun, who had a special connection from the beginning. I can't put my finger on what it is, but I can't deny that the need and attraction is there..." Siheng confessed and Yun Guang smiled softly.
"Don't duel on it, for now. There is something more important, that we all need to take care of. Attraction or destiny, we need to survive the coming crisis to think about a future, whatever it may lead us to. Today, we will most likely have another out of our minds training, so let's focus on getting stronger and if this still persists when this is all over, we'll talk again. Do you agree?" Yun Guang asked, as he carefully tied a ribbon on Siheng's robe and then, took the belt and gently place it around his waist to close them all, properly.
"Alright, agree. Now let's go back and beat up some monkey." Siheng joked and Yun Guang smiled.
"No need, my Master… I mean, my Didi, most likely, already beaten him up for us. Let's go to the kitchen so you can have something for your hangover." Yun Guang used the spell on himself, and Siheng was once again stunned by the beauty of the spirit sword. It was so unfair how demons and spirits could look so divine.
"How can a weapon be so perfect...?" Siheng mutters under his breath, which Yun Guang pretends not to hear, but he did and smiles widely as they walk out, back to the kitchen that had started it all.
That they had intense training that day was a fact, as Zhu Yan and Li Lun now fully prepare for stronger attacks coming from the humans, with the awakening and resonance of their cores. This time, Zhu Yan explained in more detail what to expect from each of the nine demons and how to counter their attacks, keeping in mind that all the demons were unpredictable.
The training was closely followed by deep cultivation for everyone, both humans and demons, and then another four additional days to complete their training, with the many possibilities they could encounter along the way, or things that could simply come out of nowhere. It was a very hard training, but it had to be done for the good of everyone, so one complained.
Zhu Yan throws them, in all kinds of situations and in subsequent training, both great demons join together, so that they can experiment and coordinate attacks, with the two present, as a complete force, making things easier for the humans, but not daring to let their guard down, just because Zhu Yan or Li Lun could back them up, or be the main force to defeat a demon.
By the end of that week, they felt they were as prepared as possible and asked the High Commander, Fan Ying, to return to the mansion, along with the rest of Yixuan's unit. Li Lun also called Ao Ying, so that they could still remain connected to the human world, even if they were no longer there.
It had taken Li Lun, a while to convince her to work for other humans, as she feared that after they left, those left behind would play dirty tricks on her and use the humans she had saved to try to control her. But Fan Ying asked her to bring them to the mansion, so that they could remain under her watch at all times, and see that they were not trying to harm them, nor use them to subdue her in any way.
Once everything was planned and reviewed, the mixed group of humans and demons, under the disguises of others, —less suspicious demons, stood in front of the gate, leading inside the demon world. Zhu Yan had already left behind two fake mirrors of himself and Li Lun, to keep the forest demons at bay, until their return. But even if the disguises failed, the humans already have a backup plan, to hold on, until they return, hopefully in victory.
That night, Yichen felt Zhu Yan's hand grip his tightly, at the gate of the demon world. The strong demonic energy was something they had to tolerate and adapt to accordingly, but as their cores still resonated strongly, the bond greatly helped them get used to it, and prepare to cross into the unknown.
"Baobei... are you ready for this?" Zhu Yan asked his lover, who looked at him and nodded. His other hand, ending with the demonic claws of his new, less divine transformation, gently held the hilt of his sword, as if assuring Yun Guang as well, that everything will work out in their favor, one way or another.
Ying Lei also has Bai Jiu's hand clasped over his, feeling his young boyfriend's determination through their bond. Everyone was ready, everyone was destined to face that path, therefore, under the light of the countless stars and the Ying Long constellation, they entered enemy territory, for the first time.
AN: A bit short, but what come next will be intense. Thanks for reading, and see you next time. Take care.