Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Darkness. It’s been a long time since Zhou Zishu has been in such a silent and dark place. Suddenly it’s as if the world just shut down. As if he’s the last one left. The only thing he can feel is qi. Qi, powerful and bright, dense and radiant. Gradually, he feels complete again, as if the holes the seven nails dug in his chest were finally filled up. And, at last, he can breathe again. More freely, more like his life isn’t on the verge of collapsing at any moment. The former Tian Chuang assassin enjoys his own qi finally flowing freely through his veins, but, way more satisfyingly, Wen Kexing’s energy replenishing his broken body.

“Wen Kexing. Zhen Yan. Lao Wen. How is he doing ? What is he feeling right now ? Is he as content as I am to be connected in such an intimate spiritual level ? To think that after that, we’ll have a whole life to enjoy together, how luckier can I be ? Ah, I can’t wait to see, feel and taste again. Can’t wait to see his beautiful smile and the way his lips twitch just a bit when he’s embarrassed. Can’t wait to feel his soft skin when I grab his hand or when we just brush against each other gracefully. Can’t wait to-”

BADUM

Suddenly, nothing. Zhou Zishu’s heart stops at the emptiness he’s abruptly filled with. He feels an immense void and wonders what exactly he’s missing. He tries to assess his own energy but his qi seems stronger than ever so…

“What’s happening ?”

His qi is fine, he doesn’t feel any pain but suddenly an awful and scary realization hits him.

“L-Lao Wen…?” he thinks in panic.

Zhou Zishu doesn’t feel any energy coming from the other end of their intimate connection. But his senses aren’t back yet and he starts freaking out. He wants to open his eyes and to rush toward his soulmate but he knows he won’t see or even feel Wen Kexing’s body against his. A sudden solitude penetrates him.

“I’m alone. All alone… I can’t see, I can’t feel anything, not even pain. What’s happening ? Did I…Did I die during the energy transfer ?! Maybe I got injured and didn’t feel any pain and that’s why I can’t feel Wen Kexing now. D-Did he abandon me…? Maybe he got sick of taking care of an idiot like me. No. No, I know him, he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t give up on me like that. He already risked his life entering the armory by my side, it wouldn’t make any sense. Lao Wen wouldn’t abandon me in such a pitiful state. That’s not possible. But… What’s happening ? I don’t understa-”

But Zhou Zishu’s thoughts are abruptly interrupted by a feeling he has already lost a long time ago ; taste. A few seconds after that, he feels a soft cold breeze brushing against his skin and can’t believe how good it feels to finally gain his senses back. But getting his senses back means…

“I can see !” he thinks in excitement before opening his eyes wide.

But at the instant his eyes finally make sense of the scene before him, time stops for the Four Seasons Manor Leader.

White hair. Wen Kexing. The emptiness. Everything suddenly makes sense. He notices a tear rolling down his soulmate’s cheek as Wen Kexing’s hands slowly slip from his owns. He catches them in need to feel his skin, feel his pulse, feel him.

“No. No, tha-that’s not happening.” Zhou Zishu whispers in panic.

But Wen Kexing doesn’t respond.

“Lao Wen, sweetie. You’re tired, right…? You’re just tired, you need to rest.” he murmurs in denial.

He grabs his junior’s hands, his arms, his shoulders. But as Zhou Zishu approaches his soulmate, Wen Kexing falls slowly and limply to the ground, unconscious.

“No, no, you’re fine, you’re gonna be fine.” Zhou Zishu keeps on mumbling frantically.

The Tian Chuang assassin needs to keep him close and hugs him tightly. He squeezes Wen Kexing between his now powerful and energized arms. But as he looks down at his soulmate’s closed eyes, his heart skips a bit.

Cold. Wen Kexing’s body feels so cold against his own. That’s not good, that’s not good, that’s not goo-

“Lao Wen. Love, just say something, please. I’m begging you, just open your eyes and talk to me. I-I don’t care if you’re just making a joke, I won’t be mad, I swear. Please, please, just wake up.” Zhou Zishu begs while rocking their bodies together.

But his soulmate’s energy doesn’t flare up, he doesn’t move a muscle and hope quickly leaves Zhou Zishu to let anger and despair take the lead.

“Lao Wen. We-Wen Kexing ! Wen Kexing ! Just say something ! You can’t. You can’t do that to me ! You promised to roam the world with me ! You said we would raise up Chengling together, teach him martial arts. You can’t abandon us ! Wen Kexing, please, please…” he begins to cry.

He looks around him with unexpected and desperate hope.

“Someone, please ! I’m begging you, help ! Anyone, please !” but nobody answers.

When he looks back at his soulmate, he notices his brows twitching a bit, as if in pain.

“Lao Wen ! Lao Wen, you’re gonna be okay. Just wake up sweetie, I’m here.” Zhou Zishu smiles sadly.

The younger man’s eyes flutter open, painfully weak.

“A...Ah-Xu…” he whispers with a small but soft smile.

“I’m here. I’m here, Lao Wen.” the former assassin cries, needingly hugging his soulmate.

Wen Kexing sighs but his smile doesn’t falter.

“Ah-Xu… Why are you crying ?” he whispers.

Zhou Zishu glares at his soulmate with heartbroken eyes. Wen Kexing seems so weak and vulnerable right now. It’s as if he’s constantly on the verge of fainting again.

“I-I’m worried about you, Lao Wen. I’m so scared…” he answers in panic.

But that only brightens the younger man’s smile.

“You don’t need to be afraid, Ah-Xu. E-Everything is gonna be okay.” Wen Kexing replies between harsh breaths.

The healer places a trembling hand on his lover’s face before smiling sadly.

“I’m glad it worked. So glad…”

A single tear falls down the Ghost Valley Master’s pale cheek. That alarms Zhou Zishu who suddenly realizes that the energy transfer, his sacrifice, it was Wen Kexing’s plan all along.

“Why… ? Why would you sacrifice yourself for me like that… ?”

Wen Kexing’s eyes sadden a little more.

“How could I not ?” he smiles weakly.

“B-But- “

“There’s only you, Ah-Xu. Without you by my side, there’s no one to live for anymore.” the healer interrupts him.

Wen Kexing coughs painfully in his lover’s arms before speaking again, even more softly than before.

“You gave a sense to this whole mess that has been my life, Zhou Zishu. You’re The One. The one I ever loved, the one I trust, the only one I would give my life for.” Wen Kexing smiles warmly.

“But you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your own life for an idiot like me…”

“If not for you, then for who ?” the dying man laughs softly before a bloody coughing fit breaks his body again.

Zhou Zishu observes him with horrified eyes before biting his lip in guilt. When the healer finally stops coughing, he looks up at his lover once again.

“Don’t blame yourself, shǎzi. It’s not your fault, I chose this fate. If there’s anyone to blame, blame love and devotion.” he whispers softly.

Zhou Zishu can’t help the tears falling painfully from his tired eyes. He feels so empty, so lost.

“I-I can’t do it, Lao Wen. I can’t live without you in my life. It simply doesn’t make sense anymore…” he confesses.

“I know it’s hard, love. I do. But you’ve got to live. For me, for Ah-Xiang, for Chengling. I know it’s hard and I’m so sorry.” Wen Kexing sobs silently.

Zhou Zishu tightens his grip around the pale dying man. Wen Kexing grabs his shoulder as hard as his weak body allows him to, using the last bit of energy left in his body.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Ah-Xu. I don’t want to leave you, it kills me to think that I won’t be able to travel the world by your side. I’m so sorry I won’t be able to spare with you, drink with you, laugh with you. I’m sorry I won’t see Chengling grow up into the incredible young man I know he’ll become.”

The mention of their disciple’s name breaks his heart even more.

“I’ve always known that I didn’t deserve you, Ah-Xu. That I didn’t deserve to live happily by your side ; me, a broken murderer. B-But… I just wish I had more time.” he cries painfully.

“L-Lao Wen…”

Wen Kexing smiles sadly before finally coming to his limit.

“I-I’m sorry… A-Ah-Xu…” he whispers in one last teary breath.

The healer slowly closes his eyes as his body relaxes limply in Zhou Zishu’s arms. The former assassin shuts his eyes in sorrowful pain.

“Lao Wen… Lao Wen, please. Please come back…” he cries loudly.

The heavy and infinite silence reigning in the armory is only interrupted by Zhou Zishu’s loud and broken sobs when, suddenly, the Four Seasons Manor’s leader notices light and meticulous footsteps. He looks up, searching for the source of this unexpected presence.

“Who is it ?! Show yourself !” he shouts, protectively tightening his grip around Wen Kexing’s unconscious body.

“Is it a martial artist ?! Maybe someone survived the snowfall, maybe he’s coming here to take revenge on us !”

Zhou Zishu grabs his sword, Baiyi, ready to protect the limp body of his soulmate.

“Come out ! What do you want ?!”

But his eyes widen when he spots the immortal Ye Baiyi slowly walking towards him, confusion clear on his face.

“That’s a way to talk to your senior, idiot.” he laughs a bit.

But as the immortal steps closer to him, Zhou Zishu doesn’t relax nor releases Wen Kexing’s body from his deathly grip. When Ye Baiyi notices the aggressive and wild aura coming from Zhou Zishu, he raises his hands, palms up.

“Hey, it’s just me, okay ? No need to be so defensive.” he adds softly.

He doesn’t know what’s going on but it must be extremely serious to cause a calm and wise man such as Zhou Zishu to react like that. The immortal takes a few more steps and progressively notices Wen Kexing’s body pressed against his soulmate’s.

“Hey, brat. What are you doing, sleeping in such a place ? I know you grew up without parental supervision but didn’t anybody teach you politene-”

Ye Baiyi abruptly stops mid-sentence, realizing that the young brat isn’t indeed sleeping, but unconscious. At that moment, he also notices how Zhou Zishu seems so lively and energized compared to their last encounter and suddenly everything makes sense : the white hair, the lack of energy radiating from Wen Kexing’s unconscious frame, his paleness…

“Oh my God ! What did you do ?!” the immortal rushes towards the unconscious healer.

But as soon as he steps too close, Zhou Zishu threatens him with his sword.

“Don’t you dare touch him !” he whispers in pure anger and aggressiveness.

Ye Baiyi looks up at him and notices the beast-like look, the defensive posture and his hard grip on Wen Kexing’s body.

“He’s in shock.” he thinks.

“Zhou Zishu, it’s me, Ye Baiyi. I’m not gonna hurt him, I swear. I only want to help.”

The former assassin’s eyes seem to regain some grip on reality and Zhou Zishu nods, slowly coming to his senses. Ye Baiyi walks closer and presses his fingers on Wen Kexing’s forearm, searching for his pulse.

“Y-You have to help him. Please, please I’m begging you, help him…” Zhou Zishu whispers, panic and helplessness clear in his tone.

Ye Baiyi focuses on Wen Kexing and he’s horrified by his own conclusions.

“The six cultivation method. Why on earth did I teach him this fucking technique for ?! I’m such an idiot, of course this brat would use it to save his lover ! Those healers and their constant need to sacrifice themselves !”

He takes one look at the young man and immediately regrets his lack of clairvoyance.

“He’s so pale, his heart is barely beating still…”

Ye Baiyi sighs sadly. Even if he usually doesn’t show it, his heart broke for this young traumatized man already a long time ago. He even took a real liking to the boy, way more than he’s willing to admit. But one look at his still and weak body and he suddenly realizes something.

“I really like this brat. He-He’s like a son to me now. The son I never had, the disciple I lost. He’s all that and even more. If only I had found him earlier, if only I had taken care of him when his parents were assassinated, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation. Maybe he wouldn’t be lying on this freaking floor, at the verge of death…”

There’s one thing he knows for sure ; he’s not gonna let him die this way. He’ll help him recover, teach him everything he knows, comfort him when the past becomes to heavy for him to bear it by himself. As long as the younger man accepts him by his side, along with Zhou Zishu, his soulmate, he’ll never leave his side.

The immortal looks at Zhou Zishu with a sad but meaningful glare. He knows the younger man is the one who will, ultimately, take decisions regarding his soulmate. Ye Baiyi slowly places his hand on his shoulder and forces the former assassin into eye contact.

“Hey. Look at me.” he whispers.

But Zhou Zishu can’t take his eyes off Wen Kexing and only shakes his head while repeating.

“P-Please, you have to save him. Please, plea-”

“Zhou Zishu ! Look at me !”

That stops the younger man from mumbling any longer and he indeed looks up at the immortal.

“I’m not gonna let him die, okay ? I’m gonna help him, but I need you to help me. Do you think you can do that, Zhou Zishu ?” Ye Baiyi asks with determination in his eyes.

Zhou Zishu nods hurriedly, hope and despair guiding his every move.

“Okay, we have to take a decision, together. Right now, Wen Kexing’s meridians are all messed up and entangled. That’s because he used his own body as a furnace to refine qi before transferring it all to you.” the immortal explains calmly.

The Four Seasons Manor’s leader can’t even begin to imagine how painful it must have been for his soulmate and he swears to himself that, starting from now, he wouldn’t let Wen Kexing suffer anymore. Never again.

“We have two choices ; the first one is to do nothing and to let him go. If you choose this option, I will respect your choice because you are his soulmate.”

“But it would break my heart…” the immortal thinks to himself.

“No ! No, that’s not happening ! We’re not letting him die !” Zhou Zishu shouts.

“Okay, okay I get it. So our only option now is to ; first, completely destroy his meridians and, secondly, totally rebuild them using my immortal qi.”

The plan sinks in Zhou Zishu’s mind before he realizes something.

“B-But what about…”

“His martial art ? Gone. Right now, I can’t save him and preserve his martial art. To save his life, we have to destroy his native meridians, there’s no other way. Once we reconstruct his meridians with immortal qi, he’ll be able to learn martial arts again, but he’ll have to start all again from the beginning.” Ye Baiyi explains seriously.

Zhou Zishu nods sadly. He knows how hurt Wen Kexing is gonna feel when he’ll learn they took his martial arts away. But there’s no way in hell he’s gonna watch his soulmate die like that only because of martial arts.

“No fucking way, that’s not happening. I’m not letting him die.” Zhou Zishu thinks before addressing the immortal again.

“Okay, let’s do it. We’ll bear with the consequences later.”

“Alright, but, Zhou Zishu, don’t lose your shit, okay ?”

“What are you talking about ?”

“Well, you know how painful it is to severe even one or two meridians, but I don’t think you realize how excruciating, physically and mentally, having your whole meridians system destroyed is.” Ye Baiyi replies honestly.

“It’s that painful… ?”

“Gosh, what did I swear to myself a few seconds ago, again ? Oh yes, that I wouldn’t let him suffer anymore ever.” Zhou Zishu thinks to himself.

But his thoughts are interrupted by Ye Baiyi’s serious voice.

“He’s gonna wake up during the procedure. He’s gonna wake up and when he does, you’ll wish he never had. So, when he regains consciousness, I’m gonna need you to keep him steady. He’ll scream and suffer a lot, but, at least, in the end he’ll be alive.”

“O-Okay…”

“Alright, let’s do this.”

Ye Baiyi moves Wen Kexing’s body on his back on the floor and places his hands above his chest. Qi start radiating from his palms, gently at first. Wen Kexing doesn’t bulge, his face relaxing under the soft and warm qi entering his body.

“Alright, I stabilized him. Now comes the hard part.” the immortal explains before closing his eyes in focus.

A few seconds pass in silence before a screeching scream pierces the air. Wen Kexing opens his eyes widely and simply can’t stop himself from shouting loudly.

“AAAAAAAAAH !!!”

Zhou Zishu observes the scene in horror. Wen Kexing is screaming so much, it’s as if he’s being skinned alive. The Four Seasons Manor’s leader stares in owe, panic rising in his chest. It takes all of his self-restrain not to murder Ye Baiyi on the spot for hurting his soulmate like that.

But as Wen Kexing begins to struggle under the immortal’s hands, Ye Baiyi opens his eyes and looks hurriedly at Zhou Zishu.

“Zhou Zishu ! Keep him still for fuck’s sake !” he shouts.

But the younger man doesn’t move, paralyzed by guilt and terror.

“Oh my God, what are we doing to him… ?! What am I doing to him ?!” the former assassin thinks in horror.

“Zhou Zishu ! I know you hate to see him suffer like that, but it’s gonna hurt him even more if he keeps on struggling like that !”

That awakes the younger man who finally grabs his soulmate’s tense limbs. He closes his eyes, unable to actually look at Wen Kexing while hurting him this way.

It takes long, way too long. Minutes turn into hours of painful shouting and Zhou Zishu’s hopes turn into immense and inconsolable despair for his soulmate. Wen Kexing just keeps screaming and screaming, his suffering never seems to stop.

But after what feels like the longest hours of their lives, Ye Baiyi releases Wen Kexing’s body from his horrible torture. Zhou Zishu pants while grabbing his lover’s head between his hands.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Lao Wen ! Please wake up, I’m sorry !” he cries for a few minutes.

Slowly, Wen Kexing opens his exhausted eyes in great effort and recognizes Zhou Zishu.

“A-Ah-Xu…”

“I’m sorry Lao Wen, I’m sorry I hurt you like that…” the older man cries.

The young healer looks around him and notices Ye Baiyi. When he sees the immortal, he understands right away. Wen Kexing nods at him and mouths a quiet “Thank you”.

Ye Baiyi nods back and sits down, resting a bit after spending so much qi. He watches Zhou Zishu crying endlessly and, of course, keeps an eye on Wen Kexing. Despite the exhaustion and pain, the healer slowly raises his hand and places it on his soulmate’s cheek with a small smile and whispers faintly.

“Shǎzi, I’m okay, can’t you see ?” he laughs weakly.

Zhou Zishu sobs even harder at that.

“B-But you’re hurting so much… And it’s all my fault !”

Wen Kexing sighs and turns his head towards Ye Baiyi.

“Old monster, is it his fault ?” he asks with a little smile, already knowing the answer.

“Of course not ! There’s no one to blame but you, brat ! What were you thinking sacrificing yourself like that ?! I didn’t teach you this martial art for you to foolishly give your life away ! You stupid healers and your constant need to save everyone but yourself !” Ye Baiyi finishes with a pout.

Wen Kexing nods with an amused smile.

“See ? Even immortal Ye Baiyi doesn’t blame you. Who are we to argue with such an old and wise senior ?”

Zhou Zishu laughs a bit and even Ye Baiyi admits that it really warms his heart to see the young healer joking as he always did in the past. But reality catches up to them abruptly as Wen Kexing’s smile transforms into a pained grimace. A few seconds later, he’s suddenly coughing like crazy.

Zhou Zishu seems to be the only one fearing for him but when blood starts running down the young healer’s mouth, Ye Baiyi hurries by his side with immense worry.

“Brat, you shouldn’t be talking, I crushed all your meridians and your insides are a mess right now. You should rest quietly for now.” Ye Baiyi instructs, taking his pulse.

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen and he looks at the immortal with horror. He weakly grabs his arm despite the pain he’s currently in and his lips tremble slightly before speaking again.

“M-My meridians… You crushed my meridians ?!” he asks in panic.

“I had no other choice. Had I not completely rebuilt your whole meridian system, you’d be dead by now.”

“B-But my martial art… What about my martial art ?!” Wen Kexing looks at Ye Baiyi with anger and anxiety.

The immortal doesn’t reply. He just looks away, giving away his indirect answer. Wen Kexing shakes his head in confusion, he’s slowly realizing how this unexpected resurrection will affect him in the future.

He looks at Zhou Zishu with hurt and betrayed eyes.

“H-How could you let him… How could you let him take my martial art away ?!”

“You were dying… There was no other way.” Zhou Zishu replies with sad eyes.

“What about when you were the one dying ?! You wouldn’t let go of your martial art ! You said you preferred to live a shorter but more meaningful life ! But now that you’re the one hurting, the one left behind, you think you have the right to choose for me ?! How fair is that ?!”

Wen Kexing can barely finish his sentence before coughing up blood again.

“Lao Wen !” Zhou Zishu worries.

“Stop talking, idiot brat !” Ye Baiyi says, trying to help him straightening his back.

But Wen Kexing weakly but angrily pushes his hand away.

“Don’t touch me ! You’ve already done enough !” he shouts with teary eyes.

Ye Baiyi’s heart is crushed by his son-like’s vulnerability.

“Wen Kexing, it’s okay. I rebuilt your meridian system. It’s not gonna be the same as before but you’ll still be able to practice martial arts.” the immortal tries to reassure him gently.

But he didn’t expect the young healer to still look so hurt and immensely sad.

“It’s no use trying to cheer me up. My martial art is gone, even if I can practice it ever again, it’s never gonna be the same.”

Zhou Zishu hurts at seeing how it affects his soulmate. He places his hand on his lover’s shoulder before speaking softly.

“I’ll help you. I’ll teach you the Four Seasons Manor’s martial art, as I was always supposed to.” he offers with a comforting smile.

But Wen Kexing looks even more hurt than before, anger joining in this cocktail of emotions.

“Four Seasons Manor’s martial arts ?! What about the martial art I developed and mastered over the last 16 years ?! What about my true native martial art ?!”

“It won’t be of any use to you anymore, I’ll teach you my own. Who cares about some Ghost Valley low class martial art ? You were only surviving at the time, but now you’re out of the valley, you don’t need it anymore.” Zhou Zishu says with a bright happy smile.

At this, Wen Kexing’s anger flares up again.

“It was my parent’s martial arts, not the Ghost Valley’s ! It was part of the Healer’s Valley culture ! I don’t care about your fucking Four Seasons Manor’s bullshit ! You want to help me ?! Well, then give me back my parent’s only heritage !” he shouts back in pain and anger, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Ye Baiyi looks at the two of them when a thought suddenly invades his mind.

“Wen Kexing’s behavior… He’s like a capricious kid who suddenly lost something so precious he won’t accept any other form of compensation.”

The thought of Wen Kexing finally acting like a child at such a critical time saddens the immortal to the deepest point. He knows the boy was never given the opportunity to act as a kid or to even experience real childhood. He spent so much time in the valley, fighting for his life, no wonder he grew attached to the martial art which helped him through the years.

Ye Baiyi has never been the most tolerant and patient man. But for this broken crying boy, he’s willing to accept anything, wait for an eternity, as long as it means keeping a smile on Wen Kexing’s face. He takes a deep breathe before speaking.

“You’re right, Wen Kexing.”

The Ghost Valley Master glares at the immortal with confused eyes.

“We were wrong to force this fate on you. You should have been the one to choose to live or die and in which way.” Ye Baiyi continues.

Wen Kexing’s eyes tear up unwillingly again. Someone finally tries to understand his distress instead of pushing him to act differently and that simple fact warms his heart.

“I understand why you’re so attached to your martial art. It was one of the last bit of the Healer’s Valley’s culture your parents left for you. I took it from you and for this affront, I’m truly sorry.” the immortal adds softly.

He looks down in regret before tow-bowing in front of the young healer. Wen Kexing is caught off guard as the senior suddenly acts so out of character and hurriedly grabs his hands.

“Stand up. Stand up, idiot !” the younger demands.

Ye Baiyi stays on his knees in front of him and only straightens his back. They’re now at the same level and Wen Kexing can finally look into the immortal’s eyes. They’re filled with respect, self-blame and regret.

“It’s alright, old monster. No need to look at me like that.” Wen Kexing murmurs, averting his eyes in embarrassment.

He doesn’t know how to deal with an emotional and sincere Ye Baiyi. But the senior isn’t done.

“It’s not alright, far from it. I’m deeply sorry for hurting you all along.”

Ye Baiyi takes another deep breathe before speaking again.

“It’s time to man up.” he thinks.

“To be honest, when I saw you passed out on the floor, minutes away from death, I couldn’t bear it. I haven’t paid back the debts I owe you and I… kinda got used to your annoying chatting.” he looks away in embarrassment.

“I know I hurt you by taking your martial art away but I can’t say I regret saving you. For me, your life is way more important than your martial art, Wen Kexing. I really hope you won’t have to use martial arts ever again. You’ve been fighting your whole life.”

That hits Wen Kexing right in the core and his eyes water again.

“You’ve done so well, Wen Kexing. But you can stop fighting now. You’ve got people who care about you and we’ll protect you with our life if needed.” the immortal goes on, giving a small look at Zhou Zishu.

“You can drop your weapons, all your enemies are gone. You made them pay for their wrongs, all of them. You can rest now.” Ye Baiyi adds with a gentle fatherly smile.

When he looks at Wen Kexing again, the young healer is crying heavily.

“I-I can’t…” he mumbles with shame.

“And why is that ?” Ye Baiyi’s smile doesn’t leave his face.

He knows that whatever difficulty Wen Kexing has to face, they’ll get through it, together. The younger man looks up with the most sad eyes the immortal has ever seen before confessing.

“My enemies, I almost killed them all. You just prevented me from ending the last one today…” he whispers with so much pain and sadness that even Ye Baiyi can’t hold back his tears.

Zhou Zishu, up till now an observer, is suddenly struck by the meaning of his soulmate’s words. He can’t believe his ears and reaches for his soulmate’s trembling shoulder.

“Lao We-” but a single look from Ye Baiyi stops him dead in his tracks.

Those eyes have so much to say it almost scares Zhou Zishu. He never realized how protective Ye Baiyi was over Wen Kexing. The immortal diverts his eyes from Zhou Zishu and focuses on the sobbing boy again.

“Wen Kexing, it’s gonna be okay. I won’t give you a bullshit speech about how wrong you are to blame yourself about your parents deaths for I know you won’t believe a word I’d say. But I’ll tell you one thing : it’s gonna be alright, you’re gonna be alright. In time, your feelings will too change and I can assure you that I’ll do my very immortal best to help you. I won’t let you feel as helpless and desperate as you did when you decided to end your life to repent for your sins, saving this idiot in the process.” Ye Baiyi explains sincerely.

Wen Kexing looks up at the immortal’s face and observes him with confused eyes.

“Why…?”

Ye Baiyi doesn’t understand the sudden question and searches Wen Kexing’s eyes for an answer before asking.

“What do you mean, why ?” he replies with a little playful smile.

But Wen Kexing’s features don’t soften at the sight of the immortal’s relaxed face. The young healer’s glare is cold and serious as he explains himself.

“Why are you doing this ? I don’t understand… Why would you say all those comforting words to me ?” Wen Kexing asks gravely.

That explanation surprises Ye Baiyi and his heart breaks at the thought of Wen Kexing not considering himself worthy of such affection.

“Because you deserve those words. You’ve suffered alone for so long, I think it’s time someone showed you real and honest compassion.” the immortal replies softly, hoping Wen Kexing will accept his kindness without too much resistance.

But, of course, an abused mind will always distrust people who are too kind.

“But I’m nothing to you. An enemy at most. So why would you give yourself the trouble of considering my feelings like that ? You’re just strangers.”

“We’re not strangers, foolish brat.” Ye Baiyi laughs a bit.

“Having a debt to settle to my family in the name of your deceased disciple doesn’t make us acquaintances.” Wen Kexing insists.

The brutality of the young man’s honesty hits the immortal hard.

“Maybe not, but traveling together, quarreling, drinking and fighting together definitely brought us closer, don’t you think ?” Ye Baiyi asks, hoping for a little effort from Wen Kexing to return some kind of reciprocated affection.

Zhou Zishu observes them from an outsider’s perspective. He doesn’t mind standing back from their private relationship but Wen Kexing’s behavior is slowly worrying him. In fact, this discussion is turning more and more into Wen Kexing’s rejection of Ye Baiyi’s affection and he doesn’t like it. He knows that his soulmate has a tendency to isolate himself from other’s attention as soon as they get to close to his real feelings and insecurities.

The former spy decides that he’ll try to convince his soulmate that it’s okay to trust their immortal friend.

“Yeah, it’s just like when we first met, Lao Wen. At first, I didn’t want your company but you still clung to me and with time, wine and fights, we slowly became friends.” Zhou Zishu says with a bright smile.

Wen Kexing looks at him in wonder.

“That’s different, this man was trying to kill me just a few weeks ago and now we’re suddenly best buddies ? I’m not buying it.” he answers, distrust evident in his tone.

But Ye Baiyi has had enough of his bullshit and decides to blatantly stand his opinion.

“Okay, stop it now, Wen Kexing.”

“What do you mean ?”

“Oh, please, just drop the distrustful and doubting act. Of course we’re more than acquaintances and you know it. You only want to remind me that you absolutely don’t trust me, just at the moment I got to close to your true feelings ! And, please, don’t try to deny it. Because we all know it’s the truth. I know it, Zhou Zishu knows it and even if you see yourself as an all powerful and evil mastermind, you know it too. So, just drop the act, it will save us all a lot of time and energy.” Ye Baiyi finishes, proud of his little speech.

But this contentment drops abruptly when he faces Wen Kexing’s eyes again. The young man probably didn’t like that way the immortal dismissed disrespectfully the only psychological defense which helped him survive the hell he went through in the Ghost Valley.

The immortal realizes his mistake way too late and Wen Kexing is already boiling with anger.

“You have a problem with my behavior, old bastard ?! Then fuck you ! No one forced you to come here and I don’t remember asking for your fucking help ! So what, you don’t like the fact that I don’t trust you one bit ? Have you even considered the reason of such distrust ? And no, it’s not because of some freaking trauma, I’m not this unaware ! It’s because you never gave me any reason to trust you from the start !”

“W-What ?!”

“When we met you, you forced the old Long Que to tell you the truth about Rong Xuan’s death despite my plead to leave the past alone ! Later, you asked for my request to repay the debts your disciple owed my parents, but did you live up to this request ? No ! You only deceived me and let Zhou Zishu die a slow and painful death without even bothering to check on him ! You want me to trust you ?! Then don’t make big fucking promises you don’t intend on keeping !” he finally finishes, panting in anger.

Ye Baiyi looks at him with hurt and regretful eyes.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“You’re sorry ? Well, then everything is settled, right ?! You said sorry, so I guess it doesn’t matter that you tried to kill me as soon as you learned that I was the Ghost Valley Master ?! You didn’t even try to understand, you didn’t consider my situation for even a minute before drawing your sword ! But you’re sorry, so everything is alright now ! A simple insincere apology is quite magical, don’t you think ?!” the younger answers with sarcasm.

“I am sincere ! I made a lot of mistakes and I regret each one of them. I know you don’t trust me, but I swear I don’t mean to harm you anymore…” Ye Baiyi is almost begging Wen Kexing to give him a chance at this point.

“Yeah, just like you didn’t mean to harm me when you crushed my meridians and took my martial art away less than an hour ago !”

“You were dying !”

“Yes I was ! And I wanted to ! I only regret not succeeding !”

“Stop talking about your own death as if your life means nothing, Wen Kexing !”

“My life’s value isn’t something for you to judge !” the healer keeps shouting.

“Gosh, can’t you see how selfish you sound right now ?! You just want to die the way you want and well, fuck all the people who care about me, is that it ?!”

“You don’t care about me, Ye Baiyi ! You only care about a freaking debt you think you owe me !”

“How many times do I have to explain myself ?! I do care about you ! You’re just too self-absorbed to accept any kind of affection !”

“Well, excuse me, but the Ghost Valley wasn’t exactly the most psychologically friendly place to grow up in ! I never got used to any kind of affection !”

“Enough with this excuse ! We all know, it was terrible, you went through hell there ! But you can’t use this excuse to justify everything, Wen Kexing !”

“An excuse ? An excuse ?! That’s my whole life you’re talking about, old bastard ! I can’t believe you have the balls to call my whole life an excuse when you’re partially responsible for the bloody mess it was !”

Zhou Zishu observes the exchange with horror.

“Ye Baiyi was just trying to comfort Wen Kexing because he was sad that he didn’t value his life enough. These are positive interaction, it’s warm and affectionate comfort… How did it escalate so much, so fast ?” he thinks to himself.

But the two others continue shouting.

“I wasn’t the one who executed your parents, for God’s sake ! How can you take me accountant for-”

Zhou Zishu’s patience is running out and he interrupts the immortal abruptly.

“Enough !” he shouts suddenly over their angry voices.

Ye Baiyi and Wen Kexing both stop dead in their tracks and look at him with furious eyes.

“Just stop screaming at each other, for fuck’s sake ! Ye Baiyi, Wen Kexing’s past is not something you ought to belittle and it’s only natural for him to be distrustful, that’s the only behavior that kept him alive in the Ghost Valley for about 16 years. He has made enough sacrifices for us to be tolerant and comprehensive.”

Ye Baiyi nods and looks down in embarrassment. Immortality sure should have taught him patience and wisdom.

“And you, Wen Kexing. I understand that you don’t trust him, but your pain doesn’t give you the right to blame him for everything that happened in the past. I’m convinced that you know as well as I do that Ye Baiyi isn’t responsible for your parent’s deaths.” the former Tian Chuang leader explains calmly.

Wen Kexing looks away with a sigh. He know he was wrong but his pride prevents him from acknowledging it.

Zhou Zishu looks at him with a soft focus before speaking again.

“Neither is he responsible for my condition, Lao Wen.” he smiles gently.

Wen Kexing looks up at him with sad haunted eyes.

“Ye Baiyi only tried his best to help me and even though he didn’t succeed, the only one who should receive the blame is me.” the former assassin adds.

Wen Kexing shakes his head in disapproval.

“No, it was the circumstances. The only one to blame is Prince Jin. You did nothing wrong. You thought you had to sacrifice yourself because of your loyalty. I’ve never blamed you.” the healer answers sadly.

“Yet you had to go through the six cultivation method, lose your martial art and almost your life because of me.” Zhou Zishu sighs.

“Nonsense, you’re not responsible for my choices.”

“What about Ye Baiyi, then ? Is he responsible for your choices ?” Zhou Zishu encourages their reconciliation with a smile.

Wen Kexing looks at the silent immortal for a second before facing him again.

“You’re not responsible for my choices, old monster. I understand that you might feel guilty because you were the one who taught me how to use the six cultivation method, but I need you to understand that my selfish act doesn’t have anything to do with you. Don’t blame yourself.” Wen Kexing admits.

Ye Baiyi smiles a bit before the younger man starts speaking again.

“Also, I’m sorry I blamed you for my parent’s death. You weren’t even around at the time, even though it was your disciple who caused the whole situation, I never thought that you owed me or my family anything.”

“Wen Kexi-”

“Wait, I’m not done. I know that… I’m a pain in the ass. I clearly have trust issues and even though they’re quite understandable given my past experiences, I know you only had good intentions earlier. I’m sorry for doubting you when you finally decided to give me another chance.” Wen Kexing finally admits.

Ye Baiyi’s heart warms at the sight of his child-like vulnerability.

“You youngsters never learn ! Ahaha ! It’s okay, you know I love arguing with everyone just for the fun of it, don’t think too much about it.”

Wen Kexing laughs a bit in response, but the immortal doesn’t intend to leave the matter alone yet. Ye Baiyi looks more serious now as he addresses the younger man.

“You know, time has made me less patient and tolerant, I know I’m being quite tactless sometimes. But, Wen Kexing, you have to understand that I really do care about you. And listening to you speaking about how you’re willing to end your life as if it was something that had to be done, it really breaks me. You matter. And not just because I have a debt to settle to your parents. Because you’re a good man. A gentle and sensitive man who just had to do certain things in order to survive. That’s all. There’s nothing more to it. I won’t let you beat yourself up endlessly, thinking that you deserve all the terrible things that happened to you.” he finishes softly.

Wen Kexing looks at him with teary eyes and only nods. He wants to speak, to thank him for finding the exact words that he needed to hear, but he simply can’t. He has kept silent for so long, he doesn’t know how to voice or even acknowledge his own suffering anymore.

Zhou Zishu observes them with a content and gentle smile.

“See ? It wasn’t too hard to make peace, right ?” he laughs a bit, trying to ease up the tension.

Ye Baiyi smiles softly.

“Well, he’s still a moron who need to accept other’s affection, but I guess I was in the wrong too. I pretend to have seen and experienced everything when, in reality, you’ve gone through so much more than I even have. I don’t know how’s life in that damned Ghost Valley, but if it’s even half as horrible as I imagine it, then I shouldn’t have said that you were using it as excuse. So, for that and everything else, I’m really sorry, Wen Kexing.”

The healer looks at him warmly.

“It’s okay, it’s all in the past no-”

But Wen Kexing is interrupted by another bloody coughing fit.

“Lao Wen !”

“Wen Kexing ! Stop talking now, you have to rest.”

Zhou Zishu observes his soulmate with worry.

“We need to find a way out of here as soon as possible. Wen Kexing won’t get better unless we give him proper medical care.”

“You stay here and look after him, I’ll try to find an exit.” Ye Baiyi says, standing up.

But as soon as he gets up, his vision transforms into a fuzzy blur. He takes a few steps back dizzily.

“Ye Baiyi ! You stay here. You used a lot of energy to rebuild Wen Kexing’s meridians, I’ll go.” Zhou Zishu says and stands up next.

Ye Baiyi doesn’t protest, he’s actually relieved to be able to keep an eye on Wen Kexing himself.

But as Zhou Zishu is about to leave, he feels weak hands grabbing his robe. He looks back and is met with his soulmate’s sad and teary eyes.

“Y-You’ll come back, right ? Promise me you’ll come back for me…” he begs with a trembling voice.

Zhou Zishu’s heart breaks at the sight and it reminds him of the last time he saw Zhen Yan, 16 years ago. The young boy had begged him to come back for him too at the time. The former assassin sighs sadly and smiles at his soulmate.

“I will, I promise.”

Chapter Text

Hi everyone !

I'm so sorry I left you all hanging like that and that I completely stopped writing this fanfic ! I had really a lot going on but now everything's settling and I'm finally writing the next chapter and I have so many ideas for what's coming next !

But I'm wondering though, is anyone still interested in this fanfic ? Please let me know if you're still waiting for next chapter to keep me motivated and I'll hurry as much as I can - probably updating next week :)

Love you all so much, I hope you're still following this because I can't wait to share the rest of the story with you !

*me looking for the survivors still following the fanfic*

Chapter Text

Ye Baiyi watches over Wen Kexing as if his life depends on it. 

"Actually it does..." he thinks softly to himself.

Their peaceful silence is interrupted by the young healer.

"Old Monster, can I ask you a question ?" he asks nervously.

That owes him a small smirk from the immortal.

"Shoot."

"I-I was wondering if... you had ever been to my home - he stops himself for a second before correcting himself - to the Healer's Valley ?" Wen Kexing mumbles.

Surprised, Ye Baiyi doesn't answer immediately.

"If you don't wanna talk about it it's fi-"

"I've been there, a long long time ago."

Wen Kexing looks at him with big round emotional eyes, scanning his soul in search of any kind of hope the immortal could possibly give him about his birth Valley.

"How was it ? When you went there, how was it ?" he asks with curious childish eyes.

The immortal chuckles at how cute his little protege is.

"Well, full of healers as you could imagine."

"And ?"

"And it was beautiful. It's perched on a high mountain, completely surrounded by forest. It's as if the disciple of the Healers Valley's sect were in total harmony with the nature envelopping it's Valley." the immortal adds.

Wen Kexing, first full of amazement, suddenly turns sad and melancolic.

"It really is beautiful, huh ?" he whispers.

Just as Ye Baiyi is about to comfort the young man, Zhou Zishou comes back, a bunch of old books in hands.

"Did you find an exit ?" the immortal asks.

"No, every exit is sealed by the snow... But I brought back a few interesting books that could help us find some kind of, I don't know, secret exit ?"

Wen Kexing slowly sits up, determined to help them search the books.

"Lao Wen, you should keep laying down. If you're not feeling well-"

"I'm feeling well enough to rummage through a few old pages, don't worry." the healer reassures his soulmate.

Zhou Zishou nods before grabbing a book of his own. They pass a few minutes in silence, until the young healer gasps suddenly.

"Wen Kexing ? What's wrong ?" Ye Baiyi asks in worry.

"I-It's my dad's writing..." he explains faintly, brushing a ghostly hand over the page.

He can't believe his eyes. It's been what, twenty years since he last saw his father's elegant and simple handwriting. A nostalgic smile forms on his lips.

Zhou Zishou understands how emotional that discovery must be for his soulmate and gives him a bit of time, seeing his eyes water.

"Let's try to find an exit." Ye Baiyi pushes them back on track.

Zhou Zishou's eyes widden when he finally comes across the book of the Armory's secrets. 

"I found it ! But the book is powerfully sealed..." he explains.

"Let me see." the immortal instructs.

The martial artist gives him the book, eyeing his reaction. When the book passes in front of Wen Kexing's sight, he gasps again.

"Again ! It's my father's handwriting."

"Well, seems like the healers were responsible of archiving and classifying the Armory's library." Ye Baiyi adds.

Wen Kexing grabs the book and manages to open it, only to find a seal with a six numbers code.

"What could the password be ?" Zhou Zishou asks.

"Well, let's think for a second, when was the Armory inogurated ?" Wen Kexing answers.

"There's no precise date..." the immortal adds.

"Then maybe it's something directly related to the Zhens." Zhou Zishou says, looking directly at his soulmate.

"I-I have no idea, my parents only entrusted me with the key to the Armory. I don't remember them ever mentionning any passcode."

Ye Baiyi pauses for a few seconds more before thinking of something.

"Wen Kexing, when's your birthday ?" he asks with a smile.

"Hum, twenty of march, why ?" 

The immortal grabs the book and enters the exact date. They all look at him in owe when the book suddenly opens.

"W-What ?" Wen Kexing asks, dumbfounded.

"Well, you were already born when the Armory was founded. It would make sense for your parents to use your birthdate as a passcode." Ye Baiyi explains.

At that, the young healer's heart aches.

Zhou Zishou rummages through the pages.

"All the secret chambers and exits of the Armory are listed here ! We found it !"

"Secret chambers ?" the healer asks, curious.

"Yeah, apparently there's a total of five secret places in the Armory that can only be accessed through this book. Plus three exits that no one knows about."

"Well then, let's go." Ye Baiyi instructs, getting on his feet.

Wen Kexing pauses for a minute before speaking.

"You really plan on ignoring those secret chambers ?!"

"Yes, Lao Wen. You're hurt and freezing down here. Getting you out of here and to a doctor is our top priority right now. The Armory can wait." Zhou Zishou says matter of factly.

"He's right. You might be feeling fine right now but it's only because my qi is still in your system. And believe me, once you run out of it, you'll really need medical assistance." Ye Baiyi adds.

Wen Kexing pauses for a few seconds, thinking.

"How long ?" he asks seriously.

"How long what ?" his soulmate replies.

"How long before I run out of immortal qi ?" the young healer explains.

"Wen Kexing !" Zhou Zishou says, annoyed.

"How long ?!" he insists.

The immortal master thinks for a few seconds before answering as seriously.

"A few hours."

"Then we have plenty of time." Wen Kexing concludes.

"No, we don't !" Zhou Zishou gets angry.

"We do ! I'm not gonna pass the chance to explore secret chambers just because you'd feel more relaxed if I was laying in a comfy bed."

"You're being irrational."

"I'm not, actually. We don't know how long it will take for us to be able to come back to the armory because of the snow. There could be incredible secret books in those chambers !" Wen Kexing's irritation wears off, replaced by curiousity and excitement.

"We're doing this for you, Wen Kexing." Ye Baiyi explains gently.

"Then don't. Because what I want is to discover the secret chambers of this Armory. Come oooon, I'm fine, let's go !" he answers with a big enthousiastic smile.

Ye Baiyi's heart can't take it. When the young man looks at him like that with his round puppy eyes, how could he possibly say no ?

"Alrig-"

"No, Wen Kexing !" Zhou Zishou suddenly explodes in anger.

The young healer flinches at the aggressive tone.

"I just woke up to find you almost dead in front of me, for fuck's sake ! You're not fine ! Then I had to bear losing you for the second time in the past 2 weeks ! When Ye Baiyi healed you, you were screaming, shouting in pain ! And now you behave like none of all this matters ! Like it's completely fine, like you didn't just lose you martial art ! Let's get on our merry way and explore the rest of the Armory, do you even hear yourself ?! You can't stand, let alone walk, you have trouble even breathing, and you're asking me to just let you wander around like that ?! When you should be seeing a doctor !" Zhou Zishou pants, infuriated.

"I-I'm sorry, I just..." Wen Kexing mumbles in embarrassment.

"You what ?! Huh ?! What could be so interesting in those chambers that you'd risk your health for ?! A bunch of secret techniques from random sects, that's all there is to find ! I didn't think you'd ever be so interested in stealing sects secrets ! What are you, the Five Lake Alliance ?!"

Wen Kexing shudders at the comparison. Zhou Zishou knows he's poking at a hurtful place, but he doesn't care.

Ye Baiyi uses the small pause in Zhou Zishou's lecture as an oportunity to help his protege.

"Zhou Zishou. You're going too far." he says softly.

"Am I ?! You're on his side now, huh ?! You don't mind him not caring one bit about his own health ?! You're actually okay with that ?!" Zhou Zishou asks, exasperated.

"Of course not, but at least I'm trying to understand why he would go as far as to bear with immense pain just to discover a few chambers." the immortal answers seriously.

"Why is Wen Kexing ever doing things for ?! For revenge, for the fun of it ! I don't care, it's no excuse to behave like a child !" 

"I'm not a child !" Wen Kexing finally replies.

"Oh please ! Stop kidding me, you're being even more immature than A-Xiang ever was !" he shouts.

At the mention of his lost daughter-like servant, Wen Kexing's eyes flutter with pain and betrayal.

Even through the anger, Zhou Zishou immediately regrets bringing her up. He knows how broken Wen Kexing felt after her deadly wedding and how his soulmate never really had any time to mourn A-Xiang.

"I-I'm sorry, Lao Wen. I didn't mean to-" 

Ye Baiyi stops Zhou Zishou from sinking even deeper in embarrassment. He signals him to stop talking and to give Wen Kexing a few seconds to compose himself.

The healer looks down at the ground, tears threateningly close. 

"A-Xiang... It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all my-" 

"Wen Kexing." Ye Baiyi adresses the younger man, kneeling beside him.

The Ghost Valley Master is taken out of his spiriling thoughts. The immortal grabs his chin and lifts it up just enough to be able to look at him in the eyes.

"Tell me, why do you insist on going in those chambers ?"

Wen Kexing tries to look away in embarrassment but the older man doesn't let him and keeps his gaze on the healer.

"It's okay, you can tell us. We won't judge you."

At Wen Kexing's lack of answer, Ye Baiyi feels the need to explain more clearly.

"I know you don't want the sects secrets. You could have robbed them ten times when you were the Ghost Valley Master. Given your unique martial art, you have no interest in other people's secrets or techniques. Then why ?" 

Wen Kexing pinches his lips, already hating the vulnarability he's about to show his two friends.

"I-It's-"

Ye Baiyi encourages him with a kind supporting smile.

"One of those chambers is the Healer's Valley chamber..." Wen Kexing looks down again, too embarrassed.

Zhou Zishou's eyes widen at the realization that his soulmate only wanted to be reunited with his birth Valley culture. He feels embarrassment, guilt and shame over his previous fit of anger.

Ye Baiyi nods, he understands everything now. The excitement, the childish behaviour. Zhen Yan is trying to resurface and thanks to Wen Kexing, he wants to discover his culture, his heritage. The immortal is so proud of his protege for allowing this part of him to resurface after so many years.

Wen Kexing continues justifying himself.

"M-My parents taught me Healers Valley's medecine when I was a kid but I didn't have time to master their - he corrects himself-  our techniques before being taken to the Ghost Valley. After that, I didn't have a lot of ressources to practice such knowledge before I became King. When I took over the throne, I asked my Ghosts to gather as much medicinal knowledge as they could for me to learn it again." he stops for a few seconds.

His fingers tighten on the ground, regret and sadness blossoming inside of him.

"But the Healers Valley had already been whipped out by then. Everybody was dead, there was nothing left. Not even a book or a roll, robbers and assassins had taken everything. I asked the Ghosts to clean the place but never went there again."

Wen Kexing lifts his head, gazing at Zhou Zishou with meaningful eyes.

"That's why I want to visit the chamber. My parents built this secret place and it's now my only chance to ever learn about my culture and techniques. I know I'm being childish and immature and that I should probably just hurry to see a doctor as soon as possible. I know."

The young healer sighs gravely.

"B-But I just can't leave like that. My sect was annihilated, our Valley was plundered and pillaged. I'm the last one alive. I have one last oportunity to get back what was ours, I won't let it pass." he finishes, looking at the two martial artists with haunted but determined eyes.

Ye Baiyi nods, agreeing immediately. Zhou Zishou sighs.

"Lao Wen, I'm sorry for getting ma-"

"Don't. It's fine, I should have explained first."

Zhou Zishou smiles softly before speaking again.

"I hate to fight with you, I'm sorry. I just can't help but feel so worried..."

"I get it, thank you for caring." Wen Kexing answers with a small grin.

"I'll let you go into the chamber on one condition."

"Tell me."

"The moment you feel Ye Baiyi's qi disapearing from your veins, we leave. I know that you'll want to take all the knowledge you can once you're in the chamber, but I refuse to see you slowly dying in front of my eyes ever again. So we'll have to put a limit."

Wen Kexing thinks for a second.

"Do I really have a choice ?" he thinks to himself.

"Okay, deal." he adresses the Four Seasons Manor's Master.

Ye Baiyi helps Wen Kexing up and Zhou Zishou grabs his arm, supporting his soulmate as they start walking towards the chamber.

Wen Kexing pants at the pain radiating through his whole body.

"I can't falter, not now." he thinks, swallowing his discomfort.

The healer pushes himself for a few minutes before they finally arrive in front of a plain white wall. 

"Is it the right place ?" Zhou Zishou asks, searching the book for more instructions.

"Yes, it's here. I can feel it." Wen Kexing breathes weakly.

"Are you okay ?" the immortal asks, feeling him tense under his grip.

"You sure you still wanna go in ?" Zhou Zishou adds, worried.

Wen Kexing's head is throbbing, it's getting harder and harder to endure.

"I'm fine. It's probably the water of Lethe. The closer we get to my family's history, the more it arises." the healer explains, putting a hand over his aching forehead.

"If it gets too much for you to bear with-"

"I'll tell you, don't worry." Wen Kexing reassures his soulmate.

Zhou Zishou nods before approaching the white wall.

"What could trigger the opening ?" he thinks outloud.

"In the book it says we have to apply the healing symbol." Wen Kexing adds.

Ye Baiyi grabs a piece of chalk on the floor and start drawing the symbol on the wall. They all wait impatiently for to chamber to reveal itself, but nothing happens.

"Are you sure you drew it correctly ?" Zhou Zishou asks.

"Yes, I know I'm old but I'm still capable of drawing the healing symbol." Ye Baiyi answers, annoyed.

Wen Kexing thinks for a second, going through the book once again.

"It says that only worthy apprentices will be able to open the secret chamber." he explains.

"And how could they recognize worthy apprentices ?" Zhou Zishou doesn't understand.

The younger healer suddenly realizes. He grabs his soulmate's blade and cuts his palm, blood rushing through the wound.

"Lao Wen ! What are you doing ?!" 

"Trust me." he answers, looking at the wall.

He approaches the entrance on weak legs and starts drawing the healing symbol with his bloody hand.

Once he finishes the caracter, the wall activates and the whole facade collapses in front of their amazed eyes.

"That's how they find out you're a real apprentice, by blood recognition." Ye Baiyi understands.

He turns to his two friends, Wen Kexing is eyeing the magnificient entrance with wide sad eyes.

"I can feel it."

"What can you feel ?"

"Healer's energy. Same as in my hometown." he smiles through his aching heart.

Zhou Zishou looks at Ye Baiyi and nods. They both grab the younger man's shoulder to help him in. They pass beautiful libraries, but Wen Kexing doesn't seem to stop there.

"Didn't you wanna read those healer's rolls ?" Ye Baiyi asks.

"I feel an even stronger energy just a bit further. We have to go there." the healer answers, deadly serious.

They assist him to what seems to be an immense entrance to an even bigger room. When Zhou Zishou pushes the doors open, they can't believe their eyes.

In front of them, an immense cave with a small lake and a tree in its center await them. The whole room is filled with such a warm and powerful aura that even Ye Baiyi and Zhou Zishou can feel it penetrate their bones.

Wen Kexing frees himself from their grasp, wandering the place. He feels himself drawn to the center, where the incredibly white tree stands proud. There's something about this place that just screams home in the young healer's mind.

"Lao We-" Zhou Zishou is about to stop him, worrying once again.

But the immortal interrupts him, looking at their entranced friend.

"Let him. He's connected to this place, he'll be fine. It's something he needs to do by himself." the immortal instructs.

Zhou Zishou still frowns, watching his soulmate enter the shallow lake.

Wen Kexing, or more precisely Zhen Yan walks to the center of the lake, still looking at the white tree.

He touches it nervously, but nothing happens. He sighs, disappointed.

"I guess I'm not worthy enough in the end..." he mumbles with a sad voice. 

But as he's about to go back to his two martial art friends, a sudden coughing fit takes over his whole body. His tired lungs put him through so much suffering that even blood start drooping from his tight pinched lips.

"Wen Kexing !" Zhou Zishou shouts, worry overtaking his mind. He runs towards his soulmate, watching him kneeling in pain in front of the tree.

But as a single drop of blood touches the ground, a colossal amount of energy erupts from the white tree. The whole lake starts shining and a warm aura embraces the young Healer's Valley heir.

Wen Kexing's eyes suddenly shine the same warm light and he starts hearing a deep wise voice in his head.

"I was waiting for you, worthy Healers Valley inheritor. You're part of a lineage only blood could witness." the voice whispers.

"But do not fear, for I have no intention of harming you." 

Wen Kexing pants, the energy suddenly penetrates his broken meridians. The young man whines at the feeling, waves of pain coursing through his veins.

"Lao Wen !"

"Stop Zhou Zishou ! We don't know what could happen if you interrupted this whole initiation thing !" Ye Baiyi stops him from running to the lake.

"But it's hurting him !" 

"No, look !" the immortal shouts.

Wen Kexing's pain slowly forms into something else, something more powerful and harmless.

"I know that the burden of knowledge is a heavy and bloody one, but this is your heritage. You will now embrace your ancestors wisdom." the deep voice resonates in Wen Kexing's skull.

A deep red marking appears on his forehead, the indelible sign of his sect's belonging. He closes his eyes, recieving it with grace.  

After that, the young healer feels the energy lessening but a warm familiar sensation stays with him. 

"Yan'er." he hears a female voice coming from the white tree. Two shining butterflies appear in front of him.

Wen Kexing's eyes grow wide as sadness and melancholy envelop him.

"Mum..."

"Yan'er, don't be sad. You're finally here, embracing our family's legacy." he can feel her voice smiling.

"I-I'm sorry Mum... I'm sorry it took me so long."

"Do not be, I'm proud of you." she answers.

Wen Kexing closes his eyes, his painful past crushing his heart. Heavy tears falls from his tortured features.

"M-Mum, Dad, I'm so sorry I let you die..I-I'm so sorry..." he whispers, completely breaking down.

"You fool. We were the ones who left you, why would you be sorry for our hurtful fate ?" his dad's voice resonates.

"I-I couldn't save you..." the son replies through broken sobs.

"Zhen Yan, my son. You are guilty of no crime. Our time here is very limited, but know this ; we are proud of the man you have become."

"Never rejects your heritage, eventhough healer's fate are often tortured ones. We're counting on you, Yan'er." his mother's voice adds, full of warmth.

"D-Don't go, I'm begging you... Don't leave me alone again..." Wen Kexing tries to dry his tears.

He hears a small chuckle.

"You are not alone, not anymore. Never let go of the people you love, my son." his dad's voice fades slowly.

Wen Kexing is about to plead them once again not to abandon him when he feels Zhou Zishou gentle hand on his shoulder.

The healer turns around sadly to find his soulmate smiling with tears in his eyes.

"It's gonna be okay, love. I promise you, you're gonna be okay."

"B-But..." he mumbles, turning to the white tree.

Its light is slowly disappearing, and with it Wen Kexing's hope.

"No ! No, come back !" he shouts.

He feels his parent's voices slowly dying and feels the weight of their loss once again crushing his heart.

Suddenly hundreds of shining butterflies errupt from the white tree and start fading away.

"No, please, please... Not again.." he whines, panic rising in his mind. He tries to catch them all, to keep them close to his heart.

But as desperate as he is, the butterflies slowly fade away.

When a soft embrace settles him in the present once again. Zhou Zishou hugs him tightly, passing his reassuring hand down his soulmate's back.

"It's gonna be okay, Zhen Yan."

At the mention of his previous name, Wen Kexing breaks. He hugs him back with urgency as the aura surrounding the place finishes to fade away, tears falling freely from his tired eyes.

They stay in this meaningful endless silence for a few minutes before Zhou Zishou slowly releases his soulmate.

"T-They're gone, again..." Wen Kexing tells him with a desperate look.

"They are. But they gifted you with wisdom and knowledge before leaving." the martial artist smiles gently, wiping his soulmate's tears away.

Wen Kexing only nods with a sigh. Ye Baiyi joins them in this intimate moment.

"They went to a better place, A-Xing." the immortal tries to comfort him.

The young healer's heart aches at the nickname but accepts it nonetheless.

"I wonder, what kind of martial art did they give you ?"

"Healing techniques. It feels quite powerful." Wen Kexing explains, slowly regaining a sense of reality.

"I'm glad." Zhou Zishou smiles softly.

"Look." the healer demonstrates.

"Wow, that's impressive." the immortal mumbles, genuinely curious.

"It is." Wen Kexing murmurs, still mourning his parents.

"I'll have to get a good look at that when you're recovered." Ye Baiyi adds.

"We'll see about that. In the meantime, do you think you can walk, Lao Wen ? I feel your energy disappearing quickly, we should leave." Zhou Zishou inquires.

Wen Kexing only nods. He got what he came for and even more. He stands up on shaky legs and, with Ye Baiyi's and Zhou Zishou's help finally get to the secret exit they located near the Healer's Valley's chamber earlier.

Once outside, they're greated with miles of snow in an amazing scenery. 

They walk for what feels like an eternity. Wen Kexing is getting more and more tired and weak and Ye Baiyi really starts worrying.

"If my qi was already leaving his body he'd be in unbearable pain, not getting weaker and weaker. I suppose welcoming the Healer's Valley's power was way more taxing on his body than he intends us to think..."

They continue their journey until they arrive in a green clearing. 

"There must be a village nearby, don't worry Lao Wen, we're almost there !" Zhou Zishou reassures himself more than his soulmate.

But as he's about to answer, the healer suddenly feels the immortal qi in his body completely leaving his system. The sudden shock creates a violent wave of pain and he suddenly collapses on the ground with a cry.

"Lao Wen !"

"That's it, my energy is leaving his body. His meridians have to create new paths by their own, and that's not pleasant." Ye Baiyi explains, worried.

"A-A-Xu.."

"I'm here, love. It's gonna be okay, we're gonna find you a good doctor, don't worry."

Wen Kexing curls on himself in pain, the world outside slowly blurrying. Everything hurts. He doesn't know if it's because of his crushed meridians or because of the overflow of the Healer's Valley's power, but it's suddenly too much.

"A-Xu..." the healer whispers before completely losing consciousness.

"Wen Kexing !" 

Chapter Text

"What do we do now ?" Zhou Zishu asks the immortal.

They managed to carry their inconscious friend to a village nearby, urgently asking for a doctor. Zhou Zishu had used his disguise skills to color his soulmate's hair in black, carrying un unconscious martial artist was already getting enough attention as it was. When they finally found a doctor, the poor healer had never seen such a case in her whole life.

"I can give him something that will lull the pain just a bit, but this energy transfer thing is way beyond what I'm used to, I'm really sorry." the kind girl had explained with an apologetic look.

Ye Baiyi and Zhou Zishu accepted the help nonetheless, blessed to finally be able to breathe for a few hours. Since then, Wen Kexing hasn't woken up, twitching and wincing in his sleep.

"What do we do, huh ? Well, we wait for him to wake up. This place isn't ideal but there's no way we'll be able to find a suitable carriage around here. We have to wait until he's well enough to walk by himself." the immortal instructs.

"I can carry him." the Four Seasons Manor's Master whispers.

"We don't know how far the next city is, and even though I would gladly exhaust myself to bring him to a real doctor, I don't think his body can take such a wild trip." 

Zhou Zishu sighs, passing a gentle hand over his soulmate's fronthead.

"He's burning up." 

"Of course he is. His meridians are all over the place, trying to figure out a new energy system. But the system is already overflowing with Healers Valley power... I don't know how long he can bear with it." Ye Baiyi sighs too.

Just as they're about to leave him to rest quietly, Wen Kexing starts trashing in his bed, his whole body shaking.

"Lao Wen !"  

Zhou Zishu grabs his shoulders and keeps him firmly on the bed. The young healer trashes for a few more seconds before losing his energy again. He drops on the bed panting and frowning.

Ye Baiyi passes a wet towel on his protege's forehead with a sigh.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't like that." the immortal mumbles.

Zhou Zishu closes his eyes, praying silently for his soulmate.

"He's gonna be fine, he's gonna be fine." he repeats as a mantra.

They stay the night in a little hut, watching over Wen Kexing silently. The young man often wakes up screaming in pain, but always loses consciousness immediately after. During the night, Zhou Zishu manages to change his soaking clothes with new simple ones.

On the following day, Wen Kexing stays still. He doesn't wince anymore, doesn't move. 

"Do you think something's wrong ?" Zhou Zishu asks worriedly.

"Either something's very wrong, or it's going in the right direction, I can't tell." the immortal explains.

But as he's finishing his sentence, the young healer's eyes flutter open.

"A-A-Xu ?" he whispers, his throat sore from all the screaming from the previous night.

"Yes, yes love ! I'm here." Zhou Zishu hurries to his side, almost crying tears of joy.

Wen Kexing frowns a bit, waking his body and trying to move in a sitting position.

"How are you feeling ?" Ye Baiyi asks him, helping him sitting straight.

"Apart from the sensation of my body litteraly burning from the inside, I think I'm okay." the healer explains.

"That means your meridians have found their new balance, that's great news !" the immortal exlaims, grabbing his wrist to check his pulse.

When he catches traces of his pulse, his eyes widen.

"That's amazing." he mumbles.

"W-What ?" Wen Kexing answers.

"Your meridians have restored themselves and created new paths around your whole body. I've never seen such a complex system."

"So, is he completely healed ?" Zhou Zishu asks, hopeful.

"There's still a long way to go but it's on the right path. I think you'll need quite some time to completely recover, but it's a good start." th immortal explains.

Wen Kexing sighs, looking at his soulmate. Suddenly he realizes something.

"Wait, were are we, how did we get there ?" he asks nervously.

"We carried you here, it's just a small village down the Junxie Valley." Zhou Zishu tells him.

"We have to keep moving though. Even if you're feeling better, I'd like to have an expert's opinion on your condition." Ye Baiyi adds.

"Down the Junxie Valley ? Huh, that's funny." Wen Kexing laughs softly.

"What's funny ?" 

"Well, I know another village around here, it's called the Xibanya tribe. They come from a completely different culture, from the east if I recall correctly. But I know there are very good doctors there." he smiles at the memory.

Ye Baiyi nods, agreeing to their new destination.

"I'll just send a flying note to Bei Yuan and Da Wu to meet up there. In terms of medicinal knowledge I trust them the most." the immortal adds.

"Can you also let Chengling know where we are ? He can stay at the Four Seasons Manor if he'd like, but he deserves to know his shifu and shishu are alive and well." Zhou Zishu asks seriously.

"Will do." Ye Baiyi exists the tiny hut.

After the older's departure, the martial artist turns back to his soulmate.

"I see you colored my hair. Did you use the disguise techniques only you know about ?" Wen Kexing asks playfully.

"Yeah, couldn't have you running around town with silver hair, that would attract way too much attention." the Master of Four Seasons Manor explains.

"That's thoughtful of you."

"Even though I managed to color your hair, I couldn't do anything about your forehead marking, sorry."

"It's okay. If someone asks, I'll just have to say that I put on some make up to look beautiful for you." Wen Kexing flirts with a wink, earning a chuckle from his soulmate.

They both pause for a second before Zhou Zishu's smile drops.

"How are you feeling ?" he asks him gravely.

"I already told you, I'm feeling fi-"

"No, how are you really feeling ?" Zhou Zishu looks deeply at Wen Kexing's eyes.

The younger understands what his soulmate means.

"I'm okay, mostly. I guess I still don't realize what's been going on for the last few days, everything happened so fast."

"Yeah, I know."

"To be honest, I'm a bit scared..."

"Of what, love ?"

"I don't really know. At first I was afraid that you were gonna die, then I was afraid of leaving you behind, all alone. And now, I don't know... All this heritage and knowledge thing, it's scaring me." Wen Kexing explains with a tired smile.

"I understand. Let's take a few days to rest and let all this sink down. As for your legacy, I wouldn't think too much about it for now. You don't really know the extend of the knowledge they gifted you, there's no use in overthinking it."

"Mmh, you're right." the healer nods with a frown.

"Stop frowning then, shazi." Zhou Zishu gives him a little tap on the shoulder with a laugh.

He lets out a relieved sighs.

"Those things will naturally come to you. As you said, it is your birth heritage. Let it be spontaneous."

"I know, but I don't have any shifu... I'm all by myself and I'm afraid I won't be able to use it correctly when the time comes."

"Don't worry. You were able to develop such a complex and precise martial art all alone in the Ghost Valley, I'm sure you'll figure out the martial art you were born to perform."

Wen Kexing doesn't seem convinced.

"And if you don't, then you don't. You don't have any obligation to behave the way your ancestors did." his soulmate reassures him.

"B-But my mum said she's counting on me and-"

"So what ? I know how much you value your parents opinion, I mean, they were called the Divine Hands for a reason. But you still have to live your life, not theirs."

Zhou Zishou explains, standing up.

Wen Kexing smiles at his words.

"And what kind of life would that be ?" he teases a bit.

"Well, I don't know. I could bring you back to the Four Seasons Manor and we'd raise Chengling, together. Like a family." 

At his last word, Wen Kexing flinches. A family... he never really had one. How would he dare dream of this kind of future ?

But the young healer doesn't let his anxiety show on his face and only returns a soft gentle smile.

"I'd like that, a lot." 

Zhou Zishou only responds with a soft and warm nod.

"Let's do that then." he smiles.

After thanking the villagers for a hundred time, the three martial artists begin their journey to the next village. After a few hours of walking, Wen Kexing feels more and more exhausted. 

"Are you okay, little brat ?" Ye Baiyi asks.

"A bit tired, but I'll survive." he breathes slowly, closing his eyes.

"We can take a break if you need." Zhou Zishu hurries worridely.

"No, it's gonna be okay. The Xibanya tribe isnt much further away, I'll make it there, don't worry." he explains with a sigh.

The two martial artists nod before resuming their trip.

"How did you discover this tribe, by the way ?" Zhou Zishu says.

"Yeah, do we need to be worried when we enter their territory ? You didn't make enemies there too, right ?" the immortal adds.

"I found out about them by accident actually. The Ghost Valley Master had sent me on a mission there, to assassinate their chief."

Ye Baiyi and Zhou Zishu stop dead in their tracks. The Four Seasons Manor Master turns to his soulmate.

"Did you ? Assassinate the chief ?" 

Wen Kexing only shakes his head with a sigh.

"You'll understand when you see them, this tribe it's... I don't know how to explain it."

"They're like one big family." he thinks to himself.

That word sounds awful for the healer, but he continues nonetheless.

"They're such good and kindhearted people. I couldn't bring myself to hurt them or their silly chief."

Zhou Zishu nods, happy to hear that even during his time in the Ghost Valley, his soulmate hadn't completely lost his empathetic nature.

"When I came back to the Ghost Valley, Master wasn't happy about it though. He punished me and ordered me to go back there and to murder the whole tribe this time." Wen Kexing sighs, frowning at the memory.

Ye Baiyi's eyes widen. So this is how cruel the previous Ghost Valley Master was. He punished anyone who showed mercy for a poor tribe from the east by ordering them to murder and pillage their Valley. What an awful punishment.

"When I got back to the Xibanya's, I was badly injured and clearly reluctant at the idea of annihilating their whole village. They knew I was bad news and they could have killed me ten times given the state I was in. But you know what they did ? Offered me a meal, medicinal care and a roof over my head." he laughs, looking at the immortal.

Zhou Zishu smiles, he doesn't know how the story ends but for his soulmate to recall those memories with such fondness, it couldn't have been too bad.

"I grew attached to those poor farmers and their innocence. In the end, I orchestrated their assassination, spilling pigs blood all over the place and moving them to the Junxie Village. When Master came to check, he didn't question me and just moved on to the next manslaughter." the young healer concludes.

Zhou Zishu hates the way his soulmate still says Master. As if he was still his servant, as if he was owned.

"I don't understand, the Ghost Valley Master couldn't have been so dumb as to be fooled by such an easy trick." Ye Baiyi remarks.

Wen Kexing tenses.

"I-I used some leverage against him, to divert his mind from actually checking out the blood." he whispers.

Zhou Zishu doesn't like the haunted look he finds on his soulmate's features and decides that they talked about the Ghost Valley long enough for today.

"Anyways, it's in the past now. I hope the Xibanya tribe is still as welcoming as they were back then." 

"I'm sure they are. Such kind people never change, they either prosper or die." Wen Kexing adds.

They walk for another hour before discovering a small peaceful village down the mountain.

"Here they are." Wen Kexing smiles.

When they enter the village, Ye Baiyi and Zhou Zishu can't believe their eyes. 

"When you said they're from another culture, I didn't expect that." the immortal mumbles.

"Told you, they're from the east." the young healer chuckles.

The roads are full of people wearing colorful robes and costumes. Music fills the streets and they even spot elders happily dancing and cheering at random coffe shops.

"The way they're dancing is called Flamenco if I remember correctly."

Suddenly an old man with a bright outer robe stops the young healer.

"K-Kexing ?" he asks, his eyes widening and a smile appearing on his wrinkled face.

"Old man Perez ! How have you been ??" Wen Kexing exclaims.

Zhou Zishu has never seen him as happy and bright. It's like he's discovering a new side of his soulmate. A new joyful and radiant side.

"Oh my God ! Niños ! Kexing is back !" the elder shouts at his little spice store.

Suddenly half a dozen teenagers erupt from inside the shop, shouting and cheering.

"Tio Kexing !"

"Kexing ! You're finally back !"

"Hahaha, calm down little rascals !" he laughs, opening his arms to hug them all.

Ye Baiyi eyes the scene, a meter away. He never knew Wen Kexing to be so tactile and easygoing with children. Well he did raise Gu Xiang, but the young woman was far from polite or well-mannered.

Zhou Zishu approaches the joyful little group.

"You don't introduce me to your tiny friends ?" he asks his soulmate with a grin.

"Sorry, sorry. Niños, this man is Zhou Zishu. He's my compagno-"

"Is he your boyfriend ?" 

"Have you done naughty things together ?" 

"Oh my God, Kexing has found a novio !" 

"Mister Perez, you didn't raise them to be discrete now, did you ?" Wen Kexing laughs softly.

"Sorry, Kexing. I should teach them better." the old man turns to the kids and chases after them, threatening them with a shoe in hand.

"I'll teach you how to behave with guests !" he runs around, laughing.

"But it's not the same with family !" one of them exclaims happily, pointing at the young healer.

"Again with this dreadful word." Wen Kexing thinks, his smile dropping a bit.

As his spirit changes, an old woman exits the shop slowly. She smiles softly at the young man.

"Wen Kexing, I never thought I'd see you again before leaving this world." she says gently.

"Abuela Perez." Wen Kexing smiles back with melancoly.

"And who are your friends ?" 

"This is Zhou Zishu, my partner. As for the grumpy old man behind us, his name is Ye Baiyi." 

"Doesn't seem that old to me." she chuckles.

"Ah ! See ? I told you I don't look that old !" the immortal adds.

They all laugh before the old grandmother walks a few more steps to face Zhou Zishu.

"So, you're his compagnero, huh ?" she eyes the young man.

"I-I am." Zhou Zishu mumbles.

He doesn't know why this old woman intimidates him so much, but she seems to be important to his soulmate. So her opinion is important for him.

"Nice to meet you." he bows his head respectfully.

"I see you finally found yourself a respectful man, hijo." she adds, looking at Wen Kexing.

"He's the Master of a Manor, abuela." the young healer answers proudly.

She nods before patting Zhou Zishu's shoulder.

"There, there. No need for such formalities here, sweety. Wen Kexing's friends are always welcome in this place." she smiles.

Zhou Zishu lifts his head gratefully.

"Now, you should go see the chief. You know how upset he'll be if he finds out you didn't go to him first thing after arriving." she laughs, signaling them to follow her.

Ye Baiyi looks at Wen Kexing, unsure.

"Can we really trust them ?" he asks nervously.

"Stop worrying, let's go." his protege answers with a chuckle. He grabs Zhou Zishu's back and walk happily behind the old lady.

They follow her up to a big farmer house. That surprises the immortal.

"Is the chief of the Valley also a farmer ?" he asks.

Wen Kexing is about to reply when abuela Perez interrupts him.

"Of course he is. Every single person healthy enough to work around here has to earn their meal." she explains.

"It's very different from our Valleys." 

"Well, you young master's rich Valleys wouldn't have those kind of problem but I can assure you that poverty really brings a sense of community in a small village like ours." the old lady finishes.

She leaves them in front of the big farming house. Lady Perez touches Wen Kexing's shoulder gently.

"I'll let you handle him. Paella at my place tonight, don't be late." she smiles.

Wen Kexing nods gratefully before opening the farming house's doors. As they enter, a middle aged man suddenly turns to them with big round eyes.

"Dios mios, mi hermano ! No savia que habias vuelto !" he shouts, running towards Wen Kexing.

The healer smiles.

"He hasn't changed at all." he thinks to himself, fondly.

"Alberto, my friend. It's good to see you." he says gently, hugging the enthousiastic chief.

"Tus amigos ?" the latter asks, eyeing the two martial artists.

"Yes, this is Ye Baiyi, a very talented martial artist I befriended on my journey. And Zhou Zishu, my partner." he explains, winking at the immortal.

Eventhough the older man knows Wen Kexing is only joking around, his heart flutters at the healer's words.

"He finally considers us close enough to introduce me as a friend." he smiles internally.

"Well, your friends are mine, hermano !" the village's chief offers them a sit.

"It's our pleasure." Zhou Zishu bows respectfully.

"Vale, vale, no need for such formalities. Hermano, how come you only came back now ? I almost lost hope of ever seeing you again !" he complains.

Wen Kexing's smile drops, he doesn't really want to be reminded of his time as the Ghost Valley Master.

"Well, I had a lot going on for a few years. Couldn't find any tim to visit you guys." the healer answers.

Zhou Zishu sees behind the lies. He knows that Lao Wen never came back here not because he didn't find the right time, but because he never wanted innocent and kind people he cares about to be associated with the Ghost Valley or his revenge plans any more than they already had.

"Really ? Well, that's unfortunate. Speaking of the past, is he still around ?" the chief asks seriously.

Wen Kexing freezes. His soulmate feels his pulse quickening and his breathe shortening. 

"No, not anymore. I got rid of him." the healer replies, looking down in shame.

Alberto nods with a sigh.

"That's great news then. Oh ! And what about the sweet little girl who used to always follow you around ?" the chief says innocently.

The mention of A-Xiang and their peaceful time together in the Xibanya tribe sends a wave of crushing pain through Wen Kexing's heart. He doesn't know how to respond to his eastern friend.

"She died because I wasn't able to protect her."

"She was murdered because of me." 

"She's gone, it's all my fault." 

Wen Kexing searches for the truth that will sadden the chief as little as possible. But he can't bring himself to actually say it, to actually acknowledge that his sweet daughter is gone for good.

"I gave her some time off. She said something about traveling with her lover, I think." he mumbles, hiding his tears behind a fake smile.

The Tian Chuang assassin is shocked by the lie. He looks at his soulmate with worried and surprised eyes. 

"Why didn't he tell the truth ?" he asks himself.

But as soon as he catches a glimpse of the healer's real emotions, he understands. This truth is too painful for Wen Kexing to actually bring it up in a random conversation. His loss is still too raw for him to talk about it without risking to break down.

Zhou Zishu observes as his soulmate's hand starts to clearly tremble by his side. The Four Seasons Manor Master's heart aches at the sight. He places a gentle hand down his fated one's back as emotional support.

"Oh, really ? That's good, I always thought she would never leave your side !" the chief laughs.

Wen Kexing forces himself to stay composed.

"Me too." he whispers bitterly.

The healer seems to finally realize something. His brows frown and his gaze seems to blurry.

"She-She's never coming back." his panicked thoughts swallow him gradually.

"Did she say were she was going ? I'm sure the ninos would be super happy to see her again. She was such a wild little girl back then, huh ?" the village's chief insists.

"Ay, let's not think about all that for now. Let's get back on topic. Our visit isn't actually random, we came here for a reason." Zhou Zihshu interupts the two men.

He doesn't think he soulmate can bear with any more talk about his late daughter for now. The former Tian Chuang assassin has to take Wen Kexing's mind off the whole ordeal if he doesn't want him to completely fall apart.

Ye Baiyi catches the hint and backs up the young man.

"He's right. As touching your reunion may be, we're urgently looking for a doctor. Is there anyone who could help us around here ?" the immortal adds.

With all the previous emotions, Wen Kexing feels his energy fading slowly, a doctor would be indeed a good idea. 

"A doctor ? Yes of course, we have very good doctors in the village. But why ? Are you injured ?" the chief asks, worrying about Ye Baiyi.

"No, not me. It's not really an injury either. How are your doctors ? What's their expertise domain ?" 

Ye Baiyi and the village chief start talking calmly about medical procedures. 

Wen Kexing knows he should be listening, he's the one actually involved in said procedures.

But the young man is too caught up in his haunted thoughts to actually follow his friends discussion. He just looks blankly at the ground, reminiscing about his time with his daughter. How happy she'd have been, had she been able to accompagny them to visit the Xibanaya tribe again.

"She'd be running around with the other teenagers right this moment if not for..." he thinks with melancoly and regrets.

Flashbacks of them fooling around and dancing on eastern folksongs invade his mind. He feels himself drift in the happy memory, its sweet taste transforming into an unbearable heartcrushing pain. His fists clench by his side.

Zhou Zishu notices the subtile motion and immediately turns to his soulmate with a worried frown.

"Lao Wen." he calls him softly.

But the healer doesn't react, eyes still fixated on the ground.

"Lao Wen." he touches his shoulder.

Still no reaction, if anything, the healer's eyes seem to grow sadder by the minute.

"Wen Kexing !" Zhou Zishu calls him louder.

That catches the attention of the two other men. Wen Kexing seems to focus again. He looks at Zhou Zishu with surprised and confused eyes.

"Y-Yes, sorry." he mumbles, composing himself as best as he can.

"It's fine, come here." the martial artist instructs, leaving Ye Baiyi to deal with the village's chief.

He grabs his soulmate's trembling hand and takes him to the other side of the room where they can have a little bit of privacy.

"I-Is everything alright with Kexing ?" the chief asks worriedly.

"Yes, let's give them some time. Actually, the one we need a doctor for is Wen Kexing. He's been unwell for the last few days." the immortal explains softly.

"Is he sick ?! Is he gonna be okay ?!" the chief panics.

"He'll live, but he's greatly weakened and exhausted. How fast can you get that doctor ?" Ye Baiyi presses.

"I-I'll go fetch him right now, stay here and tell him that he can rest in the room upstairs." the chief hurriedly runs towards the door.

"Zhou Zishu can take care of him, I'll come with you." the immortal answers.

Ye Baiyi turns and nods at his seniors before exiting the house.

After checking that they're actually alone, Zhou Zishu forces his soulmate to sit down.

"A-Xu, I-"

"It's okay, just breathe for me okay ?" 

But Wen Kexing feels his pulse quickening as panic invades his mind.

"A-Xiang... A-Xiang, she-" he whispers.

The healer puts a hand on his mouth, the words too awful to actually voice them.

"I know, I know..." Zhou Zishu replies, hugging him.

"It's my fault, it's all my fault. I-If I hadn't let them in she-she wouldn't be-"

"Lao Wen, stop." Zhou Zishu interrupts him.

But the younger keeps spiraling down.

"Wen Kexing." he repeats.

The healer's eyes slowly meet his soulmate's as Zhou Zishu cups his head between his hands.

"It is not your fault. I know there's nothing I can do to convince you now, but I'll repeat it as many times as I have to for you to actually believe my words : it is not your fault." 

Wen Kexing doesn't answer, he feels his heart calming down but can't seem to hold back his tears. His soulmate wipes them with his thumb and smiles sadly.

"It's hard, I know. I've only ever lost juniors so I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like for you to lose a daughter."

The healer closes his eyes, sighing as the memory of A-Xiang burns his heart.

"I can't tell you how to behave in such situations. But I can promise you that I'll always be by your side whenever it becomes too much for you to endure."

Zhou Zishu brings his soulmate close to him, hugging the distressed man.

"Y-You'll never leave me alone...?" the younger whispers.

"Never." he answers with a soft smile.

The healer nods, relieved. As they slowly part from their embrace, Zhou Zishu places a hand on his junior's forehead.

"You're burning up again, you should lie down." he advises.

Wen Kexing accepts, placing his throbbing head on the pillows behind him. A little smile slips past his lips.

"Are you and the old monster gonna be alright, dealing with the Xibanya's by yourselves ?" he chuckles, remembering the panicked expression on his soulmate's face after Abuela Perez had approached him.

Zhou Zishu laughs gently.

"Don't worry about that, the villagers are good people. Ye Baiyi left with the chief to fetch a good doctor. They'll be back in no time."

"That's good, that's good." Wen Kexing already feels himself drifting into nothingness.

"Sleep, love. You'll feel better after a good rest."

His junior nods slowly, already half asleep. In his drowsy state, Wen Kexing gets lost between reality and memory. He smiles at his soulmate before whispering.

"A-Xiang, don't forget to wake me up before Abuela Perez's paella. She hates it when we're late..." he mumbles before falling asleep.

That breaks Zhou Zishu's heart. He never realized how close the two ghosts had been during all these years. But now the Four Seasons Manor Master understands that the silly little girl's death left an endless void which will never be filled again in his soulmate's heart.

The senior cries, his heart aching for his unconscious soulmate.

"Are you sure it's the right village ?" 

"The Junxie Valley's farmer was quite precise, this is the right place."

"Alright. He's injured, we need to use the chance to get to him as quickly as possible." 

"Can't wait to finally rip this disdainful little smirk off his face."

"Yeah, Master will be thrilled." a man sneers.

Ye Baiyi turns around, looking suspiciously at the crowd in the street.

"Wait." he instructs the village's chief.

"What ?" 

"Did you hear that ?" the immortal asks seriously.

"Hear what ?"

"Voices."

"Well, the usual village chatter. Niños talking about school, elders talking about family and stuff." the younger man mumbles.

The martial artist doesn't seem convinced, but without any more lead, he leaves it be.

"Nevermind. So, what about that doctor ?" he asks.

"His clinic is right here, I'll go fetch him." the chief explains before entering a little hut.

Ye Baiyi waits for a few minutes before he comes out with an old man and a young serious girl by his side.

"That's your famous specialist ?!" 

"Show some respect. Senior Diaz has been trained by Kexing himself during his time in our village. If someone can take a look at hermano, it's him." the chief assures before running back to his farming house.

When they enter, Zhou Zishu is sitting quietly on the side bed, watching over his partner.

"This way." the chief instructs the old doctor.

Old man Diaz nods and approaches the two young martial artists.

"E-Excuse me." he mumbles, touching Zhou Zishu's shoulder hesitantly.

The Tian Chuang assassin grabs his wrist and flips him over in a second.

"Who are you ?!" he asks angrily.

"Ay, Ay, I'm just a doctor. I don't mean to harm you or Wen Kexing." he explains, his arm painfully bent on his back.

"Zishu, let him go. He only needs to take a look at him." Ye Baiyi adds. 

The immortal knows about Zhou Zishu's possessive nature towards his soulmate. But they need to get passed that if he wants Wen Kexing to actually seek medical attention.

The little girl who came with the old man grabs Zhou Zishu's arm and bites him.

"Let go of my papi !"she shouts.

The Four Seasons Manor Master sighs, letting the doctor come closer to the sleeping man.

"Is he unconscious ?" the old man asks.

"Just asleep." Zhou Zishu murmurs, getting a strand of hair away from his soulmate's face.

Old man Diaz nods, grabbing the young man's wrist to check his pulse. He focuses for a few seconds before turning to Ye Baiyi.

"He's indeed very weak. His internal breath seems to be chaotic too. May I ask what happened ?" 

"He performed the six cultivation method."

"What ?! Why did he do that ?!" 

"That's a long story." 

Ye Baiyi takes fifteen good minutes to explain the whole ordeal to the old man.

"I see, that's a lot." 

"Yeah..."

"Well, I have no idea what this healer energy is gonna do to his body. From what I could gather with his pulse only, it doesn't seem to be hurting him. That's already good." 

Ye Baiyi nods gratefully.

"What should we do ?" 

"I'm going to prepare a medicial soup, he'll have to drink it four times a day and of course, rest as much as he can."

"Well, if you know him, you already know it's not gonna be that easy to get him to rest." 

"I know, he already gave me a hard time when he came back for the second time in our village." old man Diaz sighs.

"I'll make him stay in bed, don't worry !" the same little girl as before shouts, proudly.

Zhou Zishu frowns.

"And who are you again ?" 

"My name's Bai Fangxu ! I'm the healer's apprentice !" she answers with wide happy eyes.

Zhou Zishu feels a strain on his heart.

"She looks so much like Gu Xiang... That's not gonna work when Lao Wen will wake u-" his thoughts are interrupted by a soft motion in the bed on his right.

Wen Kexing moves a bit before opening his eyes slowly.

"A-Xu ?" he asks, eyeing the people around him.

"Hey sweety, slept well ?" Zhou Zishu asks gently.

Wen Kexing nods, he looks at Ye Baiyi with a confused glare.

"It's alright. I just brought back the doctor."

The young healer nods, looking at the senior.

"Abuelo Diaz, good to see you again after all this time." Wen Kexing whispers, sitting in the bed.

"Kexing, don't move too much, you're still recovering." the old man advices.

"It's okay, don't worry." he replies.

But as soon as he's sitting straight, his eyes fall on the young girl standing in the middle.

"W-What are you doing here ?"

"It's me ! Fangxu ! You don't remember me ?!" the young girl exclaims.

Wen Kexing recalls her for sure. The little girl was almost A-Xiang's age when he first came to the Xibanya tribe, maybe a few years younger. The two girls were inseparable, the first friend A-Xiang had ever made.

"I do. How are you doing Bai Fangxu ? Still helping Abuelo Diaz at the clinic ?" he asks with a tiny smile.

But the shy expression doesn't unfaze the young girl. She jumps on the bed with a loud happy noise.

"Wow, take it easy. He's still recovering." Zhou Zishu orders, eyeing their interaction closely.

He does his very best not to shove her out of the bed. But when he hears his soulmate's chuckle, he relaxes.

"Still as lively as ever I see." he laughs softly.

Abuelo Diaz sighs at his grandaugther.

"Let's get to the table, I'll prepare your medicine." he instructs.

Zhou Zishu helps his shidi up and supports him all the way to the nearest table. They all take seats around, careful not to rush him.

"So, hermano, how are you feeling ?" the chief asks worriedly.

"Better now, thanks. I guess the trip to come here was pretty tiring in the end." he smiles.

"You should rest tonight too." Zhou Zishu adds.

"Abuela Perez will be waiting for us to join her paella party, no way I'm staying in bed this evening." he chuckles again.

"Let's go together !" Fangxu exclaims.

That catches Wen Kexing's attention.

"Don't you need to work on your healing skills young girl ?" he scolds her gently.

"No way ! I've been training ever since you left ! Now I'm ready !"

"Ready for what ?"

"I'm ready for your guidance, shifu !"

"Shifu ?!" Zhou Zishu is shocked by the title. 

He looks at Wen Kexing with wide surprised eyes. But he understands soon that his soulmate is as shocked as he is. 

A tense silence fills the tiny farming house. Nobody dares to say anything until Wen Kexing finally speaks.

"What did you just call me ?!" he says seriously.

They young girl's smile drops slowly.

"Shi-Shifu ?" 

Wen Kexing tenses again at the word.

"Never call me that again. Never you hear ?!" he gets angry.

Zhou Zishu places a hand on his.

"Lao Wen." 

"No. I don't care that she's young or ignorant. Only A-Xiang is allowed to-"

"Well, she's not here right now, is she ?" Fangxu interrupts him bitterly.

The healer's head turns slowly to her.

"What did you just say now ?!"

"Well, chief told us she left. S-So I guess there's a free spot now, right ?" she adds, losing her suddenly found confidence in the face of her respected shifu's anger.

Wen Kexing knows she didn't mean to hurt his feelings. But God damn it does. He takes a deep calming breathe before opening his eyes again.

"I didn't mean to sound rude, Fangxu. But a teacher/apprentice acknowledgement isn't something to take lightly. You are not my disciple and I'm no one's shifu. That's it." he explains, acting more composed now.

Zhou Zishu eyes the exchange quietly, ready to assist his soulmate anytime should the young girl take things too far.

Fangxu pouts for a few seconds before mumbling.

"You promised me you'd be my shifu."

"What are you talking about ?!" the young healer asks, confused.

"Don't you remember ? You promised you'd take me as your apprentice if I behaved well and helped grandpa everyday at the clinic."

Wen Kexing doesn't reply, dumbfounded. He remembers now, but for him it was just a silly childish promise to get her to listen to her old man.

But the young woman doesn't stop there.

"You said that once you got rid of that Gu Xiang girl, you'd take me as your apprentice ! Well, you got rid of her, so now it's my turn !"

That breaks the young healer's heart.

"I-I didn't get rid of her." he whispers painfully, looking down in shame.

"Well, she's not here anymore, is she ? Then it's a free spot ! Please guide me shifu !" 

Wen Kexing grows more and more annoyed. 

"I am not your shifu and I'll never be. Now stop your puerility and leave it alone." he answers coldly.

"B-But Shifu !"

"Stop calling me that !" he shouts. 

The young little girl shuts up, tears forming in her eyes.

"A-Xiang was right, you're the worst Shifu ever !" she mumbles.

Wen Kexing looks at her with wide sad eyes. His anger disappears, leaving him only with longing and nostalgy.

"She-She really said-"

"And what's so special about her, anyway ?! Why can she be your disciple and I can't ?!"

Zhou Zishu sighs.

"Why ? Why does she have to poke at an already bleeding wound ? Doesn't Lao Wen deserve some quiet private time to mourn his daughter ? Why did this little girl have to mingle in our business now ? That's just so unfair." he tells himself. 

As he's about to intervene, Wen Kexing interrupts his soulmate.

"Fangxu, it's not what you think. I never compared the two of yo-"

"I'm not good enough then ? Is that it ? Because I come from a poor family ? Because we're farmers ?" the young woman's eyes water.

"N-No, I never said that. You know I don't care about your background." 

"Then why ?! Why does it have to be her ?!" 

"I-It doesn't have to be her, Fangxu. It just is." 

"That's so unfair ! Just because she met you before I did !" she cries heavily now.

"Don't cry, sweety. You'll find a very respectable shifu one day, I'm sure. But it can't be me, that's all."

"And why not ?! You're powerful, you're kind and you care about us."

"I do care about you and your tribe. And that's exactly the reason why I can't take you as my disciple." Wen Kexing tries to explain.

"That's not a good reason ! I only want you as my shifu ! I want to learn your martial arts, I want you to teach me healing techniques." 

"Fangxu, I'm not a good candidate. A shifu is someone who inspires you, who shows you a wise and respectable path. I cannot be that person for you."

"Why not ?!"

Wen Kexing loses his patience.

"Because I'm neither wise nor respectable, for God's sake !" he shouts.

Nobody talks. Fangxu sobs quietly, waiting for explanations.

"W-What do you mean ?" 

"I'm a bad person, Fangxu. I killed many people, erradicated whole villages ! I know you see me as this kind and caring big brother, but it's all fake ! I'm a violent vengeful man and there's no way I'm gonna stain you the way I did A-Xiang !" he pants.

Zhou Zishu squeezes his hand between his. They'll have to talk about what he just said, but later.

"I-I don't believe you."

"Well you should. Do not forget the reason I first came in your peaceful small village."

The Village's chief looks down at the memory and talks for the first time in a while.

"To kill me."

"Exactly ! To kill your silly innocent chief, Fangxu !"

"B-But you didn't in the end, you healed us and gave us food. You never intended to hurt any of us." 

"Even if I showed mercy at the time, I don't want you to be associated with me, Fangxu. The same way I never wanted A-Xiang to be associated with our Valley. I come from a murderous and brutal place and even though I try to leave all that behind now, the blood I spread on my way will always taint my hands !" 

Wen Kexing stops for a few seconds before continuing.

"If you keep on wanting to be my disciple after knowing all that, then fine ! But be prepared because soon enough it will be your blood darkening my hands, just like A-Xiang's did !" he finishes.

He knows he's going too far, probably giving away too much information and traumatizing this sweet little girl. But he can't have a silly disciple following him again, not after what happened to the last one.

Fangxu looks at him with wide scared eyes.

"W-What do you mean, just like A-Xiang's...?" she asks faintly.

The healer's spirit suddenly drops, the tragedy still too fresh in his mind. He knows he shouldn't be shouting like that at an innoncent girl, but he's just scared. So, so scared that something like that could happen to Fangxu as well.

He closes his eyes, letting his anger cool down before looking at the young woman again, his gaze haunted and regretful.

"She's dead, Fangxu. She's not traveling away with her lover. She's dead, and it's all my fault."

That leaves a deafining silence in the room. The villagers are shocked and the two martial artists flinch at the memory of Gu Xiang's wedding.

"A-A-Xiang is..." Fangxu murmurs.

"Yes, she's dead. It happened a few days ago." Wen Kexing sighs saddly.

He hears the young woman sob, but doesn't stop there.

"I'm not trying to reject you out of spite, Fangxu. But I still have her blood on my clothes, her death on my conscience. How could I accept you by my side after letting my seventeen year old daughter get slaughtered like that ? How could you ask that of me ?" he tells her seriously.

"I-I didn't know, I didn't realize-"

"I know, I know. Now you understand why I can't let you stay by my side." 

Fangxu thinks for a few seconds. Suddenly she realizes something and shakes her head.

"No, no I don't understand."

"Fangxu..."

"You're a skilled healer now, you even recieved an amazing gift from your birth parents. Tragedies do not have to repeat themselves. What happened to A-Xiang won't necesserily happen to me." she answers, eyes full of hope and determination.

"Fangxu, please. This is a risk I'm not willing to take."

The young woman sighs before smiling softly.

"Give me three days. Three days and I'll show you what a good disciple I can be."

"But I don't want a disciple.

"Well, I do want a shifu and I want him to be you. That's final. A-Xiang spent her whole life by your side and I won't let her judgement go to waste like that just because you're too afraid. That'll simply won't do."

Wen Kexing is about to reject her offer once more, but Zhou Zishu interrupts him.

"Lao Wen, let her try. Let's give us a few days and then you'll decide, okay ?" 

The healer feels almost betrayed by his soulmate. In the end, he knows his fears are partly irrational and that he's probably being too harsh for this motivated little girl. But how could he ever trust the world again after what Gu Xiang had to go through, at her own marriage ?

He sighs, too tired to fight with them all over again.

"Fine, do whatever you want. I already know what my answer will be by the end of your trial." he mumbles.

His words create a beautiful innocent smile on Fangxu's face.

"Good then, let me fetch your medicine, shif- Kexing." she corrects herself. 

Fangxu is smart enough to know that she shouldn't push anymore for today and stands happily. She waves at her future master and leaves the room loudly.

Wen Kexing looks at her as she runs outside.

"A-Xu..."

"I know, I know sweety. But she's right. You cannot live your life fearing for anyone you care about to end up tragically dead on the ground. I know that life has taught you caution and vigilence, but as she said, history doesn't have to repeat itself.

Wen Kexing nods.

"What did I just get myself into...?" 

Chapter Text

Hello Everyone!

I'm extremely sorry for this forever hiatus in this story... a lot happened, I finished my degree, moved homes, changed jobs, anyway. I haven't been able to take the time to write anything for months and more than that, I haven't had the motivation or inspiration to do so, because I had to many things on my mind.

That being said! Now things are settling down slowly and all the question marks in my life now have answers. Which means! I want to start writing this story again :)

I mainly do this because I just enjoy it too much, but would some of you, readers, actually be interested in me continuing this story? Please let me know in the comment if you'd like me to continue this story or if I should juste drop it definitively...

Hope you're doing well, please take care of yourselves,

Love you all!

Elina

Chapter Text

"Let's talk about your health, Wen Kexing. I know you don't wanna think about that for now but it's really the most urgent matter." Ye Baiyi comes back on topic.

"He's right, your internal energy is extremely chaotic right now, it's alarming." Abuelo Diaz adds.

Wen Kexing sighs before looking down.

"I know I'm not at my best right now. But I don't feel as weak as before. I don't know how to explain that but I feel like the Healer Valley's power is slowly merging with my meridians."

"I also think it's not harming you. But until we have proof that it's not causing any permanent damage, we should be careful." Old Man Diaz answers with a frown.

"Let's stay here for a few more days and observe how you're doing. But in the mean time, no effort, no fighting, no nothing." the immortal instructs.

As they're about to leave the place, a young alarmed voice resonates in the hall.

"Shifu! Uncle Wen!"

The martial artists turn towards the new comer with wide surprised eyes.

"Chengling!" Zhou Zishu exclaims with a wide smile.

Wen Kexing smiles at his soulmate's disciple. It's good to finally see their kid. Chengling runs towards his shifu and hugs him tightly. The young healer looks at their reunion with a longing and melancolic glare.

"Chengling, it's so good to see you!"

"Shifu! I was so scared something had happened to you! I couldn't get any news about what had happened at the armory."

"I'm doing just fine. Your shishu took care of everything for me." he replies looking gratefully at his soulmate.

Chengling turns towards Wen Kexing with a relieved smile.

But when the martial artist rises to greet him with a heavy breath, his smile drops a bit.

"Uncle Wen!" he whines, hugging the healer firmly.

Wen Kexing smiles honestly and relaxes in his embrace.

"What happened? Why do you look so tired?!" Chengling asks in panic.

"I'm fine, Shazi. Took a bit of my energy to save your silly shifu." he laughs winking at a guilty Zhou Zishu.

They separate from the hug and his soulmate chuckles.

"But doesn't he look way more handsome like this?" he laughs, pointing at his forehead marking.

Chengling smiles before nodding.

"Definitely the most handsome." the youngest giggles.

"You shouldn't teach your disciple how to flirt, A-Xu. Leave this guidance to me, you're really bad at it." Wen Kexing adds with a grin.

Zhou Zishu laughs before turning around and noticing other people in the room.

"Bei Yuan! Da Wu! So glad you could make it." he greets them politely.

"Of course, we were already looking for you both when we recieved Immortal Baiyi's flying letter."

"Thank you for coming under such short notice." the senior bows gratefully.

"No worries, we're happy to help. You said something about Wen Kexing needing medical care?" Da Wu adds.

"Come with me, I'll explain everything." Ye Baiyi instructs.

The older nods at Zhou Zishu, silently asking the younger man not to wander too far with his soulmate.

After a little while, Fangxu comes back to the hall, carying a small bowl of medicine. She looks extremely focused to not let the medicine spill on the floor.

When she notices everybody, she immediately looks down respectfully and approaches Wen Kexing.

"I brought you medicine, Tio Wen." she mumbles, delicately placing the bowl on the table.

Wen Kexing looks at her with curious eyes before putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Why are you so nervous, Shazi ?" he smiles a bit.

Chengling observes their interraction and, as the child he still is, doesn't like the way his uncle calls somebody else than him Shazi.

"And who are you ?!" he asks out of jaleousy.

"She's the village healer's apprentice." Zhou Zishu answers.

"Mmh."

Wen Kexing doesn't mind his soulmate's disciple and just sighs.

"Come on everybody, let's walk around the village. There's a few awsome places I want to show Chengling." he smiles gently.

The teenager seems content that his shishu brings his attention back to him but they're interrupted by Fangxu's shy voice.

"Hum, Tio Wen. You should drink the medicine first."

Chengling rolls his eyes.

"Okay, she's annoying. I already don't like her." he thinks to himself.

Wen Kexing sighs before sitting in front of the bowl. He decides that it's a good time to test the young girl's medicinal knowledge.

"Fangxu, please sit down with me." he orders.

The young apprentice panics a bit before sitting down anxiously.

"Y-Yes, tio."

The martial artist looks at the bowl before observing her.

"Can you tell me exactly what this medicine is made of and what the awaited results would be ?" he asks seriously.

"I-I followed master's recipe to the letter. It's good medicine, I swear."

Wen Kexing smiles at her panic.

"She's really cute. I was the same when I first started practicing medicine making." he thinks cheerfully.

He looks at Zhou Zishu who smiles back tenderly. His soulmate knows exactly what he's doing and gets the cute reaction.

"I'm not asking because I don't trust you or the medicine, Fangxu. You said you practiced every day since I left. Let's see how knowledgeable you are now." Wen Kexing adds playfully.

Fangxu blushes before composing herself.

"Hum, this medicine is made of crushed ginseng, ashawaghanda leaves we imported from the south, dandelion and goldenseal. It was bowled in a traditional pot for about fifteen minutes for their medicinal benefits to be fully exploited. This medicine is used for stenghening your internal energy and to boost your meridians reconstruction." she recites seriously.

Wen Kexing looks at her with a little smile, satisfied.

"That's good, that's good." he mumbles before taking a sip.

After that he pauses for a second before looking at her again.

"Ginseng, Ashawaghanda, dandelion and goldenseal, that's right. But you forgot something, young girl." he says coldly.

Fangxu looks up in panic. She searches her mind for any forgotten ingredient. It's the first time her possible future shifu is putting her up to trial, she'd better not mess this up.

"Hum, hum..." she stutters nervously.

Wen Kexing laughs before hitting her on the head with his fan.

"Honey. You put a teaspoon of honey for the taste, Shazi." he chuckles.

Zhou Zishu never realized how knowledgeable his soulmate was in medicinal concoctions. The simple fact that he could recognize each ingredient with a simple sip amazes him.

"He's really the Divine Hand's son, how could anyone ever doubt that?" he asks himself with a smile.

Fangxu laughs quietly at Wen Kexing's actions before looking at him.

"I was wrong, please punish me, shif-" she stops her sentence.

Wen Kexing waits for what she's gonna make up.

"Please punish me, Master Healer." she corrects herself.

That pleases the young healer.

"Well thank you for the compliment but we're in the presence of a Great Shaman, knowing his personality, Da Wu won't like that you call me Master Healer." Wen Kexing laughs, looking at Zhou Zishu.

The latter smiles, casting a glance at Da Wu in the other side of the room and laughing.

"Don't worry, Fangxu, I won't tell him." he whispers, winking at the little girl.

Half an hour later, they finally exit the Village's Chief's farm. Zhou Zishu must almost restrain his soulmate for him not to go running through the lively Xibanya Tribe's streets.

"It's good to see him so joyful." he thinks.

Wen Kexing grabs Chengling's arm and drags him from shops to little music-filled coffee shops.

"This is where they cook the best paella, it's where we'll be eating tonight." the young healer laughs.

"Wow, it already smells amazing, Uncle Wen !" the young disciple chuckles.

Fangxu follows them from a few meters away. Seing how prudent and shy the young girl suddenly behaves now, Zhou Zishu uses the chance to have a little talk with her. With how his soulmate is involved in his explanations, him and Chengling won't even notice the little steps he takes towards the young girl.

But how wrong he is, as soon as he's close enough to talk to Fangxu, Wen Kexing eyes him from afar with a serious look.

They silently agree for Zhou Zishu to test the young girl's intentions. Wen Kexing focuses back on Chengling, trusting his soulmate to serve his interests.

"How are you feeling now, Fangxu?" the martial artist asks gently.

The young girl suddenly looks at him with wide eyes, surprised to be even talked to.

"I'm fine, thank you Master Zishu. I didn't mean to interrupt your time with your disciple. Please don't mind me."

"She's so careful now. Nothing like her earlier behavor." he thinks.

"Don't worry. Even if I tried to take Chengling away from his shishu, Wen Kexing would still find a way to drag him away with a bunch of exciting explanations." he laughs.

"Their relationship seems sweet."

"It is, yeah. Lao Wen can be such a mother hen at times. You should have seen him the first time we let Chengling enter another sect without us, he couldn't stay in place." the Four Seasons Manor's Master laughs softly.

Fangxu smiles.

"I wish I had." she answers quietly.

After a few minutes, Zhou Zishu talks again.

"I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I know Lao Wen didn't mean to put you in a bad position or to belittle your offer. It's just-"

"Gu Xiang. I know." she says sadly.

Zhou Zishu observes her for a few seconds.

"Lao Wen told me earlier that you and A-Xiang were really close friends when they first came to your village. I'm sorry for your loss, and also for the way you had to hear about it." he apologizes sincerely.

Fangxu stops for a few seconds, dumbfounded at his words.

"That's very nice of you, thank you Master Zishu."

The martial artist only nods.

"I heard you call Lao Wen Tio Wen earlier, what does it mean?"

"Tio literaly means uncle in our culture. Usually we use the forename after it since we're pretty close to each other, but out of respect, I use his surname. Hence Tio Wen." she explains.

"Well then, you can call me Tio Zishu." he smiles genuinly.

Fangxu smiles back before speaking again.

"Can I ask you a question, Tio Zishu ?"

"Of course, sweety."

She nervously pauses.

"Do you think Tio Wen thinks I'm not good enough to be his disciple...?" she asks.

Zhou Zishu sighs before putting his hand on her shoulder and looking into her eyes meaningfully.

"You are good enough. And even if you weren't, Wen Kexing never judges people for their ability. We both believe in improvement and whatever your level, whatever your background, you will always be enough."

"But I didn't even manage to tell him all the ingredients in the medicinal soup earlier."

"He was just teasing you, silly. Of course you'd forget about the only non medicinal ingredient, that's okay."

"Y-You really think so?"

"Of course. Lao Wen really likes you, he always has. And he doesn't doubt for a second that you're gonna be anything but an amazing healer one day. His only reluctance concerns your safety, that's all that matters to him."

"I know he's afraid of something happening to me, but I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

Zhou Zishu looks at her with soft and caring eyes.

"I know you are. But your Tio Wen and I have been involved with extremely powerful and dangerous people."

"Like the old Ghost Valley Master?" she asks, a flash of fear passing in her eyes.

"Hum... No, not the previous Ghost Valley Master."

"Then I'll be fine, there's no one more dangerous than him."

After a few seconds in silence, curiosity gets the best out of the Four Seasons Manor's Chief.

"Why did you immediately think of the Ghost Valley Master just now?"

"Tio Wen was heavily involved with him in the past, I know this monster is the one who hurt him the most."

"Hurt him? In what way? What are you talking about?" Zhou Zishu asks worriedely.

Fangxu stops for a second and looks at him with wondering eyes.

"Tio Wen never told you about what happened to him in the Ghost Valley?"

"Well, he told me that they had him drink the Water of Lethe and that he was forced to murder and hurt way too many people under the Ghost King's orders."

"Hum, I see."

"Is there something else I should be aware of?" he asks seriously.

The young girl looks at him with a sad and grave look before shaking her head.

"I shouldn't have said that, if Tio Wen never told you, then he must have his reasons." she replies, looking straight ahead again.

"Never told me? What the hell happened?"

"It's not my story to tell."

Zhou Zishu sighs but suddenly her small hand grabs his sleeve.

"I can't tell you about it, but it's something really important for Master Wen. I know he won't tell you unless you confront him about it. But I think it's better for you to be aware of what happened to him then. It's a matter of safety."

"What if he still doesn't want to explain anything to me?"

"You don't understand, he needs you to know. I'm sure of it."

Suddenly Wen Kexing appears in front of them out of nowhere.

"What are you two talking about?" he asks seriously, casting murderous looks at Fangxu.

"No-Nothing, Tio Wen." the young girl looks down in embarassement.

Zhou Zishu looks at the two of them anxiously.

"What's going on here? What happened to Lao Wen that has this young girl so worried about?" he thinks.

The martial artist sighs before putting his hand on his soulmate's shoulder.

"We were talking about how boring your explanations are. Plus there's no wine, what an annoying situation." he smiles.

But Zhou Zishu knows that a paranoid and careful man like Wen Kexing won't be fooled by his words. He presses a bit on his shoulder to mean that he should drop the matter for now.

Wen Kexing sighs and nods.

"Let's go into this little bar, they'll be able to serve us good local wine." he says seriously.

When Zhou Zishu begins to walk towards the bar, he hears his soulmate's voice quietly whispering.

"We'll talk about this at home."

The Four Seasons Manor's Master nods.

The evening at Abuela Perez’s home is lively and warm, filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and the aroma of her famous paella.

Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Ye Baiyi, and Chengling are seated among the villagers, enjoying the company and sharing stories.

The healer is in high spirits, smiling and laughing along with the others. The villagers are kind and welcoming, making him feel more at ease than he has in a long time. The group shares anecdotes, each tale met with hearty laughter and encouraging smiles.

As the night progresses, wine flows freely, and Chengling, eager to be part of the adult conversation, indulges a bit too much. It’s his first time drinking, and the excitement of the evening makes him lose track of how much he’s had.

“You know...” Chengling starts, his voice a little too loud as he waves his cup around.

“I still don’t get why it was such trouble to have Shishu recognize who he really was! Isn’t that silly? Ahahaha!” he smiles.

The villagers laugh along with him, not noticing the slight tension in Wen Kexing’s smile.

He listens patiently, his expression calm but guarded.

“One day, people were calling him Zhen Yan, then Wen Kexing, then who knows what else! How could he have so many names?” Chengling continues, his words slurring slightly as he giggles.

The young boy explodes into laughter, oblivious to the discomfort settling in the air. He’s caught up in the moment, not realizing the impact of his words on Wen Kexing, who sits quietly, his smile tightening as he forces himself to remain composed.

The healer tolerates it with a tight smile, excusing his disciple’s behavior to the villagers.

“He’s had a bit too much to drink.” he says gently, brushing off Chengling’s remarks.

“First time drinking, you know how it is.” he adds lightly.

But inside, each comment lands like a blow. The names, the identities he’s had to juggle over the years—each one a mask, each one a reminder of the pain and struggle he’s endured. To hear it all reduced to a joke stings more than he’s willing to admit.

However, he hides his feelings, not wanting to dampen the mood or embarrass their disciple in front of everyone.

Zhou Zishu, though, is watching closely. He sees the tightness in his soulmate's smile, the slight drop in his shoulders, the way his eyes dim just a little more with each of Chengling’s careless remarks. His expression hardens as he listens to his disciple’s words, recognizing the emotional weight they carry for Wen Kexing.

Chengling, still not realizing the seriousness of his words, continues to talk about their lives, revealing bits of their intimate past without a second thought.

“And you know what I just learned today? Shishu hid the divine armory key in Shifu’s hair!” Chengling laughs, his voice filled with the naive amusement of youth.

“I mean, who would’ve thought of hiding something so important in such a silly place? It’s like, out of all the places to hide it, Shishu thought, ‘Oh, I’ll just stick it in Zhou Zishu's hair, no one will look there!’ Ahahaha!” he adds, still laughing.

Wen Kexing’s smile falters more noticeably this time. He keeps his tone light, but there’s a clear note of bitterness hidden beneath the surface as he responds.

“Ah, yes, a clever place, don’t you think? My parents always said the safest places are the ones no one would suspect. But I guess it does sound a bit absurd if you weren’t there to see why...”

Chengling, still tipsy, blinks at his shishu, not quite catching the underlying message.

“Yeah, Shishu, it’s just funny how things turn out sometimes, right?”

Wen Kexing’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but he continues to play along for the sake of the evening.

“Funny indeed, Chengling. Life has a way of surprising us.”

Zhou Zishu watches the exchange, his patience wearing thin. Chengling’s obliviousness, coupled with his lack of understanding, is pushing him to the edge.

He places a calming hand on the boy's shoulder, but there’s a firmness in his grip.

“Chengling, I think you’ve had enough for tonight. Why don’t we step outside for a moment?”

The young man, still grinning and tipsy, looks up at Zhou Zishu with wide eyes, confused by the sudden shift in his tone.

“What? I’m just having fun, Shifu! We’re all just having fun! Don't make me leave just yet!” he protests playfully.

Zhou Zishu’s grip tightens slightly, though he keeps his voice even.

“Now, Chengling.”

Sensing the seriousness in his Shifu’s voice, Chengling’s grin falters. He nods, his laughter fading as Zhou Zishu leads him away from the group.

The villagers, sensing the change in atmosphere, turn their attention back to their own conversations, leaving Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu to handle the situation.

As they step outside into the cool night air, Chengling stumbles slightly, his mind still muddled from the wine.

Zhou Zishu turns to him, his expression stern and full of controlled anger.

“Chengling, do you realize what you’ve been saying tonight?!”

Chengling, still a bit dazed, blinks at him in confusion.

“I was just talking… telling stories. What’s wrong with that? We're all sharing stories tonight!” he giggles.

Zhou Zishu’s tone sharpens, the anger barely restrained.

“What you were saying wasn’t just harmless fun. You were talking about very personal, very painful parts of your shishu's past. You didn’t mean to hurt him, but your words certainly did.”

Chengling, still not fully grasping the gravity of the situation, shakes his head, frustration creeping into his voice.

“But Shifu, it’s true! And it was kind of funny, right? It's not a big deal.”

Zhou Zishu’s expression darkens further, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Wen Kexing, feeling his soulmate's anger flaring up, tries to settle the situation calmly.

"A-Xu, it's okay, I don't mind-"

But Zhou Zishu is already fuming in anger as he interrupts him, addressing his disciple.

“Not a big deal?! Do you think it’s acceptable to mock the pain of others just because you think it’s funny?! Do you understand the weight of the words you’ve been carelessly throwing around?!”

Chengling looks taken aback by the intensity in Zhou Zishu’s voice, his confusion giving way to defensiveness.

“But Shifu, I didn’t mean it like that! I was just joking! Everyone was laughing, and even Shishu was smiling. It’s not like I was trying to be disrespectful!”

Zhou Zishu’s patience finally snaps. His voice drops to a low, dangerous tone that leaves no room for argument.

“Do you think a smile means there’s no pain behind it?! Do you think Wen Kexing deserves to have his past, his suffering, reduced to a joke for your amusement?! You are my disciple, Chengling, and I have taught you better than this. You will not disrespect him, or anyone else, in this way again.”

Chengling’s face flushes with a mix of alcohol and rising anger.

He’s still not fully grasping the seriousness of the situation, and the reprimand from his Shifu only stokes his frustration further. He turns towards Wen Kexing, his voice growing louder and more aggressive, the alcohol fueling his words.

“Why can’t Shishu just take a joke?! With everything he’s lied about, everything he’s hidden from us, it’s the least he could do! It’s always been so difficult to understand him, and now I’m the one getting scolded for having a bit of fun?! How is that fair?!” Chengling’s words are slurred, but the bitterness in them is clear.

Wen Kexing’s eyes widen slightly at the accusation, a brief flash of pain crossing his face. He opens his mouth to respond, to try and calm the situation down, but Zhou Zishu cuts in sharply, his anger reaching its peak.

“Enough!” Zhou Zishu’s voice is like a crack of thunder, reverberating in the night air.

He steps closer to Chengling, his eyes blazing with fury.

“How dare you speak to your Shishu like that? How dare you question his past when you have no understanding of the horrors he has faced? The lies you speak of were masks he wore to survive, to protect those he cared about—including you! So even if only for that, you owe him respect!”

Zhou Zishu’s stern reprimand hangs in the air, but Chengling, still reeling from the alcohol and his own wounded pride, isn’t ready to accept it.

His anger flares too, and he looks at the two men with defiance.

“Respect? You’re telling me to respect someone who can’t even handle a joke? Someone who has lied and hidden the truth from us all this time? You think I should just forget that it’s his fault my family is dead?”

The words hit like a physical blow. Wen Kexing’s face pales, and he instinctively takes a step back, his eyes widening in shock and pain. The guilt he’s carried for so long, the guilt that has haunted him in the quiet moments, resurfaces with brutal force.

“Chengling...” Wen Kexing starts, his voice trembling slightly.

“I never meant for any of that to happen. I’ve spent every day trying to make amends—”

But Chengling cuts him off, his voice filled with bitterness.

“Amends? How do you make amends for something like that? My parents are gone, my home destroyed, all because of your involvement with the Ghost Valley! And now you expect me to tiptoe around your feelings because I made a joke?! Because I told the truth?!”

Wen Kexing’s heart aches with the weight of Chengling’s words, but he tries to maintain his composure.

“I know you’re angry, Chengling. And you have every right to be. But this anger… it won’t bring them back. It won’t heal the pain.”

Chengling’s eyes flash with anger and hurt.

“Don’t talk to me like you know what I’m feeling! You, who hid behind your masks, who played games with everyone’s lives while my family was torn apart!”

Wen Kexing’s expression crumples, the guilt overwhelming him. He struggles to find words, but everything he wants to say feels inadequate, hollow.

The truth is, he doesn’t know how to make this right. The weight of his past mistakes, the lives lost because of his actions, is a burden he’s never been able to fully bear.

Zhou Zishu, seeing the pain in Wen Kexing’s eyes and the venom in Chengling’s words, steps forward with an intensity that makes the air around them crackle. He grips Chengling’s arm tightly, pulling him closer, his voice low and dangerous.

“Say one more word, young man, and you'll regret ever stepping foot into this village.”

Chengling glares at Zhou Zishu, his emotions in turmoil.

“But Shifu, he—”

“No!” Zhou Zishu interrupts, his voice a low growl.

He breathes threateningly before continuing.

“You will listen to me now, Chengling. Wen Kexing has paid for his mistakes a thousand times over. He’s lived with the guilt, the shame, and the loss. He doesn’t need you to remind him of what he already carries with him every single day.”

Chengling’s resistance falters slightly, but he’s still not ready to back down completely.

“But it’s true, Shifu! He’s the reason—”

“The reason you’re still alive!” Zhou Zishu snaps, his patience completely gone.

“The reason you have a chance to live, to grow, to become something more than a victim of your past! Wen Kexing has saved your life more times than you know. And I will not stand here and let you tear him down because of your misplaced anger!”

Wen Kexing, who has been standing quietly, steps forward, placing a gentle hand on Zhou Zishu’s shoulder. His voice is soft, almost pleading.

“A-Xu, please… He’s hurting. Let him speak. Let him get it out.”

Zhou Zishu turns to Wen Kexing, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and concern.

“No, Lao Wen. He needs to understand that this isn’t just about his pain. It’s about respect, about honor. As long as he is my disciple, he will not speak to you this way!”

Chengling, seeing the fierceness in Zhou Zishu’s eyes, finally begins to realize the gravity of what he’s done.

The alcohol, the anger, all of it starts to fade, leaving behind a sickening feeling of regret. But the words have been spoken, and the damage is done. He looks at Wen Kexing, seeing the hurt in his Shishu’s eyes, and the weight of his actions begins to sink in.

“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I was angry… I shouldn’t have said those things.” Chengling stammers, his voice small and filled with guilt.

Wen Kexing gives him a sad, understanding smile, but the pain in his eyes is still evident.

“It’s alright, Chengling. We all say things we don’t mean when we’re hurt or angry. Just… let’s not let anger push us to hurt the people we care about, alright?”

Chengling nods, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I understand, Shishu. I’m sorry. I was wrong… so wrong.”

Zhou Zishu releases his grip on Chengling, his expression softening slightly as he watches his disciple’s realization take hold.

The young man looks at him with guilty and remorseful eyes. He quickly hugs the older man, but Zhou Zishu doesn't react.

The Four Seasons Manor's chief grabs his disciple's shoulders and pushes him away softly.

"Shifu, I-"

"Don't. Your behavior tonight was unacceptable. Go home, and next time you come to me, you'd better show you shishu the respect he deserves." he growls, turning around and going back inside.

Chengling turns to Wen Kexing desperately. How could this night turn so wrong between him and his shifu?

"Leave him be for tonight, Shazi. I'll talk to him, don't worry about it." the healer offers a little reassuring smile, following his soulmate.

Back home, Wen Kexing releases a sigh while closing their bedroom door.

"A-Xu. You were to harsh on him, he just didn't realized-"

"He disrespected you, Lao Wen! If you can bear to stand still, while being insulted by your own disciple like that, then fine! But I don't!" Zhou Zishu pants in rage.

Wen Kexing takes a deep breath, his eyes softening as he watches Zhou Zishu, whose face is still flushed with anger.

He places a gentle hand on his arm, grounding him with his touch.

“A-Xu. I know you’re upset because you care. You’ve always been protective, and I appreciate that more than you know. But I’m alright, truly. Chengling didn’t mean to hurt me—he just didn’t understand the weight of his words.”

Zhou Zishu’s shoulders tense, his eyes still burning with the remnants of his anger.

“But he should understand, Lao Wen. You don’t deserve to be treated that way, not after everything you’ve done, everything you’ve sacrificed.”

Wen Kexing smiles gently, his hand still resting on Zhou Zishu’s arm, a quiet reassurance in his touch.

“I know, A-Xu. But Chengling is young. He’s learning. And tonight, he’s learned an important lesson. You don’t need to be angry for my sake. It’s enough that he realizes his mistake.”

Zhou Zishu takes a few deep breaths, the intensity in his gaze slowly fading as he absorbs Wen Kexing’s words. He knows his anger is born out of love, out of a fierce desire to protect the man who means everything to him. But as Wen Kexing’s calmness washes over him, he begins to see that his outburst may have been more about his own fears than the actual situation.

After a moment, Zhou Zishu sighs, running a hand through his hair as he steps back slightly.

“You’re right, Lao Wen. I was too harsh. I let my anger get the better of me.”

Wen Kexing’s smile widens, a gentle understanding in his eyes.

“You don’t need to apologize, A-Xu. You were defending me, and I’m grateful for that. But you don’t need to carry all that worry alone. I’m stronger than I look, you know.”

Zhou Zishu chuckles softly, his tense posture finally relaxing as the warmth of Wen Kexing’s words sinks in. He steps closer, leaning his forehead against Wen Kexing’s for a brief moment, his voice softening with affection.

“I know you are. But it’s different when it’s you, Lao Wen. I’ve spent so much of my life guarding myself, but with you, it’s like instinct. I can’t stand the thought of anything—anyone—hurting you, even if it’s just words.”

Wen Kexing closes his eyes, savoring the closeness between them.

“And I understand that, A-Xu. But sometimes, it’s okay to let go of that worry, to trust that I can handle it.”

Zhou Zishu nods slowly, his heart finally calming as he pulls back slightly to look into Wen Kexing’s eyes.

“I’ll try. But don’t expect me to stop defending you so easily.”

The healer chuckles, the sound light and filled with warmth.

"Great, I wouldn't expect any less of you." he winks.

But suddenly, Zhou Zishu's gaze turn more serious, more grave.

"Speaking of defending. I really need to talk to you about something Fangxu told me earlier."

Something shifts in the younger, all his psychological walls quickly up again.

"What in hell did she tell you?" Wen Kexing asks nervously.

Zhou Zishu pauses for a second, not expecting this reaction.

"Why are you so upset about it?" he asks with curiosity.

"That's not the point."

"Yes it is, I've never seen you so nervous for such a small matter."

Wen Kexing sighs.

"Is there something she shouldn't tell me about?" Zhou Zishu adds, suspicious.

His soulmate stares at the floor.

"It's just... I've done things I'm not proud of. And she probably knows about it."

"Like what?"

Wen Kexing seems reluctant, but still speaks.

"When I came back to the Xibanya tribe for the second time, severely injured, I was a bit out of my mind. I had been tortured for days and it made me paranoid. Xibanya people tried to heal me, but I reacted very badly and hurt some of them. They were only trying to dress my injuries but I was convinced that anyone approaching me was actually trying to kill or hurt me."

The healer sighs at the memory.

"I've always tried to make up for the sufferings I caused back then, but I don't know... I'm still really ashamed of my past behavior." he explains.

Zhou Zishu smiles.

"So that's what got him on edge like that." he thinks to himself.

"It's all in the past now, I'm sure nobody blames you."

"But I do. I thought I was over it, but seeing how panicked I am at the simple idea of you knowing, I guess I'm still ashamed."

Zhou Zishu places his hand on his shoulder caringly.

"Well, now I know. And I don't think any less of you. Those things take some time to heal, but I've got you, don't worry."

"Thanks." he smiles shyly.

Zhou Zishu pauses before adressing the real matter.

"Actually that's not what Fangxu told me about." he confesses.

If he wants Wen Kexing to be totally honest with him, he has to do the same.

"Then what did you two talk about?" the healer asks, surprised.

Zhou Zishu notices the tension in Wen Kexing's posture.

"She brought up the Ghost Valley. She implied there’s something more, something that still haunts you. Something you haven’t shared with anyone." Zhou Zishu starts gently. 

Wen Kexing's eyes flicker, shadowed by memories he kept locked away. He turns away slightly without answering for now. But Zhou Zishu is too curious and worried to leave the matter alone.

"What happened in the Ghost Valley that you won’t tell me about?" he asks.

Wen Kexing tenses, his demeanor shifting from defensive to guarded.

"It's not something I want to talk about, sorry." he says quietly, clearly trying to deflect.

But Zhou Zishu’s own hurt and curiosity push him to press harder.

"Why? What could possibly be so bad that you can’t tell me?"

Wen Kexing’s jaw tightens, his frustration starting to show.

"A-Xu, this isn’t about you. There are things... things that happened there that I’m not ready to revisit. Can’t you understand that?"

Zhou Zishu’s frustration only grows.

"Not ready? You trust Fangxu with your past but not me? We’re supposed to be closer than anyone, yet you’re still keeping secrets. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"You think I wanted her to know? She put it together herself! I didn’t choose to tell her anything, and I’m not ready to tell you either."

Zhou Zishu crosses his arms tighter, his voice hardening.

"So you’ll just keep me in the dark? After everything we’ve been through?"

Wen Kexing takes a deep breath, trying to control the anger and hurt rising in his chest.

"I’m asking you to give me time, A-Xu. This isn’t something I can just share because you’re demanding answers. It’s not that simple."

Zhou Zishu’s eyes search Wen Kexing’s face, looking for any sign that he’s willing to open up. But all he sees is the same wall that’s been up since they first reunited.

"You say that, but it feels like you’re just shutting me out."

The healer sighs tiredly.

"I know you’re trying to help. But I’m telling you, I’m not ready. And forcing it out of me won’t change that." he says, his voice thick with emotion.

Zhou Zishu paces the room, his frustration mounting with every step. The tension between them has grown thick and suffocating, and he finally turns to face Wen Kexing, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and pain.

“Do you think I don’t notice? The way you shut me out whenever it comes to the Ghost Valley? The way you pretend everything’s fine when it clearly isn’t? You’re not just hiding something—you’re pushing me away!” Zhou Zishu’s voice cuts through the silence, sharper than a blade. 

Wen Kexing sighs again, already tired of this conversation.

“That’s not fair. You have no idea what you’re asking of me.” he says, his voice trembling. 

“Maybe I don’t. But I do know this: whatever you’re hiding, it’s already driving a wedge between us. And if you can’t see that, then maybe you’re not the man I thought you were.” Zhou Zishu retorts, his voice cold. 

The words hang in the air, heavy and painful. Wen Kexing recoils as if struck, the emotional blow far more devastating than any physical attack.

“A-Xu, please...”

“Don’t you ‘A-Xu’ me.” Zhou Zishu interrupts, his tone harsh.

“I’ve watched you suffer in silence for too long. I’ve seen the nightmares, the way you flinch when certain things are mentioned. And I’ve let it go, thinking you’d come to me when you were ready. But you haven’t! And now I find out that Fangxu knows something I don’t? That she’s privy to secrets you won’t even share with me?!”

Wen Kexing flinches at the accusation, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“Are you actually jealous over some little girl I met years ago? Are you freaking serious right now?!"

“That’s not the point! The point is, you’re keeping something from me—something important. And it hurts, Lao Wen. It hurts to know that after everything we’ve been through, you still don’t trust me enough to share your burdens.” Zhou Zishu snaps, his voice rising. 

“It’s not about trust, and you know it. It’s about... about not wanting to relive those memories. They’re too painful, A-Xu. I don’t know if I can face them again, let alone talk about them.” Wen Kexing insists, his voice strained as he struggles to find the right words. 

"Yet you told her!"

"I didn't have a choice in the matter, for God's sake! What don't you understand in I didn't want her to find out but still she did, and I regret her ever finding out about it?!"

"About what?!"

Wen Kexing looks at him with wide angry eyes.

"You want to know the raw, ugly truth so badly, huh?! Here it is! When I arrived in the Ghost Valley, I had nothing, I was just a child! Yet I had to find ways to survive! Master, he...he didn't control me only through fear! He-"

Suddenly, the sharp sound of breaking glass cuts through the tense air. An assassin bursts through the window, rolling to their feet with a dagger drawn, charging straight towards Wen Kexing with deadly intent.

Zhou Zishu reacts instantly, positioning himself between Wen Kexing and the attacker.

"Lao Wen, get back!" he orders, his voice sharp.

The assassin moves swiftly, but Zhou Zishu is quicker, his movements honed by years of training. He blocks the initial strike, pushing back against the assailant with a series of rapid, precise moves.

"Not a chance!" Zhou Zishu shouts as he drives the attacker back, his voice low and deadly.

Wen Kexing doesn't retreat, despite Zhou Zishu's command. He stands up, ready to fight. But as he's about to launch an attack, a second figure crashes through another window, adding chaos to the already tense confrontation.

Zhou Zishu continues to struggle against the first attacker, leaving the second assassin to charge directly at Wen Kexing.

"Stay back!" Zhou Zishu shouts over his shoulder, but Wen Kexing ignores him, his pride and need to protect too strong.

As he tries to defend himself, the healer faces a new issue; his lack of martial arts. His movements, once fluid and deadly, now lack the speed and precision they once had. He struggles to block the strikes, each one pushing him further back, his breath coming in ragged gasps."

"Why... won't my body move?" Wen Kexing mutters under his breath, frustration mixing with fear as he barely deflects a strike aimed at his throat.

Zhou Zishu, seeing his soulmate's struggle, fights with more ferocity, trying to compensate for both their sakes. He darts around Wen Kexing, shielding him from the worst of the blows.

"I said stay behind me!" he shouts again, more urgently this time, his voice edged with worry.

But the chaos of the battle doesn't allow for careful positioning. As the second assassin takes out a shining, sharp blade, Zhou Zishu finds himself momentarily distracted. In that critical moment, one of the attackers lunges with a poisoned blade, aiming for Zhou Zishu's back.

Wen Kexing, seeing the imminent danger, acts without thought for his own safety.

"No!" he yells, stepping in front of Zhou Zishu and taking the blade meant for his partner.

The sharp pain sears through him as the dagger sinks into his side, eliciting a pained gasp from his lips.

"Aaaargh!" Wen Kexing cries out, his body bending under the sudden, intense pain.

His vision blurs as the poison spreads through his veins, but he forces himself to remain standing.

Zhou Zishu catches him as he stumbles.

"Lao Wen!" he exclaims, panic flashing in his eyes.

Wen Kexing grabs his throbbing side with his hands, blood sliping from his tightening fingers. 

"Why did you do that?! You fool!" Zhou Zishu shouts.

"Better... me than you," Wen Kexing whispers through gritted teeth, forcing a weak smile despite the agony.

The healer tries to stand still, focusing on staying conscious, but the poison slowly making his way through his system blurries his vision. He falls to the ground with a pained groan.

"Lao Wen!" Zhou Zishu shouts again, his rage growing as he sees the blood staining Wen Kexing’s side and painting the floor red.

He turns back to the attackers, his voice a low growl.

"You’ll pay for this!"

With a roar of fury, Zhou Zishu launches himself at the assassins.

"You dare hurt him?!" he shouts, each strike fueled by a deadly mix of anger and desperation.

The assassins, taken aback by the sudden ferocity, try to defend themselves, but Zhou Zishu is relentless. He disarms one with a brutal twist of the wrist, the blade clattering to the ground, before kicking him to the chest and sending the man crashing into the wall.

"You picked the wrong fight!" Zhou Zishu growls as he closes in on the last assassin, his movements swift and deadly.

The fighter, clearly realizing he's outmatched, attempts a desperate lunge towards Zhou Zishu. But the martial artist is faster, sidestepping the attack and delivering a sharp elbow to the assassin's jaw, sending him reeling back. The force of the blow is enough to knock the invader off balance, and Zhou Zishu follows up with a powerful kick that sends him crashing through the shattered remnants of the window he entered through.

As the first attacker crumples to the ground outside, struggling to rise, he casts a final, desperate look at Zhou Zishu. The deadly intensity in the Four Seasons Manor Chief’s eyes is enough to send a shiver down his spine, and he scrambles to his feet, fleeing into the night without a second thought.

Zhou Zishu doesn’t waste time watching the assassin retreat. He immediately turns back to Wen Kexing, who is slumped against the wall, struggling to stay conscious. Blood continues to seep through the healer’s fingers, staining his clothes and pooling on the floor.

"Lao Wen, stay with me." Zhou Zishu urges, dropping to his knees beside him.

His hands move with frantic urgency, trying to assess the severity of the wound and the effects of the poison.

"You’re going to be okay. Just hold on."

Wen Kexing tries to focus on Zhou Zishu’s face, but his vision is dimming.

"Zishu... I'm sorry..." he mumbles, his voice barely a whisper.

"Don’t you dare apologize!" Zhou Zishu snaps, his voice trembling with fear and anger.

"You’re not going anywhere, do you hear me?! I need you here, Lao Wen. Don’t you dare leave me."

Zhou Zishu knows he needs to act quickly. The poison is spreading too fast, and the wound itself is severe. Without hesitation, he scoops Wen Kexing into his arms, his mind racing to think of the nearest healer. The village isn’t big, but every second counts.

"You’re going to be fine." Zhou Zishu whispers, more to himself than to Wen Kexing, as he rushes out of the house and into the night.

He moves swiftly, every step driven by sheer determination and the desperate need to save his soulmate.

The streets are quiet, but Zhou Zishu doesn’t pause. He heads directly toward Abuelo Diaz's home. The old healer’s house is just on the edge of the village, and Zhou Zishu reaches it in what feels like an eternity.

He bangs on the door with his free hand, his voice urgent.

"Abuelo Diaz! It’s Zhou Zishu! I need your help, now!"

The door creaks open, and the old appears, his face etched with concern at the sight of Zhou Zishu cradling a bleeding, barely conscious Wen Kexing.

"Bring him inside, quickly!" he instructs, his tone calm but firm.

Zhou Zishu lays Wen Kexing on a low bed as the healer begins gathering his supplies.

Bai Fangxu appears in the background and immediately rushes to her Tio's side.

"Tio Wen! What happened?!" she asks Zhou Zishu with worried eyes.

"Assassins. They attacked us out of nowhere." he explains quickly.

Fangxu frowns, looking down at her panting uncle. In a few seconds, she regains her calm and turns around to help her grandfather.

Zhou Zishu hovers anxiously as Abuelo Diaz works, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Fangxu, bring me hot water and a set of fresh knives." the old man instructs.

The young girl follows his instructions meticulously, staying calm and composed despite the blood tainting her hands.

Abuelo Diaz moves with practiced efficiency, examining the wound and quickly identifying the poison.

"Will he be alright...?" Zhou Zishu asks, his voice betraying the fear he’s trying to suppress.

The healer looks up briefly, his expression serious but reassuring.

"He’s strong, and you got him here quickly. That’s all that matters. I’ll do everything I can."

As the older sets to work, Zhou Zishu takes Wen Kexing’s hand in his own, squeezing it tightly.

"I’m here, Lao Wen. You’re going to be okay. We’ll get through this together, like always."

Wen Kexing’s eyes flutter open for a moment, and he manages a faint smile.

"Together." he whispers, before the darkness pulls him under once more.

Zhou Zishu sits beside him, refusing to let go, determined to keep that promise.

The next morning, the first light of dawn filters through the small window of Abuelo Diaz's home, casting a soft glow on the room where Wen Kexing lies motionless on the bed.

His breathing is steady but shallow, his face pale, beads of sweat dotting his forehead as his body battles the remnants of the poison.

Zhou Zishu hasn’t moved from his spot beside the bed. His eyes are bloodshot from a night spent in anxious vigil, his hand still holding tightly to his soulmate's.

The door creaks open, and Bai Fangxu enters, carrying a bowl of fresh water and clean cloths. She moves quietly, not wanting to disturb the fragile peace in the room. After setting the items down, she kneels beside Zhou Zishu.

"How is he?" the martial artist asks, his voice rough from exhaustion.

Bai Fangxu glances at her unconscious uncle before responding.

"The poison isn’t deadly, but it’s powerful. We managed to extract most of it last night, but he’s lost a lot of blood, and he was already weak before the attack. It’s hard to say when he’ll wake up."

Her voice is calm, but the worry is evident in her eyes.

Zhou Zishu swallows hard, his gaze never leaving Wen Kexing’s face.

"Tell me exactly what you did," he says, needing to understand every detail.

Bai Fangxu nods, ready to explain.

"As soon as you brought him here, Abuelo Diaz identified the poison. It’s a rare blend, designed to weaken and disorient rather than kill outright. We began by cleaning the wound thoroughly to prevent infection and then used a combination of hot water and herbs to draw out the poison. Abuelo had to make a small incision to ensure all of it was removed."

She pauses, glancing at Zhou Zishu to make sure he’s following. Seeing his intent expression, she continues.

"Afterward, we treated the wound with a special salve to stop the bleeding and prevent further complications. The poison’s effects will wear off gradually, but the blood loss... That’s what’s most concerning. He’ll need to rest for several days, at least."

Zhou Zishu nods slowly, processing the information.

"And his fever? He's burning up."

"It’s a side effect of the poison. His body is fighting it off, but it’s a good sign that his fever hasn’t spiked. We’ve been keeping him cool and hydrated, which is helping." Bai Fangxu explains.

Zhou Zishu tightens his grip on Wen Kexing’s hand.

"Thank you, Fangxu." he says, his voice thick with emotion.

"For everything."

She reaches out, placing a comforting hand on his arm.

"You saved him, Tio Zishu. You got him here in time. Now, we just need to give him a chance to recover."

As she rises to leave the room, she glances back at Zhou Zishu.

"Try to get some rest. He’ll need you when he wakes up."

He gives a brief nod, though his mind is already shifting back to the events of the night before.

"I will. But first, I need to figure out who sent those assassins. Their timing wasn’t a coincidence."

Bai Fangxu studies him for a moment, then nods.

"If anyone can uncover the truth, it’s you, Tio Zishu. But don’t forget to take care of yourself too."

As she quietly exits the room, Zhou Zishu leans back in his chair, his mind racing with possibilities. The attack was too calculated, too precise. His thoughts flicker between suspicion and strategy, considering potential enemies and motives.

He glances down at Wen Kexing, still unconscious but stable, and tightens his grip on his hand.

"Rest now, Lao Wen..." he murmurs, his tone more pragmatic than desperate.

Zhou Zishu stays in silence for a few minutes before he hears loud noises outside.

"Where is he?!"

It's Ye Bayi. Of course, how could he not worry when he probably found their house completely destroyed and a pool of blood on the ground.

The door smashes open and a panicked immortal rushes inside.

Zhou Zishu stands quickly as he bursts into the room, his eyes sharp and filled with concern. His gaze immediately locks onto Wen Kexing lying motionless on the bed. A flicker of anger and guilt crosses his face, but he quickly masks it with a stoic expression as he approaches the younger's side.

"What happened?" he asks, his voice firm.

He kneels beside his protege, his eyes scanning the bandages and the feverish flush on the healer's face.

"Assassins, two of them. It was a calculated attack - too precise to be random." Zhou Zishu replies, his tone measured as he recounts the events. 

Ye Baiyi’s jaw tightens, his hands hovering over Wen Kexing’s wound as he takes in the severity of the situation.

"And the poison?" he asks, his voice hard but worried.

"Bai Fangxu and Abuelo Diaz managed to extract most of it. He lost a lot of blood, and he’s weak, but his life isn’t in danger anymore. He just needs time to recover."

Zhou Zishu walks towards his lover's bed, placing himself beside him again.

Ye Baiyi exhales slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

"He shouldn’t have been in this position to begin with. I should have been there... to prevent this." he mutters, more to himself than to Zhou Zishu.

The younger watches him closely, noting the tightness in Ye Baiyi’s expression.

"None of us saw it coming. But we got him to Abuelo Diaz in time. He’s going to be okay." he says, offering a small measure of reassurance.

Ye Baiyi nods, though the anger in his eyes doesn’t dissipate.

"This wasn’t just a simple attack. Someone orchestrated this, knowing exactly when to strike. They targeted him because they thought he was vulnerable."

"We’re on the same page." Zhou Zishu agrees. 

The immortal straightens, his expression hardening.

"We need to find out who’s behind this. Wen Kexing has made plenty of enemies, but this... This was too precise. I want the bastards who did this found and dealt with."

Zhou Zishu nods, his resolve matching Ye Baiyi’s.

"I’ll start investigating immediately. We can’t let this go unanswered." the older adds.

Ye Baiyi glances down at Wen Kexing one more time, his gaze lingering.

"Make sure he stays safe, Zhou Zishu. He’s been through too much already."

Zhou Zishu nods seriously.

"I’ll be back to check on him." the immortal concludes.

As Ye Baiyi heads toward the door, Zhou Zishu watches him go, then returns to Wen Kexing’s side, gently brushing his fingers through his partner’s hair.

"We’ll handle this, Lao Wen. When you wake up, we’ll make sure those responsible face the consequences." Zhou Zishu murmurs, his voice steady.

As Zhou Zishu sits by Wen Kexing's side, the room feels awfully quiet. His hand remains clasped around Wen Kexing's, as if his grip alone could anchor his partner to the waking world. But even as he waits, Wen Kexing's expression remains troubled, his brow furrowed.

Suddenly, Wen Kexing's breathing quickens. His eyes move rapidly beneath his closed lids, and a pained expression crosses his face. Zhou Zishu leans closer, his heart pounding with anxiety.

"Lao Wen..." he whispers.

Wen Kexing is plunged back into the dark, suffocating corridors of Ghost Valley.

The oppressive air is thick with the stench of blood and decay, the walls echoing with distant screams and the clinking of chains. He feels like a child again, vulnerable and powerless, trapped in the nightmarish labyrinth that had once been his home and prison.

The Ghost Valley Master looms before him, a monstrous figure draped in shadow, his eyes burning with an evil gleam.

"You thought you could escape me, didn't you?" the Master’s voice hisses, dripping with cruel amusement.

"But you belong to me, Wen Kexing. Your mind, your body, your very soul—all mine to break and reshape as I see fit."

The healer is suddenly tied to a stone wall, his wrists and ankles bound by cold, unyielding iron. The chains rattle as he struggles, but there's no escape.

"Wha-What's going on?!"

The Ghost Valley Master steps closer, his fingers trailing lightly over the various torture devices laid out on a table nearby—blades, whips, iron pokers, each one stained with the blood of countless victims.

"You were always my favorite, you know?" the Master croons, his voice soft and menacing.

"So strong, so full of defiance. But even the strongest can be broken."

The Master reaches for a heated iron poker, its tip glowing red-hot. Without warning, he presses it against Wen Kexing's bare chest.

The searing pain is immediate, burning through his flesh and sending waves of agony through him.

"Aaaarghh!" Wen Kexing screams, his voice raw and desperate, but the Master only smiles, pleased by the sound.

"Pain is a powerful teacher, Wen Kexing. It strips away everything unnecessary, leaving only the truth."

Wen Kexing's vision blurs with tears, the scent of his own burning flesh filling his nostrils. The Master moves the iron poker slowly, deliberately, branding him with intricate patterns of torment.

The pain is all-consuming, obliterating any sense of time or reality. The only thing left is the agony and the Master's cruel laughter.

The scene shifts, and Wen Kexing finds himself in a different room—one he remembers all too well. The walls are lined with mirrors, each one reflecting a distorted version of himself, twisted and broken.

The Master stands behind him, his hands gripping Wen Kexing's shoulders, forcing him to look at his own reflection.

"Look at yourself." the Master whispers, his voice a serpent's hiss in his ear.

"Look at what you have become under my care. A perfect weapon. Beautiful, broken, yet deadly."

In the mirrors, Wen Kexing sees himself as the Master wants him to be—a monster, eyes hollow, skin marred with scars, his soul crushed beneath the weight of endless torment. He sees himself committing unspeakable acts, driven by the Master's will—murdering innocents, torturing the helpless, reveling in the bloodshed.

"No!" Wen Kexing screams, tearing his gaze away from the mirrors, but the Master’s grip tightens, forcing him to watch.

"You can never escape what you are." the Master says, his voice dripping with venom.

"You are my greatest work. And no matter where you go, no matter how far you run, you will always be mine."

The scene shifts again, and Wen Kexing is back in the room of mirrors, but this time, he is not alone. The faces of the people he has wronged appear in the mirrors, their eyes accusing and desperate.

"You did this to us." they whisper.

The weight of his guilt and shame becomes unbearable, crushing him. He falls to his knees, unable to bear their gazes any longer.

"S-Stop it... Please stop it." he begs.

But there is no mercy in the nightmare. The Master steps forward, his voice low and insidious.

"You want me to stop? Oh dear, you brought this upon yourself. Why stop now?" he chuckles.

And suddenly, the person he's feared to see the most appears in front of him. 

"A-Xiang..."

She looks at him, blood all over her face.

"How could you do this to me, Master? I only wanted to be free. I only wanted to be... normal." she whispers, her eyes piercing holes in his heart.

"I-I 'm sorry, A-Xiang..." he whispers, his voice broken.

"I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry? You think sorry is enough?! You think you can atone for the things you've done?! For everything you did to me?!"

Wen Kexing closes his eyes in pain. But the Master’s hands grip his head, forcing him to look into the mirrors again. This time, he sees Zhou Zishu standing beside him, but even his soulmate’s presence cannot offer comfort. In the mirror, Zhou Zishu’s eyes are filled with sorrow and disappointment.

"You hid the truth from me, Lao Wen." the reflection of Zhou Zishu says, his voice heavy with betrayal.

"How can I trust you now?"

"No! A-Xu, please—" Wen Kexing reaches out, but his hand passes through the reflection as if it’s made of smoke.

"You are alone, Wen Kexing." the Master hisses.

"Forever alone in the darkness."

Just as Wen Kexing is about to be swallowed by the nightmare completely, he hears a voice—Zhou Zishu’s, cutting through the darkness like a beacon of light.

"It's going to be okay, I'm here, Lao Wen. Come back to me..."

The nightmare begins to unravel, the Ghost Valley Master’s figure dissolving into shadows, the accusing faces fading away. The pain weakens, replaced by a distant sense of warmth and safety.

Wen Kexing’s eyes flutter open, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The first thing he sees is Zhou Zishu, his face painted with worry.

"A-Xu..." the younger begs, his voice barely above a whisper.

Wen Kexing’s eyes dart around the room as if searching for any lingering shadows, his breath still coming in frantic gasps. His heart races in his chest, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to him like a suffocating grasp.

Zhou Zishu tightens his grip on his lover's hand, his voice soft but firm.

"It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’m right here."

But Wen Kexing isn’t hearing him, not fully. His mind is still trapped in the horrors of Ghost Valley, the Master's voice echoing in his ears, the faces of the dead haunting his thoughts.

He tries to sit up, his movements jerky and uncoordinated, driven by an urgent need to escape the phantoms of his dream.

"No... no, he’s still here... I can feel him." Wen Kexing mutters, his eyes wide with panic.

He grips Zhou Zishu’s arm tightly, as if clinging to a lifeline.

"I can’t... I can’t let him take me again. Not again, Zishu. Not again!"

Zhou Zishu immediately moves closer, wrapping an arm around Wen Kexing’s shoulders to steady him.

"Lao Wen, listen to me. It was just a nightmare. He’s gone. You’re not in the Ghost Valley anymore. You’re with me."

Wen Kexing shakes his head, his whole body trembling.

"No, you don’t understand. He’s still there, in my head, in my mind. I thought I was free, but-"

His voice cracks, the raw fear and anguish breaking through the walls he usually keeps so carefully constructed.

Zhou Zishu gently but firmly cups Wen Kexing’s face, forcing him to meet his gaze.

"Look at me, Love. Look at me. You are not alone. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. The old Ghost Valley Master is dead, you got rid of him. You’re safe. We’ll get through this together, just like we always do."

Wen Kexing’s breathing begins to slow as he focuses on Zhou Zishu’s steady presence, but the terror in his eyes doesn’t fully dissipate.

"He-He was in my dream, A-Xu." Wen Kexing whispers, his voice barely audible.

"He was there, taunting me, hurting me... and A-Xiang... she was there too. She blamed me, Zishu. She blamed me for everything..." he explains painfully.

Zhou Zishu’s heart aches at the raw vulnerability in Wen Kexing’s voice. He brushes a hand through Wen Kexing’s sweat-dampened hair, his touch gentle.

"It was just a dream, Love. Dreams can’t hurt you. They’re just shadows, memories twisted by fear. You did everything you could for A-Xiang. You loved her like a daughter."

Wen Kexing closes his eyes, leaning into Zhou Zishu’s touch, but the guilt still lingers, heavy and oppressive.

Zhou Zishu doesn’t try to offer empty reassurances. Instead, he just holds Wen Kexing close, offering his silent support.

"You’re not the same person you were then, Lao Wen. You’ve changed, you’ve grown. And no matter what you’ve done, I’m here with you. We’ll face whatever comes together."

Wen Kexing nods weakly, the panic slowly giving way to exhaustion. His body sags against Zhou Zishu, the adrenaline that had fueled his terror finally slipping away, leaving him drained.

"Stay with me, A-Xu. Don’t leave me alone..." he whispers, his voice trembling.

"I’m not going anywhere." Zhou Zishu promises.

The next day passes quietly, with Wen Kexing remaining in a deep, restless sleep. His breathing has steadied, and the fever has begun to subside, but he still hasn’t woken. Zhou Zishu keeps guard by his side, only leaving briefly to refresh the cool cloth on his forehead or to consult quietly with Abuelo Diaz.

By the afternoon, the calm is broken by the arrival of Ye Baiyi, who enters the room with a grave expression. Chengling follows him closely inside, his eyes still wet from crying all night.

The immortal speaks first, his voice low but firm.

"I’ve been investigating the scene where the attack happened. The traces left behind are... disturbing."

Zhou Zishu looks up from his seat beside Wen Kexing, his eyes narrowing.

"What did you find?"

Ye Baiyi glances at Wen Kexing's unconscious form before continuing.

"The marks left by the assassins—their movements, their techniques—there’s something familiar about them. It’s reminiscent of the Ghost Valley."

The words hang heavy in the air, and Zhou Zishu feels a cold knot tighten in his chest.

"Ghost Valley? But we destroyed it. There’s nothing left."

"I know." Ye Baiyi replies, his tone edged with frustration.

"But the way they moved, the precision of their attacks, the symbols they left behind—it’s too close to be a coincidence."

Bai Fangxu steps forward, her brow furrowed with worry.

"Are you saying someone is trying to bring back the Ghost Valley? But who would dare?"

"That’s what we need to find out. Whoever they are, they’re skilled, and they’ve been trained by someone who knows the Ghost Valley’s methods intimately." he explains.

Zhou Zishu’s gaze returns to Wen Kexing, his hand tightening around his partner's.

"If they’re trying to resurrect the Ghost Valley, then it’s more than just an attack on us. It’s a threat to everything we’ve fought for."

Chengling, standing quietly at the back of the room, finally speaks up, his voice trembling slightly.

"Shifu, what do we do? Why did they hurt Uncle Wen if they're from the Ghost Valley?"

Zhou Zishu’s gaze flickers to Chengling, seeing the fear and confusion in his disciple's eyes. The question hangs in the air, heavy with implications they all dread to acknowledge.

Ye Baiyi exhales slowly, his expression hardening.

"If someone is trying to bring back the Ghost Valley, there are two possibilities we have to consider. First, they might see Wen Kexing as their rightful leader. After all, he was the last Chief. To them, his return could symbolize the revival of their power."

Zhou Zishu nods, his mind racing.

"But that doesn’t explain the attack. If they wanted him back, why try to kill him?"

Ye Baiyi’s eyes narrow.

"That brings us to the second possibility, and it’s far more worrying. There could be those within the remnants of the Ghost Valley who view Wen Kexing as a traitor. He was the one who dismantled their home, after all. They could be seeking revenge, and attacking him would be their way of sending a message."

Zhou Zishu tightens his grip on Wen Kexing’s hand, his voice steady but filled with determination.

"If they’re looking for revenge, it means they’re not interested in leadership—they’re interested in punishment. They blame him for the destruction of their land, and they won’t rest until they’ve made him suffer for it."

Chengling shifts uncomfortably, his young face pale with worry.

"But Shifu, if they want to punish Uncle Wen, they’ll keep coming, won’t they? They won’t stop until they’ve... until they’ve..."

Zhou Zishu cuts him off gently.

"We won’t let that happen, Chengling. Lao Wen is not alone. He has us. We’ll protect him, and we’ll stop whoever is behind this."

Ye Baiyi crosses his arms, his expression unreadable.

"We need to find out who’s behind this and what they’re planning. But first, we need to make sure Wen Kexing is safe. We can’t afford to let our guard down."

A heavy silence falls over the room as they each consider the gravity of the situation. Zhou Zishu looks back at Wen Kexing, the resolve hardening in his eyes.

"We won’t let them rebuild that place. Not again. I will never let them take you back there."

Abuelo Diaz, who has been listening quietly, steps forward and places a reassuring hand on Zhou Zishu’s shoulder.

"For now, focus on helping him recover. Whatever comes next, you’ll need all your strength."

Zhou Zishu nods, his grip on Wen Kexing’s hand tightening slightly.

After two long and worrying days, Wen Kexing’s eyes finally flutter open. And for a moment, there’s nothing—just a blank, empty void where his thoughts should be.

As the room comes into focus, he becomes aware of the figures surrounding him, their faces etched with concern. Zhou Zishu, Ye Baiyi, Bai Fangxu, and Chengling are all there, watching him with hope and anxiety.

But Wen Kexing feels... nothing. No relief at waking, no comfort in the presence of those who care for him. Just a cold, hollow emptiness that settles deep in his chest.

“Lao Wen.” Zhou Zishu’s voice breaks through the silence, soft and full of worry.

“You’re awake.”

Wen Kexing blinks slowly, his gaze shifting to Zhou Zishu, but there’s no warmth in his eyes, no recognition of the man who has stood by his side through so much. He sees the concern in Zhou Zishu’s eyes, the unspoken fear that lingers there, but it doesn’t touch him. It’s as if there’s a wall between them, and Wen Kexing is on the other side, unreachable.

“How are you feeling?” Ye Baiyi asks, stepping closer, his tone more measured but still laced with concern.

Wen Kexing turns his head slightly, acknowledging Ye Baiyi’s presence, but his expression remains impassive.

“I’m fine.” he replies, his voice devoid of any emotion.

It’s a lie, but one he doesn’t bother to disguise. He doesn’t feel fine—not physically, not mentally—but the words come out automatically, a reflex more than anything else.

Zhou Zishu reaches out, placing a hand on Wen Kexing’s arm, his touch gentle and reassuring.

“You’ve been through a lot. It’s okay if you’re not feeling well.”

Wen Kexing glances at the hand on his arm, then back at Zhou Zishu. There’s a brief flicker of something in his eyes, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

“I said I’m fine.” he repeats, his tone colder this time, as if he’s distancing himself from the comfort being offered.

Bai Fangxu steps forward, her voice soft and concerned.

“Tio Wen, we were so worried. You were unconscious for two days.”

Wen Kexing looks at her, his gaze distant. He can see the worry in her eyes, the fear that something might still be wrong, but he can’t bring himself to care. The dread that has settled in his chest is too overwhelming, too consuming.

“I’m awake now. There’s no need to worry.” he says flatly.

Zhou Zishu watches him closely, sensing the distance in Wen Kexing’s demeanor. He knows his soulmate better than anyone, and this coldness, this emptiness, is deeply unsettling.

“Lao Wen, talk to me. What’s going on in your mind?”

Wen Kexing turns his gaze to Zhou Zishu, his eyes almost lifeless.

“Nothing. There’s nothing to talk about.”

The room falls silent, the tension thickening as the others exchange worried glances. They can all sense that something is wrong, but Wen Kexing’s walls are up, impenetrable and unyielding.

Ye Baiyi finally breaks the silence, his tone more direct.

“We found traces of the Ghost Valley at the scene of the attack. It’s possible that someone is trying to revive it. Do you have any idea who might be behind this?”

Wen Kexing’s expression doesn’t change. He doesn’t flinch at the mention of the Ghost Valley, doesn’t react to the implications of Ye Baiyi’s words.

“No, I don’t know who would do such a thing. I had never seen those men before.” he says, his voice flat.

“But if they’re trying to bring back the Ghost Valley, it could mean they want you back as their leader. Or they might be seeking revenge for what you did.” Zhou Zishu presses.

Wen Kexing’s eyes narrow slightly, but his tone remains cold.

“Let them try. It doesn’t matter.”

Zhou Zishu’s heart sinks at the detachment in Wen Kexing’s voice. This isn’t the man he knows, the man he loves. The Wen Kexing he knows would fight, would stand defiant in the face of such threats. But this Wen Kexing seems distant, as if he’s already resigned to some inevitable fate.

Wen Kexing notices the deep concern etched on Zhou Zishu’s face. For a brief moment, something like worry flickers in his own eyes, but it’s quickly buried beneath his cold demeanor.

“You... You’ve been watching over me all this time. Are you... alright?” he asks, his voice still distant but with a faint trace of concern. 

Zhou Zishu is momentarily taken aback by the question, sensing the sudden glimpse of empathy Wen Kexing is showing. He nods, though his heart aches at how distant Wen Kexing still feels.

“I’m okay, Lao Wen. Just worried about you.”

Wen Kexing simply nods, the moment of concern slipping away as quickly as it appeared.

“You're okay. Good. That’s all that matters.” he whispers.

Zhou Zishu reaches out, hoping to break through the icy walls that have been erected around Wen Kexing’s heart.

“Lao Wen, please. You don’t have to face this alone. Whatever is going on, we’ll get through it together.” he implores, his voice filled with concern.

Wen Kexing doesn’t respond immediately. When he finally speaks, his voice is so low it’s almost a whisper.

“You can’t stop what’s coming, A-Xu. None of us can.”

The dread in his words sends a chill through the room, leaving everyone silent and uncertain. Zhou Zishu squeezes Wen Kexing’s hand, desperate to reach him, but the cold distance between them remains.

After a few medical check ups, Abuelo Diaz, Bai Fangxu and Chengling leave the three martial artists alone to talk. As the door closes behind them, the room falls into a heavy silence.

Zhou Zishu, Ye Baiyi, and Wen Kexing are left alone, the tension between them palpable. Zhou Zishu remains by Wen Kexing's side, his hand still resting gently on his partner's, while Ye Baiyi stands a few steps away, his arms crossed as he watches Wen Kexing with a keen, calculating gaze.

The healer, however, seems to barely notice their presence. His eyes are fixed on some distant point, his thoughts clearly far away. The cold detachment in his demeanor hasn't lessened, and it sends a pang of worry through Zhou Zishu’s heart.

"Lao Wen." Zhou Zishu starts gently, his voice carefully measured.

"Talk to us. We need to understand what's happening. You know more than you're saying."

Wen Kexing slowly turns his head to meet Zhou Zishu's gaze, but there’s an unsettling emptiness in his eyes.

"There’s nothing to understand, A-Xu. The past never truly dies, does it?" he mumbles the last part to himself.

Zhou Zishu frowns, his concern deepening.

"What do you mean? Are you talking about the Ghost Valley?"

Wen Kexing doesn’t answer immediately. His gaze shifts to Ye Baiyi, who has been watching him silently.

"You said they left traces of the Ghost Valley behind. Symbols, techniques... It’s not a coincidence."

Ye Baiyi nods.

"It’s too precise to be anything else. Whoever’s behind this knows the Ghost Valley inside and out."

A shadow passes over Wen Kexing’s face, and he closes his eyes for a brief moment as if trying to block out something deeply painful. When he speaks again, his voice is low and devoid of emotion.

"The old Ghost Valley Master... He’s not someone who would let go of what he considered his."

Zhou Zishu feels a chill run down his spine at Wen Kexing’s words.

"But he’s gone, Lao Wen. You defeated him. The Ghost Valley was destroyed."

Wen Kexing looks down, the distant gaze returning.

"Some things can’t be destroyed so easily, A-Xu. If he’s back... if he’s truly back, then he’ll come for what he thinks belongs to him."

Ye Baiyi’s eyes narrow.

"And that’s... you."

Wen Kexing doesn’t answer, but the silence speaks volumes.

Zhou Zishu’s grip on his hand tightens.

"Lao Wen, if that’s true, if he’s somehow returned, we need to know everything. We need to be prepared."

Wen Kexing’s gaze finally shifts back to Zhou Zishu, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of emotion—something like fear, or perhaps resignation—but it’s quickly buried beneath his cold exterior.

"You can’t be prepared for him, A-Xu. You don’t know what he’s capable of."

Zhou Zishu’s heart aches at the despair he senses beneath Wen Kexing’s words.

"We’re not going to let him take you, Lao Wen. We’ll fight him together, just like we’ve faced everything else."

Wen Kexing’s expression remains distant, but there’s a brief, almost imperceptible softening in his eyes as he looks at Zhou Zishu.

"You always say that..." he murmurs, his voice tinged with something like sorrow.

"But there are some battles that can’t be won."

Ye Baiyi steps forward, his tone firm.

"If he’s really back, then hiding from it won’t protect you—or anyone else. We need to face this head-on."

Wen Kexing nods slightly, but there’s a sense of inevitability in his posture, as if he’s already resigned himself to what’s coming.

"I won’t let him hurt any of you. If it comes to that, I’ll face him alone." he says, his voice quiet but resolute.

Zhou Zishu’s heart clenches at the thought of Wen Kexing confronting such a monstrous figure by himself.

"You’re not alone, Lao Wen. No matter what you think, we’re in this together."

Wen Kexing’s gaze softens just a fraction as he looks at Zhou Zishu, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he simply nods, as if accepting the support, even if he doesn’t truly believe it will change anything.

"We’ll figure this out. We’ve overcome so much already. We won’t let this destroy us." Zhou Zishu promises, his voice filled with determination. 

Wen Kexing doesn’t respond, but there’s a slight tightening of his grip on Zhou Zishu’s hand—a small, silent acknowledgment of the bond between them. It’s the only sign of the turmoil he’s hiding beneath his cold exterior, the only hint that the man they know is still there, buried beneath the weight of his past.

The following morning, Wen Kexing awakens to the sound of quiet voices outside his room. He glances around, his eyes still cold and distant, feeling the oppressive weight of another nightmare he just had yet to shake. Zhou Zishu left earlier, promising to return soon, but the house feels empty without him. 

Wen Kexing pulls himself up, ignoring the lingering weakness in his body and the excrutiating pain at his injured side. The room, though warm and inviting, feels stifling, and he paces restlessly.

Just as he reaches the door, intent on leaving the confines of the room, it creaks open, revealing Abuelo Diaz standing in the doorway.

“Where do you think you’re going, young man?” the older asks, his tone firm yet kind. 

“I’m fine. I need some air.” Wen Kexing replies, his voice flat.

Abuelo Diaz steps inside, closing the door behind him.

“You need rest, not air. Your body is still recovering, and you won’t do anyone any good if you collapse out there.”

Wen Kexing clenches his fists, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior.

“I rested enough now. I need to be doing something, anything.”

The old healer watches him for a moment, sensing the storm behind Wen Kexing’s icy demeanor.

“I know you’re restless, but sometimes, the best way to help is to heal yourself first. You’re no good to anyone if you’re not whole.”

Wen Kexing doesn’t respond, his gaze shifting to the ground. The walls of the room feel as though they’re closing in on him, but he forces himself to take a deep breath, nodding curtly. 

Abuelo Diaz seems to sense his internal struggle and wisely decides not to push further.

“Stay here, rest a bit longer. If you really feel up to it later, maybe you can help me with something small.”

Wen Kexing merely nods again, though his thoughts are miles away. Abuelo Diaz lingers for a moment, his eyes full of understanding, before he quietly leaves the room.

As the day wears on, Wen Kexing remains in the small room, his restlessness growing by the minute. He feels trapped in his own mind, the haunting voice of the nightmarish Ghost Valley Master echoing in his head.

"You were always my favorite, you know?"

He shakes his head, trying to chase the memory away. But his former torturer's voice mixes with the others now.

"You did this to us." they whisper.

"Look at what you have become under my care. A perfect weapon. Beautiful, broken, yet deadly."

"How could you do this to me, Master? I only wanted to be free. I only wanted to be... normal."

He stands up, grasping at his hair in pain. This is torture, keeping him here, trapped with his past. The others don't understand... or they want to drive him crazy, to make him lose his mind, he's sure of it. But a sudden noise breaks through his panic.

The sound of children’s laughter echoes from outside, a brief reminder of the world beyond his confinement. He barely notices the door opening again until Abuelo Diaz returns, this time accompanied by several children, their faces bright despite a few minor scrapes and bruises.

Abuelo Diaz gives Wen Kexing a knowing look.

“I could use an extra pair of hands. These little ones have gotten themselves into trouble, as children often do.”

Wen Kexing hesitates, then takes a big breath and nods, standing and approaching the children.

"Gosh, I shouldn't be around children right now... I'm not good for them." he thinks to himself.

But seeing their cute laughing faces, he can't help himself. He follows them in the main room and watches from afar for a few seconds. He looks at Abuelo Diaz working on a few cut wounds, thinking to himself.

After a few minutes, one of the boys grabs his robe, looking at him with a crying face.

"I-I hurt my knee, Tio Kexing..." he sobs.

With a soft sigh, the young healer knees before him, gently examining the small cut. His movements are precise, methodical, as he cleans the wound and applies a salve from Abuelo Diaz’s supplies.

But as Wen Kexing works, something shifts inside him. A warmth spreads from his chest to his fingertips, and without realizing it, he begins to channel a subtle, glowing energy. The child’s wound, which should have taken days to heal, closes almost instantly under Wen Kexing’s touch.

He pulls back, startled, as the boy looks at him with wide, astonished eyes.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore!”

Wen Kexing stares at his hands, confusion and recognition dawning in his mind. The other children, sensing something extraordinary, approach him eagerly and present their own injuries.

Wen Kexing moves almost on autopilot, his hands glowing faintly as he touches each child, watching as their wounds heal before his eyes. Abuelo Diaz stands back, his expression shocked and amazed.

As the last child’s injury vanishes under Wen Kexing’s glowing hands, the warmth that had filled him moments ago begins to fade, leaving a deep, chilling void in its wake. He lowers his hands slowly, staring at them in disbelief, the faint shimmer of energy dissipating into the air. The room feels eerily silent, the children's excited chatter becoming a distant hum as Abuelo Diaz ushers them out, leaving Wen Kexing alone with his thoughts.

The power that surged through him, the instant healing—it’s the legacy he carries, a power that had remained dormant for so long. But now, it has resurfaced, and with it, a flood of emotions he’s been desperately trying to keep at bay.

As the door closes softly, sealing him off from the world outside, Wen Kexing sinks into a nearby chair, his hands trembling slightly. He stares at the ground, trying to process what just happened, when suddenly, he feels something wet on his cheeks.

Tears.

Wen Kexing blinks, confused at first, but the tears continue to flow, unchecked and uncontrollable. He's not supposed to be crying. He won't allow himself to, not now, not with everything happening. Yet he finds himself unable to stop, as if the power he just wielded has unlocked a door deep within him, releasing a torrent of emotions he had buried long ago.

The cold, detached mask he’s been wearing begins to crack, and all the fear, pain, and guilt he’s been suppressing come crashing down on him. The nightmares he’s endured, the horrors he’s relived in his sleep, the haunting presence of the old Ghost Valley Master—they all surge to the surface, overwhelming him with their intensity.

Wen Kexing clutches his chest, the sudden pain inside nearly unbearable. His breath comes in ragged gasps, the tears blurring his vision as he doubles over, trying to contain the sobs that threaten to escape.

But it’s too much. The pain, the fear, the suffocating dread—they’re all too much.

He grips the edge of the chair, his knuckles white, as he tries to regain control. He wants to scream, to lash out, to purge himself of the pain that’s tearing him apart from the inside. But all he can do is cry, silent tears streaming down his face as he struggles to keep himself together.

Wen Kexing doesn’t know how long he sits there, the tears flowing freely, his body wracked with silent sobs. It feels like an eternity, as if time has stopped, trapping him in this moment of raw, unfiltered emotion.

Suddenly, the door creaks open once again. Zhou Zishu, Ye Baiyi, Chengling, and Bai Fangxu enter, their faces etched with concern.

The air is thick with tension, and the moment they step inside, they’re struck by the sight of Wen Kexing, his usually composed demeanor shattered, tears still glistening on his cheeks.

“Lao Wen!” Zhou Zishu rushes to his side, his heart clenching at the sight of his soulmate in such a vulnerable state.

He’s never seen Wen Kexing like this, so broken, so lost.

The healer tries to wipe his tears away, but his hands are still trembling, and the sobs he’s been holding back continue to escape, quiet and uncontrolled.

He can’t look at them, can’t face their worry or their questions. He doesn’t have the strength to explain, doesn’t even have the words to describe the storm raging inside him.

Zhou Zishu kneels beside him, his hand gently resting on Wen Kexing’s shoulder.

“Lao Wen, what’s wrong? Please, talk to me.”

But Wen Kexing just shakes his head, his eyes squeezed shut as if that alone could block out the pain, the fear, the overwhelming dread.

He places a shaking hand on his mouth to soften his pained cries. The sobs come more freely now, and no matter how much he tries to stop them, they just keep coming, each one tearing at the walls he’s built around himself.

Chengling, standing just behind Zhou Zishu, takes a hesitant step forward. He’s never seen his Uncle Wen like this, and the sight of the usually strong and confident man reduced to tears makes his heart ache.

“Uncle Wen…” he whispers, his voice filled with worry and confusion.

Ye Baiyi, usually so stoic, feels a tightness in his chest. He’s seen Wen Kexing in countless situations, faced countless dangers with him, but this… this is different. He knows the weight of nightmares, the scars that are invisible to the eye but cut deeper than any blade. He’s at a loss for words, unsure of how to reach his friend in this moment of vulnerability.

Zhou Zishu’s heart breaks as he watches Wen Kexing, the man he loves more than anything, unable to control the pain he’s feeling. He knows that whatever is haunting him is deep, profound, and not something that can be easily spoken of. But seeing Wen Kexing like this, so fragile, so raw, is almost too much to bear.

“Lao Wen.” Zhou Zishu says softly, his voice trembling with emotion.

The martial artist softly hugs his soulmate, pressing his sobbing body against his.

“You’re not alone. We’re here with you. Whatever it is, you're going to be okay.”

Wen Kexing finally opens his eyes, meeting Zhou Zishu’s gaze. His eyes are red and swollen, his face wet with tears, but there’s a deep sorrow in them that seems endless.

He tries to speak, to find the words, but all that comes out is a broken whisper.

“I’m… sorry… I… I can’t…”

Zhou Zishu hugs him tighter, offering what little comfort he can.

“You don’t have to apologize, Lao Wen. You don’t have to explain anything. Just let it out. We’re here.”

Wen Kexing clings to Zhou Zishu, the sobs shaking his body as he finally lets go of the last of his restraint. He cries quietly, his face buried in Zhou Zishu’s shoulder, his tears soaking into the fabric of his clothes.

The others stand by, unsure of what to do, but knowing that whatever is happening, the best they can do is be there for him, to offer their silent support.

The room is filled with the quiet sound of Wen Kexing’s sobs, each one a painful reminder of the weight he’s been carrying alone. And as Zhou Zishu holds him, his heart aches with the knowledge that something terrible is haunting Wen Kexing, something that no words can soothe.

For now, all they can do is be there, to share in his pain, to let him know that no matter how dark the storm, he is not alone.

As the room gradually quiets and Wen Kexing's sobs subside, Zhou Zishu gently pulls him away.

"Come, let's go somewhere more private." Zhou Zishu says softly, his voice filled with concern.

Wen Kexing nods weakly, still trembling slightly from the emotional release.

Zhou Zishu leads him out of the room, guiding him to a quiet spot outside where they can speak in peace.

“Lao Wen, what happened back there? I’ve never seen you like that.” His voice is calm, but the worry is evident.

Wen Kexing takes a shaky breath, still trying to process everything.

“A-Xu, I... I healed a child today. Not with herbs, but with... power. A healing power, from my parents.”

Zhou Zishu’s eyes widen slightly.

“Power? What do you mean?”

“When I touched him, it just... it flowed out of me. The wound closed up right before my eyes. It felt... right, like something that was always meant to be there,” Wen Kexing explains, his voice faltering.

“But?” Zhou Zishu prompts gently.

“But at the same time, it was like all the walls I’ve built to keep everything inside just collapsed. I felt everything, A-Xu. The pain, the fear, the memories... It all came rushing back. I couldn’t stop it.”

Zhou Zishu moves closer, his hand resting on Wen Kexing’s shoulder.

“Lao Wen, you don’t have to keep those walls up all the time. It’s okay to let them down, especially with me.”

Wen Kexing shakes his head.

“You don’t understand. That power, it’s tied to everything I’ve tried to forget. It was... liberating to use it. But at the same time, I'm not sure that I can bear with all those emotions, all those memories. I'm scared..." he explains, looking at him like a lost child.

"It's okay, I'm here." Zhou Zishu whispers, taking him into a meaningful hug.

The Four Seasons Manor's Chief feels his lover breathing softly against his shoulder before releasing him.

"A-Xu, actually, I... I want to tell you now."

"What do you mean?" 

"I want to tell you... about my past." he confesses, embarassed.

Zhou Zishu looks at him seriously.

"You don't have to if you're not ready, Love. I'm sorry about the other day, it was selfish of me to force you to-" 

"I'm ready now. I want to tell you." 

Wen Kexing takes a deep, shaky breath, steeling himself for what he knows he must say. He keeps his gaze fixed on the ground, unable to meet Zhou Zishu's eyes as he begins to speak.

“When I was first brought to the Ghost Valley, I was so young... just a boy. But from the moment I was brought there, I hated the Master. Even after drinking the Water of Lethe, I never forgot that he was the one who killed my parents. That hatred was the only thing that kept me sane, the only thing that reminded me who I really was.”

Zhou Zishu’s eyes widen slightly. He hadn’t known that Wen Kexing had retained those memories, that his hatred for the Ghost Chief had burned so deeply within him all these years.

"I pretended not to remember anything not to arise any suspicion but I guess the King was... paranoid or just cruel, so he did everything he could to force me to submission."

Zhou Zishu tightens his fists in anger.

"At first he tried to break my spirit by punishing and humiliating me. But he quickly understood that it wouldn't work. So he used... other methods." Wen Kexing says, his voice growing quieter, more haunted.

Zhou Zishu’s heart clenches as he listens, dread creeping into his thoughts.

“He immediately tried to control me through violence, through pain. He threatened to kill me, to make my suffering even worse than it already was if I didn’t do as he wanted. And if I resisted... he’d torture me until I was too weak to fight back.”

Wen Kexing’s voice cracks as he continues, the memories clearly tormenting him.

Zhou Zishu senses the shift, the moment Wen Kexing's barriers begin to crumble, and he moves closer, his presence a silent offer of support.

"Lao Wen, you don't have to continue. Not if it's too much."

But Wen Kexing shakes his head, a determined look settling over his features despite the tears that start to streak down his cheeks.

"No, I need to do this. I need you to know, to understand..."

Zhou Zishu nods in respect.

“He... he would take what he wanted, A-Xu. He would force himself on me, and if I tried to resist, he’d remind me that he could end my life in an instant. He didn’t need to manipulate me or play mind games. He knew he could control me through sheer terror and pain.”

Zhou Zishu’s breath hitches, his grip on Wen Kexing’s hand tightening as he absorbs the horror of what his lover is confessing. The idea of the man he loves enduring such brutal, dehumanizing treatment fills him with a deep, seething rage.

“I wanted to kill him every single day. Every night I'd imagine how I could end his perverted life in the cruelest way possible. But I knew that if I tried, he’d kill me first. So I had to survive, had to endure whatever he did to me until I could find a way out.”

Zhou Zishu feels his heart breaking as he tries to summon the courage to ask his burning question.

"Did he... sexually abuse you?"

Wen Kexing pauses for a few seconds, memories laced with unspoken horrors passing in front of his eyes.

At first he only nods, looking into the void.

"He raped me. For years."

Zhou Zishu stops breathing. Silence falls between them, thick and oppressive, as he struggles to process the depth of his lover's suffering. But Wen Kexing knows he can't stop now, or else he won't ever be able to finish this story.

Chapter Text

Hey everyone!

I hope you're all doing well. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about Lost Memories, and I realized just how much I genuinely love this story. It's been quite some time since I've last updated—life kind of got in the way, as it tends to do—and honestly, I've missed diving into this universe and writing about these characters.

But since it's been so long, I can't help but wonder: are any of you still interested in seeing where this story goes? Your feedback has always meant so much to me, and knowing if you're still invested would really help motivate me to pick this back up again.

Thanks for sticking around even through this long break. I truly appreciate every single one of you and your patience with me. Feel free to leave a comment or message—I'd love to reconnect and hear your thoughts!

Take care, and thank you all again for being so amazing!