How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 38 - Igniting

Refocusing on the group below, he sees them gently lifting and inspecting the roots to confirm if the plant is still alive or not. Where the roots are still intact, a drenched cloth is placed around the roots before plant is carefully placed inside a bag, each bag only containing one inflorescence.

When each ghost have at least three bags, Zhou Xu motions for the posse to head back the same way they came. Wen Ke Xing estimates that it will take them about two hours to get back to Wu Ying as Zhou Xu is limited to the speed the guards can travel. It will only take him one quarter of that. Yet, he stays.

Before the ambush, he had always left them behind as they returned towards home. However, after the ambush, he had been reluctant to leave them, just in case something happened. It wasn't until they were just at the bottom of Long Jiao (1) that he leaves them behind. It only gives him about a ten minute buffer before Zhou Xu enters Hua Men, but it is better than nothing.

As light as he was just stepping out of bed, Wen Ke Xing touches down right outside the gate of Jianchan, his sudden and stealth like appearance startling the guards that are on duty this afternoon. One would have thought they would have gotten used to their Ghuzu dropping down from the sky by now since he had been in charge for a few months, yet his detached and cold expression paired with his lethal eyes left him with an aura that always sent chills down the spine on all his underlings.

Just how he liked it.

He had worked hard over the years to create this persona, never letting anyone know him or his true thoughts, never letting anyone see his true reactions or feelings. He had locked himself so deep within, he wasn't sure if he could even find the keys to the man he maybe could be. Not that he was even thinking about it or knew that he had a lock that needed opening.

The water of Lethe had unfortunately done it's fair part in shaping him into the Ghuzu that he was today, which was ironic considering why he had aimed so high in the first place.

Picking up one of the scrolls from the pile of ones that he had yet to go through, he figured that he might get through part of it during his evening bath. I will find it. I must. These are the last ones... With an expression that is vaguely resembling worry, he looks at the few scrolls that are left in the pile. These are the last ones. What if it's not here?

Dumping his robes on the floor, happy to finally be rid of most of the pine scent he picks up a fresh inner robe and walks towards the hot spring, the cold air not even prickling his even colder skin.

Sitting down in the hot spring, his mind purrs as the hot water wraps around him in comfort, the sweet almondy peach blossom scent doing it's magic to annihilate todays pine stench. Submerging his head, he combs the wet hair away from his face with his fingers.

"Zhuren!" Ah-Xiang shrill voice echoes down the hallway as she flings the door open and rushes into the room, sliding to a halt inside the doorway.

"Ah-Xiang, what is it?", his voice a little bit irritated, either because he is starving after spending all day in various trees, or because of the fact that he didn't even have a minute to enjoy the hot water and the peace and quiet. "It is time that you learn to knock. What if Ah-Xu had been here?"

Not that she had ever knocked before, but since she became older, she had at least checked before she entered, and she rarely came into the hot spring when he was there. Or at least, that is what she used to do. Now that he thought about it, she had actually started just walking in for the past few months.

"Zhuren, don't be silly, the only time he was here was when you were unconscious." Skipping over the stone floor on light feet, her whip bouncing against her left hip, she approaches balances two wine bottles and a tray of food. "Besides, he's not back yet." Putting down the food next to Wen Ke Xing on the edge of the pool, she steps back, her hands behind her back and her feet pointing slightly inwards.

Wen Ke Xing sighs and breathes in the aromas from the food. His stomach so empty it doesn't even have the energy to growl in protest. "Have you found out anything yet?"

"No, I have not heard back from our spies about the pommel or the tattoos yet." Staring down at the ceiling, not looking at the water or meeting his eyes, she continues, "Zhuren, I didn't see anyone during the wedding that had those tattoos. Do you really think it is one of the Devils?"

"Who else would it be? No one else knows about my Ah-Xu."

"Maybe we have spies amongst us from the outside?"

"Who would want to infiltrate the Ghost Valley? There is nothing here anyone would want." Still irritated, he picks up the wine bottle and drinks about half of the liquid in one go, the spices and alcohol burning as they make their way down to his empty stomach.

"Zhuren..." Not finishing the sentence, she instead rocks back and forth on her heels, staring at the floor.

"Ah-Xiang, not now. I am tired. Let's talk more tomorrow." He finishes off the rest of the wine, enjoying the burning sensation that is heating up his cold bones as it moves quickly through his core. Tired he rests his head against the edge of the pool and closes his eyes, whilst continuing with a somewhat muffled voice, "I have a feeling that Zhou Xu found what he was looking for and will not be heading out tomorrow. Don't wake me tomorrow, unless you see him heading out again."

"Okay." With a pirouette, she spins around, the purple beads braided into her hair jingling as she bounces out of the room.

She forgot to close the doors again... With another deep sigh, he blinks his eyes open and motions to get out of the pool. Midway through the room, he pauses as his heart skips a few beats, Zhou Xu is standing in the door opening.

Wen Ke Xing's somewhat dazed trail of thoughts evaporates the moment he stares into those walnut-colored ones. A different kind of warmth starts to spread through his core, the flowing and melting kind of warmth.

In the candle lights flickering within the room, Wen Ke Xing sees a smile spreading across Zhou Xu's face. The smile is like nothing Zhou Xu had ever aimed towards him. It's like the sun itself, where each ray is heating up his very soul. For a moment, everything else within the room fades, it's like the world is black and white, and only this man in front of him, his husband, is in color.

He doesn't dare to blink, not even breathe, scared he will miss even the slightest moment of this new feeling. In a place far back, deeply tucked away in a hidden corner of his memories, a spark slowly ignites and begins to smolder.

(๑*ᗜ*)

Author's notes:

(1) Recap - 'Long Jiao' or lóng jiǎo (龙角) means 'dragon horns' and is the peak that Wu Jing manor is built on.