The moon had risen higher in the sky, casting a silver glow that danced across the clearing where Tianwu, Chengyan, and Zhen stood. The tension in the air was thick with unspoken emotions, the faint crackling of power around them mirroring the storm within Tianwu's heart. But despite the looming threat of Zhen's arrival and the weight of their tangled past, something far more pressing had begun to take root within Tianwu. It was a realization—quiet and undeniable—that began to gnaw at him.
Tianwu's gaze lingered on Chengyan for a moment longer than necessary, his chest tightening in response to the unspoken bond they shared. The feeling between them, the history of gods and lovers intertwined through lifetimes, was undeniable. But as his eyes then flickered to Song Yuren, who had remained quietly in the background, Tianwu felt something stir—a shift so profound that it took him by surprise.
There was no denying the deep affection he had for Song Yuren. Despite the complicated layers of his past and the ancient bond that tied him to Chengyan, Tianwu realized that what he felt for Yuren was real. He had tried to bury it, to push it aside, to convince himself that the weight of his past, the gods he had once been, was all-consuming, but the truth was unavoidable. His heart had already chosen.
Song Yuren, the quiet, steady figure who had been his anchor in this life, was no longer just an ally. He was no longer just someone who had been there when Tianwu needed help, someone who offered a semblance of warmth in the harsh world that surrounded them. No. Yuren had become something more. He had become a part of Tianwu's heart.
The realization hit him like a wave—strong, overwhelming, and yet somehow comforting.
For so long, Tianwu had been blinded by the weight of his past life. He had allowed the gods to define him, to shape who he was. He had thought that his bond with Chengyan—formed across countless lifetimes as allies, friends, and lovers—was his destiny. But now, standing in the midst of a growing storm, he saw things with new eyes.
He loved Song Yuren.
The truth of it was undeniable.
And yet, it was a truth that conflicted with everything he had known. How could he reconcile the love he had for Yuren with the past he shared with Chengyan? How could he stand before both of them, knowing that his heart was pulled in two directions, each as powerful as the other? The weight of the question felt like an anchor, pulling him deeper into a sea of uncertainty.
The silence stretched between them, the crackling tension now palpable. Tianwu's heart was pounding, and every glance toward Chengyan or Yuren felt like a betrayal—betrayal of one man, betrayal of the other. He had never felt so torn in his entire life.
"I... I need to speak with you, Yuren," Tianwu finally said, his voice low but firm. It was a fragile request, one that was laden with so many emotions Tianwu didn't even know how to name.
Yuren, who had been watching him with quiet concern, nodded without a word, his face unreadable. He had always been so patient, so understanding of Tianwu's struggles, but tonight there was a shadow in his eyes—a quiet sorrow that Tianwu couldn't ignore.
They walked a short distance away from Chengyan and Zhen, who stood silently in the clearing, their own tension and unspoken words hanging thick in the air. Tianwu felt a pang of guilt as he left Chengyan's side, but it was fleeting, overridden by the intensity of the emotion swirling within him.
Once they were out of earshot, Yuren turned to face him. His expression softened as he met Tianwu's eyes, but there was a wariness in his gaze now, as if he could sense that something had shifted.
"What is it, Tianwu?" Yuren asked, his voice steady, though a trace of something softer lingered there. "What's on your mind?"
Tianwu swallowed, trying to push past the emotions that threatened to choke him. He didn't know where to begin, how to explain the turmoil in his heart. But the words tumbled out anyway, desperate to be heard.
"Yuren, I... I've been running from this for so long," Tianwu said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been running from the truth of what I feel. For you."
Yuren's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion crossing his features. "For me?" he repeated. "What are you talking about, Tianwu?"
Tianwu's heart raced as he finally allowed the words to spill out, the confession he had buried deep inside for far too long.
"I love you, Yuren. I've always loved you," Tianwu said, the truth finally breaking free from the tight cage he had kept it in. "I've tried to deny it. I've tried to pretend that what I shared with Chengyan, the bond we had in our past lives, was enough. But it's not. It's not enough."
Yuren's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, Tianwu thought he might say something, but instead, Yuren fell silent. The expression on his face was unreadable, his gaze distant, as if he were processing Tianwu's words, weighing them against everything else they had shared.
Tianwu felt his heart hammer painfully in his chest as the seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. He had known this moment would come. He had known that once he admitted the truth, it would change everything. But he hadn't expected this silence, this distance that had suddenly appeared between them.
"You... love me?" Yuren's voice was almost a whisper, as if the very thought stunned him. He took a deep breath, his face hardening slightly. "But what about Chengyan? What about him?"
Tianwu felt the words cut through him, and for a moment, he couldn't respond. His heart ached with the weight of the question. Yuren wasn't angry, not exactly. He was... hurt. Hurt by the revelation that Tianwu's feelings for him had been buried so deep for so long.
"I—" Tianwu began, but he faltered. "I don't know what to do anymore, Yuren. I don't know how to navigate this. I don't know how to be fair to either of you."
Yuren's eyes softened then, his expression shifting. The hardness faded, replaced by something warmer, something more familiar. He took a step closer to Tianwu, his hand reaching out.
"Tianwu," Yuren said softly, "You don't have to choose between us. Not right now. Not until you've sorted through this—until you know what your heart truly wants."
Tianwu's chest tightened at his words, and for a moment, he felt like he could finally breathe again. Yuren wasn't angry. He wasn't pushing him away. He was giving Tianwu the space he needed, the understanding he had always given him.
But deep inside, Tianwu knew the truth. He loved Yuren. There was no doubt in his heart anymore. Yet, the pain of the past, the ties he still felt to Chengyan, couldn't be erased so easily. What had once been a simple, clear love now seemed infinitely complicated, a web of feelings, responsibilities, and memories from lifetimes that would forever shape him.
For now, Tianwu only nodded. He didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, with Yuren standing before him, offering him kindness and understanding, he felt the first true sense of peace he'd had in weeks.
"Thank you," Tianwu whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."
Yuren gave him a small smile, the warmth in his eyes evident. "We'll figure it out, Tianwu. Together."
To be continued...