Bang!
"You liar!"
Wu Liang Hui stormed into the room startling Bai Huya who was in the middle of changing his clothes. He looked back with furrowed brows, confused beyond belief. "You told me that I wouldn't get pregnant!" The young mage was aggrieved. After spending the evening in Lin Sha's room he had learned a thing or two about beastmen. According to his good brother Lin, powerful beastmen struggle to reproduce and hence prefer to mate with mages because mages are extremely fertile.
A sly smile crawled onto the beastman's face as dropped the robes he was about to put on onto the desk next to him, a mischievous twinkle dancing in his eyes. This is not good, Liang Hui thought to himself as he noted how the beastman was slowly stalking over towards him in menacing silence. With each step Bai took forward Liang Hui took one back until he stumbled back against the door. Feeling cornered he tightly shut his eyes and braced himself for impact. After a while of nothing happening he peeked an eye open only to see Bai Huya smirking down at him.
"What's wrong Xiao Bai?"
{A/N: Xiao Bai = little white, little cabbage, noob or fool}
Wu Liang Hui squinted his eyes and a dark aura blanketed him. He sneered at the beastman who was obviously making fun of him as he usually called him Little Mage. "You heard me, Da Bai!" he breathed out through clenched teeth.
{A/N: Da Bai = big white, big cabbage}
Bai Huya chuckled under his breath at Liang Hui's cute angry face. He had no problem with them being a cute pair of cabbages. He found it funny how upset the little mage would get when anyone mentioned his name. He made it obvious that it wasn't his real name but still insisted on hiding his true identity. Bai Huya still remembered that introduced himself as "Wu", before he caught himself and used the name "Chi Bai Cai". The mage probably thought that he hadn't picked up on the mistake, but how could he not notice. He engraved every breath his master took, much less that name….Aiya, how adorable.
"I don't recall ever saying anything like that," he pressed closer, "I only said that you needn't worry."
"And which part don't you think is worrying?" he gritted his teeth, "Forget about everything, we will never have sex again!"
"Oh?," Bai lifted Liang Hui's face so that they could look each other in the eye, "And what about your body?"
"Ha! I'll have you know that I've spent over thirty years living the life of an Incel," he poked his finger into the beastman's chest with each word somehow proud of what he just admitted with his own mouth.
The beastman quirked a brow in confusion,.... 'Incel'....'thirty years'? There he goes selling himself out again. Bracing himself against the door with one hand, Bai Huya looked down at the tiny mage. Master….. He gazed longingly at Wu Liang Hui. From his long inky black hair that was pinned into a ponytail on top of his head to his heart shaped face framed so perfectly by his messy bangs. Not to mention his rosy pillowy lips that became more delicious with each bite. His hand traced the air above Liang Hui as if he was trying to record every inch of the mage's silhouette into his very soul.
[My Master]
[Oh how I long to be by your side every second of every day]
[I have seen you when you towered over even the mountains and clouds]
[I have seen you when you were as low as the humble glass on the ground]
[It would be my utmost joy to watch over you as you rise once more like that of a phoenix]
[My King]
[I wish to selfishly see your everything]
[Own your everything]
[Your secrets, your ambition, your heart, your body]
[Have you lay bare in front of me and claim you as my own]
He looked into his eyes then kissed Wu Liang Hui's lips. Wu Liang Hui melted. The kiss was soft and feathery as if in that moment he was the most precious being. All thoughts of resistance floated away. It was all foolish anyway, an Incel was someone that was involuntarily celibate and that no longer could apply to himself. He was no longer the forty something year old virgin that lived and died for the sake of research. No, he had tasted all of the sweetness that another had to offer and there was no going back. He longed for it. He craved it deep inside his soul.
Their tongues tangled as Liang Hui weaved a hand through Huya's hair at the back of his head and pulled him closer. One arm around the beastman's sturdy neck.His heavy outer robes dropped to the floor leaving only the thin fabric of his inner robe to protect him from the chill that spring nights brought. The poor pink buds of his chest immediately started to strain against the fabric as if seeking warmth.
Bai Huya's hand found its way inside of the thin fabric and tugged a white thigh up onto his waist and the other side followed. The little mage had latched onto him driven by pure hunger and need. His need already overflowed from his twitching hole. Huya grinded between the supple mounds, coating the front of his pants in the dripping juices. His movements, slow and teasing.
"....just f--k me alre-Aaah!?"
He dropped onto the bed with a thud. Wu Liang Hui just layed there in a daze, his arms still hovering in the air embracing an invisible beastman. His pants shamelessly hanging off his ankle, pooling off the side of the bed. His inner robe spread open exposing embarrassingly flushed skin, his erection twitching in the cold air. He was absolutely dumbfounded. The color of his face changed from red to black. A sneer stretched onto his usually pouty lips.
'This bastard was toying with him!?'
Liang Hui sat up and squinted his eyes in the direction of the despicable bastard. He was whistling as he was putting on his inner robe. This fiend thought he could just merrily get ready for bed? He walked over to the door and grabbed his discarded belt, snipping it to test its durability. Then using his ghost step technique he raced over to where Bai Huya was standing and tied his legs together. In his confusion the beastman stumbled around before flopping back onto the bed in shock.
"Well aren't you lucky that this room is so small." the implication being that had the room been any larger he would have missed the bed and crashed onto the floor.
The mage sneered down at him as he climbed on top of his stomach. As he looked at the dark face of the little mage he realized that it was true what they say, a man can never cross a river twice. His master had changed, he was no longer the quiet, pacifist that he once knew. The thought made his pants tighten. Bai Huya wanted to know everything but before he could even speak Wu Liang Hui had tied his hands and disappeared and it would be a while before the beastman would catch a glimpse of him again.
Lin Sha and Wu Liang Hui met outside their rooms and headed towards the arena. As the end of May came around so did the exam date, hence the library got more and more crowded. All of the seats were taken within moments of the doors opening each morning. Hence when Brother Lin suggested that they go watch the results of the competition Liang Hui readily agreed. Liang Hui was excited to see how the senior Choi would do in a competition between his peers. Besides this was all a great distraction from the upcoming exams and his failed potion making skills. He was also hoping to see Choi bruised and haggard.
The air outside was cool yet still biting as it brushed past Liang Hui's skin giving his usual pale complexion a flushed appearance. For some reason he found the spring breeze that lingered atop the mountain range to be more unbearable for the past week despite the warm, dry weather. A tiny voice in his head told him why but he refused to believe it. He feared that listening to that voice would make him grow soft. He refused to take pity on the beastman until he came crawling to him begging him for forgiveness ... .no matter how much he missed waking up in Bai Huya's warm embrace. Liang Hui had spent his nights alone in the cabin.
Shenyuan Arena was located at the far end of the valley from where the outer disciples dormitory was located. It was close to the main gates to the Hall of Mages as it was one of the buildings that was opened to outsiders.
As they got closer to the arena the lofty smell of fragrant roasted meats assaulted them before they even caught wind of the loud chatter. There was a bustling crowd at the entrance. A path of various vendors lined the walk way. The vendors themselves were sect disciples as the Nianqiu competition was a rare opportunity to make money. As only the first and last weeks of the competition was broadcasted for spectators all three arenas, in the Warrior, Mage and Blacksmith departments, were filled with people.
Both mages gulped audibly and clutched their stomachs. While the meals that the cafeteria wasn't bad per say but it definitely had nothing on what the senior disciples were selling. Not just roasted meat but buns, roasted nuts, candied fruits, pancakes and a variety of skewers were laid out in front of the two poor orphans. Wu Liang Hui's face blushed red, he couldn't believe that he had gone out of his way to be tortured like this. The two turned to each other and nodded in understanding before speed walking their way through the crowd to the entrance of Shenyuan Arena.
The arena was shaped like a giant ethereal seashell with a 20 ft radius. Its high walls were a pearly white and its supporting structures were a combination of silver and rose gold. The glass windows looked like feathered wings. This building was the crown jewel of the Hall of Mages. It was a reminder to all who had the fortune to marvel at its otherworldly grandeur that they had in fact entered the world of cultivators. As one stepped through the glass doors that parted like waves it felt as though they were stepping into a new reality.
They breathed a breath of relief as the doors closed behind them sealing away the torturous scents. As they walked up the marble staircase Liang Hui gazed at the beautiful tiled images on the walls. They looked like various alchemic apparatus and ingredients. Truly a marvel of the Hall of Mages.
At the top was a grand lobby like that of a hotel. To the right of the stairs there was a cluster of people chatting in front of a large wall with a list of names and numbers. It seemed as if they were casting their bets on who would win. Walking past the people were ushered to the seating area in the stands for sect disciples. The seats looked like blown glass in the shape of leaves. Wu Liang Hui expected them to feel cold to the touch but they were warm and cozy. When he sat down it felt like the seat was conforming to his body as if it wanted to hug him. The two mages had found seats close to the back wall, away from the crowd but close to the exit.
"Can I sit with you?" came a cheery voice from above them. They turned around and looked up to see a fairy dressed in pink looking down at them. She jumped down from what looked like a private box seating area to where they were.
Sister Wang Yoyo was finally back! A bright smile spread across Wu Liang Hui's face. He hurriedly asked her about her trip.
She had been on a diplomatic trip with her Master the Chief of the Lightning Sword Sect for some months. They were asked to mitigate between the various nobles of the Sackville Kingdom and the beastmen. Rouge beastmen were banding together to form bandit villages near towns and cities in Sackville. They were stealing food and supplies from the caravans. It was giving the nobles and rich business men a headache.
However due to an incident in the sect Wang Yoyo was left on her own. The incident being the attack of the senior disciples that the perpetrator was still at large. Just thinking about those uptight elitist nobles was giving her PTSD.
Then after she finally got them to settle on a peace treaty and made her way back to the sect she discovered another headache. Her Master had taken in a new disciple while she was away. It was some annoying, cocky, white haired son of a b@#$.
When she mentioned that, a familiar white haired beastman located at another part of the mountain range suddenly sneezed in the middle of his sword practice. Shaking off the sudden chill he continued to practice his swing.
"...and that's why I'm hiding out here in the Mage Department."
Yoyo huffed, then she pulled out a beautiful red and gold brocade box from her sleeve. Inside were various types of biscuits, some even looked as if they contained some type of nuts. She planned to eat her frustrations away. When she offered them to the two mages next to her their eyes started to water. Wang Yoyo was really an angel!
"How did you do that?" Liang Hui asked as he stuffed his mouth with biscuits.
"Oh, I just took it out of my storage bracelet," she rolled up her sleeve exposing a golden bangle that hung off her thin porcelain wrist. The bangle had intricate patterns carved into it.
"Ah, I've seen Brother Choi Qiusan with something like that before," Lin Sha leaned in curiously to get a closer look as he slowly nibbled on a biscuit as if savoring it. It wasn't often that he got a treat.
A cloud like mist filled the center stage. It flickered a rainbow of lights before it settled into an image. In it was an orange tinted world. It was a vast forest filled with orange and yellowing leaves. The green floor was carpeted by fallen red and orange leaves. Scattered between the leaves on the ground the glint of metal could be seen. At the very center of the forest stood a large bronze bell in an open field. This was the setting for the final level of the Nianqiu Competition. Liang Hui creased his brows in confusion.
"The Nianqiu Competition has four levels : Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. The reason for that is because the environment of the pocket dimension where it takes place has four rings of forest nestled within each other starting with the largest, the outer ring, Winter forest and ending with the smallest, the innermost ring, Autumn forest."
"Pocket dimension? Brother Lin said that the competition took place in Ladson?"
"It technically is in the Kingdom of Ladson," she chuckled as if she just remembered that he was a simple minded bumpkin.
"Yes Brother Chi, it's a pocket dimension located in Northern Ladson."
Wu Liang Hui made an 'Oh' face. The Lightning Sword Sect was a long belt of mountains bordered by Sackville to the west, the Rainforest to its north-east and Northern Ladson at its south end. He was familiar with the Rainforest as it was on the opposite side of the river that the seniors would send him to fetch water or catch fish from. It was also where he encountered the traffickers. They were on their way to Sackville according to Bai Huya, as the borders of Northern Ladson were heavily guarded. He had heard a lot about Northern Ladson from the chatter of his peers. It was a very militant place due to its proximity to the Rainforest. This is why he was confused when he saw all of the trees and wide open fields as he pictured it as more of a concrete jungle in his mind.It made more sense to him now that he heard that what he was seeing was just a pocket dimension.
As they were speaking a man in blue robes and tattered silver armor came charging out of the orange forest on the back of a magnificent Chenghuang, a pained look on his face. Six others similarly dressed followed him. One would think that the group riding atop the armored backs of the strong horse-like creatures would be full of vigor and confidence but they all looked haggard and fearful. They were constantly looking behind themselves as if they were being chased by ghosts.
"Where are you going, Seniors?" a clear melodious voice called out, "didn't you say that you would water the grass with my blood?"