Sikong Yong kept his smile but his eyes were pointed and sharp, glancing at Zhang Wang through his lashes. "We were having a pleasant chat," he said, "Would you like to join us over wine?"
Zhang Wang doubted that, but he didn't want to outright insult this weird Uncle of his either. Folding both arms over Yu Yanlin's shoulders, he kept the demon king reclined in his seat. "No…I'm good for now. We're really tired from travel and I was worried about my Huhu."
"Your Huhu," Sikong Yong repeated. There was obvious disapproval in his voice. Zhang Wang stilled. Ah, right, he couldn't just speak teasingly to Sikong Yong and hope to get away with it in the same way as Chu Changying.
So he slid his arms away and straightened his stance while still keeping an easy smile on his face, "Since I'm back now, I'm sure I will have plenty of time to catch up with Uncle."
"Yes," Sikong Yong said, "Surely my cute A-Yun could make some time now to spend with me? It's been five whole months. Just think of how lonely I've been during this time."
"..." Zhang Wang had pleasantly forgotten just how annoying this man could be, "Yifu," he singsonged pleasantly, tilting his head in almost a childish way, "I really miss spending time with you too. But I'm so tired right now. What if I forget about something important that I want to tell Yifu about?"
It was not often that Zhang Wang called Sikong Yong Yifu. And though the Sect Leader was well aware that the young man only ever used the term when he wanted to get something, Sikong Yong was hopelessly weak. He smiled dumbly and said, "Alright, then if my cute A-Yun is so tired, he should go get some rest."
Zhang Wang perked up with a smile stretching his features, "Yup!" Patting Yu Yanlin's chest, he urged the demon to get up as well, "C'mon let's go!"
"Wait a moment," Sikong Yong stopped them in their tracks. "I said that A-Yun can go rest. Why doesn't Master Bai accompany this lonely old man?" He was even pouring another bowl of alcohol.
Zhang Wang was taken a back a little and decided to act distraught, "But Yifu I…" He sagged his shoulders and tossed all self-respect out the window. It was a little annoying but sometimes manipulation really required one to pull out all the stops, no matter the cost! "Without Huhu I…"
"You've lived twenty years without this Huhu." Sikong Yong stated without mercy.
Time to make up something absurd, he decided with an inward sigh, "Lately I've been getting these nightmares,"
Sikong Yong instantly perked up, "What? What do you mean? What kind of nightmares. Tell me."
This entire time, Yu Yanlin sat back quietly. Since the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms was always so insistent that he took care of the talking, Yu Yanlin decided to allow him to do just that. The lie that was conjured was beyond absurdity and yet, Yu Yanlin felt that Zhang Wang was purposely adding small details that he knew would move this Sikong Yong.
For example, Zhang Wang went into great detail about red lightning that split the sky and a dried lake filled with dead cranes. There was no way for Yu Yanlin to see the way blood drained from Sikong Yong's face but he could sense the light tremor in his fingertips.
"Say no more," Sikong Yong said, and promptly got up from his seat. "Please go, go get some rest. I will see if I can get something for your nightmares… I will see…" Almost in a trance he sauntered away from the pavilion.
Awkwardly, Zhang Wang watched as the sect leader left. He scratched the back of his neck, wondering if he had gone too far. Yu Yanlin's head was tilted up, and Zhang Wang imagined the way those beautiful blue eyes would gaze at him. At least Yu Yanlin could breathe easy now. It was kind of Zhang Wang's fault in the first place, for kicking Yu Yanlin out and left him to fend for himself. Originally he had planned to sit down with the demon to prepare him for the dinner he was due to have.
But now they were free. "Let's get out of here quickly," Zhang Wang said.
Yu Yanlin nodded and rose from his seat, saying nothing as Zhang Wang circled his hands around Yu Yanlin's wrist and pulled him forward. His mind was still lingering on the description of the nightmare. For some reason, the more he thought about it, the more it sounded kind of familiar. But the details were hard to pinpoint.
Red lightning.
A dried lake.
Dead cranes.
Strange. After a while, he realized that Zhang Wang was not bring him toward the room and instead they escaped the manor through a side entrance. And when they were finally out of sights of the manor, Yu Yanlin finally asked, "Where are we going?"
"There's a village nearby…" Zhang Wang said, his voice was a little soft. Almost nervous. Maybe Yu Yanlin had imagined it. "It's pretty nice, I think. You'd like it."
There were a lot of things that Yu Yanlin was slowly coming to realize he liked. All those thing seemed to blossom into existence recently. He thought about the nightmare again and asked, "What was that you said about having nightmares? Was it a lie?"
"...Yeah." Zhang Wang sighed. "Most of it was just made up. I never had a dream like that. But my mother did."
"Your mother?"
"That's right. She had a dream about dried lakes filled with dead cranes on the night before she died. She was struck by a blast of vemillion red lightning. At least that's how Uncle Sikong Yong had described it…He… Well, he's been haunted by that ever since I guess."
"Your uncle seems especially fond of you," Yu Yanlin pointed out.
Zhang Wang scoffed, "I guess so. But it's not me he's really obsessed about. He was crazy about my mother. I look like her. He's been weird about me ever since she passed away, don't think I wouldn't notice."
"I see, so that's how it is."
"Enough about that, we're almost here…"
Yu Yanlin nodded and followed Zhang Wang's lead.
They descended the winding mountain road down a different side from which they came. There was a small village along the way that lived off the abundance of spiritual energy that flowed downward from Xunfeng Peak, making a section of the land tender and (__).
It was a very small village, that saw traffic only from those that came and went from Xunfeng Peak. There was a small lake it coasted() from which strange beasts resided within. The village was mostly calm, surrounded by goats and shepherding dogs. The residents were familiar with Virtuous Phoenix disciples and greeted Zhang Wang with humble bows when he came.
"Young Master Zhang, it has been long since I've seen you around these parts."
"Greetings Young Master Zhang. Pray tell, who is this handsome young man that you are bringing along with you?"
Now used to the lie they conjured, Zhang Wang answered easily and without apprehension, "This is my lover, Huhu. Please be kind to him okay?"
The villagers marveled at this man who bore the title of the Immortal of a Thousand Blossom's lover. But they didn't let the villagers hold them back for too long and tugged Yu Yanlin along.
He took the demon king to the edge of the lake and found a small unmanned boat. "Come on!" He laughed at Yu Yanlin who raised a brow at his antics.
"What's the meaning of this?" He asked with a pleasant rumble, but followed Zhang Wang readily onto the boat.
Night was fast falling, with the sun sinking into the horizon. Zhang Wang felt the keen desire to tug Yu Yanlin's blindfold off his face, knowing that he shouldn't. This village was much too close to Xunfeng Peak and they could run into anyone here. Many virtuous Phoenix disciples would come around to eat out or drink alcohol in the teahouses.
"There doesn't need to be a meaning!" Zhang Wang laughed, "It's just for fun."
Yu Yanlin didn't mind the idea of doing something just for fun. He hopped on the boat, kicking it off from the shore.