After clearing the campsite area, and getting the three shaken and wounded victims settled, Wu Chen glanced up at the brooding Chu Haoyu. He was seated comfortably in a tree on a large branch nearby, his back against the trunk. One long leg dangled in the air and the other was bent casually while he examined his sword for nicks.

Chu Haoyu had volunteered for first watch. Wu Chen was fairly certain it was so he didn't have to deal with the three people now sleeping uneasily in their encampment. 

Casting one last glance at the sleeping figures, Wu Chen used his qinggong and jumped onto the branch lightly. He carefully seated himself and glanced at Chu Haoyu out of the corner of his eye. Without saying anything, he passed a freshly filled waterskin to his new Guardian. Chu Haoyu sheathed his sword and took a pull from the skin, then passed it back. The silence was heavy with their unspoken thoughts.

Wu Chen sighed and finally broke the tense atmosphere by quietly saying, 'I know I can't save everyone, Chu Haoyu, but I need to save the ones I have the ability to. Otherwise, I am no better than those self-righteous sect disciples.'

Chu Haoyu gave a slight nod as he scanned the nearby forest for disturbances. The tension didn't lessen in the slightest. Wu Chen took a pull off the waterskin and wiped his chin with his thumb. Casting a disappointed look at Chu Haoyu, he readied himself to jump down from the branch. 

A hand reached out and grabbed Wu Chen's forearm, 'Don't go.' Chu Haoyu's voice was quiet and a little shaky. Wu Chen raised an eyebrow at him but sat back down on the branch, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Chu Haoyu never stopped looking at the forest around them. He flatly avoided looking at Wu Chen as he said, 'Being kind, moral, just...these are things I know are important to you. They are what make you special and unique. It was your looks that I liked at first, but now...' Chu Haoyu paused, and then he risked a glance at the man he wanted above all others, 'Now, I find myself fascinated by your integrity, your grace, and your light. I want to be what you need and want, but I didn't get to where I am as a rogue cultivator by being a nice guy. I'm really not a nice guy, but for you, I want to be.'

While he was flattered by Chu Haoyu's opinion of him, he knew that nothing could come of it. This conversation only made him feel guilty and uncomfortable. Wu Chen stared at the ground below them, unsure of what to say, 'Chu Haoyu...' He began, his voice unsteady. 

His new Guardian stood up on the branch effectively stopping Wu Chen mid-sentence. He leaned casually with his side against the trunk of the tree, his arms crossed over his chest. Once again, he began scanning the forest to keep from having to look at Wu Chen, 'You can't grieve for him forever, Wu Chen. I won't let you. Like I said, I'm not a nice guy. I'm not a patient guy either. I will fight for you. I will whittle down your resistance until you willingly come to me. Do not doubt me, or you will have already lost without my ever lifting a finger. This is the only warning I am giving you, and it is only because of your insistence on fairness that I even divulged this much. Now, you'd better get some rest. I don't wish to be distracted while I am on watch.'

With that, Chu Haoyu jumped from the branch and took up a new position on a boulder near the opposite side of the camp.

Wu Chen sat in stunned silence. What was he supposed to do about this situation? He had absolutely no tender feelings for the man whatsoever, so his scenario couldn't possibly come to fruition. Didn't he know that? Lu Yong was the only man he ever loved and the only one he would ever love. It was as simple as that.

Lifting his head to the stars twinkling in the night sky, Wu Chen wished with all of his heart that Lu Yong could be by his side. He missed him so much! He really didn't need this trouble when his emotions were still so unstable.

He shouldn't have agreed to allow Chu Haoyu to be his new Guardian. He should have listened to Lu Yong and stayed far away from him. He had made the decision at a time when his mind was in a fragile state due to the death of his lover. It was a hasty decision. One he was really beginning to regret.

Shaking his head to clear it of any lingering sadness, he jumped from the tree and sat near the fire to circulate his qi. The warmth that permeated his body as the qi was refined through his meridians filled him, and he welcomed the comfort it provided.

After an incense stick's worth of time, he closed out the circulation. Feeling refreshed, Wu Chen finally laid down next to the fire's warmth. He hoped that he would be able to get a good rest, but it wasn't to be.

Wu Chen ended up spending a restless night, his dreams flooded with contrasting images of Lu Yong and Chu Haoyu. As he tossed and turned in his sleep, he often called out their names, proving his mind was already in deep turmoil.

Nearby, a small smile appeared on the face of his Guardian, who noticed the obviously disturbed young beauty. He had given him a warning, and it was already having an effect on him. His uneasy sleep was proof enough of that. Now, he would no longer have to pull his punches. He had centuries of experience in manipulating and seducing Wu Chen. It was high time he made use of that advantage.

He got hard just thinking about it.

************************************************

In the deep recesses of an underwater grotto, intense pulses of overflowing qi sent waves of water splashing high into the air to crash against the dark cavern walls. Lu Yong sat on a small islet within a nearly depleted floating field of purple lotus, finishing the last circulation of his qi. The sheer speed at which he had been able to cultivate with the pure blossoms was a shock to him. He had reached the 8th level of Nascent Soul already, and he reveled in the power he was now able to tap into.

Carefully closing his qi circulation, he allowed himself to slowly exit his meditation and opened his eyes. Where once there had been an entire field of thriving purple lotus, there were now only a handful still in bloom. This was directly due to his absorption of the energy the little power plants provided.

Shaking his head at the now devastated field, he gathered one blossom to take to the Old One for identification. He hoped it wouldn't take long for the blooms to regenerate. He would hate to be the reason a natural cultivation opportunity disappeared from the world.

He wondered how long he had spent within the hidden grotto. He had the impression that it hadn't been that long, but he couldn't be sure. He would find out once he had left the place for good. He hoped that Wu Chen was safe and that he would understand the delay that was necessary to gain the power to go up against someone like Chu Haoyu.

It was time to test the new abilities granted by his recent breakthrough. Reaching deep within his Sea of Consciousness, Lu Yong released his Nascent Soul and sent his consciousness with it into the nearby cavern system.

The Nascent Soul was made for just such journeys. Capable of far-travel and resembling a miniature version of the host body it resided in, Nascent Souls could be as insubstantial or solid as the host wished depending on their level. Only after the 5th level of Nascent Soul could a cultivator create the solid form. With diligent practice, this allowed several clear advantages such as exploring dangerous ruins, locating opportunities, and even having the ability to launch sneaky soul attacks.

The only danger was if the Soul was trapped or destroyed while away from the host. It was always a great risk to allow the Soul to wander, as any damage to the Soul resulted in physical and mental damage to the host body. If it was destroyed, the host would die along with it. For this reason, most cultivators preferred not to use the Nascent Soul except in absolutely safe conditions.

Lu Yong was willing to take the risk.

Once his Soul was released, a sprawling labyrinth of caves that continued for many li was suddenly an open book to Lu Yong. He noted several species of animals he had never seen before, as well as the spirit beasts that fed upon them. Hidden veins of gemstone rocks and various metals were exposed to the tiny version of Lu Yong that flitted through rock as easily as his body swam through water.

After hours of searching, Lu Yong was unable to find any other major opportunities within the system, and he called his Soul back to his body. Comfortable with the control and strength of his Nascent Soul, Lu Yong turned to enter the water.

It was time to reunite with his lover and expose the treachery of that bastard Chu Haoyu.

He prayed he wouldn't be too late.