Chapter Text
- I would like Junshang to accompany me to see the heavenly lights.
The request reached the ears of the adult demon, who was enjoying one of his usual readings in the warm hut's discreet garden. There was no response, not a word, just a raised eyebrow as his dark eyes met his golden nephew's gaze. "Accompany? Does that mean he plans to go alone if I refuse?"
- Let's go together... I want us to go together –
Zhuzhi-lang insisted, familiar with that inquisitive expression and the mocking smile that was forming, seeking details and explanations that weren't needed... it was so difficult... so embarrassing... and so on purpose.
-It's something humans do during these dates, and I want to do it too... If Junshang agrees, I've observed that they look for special places and go set up with food and gifts. I want to gift some things myself.
That was enough to fully capture Tianlang-jun's attention, making him sit on the grass and put aside his book, revealing his now friendly and attentive expression. As that little cultivator had advised, Zhuzhi-Lang wasn't inviting him to anything personal. It didn’t matter how much effort he put into strengthening the relationship between uncle and nephew. But the demon was adamant about maintaining formality and being helpful, perhaps because he was still young... though not so young... no, he was no longer the child he once taught to hunt and eat, nor the one he taught to use his blood, to fight, and defend himself in the cruel world he grew up in. But that world wasn't the same now, with cultivator leaders married to demon kings and a new emperor whose priority was a human. There was no need to hide anymore, no need to pretend. That child now cooked for Tianlang-jun, knew which novels would have the best content, and ensured that his uncle didn't drink too much during his reading sessions or eat improperly during their "short" trips to the human world and its festivals.
-To the North?
Tianlang-jun finally replied, and Zhuzhi-Lang nodded discreetly, resisting the urge to give up, leave and lecture Southern fighters, as they were also becoming as relaxed and gentle as his uncle. It was sometimes frustrating. But he couldn't help feeling what he felt when he saw the adult's face light up, showing signs of his age. His uncle became an open book when something excited him. He stood up in a hurry, completely forgetting his book on the ground, and grabbed Zhuzhi-lang's shoulders with a big smile that seemed to make his face want to explode.
-I don't need any gifts from you but let's see them. I'll prepare everything, and you have to promise to rest until then. We'll leave early, and you won't do anything, forget all your pending tasks, and don’t bother searching for things to do.
-But Junshang...
"I'm the one planning the outing," Zhuzhi-lang tried to say, but he was interrupted by Tianlang-jun waving his hands in front of his face as if trying to erase his thoughts.
-It's an order.
There was no more protest, and that made the elder demon smile. The only good thing about his nephew refusing to abandon formality was that he still took orders as if they were real. Satisfied, he left the young demon standing there and eagerly went to get everything ready for the first voluntary family excursion of the serpent demon. Zhuzhi-lang took the time to deflate his body with a deep sigh before picking up the forgotten book, putting a bookmark between the pages, and clearing it of any earthy residue. At the same time, a discreet and genuine smile appeared on his face. It was all right. He had already prepared what he needed for the trip.
.
.
.
He had done it, perhaps, or so he thought, but he didn't announce it. He returned to the younger one who always accompanied him. It seemed like he had managed to stay still and rest... "so obedient," he thought, smiling at him as he handed him warm furs, a horrible green coat made of human fabric, and wool from those strange and fluffy animals that humans were accustomed to raising. It would help with the cold and the talismans, of course.
Zhuzhi-lang looked at the sweater with an expression he had never seen before. Intrigue or... complete rejection? Perhaps appreciation?
- Where did...? how…? No...
The younger one quickly denied it and gave up asking. He didn't want to hear a disturbing story about how he had obtained it in such a short amount of time. He accepted the fur and turned around just before his uncle started gathering his excitement to tell the story. Tianlang-jun laughed softly, grabbing the delicately enchanted containers with the food he had prepared, and they both set off on their excursion. Unfortunately for Zhuzhi-lang, there was a hours long journey that didn't save him from hearing how a former demon, a heavenly demon who used to be the emperor… gave lessons unsuitable for minors on special demonic techniques in exchange for woven wool. Humans had too much curiosity. It was very profitable when they were willing to exchange knowledge, and they appreciated demonstrations, not wanting to leave anything to the imagination. They even gave him two sweaters. The red one was for Tianlang-jun, of course.
Zhuzhi-lang dedicated himself to taking his mind to a distant place during those hours of flight on a creature conjured of his uncle’s blood.
The journey was simple. The highest and most pleasant peak was found and conquered by both demons. The cold was unbearable, but Tianlang-jun could suffice by circulating a little energy. However, Zhuzhi-lang was more delicate due to his biology. One of the reasons he had little knowledge of the North was because of his shared blood with the snake family. They needed warm temperatures, and his uncle knew this very well. Hence the coats and the circulation of his energy with his nephew... at least until the snow ceased.
They both looked around, settling on the ground of that place, and shaking the snow off their clothes. They were both surprised by what their eyes could now see. The clear silver of the moon slid slowly against the celestial flashes of the immense white that engulfed them. The gentle wind whispered metallic voices in their ears... the perpetual night of the North now seemed more profound than ever, with no intentions of awakening or progressing. It was stopping time there as if preparing to give its best performance.
And as they waited in that beautiful suspense, they opened the food. It was Zhuzhi-lang's favorite meat, hunted and prepared by his cooking mentor. It looked terrible and smelled bad, but a certain descendant ate it every day while they stayed in the South. That nephew always had the same involuntary expression of excitement when he saw it.
They chatted with each other. One enjoyed eating happily and talking about his fulfilled responsibilities, and the other enjoyed listening affectionately as if he could again appreciate that young and small snake.
But soon, the sounds migrated into silence, and the sky reflected in their eyes, stealing their original colors. The night had caught up with them with its long-awaited act, enveloping them in its infinite grace of light... The celestial lights could genuinely be called that.
Both silhouettes remained still under the wild sky that shone and danced with fervent passion, in that splendor dedicated only to them and their memories. The eyelids of the former emperor closed at some point, and his general's soft and hesitant voice reached his ears.
-Junshang...
He turned to him, about to lecture him for insisting on the gift. Tianlang-jun knew he had been nervous since they arrived as if waiting for a moment to say or give something. But Tianlang-jun didn't need objects from him; nothing was more precious than his company. However, the soft vocal performance that began... silenced everything else, even his own mind. The tones were candid, with gentle and light nuances between the lows. A look of surprise immediately appeared on Tianlang-jun's face. Zhuzhi-Lang's singing voice had caused a tingling warmth in his body, with the words resonating in his gut, his chest, his head, and his soul. The words were filled with the affection that Tianlang-jun thought the other might not feel after years of silence—a recital brimming with the feeling of family, esteem, and gratitude. The song was more than a gift, making Tianlang-jun believe that maybe he wasn't the only demon trying to regain the happiness he once had.
‘’Ah... it runs in the family’’
He thought.
He used to enjoy composing and singing himself, but he had left that behind. He had been forced to, or he had forced himself— he didn't know. It just happened. He was a Tianlang-jun who no longer lived, who died at the edge of the spears of unfortunate events. But seeing that naive child doing it now filled him with life and joy. He understood perfectly well. Art is born out of love, happiness, and feeling understood and accompanied. And now that not-so-little person was surprising him with such talent.
As soon as Zhuzhi-Lang finished, he sealed his lips between his innocent expression full of embarrassment and anticipation. The dark claws of the older one's pale and worn-out skin crawled across the distance between them and took possession of one of the other's arms, pulling him close and pressing him against his chest to capture the little one in a tight embrace. It was an embrace in which it seemed like he held his whole world against his own body. After all, it was Zhuzhi-Lang, his precious little Zhuzhi.
His mind filled with memories. They were indeed a family; they only had each other. There was no sister, no lover. The son refused, and the world hated them. Death had fallen in love with anyone around them, tragedy their shadow, rejection their nightmare. They were different but identical to each other. In that internal tempest, he didn't have the words. He tightened the embrace, which was now reciprocated, burying himself in the cold hair of the one he had learned to love as a son. Unintentionally, bitter drops of water began to pearl down his cheeks. His raspy voice escaped in a sob that hadn't come for decades, holding onto the motionless body under so many protective layers. At least he would provide warmth if he kept him like this. At least he knew there was someone to live for and someone who lived for him. But the night didn't care; it embraced them with greens, blues, and purples. It danced over their stationary family. Even the breeze tried to comfort them and lighten their dark past. And they would surely be grateful later.
-For as many years as we can snatch from this world... from this peace, whatever the number, it will always bind us more than mere blood, whether ours or from our enemies... Zhuzhi... I know it shouldn't be said, but you're my favorite nephew.
His crying broke into a sweet laughter, into a sincere and wide smile that lingered on his lips as he gave the other's back some breathing space. He looked at him with the gentle darkness of his irises, appreciating how the gold in the other's eyes was much brighter than the moon itself, perhaps because of his delicate tears that slid with empathy or the pink that those small scales couldn't hide, framed by the beautiful smile of his innocence.
Of course, shortly after, both of them attempted to touch the heavenly lights amidst clumsy laughter. It indeed seemed possible in that place. The little food they had left grew cold, the stage ceased, and the young one fell into some kind of lethargy, victim to the cold. It was what happened when facing those climates. Tianlang-jun, like a loving father, held him in his lap, sharing his energy while whispering to the sky as if speaking to a god, pleading to preserve the only life that held value.
-Not him... never him... we'll go together.
In the same way, they arrived, they left, but now only a couple of footprints remained, guiding them back to the warmth of home. A fire was burning, and a demon warmed the little snake until it decided to wake up, humming the melody he had been gifted, his favorite gift. But they would only travel to the North again if they had ten of those ugly fabrics on and Mu QingFang accompanied them. Meanwhile, let Mobei-jun stay with the North.