“I never told that tiger my name how did he know?”  

This was quietly whispered as not to disturber the sleeping one. The grip on Lian Yuexia's arm got tighter. Making him look to the hand then back to the god. His eyebrows knitted together and a frown, was accompanied by rigged breathing.  

“hey hey Qinglong. Its okay.” Lian Yuexia tried to calm the one in his sleep. But demonic qi started to leak from Qinglong but lian Yuexia couldn't really see it. Qinglong’s head started moving side to side his teeth started to grind together as look of unbearable pain started. 

“ don’t go please...” the voice was soft because it wasn't meant to be heard. Qinglings nails started digging into. Lian Yuexia's causing him to wince.  

“don’t leave… don’t die….please don’t leave me.” Qinglong kept sleep talking his head swinging back and fourth. “don’t burn him…. Alive he is alive….. Don’t kill him” qinglongs voice was straining and weak as he started holding tighter to Lian Yuexia. His nails digging in making the already dirty clothes a darker grey. The pain was bearable because Lian Yuexia had experienced those beating but now they were digging in to deep. 

“Qinglong wake up...” He shook him a little but the response was nothing.  

“Qinglong!” He raised his voice. 

“Zhan Xinyi wake up! Its just a dream its okay.” Lian Yuexia yelled and shook him. Hearing his name being called and the reassurance that it was a dream did he wake and loosen his hold. Raising his hand to his eyes to wipe the sleepiness away 

“Yue Why did you start yelling? I'm sleeping here you know.”  Zhan Xinyi looked at Lian Yuexia whose eyes seemed to become a little wider. The movement in them told him that giving him his cultivation was worth it.  

"you can see now? Can't you" Zhan Xing got closer to look at Lian Yuexia's eyes. Lian Yuexia could see, he could see how under the dirt was clear light tan skin. See black lashes that hid jade eyes almost entrancing him. Lian Yuexia hand raised itself to feel Zhan Xinyi's face. Feeling his cheek, it was cold but what surprised him was the feeling of tiny scales that Lian Yuexia couldn't see.  

"You….” Lian Yuexia started but kept his mouth shut about the nightmare that Zhan Xinyi was having. After realizing that his hand was on the man’s cheek he pulled back with his own cheeks becoming rosy. 

"Would You let me go This position is quite uncomfortable." Lian Yuexia bury the words he wanted to say. The position was really comfortable, but Lian Yuexia hadn't had much contact with anyone. Thus, he was quite shy about being held.  

Zhan Xinyi pulled Lian Yuexia into a tighter hug. “But it is so warm and comfortable for me.” 

When Zhan Xingyi pulled him, it caused the fresh wound to hurt. However, Lian Yuexia had a thin face thus he didn’t show that he was in pain. 

“Master Zhan could you please release me. Being held by a man is not an what I had imagined when you forcibly knocked me out. Now let me go while I’m being nice.” Lian Yuexia was known for his frown in the Qinglianpia sect. In fact, is was so famous that when he went to collect herbs and buy items needed he was call the mourner. 

Zhan Xinyi saw the frown and helped Lian Yuexia stand up. 

“There’s no need to feel uncomfortable. I would never do such a thing to anyone and I never to you especially Yue.”  The God kneeled before Lian Yuexia as if he was waiting for him to say it was okay to get up. The tattered green robes had caught Lian Yuexia eye since they had first met. 

Lian Yuexia was about to say he could get up but then the God banged his head hard against the ground. He stayed like that for a moment. 

“I broke our promise I’m sorry please Yue forgive me. I couldn’t control my bloodlust then.” Zhan Xinyi head broke the stone. Lian Yuexia looked at the god kneeling before him.  

“There is no need for this. I’m not who you want me to be. I’m heading back to my home.” at a slow pace he started to walk away. Zhang Xinyi looked up at the clothes he had found for Lian Yuexia. He watched the pace of which was slower than a turtle.  

Quickly getting up he walked besides Lian Yuexia and slid his arm around his waist. 

“You are him. Just let me help you for now. Until you remember.” Zhan Xinyi helping him did allow Lian Yuexia to walk a tad faster. They walked out of the temple together.  Lian Yuexia’s face was stolid as they walked but on the inside, he was disappointed not in the one helping him but in himself. I apologize that im not the one you really hope for. The thought was cutting into the heart yet no reaction was shown. 

“alright but just help me get to my home. I need to help the Young master recover.” Lian Yuexia stared ahead as he walked. 

They follow the trees that had either handprints or were smashed into. Many breaks were needed as Lian Yuexia needed to catch his breath. Even when sitting he couldn’t quite catch his breath he would start coughing. 

"It seems I have yet to recover. I need my medicine… but that is at..”  Exhaustion came across the pale face. Rubbing his temple Lian Yuexia sighed to himself. His home is where his medicine was the place where he was no longer welcomed.  

"Medicine? What kind have you been taking all this time?" Zhan Xinyi had his hand on his chin thinking on how to make traveling easier for the sickly. 

 
“it’s a blend of herbs my grandmother mixed. I am unsure what is in it exactly but she made enough for a life time and left instructions for when I needed to take them. Just when I get high fevers and extreme weakness” Lian Yuexia stood up again. “I am ready again lets go before night comes. the misunderstood seem to come out more. As for protecting us I don’t have anything.” He slowly trying to make his way to the next marked tree.  

A sigh came Zhan Xinyi as he did a quick jog to take Lian Yuexia’s arm to carry him. Widening his eyes Lian Yuexia looked at the side view of dirty man. I am quite useless right now I shouldn’t argue right now. Lian Yuexia thought to himself.  Zhan Xinyi started running through the woods at a quicker pace with Lian Yuexia on his back.  

“You are not Useless. You have no need for those kinds of thoughts.” Zhan Xinyi muttered it lightly.  

“What was that?” Asked Lian Yuexia  

“Nothing we will get to the village faster this way so it is alright.” Zhan Xinyi glanced back too the stone eyes. They stopped running for a moment as if Zhan Xinyi wanted to say something but bit his tongue about it and continue onwords. Lian Yuexia looked at Zhan Xinyi and the dark black clothes he was wearing that were ripped and torn apart. ‘I wonder if they were a different color?’ Lian Yuexia thought to himself as he stared he notice a well-kept part which was a deep dark red or brown now. 

“which part is that?” Was mumbled into Zhan Xinyi’s ear making it twitch slightly. 

“Which part Yue? what do you mean?” Lian Yuexia hadn’t realized that he had said what he was thinking out loud and with quick thinking he turned his head to look away. 

“What part would Master Zhuque ever like about you? Nothing but a wild beast.” These weren’t the words he wanted to say but he could hardly ever say what he truly wanted to. They had been running at a fast speed so it would only be hours before they reached the village, but Zhan Xinyi had slowed slightly after hearing this. After a while more Zhan Xinyi stopped and put Lian Yuexia on the ground.  

“Since im nothing but a wild beast return yourself Yue. see you in the village.” Zhan Xinyi jumped away leaving Lian Yuexia alone in the mountain to climb the rest of the way up to meet at the village right before Qinglianpai Sect. It felt like Zhan Xinyi had somehow offended the god by calling him a wild beast.  

“Should I have called him a well-kept demonic beast? No no…I shouldn’t have even called him a beast at all. he is a divine being... why did I call him a wild beast? When did my face get so thin.” Lian Yuexia talked to himself aloud almost like he was clearing his thoughts since no one was around he could do so. 

“This is just another one of the many punishments to take again. Haaa.” Shaking his head Lian Yuexia looked ahead and walked towards the village. Lian Yuexia walked quietly and slowly through the rest of the forest he looked around taking in the view.  

He watched as rabbits chewed on crisp green grass. Listened to the chatters of squirrels that ran through the branches of treetops. Every other stop that Lian Yuexia needed to take there would be a deer to spot. Yet a flowery smell caught his attention it was something he often smelled when at the village but didn’t have time to go and see what it was. His nose was quite sensitive to smells as was, Qing DaBai. Thus, Lian Yuexia would always have a fresh pair of clothes and always a piece of dried ginseng tied up in his hair. He smiled remembering the lengths he would go to for his young master he treated like a friend. Lian Yuexia followed the flowery sent to a decent sized pond, lining the pond were wildflowers blooming. Crouching down he looked at them and saw they were filled with spiritual energy while looking around the pond there seemed to be a stream. There were large bulbs in the pond and yellowing almost black stems. The trees lining hid the pond away from the trails and main paths that would be traveled in fact Lian Yuexia believed he had walked a bit further following the scent than he had meant to.  

Wanting to rest Lian Yuexia keeled down and stared at the sight. It was relaxing to him almost to peaceful, this scene felt familiar to him.  The shimmer on the water with the wilting lotus leaves seemed allowed for a phantom to come forth.