"I'm sure there's something you're not telling me," Zhang Wang slammed the wine bowl down on the table, glaring at Chu Changying's red-tinged face.
She only smirked at him, "What, my little Shidi dares accuse me of underhanded methods? How dare he. This Shijie of his is as pure as a celestial lotus. Have you long forgotten about my sweet and loving character? This Shijie is so pitiful to have you as her Shidi."
Outside, the moon was already full and hours had gone by where they had talked about nothing. Chu Changying was a lot more agreeable and playful after a few cups of wine and this was how Zhang Wang liked her best.
She even reached over and massaged his cheeks, "My cute little Shidi! I missed you so much~ Did you really believe you could run away from your lovely Shijie? Next time you try, I'll have you gutted!"
And though there was a loving smile plastered on her face, Zhang Wang couldn't help but laugh nervously. Sometimes he couldn't tell if she was more honest when drunk or maybe she was just the type who liked to blurt out weird nonsense.
Zhang Wang decided to equate it to the latter so he didn't have to think about it too much. "Ouch, that hurts! If I die, won't Shijie miss me even more? Ahh please spare me," he whined playfully while swatting her arms away.
The alcohol that buzzed in his veins was pleasant. Just enough to ease the sense of anxiety but not enough to smite away reason. It was coming time for him to leave.
Zhang Wang pushed himself up and watched as Chu Changying's lip jutted into a pout, "You're leaving? Why would you leave me? It's been so long since we've seen each other and you're already leaving? What a terrible Shidi!"
He rolled his eyes and decided this was definitely going to be something he could tease her about later. "Don't complain, jiejie. We'll see each other tomorrow, I already made you a promise that I'd help."
She sniffled a little, "Yeah, you did. You better keep your promise."
Feeling a little sorry, Zhang Wang clumsily cleaned after himself before taking his leave. Chu Changying was grumbling something after him but he decided to pretend not to hear as he slipped out of the room.
Surprisingly, Yinsi was still lively even at night. It'd been years since Zhang Wang had seen the city with this much vigor. The streets were lined with vendors, the scent of oily foods saturated the air.
Just down the street was another inn, a sadder, smaller and more decrepit looking place. The tiles had peeling paint and the wind chimes bore signs of rust. No one greeted him as he entered and there was a strong scent of cheap incense, old men and wine. A wet musk and old sweat stung the nose.
Zhang Wang paid no mind to the gossiping middle aged men and women in the lobby and ran up to the second floor, searching for the room he had rented out.
A thick layer of concealment spells wrapped around the room, Zhang Wang's paranoia and strict habits still remained from his days hiding in the midst of demonic troops.
It was only after sliding inside, he was able to catch the scent of Yu Yanlin's presence. The demon king was sitting up on one of the small beds provided in the claustrophobic room. It was as if he was meditating but demons did not need to meditate, did they? Zhang Wang had never caught such a habit before, not ever during his time as a spy.
But it was hard to tell if Yu Yanlin was really aware or not, with the blindfold over his face still. The tips of his hair were already turning silver-white. They hadn't shared a single kiss since leaving Mount Hannu.
"You don't have to wear that in here. It's safe, you know?" Zhang Wang pointed out, though he couldn't really admit that he preferred to see the demon's eyes than not.
Yu Yanlin was slow to respond and Zhang Wang almost believed that he had fallen asleep sitting up. "I know."
"...Then why are you still wearing it?"
"I've grown used to it."
And Zhang Wang grimaced a little when he noticed that Yu Yanlin was still not removing the blindfold. So he turned around and took out the small jewelry box that Chu Changying had entrusted him with.
Six months ago, he would have upset being tasked with a request as such, to guard a present prepared for Sikong Ren. But he supposed it was only natural. Chu Changying, while a good friend of his, was just another woman caught up in the insatiable magnitude that was Mr. Protagonist.
He opened the top of the box revealing a beautiful jade ornament. Zhang Wang had never been so bewitched by a treasure before but there was something about this one that emitted a low enchanting hum.
Zhang Wang almost reached out and touched it before slamming the box shut. He grimaced at it, suddenly unsurprised that there was someone after Chu Changying's life for a thing like this.
"I saw my Shijie today," Zhang Wang sighed, "We'll meet up with her tomorrow and go to Xunfeng Peak."
"Alright."
Zhang Wang sighed and turned around. Luckily, Yu Yanlin was finally moving to remove the blindfold. Two sapphire eyes looked up at him, calm and sharp.
Mouth dry, Zhang Wang tried to wet his lips. The elephant in the room was staring right at him. Argh.
Yu Yanlin's aura was surprisingly calm, his demonic energy seemed tamed, tranquil and mixed with Zhang Wang's own.
It was a little strange but didn't change the fact that this person was obviously a demon that Zhang Wang was trying to bring to Xunfeng Peak.
Ugh, this was truly a conundrum.
Though, Zhang Wang had seen after their passionate night in Beast Master Wei's home, Yu Yanlin was reasonably passable for a human.
…Which meant they had to do that again.
Ugh.
Zhang Wang was tormented with polarizing emotions. Excitement tingled his nerves from the memory of their last shared night. The pleasure was so terrible and intense… Zhang Wang felt dizzy as he recalled.
But what had to be done, needed to be done.
"Yanlin," He said, "We have to do something about your appearance… To sneak you into Xunfeng." He coughed awkwardly as he took a seat on the bed opposite of Yu Yanlin.
Yu Yanlin nodded. "Of course." Obediently he rose and walked to Zhang Wang and knelt.
Slender fingers prodded at his sash. The arm was tranquil and warm.
A sigh escaped Zhang Wang's lips and instinctively he wrapped his hand around Yu Yanlin's head, combing through soft hair. "How are you okay with this?"
Those pink lips wrapped around his erection, a brow raised upward. A tongue, seeming more eager than Zhang Wang would expect flicked the underside of his length. "It is necessary. I don't mind it."
"...Are you not ashamed?"
Laughter came out as a hum around his cock and it felt way better than it should have. Zhang Wang held back a groan.
"What is shameful about pleasure? Hm, to put simply, I am not bothered by indulgence. Something like this is normal."
"..." Zhang Wang could not understand this kind of logic. And it was not as if demons had no concept of face. Actually, from his experience, they were even more extreme.
Rumor had it that Yu Yanlin as the Cruel White King was pristine in his reputation among demons. This generally meant that he was exceptionally terrible. Exceptionally fearful and merciless.
Which really begged how he could kneel so readily without a single sliver of hesitation with his pretty mouth wrapped around Zhang Wang's cock.
But his question went unanswered. And unlike the first two times he had Yu Yanlin's mouth wrapped around him, this experience was a lot more calm and mellow. He did not reach over and offered to give relief to the other.
Zhang Wang's mind was too busy traveling up to the clouds.
Climax came to curl his toes and the Immortal of a Thousand Blossoms felt his lash flutter, a sigh of satisfaction slipping out his lips. When Yu Yanlin pulled away there was a stain of white on his lips. Unthinking, Zhang Wang reached over to wipe it off. The eyes that looked up at him were brown.
"I still need an excuse to bring you along with me."
Yu Yanlin rose from his knees and raised a brow, "Isn't there a simple solution to that?"
"Is there?"
Apparently, there was.