Past

YiJun walks to Xi Xi, "Aunty, you are mistaken; he is just asleep. His wounds healed. See." YiJun says, showing Xian's wrists to them.

Cong looks at YiJun's smiling face before pulling him into his arms.

"It's okay, uncle." He removes himself from Cong's embrace, "Uncle, did you bring his medicine?"

Cong understands that Xian's passing has broken something in YiJun. He decides that it's best not to tell him the truth, "Sorry, son, I forgot to bring it." He pretends to check Xian once again, "Ah... Yes. Xian's sleep is complicated. You see, even brewing the medicine will take time." Cong lies, smiling at YiJun.

YiJun's smile widens. He looks at Xian's body, "Your Jun will wait for you, Xian." He walks over to Xian and removes Xi Xi's hands from around Xian's wrist, "Aunty, please don't worry. I will take care of him."

Xi Xi starts crying harder, making YiJun look at Cong with questions in his eyes. Cong motions YiJun to follow him outside. YiJun goes with him.

Once they are outside, Cong closes the door; YiJun frowns. Cong squeezes the prince's shoulder, "I just don't want to disturb Xian." He says, trying to make YiJun understand. "Ha. I am so stupid. Uncle is making sure that Xian stays comfortable." YiJun smiles affectionately.

"Son, can you tell me everything that happened today?" Cong asks; he knows Xian is gone, but it looks like YiJun is physically fine, and that is against everything that Cong and Xi Xi know about getting bound. And Xian's Lotus mark was a sign that theirs was a Soulbond. That would have meant instant death for YiJun as well. But that is not what Cong was witnessing.

YiJun tells Cong everything from the time he had left Xian at this very cottage, till the time Xian had fallen asleep in YiJun's arms, to the promise he had made to return to YiJun.

Cong was a smart and learned man. From what YiJun had told him, Cong had realized that YiJun was not human anymore, but he was not a wolf either. Cong had never heard of any wolf surviving the bite of Night Creatures. So he concluded that YiJun had probably turned into a night creature, but he had also never read about night creatures being this calm around humans. Not to mention, be this calm around Xi Xi, who was the descendant of the Bai bloodline. It was unheard of.

The night creatures only had thirst: for blood, sex, and power.

And if YiJun had indeed become a creature of the night, he would have killed and drained them at sight. But here he was, smiling and refusing to accept the truth. Truth that his Xian was gone.

Cong felt like he was missing something. It was like YiJun still possessed a soul; Like he knew right from wrong.

Then it hits Cong 'The Blood Protection spell'. The one Xian had asked about.

Cong's mind races, 'Is it possible that Xian could do higher-level magic? Is that why he was so hell-bent on getting his hands on all magic books?... But that still wouldn't be possible because for the spells to work, one would have to be at least nineteen.'

Cong asks, "YiJun, when the spell we put on Xian to bind him broke, did you happen to cut Xian over the lotus mark?"

"Uncle, how did you guess? Xian said it was our little secret. Why do you ask?"

Cong shakes his head and turns away from YiJun; Tears stream down his face. "Just like that, Son. Was there anything else over the years that Xian did and asked you to keep a secret?"

YiJun remains quiet.

'He won't break his promise to Xian.' Cong realizes. He turns to look at YiJun, and his eyes fall on the golden shell locket. "YiJun, may I see it?"

YiJun nods and steps closer, "Xian told me not to take it off unless absolutely necessary." He informs Cong.

Cong examins the locket; he closes his eyes and chants something under his breath. He gasps and lets go of it. He steps back as if the locket is poison.

Just then, YiJun hears the sound of hoofs approaching them. His eyes turn red. "Uncle, go inside and lock the door. Whatever you do, don't make a sound and don't open the door. I can smell them."

Cong wants to know who YiJun is talking about, but the urgency in the young boy's voice stops him. He rushes inside and closes the door.

A few seconds later, a dozen men on horses come in view. They look at YiJun.

"Leave, and I will let you live," YiJun growls.

"Run along, little wolf boy, we are not here for you. At least, not yet." A tall, good-looking man says, dismounting and walking towards YiJun.

"I won't run," YiJun says defiantly.

The man comes close and whispers, "Look into my eyes."

Anger and blind rage flashes across YiJun's face, and before anyone can react, YiJun's nails elongate. He holds the man's head between his palms and rips it off from his shoulder, splattering blood everywhere.

He throws the head away as three more men attack him. Just like he had done before, he rips off the second man's head too. The creatures look at YiJun, who is faster and stronger than they had anticipated; the night creatures shift to their true forms as well; their teeth and nails elongate, and they attack YiJun with renewed vigor.

One of them succeeds in bitting YiJun's arm. YiJun winces while ripping out a night creature's heart. He does a one-eighty coming face to face with the one who had bitten him, but finds him withering in pain. As he attacks one night-creature after another, YiJun is a force to be reckoned with; he fights with the creatures single-handedly.

More of them join the first group and attack YiJun. A few more creatures manage to bite him, but he keeps on fighting relentlessly. All the while, just one thought that is driving him, 'I need to protect Xian!'

He fights for hours. It's almost dawn when he feels a need to hide. He needs to go to Xian. He has to keep his promise.

But just before the first rays of the sun are about to fall on him, someone shoots an arrow. It hits his heart. He roars in pain; he watches as the man who had shot him turns and rides away.

He looks around himself and finds a few who had bitten him lying on the floor, withering in pain. He takes out the arrow that had pierced him and strides to the first creature. But before he can do anything, sunlight hits them; their bodies catch fire.

YiJun looks at the sun, his eyes hurt. He looks on, as the remaining bodies catch fire as well. Some turn to dust in a matter of moments, while others take a minute or so. But in the end, all the bodies on the ground meet the same fate.

YiJun takes a deep breath and smiles. Red tears make their way down his cheeks, "Xian, don't worry. I won't let them hurt you." He says before falling to the floor. Instantly his robes catch fire.

"Nooooooooooo, YiJun!" He hears someone scream from a distance. Then there is silence and darkness.

Present

*Lower floor of Ever Night Club* *Midday*

XiChen enters a room and falls to his knees in front of Jin Gayo. Gayo lifts him by his shoulders and smiles. "You don't have to do that, sweet boy." He says, lightly touching XiChen's cheek.

XiChen keeps looking at the floor.

"So, what news have you brought for me?"

XiChen looks up to meet Gayo's eyes, "The boy, Wei Xian, is very handsome. And his voice is beautiful too. But he is ordinary."

Gayo sighs, 'Then why does Shin want him?' He wonders, "Anything else? Were you able to find out anything else about Lan Wangji?"

"I think...I am not sure, but I think Xian and Mr. Lan are in a relationship." XiChen says hesitantly.

"What? The ice price is gay?... Well, this is great news. If we find evidence and leak it to the papers, the Lan stock will fall." Gayo smirks, radiating evil intent.

He looks at XiChen once more and pats his back, "Stay there. Forge a friendship with the boy. Try to get solid evidence."

"Master, when you can just persuade Mr. Lan to hand over the company to you, why don't you do that? Why take the hard way?" XiChen asks.

"Shen. It's because of Shen. He calls Shen his uncle. If it's the same dog that served my sister centuries ago, he knows of our existence. He knows our weaknesses. I can't go in front of him."

"But you can persuade him, Master."

"I am not sure if I can. I heard from reliable sources that Lan Pharmaceuticals is developing a drug that can stop creatures like me from entering people's minds. If they have already developed it, and Shen is using it, then he is more of a threat to me than I am to him."

XiChen nods and leaves.

*The Emperor's Smile*

*Night Time*

After the way Xian had felt the night before, for the first time, he was beginning to wonder why he, a perfectly ordinary boy, was not even the slightest bit freaked out by the things that had been happening to him.

The first time Jun had licked his neck, he should have pushed the man away, but he hadn't. Not only that, Xian had pulled Jun closer and kissed him...

Xian knew that he was waiting for something. All his life, he had been waiting. When Jun had shown up in his bed, Xian had accepted and welcomed this man into his heart; his bed. Why?

Those were not the only things: Xian was pretty sure that Jun was something more than just human. His blood and his spit had healing powers. And yet, day after day, Xian had wanted to hold him. He felt a need to protect Jun, when clearly, it was always Jun who was saving him! Why?

The last thing was the most puzzling. Xian could hear Jun's thoughts. How?

When he had realized that he could hear Jun's thoughts, he had tried to read others too. Unfortunately, it had not worked. Why?

Then there was the most recent thing: Mr. Lan. A man who looked cold and uncaring. Yet, every time they had come close, Xian's body had reacted the same way it had, to His Jun.

Mr. Lan had insulted him the first time they had met...But the man had turned around and helped him too.

When Wangji had stopped his fall the night before, Xian had instantly thought of His Jun. Xian had seen the way Wangji had looked at him. The affection in them had both confused and aroused Xian. And the feel of Wangji's arms wrapped around him had felt familiar....No. It had felt exactly like Jun's.

Wangji had looked at Xian like he was something delicate and precious.

Xian was almost sure that Jun and Mr. Lan were the same. There was only one thing that didn't fit in the equation: Xian had never been able to hear Mr. Lan's thoughts.

As he walks to the stage, he looks at the empty Jade Throne. He feels sad; his brain tells him that Mr. Lan is no ordinary man. He has a business to run. But his heart still wants Wangji to look at him.

After the performance, he goes to pick up his things from the locker.

"Mr. Wei." Someone calls him.

"Oh. It's you." Xian smiles at XiChen, who is fixing his locker.

"So, how was your second day?" XiChen asks the young man.

"Lonely." Xian smiles. It doesn't reach his eyes. Xian doesn't understand why he had answered this man truthfully. There was just something about him that made Xian feel comfortable. Xian bites his lip, feeling a little embarrassed.

"I understand, I feel lonely here as well. Do you want to grab a snack?" XiChen asks, walking closer.

"Sure...Amm. I am sorry, but I seem to have forgotten your name."

XiChen smiles. It's beautiful and warm, "You didn't forget. I didn't give you my name last time."

"Oh."

"Hi, I am XiChen. Lan XiChen." XiChen waves his hand next to his face.

"Lan?" Xian's eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh... No.. No. No relation to Mr. Lan." XiChen clarifies.

Xian nods and moves closer to XiChen with his arm extended. "Pleased to meet you."

But even before XiChen can react, the men hear someone clearing their throat. They turn and come face to face with Wangji.

"XiChen, leave." Wangji orders.

XiChen looks at Xian and mouths a 'Sorry', before leaving the two men alone.

"Mr. Lan." Xian bows slightly. Happiness floods his heart, but he keeps a straight face.

"What were you doing?" Wangji asks, walking closer.

"I was about to pick up my things and leave."

Wangji gives a dry laugh, "It didn't look to me like that."

"Then what did it look like, Mr. Lan?" Xian emphasizes the last syllable: Lan.

"It looked like you were flirting with XiChen." Wangji walks closer still.

Xian starts feeling hot once again. Color rises to his cheeks, 'Fuck! I need to get out of here. I can't give in so easily. I need to know how he feels about me.'

Xian calms his heart. He smirks, "Even if I was, which I wasn't, what is it to you? You are not my boyfriend, Mr. Lan."

"Stop calling me like that!" Wangji almost growls before pushing Xian against one of the lockers.

"Ahhh!" Xian winces.

Anger drains from Wangji's face as the scent of blood hits him. 'I hurt him!'

Xian's eyes fill up with unshed tears; Wangji cups Xian's face gently. "Look into my eyes..."

{Note:- Word count 2320

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