A/N: This is another chapter that had to be split up into two segments~ The continuing segment will be up along with this one.
∘―o―∘
A week after Qinghe's and Wei Xiang's wedding in the heavenly realm, they had a smaller wedding in the Heavenly Peak Sect.
But unlike before, the arrangements for the wedding this time were shared between Qinghe's friends and acquaintances across the various sects, even including people from the mortal world like Yan Lin and his family, the famed merchant Master Kai, or the emperor of the Xing Long Empire Ping Nian. After all, a lot of people looked up to, felt favorably towards, or owed Qinghe, and they were all eager to show him their regard and do their part for him. On top of that, there were just as many people pitching in for Wei Xiang's sake, consisting of both the ones he saved in the line of duty and his fellow officers from the Order of Sentinels.
As a result of everyone's combined efforts, the wedding in the sect was just as grand an affair as it had been in the Heavenly Palace's throne room. The twins, along with Chen Xiande, Jing Shui, Wu Xiao, and Hei NingYu, looked after the small things in the background to let the couple have fun.
Meanwhile, Zhen YiLan was so happy to see his beloved second disciple finally marrying that he kept crying throughout the ceremony, with Fu Cangyun, the sect master of the Lightning Sky Sect, constantly yet gently chiding him for shedding tears during such a joyous occasion.
After the wedding, Qinghe and Wei Xiang were forcibly given a month of freedom from work by their friends, masters, and even the heavenly court, and sent out to celebrate their honeymoon. The couple happily used this to travel both the mortal and heavenly realms together, seeing new sights, tasting new food, meeting new people, and experiencing new things. They even boarded a ship captained by the legendary Queen of the Seas Hai Liang and traveled through the various islands, each with its own unique culture, scattered in the oceans surrounding the main continent.
Sometimes, they took small breaks from their adventurous travels to retire to the peaceful and intimate confines of the cave Qinghe had prepared for Wei Xiang. They would romp around passionately in the plushy padded nest and soak in the small waterfall-fed pool at the side, spending their time in leisure and comfort.
One time, after realizing that Qinghe still kept blushing shyly whenever he was called 'husband' despite having been married for weeks already, Wei Xiang took it into his own hands to accustom his beloved to it. And so, Wei Xiang pressed Qinghe down and did one shameless thing after another to him, all the while calling him husband again and again in various tones and volumes. It got to the point where Qinghe didn't know if he was blushing due to his beloved's sensual torments or his husky voice addressing him in such a way.
Needless to say that by the end of it, Qinghe became fully used to being called 'husband'. But Wei Xiang pulling such an 'educational' stunt on him made Qinghe enthusiastically exact his own retribution from his beloved on the bed, something which Wei Xiang ended up immensely enjoying.
On the last day of their honeymoon, Qinghe and Wei Xiang left their cave and headed back to the mortal realm to meet up with Jing Shui, Wu Xiao, Chen Xiande, and Hei NingYu to make up for time spent apart.
Along with that, this excursion was also meant to be their group's way of belatedly celebrating Qinghe's and Wei Xiang's wedding, Jing Shui and Wu Xiao getting married by the laws of the Baolin Tribe, and Chen Xiande being formally instated as Zhen YiLan's head disciple and the future sect master of the Heavenly Peak Sect. Feeling left out, Hei NingYu added that it was also celebration for him gaining Feng Chunyi and Xie Xingye, those like-minded comrades, as his friends. But thinking of how troublesome that trio of old demonic cultivators had ended up becoming, the others kept their faces blank and made no comment.
After a bit more chatter, they had decided to meet up again on the last day of Qinghe's and Wei Xiang's honeymoon. Jing Shui would then lead them to a certain pocket dimension that technically belonged to the Silver Moon Sect, but was maintained and lent out to paying customers to use as a romantic retreat by the Golden Sun Sect, with a share of the profits being given to the Silver Moon Sect. Jing Shui and Wu Xiao had assured them that they would reserve the entire pocket dimension for the purpose of their visit on that day.
Now, on the last day of their honeymoon, Qinghe and Wei Xiang walked side by side through a narrow warren of streets. Though there were many routes to the meeting place, the couple chose to use the shortest path, which also happened to lead through a small street packed on either side with lushly bedecked brothels.
The moment the pair entered the red-light district, they were accosted by numerous beauties trying to drag them back to their respective brothels. Some of the prostitutes were subtle in their invitations, but others were exceedingly shameless in their attempts at seduction.
The young man currently heading towards the couple was one such shameless person.
Swinging his slim hips, he sashayed out of his establishment after spotting the handsome pair. His assessing gaze moved between Qinghe and Wei Xiang before locking onto the latter. Having chosen his target, he fluttered his thick eyelashes at Wei Xiang while a sultry smile spread on his shiny red lips. As he began leisurely making his way towards them, his clothing swung in a practiced rhythm. His robes were obviously made of luxurious material, but they were thin in a way that accentuated every provocative curve on his body, something that the young man used to full effect as he walked towards his mark.
Seeing his approach and how his gaze was fixed on his husband, Qinghe sighed. "Not another one… Xiang, why do you attract so many of them? The number of people who've approached you till now is definitely more than the ones who approached me."
Wei Xiang showed a wry smile. "It can't be helped, love. Of us both, you seem more aloof and untouchable. I'm sure that they have decided that in comparison, I am likely to be an easier target."
Qinghe chuckled. That indeed seemed plausible. But no matter how many people swarmed over his beloved, Qinghe was sure that his Xiang would only ever look at him, so there was no point in being sullen or jealous. He actually felt a little amused at how Wei Xiang had to struggle each time to successfully push them away while retaining his ability to be polite.
By now, the young man had already reached them. Without any preamble, he directly pressed himself to Wei Xiang's side and proclaimed with dewy eyes, "Young Master, won't you come in. This one wishes to service you tonight." His fingers drew little shapes where they rested delicately on Wei Xiang's chest, his dewy eyes fixed intently on Wei Xiang's face.
Wei Xiang suppressed a sigh. Since he knew that rather than actually pursuing him, this young man was only doing his job of inviting customers to his brothel, he decided not to be harsh and said simply, "I will have to decline."
The young man blinked coquettishly. Pressing closer, he whispered in a saccharine sweet voice full of enticement, "Please, won't you reconsider? My hole clenches in delight at the thought of holding you inside~" His dainty hand slipped down provocatively to Wei Xiang's lower belly, but he thankfully knew not to go too far.
Wei Xiang's lips twitched in disbelief while Qinghe heroically tried to tamp down on his laughter. This young man was really too bold!
Realizing that he had to be firmer, Wei Xiang pulled away that groping hand and gently pushed the young man away. "I'm really not interested." He would've added that he was happily married, but Wei Xiang knew that even he wasn't, he would not have accepted this young man's invitation.
The young man pouted at the clear rejection, but didn't push any further. Giving Wei Xiang one last regretful look, he swayed his hips and strode away while muttering under his breath, "Strange, that line works for me almost every time. He must already be together with that icy-faced beauty then. Tch, what a pity."
Though his voice was very low, Qinghe and Wei Xiang still heard him. Wei Xiang shook his head amusedly and pulled Qinghe along to start walking again. Qinghe, however, pondered seriously. That young man had said that such words usually worked on people. But seeing how unmoved Wei Xiang had been, Qinghe didn't understand what was different. Was it because Wei Xiang already had him? Or did his beloved have some mystical, natural barrier against that kind of raunchy talk? Qinghe wanted to sigh. He realized that this was one of things that was supposed to be common sense, but try as he might, he couldn't comprehend it.
Seeing Qinghe's expression as if he was wrestling with some big conundrum, Wei Xiang smiled and asked, "What is it, love?"
Qinghe blinked at Wei Xiang and spilled his thoughts, "Xiang, do the kinds of words that young man used not work on you at all?"
Wei Xiang chuckled. "When it comes to things like that, it all depends on who is speaking them and who it is spoken to. If it's said to me by someone I'm not interested in, I naturally won't have any specific reaction. But on the other hand, if someone I love romantically whispers that sort of dirty talk… Well, I'm sure things are bound to get passionate after that."
Qinghe's eyes narrowed as a sly smile slowly spread over his lips.
As a clueless Wei Xiang kept walking, he suddenly felt Qinghe's warm body pressing against his side, a familiar arm pulling him close by the waist while his beloved's palm cupped his cheek. Wei Xiang's steps slowed with surprise.
Qinghe rose up on his toes and leaned into Wei Xiang, his voice breathy as he whispered into his husband's ear, "Xiang… my hole clenches in delight at the thought of holding you inside. So won't you fill me up?"
Wei Xiang almost tripped, his eyes flashing gold with surprise. Lust surged inside him, brought on by those crude words whispered in his little husband's refined voice gone low and husky while warm breath filled with the scent of mint brushed over his ear and cheek.
Clenching his hands into fists to prevent them from grabbing his mischievous little lover, Wei Xiang fought for control. He took in several deep breaths and finally felt his desire abate somewhat. Opening his clenched jaws, Wei Xiang finally managed to get out, "Qinghe, you little imp."
Qinghe laughed delightedly, his face lit up with playful mirth. In a smug tone, he observed, "So it only works on you when I say it!"
As he looked at his happily chortling husband, Wei Xiang felt his self-control giving way to need. He turned to wrap an arm around Qinghe's shoulder, the other hand cupping the back of his beloved's head to pull his face closer. Seeing Wei Xiang's lips bearing down for a kiss, Qinghe instinctively opened his mouth as well. As their lips met, Qinghe let out a breathless laugh full of satisfaction. His seduction had succeeded!
Wei Xiang eagerly swallowed his husband's laughter and his warm breaths. His tongue pushed into Qinghe's hot mouth, plunging in deep to savor every moist nook and cranny of the soft tissue. Meanwhile, Qinghe reveled in his beloved's hunger while exploring and enjoying his husband's mouth to his heart's content. Their figures pressed together, lost in wild desire that so abruptly sparked into bright flame.
Suddenly, shrill whistles and enthusiastic shouts of encouragement sounded from either side of the street, breaking through the bubble of intense passion around the couple. Qinghe and Wei Xiang slowly leaned back from the kiss and look around. The prostitutes from the brothels had all come out, intently watching the show put on by the pair while cheering them on loudly.
One of the women sitting outside her shop munched carefreely on her bowl of peanuts and clapped. "Two beautiful men giving us such a wonderful show, this sister is satisfied!"
Laughter sounded as the surrounding prostitutes teased her, "Sister Hong is as shameless as always!"
Someone else jumped in, "But she's right. They really are two fine male specimens ah!"
"Yes, yes, truly a sight to admire! Brother Jian, move over and let me also watch."
"How many times a day do we put up shows for others," Brother Jian said with a grin. "It's refreshing to be entertained by such beautiful scenery for once! Sister Hong, give me some of those peanuts too!"
Hearing their exuberant chatter, Qinghe's already flushed face turned redder. But his lips still curved upward in a shy arc. Wei Xiang brushed a fingertip over those flushed cheeks and laughed. "Is the naughty little imp finally feeling embarrassed?"
Qinghe narrowed his eyes, immediately forgetting about the audience. He quickly hooked an arm around his smirking husband's neck and pulling him back down to resume their kiss. Wei Xiang happily cooperated, and their tongues soon entangled again.
A sudden wave of loud hoots and sharp whistling drowned the couple from either side as they pressed closer. Their lips and tongues moved together heatedly in an evocative dance expressing their intense passion. Their hands roved over each other's clothed bodies, conveying their deep and desperate hunger for each other. The prostitutes who had just been trying to seduce them all watched the sight with wide smiles while cheering for them to show them more.
Backlit by the bright light of day, Qinghe's and Wei Xiang's silhouettes swayed together, seeming as if they'd merged into one.
...
The meeting spot where the three couples were to gather at was a spacious terrace of white marble thrusting out of the side of a white stone mountain. The air here was fresh and cold with a mild bite. A nearby mountain face blocked most of the whistling wind and allowed the space to remain tranquil. An intricate railing carved out of white marble guarded the edge of the semicircular terrace. The marble flooring left square-shaped gaps in evenly-spaced rows to allow large emerald-leafed trees to grow out of the ground below.
Perched high above on the mountain face, the wide terrace overlooked a magnificent view of snow-covered mountain ranges rising like waves, spreading all the way to the horizon. As the late afternoon sun slowly slid down the sky, the sides of the mountain ranges facing it glowed a light gold, while the sides facing away were shrouded in shadows and took on a blue tint. Soft mist flowed between the mountains, looking like gently shimmering streams of silver from above, the fading sunlight sprinkling gold sparkles here and there.
Having arrived earlier, Chen Xiande and Hei NingYu stood near one of the trees growing out of the white terrace, with Hei NingYu bonelessly leaning against the tree trunk while Chen Xiande stood nearby. His posture was straight and his entire countenance emitted impatience as he tapped a foot in a quick rhythm. Just as Chen Xiande was muttering about how his junior brother was keeping him waiting yet again, Qinghe and Wei Xiang stepped off the mountain path and strode over to the terrace.
"I'm sorry for the delay, Senior Brother," Qinghe apologized to Chen Xiande with an amused smile once he neared them, then turned to greet Hei NingYu. "I hope you're well, Sect Leader Hei."
Wei Xiang simply gave them both a nod and spoke, "It seems we're only missing one more pair before we can set off."
Frowning, Chen Xiande looked at Qinghe's reddened lips and flushed face with faint worry before asking, "Junior Brother, did you just eat something very spicy? Have you taken enough water yet?"
Qinghe blinked at him confusedly. "…No, I didn't eat anything. Senior Brother, why do you ask that?"
Chen Xiande tilted his head. "Your face seems red and your mouth looks swollen."
Realizing what he meant, Qinghe coughed, the color in his face deepening. Wei Xiang and Hei NingYu chuckled. It seemed that despite he himself having a lover for so long, when Chen Xiande saw this appearance of Qinghe's, his mind automatically refused to consider the more obvious explanation. Did his junior brother really look that innocent and inexperienced in his mind?
"Little Sheep, why don't you come here and let me show you how your junior brother came to look like that~" Hei NingYu enticed with gleaming eyes.
Chen Xiande looked puzzled even as he trustingly stepped towards Hei NingYu. Encircling his waist with an arm, Hei NingYu pulled him close and dipped his head to capture Chen Xiande's lips. After the initial moment of surprise, Chen Xiande pushed his questions to the back of his mind and wholeheartedly threw himself into the kiss. He used his body to press Hei NingYu more firmly against the tree, inserting a leg between his lover's knees while his hands roved over Hei NingYu's sides and hips. Hei NingYu obediently widened his legs with a happy smile and let his little sheep have his wicked way with him. Their tongues delved even deeper into each other's mouths and the couple quickly lost themselves in the kiss.
Watching the passionately smooching pair, Qinghe raised an eyebrow.
Wei Xiang smirked and looked at his husband. "Love, do you want to follow your senior brother's example?"
Qinghe's eyes darkened, his lips pulling up in a smile. "Yes, we should faithfully learn from our elders, after all."
And so, another couple joined their lips, merrily sucking, caressing, and licking each other with their mouths. Uncaring of the view they presented, the two pairs made out with gusto.
This was the scene Jing Shui and Wu Xiao were greeted with when they arrived a few minutes later.
Spotting them, Qinghe disengaged from Wei Xiang and licked his lips. Turning to Jing Shui and Wu Xiao, he smiled and greeted, "Brother Jing, Sect Master Wu, we were waiting for you. Thank you for arranging this excursion."
Wu Xiao waved it away. "There's no need for thanks. It's not like the both of us won't enjoy this outing as well. It's also for us to celebrate our marriage, after all."
Qinghe's smile widened as he admitted, "Yes, that's true." His gaze flicked to the long teardrop-shaped bluish-purple crystal hanging from Wu Xiao's ear. Wu Xiao had even pinned back his long silver locks at that side to show off the earring better. Seeing this, Qinghe's gaze warmed.
Meanwhile, Jing Shui had averted his face from all the canoodling going on with a mixture of both annoyance and embarrassment and muttered, "Kissing so openly in broad daylight…so shameless!"
By the tree, Chen Xiande and Hei NingYu had finally parted and were panting lightly to recover their breaths. Chen Xiande wiped his lips with the back of a hand and turned towards a blushing Jing Shui to advise kindly, "Brother Jing, this won't do. You should work on thickening your skin a little or you might pass by many pleasures in life."
Before Jing Shui could reply, Wu Xiao burst out, "I heartily object! If my Ah-Shui grew a thicker skin, then I won't get to have fun by embarrassing him and watch him blush cutely!"
Jing Shui's cheeks puffed up. He was just about to scold his beloved when Qinghe cut in. "But Sect Master Wu, you have to consider the benefits too. If Brother Jing were to grow a thicker skin, you would be able to partake in public displays of affection more frequently with full cooperation from your beloved. Isn't that so?"
Wu Xiao held his chin and seriously contemplated. "Hmm, that's also true. Both options are too tempting. I feel that more consideration is needed."
Having had enough, Jing Shui finally exploded, his cheeks blazing red flusteredly. "Enough, you all! Stop having such weird discussions about me!"
Qinghe and Chen Xiande suppressed their laughter, wondering if they'd teased their friend too much. Wu Xiao pouted and pressed closer to his Ah-Shui and tried to get him to help him choose between the options of Jing Shui thickening or not thickening his skin.
And so, as the couples held hands, showered each other with small signs of affections, and bickered energetically among themselves, they left the platform and set out towards their destination.
...
The path that had led the couples to the terrace was one that continued on to wrap around the entire mountain of white stone in a spiral. This path would end only at the very top of the mountain where the entrance to the pocket dimension was situated. But from partway onward, the space surrounding the mountaintop would be fractured by spatial fissures and cutting spiritual winds. To traverse it, there was a stable of specialized spiritual beasts installed just before the boundary of the volatile space. Jing Shui explained all this as the group slowly trekked their way up the mountain along the path.
The mountain of white stone was bare for the most part. Some places, however, seemed to have accumulated layers of dirt over the millennia, the soil having accrued enough to support the gradual formation of small forests, flowing streams, and flat plains of earth. The group was currently heading through one such forest.
The air here was filled with the scent of clean water and moist soil, underscored by a sharp, electric tang. Thick spiritual energy suffused the space, gathering into the small pockets on the ground, tree trunks, and branches to form strange clumps of clear crystals. Large loops of thick ropes that consisted of more gem-like crystals hung from the tree branches like crystalline garlands, tinkling pleasantly when the wind knocked them together. Low-leveled spiritual animals gathered around the crystals while small spiritual herbs grew around the ones on the ground as if drawn towards its presence unconsciously.
Near one such group of spiritual crystals, small butterflies one-third the size of a finger fluttered around energetically, their wings transparent with ragged edges and colored in mild shades of pink, yellow, green, and white. Clustered around the crystals were also tall herbs with greenish-blue stems and leaves, growing flowers that were hip-high and shaped like elongated, inverted cups. Each of the flowers' petals consisted of a strange, silvery-white, glowing substance that flowed upwards like thick and languid smoke, dissolving into the air. Along with them, there were also tall and thin tube-like plants that sprouted straight up from the ground, their color a pinkish-purple. They did not have any leaves, but instead bore thin stems hung with small and round pearl-like fruits.
The group looked around with interest at the unique flora and sparse fauna as they walked. With practiced effort, Jing Shui controlled himself from taking any of the spiritual beasts he saw to keep for his own. Every time he came this way for inspections before, he'd had to tuck his hands into his sleeves to curb his temptation. But this time, he held Wu Xiao's hand tightly, tethering himself to his beloved even as his eyes shone with a longing gleam whenever he spotted a particularly fascinating spiritual beast. Wu Xiao suppressed his amusement at this and silently held his Ah-Shui's hand tighter, talking and teasing him to divert his attention.
As they strolled along the path, they gradually started hearing the sound of flowing water, growing clearer as they continued forward. Qinghe's expression immediately brightened when he realized what it could mean. He quickly rushed off to see if the sound led to any water body he could dip into. Sure enough, a small, shallow stream of clean water ran nearby.
Suffused with massive amounts of spiritual energy, the waters of the stream looked like liquefied diamonds, exceedingly pure and clear as they sparkled brightly under the mild light. The edges of the stream were littered with clear stones the size of a fist and made of condensed spiritual energy. Light filtered through these crystals to cast silvery glimmers on the ground, waters, and vegetation around them. Adorning the bank while glinting like uncut yet polished gems, the stones added to the dazzle of the lustrous water ribbon that was the stream.
Eyes shining with anticipation and wonder at this sight, Qinghe happily went back and declared, "I found a stream suffused with spiritual energy. Let's all rest there a moment and take a bath to wash off the dust!"
The others amusedly agreed and they all headed to the stream bank together.
The stream was barely a dozen meters across. A scattering of little fishes swam in it like thin, finger-sized strips of silver. Cradled by a line of tall trees on either, the stream let out a cheerful, high-pitched burble as it flowed along.
After studying it, Qinghe nodded with satisfaction and immediately began undoing his belt, his gaze greedily fixed on the clean waters.
Hei NingYu and Wu Xiao simply shrugged and began disrobing as well. Chen Xiande blinked, hesitant, while Jing Shui clutched the lapels of his outer robe with wide eyes as if afraid someone would forcibly undress him.
Qinghe quickly finished shedding his clothes and freed his hair before wriggling his fingers in Wei Xiang's direction with a grin. "Xiang~ Do you want me to help you take it all off?"
Wei Xiang simply smiled and pulled his naked lover close. "Yes. Who else would I give that privilege to?" Though Wei Xiang wasn't all too used to baring his body to anyone other than his fellow officers, family, or his beloved, he was familiar enough with this group to put aside his reservations.
Having gained his husband's permission, Qinghe merrily set about removing Wei Xiang's clothes with familiarity.
In the meantime, as his slender white fingers slowly undid one layer after another, Wu Xiao casually smirked and turned towards his own lover while singsonging, "Ah-Shui~ Do you really have to objections to all these people seeing my delectable bare body?"
But rather than being entertained with his beloved's flushed face while he hurled stuttered admonishments at him as he'd expected, what instead greeted Wu Xiao was Jing Shui's uneasy and reluctant expression. Realizing that Chen Xiande had also not spoken anything for a while, Hei NingYu looked over as well and saw his lover's nervous look.
Wu Xiao and Hei NingYu just then realized that their respective beloveds were still standing fully-clothed.
"Ah-Shui?" Wu Xiao called confusedly.
Jing Shui's cheeks gained a pink tint as he stuttered, "A-Are we all…bathing together?" He'd never before shown his naked body to anyone other than Wu Xiao before! Even went he went on tasks with other disciples like that time when he and Qinghe had led a few juniors in the hidden realm, Jing Shui always set up dividers for privacy or simply took his bath alone at a later time. Suddenly faced with the prospect of baring his skin here, he felt too unprepared!
Chen Xiande had much the same problem. In his case, he had often been excluded from group assignments, and even when he wasn't, he never felt comfortable enough under the other's hostile or disparaging gazes to stay and bathe with them for too long. The concept of being naked and comfortable among a group of people was completely foreign to him.
Wu Xiao only had to take one look at their faces to understand that the unwillingness they felt was due to inexperience. Softening his voice, he said, "Well, if you both don't want to take a bath with us, that's fine as well. But since we've only reserved the pocket dimension till the end of tonight, and because it's already evening, it's better if we don't stay here for too long. Everyone bathing together is the fastest option if we want to have a relaxed splash in the waters."
Jing Shui frowned while Chen Xiande had a contemplative expression. His cheeks slowly heating with both embarrassment and nervousness, Chen Xiande haltingly began to undo his robes. Hei NingYu walked up to him with a smile and said, "Here, let me help you." With gentle hands, Hei NingYu helped his lover remove his clothes.
But even though Chen Xiande had silently assented, he still felt too self-conscious as his robes were being taken off. Sensing it, Hei NingYu struck up a conversation with Jing Shui to reassure his little sheep and make him feel less attention focused on him. "Disciple Jing, I understand that you might feel shy or averse to the thought of showing skin with us for the first time. But I want you to think carefully if there's any rational basis for you to miss out on this opportunity to feel closer to your friends. None of us will stare at you or make you uncomfortable. None of us will comment on your body or make indecent remarks. If even I with my scars can show my skin so freely, why shouldn't you? But if you truly don't feel comfortable, then of course, none of us will force you to disrobe."
Jing Shui blinked and turned to focus his gaze on Hei NingYu. He'd been embarrassedly trying to avert his eyes from the others' bodies, so he hadn't noticed the scars before. Seeing them now, Jing Shui's knowledge related to spiritual beasts kicked in and he pondered aloud, "Those scars look like they were caused by the claws and toxins of the terrestrial salamandrid beast. By the color intensity, spread of the scarring, and its permanence, it must have been left untreated for quite a while. More than a day at least, I'd wager. By the variety of the scar tissue pattern and coloration, it must have also been a direct injection of the toxin into the skin in very concentrated amounts by at least two different types of the beast. Considering how little known its cure is, Sect Leader Hei, it's a miracle you were able to find its antidote quick enough to save your life."
Chen Xiande's eyes widened. "Brother Jing, how do you know so much about these beasts?"
Jing Shui coughed at the open admiration in his voice and supplied, "I've read a lot on spiritual beasts, and I'm also a qualified beast trainer."
Chen Xiande blinked and digested this new information, his mind completely distracted from the fact that he was currently being unclothed.
Meanwhile, realizing how despite Hei NingYu having a reason to cover his body to hide the painful memories of getting those scars, he still carefreely exposed himself like this, Jing Shui sank deep into thought. After a few minutes, Jing Shui lowered his head and began to fiddle with the lapels of his robe. In a faint voice, he suddenly explained, "I-In the palace where I was raised…a prince showing skin to anyone was forbidden."
Hei NingYu smiled at the hesitant confession. "Well, you aren't in the palace anymore, are you, Disciple Jing?"
"He's right," Wu Xiao joined in with a nod. He cupped his beloved's cheek and bent to press a tender kiss to the top of his head. "And Ah-Shui, having a healthy respect and appreciation for your body is nothing to be ashamed of. You can flaunt it or hide it away. In the end, what you do with it is your choice, and you shouldn't feel that you're somehow less because of it."
Jing Shui hesitated for a moment more before nodding. He lifted his head and saw that Qinghe and Wei Xiang were already happily frolicking in the waters carefreely. The Brother Feng he'd grown to admire appeared completely at ease with being naked, enjoying his time with his beloved cheerfully.
Seeming to sense his gaze, Qinghe turned to look at him and grinned. "Brother Jing, are you not going to join us? If you take too much time, you won't be able to play in the water anymore!"
After a moment, Jing Shui smiled back at him. "I…I'll be there in a moment."
Qinghe nodded and said, "Hurry up then!" Turning back to his husband, he continued playing in the water, splashing it onto Wei Xiang with vigor and laughingly trying to escape when he was retaliated against.
Letting out a breath, Jing Shui steeled himself and began taking off his belt and robes with quick fingers. Wu Xiao grinned happily at how his beloved had successfully passed another hurdle. He knew that his Ah-Shui might still have more hurdles in front of him that had remained unknotted till now, but Wu Xiao also knew that as they continued to live their lives the way they were doing now, Jing Shui would eventually surmount it all, becoming completely free from his past and coming out stronger for it.
At the side, Hei NingYu led an anxious and naked Chen Xiande into the water. Qinghe happily roped them into his game of splashing water and quickly had Hei NingYu chasing him along with Wei Xiang. Chen Xiande soon forgot his nudity and joined in the chase as well. But despite the three people after him, Qinghe still managed to slipperily evade them all.
Sometimes Qinghe dived into the water and swam far away like a fish. Sometimes he jumped up to grab a tree trunk, hoisted himself onto it, then used it as a launching pad to leap further away into the stream. He seemed to especially like jumping into the waters like this, using that method at every opportunity with a bright grin. Of course, the other three always tried to follow close behind him. But as someone who had specifically trained himself in speed and agility the most, Qinghe managed to give them the slip at the last moment every time.
Seeing all this, even the reluctant Jing Shui was tempted to quickly discard his clothes and join in.
Soon, the three couples were laughing and splashing in the stream. The cool and clear waters sloshed over their bare skin, making them feel refreshed and more invigorated. They chased and threw water over each other, held contests to see who could last longest under the water surface while holding their breaths, competed over who could make the biggest splash while diving down from the nearby tree branches, and had Jing Shui use his ability to make things like rings of water to jump through or horizontal bars to leap over.
In the end, with their long hair completely plastered to their bodies and soaking wet, the group finally waded back to rest by the stream bank. Their chests heaved as they caught their breaths while wide smiles still remained on their faces.
Straightening from where he was slumped on Hei NingYu, Chen Xiande turned to the Qinghe and Wei Xiang pair to ask curiously, "Junior Brother, Sentinel Wei, what are those things you're wearing? Do they have any special meaning?" Chen Xiande gestured towards the golden band around Qinghe's ankle and the transparent armband around Wei Xiang's upper arm. Since they were usually hidden under clothes, today was the first time the others saw it. They were all curious to know about it as well.
Before Qinghe could reply, Jing Shui showed an expression of realization and spoke, "If I remember right, wasn't there a spiritual beast tradition where exchanging tokens consisting of each other's body parts was considered officializing their mating? Is this related to that? Ah, but…" Jing Shui leaned forward to peer at Wei Xiang's armband, since it was nearer to him. "Hmm, this doesn't look like a part of a body. Brother Feng, what is it made of?"
Qinghe chuckled and revealed, "The transparent part of the armband consists of my spiritual force, taken directly from my cultivation core long ago and compressed to solid form. The line of little silver designs encased inside is made of my life force, while the red ones are drawn with my blood. Xiang's token to me, this anklet, is formed by his golden strings that were distilled out of his scales, fangs, talons, blood, and fragments of his eggshell, all of it refined together using his whitefire."
Chen Xiande's gaze swung between the anklet and armband with fascination. "If you don't mind me asking, Junior Brother, when did you both exchange these? Was it before or after your wedding?"
Qinghe smiled proudly. "It was long before that. We did it on the night leading up to the Battle at the Castle of Echoes."
Wei Xiang held Qinghe close and added, "We were eager to bind ourselves to each other even back then."
Qinghe nodded. "Yes. If it wouldn't have felt incomplete without Mother, we might have had our wedding ceremony at that time itself." Turning to Jing Shui and Wu Xiao, he said, "Putting that aside, I'm curious. When did Brother Jing and Sect Master Wu have the opportunity to get married? And why choose the traditions of a remote tribe for that?"
Jing Shui smiled softly and began explaining the series of events starting from way back when the Baolin Tribe had first visited the imperial palace when he was little.
In this way, the six people discussed peacefully, talking about their lives and reminiscing about important moments that they hadn't been able to talk about with the others before. If what they were discussing was something happy, they all rejoiced together; if it was a sad memory, they all consoled the one remembering; and if it was something puzzling, they put their heads together to try and figure it out.
After playing to their heart's content and sharing their experiences, the three couples gradually immersed themselves in doing their own thing with their beloved.
Qinghe had happily settled on the bank to wash Wei Xiang's hair, his eyes shining with wonder and admiration at his husband's thick tresses. Wei Xiang sat in the shallow end of the stream bed with his back facing Qinghe. He leaned back on the edge of the bank, letting out hums of pleasure every now and then with a blissful expression at the feel of his husband's fingers working on his hair.
Once he was done washing his beloved's hair, Qinghe remembered something and spoke, "Xiang, Mother gave me something that she claimed would make hair smell very nice when applied to it. Do you want to try it?"
Wei Xiang lazily opened his eyes and tilted his head up to look at his husband. In a playful voice, he teased, "Why? Do you not like how it smells now?"
Qinghe bent down and buried his nose into Wei Xiang's wet hair and took a long sniff. Straightening, he smiled and said, "It smells really good as usual. I love your scent. But don't you want to try something new occasionally? It might be fun."
Chuffing out a laugh, Wei Xiang said, "Or it might end up with me going bald and sprouting flowers on my head. After all, it's something Mother-in-law gave."
Qinghe chuckled. "I feared that as well, which is why I consulted Father first. You know how Mother always admits the truth with him, don't you? So I had Father ask her, and Father assured me that there would be no strange side-effects this time."
Hearing that his master had vetted it, Wei Xiang relaxed. "Alright then, let's try it out."
Qinghe grinned and took out a small round box from his storage space. He opened the lid and carefully scooped out some of the brownish goop with his fingers before applying it to Wei Xiang's scalp and rubbed it into the hair. Strangely, the goop by itself was odorless.
Seeing Wei Xiang gradually begin to frown, Qinghe asked, "What is it? Does it feel uncomfortable?"
Wei Xiang shook his head. "No. Actually, it feels pleasantly warm. It feels like hot water spreading on my scalp."
Qinghe smiled and applied more of the goop to his beloved's hair with increased confidence. Slowly, it began emitting a deep and mellow scent with an undercurrent of musk. It gave off a warm, mature, and masculine feeling. Qinghe and Wei Xiang took in deep breaths, trying to inhale more of the pleasant smell.
"It smells so nice…" Qinghe sighed.
Wei Xiang nodded. "Yes, it does. Since you like it, after you're done putting it on me, let me apply it to you too."
Qinghe's eyes gleamed as he said, "Yes. Then we'll both smell the same!"
Wei Xiang chuckled. That wasn't what he'd been after, but he definitely liked the sound of it.
Meanwhile, things had gotten heated between the Hei NingYu and Chen Xiande pair. They had been swimming together at first before deciding to bath each other. But then their warm hands wandered over sensitive areas, making a small bud perk up here or a stretch of muscle tighten there. The unconscious acts of stimulation gradually grew more and more deliberate until Jing Shui felt the need to cut in embarrassedly. After receiving his veiled pleas for mercy, the couple sunk into the water and continued.
Now, their faces were pressed together as they kissed above the stream's surface while below the water, their hands and bodies touched and caressed each other in unmentionable places. The others kept their gazes away from the pair, intentionally not looking through the clear water surface.
A little distance away, Jing Shui stood together with Wu Xiao in the water. Jing Shui very seriously slicked water over himself to bathe, his body purposefully turned away from the overly-passionate pair of Chen Xiande and Hei NingYu. Because of this, he failed to notice how Wu Xiao was staring at him with open adoration and interest, drinking in his every movement with a thirsty gaze.
His eyes suddenly glinting with a mischief idea, Wu Xiao called out, "Ah-Shui, I hope you're being careful about letting fishes climb up into your cute little ass~"
Jing Shui froze and turned to him with a half-confused, half-horrified expression. "W-What?!"
Assuming a solemn expression, Wu Xiao expounded, "I've heard of how certain people ended up with tiny fishes swimming into their butts while bathing in water bodies like this without them realizing, which is why I cautioned you."
Jing Shui woodenly bent his head and saw small and thin fishes barely the size of a finger swimming here and there. Noticing one heading towards him, Jing Shui yelped and jumped up onto Wu Xiao, escaping from the water and wrapping both his arms and legs around his beloved to clutch him desperately. With a terrified expression, he said frantically, "I-I don't want anything like that ending up in my butt!"
Wu Xiao smiled at him with helpless amusement and patted his bottom. "Yes, yes, I know. I won't let anything except me get into you, Ah-Shui."
Jing Shui was too occupied with glaring at any fishes that swam his way to care about Wu Xiao's shamelessness.
Suppressing his smile, Qinghe reminded his friend from the side, "Brother Jing, isn't your ability water-based? Wouldn't it be an easy matter for you to sense if something approached your bottom that closely?"
Jing Shui blinked. Realizing that Qinghe was right, he blushed a bright red. He had been so busy panicking that he seemed to have forgotten that!
Reluctantly releasing his hold on a regretful-looking Wu Xiao, Jing Shui got down and stood in the water again. Peering at the sparse fishes swimming in the stream doubtfully, he stuck close to his beloved. After a moment of pondering, Jing Shui gingerly lifted one of Wu Xiao's hands, making the palm cup his bottom. Looking up through his lashes hesitantly, his cheeks blazing with embarrassment, Jing Shui beseeched softly, "W-Wu Xiao, you'll make sure that nothing goes in, won't you?"
Wu Xiao's heart melted at how adorable his beloved was. "Yes, of course I'll protect my Ah-Shui's lovely little butt!" His palm surreptitiously gave a small squeeze to said butt as if underscoring his statement. With his husband placing his cute ass in his hand of his own accord and letting him hold on to it freely, how could Wu Xiao refuse?
Jing Shui pressed his lips together and bowed his head in bashfulness, but nodded. It made Wu Xiao smile wider. Reassured that his backside was in good hands, Jing Shui began bathing again, his body still half-pressed against Wu Xiao. Wu Xiao's expression was that of absolute bliss. One glance at him was enough to tell anyone that his mind must be overflowing with pink bubbles and dirty images.
Qinghe and Wei Xiang looked at this intimate scene borne of ridiculousness with a wry smile, then turned to look at another, even more intimate scene of Hei NingYu burying his head into Chen Xiande's shoulder and moaning as his lover's spirited ministrations under the surface made the water between them splash. Then looking at each other, Qinghe and Wei Xiang decided to join in this romantic atmosphere and hugged each other close, their mouths once again joining together.
In this way, the three couples spent their time at the stream happily.
...
The sky had already begun to darken when the six people reached the stables holding the specialized spiritual beasts.
There was only one more stretch of the mountain left for them to traverse, but that part of their journey was fraught with spatial destabilizations and gales of piercing spiritual winds. Anyone trying to walk or fly through this space would be shredded to pieces. Even using the shadow realm couldn't guarantee their safety.
The only way to pass through this space was to use a certain type of spiritual beasts called the phantom-winged steeds. These beasts looked like slender horses with a delicate build and translucent bodies that made them appear like ethereal ghosts. A pair of large wings protruded from their sides, seeming to have no solid form. The wings extending from them instead shimmered like an invisible mirage, appearing completely transparent while distorting the space containing them. Adding to their otherworldliness, the beasts made no sound at all even when they moved, and their wide grey iris-less eyes were strangely blank like those of an exquisitely carved sculpture. Each beast had five opalescent white horns extending from its head.
Three of the phantom-winged steeds were set aside for the three couples, each pair meant to ride one to pass through the unstable area and reach the top of the mountain from where they could access the pocket dimension.
However, one look at them and Qinghe shook his head repeatedly. "No, there's no way I am going to get on any of these beasts and let them take me up into the air. No, it's not happening."
Wei Xiang and the others could only look at Qinghe's slightly freaked out expression with bafflement.
Wei Xiang sighed. "Love, what's the problem? I remember you behaving the same way when we had to get on those beasts from the Silver-scaled Cervid Clan for our wedding procession as well. Is there a reason you don't want to ride spiritual beasts other than me?"
Qinghe looked at the placidly standing phantom-winged steeds and struggled to put his thoughts into words. "It's just that…I can't read their faces. I can't read any of their expressions. I don't know if these beasts are hostile or feel favorably towards me. I don't know how they think, I don't know how to communicate with them like I would with people, and I don't understand them! I-I can't trust them like this! How can I let them take me up so high into the sky and risk them dropping me from up here?
"If it's Xiang, I naturally don't mind since I can more or less make out your expression even when you're a wyvern, not to mention that I trust you implicitly. Even with the beasts before in our wedding procession, I could communicate with them using words since they were of a high enough level. And since I knew that we would only be walking along a path on the ground, I ended up agreeing to ride them. B-But with other spiritual beasts and even animals, I don't know how to read them. I…I can't…how can I trust something I can't read…? It's illogical!"
Qinghe looked flustered, his hands restlessly fiddling with the edge of his sleeves in agitation.
The others looked at one another helplessly. How could they even address such an unexpected and strange issue?
Jing Shui finally cleared his throat and tried convincing his friend, "Brother Feng, these beasts are well-trained, docile, and non-threatening. They aren't dangerous and they aren't capable of plotting about things like throwing us down after flying us up high. Won't you at least give them a chance?"
Qinghe vehemently shook his head, his lips pressing together. "But how can you be sure? What if the one I'm riding decides it doesn't like me and throws me off mid-air? I won't even be able to use my wind due to the spatial disturbance here! I-I can't…I don't know how to trust these beasts when I don't have any solid proof that they will absolutely not harm me."
Seeing Qinghe's anxious appearance, Wei Xiang sighed and held his beloved close. Qinghe quickly burrowed into his embrace, seeking comfort. Patting his back, Wei Xiang reflected that though Qinghe seemed to have gotten much better at looking past what happened to him before, he still hadn't completely been able to shake off its influence. It was in times like these that Qinghe's need to control everything to assure his own safety gave away just how deep his issues were etched.
But each time, Wei Xiang was nevertheless determined to tirelessly coax his beloved mate from being steeped in his issues and progress a bit more towards his complete healing.
Gently stroking his husband's hair, Wei Xiang spoke, "Love, you might not have any direct evidence telling you to trust those beasts, but will you trust me?"
Qinghe slightly lifted his head and peeked up. His tone sounded like that of an uncertain child as he repeated, "Trust you?"
Wei Xiang nodded with a soft smile. "Yes. I know that we will be safe and that there will be no mishaps like the ones you're worrying about. Even if something happens, I am here. I won't let anything happen to you. Can you trust in my words? Will you believe in me?"
Qinghe slowly blinked at him, his eyes filled with unfathomable thoughts. Then he nodded and said quietly, "Okay." Since it was his Xiang, he would force himself to believe.
The others all let out silent breaths in relief.
Smirking, Hei NingYu said, "Even if your Sentinel Wei fails you, there's still us to take care of you. So you can rest assured, Xiao Feng."
Wei Xiang only chuckled and said easily, "Then I will count on Sect Leader Hei and the others too then."
Chen Xiande nodded. "Yes, we'll also help protect Junior Brother."
Qinghe's face turned pink as a shyly pleased smile bloomed on his lips. He bowed deeply towards them and expressed, "Thank you."
When he straightened, he was greeted by affectionate smiles and words waving away his gratitude. Qinghe's heart felt warm and full.
Now that it was settled, the three couples chose a beast each and got on. Jing Shui and Wu Xiao selected the one that was tinted a mild purplish-blue to ride. Qinghe and Wei Xiang sat atop a beast colored in a light bluish-green. Chen Xiande and Hei NingYu perched upon one that was a faded greenish-yellow. After everyone had climbed atop a beast, they set off.
The phantom-winged steeds were a breed of beasts that had once lived in a hidden dimension with volatile space. As a result, they had evolved to develop inherent defenses against being torn apart due to spatial disturbances or cutting blades of spiritual energy. Thus, when they flew through the volatile space near the mountaintop now, the beasts naturally set up a barrier around them to protect themselves and the space around them. It incidentally also protected the people riding them. The barrier was spherical, its walls invisible to the naked eye and its diameter the size of the beasts' wingspan. When their wings stretched to their full length, the tips lightly brushed the inside of this barrier.
Since Jing Shui was more familiar with riding all kinds of spiritual beasts including this one, he sat at the front of his and Wu Xiao's mount and led the whole group forward. Wu Xiao wrapped his arms around his husband and delighted in sneakily eating tofu and making his beloved Ah-Shui blush. On the other hand, since Chen Xiande had never before ridden anything except a paper mount, he let Hei NingYu sit at the front and encircled his lover's waist, leaning into him with a content smile.
Due to his distrust of the beast and the fear of being suddenly thrown off, Qinghe obviously couldn't sit at the front and steer the beast. He instead rode behind Wei Xiang, his arms clamped tightly around his beloved and his face buried in his sturdy back. All the while, Wei Xiang's steady voice spoke soothing words and calm reassurances, his fingers patting his beloved's hands where they were fisted on his abdomen to help relax Qinghe's galloping heart.
With his eyes closed, Qinghe's other senses became sharper. He could feel the cool body of the beast under him, muscles shifting as it beat its illusory-looking wings. He could hear the soft sounds the phantom-winged steeds let out occasionally that was less like the neighs of a horse and more like a mixture between crystalline tinkling and eerie whistling. As they flew, constant shrill shrieks surrounded them due to the sharp lashes of spiritual currents ripping through the air, stirred up due to the instability of the volatile space. But over all of it, what Qinghe sensed with the most clarity was the warm and stable presence of his husband in front of him and the wash of his steadying voice as Wei Xiang comforted him. Despite Qinghe's initial misgivings, staying like this felt strangely peaceful to him now.
In this way, the three couples flew through the fracturing space and safely made it to near the peak.
They alighted from the beasts just under the mountaintop, inside the boundary of the area that was free from spatial disturbances. A long staircase of white stone stretched in front of them, leading to the mountain peak above. Beside the foot of the staircase was a small and neat stable with empty stalls.
Jing Shui stabled the phantom-winged steeds there and arranged some water and feed for them so that they wouldn't want for anything for the next few hours. When the group returned from the pocket dimension later, they would need the beasts to get back through the volatile space.
Once that was taken care of, the six people climbed the staircase and finally stepped foot onto the mountaintop.
The ground here was flat and consisted entirely of clean, snow-white stone. No boulders or vegetation littered the place, leaving the area barren of everything but one―a large crystal tree standing at the center, its trunk transparent and its clear and spindly branches bare of foliage. Small silvery lights glowed from the branches, scattered all over evenly. These lights pulsed in slow and irregular intervals, like the lazy twinkling of stars bound to the crystalline branches of the tree.
When the entirety of this colorless landscape was contrasted against the sky saturated with a deep and even violet in the onset of night, it was almost too piercing. The ambiance here was fresh and pure, the air still and feeling neither cold nor warm. Hushed solemnity and silent tranquility filled this ancient place, eliciting the sort of reverence one would have at a place of worship.
In a quiet voice suiting the atmosphere, Jing Shui explained, "As everyone knows, this mountain is made entirely of cloud jade, a mineral that is known for gathering spiritual energy around it in an invisible cloud and allowing it to condense upon its surface in small patches. Here at the top of the mountain is where most of the spiritual energy usually accumulates, causing the area surrounding the mountain's peak to develop unstable space due to the sheer concentration of power. That spiritual energy constantly suffuses this ancient tree, which is the only vegetation able to survive and grow on this power-saturated mountaintop. After absorbing so much spiritual energy over the course of several millennia, the tree turned to look like this. It is still alive, but in a different way than the usual mortal trees.
"The small pinpoints of glowing and flickering lights on the tree's branches are spell nodes arranged by an Elder from the Silver Moon Sect. Unlike Wu Xiao who uses lines, that Elder specialized in using these little glowing lights to define his formations. The nodes are set in the pattern of an array. The array will allow those with a key to pass through here and into the pocket dimension that naturally formed here long ago. The pocket dimension is called the 'Luminous Forest' and it is our destination."
Everyone nodded to show that they listened and understood.
Jing Shui extended a hand and a small piece of white-colored jade with an intricately carved latticework appeared in his palm. Walking towards the crystal tree, Jing Shui touched the jade key in his hand to its trunk and spoke, "With permission, we seek entrance."
The leisurely pulsing points on the tree branches suddenly flashed as one. A bright white light exploded out of the tree, blowing back their hair and forcing them to raise their arms and close their eyes.
A moment later, the silence of the mountaintop gave way to the rustle of leaves and the lick of cool breeze on their faces. Understanding that they'd successfully entered the pocket dimension, the group of six lowered their arms and opened their eyes to take in their surroundings.