Oh. My. Fate?! (BL, Volume 12, Part 1)

60 The Only Explanation That Made Sense

Xin Lan felt the urge to wring a certain someone's neck but that really wasn't one he could give into when the person in question was the supreme ruler so he could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger. After taking a deep breath, he finally turned back to Xiang Yu.

Even though Tian had refused to say a single word more in explanation, he had at least gotten the gist of the situation from him: Xiang Yu had somehow suddenly decided to go on another trial so his soul was now gallivanting in the mortal realm while his immortal body had somehow been kept at his house. Oh, right, Xiang Yu's trial also seemed related to whatever Tian had done to him when he made a deal with him for the sake of Jinde last time.

Putting these things together ... it was possible that he was now in a similar situation to the last time. Before his trial as Hua Lin Yu, Xiang Yu had had him swear an oath that he would accompany him as his lover during the trial, and if he didn't, he'd pay for it with his life. Maybe when he went up to the High Heavens the last time, Tian had already anticipated that there would be a second trial for the fallen god so he used the opportunity to get some benefits for Xiang Yu and placed a restriction on him directly, circumventing the need for another oath.

It seemed odd to think that Tian of all people would care enough to do this but it was the only explanation he could find. After all, unless Tian had really only wanted to scare him and hadn't done anything, there had to be an invisible consequence of some kind. A restriction like this would fit the bill and finally explain why he had been out cold for a whole week. That just didn't seem like nothing no matter how he looked at it.

Also, there was still the fact that Tian seemed slightly more open when it came to the fallen gods. Maybe he really did care a bit so it wouldn't be impossible to do something for Xiang Yu. Not to mention that placing a restriction on one person for a limited time was really nothing to him. This guy had cursed three whole races for eternity without blinking an eye. What was a simple adjustment for the duration of somebody's trial?

Xin Lan sighed and hung his head. Actually, he didn't care too much. He had been with Hua Lin Yu because of the oath originally but then really fell in love. It had been a good thing happening to him unexpectedly. This renewed trial was an opportunity to check whether he could do it again and might even have a chance to find happiness with Xiang Yu later on. He was all for that. At most, the circumstances were a little annoying.

If Tian wanted him to accompany Xiang Yu again, why not just tell him? He would have been up for it. Even if it was at that time when he wasn't as aware of his attraction to Xiang Yu, he wouldn't have resisted considering that the life of Jinde's child depended on it. On the other hand ... what about this stupid fallen god?! How could he just leave for a trial without a single word?!

Xin Lan gnashed his teeth in annoyance once again and stared fiercely at the quiet body of the fallen god. This guy was such an idiot. If they really ever managed to get past all issues and became a couple, he'd have to have a word with him in advance so he wouldn't pull a stunt like this again in the future. Heaven knew he had felt as if his heart would stop beating when he found him like this and realized he wasn't breathing!

The anger boiled up fast but subsided just as easily. Anyway, Xiang Yu had become a fallen god while not yet an adult and he couldn't mature any longer. While you could educate him on things, his true understanding might never go past what it was now. And at that time, he might have been a somewhat brash youth. Just look at how he got hitched to some demon and ended up in this state! So really, why was he surprised?

Raising his head again, he looked at Xiang Yu's face again. He hesitated for a moment but finally reached up and brushed his cheek with his fingertips. He had realized it when he saw him two days ago in that get-up but ... Xiang Yu was really pretty. It was the kind of beauty that seemed lively like a bubbling source of happiness. You couldn't help but smile when looking at him. It was just that usually, you couldn't tell because of his gloomy expression but that was certainly due to what had happened to him.

Xin Lan's thoughts traveled to the time when he tried to spy on Xiang Yu's past. Back then, he had seen that face similar to Bai Mu and Xiao Li's, a place stained with blood, and a sword in the hands of the little fallen god. Clearly, this was all related to his trial. But just what had happened back then? What exactly had happened that finally made him become like this?

Looking at the somewhat immature face in front of him, he suddenly felt uncomfortable. Xiang Yu wasn't his lover and he shouldn't pry. Even if he did come to find out, it had nothing to do with him as long as they weren't a couple. That thought ... made him a bit uncomfortable. What more since even if he knew and even if it somehow concerned him, it wasn't like he could do anything. It was all long in the past. Even comforting him probably wouldn't mean much. This part of Xiang Yu's life ... he would never be able to be a part of it.