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

****

Three shadows were sneaking behind the buildings towards a lower section of the wall around the Lingjian Wen Sect. Their eyes shone with determination, eager to explore the world outside their barriers. Fifteen-year-old leader and his two slightly younger followers jumped over the wall. They ran towards the barrier as fast as possible, squeezing in their hands teleportation talismans. Their grand plan started when they overheard Da-Gege and Bai Jue talking with Sect Leader about their recent trip south. The boys got excited about a town with multiple water paths and local wine.

"Where do you think you are going?"

All three of them froze, hearing Qing-Jie's stern voice. Finally, Wei Ying turned around with an innocent smile. "Just boys stuff, Jiejie."

"Oh? What boys' stuff involve stolen teleportation talismans?" she asked, crossing arms in front of her chest. "Did you really think Da-Gege won't notice?"

"He's rarely here, Jiejie," Wei Ying argued. "Do you really think he will mind a few talismans? He doesn't even need them anymore."

"We will be careful, Qing-Jie," Xue Yang stepped in, staring at her with puppy eyes. "We want to see one of the places Da-Gege and Bai Jue visited."

Wen Ning stepped closer with the most innocent look in the universe, adorned with his gentle smile. "It's nothing dangerous. Just a town in Gusu."

"You know we aren't allowed in sects' territories. It's dangerous!" Wen Qing scolded them. "What if something happens to you? Did you forget that sects can't be trusted?"

"We will be careful, Jiejie!" Wei Ying argued. "We aren't wearing our sect colours, and our swords are hidden. Everyone will think we are just normal kids. Can you let us go, please?"

"No."

"But Jiejie! Da-Gege barely visits us a few times a year, always travelling somewhere with Bai Jue. We want to see what it is all about."

"Why not visit some towns north or literally everywhere else? What do you think father will do if he learns you went so close to the sects? Especially Gusu Lan? You will be grounded for eternity!" she exclaimed, annoyed with their stubbornness. "You are going back to your rooms, end of discussion!"

"It's just a town, Qing-Jie," Wei Ying said, rolling his eyes, deciding this was the hill to die on. They were aware of how dangerous sects were. Still, it's different to hear about something from adults and see it themselves. They wanted to be free like Shen Ying and Bai Jue, travel worldwide, experience new things and constantly meet new people. Maybe if he could be like them, he would be closer to Da-Gege like when he was younger?

Wen Qing sighed. "I understand you all miss Da-Gege, but sneaking around won't bring him here. Why not simply talk to him next time he visits? I'm sure he will listen to you."

"You don't know that!" he argued. "Maybe he will finally come because we are sneaking around? He promised to always come if we need him, so if we run into any trouble, Da-Gege will save us."

"So, you are planning to get into trouble just to lure him here?! What kind of messed up logic is it?!" Wen Qing asked, massaging her temples. "I swear part of my brain just died."

"Anyway, you can't stop us," Wei Ying said with a cheeky smile, then all three activated talismans and disappeared in blue smoke.

Wen Qing sighed heavily. She could understand them. Boys were always highly attached to Shen Ying, but he barely visited them during the last few years. Neither of them could understand why, but there were a few things it made her wonder and question who Shen Ying was. At first, it was hard to notice since Wei Ying was all smiles and mischief, while Shen Ying was always serious and composed, but they were very similar. Was it why Shen Ying and Bai Jue started to avoid them? Wen Qing sighed and headed towards their parents' quarters. Firstly, she was sure they knew everything, then she felt they had to be warned about her little brothers.

****

A few years ago, they found a small lake surrounded by lush forest with a hot spring nearby. It was hidden and untainted by human presence. They would often return to relax and enjoy each other. Finally, after a year, they decided to build a small house on the lake's surface. A place to call their own.

Taking advantage of the warm summer night, Shen Ying and Bai Jue were on the platform above the surface, enjoying wine. They wore nothing but black riding trousers. Bai Jue reclined on the column with one foot in the water when Shen Ying plopped himself between his legs and leaned on his sturdy chest. His favourite place in the universe.

Bai Jue pulled him closer, inhaling his sensual scent. A blend of spicy notes balanced with delicate herbs and flowers. Unique, like a person in his arms. With a cheeky smile, he gently blew air on the back of Shen Ying's neck, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. His lips brushed his shoulder before placing a soft kiss and slowly making their way to the nape of the neck.

The tantalising pace was driving him crazy, waking a burning desire for more. He tilted his head to the side, allowing a hot tongue fully explore it as kisses became more intense and demanding. A mixture of tiny nibbles and soft lips was enough to push anyone over the edge. Shen Ying turned around, chuckling at the smug face of his soulmate. He intimately brought their foreheads together and kissed him softly. "What happened to let's relax and enjoy the moon?"

"Don't worry, I'm good at multitasking."

His eyebrow cocked. "Oh really?"

Bai Jue didn't like this mischievous smile at all. It meant trouble every single time, highly pleasurable but still trouble. Like yesterday when they nearly burned down the house because Shen Ying suddenly felt like having sex in the kitchen. "Of course not. Nothing is important enough to take my attention from you," he replied, sliding his fingers into his long hair and pulling him into a kiss. It was deep and sensual, expressing their never-ending desire for each other.

"Bedroom or lake?"

"Lake, then bedroom?"

Shen Ying smiled. "Did I ever tell you how much I love the way your brain works?"

"Brain or something else?" Bai Jue asked with a suggestive smile.

"Both, definitely both," he laughed, jumping into the water.

Their sex was wild, dictated by their desires and natural flow. They would always act on impulse, switching between top and bottom, pursuing the peak of pleasure. Yet, underneath it was an incredible softness and care. Throughout the five years of their relationship, they were always each other's highest priority and purpose for living.

Golden threads of morning light poured through trees, creating playful shadows on the white walls of the bedroom. Annoyed by the increasing brightness, silver eyes slowly opened. Like every morning, their soft gaze focused on the person beside him. Shen Ying gently brushed away a strand of hair from Bai Jue's face. Another little moment of happiness, bringing him strength and inner peace. It would remind him of a similar morning... the day he realised the difference between true love and misinterpreted attraction.

Bai Jue was everything he missed in his life... another half of his soul. His presence vanished his fears and insecurities. The passion behind each caress softened his scars and helped him heal and leave everything behind. It started from small things. His heart rate would accelerate every time Bai Jue smiled at him. Then he noticed how Bai Jue's eyes would change when he entered the room. They were drawn to each other and remained inseparable since their first meeting in the woods. One would say: 'there is something I want to do" and the other would always reply: 'I will do it with you'. No question asked, no explanation needed. Taking it one step further came naturally. It simply happened.

Suddenly, Bai Jue's hand moved and pulled him closer. "Come back to sleep, Wei Ying," he muttered without opening his eyes.

"I will make us breakfast," Shen Ying chirped in response.

His eyebrows furrowed, followed by a tightening grip on Shen Ying's waist. "I'm too young to die."

"Rejecting my cooking even in your sleep. That's mean, Bai Jue."

Dark brown eyes opened and looked at him with incredible warmth. "You are amazing at literally everything else. Why not leave the cooking to me, hm?"

It was unbelievable how easy it was to believe in words like this now. He would only hear complaints and accusations in his previous life, blaming him for everything. Even things out of his control. Good for nothing, son of a servant, bastard and street rat. Someone who destroyed everything he touched. A lot changed since he met Yifan and Xin Yan, then his soulmate. Bai Jue was a person who tore his walls down and accepted him as he was. After learning the truth about his past, he shrugged and asked: "so what?". There was no judgement or rejection as he feared, only unyielding love.

"Where are you?"

Shen Ying looked at him, startled. "Sorry, I was just thinking about... Nah, it's nothing worth mentioning."

He laced their fingers together and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Past?"

"Yeah," Shen Ying sighed. "It made me wonder. Maybe it wasn't the best, but I wouldn't be here without it. So in a way, I should be happy about everything that happened. After all, it brought me to you," he added, running his fingers on Bai Jue's jawline, then gently brushing his lower lip. "Otherwise, I don't think we would ever meet. You never planned to travel south, and the original Wei Ying is seventeen years younger than us. So yeah, definitely impossible."

"I was sure you are the original one. A-Yi is a cute kid, always laughing and getting into trouble, but he is like this because you saved him. You may share the name and the first four years of your life, but now you are two separate persons. Your personalities are completely different. The only thing you have in common are abysmal cooking skills," Bai Jue said with a cheeky smile. Then flipped Shen Ying on his back and hovered above him, looking deep into his eyes. "Age difference aside, I could not imagine falling in love with him. So yeah, definitely impossible."

"Why not?"

"He isn't you," Bai Jue replied, then kissed him. It was slow and deep, full of love and affection, reaffirming his words.

"He is literally me," Shen Ying panted.

Bai Jue straddled him, his arms pinning his lover's hands to the mattress. "It must be hard to think differently when you have your younger doppelganger running around, but he is not. A-Yi doesn't have your memories and didn't experience things you did. Plus, he is not nearly as handsome as you."

"Give him time," he joked, but his eyes betrayed relief that the person he loved more than life saw them as separate persons. He would often struggle with it, especially as A-Yi was getting older. Sometimes, he would question if it was really okay for him to be around.

"Not happening," Bai Jue disagreed. He understood where these moments were coming from. His previous life could be summarised as trauma, then he was thrown into another timeline. A place where people he cared about didn't know him. Bai Jue couldn't even imagine how difficult it must have been, carrying the burdens of the future on your shoulders. No matter how often Wei Ying feels lost, he will be there to ground him and remind him that there is at least one person who can't live without him. "Besides, like it or not, you are stuck with me for the rest of eternity."

"There is no one else I would rather be stuck with," he replied, flipping them over. Shen Ying left a hot trial on kisses from his neck to collar bone. "Who knew dual cultivation speeds up immortality so much."

"I'm pretty sure it's the amount...," he trailed off, seeing a black ghostly butterfly landing on the pillow. "What is it?"

"From Yifan. Boys escaped at night to visit Caiyi Town. He is going to look for them but asks if we can join. Around this time, lectures started, and waterborne abyss, if I remember correctly. Gusu Lan will be all over the place. If A-Yi uses resentful energy, they won't leave him alone. I can't let this happen to him, Bai Jue."

Bai Jue swiftly left the bed and tossed a bundle of fresh robes at Shen Ying. "We will be there in no time, and no matter what happens, I have your back."

****

The waterfront town was exciting and full of unknown food. They kept running between different stalls, racing on the boats and drinking wine. Boys had a time of their lives, trying to not think about potential consequences. Caiyi Town seemed peaceful and friendly. However, they were surprised to see many disciples from different sects. It made them curious.

"I wonder what they are looking for," Xue Yang asked, eyeing a group of cultivators in white. "Is it true they live under thousands of rules?"

Wen Ning nodded. "Da-Gege said it's three thousand."

"Wow!" Wei Ying exclaimed. "How are they even alive?!"

"They look pretty dead to me," he said, gazing at the cold-faced teenager on the boat, looking at Wei Ying. Xue Yang didn't like it at all.

"A-Yang, are you coming?" Wei Ying turned around, and his gaze came across cold golden eyes. He found it weird someone from Gusu Lan would stare at them like this, but he wouldn't let it spoil their day. Wei Ying slung his arm around Xue Yang and pulled him to the next stall with spicy noodles.

"It's everything alright, Wangji?" a gentle-looking person in Gusu Lan's robes asked, landing on his boat.

"Mm."

Lan Xichen looked around and spotted the three boys. Maybe his little brother wanted to make friends with them? Or have fun like them? "Would you like to join them?"

Lan Wangji shook his head. The boy with a red ribbon disappeared between crowds with his friends. He had no reason to stay there or follow them.

In the meantime, the trio from Lingjian overheard rumours about the unusual number of drowning cases in town. They were surprised Gusu Lan didn't deal with it earlier and decided to take matters into their own hands. Their little trip just got much more exciting.

"It can't be an accident," Xue Yang said thoughtfully, sitting on the small boat with his companions. "The town is on the water. They obviously know how to swim."

"Water ghouls?"

Wei Ying nodded in agreement. "I had no idea sects here allowed for it to escalate so much. According to the wine seller, the town rarely has visitors because of rumours and multiple accidents."

"Isn't Gusu Lan close? It must be less than an hour's walk, even less on the sword."

"Maybe that's the reason why Da-Gege hates sects so much?" Wen Ning asked. "He and Bai Jue always help people, while sects don't do much."

"I don't know," Wei Ying replied, jumping off the boat. "Sometimes, I have the impression that he just hates them, especially Gusu Lan. Do you remember his voice when he talked about the trip here?"

"Yeah, it was so cold it gave me chills," Xue Yang shuddered. "Maybe something happened between him and Gusu Lan before he found us?"

"I'm sure A-Die knows something. Should we ask him?"

Wei Ying nodded eagerly. "They always spent hours drinking! He probably knows everything, same for Bai Jue, but he will never tell us."

The other two nodded sadly. They still remembered the torture of the training he gave them after asking too many questions. In the end, they could no longer move and learned their lesson. Never try to bribe Bai Jue to spill Shen Ying's secrets.

Xue Yang popped another candy into his mouth and asked, "Who do you think is scarier? Da-Gege or Bai Jue?"

"Both, definitely both!"

"Oh, because they are here," he said, pointing out two cultivators in the distance.

Wei Ying instantly grabbed his friends and pulled him behind wine crates. "Do you think they saw us?"

He shook his head. "They would be already in front of us, but if they are here... Sect Leader must be here as well," he added, looking around.

"We must be careful if we want to help townspeople with water ghouls before our lives are over," Wei Ying uttered. He felt much less courageous than during the confrontation with Jiejie. Shen Ying was always laid back and last to punish them, but even from a distance, his face had a death sentence written all over it. They were doomed.

Sneaking between the building and watching their surroundings like hawks, the boys progressed with their investigation. The water ghouls were gathering at the Biling Lake. Now their biggest problem was how to get there unnoticed.

"What if we tell Gusu disciples about it and use them as a distraction? They don't do anything here, so why not make them slightly more useful?" Xue Yang proposed.

Others agreed with his plan, and soon Wei Ying was appointed to talk with someone. Most of the groups were too exposed. Finally, he spotted someone. Unfortunately, it was the same cultivator that glared at them earlier.

"Oh well," he muttered, then approached him with his usual cheerful smile. "Hi, I wondered why your sect doesn't help people with water ghouls in the Biling Lake. I thought that's what sects were supposed to do. Protect the weak and innocent?"

Lan Wangji froze, not understanding why the boy with the red ribbon suddenly started to talk to him. It made him uncomfortable and excited at the same time.

"Hey! Are you listening?! Water ghouls in the lake?"

"Mm."

"Wow, not only useless but also stack up," Wei Ying muttered under his breath. "Anyway, I did my job. Do what you want with it," he added, then turned to leave. There was no point in talking to someone who wasn't interested in the conversation.

"Wait."

He stopped and looked questioningly over his shoulder.

"Sect."

His eyebrows furrowed. This conversation started to feel like the most painful experience of his life. Wei Ying genuinely struggled to understand what's with single words speech. Where Gusu Lan so full of themselves they couldn't bother to speak properly with others? He took a deep breath to hide his annoyance and turned around. "Sect? What do you mean?"

"You."

"Me? What about me?" he asked, growing even more confused.

"What is your sect?"

Wei Ying groaned. "Couldn't you start with that? Anyway, it's none of your business. My job was to tell you about water ghouls being responsible for drownings in this town since your sect is clearly incapable of finding out by themselves. I told you. Now, if you will excuse me, my friends are waiting."

Wangji watched him leave with mixed feelings. He likes his sparkling silver eyes and beautiful smile, but he was rude talking about Gusu Lan. Why would he think that his sect wasn't helping people in Caiyi? Confused, he left to speak with his brother about water ghouls.

"He told you the ghouls are in the lake? How does he know? Which sect is he from?"

"Didn't say."

"Did he not wear his sect colours?" Xichen asked, surprised.

Wangji shook his head. The boy with the red ribbon had the posture of the well-trained warrior and the strong aura of cultivators, but he wore plain clothes. Same for his friends.

"And you never saw him before?"

Again he shook his head.

Xichen sighed. Maybe he was from a minor clan who wasn't invited to lectures? Did they miss someone? The youth must have been around Wangji's age, too young for a rogue cultivator. It was a bit suspicious, especially with growing tension from the Qinshan Wen. Wen Chao already caused problems at Cloud Recesses, and now the water ghouls issue here. Lan Xichen had a bad feeling about it, but for now, they had to focus on Biling Lake.

When they arrived in Caiyi Town, Shen Ying realised the waterborne abyss was already there. Knowing Wei Ying and his two faithful followers, they were trying to help and solve the problem themselves. On top of it, Lan Xichen and a group of disciples were in town, investigating sudden disappearances. It seemed like confrontation was unavoidable.

He didn't like visiting Gusu. It always brought unpleasant memories of his studies in Cloud Recesses and unjustified harsh punishments. Although, it was nothing compared to the beating Madam Yu would give him. Gusu was a reminder of how untrustworthy people around him were, their greed and selfishness. Eleven years later, he couldn't look at them without the urge to raze this bloody mountain till nothing was left. Yet, he was here again because of three rebellious teenagers.

"I'm going to skin them alive."

Shen Ying's face seemed as cold and composed as usual, but the tension was clearly visible to him. He needed a distraction to take his mind off unpleasant memories. Bai Jue reached for his hand and interlocked their fingers. He looked at Shen Ying with a cheeky smile, then pointed at approaching Wen Yifan and said, "I'm pretty sure he's up for it even more than you."

"We really need to talk about things you find amusing," Shen Ying chuckled, glancing at their crossed arms, connected in a firm, interlaced grip. It was a simple message: 'I got you.'

"What can I say?" Bai Jue shrugged with a cheeky smile. "It's a part of my charm you love so much."

"Only you can flirt in the middle of the street when we have three kids to slaughter."

"See? Told you!"

Shen Ying shook his head with amusement. "I assume you want to teach them a lesson. They won't forget, huh?"

Yifan nodded. "I was thinking of letting them deal with abyss and learn first-hand how sects treat those who help them. They understand the danger and risks of getting involved with these righteous bastards, but it probably feels unreal to them. I'm pretty sure they just want to see for themselves why we don't like sects."

It was a risky idea, but Yifan was right. They couldn't shelter them forever. Boys were getting older, capable of making their own decisions.

"Besides, it will be a good test for them. I'm curious how they will deal with it."

"Agree. It has been a while since they faced real danger," Shen Ying said, allowing himself to relax. He did everything possible to give Wei Ying a different future. Wen did a fantastic job raising him into a confident and strong person. It was up to him to live his own life as he wanted. 'I guess my job was done a long time ago. We will protect them if they make a mess and let them face the consequences to learn.'

"Shall we find a good spot to watch them?" Bai Jue proposed, nodding his head towards three teenagers trying very hard to turn invisible.

His companions chuckled, then all three left, pretending they didn't see anything.

The trio stood in the tree line, watching disciples entering the lake on boats. They were curious about other sects' methods of catching ghouls. Lingjian Wen used various inventions created by Shen Ying, but Gusu didn't seem very well prepared.

"I don't understand," Wen Ning started, observing the lake. "Why are they on the boats? Water ghouls can see and hear their movements. Wouldn't it be better to use swords and nets to catch them? Or at least manoeuvre boats to lure them into narrow space?"

Wei Ying shrugged in confusion, watching them head for the middle of the lake. "I would set up nets on water entrances to the town for safety and then lure them to that river," he said, pointing to the far end of the lake.

"Sounds good," Xue Yang agreed. "They are too exposed, and ghouls have the advantage. Wait, why the surface gets darker? There, right in the centre," he added, stepping closer to the edge.

"It's a waterborne abyss!" Wei Ying exclaimed.

Following orders of an oldest-looking cultivator, disciples started mounting their swords and retreating. One apparently lost his sword and was stuck on the boat.

"Is he an idiot?"

Wei Ying and Wen Ning looked at him with the same question. Who sends his sword into something like a waterborne abyss? Were disciples from famous sects so poorly educated they even lacked common sense?

"Oh, well, he is gone now," Xue Yang shrugged.

Most disciples regrouped on the shore to care for their injuries while the waterborne abyss grew larger. It became evident that left unattended, it would soon threaten the town. The boys looked at each other and then jumped on their swords, formulating their plan as they went.

"Can you control it, A-Yi?"

He gave him a worried look. "I'm not sure, A-Yang. It's massive, and Da-Gege isn't here to help me."

"Did you forget, A-Yi? He is here."

His face dropped. "Thank you for reminding me that we are dead meat."

"Don't worry, A-Yi." Wen Ning smiled at him. "We will protect you while you play. We can't let it harm innocent people."

In the meantime, the other trio was sitting on the rooftop and drinking wine. Shen Ying was genuinely curious about how the situation on the lake would develop without him. At the time, he didn't think much about his actions, but it seemed like they were pretty impactful. This time couple of disciples died, and a few were wounded.

"Aww," Bai Jue hummed with disappointment watching Su She drown. "I kinda wanted to kill him myself... accidentally, of course," he added when Yifan and Shen Ying looked at him questioningly.

Suddenly, Shen Ying winced in pain, hearing multiple voices calling for him. The resentment within the abyss felt lost and confused, wishing to be reunited with its rightful Master. "A-Yi won't be able to do it alone."

"Why?" Yifan asked, confused.

"This is the first time we met," Shen Ying started, looking at the dark surface. "I didn't understand them back then, but when I fell into the water, they accepted me as one of them. It won't listen to anyone else. It's the same as resentment in Burial Mounds or Yin Hufu."

Yifan's eyes widened with understanding. The pain and suffering Shen Ying experienced before arriving in Gusu were enough for resentment to recognise him as its Master. Even in the new timeline, he was still connected with three major events leading to his demonic cultivation.

"Shall we go for a swim?" Bai Jue asked, removing his outer robes with a knowing look.

Shen Ying grinned, trying to forget their last swim. It was the perfect solution. Hidden underneath the surface, he could absorb resentment, making it look like A-Yi controlled it. Yifan stayed behind to watch over the boys and protect them from Gusu Lan if needed.

"Behave!" he yelled after them with a fond smile. Yifan still couldn't believe how much Shen Ying had changed since he met Bai Jue. Although 'change' wasn't the best word to describe it. "Who knew he would be truly free after finding a boyfriend," he chuckled, shifting his gaze to his three disciples flying on their swords.

Wei Ying hovered on his sword above the surface and began to play after taking a deep breath. Soon a few beads of sweat showed on his temples while his fingers gripped harder crystalline white flute. Resentment within the waterborne abyss was overwhelming. Suddenly fierce corpses and several infected spirits he had encountered before were like child's play. He tried really hard to control it, but it fought back. Wen Ning and Xue Yang made good use of talismans and their secondary weapons – spiritual chains and war fan – to protect him. After an exhausting fight, they finally landed on the shore.

"Greetings, young masters," Lan Xichen approached them with several disciples. "I couldn't help but notice that you use very dangerous methods," he added, looking directly at Wei Ying.

The boys looked at each other with confusion. Neither of them understood what he meant by it. They fought, as usual, using the same techniques and weapons.

"Demonic cultivation is forbidden and goes against orthodoxy," Xichen explained, stepping closer. "I must insist you come with us to Cloud Recesses."

"What for?" Wei Ying asked, trying not to laugh at his old-fashioned views.

"Punishment for following a forbidden path."

His eyebrow cocked as Wei Ying glared at the rigid-looking cultivator he spoke before with. "Now I get it. So this is how sects treat people who solve their problems?"

Lan Xichen stepped in between his brother and the boys to defuse the situation. "I merely have a few questions, and I'm sure you will benefit from our cleansing methods."

"Hard pass," Wei Ying replied sternly, signalling they were leaving. Suddenly, he felt a firm grip on his arm and a strong pull backwards.

"It's against the rules. Must face punishment."

Wei Ying was trying to free his arm when three men entered the scene. They all had a dangerous aura, especially Wen Yifan. He walked slightly in front of his companions. His navy blue robes seemed to intensify his deadly glare. Compared to him, Shen Ying and Bai Jue looked amused. Maybe because they were? Watching furious Yifan in action was one of their favourite pass times.

"What gives you the right to punish my foolish disciples?" he asked, staring directly at Lan Xichen.

"It's a misunderstanding...."

"Oh?" Yifan raised his eyebrow questioningly, then effortlessly removed Wangji's hand from Wei Ying's arm. His iron grip, followed by an icy cold voice, made Wangji flinch. "If you ever dare to touch him, I'm going to break it, do you understand?"

"I apologise for my brother," Xichen rushed in, but Yifan only glared down at him.

"I asked if you understand," he repeated, tightening his hold on Wangji's hand. Finally, Lan Wangji nodded, and Yifan let him go, shifting his attention to his children. "Now, what should I do about you?"

All three of them shivered in fear, unable to escape due to Shen Ying and Bai Jue standing behind them. "We are sorry!"

"Let's see," Yifan started, walking alongside the row of three doomed disciples. "You broke into their quarters and stole their talismans. You sneaked outside past the curfew. You disobeyed your Jiejie when she tried to talk some common sense into you. Not to mention our most important rule, which is?" he asked, glancing at them.

"Do not get involved with sects," all three answered instantly.

"For breaking rules, you will be on the night guard duty for half of the year. Training hall and field cleaning duty for a year. No wine and sweets for...," he trailed off thoughtfully. "Let's make it a year as well."

"No, everything by that Sect Leader!" boys begged, but he shushed them with a single glare.

"I'm not done yet. You will help your sister collect herbs for three months, and you are grounded till I say otherwise. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Oh, I nearly forgot! As for stolen talismans, I will leave the punishment to the owners. After all, it wasn't my romantic getaway you ruined," Yifan added with a broad smile.

"We are dead... good as dead...," Wei Ying muttered, feeling sorry for his companions.

"I can't believe our precious talismans are gone."

"I don't know how we ever recover from it," Bai Jue said, looking at the definition of sorry with a cheeky grin. "Maybe a new training regime?"

"Splendid idea," Shen Ying clasped his fingers together and smiled innocently. "I have some pointers to your last routine. I genuinely believe you went too easy on them," he dead-panned.

Xue Yang grabbed Yifan's robes and looked at him with teary eyes. "Everything but this! We are going to die, Sect Leader!"

Wei Ying and Wen Ning hugged each other for support, sobbing silently. Bai Jue's training regime was nothing but torture. They couldn't even imagine how much worse it would be if Shen Ying joined him.

"Oh, don't worry," Shen Ying chirped, then his cheerful and innocent face disappeared, replaced by a pure expression of the death sentence. "You won't die, but you will wish we let you die."

"This is going to be so fun!"

Yifan shook his head with amusement. These two enjoyed torturing his poor children way too much. He was proud of how they handled the fight, but it wasn't enough to let them go unpunished. After all, he wanted to keep them away from sects. Although, it seemed their short encounter with Gusu Lan was a good lesson. A perfect example of sects' behaviour.

"Now, now," he said, patting their heads. "You did a great job protecting the city and dealing with the waterborne abyss. Your strategy was impressive."

"Hmph, anyone could do it," Jiang Cheng scoffed, annoyed by the attention they got. Water incidents were his expertise, yet they stole his spotlight.

In a blink of an eye, Bai Jue grabbed his collar and hurled him to the middle of the lake. "What? I can't stand him," he shrugged at Shen Ying's and Yifan's questioning look.

"I propose we grab one each, so they won't escape again and head back," Yifan said after giving Bai Jue hidden thumbs up.

Lan Xichen had never seen any of them nor heard about the new sect, but they were a force to reckon with. Someone like them could provide valuable help against Qishan Wen, even if they used unorthodox methods. "As a fellow sect leader, I would like to invite you to the next conference."

"Not interested."

"Please reconsider. Our sects can both benefit from cooperation."

"Don't make me laugh," Yifan said mockingly. "Our sect doesn't involve itself with righteous bastards who can't say right from wrong. When the time comes, take a good look at the mirror, Xichen and ask yourself why you are a cultivator," he added. Without waiting for a response, he activated the teleportation talisman.

News about a new mysterious sect spread like w wildfire. Xichen could describe them relatively well, but without names or sect colours, it was impossible to find them. Even Qishan Wen showed interest in rumours about cultivators capable of taming resentful energy. Multiple search parties scoured their territories and remote areas but to no avail. They were the topic of numerous conferences where they started being called heretics for following an unorthodox path. Righteous sects declared them a stain on cultivators' honour.

****

Wei Ying's lifeless body fell face down on the sandy surface of the arena. Xue Yang was sprawled beside him, Wen Ning, not much farther from them. They felt like their muscles were screaming in pain, and their lungs refused to take another breath. Maybe the two demons who turned their lives into hell would let it go if they stayed like this?

"Do you think they are dead?" Shen Ying asked, poking Wei Ying with sheathed Suibian.

"Well, they lasted longer than yesterday. That's progress, I guess?"

It had been two weeks since the waterborne abyss. As expected, rumours about Lingjian Sect were wild, and everyone tried to find them. They stayed in Lingjian all the time, making sure the sect was safe. Their favourite pass time was the training of three unfortunate souls, ready to move to the afterlife.

"Shall we go back home," he said, nuzzling into Bai Jue's neck. "It has been ages since we were alone."

"Do we need more wine?"

"Don't we always?" Shen Ying smiled into a kiss, then both of them disappeared.

With a painful groan, Wei Ying slowly turned around. He could no longer tell if he was still alive or maybe dead in the lowest level of hell. "A-are they gone?"

"Yep!" Xue Yang chirped, trying to get up. "Damn, how come they still have the energy to have sex?"

"Monsters, they are monsters."

"A-Ning is right. There is no way these two are normal human beings," Wei Ying said, massaging his sore muscle. "I could use a hot bath."

"Hot spring?"

Recently, Xue Yang often caught himself looking at A-Yi longer than a friend would. Especially when the latter only wore his trousers. His slender waist and well-defined muscles made him wonder how it would feel to trace them with his fingers. Wei Ying's smile always brightened his day, sending him to cloud nine. He could drown in his silver eyes and be perfectly happy. But it wasn't something he was ready to admit... yet.

A/N: I will write part four as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I will be delayed due to other commitments. My friend's birthday is coming soon, and I'm going to write Wei Ying x Lan Zhan story as a gift for her. Also, my workload will increase from October - I will still publish The Si Ji Sect weekly, but short stories may take slightly longer. Thank you for your support!