His cultivation under dire circumstances turned out to be the best thing for him to go on, because as he concentrated harder, thinking about the poisoning of Wen Xiao and Bai Jiu, not to mention the possible damage to Zhu Yan inner core and the excruciating pain from using something no mortal or demon should temper with, he managed to access his own dimension, his own domain within his core.
He wasn't sure what to expect from something created by the demonic energy of two ancient demons, but certainly, what he didn't expect was for it to be an exact replica of Zhuo's state before the Demon Hunter Bureau had been permanently establish there following his family's death. Just seeing the snow-covered backyard where his brother had beautifully danced with the Cloud Light Sword before him and where he used to practice on his own after he had so painfully and forcefully inherited it, bring tears to his eyes.
This was initially a sacred place in his heart, a place of past blissfulness, of brotherly affection, of wise teaching, of anxiously waiting for their return to a warm home, but now it was the symbol of his inner struggle. The stigma he had chosen to bear by allowing his love for his mortal enemy to grow to the point of no return. It was no longer the warm home, but the cold reality he faced in solitude and of a loss that will never be erased. He deserved the pain that place bring now, as even if Zhu Yan was not directly the one killing them, their blood was still tainted by his evil energy and it was a remaining of a resolve he had choose to carried.
"Those of the Bing Yi bloodline had always been dramatic when forming dimensions. You guys are too serious, it's painful to see... and cold." Yi Chen new the owner of that voice that he have it so engrave in his heart, but since Zhu Yan was not there, or at least not yet, then there was only one other option left.
"Ying Long..." He said as he turned to look at Zhu Yan's original soul, as well as his, with Bing Yi close by looking somewhat offended.
"What do you mean dramatic? I was never like that, and my inner dimension was basically the same as yours, so why complaining on the child cherish memory." Bing Yi disagree wholeheartedly, which make Yi Chen smile, but Ying Long only scoffed.
"The child, as you call him, is only torturing himself and even you can't refute that no matter how comfortable it is to have a roof over this endlessly falling snow, it will only bring him bad memories." Ying Long remarked sadly and Bing Yi swallowed his response, for indeed he was right about that.
"I'm glad to see you both." Zhuo Yi Chen give the respect they deserve as he bowed in front of them in an honorable gesture that Bing Yi approved of, but Ying Long found unnecessary.
"Ah, no need. It's not like we're actually alive, we're just a remnant of energy in your inherited blood and bones. Like I said, those of the Bing Yi Clan are too formal." Ying Long sighed as Bing Yi bowed in response.
"Sometimes, formalities are necessary..." Bing Yi insisted regardless of his protest.
"He is your reincarnation! Meaning he is part of you."
"Then the more so..."
"You are impossible!"
"Ying Long, cut the nonsense, he is here for a reason."
"Fine! At least the child is more flexible than you." To his surprise, Yi Chen couldn't help but laugh at their antics. He really hoped that he and Zhu Yan didn't sound like that, because it was both embarrassing and amusing at the same time.
"See? He is fine, no descendant of mine will inherit a weak heart." Bing Yi praise him and Zhuo Yi Chen coughed as he blushed slightly.
"Don't spoil him too much..."
"As if your reincarnation haven't done that before and in such volumes... I should be jealous."
"He is considerate of his past and feelings."
"They are also his..."
"Stop making a big deal about me not acting like Zhu Yan when I had the chance. This is getting old Bing Yi, I can kiss and love you all you want while we stay here... Is that alright?" At that Bing Yi smiled with satisfaction, but Zhuo Yi Chen only blushed more.
"We got a deal..." Bing Yi approved as he came closer to Ying Long and fearing they will bluntly kiss right there, Yi Chen panic.
"Please I don't want to know more... can we focus in something else?" Yi Chen intervened before things could get out of hands. He was unsure of what kind of things two dead spirits could do inside his inner core, but he sure didn't want to find out, because it was like watching himself and Zhu Yan in an outsider point of view, much like the ones the others like to tease him so much.
"We know what you want, Zhuo Yi Chen and we can help you greatly this time. There are two things that you must know." Bing Yi explained first.
"The first one is that the ever-burning fire can be fully remove from Zhu Yan's core and be used to secure an antidote from the ones who poison your friends. Although he will still inevitable need to feel the burning pain of the fire, but you can help him sooth his pain with your cooling energy." Ying Long continue.
"I need the sword to remove the fire, right?" Yi Chen was still was a bit reluctant to make him suffer, but if there was really no other choice, then he will come to terms to witness it and do his best to make it bearable.
"Yes. The sword was initially meant to be used by the greatest ancient demon of the Wilderness, so in the hands of mortals, even if they were descendants, it will never reach its full potential, but you now have Bing Yi's blood, my bones and core, so the reforged sword will respond to you as it was meant to be from the beginning. You just need to learn how to remaster it." Ying Long explained as Bing Yi walked toward him and to be face to face with him.
"There is so much you were not told or teach by your circumstances as a sick child and your family opting for keep you out of the demon hunting training, which is regrettable yet understandable, but now things will be different. No longer you will learn my bloodline skills from outsiders, from here on you will learn them from me." Bing Yi said as he placed his fingers on his forehead and force out a trail of memories to directly place them into Zhuo Yi Chen mind.
The flow of memories make Yi Chen's body tremble in his lotus position back inside the room he shared with Zhu Yan, which was patiently observing his progress as he cultivate in silence and focus, but now that he was starting to show signs of strain on his deep cultivation, Zhu Yan was unsure of how to approach his sudden surge of energy and the possible consequences.
It was one thing to guide someone while they were cultivating under instruction, as he had done before, and quite another when they reached a profound state of cultivation on their own, without his intervention, as Yi Chen was doing now. Under such circumstances, it was risky to interfere with a solo cultivation, as it could be detrimental. Furthermore, if the situation got out of hand, it could also be risky if not stopped before it could do serious damage.
He knew that neither Bing Yi nor Ying Long will purposely hurt him, for which when he first saw tears fall down Yi Chen face, he only watch him sadly, but did nothing to stop it and hoped it will be over soon, but now something mayor was taking place and his inner core was starting to become unstable, although not to a point of been damaging, but it was definitely taking his toll.
Zhuo Yi Chen's forehead began to glow a deep blue and he gasped in pain as his body went limp and he lost his balance. Zhu Yan acted quickly and grabbed Yi Chen from behind as he sat down with him between his legs, allowing his lover body to rest on his chest as he internally struggled with whatever was happening inside his mind and body.
"Come on, Bing Yi... please don't bully my beautiful dragon, he's just a newborn demon... don't push him too hard or he might snap." Zhu Yan said as he tried to keep Yi Chen comfortable on his chest and away from the edge of the bed, but Yi Chen arched his body in more pain as he gripped both of Zhu Yan's thighs tightly, trying to contain the pain instead of screaming it out.
"Yi Chen!" Zhu Yan cried as he hugged him tighter, just in case what was happening inside him caused him to lose control. As long as Bing Yi cared about his descendant, he doubted that would happen again, but old demons worked mysteriously as they tried to achieve their goals. So Zhu Yan ignored the pain Yi Chen was causing by squeezing him so tightly it was sure to leave bruises and kept him restrained until whatever was happening inside him was over and Yi Chen regained consciousness.
That happened a few minutes later, as Yi Chen struggled with the pain under his grip and flutter his eyes opened slowly, adjusting his vision to the candle illuminate room, momentarily losing his bearings, until he felt Zhu Yan's warm body behind him, almost holding him for dear life.
"Zhu Yan... it's okay, I'm fine. You can let go of me now." Yi Chen whisper to him as he tried to even out his breathing.
"I can let go whenever you want, but what about you, Xiao Zhuo, will you let go of me too?" Zhu Yan asked and only then did Yi Chen realize that he was grabbing his great demon by the thighs quite hard and was finally aware of his intimate position, right in between his legs with his back pressing on his chest.
So his first thought was to panic and move away, but what was the point of getting tense and pulling away, when he had already accepted him as a lover. Even Bing Yi was looking to have a deeper relationship with Ying Long, after they were both long dead, whatever was possible or not, so he had to take the chances, because even if it was a bit embarrassing, at least he had a opportunity to be with him before he died. He then relaxed and let go of Zhu Yan, but did not attempt to move from where he lay.
"I... I'm sorry... did I hurt you?" He asked a bit ashamed of himself for not realizing sooner that he was actually hurting Zhu Yan, but he simply kiss his cheek.
"I'm a great demon, Yi Chen, so I'm fine. A bit of roughness for your sake gives me more pleasure than hurt, but... can we kiss before you explain to me what happen? It will be a waste not to when I have you close like this..." And he didn't have to finish what he was saying as Yi Chen turned his body to straddle Zhu Yan and kiss him without hesitation.
It felt good to have Zhu Yan's arms over his lower back, to feel their chest pressing against one another, to feel the softness of his lips capturing his, the heat that starts in his lower abdomen and the firmness of his hips bellow him. Before he had been scandalized by Bing Yi and Ying Long's proximity, but he had to admit that they were far worse. Bing Yi should be jealous indeed.
"Oh? This is a pleasant surprise... what did they do to you in there?" Zhu Yan teased him once their kiss was over.
"Is more like what they didn't do. Any news from Chongwu Camp or Pei Si Jing while I was cultivating?" He asked as he pass both arms around Zhu Yan's neck.
"They send a message to meet outside Mount Kunlun. They said they will only meet with you, although I don't think that's wise, so I should..."
"When, Zhu Yan?"
"Nightfall."
"Good, I will go alone like they want. I may not have the sword with me right now, but I'm far from been defenseless, right?" Yi Chen asked and Zhu Yan smirked.
"You are getting better at playing me right back. Ying Long must have teach you something..." He said sarcastically.
"It wasn't Ying Long, but Bing Yi..." Yi Chen joked just before he trap Zhu Yan lips into another heated kiss.
Later, at dusk, he and Pei Si Jing, who insisted on going down the mountain with him, walked to the place indicated by Chongwu Camp. Yi Chen was sure that Zhu Yan, Ying Lei, and even Wen Xiao were somewhere nearby, and were even using the eavesdrop spell on them, but it didn't matter. At this time, there were no secrets that could be revealed and cause misunderstandings among them. That was the kind of thing that the Chongwu Camp's used as a weapon to divide and conquer while playing with their hearts. But not this time.
"Pei Si Jing, you can go back to Mount Kunlun and wait with the others... I'm suppose to meet with however comes on my own and I assure you that I can take care of myself if anything goes wrong."
"This is about Wen Xiao, Zhuo Yi Chen and Chongwu Camp cannot be trusted to play fair. I am aware of your new powers and congratulate you, but I am as committed as you are to finding an antidote to their poison. This exchange cannot be taken lightly." She told him with a solemn tone of voice that was so like her, so he agreed and they stood in silence until someone finally decided to show up from the Camp.
"We meet again, Zhuo Yi Chen, although I was expecting you to follow the instructions and come alone." Wen Zongyu said as he stop in front of him and look at Pei Si Jing.
"Is not like you came alone either, so we are even." Zhuo Yi Chen reply accordingly with his accusation, letting him know he was not easily intimidated, nor to command.
"Very well, now tell me what you want to meet with us in such a rush. I am a very busy man after all." The man said as he enjoy seen a flicker of anger in the deep blue eyes of the young demon.
"As if you don't know. You poison Wen Xiao, right? I thought you will be delighted to boost that fact in my face at first sight." Yi Chen said and Pei Si Jing was actually impressed he could nail down the man like that.
"I was just showing you some mercy, but that's right. I made Li Lun in possession of Bai Jiu poison the goddess token. Every time she use it will only seal her fate faster, but if you want me to be more detailed, then I admit that I also make sure to poison Bai Jiu's medicine pipe, just to be on the safe side. Is that enough boosting for you, Commander Zhuo?" He asked back with a pleased smile that Yi Chen ignored.
"I guess it suffice, but committing such treacherous sins like poisoning an innocent women, selected as the next Baize goddess precisely for the purity of her heart, certainly have a motive and giving our last encounters, I guess is still Zhao Yuan Zhou's inner core right?" Yi Chen pressed.
"Of course. Even you have to admit that exchanging the inner core of an extremely evil demon, that even dare to kill not only your family but single-handedly obliterate almost all the demon hunters in the Bureau is fair and rightful. As you said, the goddess is pure and noble, so what is there to stop you for saving both her and Bai Jiu's life. You haven't forget about the blood debt he owes to you, right? It will be such a disappointment for your caring brother in the after life to find out his brother betray his love and loyalty for carnal desires..." At that Pei Si Jing instinctively grabbed Yi Chen by the arm, fearing he was going to strike the man somehow for his disrespect and insult, but Yi Chen was already expecting far more than that from a vermin like him.
"Is true that he owes me a blood dept that could never be forgotten, but you are wrong in thinking that what makes me change my mind is just carnal desire. I have always been a man of discipline, so a simple desire means nothing to me, what ties us together is something that not even my brother could blame me for, as it had passed from many of our family generations, a curse we have know that exist for centuries of Cloud Light Sword masters, a will of the heavens." Yi Chen defend himself quite honorably and somewhere down the mountain Zhu Yan was taken aback by his words. How could he not love a noble man like that?
"You can give me all the reasons you want, real or otherwise, but the fact still remains that two of your comrades are going to die poisoning if you don't hand me over Zhao Yuan Zhou core. One single life in exchange of two others, I think you can do that simple math."
"I can, but what I can't understand is why so fixated in his core. You have wickedly collided with strong demons before. What makes Zhao Yuan Zhou's so special?" Yi Chen asked, although he already knew the answer.
"For the Ever-Burning fire, of course. I can give you the poison antidote, but you will bring me Zhao Yuan Zhao's real core in exchange without fail. If you want to save them, that is, oh noble Commander. You have until tomorrow morning to bring it or lose your chance to save your beloved goddess and doctor forever." Wen Zongyu finalize, and Zhen Mei came closer to give him a rectangular wooden box before they leave for good thinking they have won.
"Zhuo Yi Chen... they came prepare, but I can't tell if they really have an antidote in their hands." Pei Si Jing whisper his name as they watch them retrieve.
"Don't worry, even if everything else fails, I still have a way." He said as he thought in the things he learn from Bing Yi and Ying Long, specially the second one they told him after Bing Yi pass on his sword techniques that gives him so much hope.
"Such as..." Pei Si Jing insisted in knowing what he was planning.
"You will know if the times comes. Let's try this Ever-Burning Wood first." He said as he walked away along with her back to Mount Kunlun where a great demon, a goddess and a mountain god await them.
AN: Thanks for reading, the second thing that Ying Long told Yichen... well, it's a plot secrets, Yi Chen inheritance. Lol. Until next time, please take care.