Hu Qin Shi (Lan Ying)

A cold wind blows stinging snow through the narrow window. In the corner of a half-collapsed hut, a short young man sits with his arms wrapped around his legs tucked up to his chest. Despite the darkness of the room, frost glitters on his disheveled raven-colored hair in the rays of the occasionally peeping moon.  

Chilled, thin fingers are hidden in the long, blue sleeves of the Clan's hanfu. Hu Qin Shi is no longer crying. Tears that severely burn your cheeks do not bring salvation from cold and hunger. His stomach is no longer growling, it just aches against the background of a severe headache. One single word escapes his chapped lips, and he whispers it barely audible, like a prayer:

— Li Shing. 

The young man remembered his father, and a little earlier his mother, but neither of them were alive and there was no one to help him. Only his brother, with whom he seemed to have lived his whole life. Distant memories of his parents were so deep in his consciousness that they could only visit him at such moments when there was no hope of salvation, fear had soaked into his skin and settled deep inside his young body.

It was not by chance that he ended up in this cold place; he was kidnapped, as he had been many times before. The accompanying people were mercilessly killed, staining the white snow with blood, and if the consequences of this picture had not been so dire for him, Qin Shi would love to watch the scarlet blood flowers bloom.

He didn’t resist the kidnappers, there was no point, he couldn’t have fought back against trained warriors even if he wanted to, and the realization of his weakness brought a stone to his chest.

Hu Qin Shi was thrown into a hut, and the only food they brought him every day was a bowl of half-raw, cold porridge, with more water than rice. But it was also necessary, he realized how hard and cold it was to drink snow. He tried to count the days he spent here, but he slept for a short time, and there was too little light, and due to his lack of experience, he simply lost count, not even reaching seven.

The young man shuddered from the unexpected noise and shouts behind the door, waking up, and barely had time to understand that something had happened, when the door opened. A familiar figure with a high ponytail rushed to him, hugging him. The unusual reaction of his own body surprised him, he jerked as if from fear. Tears burned his white cheeks, and his hands clasped the manly neck of the one who entered. Burying his nose in the warmth, he whispered in his ear:

— Li Shing, forgive me.

He asks for forgiveness for being weak and not wanting to fix it, so that he would always end up in strong hands. He believed and knew that his brother would save him and would not leave the kidnappers unpunished. Lan Ying wants to be weak, so that he, like now, would be hugged and wrapped in his cloak, seated next to him on a horse and held tightly.

The road home is long, but all this time the young man will hug his older brother and hide tears of joy on his broad chest. And let him scold, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that they are together again.

Not much time has passed since that incident, but the warmth of his home quickly smooths out all the troubles. Outside the door, servants and adepts of the Clan shuffle back and forth on the stone floor, soon there will be a holiday in the Citadel of the Dark Tide. It will certainly be crowded and beautiful, as customs require.

A ray of sun glides along the far edge of the table, Hu Qin Shi watches it without taking his eyes off, sitting with a cup of tea in his hands. The sleeves, without a single wrinkle, lay on the knees, and the draft easily sways the hair.

One could rejoice at such perseverance of his, because even when doing calligraphy, he does not sit still, but constantly paces around the room, catching scattered things here and there with his exquisite hem, kicking them with his foot, and each time promising to clean up another time. 

Lan Ying was thinking about going to the market. His older brother's birthday was coming up soon, and he needed to buy a gift. After much thought, he chose a book. While looking around the shop for a long time, he heard a conversation between a merchant and a customer, who were discussing a treatise on love.

Interested, the young man asked the shopkeeper about it. He laughed, but after offering a couple of coins, he gave what he asked for. Opening the book, Qin Shi began to look at the pictures, then imagined what was drawn and winced, only his scarlet cheeks showed interest. Remembering the embrace of Dao Ming's strong arms, he thought and asked if there was a similar book about men's love. Again, he had to put silver in his palm so that what he wanted would be in his hands. 

Remembering the purchase, he took it out of his sleeve, opened it and began to study the first drawing. He reads the text, but the lump in his throat does not allow him to breathe calmly. His chest was pounding from the fact that he imagined how his brother would hug him just like in the picture, kiss him the way it was written.

His hands were sweating more with each page, his breathing was ragged, and an excited organ in his lower abdomen was pulling and demanding to be touched. He didn't keep track of the time, it was so fascinating to read. Suddenly, with a single knock, the door to the chambers opened. The purchased book fell from the hands of the frightened young man. He reached out to pick it up, but was stopped by a deep voice.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

The reception time was approaching steadily. Every day he had to deal with a bunch of cases in the Order and solve problems that poured out like millet from a leaky sack. The cemetery near Bailing rose up, people began to disappear en masse in the forest, evil spirits climbed from the mountains and ravaged three villages. Of course, the Hu Clan could not remain aloof.

For the safety of his brother, it was necessary to strengthen the posts in the fortress and assign guards to him. A few days before the celebration, having finished his work earlier than usual, Dao Ming listened to the evening report of Qin Shi's guards.

Today, surprisingly, he was not sitting at home, but was at the market. Nothing unusual, if not for one moment. Why did Shi leave the shop in embarrassment?

The man left his chambers and, lost in thought about another problem, did not notice how he reached the younger man's room. Knocking briefly, he opened the door and stopped at the threshold. Watching with surprise how the young man's cheeks turned red, he turned his gaze to the book lying at his feet.

— What is this? — After waiting a bit, he came up and, picking up the volume, walked over to the pillows lying by the window, sitting down on them.

— Should I wait long for an answer to my question? — Dao Ming frowned and turned over several pages, glancing briefly at the contents. 

Hu Qin Shi (Lan Ying)

The thoughts in head were confused by the unexpected visit, which happened so inopportunely. The brother came over, bent down to pick up the book, and Shi's hands rose on their own, wanted to hug the man, hang on his neck and make him forget about everything except him.

The young man looked after the powerful figure, everything inside was confused, the conversation did not promise to be short. Dao Ming clearly saw what it was, so what kind of answer was he waiting for? Clenching his damp palms, he stood for a moment, searching for an answer, and turned to the seated man, lowering his head. 

— I don't know, I found it, I didn't look at it, I just picked it up. Li Shing, I don't know what to answer and what answer you're expecting, — covering  blue eyes with long eyelashes, he curses himself for the stupidest answer he could have come up with.

He wants to scold himself for not hearing the steps, engrossed in reading, to disappear from the room and never be seen again until his brother forgets this damned book.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

A barely noticeable smile touched his lips. The explanations sounded ridiculous.

— An interesting find. And where did you find it? — tapping his finger on the cover, Dao Ming continued to examine the blushing youth.

He wanted to hug and reassure, stroke his tousled hair...

— Come here, — pointing to the pillow next to him, he sighed heavily, — I know that you bought it today while you were walking. Maybe you can tell me what for?

Hu Qin Shi (Lan Ying)

It’s hard to stand, your legs can barely hold you up, and all because Qin Shi realizes the absurdity of his own answer. Hearing the invitation, with short steps, with the rustling of heavy fabrics, he walked up and sank to the indicated place, without raising his head, and bit his lip. The excuse turned out to be completely empty.

The brother knew and, knowing, asked for an answer, and received... a lie?

Taking a deep breath, he folded his hands on his knees, sitting with a perfectly straight back, as if it was not him that the mentors were complaining about. He looks at the book in Ming's hands and barely audibly squeezes the truth out of his own mouth:

— Sorry, Li Shing. I wanted to buy you a present and... I went to the bookstore, I liked... sorry, I don't know, I got curious, — he almost whined, clenching his fists, scratching his delicate skin with his nails.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

— So, stop. I realized that you wanted to buy me a present. And in the end I bought this, but the library has similar ones. If you were so interested, you could have asked me, — putting the book aside, Dao Ming hugged the young man. Feeling how he tensed, he barely smiled and whispered in his ear:

— Well, how did you like the pictures?

Running his hand along his tense back, he felt his brother’s breathing falter. Without letting go of the hug, he carefully lifted his chin with his fingers and looked into his eyes, expecting an answer.

Hu Qin Shi (Lan Ying)

Wet hands left marks on the fabric. Covering them, he listens, trying to remember what is in the library, but he doesn’t remember books of this kind, and didn’t notice the hugs behind his thoughts.

The closeness took his breath away, he grabbed the fabric on broad back tighter, his nose buried in his chest. Trying to breathe again, he felt fingers easily passing over him and closed his eyes. 

The question that sounded over his ear confused him even more. Either from the question itself, or from the closeness, his heart was ready to burst out of his chest. Once again he wanted to lie, to say that he didn’t like it, but being in an embrace, he most of all wanted to admit that he liked it, even a lot. 

Lifted by the chin, the young man looked into the eyes and, swallowing the lump in his throat, only nodded in response.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

Ming looked at his brother with curiosity. The shining, moist eyes looked at him in such a way that he had no doubts about the young man's desires. And this only confirmed the correctness of the decision - to send Qin Shi to Baishan. He had been sitting in his room for too long, and there he would make friends, and such thoughts would leave his head. A knock on the door broke the prolonged silence, and the spellcaster rose with relief.

The young adept, hovering impatiently at the door, brought bad news. In the village, which was located between the fortress and the forest, people also began to disappear. Mostly young men and women who had reached marriageable age.

After releasing the messenger, Dao Ming looked gloomily at the younger.

— Shi, stay in your chambers. The servants will bring you everything you need. I almost forgot, — he took a box from his sleeve and put it on the table, — this is for you.

And without waiting for an answer, he left the room.

Hu Qin Shi (Lan Ying)

Through the heap of emotions, as if from afar, he heard a knock. He tried to listen. Ming was saying something, and they were timidly answering him. Again, some problems...

The door closed, the retreating steps left him alone with his thoughts, which were spinning around the words of his older. 

The eyes came across an alluring box on the table. He had to get up to solve the mystery of the contents. He extended his hand and opened it.

Two fans, reflections of each other, fell into the hands. A pleasant caress passed over his fingers, they responded to his touch. Having composed the simplest spell, he put in just a little magical energy, and one of the fans opened with a quiet sound of metal. Opening his eyes wide, Qin Shi looked at the thin blade, squealing softly in pleasure. 

Examining the gift, perhaps the best one in 18 years, he folded and unfolded them a few more times, noticing how each one reacted. Zui He and Yun Xu, the names sounded clearly in his head.

The young man shifted the fans from hand to hand many times until he decided which one should be in which hand. The new toys make him so happy, that he didn’t even notice how deep night had come.