Horror seized Zhao Yixuan when he opened his eyes after hearing his brother scream and seeing him fall right in front of him. His body moved on its own as he rushed to reach him before he hit the ground, and by some miracle, he made it just in time. He didn't know what had happened to his brother, but he knew he was suffering, that he was in intense pain, just like when he had those nightmares caused by Bing Yi, which Zhu Yan had assured him he would never have again.
"Xiao Chen! Yichen!" He shook him a little, but his brother just curled up and moaned in pain, clutching his head in Yixuan's lap. Just as he was about to scream for help, Zhu Yan entered the room, his presence was an imposing force that eased Yixuan's heart, because now that he was there, his brother would be okay. Zhu Yan's crimson eyes opened wide at the sight of Yichen slumped in his brother's lap, pale and trembling. With swift grace, he gathers Yichen into his arms, sensing the frantic pulse of energy radiating from him, a chaotic storm that threatened to consume him.
"Yichen, I'm here." He murmurs softly, channeling warmth through their connection as he attempts to stabilize Yichen's core with his own energy, but finds it too chaotic, threatening to spill out the kind of energy that Yichen's human body was not yet ready to absorb immediately. That's because, for some unknown reason, Yichen's core was damaged, with two or three layers of his divine seal cracking, leaking the divine power contained within that was not yet meant to be released. But how? How could something like this happen under his careful watch and protection? There was no one inside the barrier who could undo a god's seal, apart from him, and Yixuan's love for his younger brother was greater than even his own for Yichen.
The brothers had lost their mother at an early age, and their father, with a heart full of grief, was left to care for two boys and an entire household of demon hunters. Since half of the Zhuo's estate was used as an academy, he did not have as much time as he wished to devote to raising his children. Therefore, the relationship that developed between the two brothers was stronger than most, as Yixuan was not only an older brother to Yichen, tending to his every need, but also a full-time father and role model for him. So Yixuan would never do anything to hurt his younger brother, unless... No, he didn't want to believe that he had misjudge him so wrongly.
"What happened, Yixuan?" Zhu Yan asked, still with his eyes closed, trying to repair the damage. Although he knew that a broken layer couldn't be fixed, it could only be stabilized long enough to properly remove it completely, which he planned to do today. However, because of what had happened to him, he now had to undo two or three layers simultaneously, which would put Yichen under great strain, more than he could bear at once.
"I don't know. I was cultivating when I heard him scream, and when I opened my eyes, he was already falling to the ground, and I barely had time to catch him. He was in pain, just like in his previous nightmares." Yixuan replied, eager to find out what was wrong.
"Why were you cultivating so early? Why such a rush? What did Li Lun make you do?" He asked, and this time, Yixuan hesitated. The gift of the flower was something between the two of them, something private, special even, that meant a lot to him, but, of course, it was his brother who was hurt, and he needed to know if it was the flower's unknown power that was hurting him. However, he had had it since the night before and nothing had happened to him, and their cores, although different in some ways, carried the same divine power of Bing Yi's.
"It's the flower I gave him, but I swear, it was just a gift from the Crystal Valley. Something for him to learn how to control cultivation, nothing more." Li Lun said from the open door, the others, close behind him, and Yixuan was glad, because that way he wouldn't have to feel like he had betrayed either the tree demon or his beloved brother.
Hearing this, Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun, trying to discern whether his old friend was acting against him or not. He had granted Li Lun full access to his dimension, thinking that even if he disliked humans, he wouldn't be so stupid as to try to harm them under his protection, let alone his lover's brother, not to mention Yichen, whom he knew was his one and only mate. However, seen that Yixuan was indeed unaffected by whatever had happened to Yichen, or the gifted flower, Zhu Yan was sure that Li Lun hadn't harmed Yixuan, thus nor Yichen, then... why?
"Show it to me." Since the flower had fallen to the ground when Yixuan moved to catch his brother, he was the one who picked it up, once again feeling a certain familiarity, but unsure why.
As soon as Zhu Yan saw it, he recognized that the flower was more than it appeared to be, so he used his Truth Eye on it, to delve deeper into the apparent illusion, but was utterly surprised to find that even his power could not penetrate it. As he concentrated on stabilizing Yichen's erratic core, his eyes fluttering open to reveal a glimmer of clarity amidst the chaos and pain, their eyes meeting briefly, recognition flickering in Yichen's gaze as fragments of his nightmare appeared, visions of Bing Yi hidden within a Crystal Valley.
"Zhu Yan... Bing Yi..." Yichen whispered breathlessly and Zhu Yan stared back at the flower in Yixuan's hand then at Yichen.
"Did you remember?" He asked softly and despite all the pain, Yichen assented and cling to him in search for some relief from his pain. His core was a mess, his meridians unable to contain the flow of energy escaping from his sealed core, his body was in a state of hot and cold mix that was threatening to rip him apart.
"Yes... I know... where he is... help me..." The request was unnecessary, of course, because Zhu Yan would do anything to help his beloved, he would move heaven and earth for him, but undoing so many layers at once was like sending him to an early death. It took a lot of energy to try to contain Bing Yi's divine power, because although he was close, he was not yet a god.
"Zhu Yan, let me help him! I promise, I can do it!" Bai Jiu pushed his way through the crowd gathered at the door. As he was the shortest of them all, he had been forced to jump up and down to try to see what was happening in Zhuo Yixuan room. However, upon hearing his Xiao Zhuo Ge call for help, he pushed his way through and finally saw the man he admired like a brother on the floor, with traces of cold energy slightly freezing it, while his brother was sweating.
"Now I can perform traceless healing. I just fond out that my blood not only had the ability to grow plants, but also had healing properties that restored damage, and I accidentally did it last night, so I'm not saying this without checking first. Please, Zhu Yan, let me help my Ge." Bai Jiu pleaded, and Yichen, still half-conscious and half-awake, nodded in approval. He trusted Bai Jiu as much as he did the others or even more so.
"I think you should know first that this isn't an ordinary healing, nor an easy task. I'm a great demon, one step away from becoming a god, and containing his divine power is taking its toll on me... Can you hold on? You're still human and you could end up damaging your own core as well." He warned Bai Jiu, but Yixuan placed a hand on the young healer's shoulder and smiled at him.
"I can transfer my energy to you, if yours isn't enough. You can have all of mine, if it helps my brother recover." Yixuan said.
"Then I'll offer mine too. Of all of you, my energy is the strongest, and if this happens because of me..."
"It's not your fault, Li Lun... it's fate. I can see that everything is falling into place now." Yixuan told him as Li Lun sat between the two.
"What do you mean?" He asked in confusion.
"There will be time for that later, Zhu Yan. Can it be done this way?" Yixuan asked, and Zhu Yan looked at Li Lun for a moment.
"It can, but Bai Jiu is very young and new to cultivation. If Li Lun give him too much energy, he'll be overwhelmed, and that will only further destabilize Yichen's core. I think it will work best if you, Yixuan, transfer your energy to Bai Jiu, but only when necessary, and Li Lun can transfer it to you when yours is depleted. You have the strongest divinity so far, so you should be able to to handle Li Lun's demonic energy, and safely transferring it Bai Jiu."
"Alright." Yixuan nodded, and Li Lun moved to place himself behind the young healer and Yixuan.
"Are you ready?" Zhu Yan asked Bai Jiu, who nodded seriously. Zhu Yan then, untied Yichen's belt and opened his robes to get them out of the way and was shocked to find ice mark on Yichen's chest, were his core was growing longer with its icy blue shine.
"Cut your finger and draw this symbol on his chest, right over his core." Zhu Yan instructed as he used a spell on Bai Jiu to show him the seal and how to make it.
"I got it." Bai Jiu said as he cut his finger with his mouth and drew blood, carefully creating a seal over Yichen's core with his blood, making sure not to tremble while he did it, even if he was quite nervous, but he could not risk making a mistake so he concentrate in his task, trying his best to not mind his brother pain, the way his body tensed under his touch, like he was drawing lines of fire over his skin.
Zhuo Yichen's body got hotter in Zhu Yan's arms, every breath shallow, and he held him firmly, demonic energy unfurling around them like a dark storm, straining to cage the wild surges of power, muttering the spell he now knew by heart, so undo the layer that could not be repair as it was already too broken to be fixed. His jaw was clenched, his hair turning pure white, his eyes as crimson as the fresh blood Bai Jiu use on him, traces of his demonic marks covering his cheek, his concentration on Yichen's core.
"It will be alright, Yichen... hang in there." He mutter low, a voice trembling with a hint of fear, despite his reassurance. At his side, Bai Jiu worked carefully on the containment seal, his fingers pressed to the radiant ice marks that were spreading in Yichen's chest, focusing on tracing the damage core, the cracks on it, the second layer and third were damage, but he was sure he could mend them.
"Leave the second layer and third to me, Zhu Yan... they are not as badly damage as the first one." Bai Jiu said and Zhu Yan agree. Then, Bai Jiu's blood glowed faintly as it flowed, infused with the divine gift of restoration. The blood sank into Yichen's broken seals like rain into parched earth, softening, knitting, coaxing life back into the cracks that threatened to consume him.
The clash of forces was suffocating to Yichen, heavenly light fighting to burn free, demonic shadows binding it tight, and Bai Jiu's healing essence threading between the two like the fragile balance of dawn and dusk. Yet, he pressed himself like never before, his breath came fast, sweat sliding down his temple with the strain of the effort to mend a god's core, then Yixuan was there too, his golden aura covering Bai Jiu like a cloak, replenishing his depleted energy, filling his very core with his divinity, warm and gentle, but also strong.
Yichen's lips parted, a faint groan escaping, his body shuddering with pain. Zhu Yan's grip tightened, his forehead pressed to Yichen's, as though by sheer closeness he could pour strength into him and anchored him. His body was pulsing with demonic power, red energy rolling over Yichen's skin like smoke, containing divine waves as Bai Ji worked to mend his core, their energies entwining in a delicate balance of healing and protection. His dark energy was like a wall, strong and unyielding, but also softer and protecting, desperate love taking form to keep his beloved alive.
"Stay with me, Yichen, I won't let you go." Zhu Yan's voice was low, a whisper against his lips, desperate and broken and Yichen endure the agony, the pain, the destruction and reconstruction of his core, the mix of energy clashing inside him, he clench his teeth, close his hands in fists as his body burned from the inside out, his yes shining with an intense blue, just like the ice tattoos on his chest.
Yichen's vision was swimming in light and shadows, his pulse thundering in his ears, but when he felt Zhu Yan's breath against his skin, when he heard the raw edge of panic in his voice, it brought him back to reality. He wanted to say something, to tell Zhu Yan that he would fight to survive for him too, but the words wouldn't come. If he open his mouth, only screams will leave his throat, so he keep himself quiet. He keep himself conscious despite the intense pain that wanted to claim him back to darkness.
Then, Bai Jiu's healing energy was there, coming stronger, as Yixuan channel Li Lun's energy into him too, his bloody palm pressed against Yichen's broken core, the healing essence flowing from him like a river of light. His divine power was soft, gentle, like the brush of a feather against skin and with it, the seal finally began to hum, as though it remembered how to be whole again.
Bai Jiu's gaze met Zhu Yan's, and there was something unspoken between them, an understanding, the seal was mending, so both of them press themselves harder, Zhu Yan also giving him some of his strength. They were all trying to save Yichen, tied to him in ways deeper than any of them could fully grasp. Zhu Yan leaned closer to Yichen, his lips brushing over his lover's brow, brushing away a strand of dark hair.
"I love you, everything will be over soon." He whispered. The words were too soft, barely audible, but the sincerity in them, were a lifeline for Yichen to hold on. He believe in them, he could feel how their effort was paying off, his pain lessen, his burning started to cool off, his desire to trow up was fading and the divine energy coming back to were it belong.
Bai Jiu's blood mixed with the divine light that poured from Yixuan's body, which was taking in Li Lun's own, oddly gently, weaving around them in a delicate balance. Yichen could hear the soft thrum of Bai Jiu's healing, the warmth of Zhu Yan's hands gripping his own, grounding him. He felt the weight of their love, their care and he knew that as long as they were there, he would live.
A final pulse of energy surged through Yichen's body, but this time, it was different. It was controlled, steady. Bai Jiu's divine blood had sealed the rifts and Zhu Yan's power had held the divinity at bay long enough for Yichen to recover. And with that final push, the seals began to close, the broken threads of divine power woven back together.
Yichen's body went still for a moment with a sigh, and Zhu Yan's heart nearly stopped. But then, then his lover's eyes fluttered open, filled with an overwhelming mix of exhaustion and relief. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I'm not going anywhere guys... there so much... to be done..." He murmured, his voice a rasp of warmth. Zhu Yan's chest heaved in a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. His hand cupped Yichen's face, brushing away the remnants of sweat from his lover's skin.
"Damn right..." Zhu Yan said, his voice hoarse but full of fierce affection and then he kiss him, softly, just a kiss to welcome him back, to reward him for resisting, for trusting in them, for not giving up, for staying with him.
Bai Jiu's face was pale but held both pride and happiness to see the two kiss, even if he looked away as the two shared their quiet moment. He had done it, he had saved the man who meant so much to him, the young man who had saved his life so long ago, he had repaid his kindness, his lifelong debt of gratitude. Because of that, his eyes filled with tears, unstoppable tears of joy, and before he knew it, a pair of warm arms embraced him from his back, pulling him against a familiar scent of spices, and he hugged Ying Lei back, sobbing.
"Xiao Jiu... you did it... you saved your brother... everyone did it." Ying Lei said, and Yichen's hand grabbed the smaller one and squeezed it lightly.
"Thank you... Didi... I owe you this time..." And then, Bai Jiu threw himself into Yichen's chest, who was still being held by Zhu Yan, but he didn't care. He was so scared of losing his Ge, his savior, his idol, the reason he was still alive, the reason he became a demon hunter at such a young age, and of awakening his divine blood that could save more lives. He cried, but Zhu Yan hugged them both, glad that the nightmare was finally over... at least for now.
He looked at Yixuan and Li Lun, knowing they would understand his meaning. They had found Bing Yi's location, but getting there wouldn't be easy, and the mystery of the flower still remained, as Zhu Yan was certain it held the key to something greater. As Yixuan said, it all fell into place if you thought about it more carefully.
It all began with Nuwa befriending the divine beast dragon, Bing Yi. Then, Bing Yi fell in love with his father Ying Long, the only demon god, also the one with the power of creation. The three blessed an energy anomaly, from which he was born. Then, despite the fact that demons were mostly solitary, he befriended Li Lun. They became best friends and traveled the world together for centuries, until war broke out, where Ying Long sacrificed himself, and so did Bing Yi.
Li Lun and he too separated and the tree demon remained in the demon world, but came back to challenge him every few centuries, keeping alive the only connection between the two realms. Then Li Lun warns Zhu Yan that something is stirring in the demon world (likely related to Cheng Huang, who is close to be released). He finds the brothers and invites them to stay at his mansion. He fall in love with the youngest, and Yixuan is warn that his fate is tied to Li Lun, who arrived shortly after, just as predicted. Then Yixuan casts the spell that sets their destinies in motion in the heavens and hook Li Lun strong enough for him to stay.
The celebration is born, along with the exchange of gifts, and Li Lun goes to the valley to pick the flower for Yixuan, having no other place to choose a gift. Yixuan accepts it and cultivates it, awakening Yichen's memory upon seeing the flower, finally remembering where Bing Yi is. Everything was connected from the beginning of time, and Yichen's damaged core was also part of a larger plan. The flower was meant to release the power damaging his divine core, which in turn drove Bai Jiu to try and repair it, something they would desperately need if they wanted to enter the demon world... because no simple human could stand a chance there.
Therefore, the flower was the key... it was connected to both Bing Yi and Yichen, and moreover, it revealed that Yixuan's power ran deeper than he initially believed. A blessing from three gods gave birth to an anomaly like him... the brothers divided their power, Yixuan's spell was heavenly, his aura strangely golden and warm, while Bing Yi's was blue and cold, his divinity too strong even without a single layer being undone... the spell that no human could perform without first learning it, and even then it should have been impossible to cast without being affected... the flower's power, which also didn't affect him, even when only been nearby, nearly killed Yichen. Then there was the natural way he so skillfully channeled Li Lun's pure energy, even though it was his first time...
Nuwa, Bing Yi, his father, Li Lun, him... the brothers... the difference in their powers, Yixuan, the golden aura, the impossible understanding of celestial spells... and even more so, an impossible and flawless way of channeling the demonic energy of an unknown great demon, the flower, the awakening of Bai Jiu... humans with divine powers... Nuwa, who suggested it... Nuwa, Bing Yi... the connection to the heavens...
Zhu Yan's eyes widened as he finally understood what he had been missing. Ever since he'd been working on his core, something felt off, as if he was missing something, and he had. He looked at Yixuan in astonishment, internally kicking himself for not seeing it sooner; it was so obvious that it was stupid to overlook it. There was no true split of power between the brothers, it was simply that the eldest inherited more than one, developing a mix of the two... he was a human anomaly, born with the blessing of two gods, as somehow, he carries the blood of both Bing Yi and Nuwa.
AN: Ooops, revelation time! I hope you like this one, I have insisted in pointing the difference between the two from the start, so here is why. Also the flower is more important than they thought. Can you guess why? Until next time, please take care.