Late Bloomer Brings The Light

Chapter 26

Hovering in the air and embracing each other, Xie Yun and Jiang Ying ride on Bichen toward Yunmeng, feeling the wind rush through their hair as they race toward their destination. The sound of the sword slicing through the air blends harmoniously with their laughter, creating a symphony of joy and excitement. Flying faster and faster, they can see the beautiful scenery of Yunmeng approaching in the distance, ready to greet them with open arms.

Jiang Ying lets go of Xie Yun with one arm only to wave at the children below them. He watches as they wave back and only stops looking when the sword passes over them in the distance. Putting his arm back around Xie Yun's waist, he allows himself to move a little closer.

"Do you want to go down to the ground for a bit?" Xie Yun asks, his voice barely audible over the rushing wind.

Jiang Ying shakes his head, a wide grin on his face. "No, I want to stay up here with you, flying high above the world," he replies, closing his eyes and leaning in closer to Xie Yun.

"Are you sure? Don't you want to grab something to eat? Steamed buns... dumplings... Or do you think your mother can prepare a feast for us?" Xie Yun teases, his eyes sparkling.

Jiang Ying doesn't want to consider Xie Yun's comment, as he is happy where he is, but hearing about the food, his stomach growls in response. He isn't about to say no to extending all the possible time he can spend with Xie Yun. "Maybe just a quick snack won't hurt," he laughs, rubbing his belly.

In the next instant, Bichen begins to descend slowly, prompting Jiang Ying to lift his head from its resting place. As he opens his eyes, he must shift one hand away from Xie Yun to shield them from the sun. He hadn't realized just how long he had kept his eyes shut. But then again, he had been absorbed in savoring every fleeting moment with Xie Yun.

Landing near the woods, Jiang Ying steps off Bichen, his legs starting to wobble. This didn't happen last time, but he also hasn't been traveling on the sword this long either. One of his knees buckles beneath him, and he starts to fall to the side. He closes his eyes, waiting for the impact with the ground, but it never comes. Instead, he lands in the warm embrace of Xie Yun's arms.

"Are you okay?" Xie Yun asks, a rare hint of genuine concern in his voice.

Jiang Ying scrambles to stand up by himself, pushing against Xie Yun's chest. He pauses, feeling his face start to heat up as he realizes where his hands are. The muscles under his palms are firm and well-defined, but he quickly yanks his hands away. "Yeah," he squeaks out. "I'm not used to flying long distances, that's all."

Xie Yun smirks, clearly not believing the lie, and Jiang Ying has to look away to avoid further embarrassment. Xie Yun walks over to a fallen tree and sits down. Jiang Ying follows suit, despite his embarrassment, and takes a seat next to him. The silence between them is heavy, filled with unknown feelings and tension.

Xie Yun pulls out a jujube and hands it to Jiang Ying. "Here, eat this. It will help settle your nerves, and then we can roam around the market."

Jiang Ying takes the jujube and pops it into his mouth, grateful for the distraction. He can't bring himself to be mad about Xie Yun's diet today. He enjoys the sweetness of the fruit, which helps calm his racing heart.

"Do you want to change?" Xie Yun asks, running his hand through his black ponytail.

"Huh?" Jiang Ying blinks in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Xie Yun pulls out lavender robes embroidered with lotuses from his sleeve. "I figured you might want to put this on before we go back."

"Oh, I kind of forgot about those." Jiang Ying catches the purple fabric tossed at him and holds it in his lap. He misses wearing these colors, but he plans to change after they eat. However, he decides to keep on Xie Yun's robes for as long as possible, as they remind him of their little adventure.