Wen Xiao stood in the aisle of her local supermarket, her cart barely filled with items she'd picked out on a whim, mainly noodles, soy milk, dumplings, and fresh vegetables that would probably wilt before she could cook them, given that she spent more time at the office than at home. She reached for a cup of ramen when her phone vibrated loudly in her pocket. The sound reminded her of the person calling, Captain Pei Sijing, whom she'd been in love with for almost the entire five years she'd known her.
A soft smile graced her beautiful face as she pulled out her phone, and Captain Pei Sijing's name flashed on the screen with a red heart next to her name. Wen Xiao's heart races as it always does when she receives a call from her. Through all those years, and more so as they had become intimate, that feeling had never changed, but always wanting more. She answers her call, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation.
"Sijing... What a surprise! Do you want to come home and stay with me tonight? I'm at the supermarket near the office, and if you say yes, I'll make your favorite dishes and have a well deserved romantic dinner for just the two of us." Wen Xiao said, at first pleased that perhaps this weekend they could spend time together, as it had been a while since they'd shared quality time together, completely unrelated to work. However, she soon became aware of the loud noise on the other end of the call, which told her that Captain Pei Sijing had her police sirens on, meaning she was rushing to get somewhere.
"Wen Xiao! You need to get back to the office right now!" Pei's voice echoed over the line, urgent and tense, making Wen Xiao's heart clench at her beloved's words. A chilling fear coursed through her as if a ghost had passed through her, leaving her trembling with dread.
"What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it Xiao Zhuo?" She asked, leaving her cart in a corner where it wouldn't be in anyone's way, and started to walk toward the exit, so hurriedly that a few customers looked at her, some with disapproval and others with sympathy, as in the chaotic days in which they live, many calls were made carrying bad news all over the country.
"Zhuo Yichen fainted while we were discussing a new case I got him. I didn't expect him to have a vision out of the blue... I was just explaining things to him when he just told me he got a vision, then he said he was about to faint... this is serious, and I don't know how bad he is. I'm driving there right now, but since you're still nearby, please go check on him." Wen's heart sank as she recalled Zhuo's peculiar gifts, his clairvoyance often seemed like a double-edged sword, revealing truths that were needed but always at a price.
"What did he see? Did he tell you?" She asked as she hurriedly left the supermarket and entered the parking lot, gazing at the reddish sunset she'd missed earlier because she'd been in a store without windows.
The beautiful, yet eerie, red sky between the clouds always felt like a sort of heavenly warning to people to stay home. Yichen especially hated reddish sunsets, saying they were charged with dark energy that unsettled him. Thus, she'd gotten into the habit of calling out to him whenever she saw them. On that one occasion, she'd missed it by pure chance, or perhaps by some other force of fate, over which she had no control.
"Wen Xiao... it was about my brother. He did something stupid, probably to try to prove once again something that isn't necessary. I love him just the way he is, weak or strong, it doesn't matter to me, but he... he's missing in an abandoned mansion in a cursed forest outside Tiandu City, on an isolated mountain." Pei replied seriously, and Wen Xiao grabbed her car keys, opened the door, and put the call on speakerphone.
"That idiot... how much will it take him to get your sacrifices? Maybe you just have to tie him up and tell him straight up that his weakness doesn't bother you."
"Wen Xiao... Yichen said there was a high-level demon near where he was before he fainted... I'm afraid that he..."
"Hold off on that thought, Sijing. I truly believe he'll pull through. Sure, he's pushed himself too hard and is feeling it, but he's tough and won't give up. He's young and a bit rebellious, but we'll bring him back. Just drive safely; I know you can get a bit speedy in a crisis. I'll look after Yichen, and once he's back on his feet, we'll track down your brother. Everything's going to be okay, I promise." Wen Xiao said as she fired up the engine and sped out of the parking lot, racing back to her office, doing precisely what she had just warned her lover not to do.
As she navigated the poorly illuminated streets, her mind whirled in a frenzied mix of anxiety and frustration. A powerful demon trapped in an abandoned mansion? What kind of mess had Pei Siheng gotten himself into this time? And Yichen... how much had he drained his strength while facing a formidable demon, capable of ending his life from afar, if their bond was completely formed?
When she finally arrived at the office, her heart was pounding, gripped by fear and worry for her best friend. Wen Xiao opened the door, breathless and wide-eyed. Normally, the familiar sight of their shared workspace offered comfort; it was their sanctuary. But tonight, the atmosphere felt heavy and suffocating. Papers were scattered across Yichen's desk, the usual mess of notes and files. However, this time, the frustrated young man wasn't there trying to convince her to take care of his paperwork. Instead, he lay slumped over the desk, motionless and silent, with a trace of blood at the corner of his lips that almost made her scream.
"Yichen!" She burst inside the office, her voice cutting through the silence, but he didn't respond. A chill ran down her spine as she got closer to his desk, finding him slumped over, pale and unconscious. Panic surged as she knelt next to him, pushing his hair back to check for a fever and feeling for a pulse at his neck. Relief flooded her when she found his skin cool and his breathing steady, though shallow. At least he was alive, and that was what really mattered.
"Yichen!" She shook him gently at first, then more insistently when there was no response.
"Wake up!" His eyelids fluttered open slowly, confusion clouded his gaze before recognition set in.
"Wen Xiao?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. It took Yichen a moment to realize what had happened.
He felt like he'd been hit by a hammer, and Wen Xiao stared at him with pure fear. Usually, she was tough when it came to ghost hunting, but at that moment, she looked panicked, her eyes wide and watery, her gorgeous face full of worry. It upset him to see her like this because he couldn't help her feel better. Even with all his gifts, he just didn't know how to comfort others the same way she did. He cared deeply, but finding the right words was a struggle for him.
"Idiot! You scared the hell out of me! What happened? Is it true you saw a high-level demon? Are you crazy? You should have pulled out before something like that got a hold on you and hurt you!" Wen Xiao's despair was palpable, and Yichen understood it well, but she also had to know that there were many things he couldn't control. Especially when they arose suddenly, when he least expected them.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, Wen Xiao, but this caught me by surprise too. I had a vision I didn't seek out, but it gives me a clear idea of what we're up against. We need to get the whole team together fast, because Pei Siheng is in serious trouble this time. If we don't move quickly, he might not make it. Call everyone and ask them to prepare for a long trip to the mountains, and as soon as they're ready, we'll set off." Yichen wasn't in any condition to go home alone. He still felt weak and dizzy, so Wen Xiao immediately took out her phone and made the call that Yichen dreaded, but which was unavoidable at that moment.
Stepping a little away from Yichen, who was still suffering the after-effects of his vision and couldn't stand on his own, she waited for the person on the other end to answer, which didn't take long. Only four rings, and she could almost hear him sigh before he spoke.
"What kind of trouble has my cousin gotten himself into now?" He asked immediately, and Wen Xiao chuckled, amused that Yichen's cousin always seemed to know what was going on before he was even told. His instincts were always so sharp.
"I'm afraid this time he's gotten himself involved in a rescue mission that's far beyond his capabilities..."
"Wait, Wen Xiao, who are you talking to?" Yichen interrupted, fearing it wasn't one of his team members, but someone close enough to get involved by default if his father found out.
"Who else? Yun Guang, your dear cousin who's going to help me take care of you for a bit while I organize this emergency meeting," Wen Xiao replied, and then she heard two men talking at once.
"What do you mean, a rescue mission beyond his capabilities?" Yun Guang asked.
"Oh, come on. There's no need for him to come, I can handle this on my own." Yichen argued, which made Wen Xiao roll her eyes.
"Of course he has to come pick you up, because you can't even stand, much less walk or drive. And Yun Guang, Yichen just had a very dangerous vision. He fainted in the office where we are right now, which scared me terribly, so come and make sure he's out of danger. Also, I should warn you that he's about to go hunt a high-level demon. A mighty one, that almost got him for real." She told him, and Yun Guang was already moving to grab his car keys. He should have known something bad was going to happen, since the red sky was always a cause for concern.
"Wen Xiao! Yun Guang, Ge, you really don't need to come. I'm alright," Yichen insisted, and Yun Guang heard him loud and clear, but he knew how stubborn his cousin could be. He also understood when it was time to step in and help, even if Yichen didn't want it.
"I'm on my way... make sure Xiao Chen doesn't leave, or his mother and uncle will find out about this," he said before hanging up. Wen Xiao stifled a laugh and looked at Yichen with a smirk.
"He's on his way, so just relax while I handle this situation." Although it was true that he wasn't feeling well, calling Yun Guang was overkill.
"You're such a traitor. If mother finds out about this, she'll make him stay glued to me for the rest of my life." Yichen grumbled, dropping his aching head onto the desk.
His cousin was special in the Zhuo family, having been born with light blue hair and eyes. This was very rare, though not entirely unheard of, as Yichen's eyes were dark blue and would take on that same lighter shade when he lost control. The monks from the Kunlun Mountains told his family elders, that Yun Guang was the reincarnation of a divine spirit, but they couldn't figure out which one.
They could only tell that his name should be Zhuo Yun Guang, as it was written in his destiny, much like his own story, where the monks suggested to his parents to name him Yichen. But unlike Yun Guang, they were unable to ascertain whether he was also the reincarnation of a god or not, as his destiny could not be deciphered.
In many ways, his cousin was remarkable. He was the protector of the Zhuo family and responsible for their safety. Yet, even with such exceptional talent, seemingly bestowed by the heavens, Yichen knew he could surpass him if he truly exerted himself. That said, the one time he did so unintentionally, during training when he was ten, it nearly cost him his life, leaving him hospitalized for a week. Following that incident, his father assigned Yun Guang as his personal bodyguard for three full years before finally letting him off the hook. This was precisely the reason why Yichen was determined not to be "babysat" again.
Before Yichen even realized it, Yun Guang showed up while he and Wen Xiao were calling the rest of the team to inform them about Pei Siheng's situation. As soon as Yun Guang entered the office, his cousin snatched his phone, checked his pulse to make sure he was alright, and after a brief conversation with Wen Xiao—despite Yichen's constant protests—took him back to his apartment to pack everything he needed. Meanwhile, Yun Guang prepared dinner for them to eat before they headed out to the car with their gear.
True to her words, Wen Xiao quickly organized the trip to the mountains. It was truly impressive how easily she booked the accommodations and prepared the camping equipment for the two vans they would be using. Once everything was ready, Yichen and Yun Guang headed to their usual meeting point, where they met up with the rest of the team, including Pei Sijing, before setting off for the countryside outside Tiandu City.
"So, is there really a demon sealed inside that abandoned mansion, Xiao Zhuo Ge? Was it scary? You know, like the ones from the old stories of ancient times, when they roamed freely in the human world. We've never encountered a real demon before, I'm so curious." The one speaking from the back seat was Bai Jiu, their healer, even though he was only twenty years old.
"Xiao Jiu, don't get too pumped about facing real demons. My grandpa shared some chilling tales, about when humans were just prey for demons, and trust me, they weren't fun to hear." Next, there was Ying Lei, a young monk from Mount Kunlun, in name only, because he had, a not-so-secret crush on the younger guy beside him, who was three years his junior.
"Like those spooky stories, meant to scare children, would faze me. I'm a skilled ghost hunter; I've faced plenty of nightmares and seen my fair share of horrors. Don't be silly, Ying Lei." Bai Jiu teased him, while Yun Guang, driving, and Yichen, in the passenger seat, exchanged amused glances in the rearview mirror.
"I see you two are as lively as ever. I have to admit, I miss these youthful antics. Let me tell you, ghost hunting with the elders is boring." Yun Guang complained, and Yichen chuckled before pretending he hadn't when Yun Guang gave him a reproachful look.
"Xiao Chen, don't get too excited about my dull destiny. One day, you might find yourself in my shoes, carrying the weight of being the strongest in the Zhuo family, which you actually are. Your saving grace so far? You faint every time you push yourself too hard. But hey, who knows? Maybe one day your body will become strong enough to handle all that spiritual power. Then I can relax and enjoy a simple ghost-hunting vacation with your crew!" Just the thought of facing those elders from the Zhuo family branches makes him shudder.
At the back, both Bai Jui and Ying Lei chuckled softly, while Yun Guang shot them a mischievous wink through the mirror. This prompted Yichen to mutter the word traitors under his breath, making them laugh even harder.
"Come on, don't be mad at them and tell us all the details of what happened at the office. I didn't press you before because you were busy planning this with Wen Xiao, but I'd like you to give me some explanations, even though the girls are in the car behind us." Then, of course, all attention turned to him, and Yichen sighed as he glanced in the side mirror, at Pei Sijing's van trailing closely behind them.
"To be honest, I'm not even sure what happened. One second I was talking to Sijing about her brother's disappearance in a rural town, and the next, this demon dragged me into a vision. It caught me off guard, so I didn't absorb as much information as I would have under other circumstances. But I can assure you that he is a very powerful demon, and he had Pei Siheng trapped there with him. He asked me to find him and said he would keep Siheng alive until then." Yichen closed his eyes for a moment, trying to recall the man's face more clearly.
Everything unfolded in a blur, but one thing stood out. This demon wasn't ugly at all, as Bai Jiu assumed. In fact, he was pretty handsome by anyone's standards. With long hair, dark caramel eyes, heart-shaped lips, a straight nose, and fair skin. He looked like he stepped straight out of ancient China in his elegant hanfu, even though they live in a tech-savvy world now. He seemed pale, yet still striking, and despite the heavy aura of power radiating from him, there was no hint of malice. He could not feel any threat coming from him.
"That's strange. If he's as powerful as you say, why is he sealed away? Besides, it's even stranger that he wants you to find him. For what purpose, exactly? Sure, maybe he sensed your unusually strong spiritual power, but that will be completely useless to him if you can't use it. From what I can tell, it seems he's using Pei Siheng as bait, more than anything else." Yun Guang suggested, and in a way that was true.
"That he might be drawing me in for some unknown reason, yes, that's entirely possible. We know nothing about this demon, and it's been a long time since we've faced one, and certainly not one so powerful. So who knows what his intentions are? Still, one thing stands out to me—call it naive if you want—but I sensed no malice when he pulled me into the vision. I felt his power, knew he was sealed, saw Pei Siheng inside the mansion, yet this demon showed no intent to harm me." At this, Yun Guang glanced at Yichen for a second, as if trying to decipher something.
"What? We have a friendly, powerful demon inviting us to his house? That's a first..." Ying Lei remarked.
"Xiao Zhuo Ge, are you sure about that? Demons can be cunning." Bai Jiu was a healer, but he had no illusions that sealed demons were honest.
"Yeah, Xiao Jiu, I'm convinced this demon wants me around, but no matter what his true intentions are, it's definitely not to hurt me, at least not for now. Honestly, we should all be hoping that's true, because that might be the only thing currently keeping Pei Siheng alive, and that's what we really need." Yichen said, and Yun Guang nodded in agreement.
"Eventually, we're going to get to the bottom of this, and if we can bring that silly kid back to his sister, I won't mind having a friendly demon around. In fact, I'd even share a bottle of wine with him if he turns out to be a good ally." He proposed, and Yichen smiled, knowing that Yun Guang trust his gut feelings and instincts, just as he always had.
They drove for hours on the dark roads and empty streets outside Tiandu City. The countryside carried a unique, unsettling aura, with some flickering lights and a persistent chill that crept under the skin. It wasn't just the darkness or cold that gave you the creeps; it was the whole vibe of the place, where spirits seemed to linger and play tricks on the mind.
Even though they were all seasoned ghost hunters, stepping out of the streets and into the cozy rooms they booked felt like a huge relief after hours of driving. Yichen shared a room with Yun Guang, who was, once again, his personal guardian. This arrangement was part of the deal Yichen made to keep his mom and the elders in the dark about his true mission. Yun Guang, as the family's protector, needed a solid reason to join Yichen's team without spilling the beans about his upcoming 'date' with a powerful demon.
So when Yun Guang made the call, he simply told them that Pei Sijing's brother had gone missing in the mountains and highlighted the urgency of finding him. The Zhuo clan, knowing about Pei Sijing's work with their agency, quickly agreed and offered their prayers for Pei Siheng's safe return. As long as Yun Guang kept the sensitive info to himself, Yichen could lead the search without worrying about being told to step back if the demon presence was exposed.
That night, he crashed onto his bed and fell asleep right away. Not long after, to his astonishment, he was again face to face with the demon who had previously urged him to seek him out. This time, the demon found his way into Yichen's dream, beneath that unsettling reddish sky he hated. A gentle breeze floated through the air, but the setting sun blazed fiercely, prompting Yichen to shield his eyes with his hand to block the piercing light. For a magical moment, they locked eyes, lost in each other's gaze.
"Zhuo Yichen..." The demon whisper to him, and it echoed softly in his ears, as if whispered by the wind itself.
"Who are you? How do you know me?" Yichen questioned in return, oddly at ease in the demon's presence, feeling safe enough to voice his curiosity. The demon offered him a charming smile, causing Yichen's heart to flutter unexpectedly.
"I am Zhu Yan, a great demon from the Wilderness. As for how I know you... we crossed paths in one of your past lives."
AN: Yep, it had been a while, but I'm focusing on finishing The Convergence, but this story is still alive. Since I came to like Yun Guang so much in the Convergence, I bring him to life here too. Thanks for reading, and take care.