Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and art used in the story. OOC and AU.

Premises: The story follows the donghua and its character design (I suck at descriptions). When Wei Ying destroyed Yin Hufu in the Burial Mounds, Baoshan Sanren arrived and took him to the Celestial Mountain. He was unconscious for decades while she restored his core – turning it into a demonic one, giving him immortality. Meanwhile, Nie Huaisang exposes Meng Yao and Su She, clearing Wei Ying's name.

Wangji confessed to Wei Ying after taking him away from the battlefield, but the latter was semiconscious and did not remember this. After his punishment and confinement, Wangji started to question his sect's rules and slowly withdrew to the solidarity of Jingshi. After reaching immortality, he kept looking for his soulmate for centuries.

****

First, there was a gentle twitch in his index finger, then silver eyes slowly opened. His feelings could be described as confusion. Wasn't he supposed to be dead? Not only he was very much alive, but his spiritual energy was tenfold stronger. His eyebrow knitted together. It wasn't just spiritual energy; resentful energy was still present. Both swirling in unison within his glowing red core. "What the fuck," he muttered. His body still felt too sluggish to move, but it seemed like he was in a comfortable bed. Gentle sunlight poured into the room through large round windows while the spring breeze brought the aroma of plum trees. Just where was he?

The last thing he remembered was the battle at Nightless city and Burial Mounds. During the siege, he tried to destroy Yin Hufu, something he should not have survived. Then he realised he did not feel anything. Only regret he could not save his Qing-Jie and Lan Zhan's betrayal. The rest of his feelings and emotions were gone. What happened to him?

"You are awake!"

A tender voice exclaimed from the other side of the room. Supprised, Wei Ying slowly turned his head around. A middle-aged woman was rushing to his side from the doorway. "Where am I?" his voice was weak and hoarse as if he did not speak for years.

The woman sat on the edge of the bed and gave him a cup of fresh tea. "You are on the Celestial Mountain, Wei Ying."

He looked at her, confused. "How?"

"I'm sorry, I failed you," she said instead. "I should have kept looking. I should have never believed them."

Why was she crying? Then his dazed mind finally connected the dots. "Grandmother?"

Baoshan Sanren nodded. "Celestial Mountain is outside sects territories, and news is often late. By the time I learned about Cangse's death, it had been five years. I left immediately to look for you, but you seemed gone. I even visited your father's former sect and asked about you, but Jiang Fengmian told me you died with your parents. Like an idiot, I believed him. I only learned about your existence when things spiralled out of control."

"He lied to you? Why?"

"This bastard robbed you out of happy childhood for his selfish reasons. I believe he saw a use for you... to shield his children."

Surprisingly, he didn't feel anything. As if his life in Lotus Pier didn't matter anymore like all of them deserved to die. In the past, he would always feel guilty and responsible for everything that happened. It didn't matter if it was his fault or not. Did he finally snap? "What happened to me?"

"You were in a coma for nearly two hundred years. In the meantime, I rebuilt your core. As you probably noticed, both energies are fused, and you will no longer suffer the side effects of resentment. No more voices and nightmares."

"Two hundred years?!"

Baoshan nodded. "It felt like you weren't ready to wake up. Sometimes I had the impression you were resolving some internal conflicts while your body was in stasis. Did you notice any changes?"

This time, Wei Ying nodded. "I don't seem to feel anything. It's like all my emotions are dulled. I remember how distressed I was during the battle, regretful and guilty, but now it's gone."

"Do you have any awareness of the time you were asleep?"

He shook his head. "It feels like I was at Burial Mounds just a few minutes ago."

"Maybe your subconsciousness resolved issues you were facing to give you a fresh start? It could be that spiritual energy took off the edge and made you look at things from a distance? See them as they truly were?"

"What do you mean?"

"Years after your death, Nie Huaisang exposed Meng Yao's crimes and cleared your name. This greedy Jin bastard was responsible for everything that happened. He found a way to alter Chenqing's instructions and caused your downfall. Despite you being gone, Huaisang paid every storyteller in the cultivation world to tell the truth. It reached even here."

"I see. Shame it won't bring Qing-Jie back."

"It won't, but you are now safe with me. No one will ever find you here, and believe me, they tried to summon your soul and apologise. Hypocrites."

Wei Ying chuckled. "It's long gone. Two hundred years, huh?"

"Things changed outside the Mountain. Sects are slowly declining. Seems like cultivation talent is slowly disappearing."

"I wonder what became of him," he muttered, gazing outside the window. The only person he ever loved... the person who betrayed him the most.

****

Centuries flew by as if the whole world outside moved at incredible speed. Yet, the Celestial Mountain with its two tenants remained unchanged in its stance. Over the years, Wei Ying developed a perfect defence array. Even if someone wandered into the Mountain, they would just pass through it as if it didn't exist. It allowed them to watch the outside world without being part of it.

Wei Ying would spend days in his workshop, letting his imagination loose and developing new inventions. Some of them blew in his face, but most improved their lives immensely. Their cottages had running water and light crystals – once activated with spiritual energy, they provided stable light for hours. In many ways, it was more progressive than the outside world.

"Are you sure you don't want to leave from time to time?" Baoshan Sanren asked, walking into his workshop.

"Why would I?"

"You are still young. Go out and have fun," she teased him.

His left eyebrow cocked. "Grandmother, are you aware I'm thousand years old? That's hardly young."

"Don't get so hung up on details. Besides, you look like someone in their late twenties. That's young. Are you planning on spending eternity with your Grandmother?"

"Why not?" he shrugged.

Baoshan Sanren sighed. She wished he would enjoy his life and simply have fun exploring the world. But Wei Ying was painfully disinterested. "Then I want you to accompany me on a little trip."

"Huh?"

"I ran out of books to read, and I wish to visit Japan to learn more about their culture."

Wei Ying looked at her questioningly. "Isn't Japan engulfed in civil war?"

"Oh? So you are keeping track of everything?"

"Of course," he shrugged. "What do you think this is for?" Wuxian asked, waving his hand towards a stand with crystal clear water.

Baoshan smacked the back of his head. "I can't believe you invented something like this to avoid going out. What are you, a monk?!"

"I don't want to talk about my sex life with my Grandmother," Wei Ying huffed, turning back to his invention table.

"What sex life? You didn't leave here for the last four hundred years." It didn't escape her how he tensed. Did something happen during his last visit outside? "A-Ying?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"He is alive."

Baoshan looked at him, confused. Then she noticed his trembling hands, and she understood. Wei Ying had only two emotions left. Regret about what happened to his JieJie and the pain of betrayal by the person he loved. "Are you sure?"

Wei Ying nodded. He was visiting a nearby town to get new books for his Grandmother and some alcohol when he saw him. Lan Wangji no longer wore Gusu robes, he moved on with current fashion, but he would recognise him everywhere.

"Did he see you?"

"No, but he seemed to look for someone."

Baoshan sighed. She wasn't aware someone from the sects survived. Lan Wangji must have been determined to stay. Was it related to her grandson? "A-Ying, come to Japan with me. Change the environment and let go. We can't bring past back. We can only move forward."

****

Wei Ying would never admit it, but his Grandmother was right. The last few years have been rejuvenating. It gave him a new perspective on life.

First, he truly enjoyed Japan. Despite the war, the country was a pleasure to explore. He picked up the language easily, same for new swordsmanship. Wei Ying became fond of long, thin katanas and light, loose kimonos. At some point, he cut his hair to shoulder length. The raven black hair was partially tied in a messy bun with a crimson red ribbon with some strands framing his face. He also found a new purpose in his life.

Wei Ying gathered a group of ronin, put them through exhausting training and started operating behind the scenes, helping innocent civilians wrapped up in the war. Then it shifted towards the Lords abusing farmers and often young women. Soon after, assassination joined their skillset. Before long, his men started calling him Kokuei, which literally translated to dark shadow, a silhouette. They became the Shadow Guard.

Occupied with his inventions and new organisation, Wei Ying started to let go. It didn't matter if Wangji was alive or not. He simply accepted they would never be together and abandoned the silly dream he could be loved. No matter how many centuries passed, Wangji made his choice, and Wei Ying had to learn to accept it. Besides, it was his fault for considering Lan Zhan a soulmate. After all, Second Master Lan always hated him.

****

His steps were soundless as he swiftly travelled over the rooftops of Kyoto. Their investigation led them to the Red District and one of the brothels. The owner kidnapped young girls from distant villages and transported them to Kyoto to amuse his customers. They could still be considered children when faced with the world's brutality. The Lord and his subordinates would rape and abuse them till girls lost any will to fight and accepted their fate. The very idea made his blood boil and reminded him why he created Shadow Guard. Wei Ying would protect the innocent from the shadows, unnoticed by power-hungry people. He was much older and mature now. There was no need to boast about his strength.

His fitted and easy to move clothes blended with the night, while an oversized hood and mask covered his face. Wei Ying slid the window open and effortlessly dropped inside the Lord's bedroom. His eyes adjusted to the darkness within seconds. Then he noticed a young girl sitting on the floor. She had a collar around her neck, and a chain locked to the bedpost. Her lifeless eyes stared at him, but she did not move. Wei Ying pressed the finger against his lips. He summoned the long katana. Its blade gleamed with killing intent as it sliced the old, fat Lord's neck open. Then he left the room to dispatch guards and clients participating in the abuse. He would not make a mistake. After all, the spirits of the victims accompanied his steps. Once the compound was clean, his men arrived and delivered the girls to the friendly temple in the mountains. The monks would look after them and help return them to their families.

The night was still young. Wei Ying pulled off his hood and mask, then soundlessly landed on the bridge near his Grandmother's residence. There was still time for a little moon-viewing party and a couple of sake bottles. As expected, Baoshan Sanren was waiting for him on the patio in the garden.

"You are late."

Wei Ying plopped on the floor beside her with a cheeky grin. "Weren't you the one who told me to get a life?"

"Touche."

"What's our plan? Do you want to stay here or visit a different country?"

Baoshan Sanren smiled. She was worried he would return to the Mountain immediately, but it wasn't the case anymore. Wei Ying found the world more fascinating than he expected. Of course, she knew about his secret organisation but decided to let it go. It made him stay outside and enjoy life. The lives of some scumbags were a small price to pay. "I'm curious which side will win. Do you mind waiting and seeing it through the end? And I am considering opening a kimono shop. Japanese fashion is fascinating."

"Sure, I like it here."

"But?"

"It's nothing," Wei Ying replied, then opened the portal to his workshop. The room could be described as organised chaos.

"What are you working on?" Baoshan asked, walking after him.

"A long-range communication method. If we separate, the current spiritual butterfly is not very efficient."

"Are you planning to travel around the world?"

"Maybe you were right. There is so much more to learn from people in different places, more exciting than watching them from a distance."

Baoshan smiled triumphantly. "I'm glad you finally see my point. So when are you leaving?"

"You always see straight through me. Once I am sure we can easily communicate no matter how far we are. I have already improved the portal. It will always connect to the Celestial Mountain and each other."

****

It has been the most painful realisation... to discover the loneliness of falling in love. For centuries he wandered all over China looking for one person. The mind kept telling him he was gone. Yet, he couldn't stop. He had to believe Wei Ying was there... he must have been. Every day, Wangji prayed for a chance to fix his mistake. He regrated deeply, leaving him in Burial Mounds. He should have grabbed him and run away from the cultivation world. Save him at all cost, no matter what Wei Ying kept saying.

Looking back at their escape from Nightless city, Wangji should have waited with his confession. Over the last thousand years, he wondered if Wei Ying was there or if his mind was lost to pain and grief. And his biggest mistake. Wangji laughed desperately. "I was so fucking stupid," he muttered, finishing the cup of sake. His past self must have been incredibly dumb. Why else would he choose to be punished over ensuring the safety of his soulmate? He wished to travel back in time and slap some sense into his young self.

With a heavy sigh, he left the tea house and blended into a busy street of Kyoto. It has been a couple years since he arrived in Japan. One day, he felt like China wasn't enough like he should have gone further. Something inside pushed him towards torn with a civil war country.

He passed by the busy kimono shop when a fluttering red ribbon caught his attention. His heart skipped a beat. Wangji slowly turned around. Then he spotted him. A tall man in a black kimono and messy hair tied with a crimson red ribbon. Wangji rushed after him, but when he turned around the corner, the man was gone. "Wei Ying," a whisper escaped his lips.

****

Wangji's life revolved around a centuries-long search. It started when he saw Wei Ying in Japan near the Sanren Kimono shop. Now, a massive fashion industry founded by Baoshan Sanren, non-other than Wei Ying's grandmother. It all made sense for him. There was no body or proof Wei Ying died. He just vanished. The Immortal must have saved him and taken him to the most elusive place in the world. The Celestial Mountain. Wangji tried to find it, but with no success.

He directed his efforts at Baoshan Sanren. When he was investigating the beginnings of her company in the Sengoku period in Japan. Wangji drifted into Samurai legends and folklore stories. He sat in the modern archives in Tokyo, scrolling through digitalised texts, when he suddenly spotted a rarely mentioned name, Kokuei. His fingers brushed over it. Following a hunch, he cross-referenced it with legends and folklore stories worldwide. His eyes widened. Starting from Sengoku Japan, Kokuei popped across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. Wei Ying and Kokuei were in Japan at the same time. It was a good start.

Further research linked the infamous Kokuei to an elite group called Shadow Guard. Unfortunately, there was not much information about its members. The last mention was from the late nineteenth century. It was believed that Shadow Guard could turn the tables in the wars, assassinations, fight against slavery and abuse of innocent. It sounded like Wei Ying to him. He suspected the group was still active, using modern technology to mask their movements. Technology was most likely designed by Wei Ying himself.

Shadow Guard needed immense funding to survive and carry out its operations. He started to look into technology companies, independent inventors and designers. Major companies, even the military, worked with a mysterious designer called, Kokuei. "Bingo!" Wangji exclaimed, jumping from the chair and slamming his hands on his desk.

"It's everything alright, Boss?" a young woman entered his office with concern written on her face. She worked for Lan Wangji for five years, and she never heard him raising his voice or showing emotions. Yet, he looked agitated, maybe excited.

The international research and marketing corporation CEO cleared his throat and dropped back in his chair. "Yes, I just got some good news."

"I'm glad to hear," Liu Lin replied, then placed a stack of documents on the desk. "Contract for your two o'clock."

"Thank you," Wangji flipped through the document and sent her away. His eyes shifted back to the screen. Kokuei has been present throughout the last 500 years. Was it the first time Wei Ying left the Celestial Mountain? But where was he now? His designs were top grade, but he hit the wall after contacting several companies producing them. Every single one of them told him the same. Kokuei was extremely secretive about his identity. No one knew who he really was. No one saw him. "Fuck," Wangji hissed.

****

Silver eyes gazed at the night skyline of Boston. They belonged to a man in a perfectly fitted black suit. He kept swirling a glass of whisky while a screen behind him displayed various statistics. A devilish smirk played on his lips. "You are persistent, Lan Wangji."

Wei Ying was aware of the extensive search Wangji conducted over the years. He knew his every step. After all, Wei Ying designed most of the spyware and tracking programmes. On top of it, the one he sold to various companies had only a fraction of the capabilities compared to the ones Shadow Guard used. If Wei Ying wanted to remain unseen, he could do just that. But part of him wished for Wangji to find him to ask why. Why would he spend more than a thousand years searching for someone he betrayed... for someone he hated. It was a long time to let go of hatred. Their encounter was nothing but a blip in their long lives. 'Yet, you still can't let go.' His heart supplied and pushed further. 'You only have sex with guys who resemble him somehow, but it isn't enough, isn't it?' Slender fingers squeezed the glass with annoyance, shattering it to pieces. A few drops of blood fell to the floor before the cuts healed instantly.

Wei Ying stepped into the portal leading to the classical mansion in the mountains near Tokyo.

"You should do something about your insomnia," Baoshan Sanren said, without turning around from the bonsai tree she was trimming.

"It's the middle of the day," he replied, letting his body fall into the soft cushions of the mamasan chair.

"AA group recommendation then? You smell of whisky."

Wei Ying loosened up his tie even further and sighed. "He's still looking for me."

"I know. Michelle informed me about his attempts to meet her."

Michelle Bai was the current CEO and face of the Sanren Fashion Industry. Baoshan saved her from the streets when Michelle was ten years old. Her biological mother kicked her out of the house because her new boyfriend didn't want to have children. The girl was wandering around the streets of Shanghai at night and caught Sanren attention. For the Immortal, it felt like the universe gave her another chance to be a mother and provide someone with a happy childhood.

"Is he bothering MeiMei?"

Baoshan smiled. Wei Ying was always incredibly overprotective of his little sister, although technically, Michelle was his aunt.

"No, he did not pass Lin Peng. She may look innocent, but she's the most fierce and protective assistant in the world."

Wei Ying sighed and took out a black aluminium cigarette case. It belonged to the exclusive brand he was rather fond of, to his Grandmother's dismay.

"I thought I told you to stop smoking."

"It's not like it can kill me."

"It kills my bonsai," she replied with a deadpan voice. "So, what are you going to do?"

He slid the box back to the inner pocket, then sneered. "Maybe I will wait and see if he can find me."

"Are you going to stop tampering with his search?"

"Maybe?"

Baoshan sighed and sat beside him. "Sometimes, I have the urge to meet him and ask why he is still chasing after you. I could understand the first couple of centuries, but he is relentless. I wonder what drives him to believe you are still alive."

****

He moved fast, and his long katana danced with him, leaving a bloody trail in its wake. The man in a black well-fitted uniform wiped the blade clean with his sleeve and sighed. It wasn't worth the effort coming here. His mercenaries would be fine without him, but he had another reason to be here. He pulled down the oversized hood, freeing shoulder-length hair tied in a messy half-ponytail with a crimson red hair tie. A reminder of his past. He stood still, waiting for distant footsteps to approach him.

"Wei Ying."

It has been more than one and a half thousand years since their last meeting... since he heard his voice. It brought a wave of memories and pain of betrayal. He turned around. Then without a word, he walked past Lan Wangji. A simple message. You found me, now fuck off.

When he first learnt that he could find Kokuei in an abandoned bunker in the wilderness of Brasil, Wangji didn't believe it. It seemed too good to be the truth. But he was desperate. At first, he noticed a silhouette in black against the setting sun. His face was hidden in an oversized hood and mask reaching over his nose. The man moved incredibly fast. His movements were polished and deadly. Not an ounce of wasted energy. Wangji had a hard time keeping up with him, but finally, there he was. More handsome than he remembered. Distant and cold.

"Wei Ying..., please."

Wei Ying stopped and glanced at him over the shoulder. "Stop drawing attention to me, or you will end like them."

"I would rather die than live without you."

"Huh?"

Wangji took a step closer as if he was afraid Wei Ying would vanish again. "Even after you rejected me, I can't stop loving you."

"What the fuck," Wei Ying said, confused. "I rejected you? It was you who chose to stand with sects."

Wangji gasped. Were his suspicions correct? Did they misunderstand each other all this time? "What is the last you remember?"

He wasn't sure where Wangji was going with it, but he could play along if it would finally end this stupid goose chase. "You stood against me at Nightless City, then I was in Burial Mounds destroying Yin Hufu. Next, I woke up on the Celestial Mountain two hundred years later."

Wangji desperately grabbed his shoulders and nearly yelled, "What do you remember about the time between battle and Burial Mounds?"

"Nothing. I have no idea how I got back to Burial Mounds."

His hands slid down to Wei Ying's chest and tightened on his military-grade jacket. His whole body leaned forward to hide his tears. "I was so fucking stupid, Wei Ying. I'm sorry...."

Wei Ying stood frozen, watching Wangji falling into pieces. The regret and resentment towards himself were about to swallow him. Wei Ying dispersed it with a soft whistle. "What are you talking about?"

"At Nightless City, I tried to stop you to protect you. I didn't want you to die there, but my young self was never good at expressing himself, and you misunderstood me. Then, you tried to destroy Yin Hufu on the battlefield, but you lost consciousness. It took you and this cursed thing, and we escaped. I was desperate to keep you alive and confessed, but you kept telling me to get lost no matter what I did. I even fought elders to protect you, but then like fucking idiot, left you in Burial Mounds and returned to Gusu to face the consequences."

Wei Ying wasn't sure how to react when sudden pain pierced his head. He groaned, pressing a hand to his right temple. His vision blurred as his consciousness started slipping away. Then his safety measures kicked in. Several of his earings lit up. Instantly a portal opened behind him, and gentle force pushed Wangji away. At the same time, his body was pulled back to the safety of his Grandmother's residence.

Baoshan Sanren felt familiar energy behind her. She turned from her precious bonsai trees to see an unconscious body falling backwards through the portal. She leapt forward and caught him before his head could hit the floor. "A-Ying!"

Wangji staggered, and then he saw Wei Ying's body falling into a glowing ring leading to a different place. He was not going to lose him again. Wangji recovered from the shock and rushed towards the portal, but it wouldn't let him in.

"It has a biometric lock," a female voice from the other side explained. Then a middle-aged woman emerged. She wore classic Japanese kimono and was surrounded by an aura of dignity. "Explain why my grandson is unconscious, Lan Wangji."

Her voice sent a nasty chill down his spine. "I told him about things he didn't remember from the past, something pushed me away, and Wei Ying was gone. Where is he?!"

"He's safe. Follow me," she said, then grabbed his arm and pulled him into the portal.

They no longer were in a grey bunker, surrounded by dead bodies and the stench of blood. Wangji walked into the elegant conservatory full of bonsai trees. Wei Ying lay on the soft grass with a cushion under his head. Lan Zhan fell to his knees and grabbed his slender hand into his. "Wei Ying."

'So it was love you were chasing for all these years,' Baoshan thought, watching him curiously. "Take him and follow me."

Wangji gently picked up his soulmate and followed Baoshan through the wide hallways to the bedroom on the other side of the mansion. The room was elegant and sophisticated. The large desk was covered in various diagrams and designs, nearly burying the laptop. Then he noticed the display with Suibian and Chenqing. It was Wei Ying's bedroom. He carefully placed him on the bed but didn't let go of his hand.

His consciousness was slowly returning. He could feel a familiar mattress underneath him. That meant his safety measures worked, and he was in his bedroom in Japan. Then he registered a warmth surrounding his right hand. It was comforting, luring him back to sleep.

When his consciousness returned again, the warmth was still there. He slowly opened his eyes. His bedroom was basked in moonlight. Then he noticed someone sleeping at the edge of the mattress. The person was sitting on the chair beside the bed, using one arm as a cushion. Semi-long black hair fell over the handsome face. "Lan Zhan."

He could not remember when last time this name left his lips. A name of his soulmate. A stupid misunderstanding and missing memories separated them for centuries.

It was him who took them away. Wei Ying was afraid he wouldn't be able to sacrifice his life to destroy Yin Hufu, knowing that Lan Zhan loved him. He pushed his soulmate away, then locked the precious confession away. "We both sucked at communication back then," he whispered, gently squeezing the hand surrounding his.

A soft as liquid gold voice beckoned him to wake up, but his dream had Wei Ying in it. He didn't want to leave. Then someone squeezed his hand. "Don't leave me, Wei Ying," he muttered, half asleep.

"I won't."

His eyebrow knitted together, then he realised the voice came from somewhere beside him. Wangji slowly opened his eyes. His gaze travelled over perfectly chiselled muscles, through the tattoo with Wen symbol to unique silver eyes. An immense wave of relief washed over him. "You are awake."

Bottled up for aeons feelings were finally free. Wei Ying's left hand reached and grabbed Wangji's shirt. He simultaneously pulled himself up and dragged the surprised man closer. A cheeky smile played on his lips before they joined with Wangji's.

The kiss was slow and soft, romantic in ways words would never be. Then, it naturally deepened, their tongues circling together in sync. They savoured each other, but it wasn't enough. Dextrous fingers unbuttoned the white shirt, letting it fall on the floor. Without breaking the kiss, they dropped to the mattress. Their bodies pressed together, hands roaming free to explore their sensitive spots. But it still wasn't enough. The way they looked at each other was dangerously tempting, like a gleaming gaze of a hungry carnivore.

"If you keep looking at me like this, I won't be able to hold myself back."

"My thoughts exactly," Wangji replied, then leaned for another kiss.

Wei Ying smiled into the kiss, then flipped them over. Now he was hovering over Lan Zhan. "Your preferences?" asked, nibbling on his soulmate's ear.

His hands travelled from Wei Ying's shoulders to his lower back, feather-like touch caressing his spine. "As long as it's you, I don't care," replied. His tongue travelled over Wei Ying's collarbone while his hand slipped into loose sweatpants.

"You can toss a coin for all I care," a sudden amused voice interrupted them. "After you explain why did you arrive here unconscious."

"Fuck," Wei Ying muttered, then swiftly turned around to face his incredibly annoying grandmother. "For someone this old, you are pretty indecisive. First, you complain, I don't have a sex life. When I sleep around, you complain that I should find a person I love instead of playing around with people I don't care about. But when I do that, you still get in the way. Seriously, Grandmother?"

Wangji slowly sat up, unsure how to behave. Then Wei Ying's rant caught his attention. It seemed like they were really close. He wasn't sure how to feel about the sleeping around part, but then the meaning of Wei Ying's words hit him, and a gentle smile lit up his face.

Baoshan Sanren gave him a cheeky grin as if she had just won the lottery. "Ha! So you did love him all this time. You owe me a lifetime supply of my favourite sake."

"Fuck."

Wangji looked between them, confused.

The Immortal smiled as if she was about to nail Wei Ying's coffin. "Let me explain our little bet."

"Don't you dare."

"You are no fun at all," she complained.

His eyebrow cocked with annoyance. "You walk on me and my... uh... never mind terminology, and I'm no fun one? Seriously?"

Baoshan smiled at the playful notes in his voice. "Fair enough. So? The last time I saw you unconscious was in Hiroshima, when you reduced the impact and radiation. A group of human traffickers is not nearly enough to put you out for three days."

"It's his fault. Well, mostly mine, but generally his."

"What do you mean?"

Wei Ying sighed and then explained what happened with his memories. "Once the array was broken, it drained me a bit."

"You both are idiots," Baoshan replied, shaking her head. Then told them to go have their fun somewhere else since who knows how long it would take and left the room.

"Talking about a mood killer," Wei Ying muttered, getting up.

The atmosphere in the room was somewhat awkward. Wei Ying grabbed his cigarettes and slid the garden shoji open. The grass felt soft under his bare feet, while the calming aroma of plum trees calmed his ragging mind. He could not believe how much time they wasted.

"Wei Ying?"

Silver eyes followed the thin trail of smoke, gazing at the starry sky. What were they now? What does Wangji want? A relationship? Probably. Why else would he search for him for thousand years? But did he want one? Probably not. Relationships were bothersome. Maybe things would be different if they met sooner? "Have you ever wished you could rewind?"

Wangji stepped outside. Standing in the moonlight, Wei Ying seemed fragile. His slender back was covered with a grayscale phoenix rising from the Burial Mounds towards a pale sun peeking from behind the resentful energy tattoo. It looked like a tribute to Wen Remnants, a hope they could be reborn one day. "Not anymore. But I still wish to travel back in time and slap some common sense into younger me."

"Do you know why I let you find me?" he asked, but Wangji shook his head. "I was tired of asking myself why you wouldn't give up. Even if you hated me back then, chasing me for so long would be overkill."

"I could never hate you."

"Even if I'm much worse than Yiling Laozu?"

"You looked so hot in your uniform with katana. I barely noticed the carnage you left behind," Lan Zhan replied as he stepped in front of Wei Ying, grabbed his chin and lifted his head up. Their lips joined together in a sensual kiss. It left them breathless, but it felt right. "Although, I must ask. Why the hell does it has so many straps? It's ridiculously difficult to get you out of it. Then the sheer amount of sharp weapons hidden everywhere like some kind of trap."

Wei Ying burst out laughing. "I obviously didn't design it to have sex in it."

"Touche."

"Give me your hand."

Wangji complied, then watched him pull the military knife out of nowhere. He was used to qiankun pouches and sleeves, but Wei Ying was half-naked. Where did the knife come from?

"Trust me?"

Wangji nodded, then winced at the sharp pain as a knife cut his palm. Wei Ying caught dripping blood in his hands, then slapped them together and extended it into a glowing red array. A familiar portal showed in front of them, and the array was pushed into it.

"Done, now you can travel freely."

"Oh, so that's what your grandmother meant by biometric lock?"

Wei Ying nodded. "Yeah, it must have taken a massive chunk of her energy to get you through it. I like to make people suffer when they try to bypass my security."

His fingers brushed through multiple earings in Wei Ying's left ear. "These aren't normal accessories."

"Protective arrays, safety locks and stuff. We can talk about it or go fuck at my place."

His eyebrow cocked, then he followed Wei Ying into the portal. It led to a modern and minimalistic bedroom with ceiling to floor windows overlooking Boston Harbour and the Greenway.

Wei Ying pushed him onto the massive bed, pinned his hands to the mattress and kissed him breathless. The sweet wetness of an intense kiss was overwhelming and arousing. His touch was intoxicating, driving him crazy. The soft lips travelled to his jawline and neck, leaving a hot trail, setting his skin aflame. Slender fingers brushed over fading scar in the shape of the Wen symbol.

"What happened?" he asked, sitting on the top of Wangji.

"I got drunk shortly after you disappeared. Apparently, I branded myself while looking for Chenqing," he replied, then sat up and brought his lips to Wei Ying's neck. The latter tilted his head, giving him better access. His teeth racked over sensitive skin, sending electricity through Wei Ying's body. Then he started to suck his neck nook. Wei Ying moaned with pleasure. But as soon as he lifted his lips, the red mark disappeared. Wangji raised his eyebrow questioningly.

"Healing enhancement in the right ear," muttered, pushing his partner down. His tongue flicked over the aroused bud. Then he teased it with tiny bites sending waves of pleasure through Wangji. One hand supported his weight while the other unbuttoned Wangji's trousers and pulled them off with underwear, freeing his stiff erection.

Lan Zhan moaned when Wei Ying's tongue wrapped around his length, teasing him and pushing him into oblivion. His fingers entangled in shoulder-length black hair as Wei Ying's head moved up and down, driving him insane. His mind was quickly losing the ability to construct coherent thoughts. Unable to hold back, he came into surrounding him hot mouth. Wei Ying smirked and swallowed everything. "Fuck, why are you so good at it?"

"That's not the only thing I'm good at," replied, as his lips travelled around Wangji's inner thigh. "So, should we toss a coin?"

It was a tempting offer, but his body needed more. He needed Wei Ying inside him. "Just fuck me already."

"As you wish, Lan Zhan."

His breath hitched when Wei Ying's mouth returned to his stiff member. While covered in lube, fingers slid inside him, stimulating his prostate. "Nnngghh... Wei... Ying... I need... you...."

A sharp, sweet thrill gripped him, filling his being as Wei Ying did. Their lips drew naturally together until they met once again. This kiss, however, was far deeper than the ones they had shared before. Wei Ying's tongue sought out all the places he was the most sensitive, and every skilful caress drew a moan of pleasure out of him. Then he started to move, hitting the right spot with every thrust. Wangji looked up at him with unfocused eyes, seeing a similar haze of pleasure in his. Soon they lost the sense of time, sinking deeper into each other, surrendering to overwhelming pleasure.

Wangji stretched lazily after the best sleep in centuries. The setting sun poured through the massive windows, reminding him that it wasn't his bedroom. He reached to the other side, but the bed was cold. A fear that Wei Ying had disappeared again crept in and refused to let go. He pulled on his trousers with trembling hands and left to look for him.

It was a two-story penthouse with minimalistic décor in black and white colours. Finally, Wangji found him in the room at the back in front of multiple screens. Some of them displayed intricate designs, programming codes and reports. His desk looked like a digital screen with a 3D function. A small digital chip hovered over it. Wei Ying looked at it for a while, then huffed and swiped it away. He leaned back on his chair and rubbed his eyes.

"You shouldn't be here," Wei Ying said, turning around. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I meant this room... uh, I'm not used to having visitors here."

Wangji chuckled. "You look like you need a hug, ten energy drinks or six months of sleep."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah, what are you working on?"

Wei Ying stood up and pulled him outside, secured with a biometric lock door closed behind them. "Top secret."

Wangji could understand that and decided to let go. "When did you sleep last time?"

"Does being unconscious for three days count?"

"Nope."

Wei Ying opened the fridge and pulled out some ingredients to cook the dinner. "Dunno, I've been insomniac long before they discovered it."

Wangji gave him a worried look. He would wish to tuck Wei Ying into the bed and force him to sleep, but if hours of sex couldn't tire him out, what would? Then he didn't know Wei Ying well enough to tell him what to do.

He could tell Wangji's thoughts from the look on his face. "You really changed, Lan Zhan. I guess we should talk about... whatever this is," he said, chopping the vegetables for stir fry. "I don't do relationships. Sex with no strings attached, sure, why not. But I don't want to be chained down by expectations. I guess I'm not boyfriend material with my rather hectic lifestyle."

His heart sunk. Listening to Wei Ying hurt, but he did not want to jump to conclusions and cause more misunderstandings. He decided to remain quiet and let him finish.

"I can compromise on some things, but I won't change who I am." Wei Ying sighed, then put the knife away and turned around. Wangji leaned on the counter, looking incredibly sexy, wearing just jeans. "Ugh, put some shirt on, would you?"

"I don't have one."

"Oh, you can borrow something from me," he said, returning to the cooking. "There is a walk-in wardrobe in the bedroom."

Wangji decided to cool off his head and jumped into a quick shower before grabbing some clothes from a neatly organised wardrobe. He returned to the kitchen in a black, wide neck t-shirt. It exposed his collarbones, earning him another hungry gaze.

"Beer?" Wei Ying asked, taking out two bottles.

He nodded, then sat on the barstool at the counter. The dinner looked amazing. "You learned to cook?"

"Hundred years of practice," chuckled, but soon his smile vanished. They still had to have this conversation. "I'm not sure what you expect from me. For now, I can give you exclusivity. It goes without saying that was the best sex ever, so there is no reason to look for it elsewhere. But it's not enough to jump into something serious," Wei Ying trailed off to find the right words. He glanced at Wangji. There were so many feelings in his eyes. A cold and composed person he knew was gone. It was a pleasant surprise. "What I'm saying is... urgh, why it's so difficult... Fuck it! I think we should start from the beginning and get to know each other before signing up for a commitment. See if our lives are compatible enough to merge them together."

Wangji breathed a sigh of relief. He was worried that Wei Ying would plain reject him. It was rather painful, but his words made lots of sense. They both changed and got used to their lifestyle over the centuries. It's not something one can easily discard. Then they don't know anything about each other besides the fact they like it fast and hard. "Starting from the beginning sounds like a great idea. I would rather not pick up where we left off. You were convinced I hated you. I believed you wouldn't return my feelings."

"Yeah, that would be a pretty awful place to start. To new beginnings?" Wei Ying asked, raising his bottle for a toast.

"To the new beginnings."

****

He was leaning on the headboard with Wei Ying sitting on the top of him with his knees beside Wangji's hips. Their forgotten shirts were somewhere on the floor. They were trying to set up some ground rules for their "friends with benefits" relationship while having a make-out session.

For someone who hated rules as a teenager, he sure was a stickler for them now. Wangji was not allowed to use his name in public, online, or in text messages. He was not permitted in Wei Ying's office. He was not allowed to talk about Shadow Guard and their operations. He was not allowed to touch Wei Ying's phone. He was not allowed to use his laptop... any of his laptops. He was not allowed to get involved in Wei Ying's jobs. He was not allowed to complain about Wei Ying's habits because "one Grandmother is enough". And the list dragged on and on. Finally, he couldn't help and burst out laughing.

"What?"

"No, nothing," he replied, trying to regain composure. "It just took me back to Gusu."

Wei Ying's face was a mixture of shock and amusement. "Fuck you."

"I don't mind if you do," replied, leaning closer and brushing his tongue over multiple earings while his hand traced Wei Ying's muscles. "How did you put arrays into such tiny things. I get studs, but hoops seem too thin and delicate."

"It's hard to explain. I would have to take you to my actual workshop. Unfortunately, Celestial Mountain is off-limits."

"Off-limits?"

"Only Grandmother and I can access it. It's something we agreed upon when we first left," Wei Ying added, then lit up a cigarette. "It's my home, and I will protect it at all cost."

"I would never put it at risk."

"Sorry, apparently I have trust issues."

Despite being annoyed by his addiction, Wangji admired how good a black cigarette looked in his hand. The way Wei Ying was smoking was very distinctive and alluring. "I couldn't tell," replied sarcastically, feeling a growing erection. Every fibre of his being wished it was him between Wei Ying's lips.

Seeing Wangji's feverish gaze, Wei Ying smirked. "Hold it for me," he asked, passing him a cigarette, then started playing with his hardening nipple. At the same time, his lips travelled down to unbuttoned trousers. His tongue teased a covered in precum tip, but when Wangji wanted more, Wei Ying lifted his head and took a drag from a cigarette.

Lan Zhan was never so jealous of a cigarette. An amused smirk made him realise that life without Wei Ying was difficult, but life with Wei Ying was even more difficult. He was like a god in bed but also a big tease. The two combined meant a lot of pleasure and suffering. A soft tongue wrapped around his length, teasing him even further, bringing out pleasure Wangji didn't know existed. Every time he would be close to release, Wei Ying would return to his cigarette, leaving him hanging. It was somewhat hot and infuriating. "I hate you."

"Oh, I thought you loved me."

"Go fuck yourself," Wangji muttered, fighting off a smile.

Wei Ying cocked his eyebrow. "I would rather have you do it."

He didn't need more encouragement. He pulled Wei Ying closer and kissed him hard. His lips tasted of whisky and good quality cigarette. It was arousing. Wei Ying himself was intoxicating. 'He will be the death of me....'

****

Over the years, they became closer, but neither of them wished to change their arrangements. Being friends with benefits worked for them. After all, they had the whole eternity together.