[A/N:- Mature content. Reader discretion advised.]

*Earth: Three human months later*

"It is almost unrecognizable." Li Xiang takes a deep breath and loops her arms around YiYang. "If I didn't know better, I would think we are still on TengFei."

YiYang agrees. He glances at his best friend, Li Kun, who was crouching next to a shrub with leaves that looked like blades of grass. "Ah-Kun, if you stare at it anymore, its parents will ask for your hand in marriage." He chuckles, patting the scientist's shoulder.

Li Kun huffs and swats his hand away, "I created it. I am its parent! Now, get out of here. Take Ah-Xiang with you."
Li Xiang shakes her head, "Brother, weren't you against me spending time with YiYang?"

"How can I stop you from spending time with your husband!?" The busy scientist says irritably before moving to the next shrub.

YiYang laughs, the sound revibrates through the lush green forest, "I settled for her because I knew you had already pledged your alliance to the soil." He teases, earning an angry frown from his wife.

"Guess who is sleeping next to you under the stars tonight, brother?" The lady asks rhetorically before stomping her feet and leaving the two friends to their own devices.

Li Kun sighs. Without looking up from his precious flora, he asks, "Why are you like this, brother-in-law?"
YiYang smirks and squats next to his friend, "I missed you. This is the only way I can spend time with you."
The flora-lover nods; he finally looks away from the shrub that, until then, had his complete attention. "How is your father holding up?"

"He spent his whole life on TengFei; moreover, his heart is filled with remorse for what he did to YiHuang. He still can't bring himself to face him. Ah-Huang has requested him multiple times to leave TengFei, but it seems like the hate in his heart for humans runs too deep. He would rather die on TengFei than live a long, healthy life here." YiYang leans back. His face glows under the moonlight.

Li Kun can tell that his friend has more to say; he continues tending to the plants. Checking the soil composition and taking samples, he waits for YiYang to continue.

"Ah-Huang hasn't left Officer Zhang's side in the past months." YiYang's tone grows weary. "Professor Kwan has been visiting YiHuang with lady YiCai more often lately. It's for the best, I reckon. He has been kept from his birth mother for too long."

"I still can't believe the lengths to which Emperor YiLei went to control YiHuang's life." Li Kun muses and regrets it instantly. "Ah-Yang, I didn't...sorry."

YiYang shrugs, "Don't be. You were merely stating facts. To be honest, I can't wrap my mind around it either...I mean, he imprisoned his own sister on land, stole her son and threatened Professor Kwan, and swore him to secrecy in exchange for keeping Lady YiCai alive! How could he do this to his own sister!?"

Li Kun gives his best friend's arm a reassuring squeeze, "I am sure he knows he was in the wrong. I think that's why he chose not to relocate."

Once YiLei had accepted to follow the words of The First, Zhang, accompanied by YiHuang and Li Xiang, had arrived on land. After pouring the Golden liquid that they had acquired from the beacon into Earth's core (as instructed by the hologram), the three had channeled their internal force into it. Their combined energies had rejuvenated the soil. It had healed humans whose bodies had withered beyond repair due to inhaling decades of toxins in the air and destroyed all harmful substances in the atmosphere that could mortally hurt Yuanjians, leaving it as pure as it was at the dawn of mankind.

With Li Xiang's help, the message of The First was made known to every Yuanjian and Human. Once the Yuanjians knew that their home was dying, albeit a little apprehensive, none had objected to coexisting with the humans. As far as the humans went, they had embraced the intervention with open hearts and minds. It was the miracle they had been praying for.

However, healing Earth and nurturing the living back to health had taken a toll on Zhang, who had fallen into a coma-like state after the health of every last human was restored.

Li Xiang and YiHuang had come to a stark realization that pouring their internal force had left them empty, and there was nothing they could do to help their savior except wait for him to wake up.

YiLei had lost his race's trust. He hated what he had done and who he had become. Consequently, he had chosen to stay back on TengFei.
Now left without a leader, the Yuanjians were looking for someone to take charge. They approached YiHuang, but the prince wanted nothing to do with responsibilities that came with the title, 'I have fulfilled my role.' The young prince said, leaving no scope for argument; it was then that everything that YiYang had done to help save the Yuanjians had come to light. He was their crown prince, to begin with; thus, the sky dwellers chose him to lead them into the new Era: the beginning of their life on land.

"It must be awfully lonely at the sacred groves. How long is YiHuang going to wait?" Li Kun askes, dusting his overalls, signaling that he was done for the day.

Taking the hint, YiYang picks up the equipment belt and falls in step with his best friend, "As long as it takes." He gazes at the full moon, "I really hope he doesn't have to wait long. It feels like he has been waiting forever." The corners of his lips tug up in a small wistful smile. "Ah-Xiang tells me that there is going to be a meteor shower in an hour or so. What say we sleep under the blanket of stars tonight, hum?"

Li Kun quirks his brow, "Sometimes I really wonder about your preference, Ah-Yang."

"Keep wondering, brother. Keep wondering. So, how about it? Humans believe that whatever you wish for during the showers will be granted." YiYang swings his arm over his friend's shoulder and whispers, "Care to give it a try?"

*****

*Earth: The sacred grove*

After realizing that Zhang had poured every ounce of his inner force to give a second chance to the races, YiYang had done the same to recreate the eastern grove on land. Li Xiang had helped by placing a barrier around it, which allowed only six living beings to enter and exit it, including Zhang and YiHuang. She was one of them, YiYang, Li Kun and Hu Kwan were the others.

Earlier that day, Li Xiang had visited the young prince and his unconscious partner. She had taken it upon herself to check on the two from time to time. Part of it was to make up for not having been with them when they needed her; the other reason was that she was still connected with them, mind and soul. It was an unbreakable bond.

"Why don't you bring The First out to watch the showers?" She had suggested in passing, and YiHuang had instantly liked it. "I will. I know Ah-Zhang would like that." He had replied, and after she had left, he had pulled out his ComD and repeated the message Zhang had left for him before undertaking what he believed was a suicide mission.

"I am waiting to have our forever in this lifetime, my love. Hurry and wake up." YiHuang had repeated those words multiple times while sitting next to Zhang over the past months. He had meant them every time.

Now, as the clear sky smiles upon them, YiHuang takes his lover's hand in his, "Ah-Xiang tells me that this event happens once in a century, Ah-Zhang. I don't think you can afford to miss it." He shifts closer to the unconscious man, "It's high time you wake up. I promise, if you come back to me now, I won't give you a hard time for leaving without waiting for me and for shielding me from father and getting injured in my stead."

The second prince kisses the latter's cheek before caressing the spot and sighs. He glances at the twinkling stars. "If you watch this once in a lifetime event with me, I will let you do whatever you want with me...every day." He adds, interlacing their fingers, and closes his eyes.

A flash of light behind his closed eyelids makes his eyes flutter open, "Look. It has started, my love. This is your last chance..." As he turns his head to glance at the man lying next to him, his words dwindle into nothingness, "Ah-Zhang!" He exclaims softly and sits up, "You are...awake." He mutters like he can't believe that the man next to him had woken up finally and was smiling at him.

"Shuuu. We are here to enjoy the showers, aren't we? Let's just do that for now, hum?" The human suggests, gesturing his lover to move closer.

YiYang complies, and the human rests his head over the latter's shoulder. The two watch as the shy lights up. The spectacular view unfolds, mesmerizing both Yuanjians and humans alike.

Barely moments have passed, when Zhang buries his face in his lover's neck, "Did you mean it?"

"Which part?" YiHuang demands.

His heart thundering so loud that the latter can hear it, Zhang responds, "The 'Whatever and every day' part."

The meteor showers lay forgotten as the two dark orbs meet. YiHuang doesn't reply for a long moment, and then when he does, it's merely a nod. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I have been asleep for ages. How long have I let you worry?"

"Too long. You are not allowed to do that again." The prince reprimands lightly, reminding Zhang of the time that seemed a lifetime ago when the Yuanjian had said something similar.

Zhang kisses the latter's jaw tenderly, "I am sorry. I am sorry for all of it. But a promise is a promise; you can't back out of it."

YiHuang nods, "Mn. As long as you have delivered what I had asked, I will keep my promise." He turns his eyes towards the sky. "Alas, it seems like you have missed it. Thus, I am not obligated to hold up my part of the deal."

Zhang tries to sit up, but the consequence of three months of inactivity makes itself known in the form of stiff joints, and Zhang gives up on leaving his partner's side just yet. His displeasure, however, still reaches his lover, "What do you mean? I held up my part. I woke up!"

"All in good time." YiHuang shrugs. It reminds Zhang of YiYang. "Since you seem to have recovered your ability to stand up for yourself, I reckon you can answer a few of my questions."

Zhang huffs, slightly agitated and slightly curious, "Alright. Go ahead."

"How were you able to come between me and father's sword at that precise moment? It was like you knew what was going to happen and where I was."

"I told you I could see us through the ages. I could see what we have been through when we were not what we are now, where we are now." Zhang explains, but when he is met with questioning, confused mono-lids, he elaborates, "Ah-Huang, how could you think that this was our first life. We came into existence billions of years ago. Li Xiang and I come from the same roots, and you and I chose each other. Together, the three of us were a family. As far as I know, our race is the oldest one in the universe. As we grew in mind, we evolved. There came a time when we lost interest in life. For we hadn't found any use for our creations and gifts."

YiHuang's eyes widen, "Gifts?"

"We could manipulate time and space. Most of us could change our primordial forms to pure forms of energy, capable of existing for millions of years. We: you, Ah-Xiang, and myself were the last ones to shed our forms and leave our planet. We traveled through the emptiness, searching for purpose. We found one in Xiao Zhu. He was an ancestor of The First. He came across us while on a mission to discover new lifeforms. We saw potential in their race and decided to accompany him home. Invisible to the naked eye, unless we chose otherwise, we stayed and acclimated ourselves to his planet: XueJian. Soon, we knew how we could make ourselves useful."

"The internal force." YiHuang guesses, and Zhang nods, "Yes. On arriving on the planet, whoever we touched received a gift. These gifts could be inherited. Zhu thought that only those who could use it responsibly should have it. He chose the best from every sect of his people, and we blessed them with gifts."

Things start falling into place. "The royal family..." YiHuang guesses again.

"Exactly. Only Zhu was aware of our existence and our potential. He was given a gift as well. The gift of foresight." Zhang explains, "One night, a few days before he perished, he saw his descends getting slaughtered. He sought our guidance. We promised him that his gift would be passed on to a capable Yuanjian, someone who had the power and foresight to ensure their survival. We condensed ourselves into a vessel, hid on XueJian till we would be called upon to help Zhu's descendant."

"The First inherited Zhu's gift. He found where Zhu had hidden us, didn't he?" YiHuang guesses accurately.

Zhang nods and continues, "When the XudianJi attacked the Yuanjians, he carried us with him to Earth. After he died, Princess Daiyu inherited the gifts, but she failed to convince the Yuanjian elders to follow her to salvation. Her gift of sight was much like yours."

"When her original plan failed, she chose another path. She stole you and sent you to Earth." YiHuang shakes his head, "It must have broken her heart to sacrifice so many of her own."

"Yes. It did." Zhang's eyes sting. "I have all her memories too." He pauses, before finishing, "You know the rest." He falls silent, giving the latter a chance to contemplate all he had heard.

After a few moments, YiHuang wonders aloud, "Did your encounter with the wormhole have something to do with remembering who we are?"

"Yes. When I flew into the wormhole, it woke something in me. I recalled who I was...what I was capable of. I had seen your father hurt you in one of the visions. As soon as the Intex manipulator did its job, I created a rift in space, tethered myself to the charm that I knew you would have on you, and reached you in time." Zhang takes a deep breath, "That's about it. Now can you tell-"

As the explanation comes to an end, something occurs to YiHuang. "Wait," the Yuanjian interrupts, "How come I didn't see this reckless move of yours in any of my visions?"

Zhang averts his gaze, "I think winter is setting in. Let's take it in, shall we?" He suggests, once again trying to sit up. This time he succeeds, but before he can rise to his feet, determined pair of arms grip his shoulders. Zhang gulps, "Aren't you cold, Ah-Huang?"

"You hid those visions from me, didn't you!" YiHuang's accusatory tone makes the latter almost cower. He wraps his arms around the prince and bumps their noses. "Yes, I did. I am sorry, but it all worked out for the best, did it not." Zhang kisses his lover's brow, "Let's not talk about it anymore. We have so much lost time to make up for."

YiHuang reciprocates by snaking his arms around Zhang's middle. "If you think I will let you off the hook so easily, you are wrong." He kisses the corner of his lover's lips and whispers, "You will have to make it up to me one day at a time. Ninety Earth days, to be precise. But tonight, let's just sleep."

"I thought Yuanjians were good at keeping promises. And yet, here you are, trying to cheat me."

YiHuang lifts his partner's face. "Your words are not helping your cause, Ah-Zhang." He feels the wind pick up speed, "Let's go inside." He suggests and helps Zhang up.

Even this simple gesture leaves Zhang drained. "My body feels like led," He admits and instantly finds himself lifted into his partner's arms. The human smiles. He rests his face on the latter's solid chest. "I guess it will take a few more days before we can start making up for the lost time." He states dejectedly.

YiHuang lays Zhang down inside the resting pod and joins him, "It's alright. I can wait. I have waited this long, haven't I?"

"Yes, you have." Zhang agrees, nuzzling into the latter's chest before drifting off to sleep.

Over the next few days, YiHuang takes Zhang around the grove and fills him in on all that he had missed during the relocation of their race from TengFei to land. He informs Zhang that since they had poured all of themselves into rebuilding the races, they had lost their internal force and were no better than humans. As far as the Yuanjian royal family went, they too had lost their gifts. Initially, they had not realized why that had happened, but after what Zhang had told him the day he had woken up, it becomes clear why it had happened.

"The gifts were linked to us, the seeds. Therefore, as soon as we lost the ability, it was taken away from everyone who was blessed with it." YiHuang had informed his brother the day he and his sister-in-law had come to visit Zhang.

Wanting to have Zhang all to himself, he requests the Monarchs not to visit them till further notice. The couple, though a little disappointed, agree.

Slowly Zhang regains his strength. With YiHuang by his side perpetually, he wants for nothing. The two continue to argue over who would submit to whom, but in the end, they take the path of compromise, deciding that after ninety days of making up to YiHuang, the prince would make good on his promise of 'Whatever and every day.'

However, it was found out later that YiHuang had outsmarted his partner; for, after ninety days of making up, Zhang had gotten so used to being pleasured that even when YiHuang had offered to submit, the latter had dismissed it.

As the two tumbled into the resting pod together, naked as the day they were born, YiHuang takes his now permanent spot on top of the human, who opens his legs, accommodating his lover between them. YiHuang slides his fingers over the smooth expanse of his mate's inseam before going in for a kiss. His fingers wrap around Zhang's hard length, and he begins to stroke his lover, dragging moans out of the man under him. As the pleasure mounts, precum leaks and coats the prince's fingers.

Breaking the kiss for a moment, YiHuang flips Zhang over and showers the human's back and shoulders in wet kisses.

"Kiss me later. Make me cum first." Zhang begs, getting on his hands and knees. After coupling for the first few times, he had found that this was his preferred position. He looks over his shoulder, and as expected, finds YiHuang reaching for the lubricant conveniently placed on their nightstand. Zhang breaths out slowly, relaxing his body to ready himself for what is to come.

YiHuang coats his fingers with generous amounts of the lubricant and rubs it between his palms warming it up before rubbing it over Zhang's entrance. He takes his time massaging the area so that when his fingers breach it, Zhang feels nothing but a slight discomfort before his body floods with pleasure. YiHuang's fingers thrust in and out rhythmically while his other hand strokes his lover's shaft.

"Now, please." The human pleads, turning his head towards YiHuang, who drapes himself over his man, replaces his fingers with his hard leaking length, and captures his lips.

Zhang grasps at the feel of YiHuang continuing to grow harder inside him, and the Yuanjian takes the opportunity to slip his tongue into the moist welcoming space and explores it to his heart's content.

Sooner than Zhang would have liked, he cums over YiHuang's fingers. As the viscous fluid drips into the sheets, he heaves. Boneless, Zhang almost falls asleep. But before he can, without releasing his grip on his mate YiHuang holds his lover up and turns him over. Pushing the human into the sheets, he continues to thrust in and out; wonton sounds leave his lips, and heat rise to his cheeks as blood continues to pool under his belly.

Embarrassed, Zhang closes his eyes and looks away. But YiHuang refuses to have any of it. He cups the latter's face, "Look at me, my love, and let me look at you."

Zhang huffs. "Easy...En! Easy for you to say. You are not the one embarrassing yourself."

"Who says you are embarrassing yourself. Ah!" YiHuang moans, emptying himself deep inside his lover. Pulling out, he kisses Zhang and holds him close. "If you want, I can make you cum again."

Zhang shakes his head, "Tired." He mutters, resting his head on YiHuang's chest. No one speaks as they bathe in the afterglow of the act. It is at this moment when YiHuang leaves him to get cleaned that something strikes the still recuperating human, "Ah-Huang, you saw it didn't you. You saw us doing this! You knew I would wake up the night of the showers. You distracted me with your words. You promised to submit but guilt-tripped me into it instead! Admit it!"

YiHuang returns with a washcloth. He sits between the latter's legs and meticulously starts cleaning the mess he had made. "Yes. I did." He replies sincerely and looks up through his lashes, smirking. "You kept things from me as well, Ah-Zhang, and I did the same. We are even now, don't you think?"

Zhang's eyes widen, his mouth falls open. He feels offended yet proud of his lover, "You sly fox." He mouths softly. The barely whispered words reach the latter nonetheless.

YiHuang kisses his lover's knee, "Finally, a reference I can understand." He states in all seriousness before looking up and beaming up at Zhang.

"Thank the First!" Zhang agrees and grins. Then pulling YiHuang close, he kisses the smirk right off his overconfident face.

This is where this story ends, but the journey goes on.
Thank you for showing your love and support to Destinies!

{Author's Note :- Word count 3800

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