"Stop it." Wangji had bellowed and turned away. No, Wangji had not been angry; he had been embarrassed. The more Wei Ying had teased, the hotter he had felt. He had thus turned away to hide his growing and hardening shame.

But Wei Ying had not listened. He had turned Lan Wangji around forcefully and caressed his cheek, "Lan Zhan, aren't you going to remind me.. Hehe." He had leaned in and nipped his jaw.

Wangji had gasped. Panicking, he had backed Wei Ying up against the wall and wrapped his fingers around his throat, "Don't touch me!" He had growled.

Wei Ying had shut up immediately. His eyes had widened and locked on to Wangji's. "Lan... Lan- Zhan. Let. Go." He had tried to get the words out and tried to pry away Wangji's fingers.

Wangji had wanted to rip off the insolent boy's clothes and leave bruises all over his milky white skin. He had felt the need to enter him and spill into the warm, tight space. He had wanted to bite those luscious lips and lick the mole at the corner of his lips, which had been teasing him since the first time they had met. Images of them connected in the most intimate ways had flashed before his eyes, and reflexively, his grip on Wei Ying had tightened.

"Lan. Zhan. You are hurting me!" Wei Ying had struggled to breathe; his eyes had misinterpreted the desire and lust in Wangji's eyes as hate, disgust, and rage. The younger man had understood the error of his ways and had vowed never do it again.

Summoning his spiritual energy, Wei Ying had pushed Wangji away. Wangji had not expected that. He had fallen and hit the floor. The impact of Yang energy had cleared his mind.

The pain from being hit had not even registered. For just then, all he could think about what he had done and who he had hurt. Without getting up, he had looked at Wei Ying, who had slid down and was gasping for breath. Five red indents visible on his long slender neck.

'I did that. I hurt Wei Ying! I had vowed to protect him, but I hurt him again!' Wangji had lamented. He had thought to apologize, but before he could, Wei Ying had spoken in a low voice, his expression pained, "Lan Zhan, I am sorry. I crossed a line. I will never do it again."

Wei Ying's words had been like knives piercing the younger Jade's heart, but what could he have done!? He had never been good with words, so he remained silent. A few moments had passed in awkward silence. And then, Lan Wangji had stood up. "I have to go out. Don't let the water go to waste." He had muttered before picking up a spare set of clothes kept for by the innkeeper and left the room.

Only after Lan Wangji had exited the room had he let his emotions show on his face. Shame, guilt, pain, and anger danced across his beautiful features. He had stood outside the door with his hand over his heart, reprimanding himself over and over. Silent tears had rolled down his face and mingled with his already wet clothes.

However, when Lan Wangji had walked to the innkeeper after having rid himself of tears, there was no way to tell from outside the pain held under tight wraps of the expressionless man's heart.

"Master, was the bathwater not to your liking?" The innkeeper had asked, taking in the young man's appearance.

"No, it was fine. What is wrong with the hot spring?" Wangji had asked, coming straight to the point.

The inn keeper's face had paled, "Are you planning to report this place." The innkeeper had fallen to his knees, "Young master, it was not my fault. The employee just wanted to make some quick cash. In any case, you were there alone... "

"The reason. Now." Wangji had demanded; fearing the killing intent in Wangji's eyes, the latter had caved, "After the sun sets. The water becomes enchanted. It- if anyone dares to step into it, they will feel intense pleasure." Averting his gaze, the man had continued, " They would fall into a lust-filled haze. If two or more were to enter and touch each other, they would lose their senses. They would..." The innkeeper had not been able to complete; he didn't have to, for the meaning had been clear.

"Is there a way to break out of the enchantment?"

"Yes! Remember, when I called you, you immediately responded."

"Mn."

"That's it. You can get startled back to your senses. Like waking up from a dream when someone calls you."

"What if one were to lose consciousness when inside?"

"That means they were affected more. The chances are that once they come to, they would probably not remember their actions."

Wangji's brow had creased, and the inn keeper's eyes had fallen on the headband, "Are you from Lan clan of Gusu?"

"Mn."

The innkeeper had smiled, "How lucky, no wonder you did not get affected. Years ago, a cultivator had tried to rid the springs of the enchantment. It was in my great grandfather's time. Though he was unsuccessful, he had said that only two types of people would be partially affected: people with sacred objects on their person or those who are already in love."

"What do you mean partially affected?"

"They would only lose their inhibitions. They will do what their heart desires."

"Why?"

"This lowly one is sorry, but it was before my time. If the reason was ever made known, it was lost before it could reach this lowly one's ears."

"Mn."

"Young master, is there anything else?"

Wangji had contemplated for a second before instructing, "I need a bowl of turmeric powder, honey, and milk."

Wangji had then given the latter a handsome sum and continued, "What you told me just now about the sacred objects, don't disclose it."

The innkeeper had nodded, "I... this low... "

"Stop calling yourself lowly. A person's birth and social status does not determine his worth."

The innkeeper had bowed, "You are too kind, young master. I will get the ingredients right away. It will take a few minutes. Please wait here and change." With that, the man had left.

By the time he had returned with all the ingredients, Wangji had already changed into pale pink robes. He had accepted the tray and left.

Arriving at his room, Wangji had knocked on the door, "Wei Ying, I am coming in." When there was no answer, Wangji had presumed that Wei Ying must have gone to bed. He had slowly opened the door and closed it behind him.

The bed, however, had been empty. Scared, Wangji had looked around frantically, but there was no sight of the younger man. Finally, his eyes had wandered over to the bathtub. And he had peered inside.

Wangji had blinked multiple times, for there, lying inside the tub, Wei Ying had fallen asleep. Wangji's lips had curled up in a small smile as he had taken in the latter's calm demure but the next moment, his eyes had fallen on the angry red marks on his neck. A pained expression had crossed his features. However, he had not dwelled over it. "Wei Ying." Wangji had first called out softly and then louder, "Wake up."

"Ummm." Wei Ying had hummed, "Shijie, a few minutes more, please." he had rubbed his nose and giggled.

Wangji's heart had melted into a puddle, and a warm feeling had spread over his entire being. He had lifted his hand to caress the younger one's face but had stopped abruptly and dipped his hand into the water.

'It has gone cold. Wei Ying doesn't like cold.' He had recalled, "Wei Ying, please wake up. The water has gone cold." He had said, shaking Wei Ying's shoulder gently.

"Shijie... " Wei Ying had whined and refused to open his eyes. But Wangji was worried, and he had not wanted to let the younger man to fall sick. So, keeping his eyes on Wei Ying's face, he had taken off his top garments. There, in the middle of his, chest was a purple mark: the remnants of his punishment for hurting Wei Ying.

Wangji had then laid out dry clothes for him, picked up a towel, and pulled Wei Ying out of the bath.

Wei Ying had protested a little, but as soon as he had felt strong arms around him, he had relaxed against Wangji's chest, "So warm." He had muttered.

Wangji had wiped his body and dressed him up. Never once had the younger Jade let his eyes wander. When done, he had held Wei Ying gently in his arms and applied the mixed ingredients on the now purple marks on Wei Ying's neck.

The young man's face was calm and devoid of emotions, but his heart was thundering, and he apologized to the man in his arms over and over again.

After tending to each bruise, Wangji had tucked Wei Ying in bed and sat down on the floor: meditating; repenting.

Yes, Wangji could have erased the marks of his misconduct just like he had done before, but he had not wanted to. For he had vowed that he would never take the easy way out again. He had decided to work at gaining Wei Ying's trust and friendship, for, after his horrendous behavior, Wei Ying would want nothing to do with him. Well, at least that's what Wangji had thought.

Come morning, Wei Ying had woken up in bed alone. He had found caked pieces of turmeric powder on his pillow and walked over to the mirror, checking out his reflection.

He had looked around, but there was no one besides him in the room. There was, however, a bowl placed neatly on the table along with a washcloth. Walking over, Wei Ying had quirked his brow and then proceeded to wipe his neck. He had also found a freshly laundered set of clothes by the foot of the bed, which he had changed into, thinking that the inn was perfect when it came to customer service. The clothes had made him smile. For they fit him perfectly and had a faint fragrance of sandalwood lingering on them.

Once ready, he had walked over to Jiang Cheng's room and found him and Nie Huaisang walking out, bickering about something.

"So, how was your night?" The younger Nie brother had enquired, winking at Wei Ying.

Wei Ying had chuckled, "Lan Zhan was so disgusted with me that he probably slept on the floor. Hehe."

"You are lying. You spent the whole night on the cold floor, didn't you? Hanguang Jun isn't the kind of person to give up what's his, I can tell."

Wei Ying had just shrugged, "Think what you want. I am hungry. Let's have breakfast."

The other two had nodded and proceeded to the inn's canteen. It was only after having settled down that Nie Huaisang had spoken, "Brother Wei, I think Xue Yang has the hots for you."

Wei Ying had been shocked. He had spit out his drink, "Brother Nie, why are you trying to tarnish my reputation, hm?"

"I felt that too. The way he was smirking while you were checking him was- It was inappropriate." Jiang Cheng had agreed.

"Not you too, Jiang Cheng. He is a criminal, but he sure isn't a cut-sleeve!"

"Why are you getting so defensive?" Jiang Cheng had asked and continued, narrowing his eyes, "It's not you who we are calling a cut-sleeve. Wei WuXian, are you perhaps... "

Wei Ying's face had clouded over, but before he could speak, a conversation on the next table had caught his attention, and he had stopped.

"What are you saying!? Two men in the hot spring!" An older woman had said.

"Gross, right? I never thought I would hear something so disgraceful!" A young girl had elaborated. Shaking her head, she had added, "I also heard that they were cultivators!"

"Aigoooo, how shameless! What has this world come to."

Just then, their eyes had landed on the three cultivators that had been looking at them with utmost interest. The young girl had looked away fringing shyness, but the old woman had looked at them suspiciously, "You look like cultivators..."

Wei Ying had kept staring. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng had spoken, "Madam, we are from respected houses. I am sure no self-respecting cultivator would do something like that."

"True. True." Wei Ying had suddenly added, "Madam, I am sure it's just a baseless rumor. Who could do something so shameful? I mean, I am plenty shameless, but even I wouldn't go that far." Then he had smiled bashfully and winked at the young girl who had been eyeing him secretively.

Jiang Cheng had huffed, "Wei WuXian, behave!" He had turned to the now blushing girl and apologized, "I am sorry. Please forgive my rude brother and pay him no mind. He lives to embarrass me."

After watching the shameless display, the old lady had dragged the young girl out of the inn, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Wei WuXian, look at what you have done! You scared her away."

Wei Ying had simply smiled and shrugged. That is when Nie Huaisang had noticed, "Did Wangji bro not tell you where he is going?"

"Nope."

"Can you imagine the look on his face if he came to know what went on right under his nose?" Nie Huaisang had said, fanning himself.

"I am sure he would not have hesitated before unsheathing Bichen and getting rid of them." Jiang Cheng had added.

"Do you really think so?" Wei Ying had enquired.

"Why, don't you? Remember how he had destroyed that book?" Nie Huaisang had reminded, and the other two had nodded, agreeing.

"That's true." Wei Ying had agreed, sighing and looking dejected.

Jiang Cheng had found Wei Ying's reaction odd, "Wei WuXian, what would you do if a man were to show interest in you? Would you be disgusted?"

"I am curious too. You are pretty open-minded, but would you consider... "

"Have both of you gone mad! I am a straight man. And if you ever find me reciprocating, then you can rest assured that I am faking it to save my life or something. You know, fuck or die kind of situation."

"Brother Wei... "

"I am not done! You asked me what I would do. I would show him his place! How dare he... "

"Wei WuXian, what's wrong with you!?" Jiang Cheng had interrupted. "Everyone is looking at you."

"I am leaving!" Wei Ying had stomped his feet and left.

"I am sure he fought with Lan Wangji; his mood is sour today." Nie Huaisang guessed.

"More likely that he got on Hanguang Jun's nerves and spent the night on the cold floor." Jiang Cheng laughed and continued to have breakfast, "He must have gone to meet Xiao Xingchen. He had told me that he wanted to have a private chat with him."

"By the way, where is Wangji Bro?" Nie Huaisang had finally enquired offhandedly.

"He must have wandered off to find some peace. That hermit!" Jiang Cheng had only said these words when Lan Wangji had appeared before them.

Suddenly, silence had fallen over the table that had been noisy just seconds ago. Wangji had sat down and looked around, "Wei Ying... "

"We teased him a bit. He got mad and left." Jiang Cheng answered.

"Mn."

"I am sorry if he gave you a hard time, Hanguang Jun."

Lan Wangji had heard the words 'Hard', and his fingers had tightened over Bichen.

The table had gone silent once again.

Wangji had gestured to a server and whispered something to him, and added, "And cabbage tofu soup."

Then he had quietly finished his meal, picked up the jar the server had brought, and left after bowing to his table companions.

He had wandered outside, and his eyes had landed on Wei Ying. The younger man had been flirting with the girl he had met in the inn. Wangji had felt like he had drunk a liter of vinegar in one go. He had felt like throwing up. His grip on the jar had tightened; his heart had felt odd. He had wanted to end the unsuspecting girl's life, but the younger Jade had done none of that. He had just walked towards Wei Ying and cleared his throat, "We are getting late. I have received news that the envoy has arrived." With that, Wangji had left. But soon after, Wei Ying had joined him, "Lan Zhan, there is something I need to tell you."

"Mn."

"Last night, I was out of line."

"Mn."

"Did you... "

"Mn?"

"Ummm, nothing." Wei Ying had shaken his head and said, "Lan Zhan, when you went to bathe in the springs..."

"What about it?"

"I spied on you." Wei Ying had admitted.

'Why is he telling me? Does he perhaps remember...'

"Do you remember what happened there?" Wei Ying had asked.

"All I remember is that you lost consciousness, and I brought you back. Why?"

"What about before that?"

"I was taking a bath, and you disturbed me."

"Lan Zhan, have you heard the rumors?"

"I haven't. I am not interested either." He had paused and handed over the jar to him and added, "Take this."

"What's this?"

"An apology. For that." Wangji had pointed at Wei Ying's neck, "I shouldn't have acted like that. I shouldn't have..."

"Aigoooo, Lan Zhan, is that why you have been avoiding me?"

"I was not avoiding you. I was busy."

"Hehe, Lan Zhan, apology accepted. Let's hug it out." Wei Ying had started teasing immediately.

"Boring." Wangji had said in a neutral tone before walking away. Of course, Wei Ying had followed, but he had still missed the small smile that had played on the younger Jade's face before disappearing like it was never there.

Later this day, Meng Yao had escorted Xue Yang to Qinghe, and the things that had transpired after that were well known. But what no one knew was that Wangji had heard every word spoken by the three friends from the shadows. He had finally realized that the one he most desired was someone he could never have in his life. So he had compromised and decided to settle for being Wei Ying's friend instead. He had decided to stand by him no matter what life threw at them and hope to be next to him for as long as possible.

{Note :- As you may have figured out, this is the last 'special' arc chapter of this book. Approximately seven or eight chapters till this journey ends 😭😭😭
(I made myself sad)

I updated both Mine and Chu Wan Ning's Second Chance (RanWan fan fiction) a few days ago.

I have written a short (Wangxian) one shot called 'Super serious secret Agent' in my short story book SHORTZ.

Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}