Soul Lock

All Out... Nothing Left!

The Master of Life-and-death closed Hong Ben and the visions of the memories disappeared.

"Now, you two know everything, happy?" she asked with curiosity, her chin resting on her fist.

Wen Lan was still a mixture of shock, regret, happiness and relief, so he didn't even hear the question while Ju Xin nodded politely with a fake smile. No wonder he chose to forget his past lives two times.

"I have a new soul coming, so I have to go, don't forget to visit me from time to time," she said as she stood up.

"Thank you, Your Highness," the duo said in sync and the goddess moved toward the second gate.

However, before she passed through it, she turned around and threw something at Wen Lan who caught it effortlessly. Then, she sent a flying kiss to them and disappeared in the gate. Only then, Wen Lan looked at the item... well items.

A jade pendant and a blue leaf.

The duo looked at the items with a bewildered gaze. So, it was all about a test and Bixia Yuanjin returned them back.

"Which one do you want to get back?" Wen Lan asked, his intense gaze boring into Ju Xin's soul.

Ju Xin hesitated for a second, but in the end, his shaky hand grabbed the blue leaf and put it back into his sleeve. With an indistinct smile, Wen Lan got the jade pendant and put it into his sleeve.

"Let's go," Ju Xin stood up and walked to the gate they came from. Wen Lan followed his lead and together they passed through the gate.

Luckily, the gate took them to the bottom of Taishan, where they started their mission.

"Now what?" Ju Xin asked when the gate disappeared in front of their eyes.

"We need to talk, right?" Wen Lan uttered with a hint of fear in his tone. As he wrongly accused Ju Xin for not only once but twice and dragged him into that mess, he would understand if Ju Xin just cursed him and left.

"Alright," Ju Xin said and Wen Lan let out the unnecessary breath he was holding.

The duo walked to the close-by town and Wen Lan rented a room in a random inn so that they could talk in private. However, as neither of them knew how to start, they sat in silence, the untouched tea already cold.

In the end, it was Wen Lan who screwed up his courage and took the word, "so... let me apologize first," he said before bowing his head slightly.

Ju Xin shook his hands immediately, "no need," he reassured him. Wen Lan was always the first one to die, so there was no way he could know that Ju Xin wasn't the culprit.

"No, it is needed," Wen Lan said firmly, "I accused you wrongly and hated you as well as causing you a lot of troubles."

Hearing the genuine sadness in Wen Lan's voice, Ju Xin unwittingly reached forward and patted his hand with sympathy, "I would feel the same, also you didn't cause me a lot of troubles, they were all adventures."

As Wen Lan didn't have the face to look at Ju Xin in the eye, he looked at his pale hand resting on his own hand. He was so stupid to think Ju Xin was capable of doing something bad. He was such an angelic creature, not even accusing him for his baseless anger.

How could it be possible not to fall in love with him? From body to soul, he was impeccable. When Wen Lan saw Ju Xin's memories and understood he was innocent in each of his three lives, the Ghost King was beyond relieved. It was obvious that his love for the deity was much greater than his hatred; however, if the hatred remained in his dead heart, it was sure to bother him from time to time. Now, there was no suspicion, no hatred, no anger, no resentment left in Wen Lan's heart. He was free like a bird!

But, was it too late?

The sudden fear seized his entire existence and his body got tense. Noticing his reaction, Ju Xin gave him a wondering look.

"Is... the chance still valid?" he asked, his mouth feeling dry all of a sudden.

"What chance?"

"Well, you asked me if I could forgive you," Wen Lan rubbed his nape, "now the tables turned, so I am asking you if you can forgive me."

Ju Xin patted his hand again, "I already told you that it is fine," he said with a lovely smile.

"So, we are friends?" Wen Lan was still in shock as Ju Xin was eager to let everything behind.

Ju Xin retracted his hand and leaned back with a flustered expression on his face, making Wen Lan's heart beat in his mouth.

"So... no chance?" The words left his mouth painfully. Although he expected and deserved such an answer, it still hurt. With his broken heart, he stood up and said "I am so sorry that you had to remember all those sufferings because of me. Be careful on your way back to Heaven."

Hearing the Ghost King's words, Ju Xin snapped out of his trance. He quickly jumped onto his feet and grabbed Wen Lan's arm before he left the room. Not expecting such an action, Wen Lan froze on his spot. Therefore, it was Ju Xin who had to turn him around.

"I think you misunderstood me," he said apologetically while staring straight into his blue eyes.

Wen Lan arched his eyebrows, "hmm?" He mustn't have kept his hopes high, so he tried to calm himself.

"I... can be your... friend if it is what you want," Ju Xin paused two times but managed to finish his sentence.

"You seem unwilling," Wen Lan saved his arm gently from Ju Xin's grip, "I won't force you, goodbye," he said sadly and attempted to leave, but Ju Xin grabbed his arms again, this time more tightly.

"I..." the deity took a deep breath as it was now-or-never situation. Although he was shy and afraid of Wen Lan's negative answer, if he didn't say it at the time being, it could be their last meeting. No no, Ju Xin didn't want that.

"You?" Wen Lan had to press as Ju Xin looked like he was having an internal dilemma.

"I like you more than a friend!" Ju Xin spilled it out, his head hanging low as he was afraid to see rejection in Wen Lan's eyes.

"You... me... what?!" Wen Lan exclaimed when his brain managed to process the information.

"It is okay if you don-"

Ju Xin couldn't finish his sentence as a pair of cold lips pressed on his warm lips. A cold arm wrapped itself around his waist, pulling him towards the Ghost King.

For Heaven's sake! Wen Lan is kissing me!

Ju Xin couldn't move for a second as his mind was yelling with full force. However, after the initial shock, Ju Xin responded to the kiss while circling his arms around Wen Lan's neck.

It was a gentle kiss, expressing the gratitude and the caring love they shared.

They continued for a good while until Ju Xin broke the kiss and took a step back, his eyes widened.

"Was it your first kiss?" Wen Lan asked with a teasing smile, seeing Ju Xin touching his lips in a daze.

The deity nodded innocently, "why are you laughing? Wasn't it your first?"

"No, it was my third," Wen Lan shook his head in negative and Ju Xin's eyebrows were knitted together.

"Who were they?" he asked with irritation. The Ghost King was indeed popular among women, and maybe among men as well.

Seeing his jealous face, Wen Lan let out a chuckle, "the first two were also you, I had to pass you some spiritual energy twice... from mouth," he clarified the situation.

"Oh," Ju Xin blushed and averted his gaze with embarrassment.

Wen Lan put his fingers under his chin, lifting his head so that he could look at his lovely almond eyes, "four lives... I had four lives and it was always you, even when I thought I hated you," he said seriously, making Ju Xin blushed.

"Then I have to compensate for the past three lives," Ju Xin said shyly before smashing their lips again.

Finally, Soul Lock gave its fruit as Ju Xin was in his arms, and Wen Lan had no intention to let him go until...

Forever.