Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and art used in the story. OOC and AU.
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Recent years made him wonder to what extent one can affect the future or past in his case. Curious about how the events will play out without his presence, Shen Ying and Bai Jue spent most of their time within sect territories. Qishan Wen began their expansion later than he remembered. Still, it was a sign that even without Yin Iron from the Dancing Goddess statue, Wen Ruohan chose the same path. Upon a short investigation, they discovered that the piece from Lady Florist's house was missing.
"In my timeline, it started from Dafan Mountain," he sighed, leaning on the tree trunk. "Wen Ruohan still found his way to get it, and the war is unavoidable. If nothing changes, then why am I here?"
"To be with me," Bai Jue replied with his signature one-sided cheeky smirk. "Maybe you didn't come here to save everyone but yourself and people you genuinely care about? A-Yi grew up surrounded by a loving family to became the most carefree and cheerful teenager I ever saw. I would say that's a massive change from the cold and composed guy I happen to love. A-Yang doesn't run around slaughtering people. Instead, he became a doctor – quite a difference if you ask me. Not to mention the Lingjian Wen sect, which didn't even exist in your timeline."
"I hate when you don't leave room for arguments," Shen Ying huffed.
"What can I say? I'm flawless," he teased before sliding his fingers into Shen Ying's hair and pulling him into a soft kiss. "Besides, it's a perfect chance to get rid of your nightmares. If the Lotus Pier burns anyway, it was never your fault."
"So, you suggest we sit back and enjoy the show?"
"Do you have anything better to do?"
Shen Ying swapped their position and leaned closer with a dangerous gleam in his silver eyes. "Always," he murmured, brushing Bai Jue's ear before gently biting it.
Dark brown eyes looked at him with equally dangerous sparks before their lips crashed into a deep, passionate kiss. It left them breathless, wishing for more. Without breaking the kiss, Shen Ying lowered them onto the soft grass surrounded by flowers. Soon, their robes were discarded and forgotten on the ground, leaving them only in well-fitted riding trousers. Shen Ying was kneeling between Bai Jue's legs, kissing his way down his perfectly sculptured six-pack. His teeth gripped the edge of the trousers, and he was about to pull them down when they realised they weren't alone.
The mountaintop stood ablaze against the night sky, reminding him of the horror that befell his home. His heart bled for his sect, but he couldn't disobey his Uncle and return. Someone had to survive and preserve crucial texts and scriptures. Maybe one day, they could rebuild? Tired and wounded, Lan Xichen kept pushing towards Lotus Pier to seek help from their long-time ally.
The following day, covered in a rugged cloak, Xichen arrived in Tanzhou. The town was bustling with street merchants advocating their supplies and children happily running down the streets. It felt surreal compared to the destruction in Cloud Recesses. Lan Xichen did his best to blend in, but soon he spotted a group of Wen soldiers. Afraid of being discovered, he ran towards the residential area, pushed the old-looking gate open, and dashed inside, slamming the door closed. Gasping for breath, he leaned on the door. The lush garden seemed abandoned till his eyes landed on the most unexpected scene. It was shameless, untamed and unrestraint. Yet, for the first time in his life, he looked at other men and considered them unbelievably handsome and sexy. How they kissed and touched each other transfixed him to the ground. Unable to look away, Xichen swallowed hard when two pairs of eyes looked at him.
