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The mission: Locate Mu Qing who had disappeared while on a mission in the southwest but he went missing by the Blackwater Sea. Though Blackwater himself had not been in his domain at the time, confirmed by the Ghost King Hua Cheng, it was a serious matter. Pei Ming was too busy in the North and Xie Lian had gone with him so it was left to Feng Xin to save Mu Qing from whatever disaster he’d fallen prey to.
Ling Wen laid out a map of the sea and pointed a finger. “My last contact with Xuan Zhen was here.”
“Did he say anything about his surroundings?” Feng Xin’s voice sounded straightforward and harsh, Ling Wen might have taken it as desperation but she did not say.
“That is the mystery. By the time I was able to reach him, and I’m certain it was his array, he could no longer speak any language I could understand. It sounded like gibberish.” Ling Wen began rolling the scroll back.
Feng Xin’s brow furrowed as it always did when he thought about Mu Qing and any other serious matters. He hadn’t spoken to him in days.
Blackwater would be the first person to talk to but that is if Feng Xin didn’t trust Ling Wen to talk to Xie Lian who talked to Hua Cheng who talked to the ghoul. And Feng Xin trusted Xie Lian most of all people so within this chain of communication, he skipped the part about talking and went straight into action.
“Taizi Dianxia,” Feng Xin said in the array.
“Feng Xin! Is this about Mu Qing?” Xie Lian sounded fine. His own mission with General Ming Guang must have been going smoothly—of course it was. You have the two most powerful martial gods on the job.
“Yes, I don’t have Blackwaters array password but do not want to trespass in his territory.” Feng Xin was already in his palace armory now, “Sorry to trouble you, Dianxia, but would you please ask permission on my behalf.”
“Of course.” Xie Lian answered. “One moment.”
Feng Xin dressed himself lightly. His ceremonial armor and robes were not suited for the mortal realm, especially not a seaside area. Mu Qing could have been anywhere but Feng Xin would find him. He strapped Fengshen onto his back and waited.
“Feng Xin?” Xie Lian spoke in the array.
Feng Xin answered, “Dianxia,”
“San Lang says you can go but not to stay long. You should go to the peak as that’s where Mu Qing reported he was going when he left.” Xie Lian explained. His voice was not alarmed but Feng Xin noted that he was not the only one who wanted Mu Qing back.
“Thank you, Dianxia. I’ll bring him home.”
“Good.”
Assuring Xie Lian was something Feng Xin had done since they were kids. It was assuring that he was still being this for the prince. It calmed him in a way and steadied him. Mu Qing had not been seen for a few weeks by now but he also hadn’t sent anything distressing to Ling Wen. Once he’d stopped responding a few days ago she called upon the heavenly officials if anyone had seen or heard from him.
Normally, Feng Xin tuned it all out. But now… after everything…
Mu Qing nearly dying a few years ago shook him to his core. Feng Xin had never faced a reality where the one who’s always been there might not always be there. Now was not the time to be thinking such things. He would not need to pray for Mu Qing’s safety if Feng Xin knew he was.
Though Crimson Rain gave his approval and would most likely ask Blackwater for this favor, Feng Xin did not plan to stay long.
His descent from heaven was just like any other time. Feng Xin heard the crash of waves and tasted the salt of the sea. This was certainly no such place for his ceremonial armor. Had he been a little less focused on finding Mu Qing, his billowing shirt and pants would almost be charming. He’d let his hair loose and it would whip around as the waves danced around his ankles.
Not the time. At all costs, Feng Xin wanted to avoid touching the water even if he had permission.
Evidently, though Mu Qing had said it hundreds of times over the hundreds of years Feng Xin looked for Xie Lian, he was a good tracker. It was the cursed shackles that ultimately prevented him (and another less savory name) from finding the prince. It was not long before he picked up on Mu Qing’s spiritual energy. The traces like footprints led him down the beach and stopped by a fisherman’s hut. Feng Xin disguised himself as Nan Feng and approached it.
No one was there but it seemed like someone had stayed there recently.
As he searched, he heard him. “Feng Xin?”
It was Mu Qing! A weight so heavy was lifted off Feng Xin’s chest. He could really only compare the feeling of when he was a young man falling for… Not the time.
“Mu Qing!” He said back through the array. “Where are you?”
“I’m not sure.“ Mu Qing grumbled back, “I was poisoned.”
Mu Qing was more equipped than most martial gods when it came to medicine. During the many wars he was known to be among the wounded. The war tent and healer tent were one and the same to him. A healer and warrior… it was why soldiers followed him. Why they loved him.
“Tell me if you see this,” Feng Xin blasted a beacon from his palm.
“I see it. Go east.” Mu Qing sounded hopeful.
Instantly Feng Xin was off the beach. Feng Xin was not emotional but admittedly he felt as if the way to Mu Qing was made for him. As he cut down the thick branches and leapt through the thick greenery, he felt that the mark was made and he was a loosed arrow meeting his target. But then he noticed a tree he’d seen before… and then a stone… and then…
“Mu Qing,” Feng Xin stopped in his tracks and fired another beam above him. “Do you see that?”
“It doesn’t look like you’ve moved at all…” Mu Qing grumbled, “So it’s just as I thought…”
“What does that mean?”
“Right as I was poisoned, I sensed something close by but because it was so strong I went out quick. I woke up and hardly had enough mana to heal myself enough so I wouldn’t bleed out immediately.”
“You’re hurt?” Feng Xin began walking slowly but he was careful about his steps.
“Do you think I’d just got poisoned so easily?” Mu Qing scoffed. Feng Xin could picture his eye roll. “I was swamped by binu and fought them for a few days. Obviously, as I began in the Southwest they pushed me toward the Blackwater sea.”
Feng Xin was easily able to follow the trail so he believed him.
Shit . He cursed himself. Though they were more or less friends now, Feng Xin still hadn’t broken his mental habit of needing to verify everything Mu Qing said. He believed Mu Qing but sometimes it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
Mu Qing further explained as Feng Xin walked. The binu had gone from thousands down to hundreds in the days Mu Qing cut them down but even a hundred to a tired god was overwhelming. Still, Mu Qing had faced worse odds and it was better to attract them to the sea as he could probably convince Blackwater to devour them eventually. It was not his original plan and his proposal would also include merits but just as he stepped into the jungle and off the beach, it was like he was swallowed whole.
He felt an overwhelming presence all around him and the binu did not follow. He tried to leave the jungle and get back to the beach but it just seemed that he was in an endless tunnel walking in place and the light of the beach was getting further and further.
What attacked him he couldn’t see but it was strong and it lashed his leg. Had Mu Qing not braced himself with mana there as soon as he did, it would have been cut off. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted, after all it had been days of no rest and a steady use of energy. The monster lunged again but this time a stinging slice into his neck like a scorpion.
Moments later he felt so heavy and when he awoke, he was so exhausted.
“If I had enough mana I would have sent a signal but I—it felt like I was powerless.” Mu Qing finished. Feng Xin knew it must have felt just like then.
“But you came.” Mu Qing said softly.
Feng Xin felt a warm swelling feeling in his chest. “Of course I did.”
Hundreds of years ago, Feng Xin would have still come, albeit reluctantly and likely given Mu Qing shit for being a princess in need of rescue. But nothing changed the fact that Feng Xin devoted years to finding Xie Lian and he would spend eight hundred more to find Mu Qing.
It seemed like he was making progress. Whatever lair they were in was tricky and they’d need to work together to get out but if Mu Qing was in no condition to move still, he’d carry the bastard.
Feng Xin spoke into the array, “Once more, do you see anything?”
Light flashed. Mu Qing did not respond.
“Mu Qing?” Feng Xin called. “Mu Qing?”
No answer. Feng Xin began to frantically look around him.
He had been swallowed too. Just as Mu Qing described it, a presence was all around him. Feng Xin would only be able to kill this monster because Mu Qing had told him how to avoid it.
A slash aimed right for his neck came close but Feng Xin dodged it. Akin to how Xie Lian fought with a sword, Feng Xin loosened his body and became like wind. The monster couldn’t land a hit! Though he was not as delicate as Xie Lian, it was enough for Feng Xin to cut off the pincer aiming for his chest in a swift move.
A cloud of darkness covered him when he cut it off and the monster screamed and disappeared soundlessly.
Feng Xin then looked and noticed Mu Qing lying on the ground. He choked back the lump in his throat as he saw him, “Mu Qing!”
He ran to him and checked his pulse and then his breathing. He was alive. But he was covered in blood. Feng Xin then remembered a cave clearing with a pond nearby and carried Mu Qing there.
Wary of the monster coming back, Feng Xin took his sword in hand and lifted Mu Qing over his shoulder. Luckily the man wasn’t awake or this would definitely be a no-go and Feng Xin would need to be saved from the wrath of Xuan Zhen.
“I’m not some damsel in distress put me down!” He’d whine. Feng Xin amused himself with this narrative until they got to the cave. Not an hour before, Feng Xin was thinking the worst but now he was alright. Mu Qing was alright so he was steady. Mu Qing was safe because Feng Xin had found him. They were fine.
Fine within whatever trap they were in, that is.
Feng Xin placed talismans upon the entrance to create a protective barrier. Once he had situated Mu Qing on the softest rock, he went into the area to see if he could find anything or glean any info. He tried contacting Ling Wen but the array was blocked from outside. She’d have to be within this jungle to talk.
Mu Qing woke several hours later to Feng Xin cooking some kind of game on a spit. He didn’t attempt to move but he called out, “Do you have water?”
True gods didn’t need food or water to survive but it did give them strength. Feng Xin stood and knelt before Mu Qing. With his hand he tilted Mu Qing’s chin up and poured the basin of water into his mouth. Mu Qing coughed a little and Feng Xin caught his neck so he didn’t hit his head.
He drank some more and seemed satisfied. With a sigh, Mu Qing looked into his eyes and thanked him. He smiled a little and that alone would have sustained Feng Xin’s strength for days.
“Your robes,” Feng Xin said awkwardly. Abruptly breaking whatever moment was being had.
Mu Qing closed his eyes and answered, “I don’t think any of this is fresh but most of it is mine.”
“Let me wash it for you.” Feng Xin offered.
Mu Qing was used to servants seeing him and dressing him. But it was plain as day on his face that Feng Xin’s offer surprised him.
Carefully, Feng Xin helped peel the layers off of Mu Qing. At any given moment he expected Mu Qing to tell him to stop being so careful and that he wasn’t a delicate flower but no words came. He was truly exhausted to let Feng Xin do this.
Moonlike panes of skin flashed when they finally got to his inner robe. Unlike Feng Xin, Mu Qing had dressed heavily. It wasn’t his ceremonial armor, but the robes were plenty as Mu Qing loved to be stylish even if he was covered in blood (a trait him and Pei Ming agreed on). The inner robes were covered in blood but this was Mu Qing’s certainly.
“This one too?” Feng Xin asked quietly about the robe.
Mu Qing’s lids were heavy but he nodded. He undressed himself and not once looked away from Feng Xin and there was not a chance Feng Xin could look away.
All their years together … they had never seen each other. Really.
Mu Qing was beautiful. Feng Xin could only describe his physique as so perfect it had to be a gods. The cuts and bruises on the moon colored flesh peppered him greatly. Like sunsetting clouds, the purplish hues dappled him all over. Without thinking, Feng Xin reached to touch his chest.
He was no healer but he could help ease the pain he knew Mu Qing was hiding. A soft glow emanated from his fingertips where he touched skin. Mu Qing’s stoic face melted instantly and he sighed a breath of relief. The pain must have been awful.
Feng Xin bit his lip and Mu Qing watched him. As he dragged his fingers along the fine muscles of Mu Qing’s torso, the bruises faded significantly. His touch was like a finger to water and in the wake of it was clean and smooth. Mu Qing’s body softened once Feng Xin reached his chest.
His perfectly pink nipples were hard and Feng Xin resisted staring at them and abashedly looked away and bit his own lip harder.
“Don’t look away,” Mu Qing commanded. “You’ll just go over spots you already went over.”
Mu Qing, ever methodically, was definitely not aroused by this. Feng Xin was so stupid to think—and then Mu Qing’s fingers traced his jaw to make him look at him. His eyes darted toward Feng Xin’s lips and back up.
He was still lying down, it was up to Feng Xin to close this gap. Mu Qing’s lips parted, Feng Xin was not watching where he was touching because he brushed over a sensitive spot, and Mu Qing’s chest fell.
He let out a breath, almost soundless but almost like a whimper. Feng Xin had gone over his heart before, this time though, he flicked over it again.
The gap was closed seconds later. Feng Xin leaned down to kiss Mu Qing who lay still but kissed Feng Xin back and tangled his fingers into Feng Xin’s hair.
While they were at it, Feng Xin transferred spiritual energy through his lips just as he’d seen Crimson Rain do with Xie Lian. Mu Qing would be able to heal himself much better than Feng Xin could and they could be on their way.
They stayed in the cave all night. Mu Qing was still drained but he healed himself quickly enough for them to do more than just kissing. By morning, their limbs were as entangled as their feelings and dependency of each other. It was certain that they were bound by their own red string of fate.
In their own way, this was how they loved each other. It wasn’t romantic like Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. It was intense like the string of a bow, it was precise as the edge of a saber. It was constant as the stars. It was Feng Xin and it was Mu Qing.