Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 73 - The Measure of Kings (18+)

***Content Warning: This chapter contains explicit sexual content, as well as scenes of blood, violence, and intense combat. Reader discretion is advised.***

Author's Note:
This chapter was quite a challenge to write, especially the intense fighting scenes, as it's not my strongest area. I tried my best to make everything sound as logical and consistent as possible, but if you come across anything that doesn't quite make sense or feels off, please feel free to let me know. I appreciate your understanding and hope you enjoy the chapter despite any potential inconsistencies!

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The first light of dawn had yet to break, leaving the world in a soft, muted darkness. The room was warm, the stillness heavy with the remnants of a night spent in each other's arms. The faint flicker of wall-mounted braziers cast long, gentle shadows across the chamber, but inside, all was quiet and peaceful.

Qing Yi stirred first, his body now fully recharged, energy coursing through him. He blinked slowly, his vision adjusting to the dim light, his mind gently pulling itself from the haze of sleep. As his senses sharpened, he became acutely aware of the strong, steady arm wrapped tightly around him, the warmth of bare skin pressed intimately against his own. His breath caught slightly as he realized that Lan Xichen had never let go, even in sleep.

Careful not to disturb him, Qing Yi tilted his head just enough to look at Lan Xichen's face. Even now, with his eyes closed and his usually composed features softened in the vulnerability of slumber, Lan Xichen radiated a quiet strength. His long lashes rested gently against his cheeks, his lips slightly parted, and his face, framed by his tousled hair, looked serene and content.

Qing Yi's heart squeezed, an almost painful ache of disbelief blooming in his chest. How... he thought, as his fingers reached up instinctively, brushing lightly over Lan Xichen's cheek. The soft caress felt surreal, as though any firmer pressure might cause this delicate reality to shatter. After everything they had been through—all the years of separation, of silence, of unspoken longing—it still felt impossibly perfect.

Lan Xichen, even in his sleep, held him tightly, protectively, as if afraid that Qing Yi would disappear the moment he let go. The idea that someone as strong, as disciplined, as unwavering as Lan Xichen could cling to him with such intensity filled Qing Yi with wonder, with disbelief. 

How did this happen? How did I become the one he loves so much? he thought, his mind racing through memories, through the choices that had led them here. The past few years flashed before his eyes—the separation, his return with Baihu - the alliance they had formed after their encounter in the cave. He had returned, believing the love incense his mother used had sealed Lan Xichen's heart for Jing Shi. But what he found had shaken him to his core.

Lan Xichen had never stopped looking for him, never stopped believing that Qing Yi was alive, and never stopped loving him. For years, Qing Yi had resigned himself to a life where the person he loved so deeply could never love him back in the same way. And yet, against all odds, Lan Xichen's heart had always been his.

Qing Yi exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of these realizations press against his chest. The love they had shared the night before had reawakened feelings he had long buried, yet the intensity of those emotions still unsettled him. How could someone like him love someone like me this much? His thoughts were a chaotic mix of disbelief and wonder, as he basked in the warmth of a love he had once thought forever lost to him.

A quiet tremor passed through Qing Yi, his body instinctively seeking more warmth, more closeness. He pressed himself tighter against Lan Xichen's torso, burying his face in the crook of Lan Xichen's neck. The familiar scent of sandalwood mingled with the musk of their shared passion, creating an intoxicating blend. Qing Yi felt his cheeks warm as he recognized traces of himself mixed with Lan Xichen's natural fragrance, a potent reminder of their night together. This new, combined scent was both comforting and exhilarating, anchoring him in the reality of the moment. He tightened his arms around Lan Xichen's torso, savoring the warmth of his skin and the slight dampness that still clung to their bodies.