Zhu Yan leaned in, stealing kisses from Yichen, but it felt less like theft and more like an invitation. Whenever Zhu Yan craved physical contact, Yichen melted into it, welcoming every moment, leaving no room for resistance—only quiet surrender. He loved him with an overwhelming intensity that bordered on madness, and being wrapped in his arms felt like pure bliss. His body craved him just as deeply as his heart did.
With the lingering energy of their earlier confrontation still coursing through him, Yichen became aware of an unfamiliar draw. A heat arose from his divine core—not searing, yet fervent—spreading through his meridians like an untamed blaze. A quiet moan escaped him as his senses sharpened. Now he could distinctly hear Zhu Yan's heartbeat racing in sync with his own. A scent hung in the air, deep and intoxicating, driving him nearly to the edge of reason.
Their kiss grew deeper, carrying an intensity that reached beyond the physical attraction. It felt as though his soul was harmonizing with Zhu Yan's, swaying in unison like partners in a magical dance, ready to fuse together. But suddenly, Zhu Yan broke away, his breath ragged, and his crimson eyes locked onto Yichen, burning with an unreadable intensity.
"Zhu Yan..." Yichen whispered, surprise lacing his voice. It wasn't just the ache of their separation that tugged at him on a deeper, almost spiritual level. But also the faint traces of Zhu Yan's more demonic side that surfaced, just as they had during their last moment of true intimacy.
There was a raw energy within Zhu Yan, palpable and undeniable. Yichen sensed it keenly, as though a part of him still yearned for that resonant connection that brought a sense of wholeness. Yet, it seemed Zhu Yan wasn't entirely resistant—rather, he appeared overwhelmed, forced to pull away before things spiraled beyond his grasp.
"I'm sorry, Baobei... As much as I want this, I can't let you claim me right now." Zhu Yan murmured softly, closing his eyes as he fought to suppress the swirling desires within.
Deep down, he yearned to surrender, to let his chosen mate seal their bond for a lifetime. The overwhelming sensation nearly broke his resolution. He was so close to giving in, so close to letting it happen. The temptation to cast aside all reason tugged at him fiercely, yet he held firm. After all, he understood the gravity of what was unfolding—even if Yichen remained blissfully unaware of how close he had come to succeeding.
"What? C... Claim you? How could I even do such a thing? I'm not a dragon, you a...." Before he could complete his sentence, Zhu Yan gently took his pale hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a delicate kiss onto it. At that moment, Yichen noticed his skin had taken on a faint blue sheen, resembling shimmering scales—turquoise on the top of his palm and a lighter shade of blue on the underside.
"It was unwise of me to kiss you while you were still under the influence of your awakening. It stirred your emotions, heightening them to such an extent that your awakening accelerated. You became consumed by it, acting as any dragon would when driven by such a primal need. You sought to claim what you instinctively knew was already yours, driven by pure instinct." Zhu Yan paused, taking a breath, still enveloped by the overwhelming sensation of Yichen's love surrounding him.
"I almost accepted your claim... because a true claim isn't physical—it's spiritual. It's the merging of two souls, fully opening up to one another, embracing both light and shadow without hesitation, and becoming one from that moment on. Right now, you are more dragon than human... and it's captivating. Too enchanting for me to resist it fully. Just take a look at yourself..." Zhu Yan drew crystalline water from the lake, suspending it above them for a moment before it transformed into a smooth sheet of ice, polished to perfection until it resembled a mirror.
Yichen gazed wide-eyed at his reflection, astonished by what he saw. There they lay, side by side, but the figure that should have been him—dressed like a human, resembling one—was strangely different.
Instead, a young man stared back, still clad in the same attire, yet his face bore intricate ice tattoos, his eyes sparkled an electric blue, and his long hair flowed like a midnight sky streaked with deep blue. His skin glimmered with an otherworldly sheen, and atop his forehead, two tiny horns emerged, adding to the extraordinary look.
Feeling curious, he reached up to touch one of his horns. They seemed so delicate, as though they might snap at the slightest pressure, yet to his surprise, they felt sturdy despite their small size and fragile appearance.
"How did these even form? I didn't feel them growing." Yichen wondered in amazement as he looked at the mirror, his surprise evident. Zhu Yan, noticing his fascination, chuckled softly and gently lowered Yichen's hand from his tiny, budding horns.
"You were too caught up in your emotions to notice. They are still tender, Baobei, so be careful," Zhu Yan advised, prompting Yichen to glance at Zhu Yan with a flicker of panic in his expression.
"Wait... Am I going to look like this forever?" Yichen asked, his voice tinged with unease.
"Not at all, no need to stress over it. You're currently overwhelmed by the energy this world is granting you. Once your excitement settles, you'll return to your usual self." At that, Yichen let out a sigh of relief.
Soon after, Yichen felt his cheeks flush as he silently cursed himself. If excitement was the key to speeding up the transformation, he might as well submit completely right then and there. Because Zhu Yan's irresistible scent alone was enough to set him off. Noticing the blush, Zhu Yan laughed, fully aware of the brewing turmoil within him.
"Stop laughing... it's your fault I'm like this..." Yichen grumbled, transforming the crystallized mirror back into water and letting it flow into the lake.
"Sorry, Baobei, I admit this is entirely my doing. How can I help you feel a little less... overjoyed?" His tone carried a teasing edge, causing Yichen's face to flush even more.
"You shameless monkey, knock it off, this isn't a joke. If things keep up like this, I might end up transforming completely right over you! If my dragon form crushes you under its weight, you'll have no one but yourself to blame!" Even so, Zhu Yan's laughter grew louder.
"You! I swear, you old dragon, this time I will..." Annoyed, Yichen shifted, partially pinning his lover, as he prepared to keep scolding him to make him stop laughing.
However, a movement to his right caught his eye. Turning, he saw Bai Jiu sitting in his boat, staring their way with a face flushed deep red—clearly from what he knew was anger. Resigned, Yichen moved off Zhu Yan and lay back again, fully aware of what was about to unfold.
"Hey! Stop teasing him, you old troublemaker! Leave my Xiao Zhuo Ge alone. I can hear your laughing at him all the way from here," Bai Jiu chided Zhu Yan in their mental link from his shared boat. But beside him, Ying Lei struggled to suppress his own amusement too, while Yichen smiled by Zhu Yan's side.
"See? Even my Didi can tell you're picking on me, so why don't you stop it already?" Yichen said with amusement, a playful grin spreading across his face. However, Zhu Yan chose to ignore him and savored his adorable lover's subsequent pout.
"Oh? My apologies, Xiao Bai, if I've disrupted your own.. tender moment. But fear not, I'll make sure we won't be overheard anymore." With that, before Yichen or Bai Jiu could protest, their boat disappeared from view, hidden behind another personal barrier that reflected the lake's calm water.
Bai Jiu's face turned red for yet another reason as Zhu Yan openly mentioned to everyone the enjoyable time he had been having with Ying Lei. The remark, combined with Zhu Yan's laughter, only served to irritate Bai Jiu even more.
How could he dare to isolate his beloved big brother from them, especially after he had been bullied by that old monkey? Bai Jiu could almost sense Xiao Zhuo's heat even at a distance, despite Zhu Yan enclosing them in another barrier.
"That's so rude! My poor Ge must be so upset right now..." Bai Jiu fumed quietly as he sat on the comfortable boat, his eyes still fixed sharply on the mirror-like bubble.
However, Ying Lei doubted that 'upset' was the best way to describe Yichen's current mood, especially now that the two of them were completely isolated from the others. They were all well aware that whenever the opportunity arose, it often led to plenty of kissing, just like what had happened earlier during their playful little contest. But his adorable Xiao Jiu was still quite innocent.
"Xiao Jiu, calm down. Xiao Zhuo knows exactly how to handle Zhu Yan. He practically has him wrapped around his finger and always have the last word. I'm sure this time won't be any different. Come lie down with me again. Your Ge doesn't need rescuing from his mate." Ying Lei spoke calmly to his younger boyfriend, who, though still visibly mad, followed his words without complaint.
"It's not the first time Zhu Yan has teased my Ge—I understand that. But for a moment, I noticed something different about him. Xiao Zhuo Ge wasn't looking our way at first, yet in that fleeting instant when he did, it felt as though I was staring at someone who resembled him but wasn't exactly the same." Bai Jiu felt confident he was seeing the changes clearly, as his vision had sharpened since the attack began. It was as if the lake's energy was not only boosting his Ge, Zhu Yan, and Li Lun, but empowering them all together.
"How come?" Yin Lei asked.
"His skin seemed to carry an otherworldly glow, his ice tattoos stood out more vividly than before, his hair was turning blue, and did he have horns? Even his eyes appeared brighter. For a second, I wondered if that troublemaker had done something to him. Like when he bully us with those rabbit and red pandas disguises." Bai Jiu insisted, but Ying Lei felt nothing wrong with either of them, just their usual playful banter. Although he hadn't looked at them, because he was trying to hold in laughter, so who knows?
"I know how much you care for him, but Zhu Yan is his mate. Even if Xiao Zhuo appears different, it could simply be due to his transition into a half-dragon. Wen Xiao even affirmed that the Black Calamity sees him as a baby dragon. Therefore, we can trust that he's safe and well looked after. Zhu Yan would never let anything harm him. Let's return to enjoying the night as we were before—just take a deep breath and let your worries fade away." And Ying Lei was indeed correct, which helped him relax slightly as he gazed at the stunning starry sky.
"The demon world is truly breathtaking. There's so much more to see here compared to the human realm. I can't understand why demons view this dimension as a prison. Honestly, I wouldn't mind being confined in a place as vast and magnificent as this world." Bai Jiu thought aloud, shifting his gaze toward his charming boyfriend, who returned the look with a warm smile.
"It truly is, but demons wear their pride like armor, and the malicious energy that taints them only makes matters worse. I can't shake the feeling that we've been protected from the moment we entered this world, yet it's not the same for them." He paused for a second to organize his thinking.
"Just think about it like this... We hone our skills as demon hunters, mastering techniques and spells, wielding weapons, and refining innate powers. But they cultivate the energy around them to become powerful. This leaves them more susceptible to corruption. In a way, they have no choice, just as we have no choice but to defend our kind against them. It's a circle from which no one can escape, but hopefully this time we'll break free and give both worlds a fresh start." Ying Lei explained and glanced back at Xiao Jiu, only to be taken aback by the myriad of emotions swirling in his gaze.
His eyes appeared to sparkle, brimming with not just admiration but also pride. The intensity of that look made Ying Lei's cheeks flush slightly.
"You're amazing! So wise and mature… I'm so lucky I picked such a perfect boyfriend." Bai Jiu's eyes resemble those of cute puppies, drawing a soft laugh from Ying Lei, moments before Bai Jiu pulled him into a kiss.
In another boat, around the same time, Yixuan glanced at Li Lun, who appeared intrigued for some reason he couldn't quite figure out.
"Xiao Lun, should I be concerned about my brother?" He asked. To his surprise, Li Lun let out a soft chuckle.
"Not exactly. The two of them are dealing with an... unexpected issue, but it's nothing that foolish monkey can't handle. Or at least I hope so. Just give them some time, and things will return to normal." Despite the reassurance, Yixuan couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"What do you mean by that? Did something happen to my Didi?"
"He's a little too intoxicated by the power of this realm, and that fool isn't helping matters at all. Your brother is wrestling with his dragon blood side right now. It's nothing serious, just a tad... awkward." If Li Lun of all people described the situation with his younger brother and Zhu Yan as awkward, then it must truly be something excruciatingly embarrassing for his poor Didi. Despite feeling a twinge of sympathy for him, he couldn't help but suppress a small smile.
"Ah, Didi... I hope you pull through this... whatever it is you're dealing with," Yichen murmured softly, closing his eyes as if pouring his feelings into the quiet, unspoken connection between brothers.
In that instant, Yixuan felt Li Lun's soft lips graze his, a gentle request for deeper connection. He granted it, parting his lips to let Li Lun explore freely. For a brief moment, Yixuan forgot everything—his mind consumed only by the man kissing him. It wasn't with their usual fiery passion, but rather with an intensity laced with devotion.
"Xiao Xuan... did you like my flowers? I could have used another attack to drive away the Black Calamity, but I wanted you to see me in bloom." Of course he did, Yixuan mused with a tender smile.
"They were breathtaking, just a bit larger than I had imagined for a pagoda tree. In the human world, they are much smaller." Noticing his fascination, Li Lun lightly brushed Yixuan's cheek with the petals of a summoned flower. Its deep red hue glowed warmly, soft to the touch, and carried a delicate, sweet aroma reminiscent of honey.
"I am no ordinary tree, Xuan," Li Lun spoke softly. "I am a demon tree, able to change forms at will. For you, my flowers can bloom in any manner you desire—big or small, vibrant or subtle. When they bloom for you, their petals might even resemble the cosmos itself." And as if to prove his claim, the red blossoms shifted in form, color and pattern to match his words, leaving Yixuan marveling once again.
"It's beautiful... so much lovely than the one you give me before." Yixuan murmured, gently taking the flower in his hand and breathing in its fragrance.
"Never as beautiful as you..." Those tender words, spoken so close, sent his heart into a flurry.
How could he not feel his heart melt, how could he stop the warmth from rushing to his cheeks, or resist pulling him closer for a kiss filled with unrestrained happiness? Needless to say, his little brother would have to fend for himself this time. It wasn't that he couldn't, since Zhu Yan was madly in love with him. In the end, Yixuan was sure that Yichen would always win over him.
Elsewhere on the lake, Wen Xiao was enjoying herself in her own way, giggling at the thought of Yichen's overwhelming embarrassment. She did feel a little sorry for him, but she couldn't help finding it adorable. They were just so endearing when behaving like children experiencing their first crush—something that, in Yichen's case, was entirely true.
"You're enjoying this far too much, Xiao Xi," Sijing remarked, and Wen Xiao let out another giggle.
"They're just so cute like that. I can't help myself. Eventually, Xiao Zhuo will figure out how to turn the tables and embarrass Zhu Yan instead. But that's for later. Right now, I just want to savor this little moment after such a battle with a vicious power. The Black Calamity isn't merely a demon—it's a terrifying force. And your teamwork with Xiao Zhuo? It was spot on! I really think we should keep teaming up like that for greater impact." Sijing couldn't agree more. Each of them held immense strength individually, but together, they were limitless.
"That's an effective strategy and provides us with plenty of scope to build on. The Zhu Yan and Li Lun combination was incredible as well, and I'm confident they're capable of achieving far more than we have seen." After all they knew each other for so long.
"Absolutely, I can already picture more of that as we journey toward the Crystal Valley. No matter the obstacles we encounter, I firmly believe we will achieve our goal and find Bing Yi. As for how this story unfolds... well, that's an unwritten chapter. It doesn't mean we're destined to fail. Rather, our decisions could shape the outcome, and Zhu Yan is a wild card who could change everything. Regardless, we must remain steadfast and push forward, even when victory seems out of reach. It's never too late until the last of us falls," though she holds onto the belief that they will never fall.
"Well say, you honor your ancestral blood just like the rest of us. I have no doubt they'll come to our aid if we need them. Now, let's catch some rest, because tomorrow might bring its share of battles and dangers." Sijing tenderly draped one blanket over Wen Xiao, shielding her from the night's chill, and that simple act warmed Wen Xiao's heart like a sun.
"How about some goodnight kisses, Xiao Jin?" she asked with a playful grin.
"Of course, Xiao Xiao." And without a moment's hesitation, Wen Xiao leaned in to fulfill that sweet request.
AN: Since the chapter was getting too long, I decided to cut it, so expect more fluff in the next, before more chaos hit the fan. 😂 I hope it was good, see you in the next one. Please take care.