After a short while, Shen Yan returned.
"I have passed on the message. However, Senior Zhai said they need some time to consider it."
Xuan Yang twisted his fingers together anxiously, his heart set against letting those two face off with a fellow like the Phoenix Emperor.
"Let’s go," the Phoenix Emperor said with a nod, addressing Xuan Yang.
"Go? Go where?" Xuan Yang looked at him, bewildered.
"Back to the Phoenix Clan, naturally. You damaged public property and injured several of your elder brothers; you were meant to be severely punished. But since you have only just returned to the clan, I shall waive it this once. Do not let it happen again."
Xuan Yang ground his teeth. "It’s already good enough that I’m not demanding *they* be punished! The Phoenix Clan doesn't welcome us anyway, so why should I go back? I can cultivate just as well out here, and I won't have to worry about being backstabbed by my own kin while in seclusion."
"Do not speak such nonsense. When have your brothers ever backstabbed you?"
"You know perfectly well what they’ve done." The memory made Xuan Yang’s blood boil, and he didn't care to explain further.
Seeing his stubbornness, the Phoenix Emperor realized that no matter how he commanded, the boy refused to follow him back. Knocking him unconscious and taking him back by force would be as easy as turning over his hand, but this was, after all, the biological son who pleased him in every respect. The Phoenix Emperor hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing not to strain their father-son relationship any further.
The Phoenix Emperor shot a cold glance at Shen Yan. He knew he could kill this human with a single finger. But if he did, Xuan Yang—whose heart was currently pinned entirely on the man—would only become more obsessed. The Emperor figured Xuan Yang was still young and had only just discovered the pleasures of the bedroom; surely, as time passed, his interest would wane. When that happened, he could simply introduce him to some exceptionally beautiful women of the Yao tribes.
Xuan Yang certainly didn't want to go back, but he was actually quite nervous about repeatedly snapping at the Phoenix Emperor’s demands. He kept a secret eye on the Emperor’s reactions, terrified that the man might take his frustration out on Shen Yan.
Unless absolutely forced, he never wanted to take Shen Yan back to that place again. The grudge of nearly losing Shen Yan wasn't something that could be settled by a mere beating.
To the surprise of both Xuan Yang and Shen Yan, the Phoenix Emperor finally relented. Though he looked displeased, he didn't force them to return. He simply stated that once the man named Nie Shiyun arrived in the Upper Realm, Xuan Yang should bring him to an audience.
Before leaving, he casually tossed a large pile of Immortal Crystals to Xuan Yang, telling him to clean himself up and mind his appearance while abroad. If he heard news that Xuan Yang was embarrassing the Phoenix Clan out in the world, he would personally come to lock him back up within the clan.
"...Dammit. Think you're so great just because you're rich?"
Only after confirming several times that the Phoenix Emperor had truly departed did Xuan Yang curse under his breath. However, he had to admit that he and Shen Yan were currently short on funds; whether for cultivation or purchasing protective talismans and treasures, they were stretched thin.
"Immortal Crystals are good things, regardless," Shen Yan said.
"True. He hasn't paid a cent of child support since I was born anyway, so these crystals are nothing in comparison." Thinking this way, Xuan Yang felt less annoyed. Who would refuse money? Muttering to himself, he obediently put the Immortal Crystals away.
Shen Yan looked around his empty cave dwelling and sighed. Since two people were living here now, he decided he would go to the town tomorrow to buy some cinnabar for drawing Spirit Gathering Arrays, making their cultivation more efficient.
"What about traveling and seeing the sights?" Xuan Yang lamented. Why was it cultivation back at the Phoenix Clan, and still cultivation now that they were out?
"You haven't traveled the Upper Realm yet. The territory here is vast, and one often encounters high-grade demonic beasts. With our current cultivation levels, it's better to stay in one place for now and focus on our progress."
Hearing Shen Yan speak like this, Xuan Yang felt like he was back in his childhood being lectured, his face twisting in mock agony.
"I know, I know. Anyway, as long as we're living together, I'm satisfied. If I get the chance to see those bastards again in the future, I'm definitely going to punch their bird-beaks out of alignment."
Shen Yan remained noncommittal, though he held a grudge as well. However, since they were the Phoenix Emperor's sons, it was impossible to kill or maim them; he could only use "sibling rivalry" as an excuse to vent his frustrations.
Xuan Yang suddenly remembered something and asked with a puzzled expression, "By the way, don't you think my arrogant, deadbeat dad... seemed to have become a lot easier to talk to?"
Shen Yan thought for a moment and analyzed, "Everyone knows he is very satisfied with his own appearance. You look so much like him now, and compared to your incompetent elder brothers, you—who advanced so easily in just a few decades—must be very much to his liking."
Xuan Yang didn't even hear the second half of the sentence; his mind wandered off somewhere else entirely. He leaned in and hugged Shen Yan tightly, fretting, "Even though we look alike, you absolutely cannot have even a tiny bit of a good impression of him because of that!"
"Are you insane?" Shen Yan responded calmly and succinctly.
Xuan Yang rubbed against him. "I know you won't. But I'm just worried. Look, it took so much effort for me to win you over. If someone else snatched you away, I'd die of grief."
"...How could that happen," Shen Yan’s voice grew lower and lower, his words almost swallowed in his throat. "Who else besides a fellow like you would be interested in someone like me..."
"What was that?" Xuan Yang was enjoying Shen Yan's embrace and hadn't listened closely. Hearing only a string of blurred sounds, he immediately leaned in to listen better.
Shen Yan said no more, turning his head away to change the subject. "Alright, it's broad daylight; stop being so clingy. If you have the energy, get up and help tidy the cave. If Senior Nie and the other truly come to the Upper Realm, we should invite them over for a visit."
His attention diverted, Xuan Yang immediately forgot to press him about the words he hadn't caught. He expressed some surprise. "You're actually taking the initiative to invite them over?" After all, Shen Yan was someone they all recognized as instinctively rejecting all social interaction.
"Well, they are the ones who raised you, after all. Although I never intended to view them as elders before, since things have turned out this way, I should at least..." Shen Yan grew a bit flustered as he spoke, regretting that he had brought it up.
Hearing this, Xuan Yang beamed like a flower, hugging Shen Yan and showering him with kisses.
Though having to call Nie Shiyun "Father" to his face would be more painful than slapping himself twice, if Shen Yan wanted to officially meet his "family" as his Dao companion, then letting the man play that role briefly wasn't entirely out of the question... Xuan Yang thought silently.
As for what "business" the Phoenix Emperor wanted to discuss, he and Shen Yan were completely in the dark. However, Zhai Bairong and Nie Shiyun seemed to have an idea. Xuan Yang had originally wanted to warn them not to come, but on second thought, if those two had made a decision, it meant they were determined to succeed. His advice wouldn't mean much.
Furthermore, he didn't think Nie Shiyun would come out on the losing end of a confrontation with the Phoenix Emperor. Of course, in terms of cultivation, Nie Shiyun certainly couldn't match the other, but he simply had a certain confidence in him.
***
The Lower Layer of the Upper Heaven Realm.
"As expected, the person sitting in that position has a very sharp mind. This is a good opportunity, though it would be better if the timing were a bit later..."
Nie Shiyun sighed, his expression a mix of helplessness and relief.
"Did you expect him to be just like Xuan Yang?" Zhai Bairong asked.
"True. If he were, the Phoenix Clan would be beyond saving."
In a place Xuan Yang didn't know about, Nie Shiyun spoke with blunt ruthlessness.
Yesterday, while the two were chatting at their old friend’s furniture shop, they received news that Shen Yan and Xuan Yang had reunited. Learning that Xuan Yang had successfully advanced but had caused trouble and fled the Phoenix Clan, the two were simultaneously happy and worried, wondering if Xuan Yang and Shen Yan would face trouble later.
Losing their mood for tea, they bid farewell to He Yin and his wife and returned to their cave dwelling.
They didn't have to worry for long, as they received further contact the next day. As expected, Xuan Yang had been followed by his kin when he left the Phoenix Clan, but the good news was that the Phoenix Emperor hadn't pursued the matter of him injuring his brothers.
Additionally, there was the "business deal" the Phoenix Emperor mentioned.
Both sides were clever people; without needing much explanation, they understood the situation immediately. The Phoenix Emperor had heard that Nie Shiyun was currently back in the Lower Layer, had previously risked everything to collect dragon scales, and had a connection through Xuan Yang. He had guessed that Nie Shiyun wanted to repair the ascension path.
And Nie Shiyun understood perfectly well—he didn't think a Golden Immortal cultivator wanted him to help with artifact forging. Thinking it over, there was only one thing he had done that would satisfy the Phoenix Emperor: he had made a fool out of the Phoenix Clan's arch-nemesis, Ao Fan of the Dragon Clan.
"It's eighty percent likely to be related to the Dragon Clan. Sigh, I finally managed to drop off the radar." Nie Shiyun gave a long sigh and flopped backward unceremoniously, landing with a *thump* on the soft bedding.
Zhai Bairong finally put down his brush, walked over from behind the painting desk, and sat beside him. He looked down at the lazily sprawled Nie Shiyun on the bed. "Not going?"
"I'm going," Nie Shiyun answered quickly.
Zhai Bairong smiled, as if he had known he would say that all along.
"You said it yourself—that Phoenix Emperor looks down on humans. If my cultivation were truly on par with his, do you think he'd still be interested in giving me benefits?" Nie Shiyun forced a helpless smile. Repairing the path was truly no simple task. Unfortunately, he had no intention of giving up.
"He calls it a business deal, but regardless of the outcome, it's something he can enjoy watching for entertainment, isn't it?"
As Zhai Bairong finished, Nie Shiyun nodded.
Recalling the circumstances of their previous meeting, Zhai Bairong continued, "He does seem like that kind of person. Moreover, he had a huge problem with Xuan Yang's contractor back then. If the contract hadn't been on you, he might have disposed of me right then and there. Once we go to the Upper Realm and meet Xuan Yang, it would be best for you to dissolve the contract."
"I know. But... his dislike of you was probably just because he was jealous of your handsome looks. After all, he claims to be the most beautiful cultivator in the Upper Realm. Once you arrive, there'll be no room for him..." Nie Shiyun looked up at Zhai Bairong. It just so happened that Zhai Bairong was leaning over him, and their eyes met.
"What nonsense are you talking about now?" Zhai Bairong said, amused. Every time he tried to be "modest," Nie Shiyun would use even more exaggerated descriptions. Seeing Nie Shiyun about to speak again, Zhai Bairong simply reached out and covered his mouth.
"Mmph, mm..." Nie Shiyun feigned a struggle against the hand for a moment before suddenly quieting down, then gave a soft "chu" as he kissed Zhai Bairong's palm.
"I was just painting; my hands might be covered in ink." Zhai Bairong’s palm felt ticklish from the kiss, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
Nie Shiyun looked up at Zhai Bairong’s face and asked with a smile, "So? Did any get on my mouth?"
"Let me see."
Zhai Bairong gazed at him intently for two seconds, leaning closer and closer. In the end, he didn't tell Nie Shiyun if there was ink on his lips, but instead pressed his own lips against them.
"...Mmh."
Nie Shiyun let out a muffled sound. Their lips were soon moistened by repeated light touches. The small kisses didn't develop into a deeper entanglement, but the warmth they conveyed was still enough to make their hearts melt.
After a long while, Zhai Bairong propped himself up again, pulling back slightly.
With a glint of laughter in his eyes, Nie Shiyun said, "Looks like there wasn't any."
Zhai Bairong lay down on his side next to him, seemingly no longer in the mood to return to his painting. Since they had decided to return to the Upper Realm and might encounter many unknown situations, they needed to prepare essential tools and pills, and then settle their affairs in this Lower Layer residence.
The two talked idly. Although decades had passed and Nie Shiyun was about to embark on another journey to the Upper Realm, his mindset this time was entirely different from before—because Zhai Bairong was right there beside him.
***
