Zhang Wang was scouring around the mountain based on a vague gut feeling.
There was a pull about his heart and so he followed it.
The sky was brutally dark and he felt oddly melodramatic, and decided not to summon a spirit light. Zhang Wang sniffled against the cold and hugged his arms.
Beijing's surrounding mountains were less barren than these.
Zhang Wang blamed Ariunbayar for making him feel so nostalgic of late. Perhaps it was his own way of coping with Sikong Ren's return to Xunfeng Peak. He groaned at the thought, hatefully recalling the affaire.
The Sect decided to welcome him back with dancers and bards, despite the wishes of Sect Leader Sikong. Everyone was alive with gossip, females chirping with excitement while the males spun absurd tales of his valor. Zhang Wang was trying to hide from the entire thing at the time but he had terrible time and luck.
…Okay, maybe it had nothing to do with his unknown luck stat and everything to do with the fact that he was hiding behind the Training Court, wedged between a large rock a willow tree. Yu Yanlin's body had been the only thing that chased away the biting frost, his skin flushed and feverish under Zhang Wang's touch.
They might have gone overboard then.
It was only meant to be a quickie. But Yu Yanlin was so delectable in both taste and touch. Zhang Wang loved the way his lashes fluttered over glassy eyes that chased pleasure so eagerly. He loved how silky the surface of his skin felt, stretched over taut muscle.
Zhang Wang might have gotten so lost in the fever of pleasure, the dance that entwined their bodies, that he had completely lost track of time. Yu Yanlin was equally as guilty, not bringing it up until a voice nearby startled them from their activities.
"They're back! The Master of the Strays and the Jade Flower Elder have returned! Chu-Dajie as well!"
"Don't let her hear you call her that or else…!"
Zhang Wang accidentally bit down on his own tongue with a curse. He shoved Yu Yanlin off so quickly that the demon king stumbled. Zhang Wang's erection was still heavy between his legs but he was already fixing his robes. Yu Yanlin smiled a little, seeming apologetic but Zhang Wang only noticed how rosy his lips had been.
That was the only good part of his memories.
Because it all went downhill from there.
Aside from getting almost discovered when they were trying to redress, and Zhang Wang tried really hard to fix Yu Yanlin's collar to cover up the hickey he accidentally left; they failed to flee the edifice before Sikong Ren's arrival.
Yu Yanlin suggested that they jump over the wall anyway but it was already too late.
Just as they were discussing the very topic. Yu Yanlin's face fell, from a casual smile to an emotionless slate. Zhang Wang felt a chill and had to voice just in case, "Don't do anything…"
If Yu Yanlin had thought to intervene, he really did nothing in the end. A figure barreled into Zhang Wang from the corner of his vision, so fast and furious that he had no chance or hope to dodge.
"Ah, this cruel disciple of mine… to think you've escaped my sights for months and not even greet me when I'm home? How terrible of you!"
Hou Ruyen's arms were mercilessly around Zhang Wang's head, pressing his face into her bountiful bosom. His cries were muffled, arms flailing. There might have been a time when Zhang Wang thought he didn't mind death by titties but now…!
He couldn't help but feel annoyed!
'Get off me!' He meant to cry but it only came out as "MMrrrphhh!" Even when Zhang Wang rapped against her arms, they did not relent even a little.
The Jade Flower Elder did not look her age. Though she was a natural beauty, she preferred to paint her face with beautiful combinations of paint. Zhang Wang reasoned that she would have been popular on Weibo or something but that wasn't important!
His Shizun liked to suffocate him until his vision dotted with white.
Except this time Yu Yanlin was at his side. He reached over and grabbed the Jade Flower Elder's upper arm without ceremony, yanking her with a strength that matched her own.
"That's enough. He's telling you to get off."
Hou Ruyen paused, her smile did not disappear but her eyes narrowed. "And who might you be?"
"Bai Hu of Xianggu," Yu Yanlin said without missing a beat. He had become good at lying.
"That's not a name that I'm familiar with," the Jade Flower Elder hummed. The hand squeezed down on her and she did not like admitting defeat. "Forgive me for making such an embarrassing introduction of myself, that was not my intention. It was just that I saw this foolish disciple of mine and found that I could not control the whirling emotions within my heart."
It was only then she let go of Zhang Wang. The Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms heaved for breath, hand coming out instinctively to find Yu Yanlin for balance. "Dammit I thought I was going die for real there! Shizun! Why do you keep doing this to me?"
The Jade Flower Elder gave him a smile full of teeth. But instead of chiding him the way she usually did, Hou Ruyen turned her attention to Yu Yanlin. She was not that tall and had to crane her neck up to meet his eyes. So instead she took a few steps back before introducing herself in earnest. "Surname Hou, given name Ruyen. Though you probably already know me as the Jade Flower Elder."
When Zhang Wang finally looked up at the two, he thought he could see sparks fly between their gazes (or Yu Yanlin's imagined gaze).
Erm…
He had a bad feeling about this and tried to defuse the tension with easy laughter, "Ah…Bai Hu, this is my Shizun. She's probably one of the strongest and most beautiful women I've ever had the chance of meeting."
Hou Ruyen's expression was dark, "Xiao Yun, how many times do I have to tell you that your baseless flattery has no effect on me?"
Zhang Wang felt the keen desire to refute her, knowing that it was a lie. He kept his easy smile and tilted his head, "Who said it was flattery?" Well, he wasn't exactly lying either, so he didn't know what her problem was. There was a time he had a really…good (cough cough) relationship with his Shizun. But that type of relationship was never one that was meant to last.
In the end, just like many others, the two of them ended up falling out. Zhang Wang saw it coming but still dipped his toes in fire. A part of him believed that he would never come regret the good times he shared with Hou Ruyen but now…
Now he wasn't so sure.
Her eyes were cold so Zhang Wang decided to move the conversation forward. "This is Bai Hu," he said quickly. "He's my lover."
"..." Hou Ruyen said nothing at first and kept smiling at him as if he hasn't spoken at all.
"Uh…" Zhang Wang blinked, at a loss. There was no way that she didn't hear him. And though there were many things that he said that answered the Jade Flower Elder he didn't think this would be one of those things. It would be rude to repeat himself but no one could ignore the frosty atmosphere that settled between the three.
Yu Yanlin was at the end of his patience. He stepped forth and said without hesitance, "Are you listening? Zhang Wang said that I'm his lover."
Hou Ruyen slowly veered her gaze toward him. She said without mercy, "I don't know what you two are scheming but don't think it will work on me." This entire time her smile did not falter in the slightest.
Zhang Wang was about to start foaming at the mouth, frustration ripe.
To make matters even worse, it was then Sikong Ren chose to enter the scene.
"What's going on? Oh, ge, it's you. What did you do this time?"
Why in the world was Zhang Wang always the one getting accused!?