The time had finally come to restore the Cloud Light Sword, although Zhuo Yi Chen wasn't particularly happy about this. Indeed, he was relieved that the sword would return to its previous state and possibly even more powerful and deadly than before, with the potential to save not just Bai Jiu and Wen Xiao but also the man who would build it through his own suffering.
However, it was that pain that made his heart clench, because deep down, he didn't want to witness it, let alone be the cause. Even so, as much as he hated to make him suffer, there was no escaping it. Thus, there he was, directly in front of Zhu Yan, looking at him with a variety of feelings that Zhu Yan knew perfectly well and could even feel his sympathy, even though he was not the one who would suffer while deliberately harming himself.
"Xiao Zhuo, don't look at me so defeated. This is so we all get something worthwhile any pain, and it's not that I don't deserve it."
"Don't say that..."
"But it needs to be said, Xiao Zhuo, since I can no longer atone for my sins with death because of my love for you and my own will, at least please let me believe that enduring this pain and damaging my core will make them less heavy and more bearable. Also, let me believe that by doing so I can pay you back even if just a little for your own suffering, so that it will not go completely unpunished, which is still unfair for you, even though I was not aware of my actions." Zhu Yan said in a low voice as they looked deeply at each other.
"I no longer blame you for what you did Zhu Yan..." Yi Chen told him sincerely, feeling like he needed to make it clear, just in case it wasn't before.
"I know, Xiao Zhuo, otherwise you would never have chosen me as your lifetime lover. Then again, as a newborn dragon, you should know that from here on you will be guided by your instincts more so than you will wish for, and as your chosen mate, you will feel more driven to protect me more intensely than usual, which makes it easier for you to let go of certain things that you couldn't before as a mortal."
"Zhao Yuan Zhou! Have a little shame, for heaven's sake! We're not alone, so what's the point of talking about dragon instincts and lifelong mates now?" Yi Chen asked as his face gained a hint of pink under the amused gaze of their audience which was the rest of their team plus Bai Yan. Zhu Yan, however, wasn't fazed in the slightest and leaned close to whisper directly into his ear.
"I need to tell you this now, so you understand what will happen to you when you see me suffer and your instincts kick in, making it difficult for you not to lose control. A chosen mate, even one you haven't claimed yet, is more important to a dragon than its own life. That's why you've been struggling so hard these past few days, knowing my life could be in danger."
"And you chose now of all times to tell me something this important? Are you mad?" Yi Chen whisper back, quite conscious that the others were eagerly watching them whispering back and forth with such intimate proximity.
"We have other pressing matters to take care of first, then you wanted to cultivate and right after we got distracted by kissing, follow by more cultivation and more kissing..."
"Pervert monkey, don't go saying things like that so openly..."
"Don't be shy now when it was you who asked me to tell you why I didn't tell you before..."
"You!" Yi Chen sighed. "Never mind, you are a hopeless case. There is no need for you to worry about me, I can control myself, I assure you that."
"Please, make sure you can. I will tell you now is hard to repress demon instincts."
"It was hard to suppress mortal ones and I did just fine."
"You're joking, right? Have you forgotten our first meeting? Did you restrain your desire to pierce my heart at the first opportunity you had back then?" Yi Chen shuddered as he recalled the moment he first saw him and the intense desire to kill the one who destroyed his family, and how he attacked him on the spot, despite Fan Ying having told him not to. In fact, he was forced to desist from his revenge, but after that, he restrained himself many times.
"Well, I... it was a bit later, but I did suppress my instincts..."
"You were stopped, which is different."
"Zhao Yuan Zhou, we don't have time to discuss every single detail of our bumped relationship and we have a very attentive audience here."
"Oh, don't mind us, Xiao Zhuo. It's a very interesting learning experience for those of us who have not yet reach the mates stage." Wen Xiao said as she looked amusedly at Pei Si Jing, who smirked back at her.
"Wen Xiao, please, don't encourage him..." Yi Chen said as he rubbed his forehead.
"I'm not, it's just that you need to loosen up a bit. We all know this is going to be very hard, specially for the two of you, so a little bit of fun to relax you, will not do any harm..." She said and Yi Chen look at Zhu Yan, which gently placed a hand over his cheek.
"She is right, relax... no matter how bad it may look, I will survive it." He said and Yi Chen closed his eyes as his head slightly leaned into his touch, making the great demon smiled.
"Alright..." Yi Chen whisper and Zhu Yan slowly brushed his cheek with his fingers before withdrawing his hand fully. The gesture was very caring and Yi Chen heart throb on his chest with the love he felt for him.
"We can begin now." Zhu Yan said softly and Yi Chen stood in front of the rectangular stone he had seen before Ying Lei interrupted his stroll the night before.
He placed the dragon scale and the Cloud Llight Sword fragments on top of the stone and mentally prepared himself for what would come next. He wasn't sure how long the fire would need to burn to complete the process, but he was ready to act if necessary, especially if Zhu Yan fainted. As a dragon with reinforced bones and muscles, he could easily carry him at the very least.
Zhu Yan lowered his gaze as he placed his hand over all, deep in thought for a few seconds. He had been there when he swore to protect the Wilderness, though the one in front of him back then was Li Lun, not Yi Chen. However, perhaps it was a twist of fate that led them both to be there at some point, and that their commitment also aligned so perfectly to perhaps forge another oath, but one that wouldn't be broken like all the others.
Taking a deep breath, the great demon summoned the ever-burning fire from his core over the scale and sword fragments. As the fire exerted its magic, they began to melt and float from the stone into the air. Zhu Yan felt the fire searing him from the inside, instantly burning his right hand that controlled the fire and the sleeve of his dark robe. Zhu Yan did his best to contain the pain, however, being burned alive was something he could not completely endure, for the scorching fire was a hellish agony, the heat unbearable, the burnt skin, even with his healing abilities, was a greater torture than he imagine. Thus he could not hide his pain for long.
The instant Yi Chen saw and smelled the smoke of Zhu Yan's burning flesh, his eyes flashed a deep blue-green as his heart felt as if it were being pierced by hundreds of needles. The pain his man was experiencing from being burned by the unforgiving flames was quite palpable and unimaginable. Although Zhu Yan's sacrifice for them all was admirable, it was also terrifying and something Zhuo Yi Chen didn't want to witness ever again in his life.
It was such an horrible sight that Yi Chen's body tensed like never before, his eyes moistened with tears falling freely, his heart seems to be out of control on his chest with heartbreak, his cold energy spiking waiting to be release and his hands balled into fists to the point of turning white from the pressure he held them in frustration and deep empathy. Soon, his demonic energy began to destabilize more and more, because his inner demon was also raging with a kind of self anger for allowing Zhu Yan to go trough that torment, that was hard to fight back.
He could now understand why Zhu Yan had warned him about instincts and he close his eyes in concentration to pull himself back in control of his messed up emotions. Still, the temperature of the air around them began to drop rapidly as Yi Chen inner demon subconsciously tried to cool Zhu Yan down as the fire keep working its magic, melting the scales back onto the metal of the sword to recompose it.
"Yi Chen... I can handle this.... calm down..." Whispered Zhu Yan faintly, already having difficulty standing, when seeing him caught up in his own crossroad of allowing his suffering because it was necessary and at the same time hating it passionately wanting to make it stop.
His hesitation resulted in his demonic energy responding to his will in turn and the others felt the icy air around the hot flames, with Pei Si Jing drawing Wen Xiao closer to give her some of her body heat, while Ying Lei hugged himself as he rubbed his arms. Only Bai Yan was completely unaffected and Yi Chen cursed under his breath, for the last thing he needed was to add worry to his already agonizing lover.
"Yi Chen..." Zhu Yan barely manage to said and Yi Chen heart felt like breaking and putting a hand over his heart he concentrate harder, while praying that it will be over soon.
Then, when the fire had restored the sword after the most agonizing few minutes, Yi Chen summoned his own cold demonic energy, a blend of Bing Yi and Ying Long, to complete the process and take the now reforged sword into his hands. The collisions of energies, along with the dying fire, rose up in a column of light from the power he now possessed, draining some of his previous cultivation. But he didn't care, for the deed was done, and Zhu Yan could finally let go.
As soon as the fire was extinguished in his hand, Zhu Yan spat out blood from his damaged core, but Yi Chen was already there, holding him close and gently wiping the blood from his lips. His heart was beating so hard inside his chest that Yi Chen thought Zhu Yan could hear it loud and clear. The agony was over and now he could finally try healing him or at least sooth his pain, but Zhu Yan needed something more badly than to heal. He had once have a vision of that moment and he wanted to make it happen more than anything.
"Xiao Zhuo... a long time ago, right here in where our hands rest, over this stone, I vow to protect the Wilderness along with Li Lun, but we part ways in bad terms. Now, the two of us are here, facing the very same choices, that could have make us forever enemies as well, but instead, we understood each other and the hatred give place to deep love that need no words. I remain committed to protecting the Wilderness, but will you also be willing to do the same with me? A promise to protect not only mortals, but demons as well..."
"Great demon, isn't that already your job with the goddess?" Ying Lei interrupt him, making Zhu Yan almost spit more blood because of it, Wen Xiao and Pei Si Jing to role their eyes, while Yi Chen smiled.
"Actually, now that you mention it... it is." Yi Chen tease him.
"No, it's not, I fired him." Wen Xiao teased in turn.
"Please, I'm been serious here, I'm about to faint..." Zhu Yan murmur and Yi Chen hold him closer as the Cloud Light Sword still in one of the hands he used to hold him shined brightly, recognizing Zhu Yan as a demon, although the hue of the shine this time was a bit less blue and more white, perhaps in recognition of him been Ying Long's reincarnated soul.
"The answer will always be yes. I will promise, Zhu Yan, that for as long as I live I will share your burdens, not matter what they are, you can be at ease now..."
"That's so good to hear... I'm so lucky to have found not only my one and only soulmate, but my true home as well..." And he fainted right into Zhuo Yi Chen's arms, who lift him easily, tenderly kissing his forehead before he walked away in a hurry to place him back in bed.
The next couple of hours he focus his energy into soothing his pain and giving him enough to start healing the burnt skin, even if his damage core will take longer to fix, at least his great demon could rest pain free for the night.
There was still one task that will break his heart a second time, but getting rid of that troublesome fire that had already hurt him so fiercely, it was worth the shot, so they will not seek his core anymore and Zhu Yan could recover more easily. There was also the the exchange for the antidote in the morning, but he will wait until Zhu Yan recover consciousness and be strong enough to stand.
Several hours later, Zhu Yan wake up to a candle light room with Yi Chen by his side holding him. Zhu Yan could tell that his dragon was not fully asleep, but simply resting, but he could not restrain his desire to admire him. Despite been a demon for such a short period of time, Yi Chen's demonic energy was growing so fast that what started like a pond of spring water was now becoming a huge lake, follow by a raging river, to end up transforming into a full ocean and when that ocean materialize, he will become a full flesh dragon able to take his true form and everything that comes with it.
Meaning that when Yi Chen mature enough, things will change between them to more serious term and his dragon will feel the need to claim him, a thing he was looking forward to, but for now, he admire his natural beauty, the way he breathed, the way his soft hair cling to his dark blue clothes, the softness of his features and the tempting lips he wanted to kiss so badly.
"Are you alright?" Yi Chen suddenly ask him and Zhu Yan smiled as Yi Chen open his enchanting blue eyes.
"You have take good care of me." He said as he moved close to him.
"Do you still feel pain?" Yi Chen asked as he gladly accepted Zhu Yan's weight over his chest.
"No, is all gone... only my core remain damage." He whisper.
"Sorry about that, but not even I, as I am now, can help you heal your core for good. The only thing I can do is transfer you my energy so you can use it to heal yourself a bit faster."
"It's fine... but as long as the fire is still inside me, it will keep hurting me..." Zhu Yan said as his face was just inches from Yi Chen's.
"I can remove it..."
"I know..."
"But you are still weak."
"I have enough strength to do this."
"It will hurt again."
"Yes, but for just a few seconds. I know you will be very careful, but also fast."
"I assure you that I will do my best on both."
"Of course..."
"Then do we try it now?" Their breath almost tangle together in their closeness.
"Just let me enjoy something first... then we can have some wine as in a date, to make it less life threatening."
"Fine, what do you want now then..."
"You know what..." Zhu Yan smiled just before Yi Chen pull Zhu Yan's head down to kiss him like he haven't before. His heart still ache for having to witness such cruelty and deep inside he wanted to make it up to him for been unable to do nothing more than watch and make him worried, so he kissed him with more than just passion, he kiss him with a heart full of love and gratitude for his selfless act.
In his arms, Zhu Yan melted under such devoted kiss and for a moment he thought that perhaps he will not have to wait until Yi Chen fully matured, if he could kiss him so bewitchingly like that now. He had suffer one of the worst kind of pain just a few hours back, but if it make Yi Chen's feelings flare, then he just gained an extra blessing. One he will make sure to take advantage before it faded completely, so he keep the intensity of the kissing until both of them were out of breath.
Zhu Yan was now basically atop Yi Chen, looking down at him with reflected desire on those beautiful blue eyes that were now a shade of teal. If he push him just a little more to his brink, perhaps their mutual fire could consume them both, but if they lose it completely, then he risked making Yi Chen do things he was yet not ready to control.
"Zhu Yan..." Yi Chen whisper with open desire in his soft voice. It was obvious to him that Yi Chen was open to the possibility of more, his usual cool temperature had changed for full body heat instead, as well as the desire reflected in his brighter eyes.
"I want you... but I guess I'm getting too greedy..." He said and Yi Chen face was instantly flared red. No, he was still not ready for a claim.
"Is this about that mate claim thing you so casually tell me before?" Yi Chen asked a bit confusing. He thought they were already lovers, so what was so different about a change of word?
"It is and yet is not. We better get moving or I will not be the only one consumed by fire tonight. Better finish this when fully aware of what you are doing, which I will explain to you... another day." He said as he get out of bed.
"Wait, why another day? Tell me now..."
"You need to concentrate in your next task, Xiao Zhuo and I assure you that knowing you, if I tell you now, you will not be able to concentrate at all."
"That's unfair, Zhu Yan..." Yi Chen told him as he got out too.
"Don't worry, we have all the time of the world..." Zhu Yan said as he place both his hand at his hips to pull him close and kiss him one more time before they head out, with Yi Chen Cloud Light Sword, shining on his hand.
AN: First, I think that Ying Lei's interruption was a little bit annoying, but I wanted to point that it was kind of weird for Zhu Yan in the drama, who was already committed to guard the Wilderness along with Wen Xiao (his beloved), to actually ask Yichen to protect it along with him instead (do you agree with that too?). Second, I think is time for a little bit of spicy.