Zhou Zi Shu's daily routine took hold. Several times a day, he distilled some of his inner energy into Lao Wen to keep his meridians active. The rest of his time was spent studying the two books. He had moved to the cold room so he could always keep an eye on him.

According to the book of the 6 martial arts, he had to work on his inner self and act on the three components that defined him: the Jing or essence, the Qi or breath and the Shen or spirit.

For each of them, there were exercises that allowed him to develop them.

In addition to these spiritual components, he also had to maintain and strengthen his body and keep it pure. That is why earthly food was forbidden! He had therefore learned to practice inedience and to go without food.

Study, meditation, physical exercise and transfer care became his daily routine.

Every night before he went to bed, he read to Lao Wen several chapters of the books from the Valley of the Healers. He remembered hearing his soul mate regret not having learned more from his father about the medical art. When he finished reading, he would crawl into bed beside him and snuggle up to him to maintain his body temperature.

As the days passed, he noticed that his body was gradually warming up. Of course, it was minute. But each increase in heat was proof that he was fighting to survive and that his body was assimilating the energy he was giving it.

Days and weeks passed. Lao Wen's condition was slowly changing. Zhou Zi Shu used to talk to him, even though he knew he could not hear him. He told him about his daily life after he left when they were children, and later how he had created the "Windows of Heaven. He told her about his life as the leader of this organization. He told her about his despair at seeing the members of the Four Seasons Manor die one after the other until he too could not stand it. He had decided to inflict on himself the ordeal of the 7 nails...

The energy transfer for tonight was enough. He gently laid down Lao Wen's inert body and arranged his hair so that his appearance was perfect. He pulled the blanket over him. When it was done, he stroked his cheek with his fingertip. He liked to feel the softness of her skin. Before getting up to go back to work, he placed a light kiss on her forehead.

Lao Wen did not understand what was happening to him. He seemed to hear a voice in the distance... A-Xu's voice! What was he saying? He could hardly understand it. He felt the cold around him but paradoxically, a burning energy ran through his body. It was then that he understood and that the last events came back to him.

His decision to use his inner energy to repair Zhou Zi Shu's meridians knowing that it would probably cost him his life! But his soul mate's life was more important to him than anything else, and in a way, it was his way of asking forgiveness for all the atrocities he had committed in the name of revenge!

Despite his low opinion of himself, Zhou Zi Shu was a pure and beautiful soul who deserved to live and if that was the price he would gladly accept it! He only hoped that in another life, they would meet again and he would have the strength to prove himself worthy of her love!

He wanted to cry and scream but he couldn't. He was still in that in-between state. He was still in that in-between world, not quite asleep nor fully awake.

He felt the energy diminish, the burning subside. Hands were placed on his shoulders to lay him down. His head was gently placed on a pillow. He felt his hair being arranged and a blanket being pulled over him.

A finger caressed his cheek like the touch of a dragonfly's wings. His heart swelled with happiness. He knew that A-Xu considered him his younger brother, his friend, his brother, but was it possible that he was a little more to him? He had to wake up! He had to get out of the dark and icy straitjacket he was in.

He didn't know how long he had been unconscious, but one thing was certain, A-Xu had not abandoned him. When his meridians should have broken and dragged him to his death, he felt his inner strength flowing through them! His soul mate must have found a solution! He had to concentrate .... and join him.

A-Xu's lips touched his forehead.

"I'll leave you for a moment, I have to prepare the herbs for your treatment in the coming days. I won't be long. I'll join you right after".

He felt him get up from the bed. What had he said? I'll meet you there? Did he mean... in the bed?

A-Xu !!!! you wouldn't have taken advantage of my body without my permission anyway !!!!

That was more my way !!!!

I felt like laughing but no sound came out of my throat again! I really had to wake up! I had questions to ask him, explanations to ask him and a confession to make.

I concentrated all the inner strength I had to overcome the limbo of unconsciousness in which I was drowning. Progressively, the fog cleared. I had to take a deep breath when I opened my eyes.

I was in a bed. White drapes with snowflakes were above me and came down to my head and feet. I turned slightly to the right and was blinded by the light of a candle. I raised my hand to shield my eyes. When they were accustomed, I looked more closely at my surroundings. I was in a kind of cave. So we were still stuck in the armory.

The cave was organized like a room. A large door faced the bed I was in. Several braziers brought heat and light. A work table overflowing with books was on my right. This must have been where A-Xu was studying. Another table with two small benches was on the left. A teapot and cups were on it. Next to it was a kind of counter and in front of it... A-Xu.

He had his back to me. I looked at him. He was dressed in white and blue, which gave him a supernatural and divine aura. In his hair, I saw the jade spike that served as a key to the armory... he was wearing it. Once again my heart missed a beat because I didn't dare to believe in all these little things that made me hope for a deeper feeling from him. I wanted to call him and tell him that I was awake, but a ball of emotions prevented any sound from leaving my throat.

I struggled to get up. My body was having a hard time following the commands I was giving it. I had been bedridden for many days. Once in a sitting position. I concentrated my inner strength to reactivate my muscles and allow me to stand up.

When I felt my body responding better, I tilted my feet towards the ground.

A shiver went up from the soles of my feet to my neck, following my backbone. I noticed that it was extremely cold. By leaning on the edge of the bed, I managed to get up. I only had a few steps to take to my soul mate.

Zhou Zi Shu had left the bed where Lao Wen was sleeping. It had been almost four months since they had been locked up in this place. Four months that he hoped every day to see the eyes of the one he now knew he loved open. He had become aware of this little by little over the weeks of taking care of him. What he had taken for a brotherly feeling at first, was much deeper, he realized it now. He understood the heartbreak he had felt and the sense of emptiness when he understood what Lao Wen had done for him.

Lao Wen .... His complexity was still causing him some problems. One never really knew when he was serious or not! He was so used to hiding and acting that it had become part of his personality!

That's why he was as afraid of his awakening as he was hoping for it.

He knew that when it happened, there would be explanations to give, questions to ask and a confession to make...

He was trying to concentrate on the herbs he was plundering for his soul mate's elixir, when two arms encircled his waist and the torso of a man stuck to his back. A hoarse voice that hadn't made a sound in four months breathed in his ear.

"A-Xu..."