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

****

Emptiness. All he could feel was emptiness. He couldn't accept what had happened, so his tormented mind pushed away all unwanted emotions and thoughts beyond the bounds of consciousness. Unfortunately, a visit to Xuanwu Cave broke the dam. His heart started to ache as if it would break. The person he admired and trusted turned out to be just like everyone else. He couldn't believe he let him fool him so easily; everything was a lie – all precious memories and their time together. 'I'm such an idiot! I should have known better than believe he would like me... I will be fine... as usual, I'm fine,' he kept repeating in his head. 'It just hurts so much.' He clenched his fists until his knuckles were white and his nails dug into his palms.

Shen Ying wanted to forget his feelings and memories. He wished to return to the moment he didn't trust anyone. Shen Ying looked at the covered with grey, heavy clouds sky. Big snowflakes started slowly twirling down. One gently landed on his cheek but soon disappeared under burning tears as Shen Ying realised he was disappointed in himself. He was disappointed because Wangji wasn't the person he wanted him to be. Someone who truly cared about him and wanted to be with him. 'What's so wrong with me that everyone leaves me behind... that no one cares about me?' Yet, his full of build-up over the years frustration question remained unanswered.

Fojiao Town, a settlement at the foot of Mount Dafan, was peaceful and calm, buried under a thick layer of snow. Tired of his own mind, Shen Ying decided to stop at the inn for enough wine to drink himself into blissful oblivion. Unfortunately, a tiny establishment had only a few tables, and all but one were occupied. He sipped his wine, trying to ignore the flirting couple at a nearby table, but his mood worsened. Shen Ying was worn out thin, ready to snap at any moment.

"I care about you," a young man said to his female companion. "Please, accept my feelings. I want to spend my life with you."

His mind was instantly transported to a tranquil forest. A deep voice rang in his ears while golden amber eyes looked into his.

'I care about you, Wei Ying. More than a friend... I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Wei Ying."

A tormenting pain tore through his heart, shattering a fragile balance that preserved his sanity. Without thinking, he smashed the bottle of wine on the floor by their table while his silver eyes glared at them with hatred. "Don't believe him," he hissed. "He will betray you before you notice."

"I would never!" the youth shouted, shielding his companion. "I would do everything for her!"

"They all say that before stabbing you in the back," Shen Ying sniggered, challenging him. The air around him grew colder with resentment swirling at his feet when suddenly, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I apologise for my friend," Wen Yifan said, dragging drunk Wei Ying outside. "What was it about?" he asked once they were out.

"Nothing," Shen Ying replied, then pushed him away and staggered towards the Dafan Wen Sect.

His eyebrows knitted in worry. Shen Ying and two little boys stayed with them for nearly half a year, but he never managed to get close to the cultivator. Shen Ying kept everyone at a distance, putting up a cheerful façade. Especially around children. This was the first time he caught a glimpse of the person behind the mask. A wounded soul, hiding from others to protect itself from further pain.

"You can't go on like this," Yifan said, catching up with him.

"I'm fine!" Shen Ying snapped. His eyes turned crimson red while demonic energy surrounded him like a protective shield.

Wen Yifan didn't even flinch, standing firmly in front of a person he considered a friend. "Fine, my ass!" he yelled. "Do you think I'm a blind idiot?! Do you believe this fake smile tricks anyone? Or maybe you want to explain why A-Yi looks like a tiny copy of you? Perhaps you prefer to tell me why your eyes are full of sorrow every time you look at A-Qing? If you think I will let you deal with it alone, you are stupider than I thought!" Yifan shouted, smacking the back of Wuxian's head.

The image of a ferocious doctor flashed before his eyes, breaking him into tears. Shen Ying pressed his hand against his mouth, trying to keep it in, but it was impossible. Despite being busy with little Wei Ying and Xue Yang, he was lonely. It felt even worse being surrounded by people he once called a family, knowing they were no longer his. He was nothing but a stranger to them. The overbearing loneliness and the immense pain of betrayal were too much to take. It left him broken, wishing to die, but she wouldn't like it. Shen Ying stopped counting how many times he hoped she would yell at him like this. "What should I do, Qing-Jie?"

Yifan gasped with sudden realisation. How Shen Ying looked at his daughter and his and A-Yi's uncanny resemblance offered only one explanation. "I think you need to give her at least ten years to answer that question, Wei Ying."

Wen Xin Yan stared at her husband in disbelief as he dragged a hooded man into their house and forced him to sit on the stool. Her eyes widened when he removed the cloak, showing her utterly miserable-looking Shen Ying. "What happened to him?"

"Life," Yifan replied, then asked her to brew calming herbal tea and locked the door. "I asked Granny to watch over kids today."

Xin Yan nodded. It has been a long time since she saw her husband so serious and worried. In no time, she placed a cup of tea and warm soup in front of Shen Ying, but he ignored it, staring blankly at the wall. He was like a puppet with its strings cut. Her motherly instincts kicked in, and she tried to coax him into eating, but when her pleadings fell on deaf ears, she snapped. "If you won't start eating, I will use my needles and force-feed you!"

Many emotions swirled in his eyes as their gaze shifted and a woman with three needles in her hands. "Qing-Jie grows up to be just like you two," he said with a nostalgic smile. "She yells at people when they need it and pokes them with needles if they still won't listen. I miss her...."

"You have us now, Wei Ying," Yifan said, giving his wife a knowing look. "You don't need to go through this alone. If you didn't notice, all three of you are part of our family."

"Of course," Xin Yan backed him up. "I can't imagine this place with our little mischievous menace and his followers. His bigger version included," she added, placing a spoon in his hand. "Do you want to tell us how did you end here?"

Shen Ying took several spoonfuls, considering his options. Similarities between him and A-Yi would get even more prominent over the years, so lying about it was pointless. Besides, telling them the truth was the only reasonable choice. They had to disappear from sects' territories before Wen Ruohan started searching for Yin Iron, dooming everyone with the surname Wen.

"Auntie Han makes the same soup," he said quietly, looking into the bowl. "Although she was forced to use more radishes... everything we ate had radishes in it. Qing-Jie would always insist they are cheaper and easier to grow than potatoes. I'm sure everyone was sick of them, but who would dare to argue with her?" Shen Ying chuckled softly, remembering their never-ending arguments. "It's hard when you meet the same people... the same food and wine, but it's not the one you know. They are no longer a family I had... family he took away from me," he added, full of resentment.

"He?"

"Lan Wangji," Shen Ying replied, his voice capable of freezing hell itself. Since he arrived in the past, his hatred towards Lan Wangji grew tenfold. It was a boundless resentment he wished to unleash on Cloud Recesses and destroy everything in his wake.

Yifan and Xin Yan glanced at each other with understanding, then encouraged him to share his story with them. Shen Ying told him about his life on the streets and the abuse he suffered at Lotus Pier. They were livid.

Wen Xin Yan smashed her fist into the table, sending everything flying. "How dare she treat a child like this?! All of them deserve to burn in hell! I'm going to make her regret it!" she shouted angrily, ready to charge at Lotus Pier.

Shen Ying and Yifan jumped to stop her, but she insisted on giving Madam Yu the taste of her medicine. Suddenly, the demonic cultivator started to laugh.

"I get now where Jiejie's temper comes from."

"Are you saying my daughter will turn into my wife one day?" Yifan uttered, terrified. "No, way...."

Xin Yan glared at them and huffed, "I'm glad, A-Qing will grow into a strong woman. How did you meet her?"

"During lectures in Cloud Recesses. She was forced to come there and spy for Wen Ruohan. He threatened her with A-Ning's safety. At that time, everyone hated Wen and alienated them from others. Maybe that brought us together?"

"I assume we were no longer...," Yifan trailed off, unable to finish.

Shen Ying shook his head. "Qing-Jie told me you passed away when A-Ning was six years old in the Dancing Goddess Statue and Yin Iron incident. But I won't let this happen again, I promise you."

"No need," Xin Yan said, rubbing his hand. "You need to promise us to take care of yourself first. The rest will work out somehow. You met this Lan Wangji during the lectures?"

He swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded. The couple wasn't pleased with his treatment at Cloud Recesses either. For a moment, Shen Ying was sure Yifan and Xin Yan would help Wen Ruohan destroy the sects just to take revenge for him, and it wasn't even the worst part of his story. But once he started, the words were just flowing, reducing the burden on his shoulders. They just listened to him, offering comfort and support.

"When the war ended, I realised all sects were full of shit," he hissed in disgust. "LanlingJin started using war prisoners for amusement. Shooting targets or luring the prey in the hunt, just to name a few. It still makes me sick to the stomach. It's embarrassing, but I couldn't do anything... I'm sorry... I should have helped them sooner, then A-Ning wouldn't end like this," Shen Ying added, unable to hold back tears. Talking about the camp and A-Ning was the hardest... then his argument with Lan Wangji during their escape. The sheer memory of it broke his heart all over again.

"I know it hurts, but you must understand it wasn't love. A true soulmate would never leave you alone in a situation like this. They would be there to help you," Xin Yan said softly. "If Yifan would do something like this, I would be by his side throwing needles at people. One day you find someone who will love you like you deserve."

"I feel like a fool for believing him."

"Screw him!" Yifan uttered angrily. "He is the fool for not appreciating you. I had no idea Lans are such dumb idiots."

"It must be all their rules," Shen Ying replied with a faint smile, then told them about their life in Burial Mounds. "It was harsh, but it was the first place I could call home... a people who became my family. I was nothing but an outsider, but they never let me feel like this."

"I know my people. In the same way, you chose to rescue them; they chose you as part of a family. You were never an outsider, and you never will be," Wen Yifan reassured him. "We don't use people for our own gain. Being family is about respect and support; there are no debts to pay. If you fall, we will pick you up. If you win, we will celebrate with you. It's simple."

"I can't believe sect would treat innocent people like this," Xin Yan muttered in disbelief. "You didn't do anything wrong. None of you. It doesn't matter what type of cultivation you use or your family name. This is wrong!"

"They are just a bunch of greedy hypocrites. All they care about is power, and they won't stop till they get it... they will even betray ones they claim to love," Shen Ying said, his voice distant. Silver eyes were full of pain and sorrow.

"We are here if you want to talk about it," she said, pulling him into a supportive embrace.

"I was in the bad spot. I'm pretty sure, Qing-Jie lost some hair trying to keep me alive," he chuckled awkwardly. "I was dealing with lots of shit. Qing-Jie made me understand what Jiang did to me – I felt stupid for believing they cared about me. Regretful of my sacrifices," Shen Ying said, unwittingly moving his hand over his dantian. "But most of all, I missed him... His words were hurtful and disappointing, but I couldn't stop thinking about him. I couldn't let go. I believed him when he came, sounding all sincere and apologetic. I was an idiot. You know, Lan are supposed to not lie," he sniggered. "Just a dinner. What could go wrong? I never expected him to lure me into a trap. At least I finally understood it was never about me or Wen Remnants. They wanted Yin Hufu... all of this... for them to gain more power."

The couple was speechless. They couldn't believe sects would go this far to satisfy their greed. People who should protect the innocent abuse them to gain more power. The world Wei Ying came from was ruthless.

"I snapped... or rather resentment snapped. I remember it rushing to my side, their intent to protect me. Then I woke up here in Burial Mounds."

"Their? I'm not sure I understand," Yifan said, looking at him, confused. "I thought it's like spiritual energy."

Shen Ying shook his head. "It's more complicated. Resentful energy is like a sentient being. It's full of pain and grief. When Wen Chao threw me into Burial Mounds, they responded to my pain and tried to save me as one of them. Since we both had nothing and no one to care for us, Burial Mounds and I became friends."

"I see, so we misunderstood it the whole time. How do you avoid getting lost?"

"I don't," he replied without hesitation. "I'm nothing but another lost soul, just like them. I carry their pain, and they take mine."

"Sounds difficult," Yifan commented, looking at him with renewed respect. The way Shen Ying spoke about resentment was intriguing. He could tell the demonic cultivator wasn't interested in abusing it to gain more power. It felt like he was trying to help it find peace. "I think it's safe to assume that resentful energy brought you here to protect you from sects. Or to protect A-Yi from the life, you were forced upon. You already changed it. A-Yi is safe with us – means he will never suffer abuse at that bitch's hand. He will grow up surrounded by loving people, knowing his self-worth."

Xin Yan nodded. "Now we need to teach that to his adult counterpart. It's decided you aren't going anywhere. Dafan Wen are your family regardless of your timeline. Besides, we could use a friend closer to our age," she added with a cheeky smile. "Drinking parties are much more fun!"

"We can't stay here," Shen Ying protested. "In a few years, the Yin Iron within Dancing Goddess Statue will turn her into a dangerous being... you and A-Ning will pay the price for Wen Ruohan's experiments."

Yifan pondered it for a while, then looked at them with conviction. "We are leaving once the snow melts. We will head north and settle far away from them, and you are coming with us."

Unable to argue with him, Shen Ying nodded. It felt like a massive weight was lifted from his shoulders, allowing him to breathe easier. He may never see his Qing-Jie again, but having two people who knew and accepted him as she did was enough.

****

The journey was long and arduous but worth it. They pushed north till they encountered a picturesque small village, Lingjian. The villagers welcomed them, and they decided to settle in. Within a few years, it grew into a prosperous small town.

Wen Yifan rebuilt his sect, focusing on medicine and various forms of cultivation, including resentment. It gave Shen Ying a chance to live up to his title of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation and teach others, despite his refusal to join the sect. After one lifetime bound to one, he decided to remain free and enjoy his life as a rogue cultivator. Sometimes he would travel for weeks, visiting new places and helping innocent. He would often return with several potential disciples, helping the Lingjian Wen sect to thrive.

Wei Ying and Xue Yang became part of the sect, growing up in nurturing and supportive environment. Their personalities were opposites, but they were inseparable. Wei Ying was nearly ten years old, and Xin Yan put a lot of effort into making him look different from Shen Ying. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, and he wore silver and white sect robes. Unlike Shen Ying's composed expression, his face was always adorned with a happy smile.

"I had no idea I could look this happy."

Startled, Xin Yan turned towards approaching her man in black and red robes. "Welcome back, A-Ying," she replied, smiling at him. "A-Yi is one of the most cheerful children I saw. Mischievous but a natural-born leader. Others always look up to him."

"I'm glad. It's astonishing how much influence a place you grow up has on you."

Xin Yan nodded. "Constant abuse can kill even the most resilient soul, but I'm glad you were strong enough to overcome it. How long are you staying? Yifan won't stop mopping about his lost drinking companion."

"I may stay a bit longer then," he chuckled. "I finished the design for A-Yi's sword, so I guess I will stay till our birthdays."

"DA-GEGE!"

Three boys were running towards them, shouting in excitement, with Wen Qing following them, rolling her eyes.

"Da-Gege! A-Ning won the archery competition this week! He was amazing," Wei Ying cheered, jumping on him.

Shen Ying grabbed him with one hand and ruffled Wen Ning's hair with the other. "Well done, A-Ning."

Children occupied him the whole afternoon, demanding stories about his travels and sharing their cultivation progress. Shen Ying couldn't believe how different Wei Ying was from him... free and untamed, unburdened with responsibilities. He was genuinely grateful for this chance to save him, but not only him. Xue Yang was nothing like the teenage psychopath he knew. The boy was calm and gentle, showing more interest in medicine than sword fights. He would always follow Wei Ying, looking at him with unyielding admiration. It reaffirmed his decision to take him as well. Even if it was too late for him, his arrival in the past positively impacted many lives. This alone was worth it.

Finally, late in the evening, Shen Ying made his way to the sect leader's house. Wen Yifan stood by the door with his arms folded and glared at him, trying to fight a smile.

"I almost forgot what you look like."

His eyebrow cocked. "Aren't you too young to experience memory problems?"

"Oh, my memory works just fine. You're never around when I want a drink," Yifan huffed, then pulled Shen Ying into a hug. "It's good to see you, Wei Ying."

Wen Yifan would always use his actual name when they were alone, and he appreciated it. It was a small reminder that he still existed... that there was someone who knew him and remembered him. "You too, Yifan. I brought new wine. It can't compete with Uncle's, but it's pretty decent."

"What are we waiting for?!"

A few hours later, they were sprawled on the floor, surrounded by multiple bottles, chatting about sect and travels.

"I was in Yiling," Shen Ying said with nostalgia. "There are rumours that Wen Ruohan is looking for you. No one mentioned Yin Iron, but I guess he noticed it's missing."

"Do you think we are safe here?"

Shen Ying nodded. "I did ask around about Dafan Wen, but no one knows anything. Most valuable rumour says the sect vanished one day without a trace as if swallowed by Dancing Goddess. There is no trail to point him here."

Yifan burst out laughing. "Wait, people believe that the statute swallowed the whole village?"

"It would seem so," he shrugged. "I guess leaving some household items behind worked in our favour. The village looked like we had left it. Some say it's haunted, and no one dares to come near it."

"Can you imagine their faces if they will ever learn we simply couldn't carry everything? I wish I could see it," Yifan chuckled, opening another bottle. "So, what about you? Xin Yan still hopes one day you will return with a boyfriend."

"I had enough boyfriends for two lifetimes."

"Not everyone is like that bastard," Yifan sighed. "Having someone to accompany you on travels would make it much more interesting."

Shen Ying gulped down a bottle of wine, then looked at him with a sad smile. "I don't think it's for me. It still hurts when I see someone dressed in white."

"Sometimes, the best way to forget about someone is to overwrite them with new memories. If you allow the past, or future in your case, to chain you down, you are letting him win, Wei Ying. You have the right to be happy just like everyone else," Yifan said, tossing him a new bottle. "Don't you think it's time for you to start living as well?"

"I am..."

"No, you don't," he cut him off. "You gave everyone here new life, but you gave up on yours. Five years later, you still wander around, ensuring we are safe. You need to be more selfish. We are doing fine. The sect is growing stronger than most other sects I remember. Kids are happy, and I can tell you already that A-Yi will make an excellent leader one day. It's time for you to move on."

"How?"

"You must realise that no one else will live your life for you. You were hurt beyond imagination. It left you with scars that may never fade... broken in pieces, but still, you did your best to pick them up and carry on. Use it and find your strength in it. And maybe next time you meet a handsome guy, think about sex instead of the past?"

Shen Ying stared at him in disbelief, then burst out laughing. "Only you can bring lofty sounding advice down to sex."

"What can I say? We are still young," Yifan shrugged with a cheeky smile. "Besides, if you are busy striping him in your mind, you won't have time to think about anything else. It's win-win."

"Fair enough."

"How come you are still alive?!" a female voice called from the doorway. "This amount of wine could send half of the town to the grave!"

"You are exaggerating, dear," Yifan waved her off.

"Don't you dear me now!" Xin Yan exclaimed, collecting the bottles with a huff. "I will make you a soup, so stay here and don't cause problems. Both of you!" she added, leaving for the kitchen.

"Yep, Qing-Jie takes after her... sometimes it's hard to tell their personalities apart."

"Do you still miss them?"

"Always," he replied without hesitation. "We weren't together for long, but they were the first family I had. I owe them this... a few memories I will never let go of."

****

In early spring, Shen Ying left Lingjian again, heading far north. He spent the last few months surrounded by children, teaching them archery and swordfight and leading classes about resentful energy. It kept him busy, but he still found time to consider Yifan's advice. Maybe it was time to move on? His younger version was happy and safe, far away from sects, surrounded by loving family. Even Xue Yang was doing great, especially with his studies. There was no need for him to constantly watch over them.

Sometimes the idea of revenge would entertain his thoughts. Part of him wanted them to pay, especially Lan Wangji, for what they did to him and his family, but reason would tell him to let go. These people didn't do anything yet, and he took precautions to not repeat the future. Besides, what was he supposed to do? Kill a ten-year-old boy because he betrayed him in the end? It would make him worse than sects. Unfortunately, even if he understood that punishing people without knowledge of their crimes from a different timeline was unfair, he wanted closure. Will standing on the sideline and watching Wen Ruohan destroying them give him that? Shen Ying wasn't sure, but it was worth trying. He had no intention of sacrificing himself to protect them this time.

The northern landscape was still covered in snow, full of crisp and refreshing air. It kept his mind sharp and focused. Over the past few weeks, he heard many stories about Hun Sect terrorising nearby villages. They were dedicated to the revival of the mythical Hundun. The creature of chaos, which in return was supposed to give them unlimited power. The ritual required a blood sacrifice, sending their disciples to kidnap villagers of any age.

Shen Ying sighed, looking at the covered with heavy grey clouds sky. He couldn't help but wonder why innocents were forced to suffer for others' delusions and greed? Shen Ying tried to find more information about it, but villagers only knew rumours and stories from a few survivors. He didn't remember hearing anything about it as a child. The Hun Sect must have failed despite taking countless lives, or the issue was somehow contained to the North. Either way, he was here now and didn't plan to leave without putting a stop to this madness.

Lured by the sounds of a battle and energy similar to resentment, Shen Ying entered the snowy forest. In the clearing, he found a man surrounded by villagers acting like fierce corpses. 

His moves were skilled and polished, showing great restraint. His spear danced between delicate snowflakes, knocking them down without causing serious injuries. Unfortunately, they kept getting up like puppets Wen Ruohan controlled during the war. Shen Ying brought Chenqing to his lips, and eerie music filled the area. The puppets stopped, then slowly turned towards him as if waiting for new orders. Unfortunately, they remained resistant to his suggestions.

Dark brown eyes looked at him questioningly while his grip on the mithril spear tightened. "What did you do?"

Shen Ying lowered the flute to answer, but as soon as the music stopped, the puppets resumed their attack, targeting both of them. "Fuck," he hissed, wondering why he couldn't control them. Whoever had control over them had more dangerous artefacts than Yin Iron. "What are they?!" he shouted to the man in crimson red robes.

"Missing villagers," he replied, standing back to back with Shen Ying. "They don't feel pain nor get tired like soulless puppets."

Lack of spirit would explain why Chenqing's control wouldn't last, or he couldn't order them. "What do you know about Hun Sect?"

"Not much," the man replied. "Bunch of psychopaths trying to revive some forgotten god. You?"

"More or less the same."

"Assume you aren't here to help them with this ridiculous plan?"

"Definitely not," Shen Ying replied, using sheathed Suibian to knock back another wave of opponents. "This isn't going anywhere."

"Can't you stop them like before?"

Shen Ying shook his head. "I can't control things without spirit, but maybe we can seal them somewhere?"

A few hours later, they slid down the rock wall into the snow beside the entrance to the cave. Villagers were pounding at the glowing red barrier, but it remained unmoved.

"I don't remember when last time I ran so much," the man said, regaining his breath.

"Me neither," Shen Ying said, glancing at him. Long black hair was tied into a half ponytail by a leather strap, leaving a few shorter strands framing his handsome face. Sharp and well-defined lines adorned with dark brown eyes, full of mischievous sparks. Then very kissable lips... snow-white skin on his slender neck against crimson red robes. His imagination supplied him with images of the perfectly sculpted body underneath them. Shen Ying mentally slapped himself for following Yifan's advice. With a faint smile, he set his eyes on the horizon, missing intrigued gaze of dark eyes focused on his face.

His companion was the definition of attractive. Starting from his silver eyes carrying the coldness of the moon, contrasting with an alluring smile to a silky smooth voice. Soft and low, yet impossible to ignore. His aura was strong and dominating, yet full of loneliness. It was intriguing and made him want to know him better. "Bai Jue," he introduced himself, connecting his left fist and palm while bowing slightly.

"Wei Ying," he replied, still lost in thoughts. He instantly realised his mistake, but there wasn't much he could do about it. They will probably never see each other again.

"What are we going to do about them?" Bai Jue asked, pointing his thumb at the barrier.

His eyebrow cocked. "We?"

"I'm already pretty invested in this, and you don't look like someone who would turn their back on people in need. So yeah, we," he added resolutely.

"Touche," he muttered, looking at his cheeky smile while wondering how he would survive it. Especially with Yifan's advice messing up with his head.

****

Bai Jue was the epitome of his type. Not only in terms of look, but in terms of morals. Travelling with someone who wished to protect the innocent like him would be fun. A small voice in the back of his mind kept reminding him how foolish it was to trust someone, but as they traversed the province in search of the Hun Sect, Shen Ying grew to ignore it. When Bai Jue was nearby, his past began to fade away as their days were full of investigation and quipping at each other.

After a week in the wild, they arrived in a small village. The mood was heavy, full of resentment and anxiousness towards everything remotely close to the cultivator. They exchanged a knowing look, agreeing that the villagers must have been the most recent victims.

"How will we get them to talk?" Bai Jue asked, leaning closer.

Shen Ying swallowed, feeling his breath brushing over his neck. "Use your charm," he replied, then his composed and cold face turned into a mask he wore for years. The most cheerful and approachable smile adorned a friendly-looking face with sparkling eyes.

Bai Jue stared at him slackjawed, wondering where the person he had spent the last week disappeared to. "You should smile like this more often," he said without thinking.

"I no longer have a reason...," he trailed off, unsure how to continue.

Unfazed, Bai Jue looked straight into his eyes with unyielding conviction. "Then make me your reason."

Shen Ying blinked in surprise, ignoring his erratic heart rate. A part of him wished to fall into the sense of security Bai Jue's presence offered. It was something he had never felt before... the urge to lower his defences and enjoy the life he was given here. It was time to let go of his demons and doubts. Maybe Yifan and Xin Yan were right? Sometimes you just need to meet the right person... a reason to carry on. "So, you are willing to put up with my cooking?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

Bai Jue gave him a death glare. "There isn't human alive that can put up with this abomination!"

"Oww, that hurts my feelings."

"Oh?" His eyebrow cocked teasingly. "I had no idea you have any."

"Of course, I'm incredibly proud of my cooking skills," Shen Ying huffed, fighting off an amused smile.

"You meant your talent for brewing poisons from perfectly edible ingredients?" he asked, resuming his walk towards the small inn. "I guess that does require some insane skill level."

"I'm not sure if I should be happy or offended."

"Both, I guess?"

The innkeeper was slightly less hostile than the rest of the village and agreed to rent them a room. Unfortunately, his tiny establishment had only one room with one bed. After spending a great deal of silver on wine and food, mostly wine, the owner became more friendly and even engaged with time in conversation about their travels. It didn't escape their attention how easily their stories blended together. It felt like they had known each other for their whole lives.

"This is why we decided to leave our sect and travel around to help people in need," Bai Jue added, ending one of their adventures. "Once with power shouldn't abuse weaker."

Shen Ying nodded, agreeing with him. "It has been a while since we had any work. Is there anything we can help with here? In return for this great wine," he added with a charming smile.

The innkeeper hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer. "There is a sect nearby that takes away our children as payment for protection. They say it's to make them stronger, but no one ever returns. It doesn't feel right."

"You are right. It is suspicious," Shen Ying agreed with him. "We will leave immediately."

"It's too dangerous. The path to the sect leads over a narrow ledge and a steep path. You will not make it before nightfall."

"Don't worry," Bai Jue reassured him. "We don't need to climb it, and it's best we investigate it as soon as possible."

Seeing Bai Jue using his spear in the same way he used Suibian was eye-opening. Sects were so fixated on the righteous path of the sword they never considered different options. This was the perfect opportunity for Lingjian Wen to give them an even bigger advantage over sects. Maybe once this was over, Bai Jue would agree to visit his home and teach children? Give him more time to explore growing in his chest feelings... explore the idea of being with someone.

****

The whole area was unusually dark, with contours of several buildings against the night sky. They smiled at each other with amusement before landing on the outskirts. Walking into the trap with a trusted person was exciting.

"We should stay there for another night and have more wine to thank him for the warning," Bai Jue whispered, nonchalantly stepping into the gate.

"Definitely. It was pretty decent wine."

"How naïve," a menacing voice called from the other side of the courtyard. "Your pathetic lives will bring us one step closer to rightful rein if Hundun."

"Did he just call us pathetic?" Shen Ying asked leisurely, twirling Chenqing between his fingers.

"He is a deluded lunatic. Did you really expect a better insult?" Bai Jue replied, looking rather bored. "Besides, I would rather die than let something called Hundun rule over me."

"How dare you?!" the man roared, then gave order to lit the fire. Multiple braziers came to life, illuminating a massive statue of a faceless creature with six legs and wings in the middle of the courtyard. "Bow to the greatness of Hundun."

Shen Ying and Bai Jue looked at each other before bursting out laughing. "We can't tell where the front is... it looks like butt no matter which side we look at," they commented casually, walking around it. "What does it do?"

"Great Hundun is the embodiment of primordial chaos who will grant us immortality in return for our great service."

"Great service, huh?" Shen Ying asked, dropping a playful mood. "Since when playing god and sacrificing innocent in the name of delusion is great service? To whom?" he asked, his voice growing colder with each word. His crimson red eyes gleamed dangerously with a silent death sentence.

The Hun Sect Leader yelled in panic for his men to attack as soon as an eerie melody descended upon his sect. Disciples charged at seemingly defenceless Shen Ying when barely visible mithril flash cut through the air. The first line of opponents staggered and looked in confusion at the person standing in front of a flute player before realising they were no longer alive. The challenging gaze of dark brown eyes dared others to attack, sending another wave into the afterworld. It was clear Bai Jue wouldn't anyone get close to Wei Ying.

"I found it," Shen Ying said, lowering Chenqing. "It's underneath the main hall with kidnapped villagers."

"So we need a leader alive enough to show us entrance?" Bai Jue asked with a charming smile, looking straight at the frantic sect leader.

"Hm, I guess you can be charming when needed."

"Was there ever any doubt?"

Shen Ying shrugged, then sent demonic energy to immobilise their target. "Shall we get started?"

Bai Jue smirked and tossed his spear at the sect leader without looking away from his silver eyes. It impaled the wall behind the now terrified man, leaving a small cut on his cheek. "Of course, that's when the fun part starts."

It didn't take long for them to learn that a foolish sect leader had encountered a cursed artefact. Got possessed, leading his sect into a path with no return to satisfy the soul-feeding demon. Unfortunately, it meant the majority of kidnapped villagers were beyond salvation. The man was nothing more than a bloody pulp when they finished with him. Then they destroyed the artefact, sealed its remnants and freed the remaining prisoners before burning the whole place to the ground. Yet, they were left with some kind of disappointment. When their investigation started, the entire task appeared to be more challenging than a couple of weak lunatics. Left with no options, they decided to get drunk, taking their banter to more physical and sensual teasing.

****

Once you meet your soulmate, your life is no longer empty, and you naturally become the best version of yourself. Someone capable of enjoying every moment, unburdened by the past. You find meaning and purpose in the smallest gestures, unsaid words and gaze following your every movement. You are bound with another soul, yet free.