Shen Yuan tapped onto the beating pulse as he wallowed in thought until the door to his booth swung open. He rested his finger on the table and raised his head to greet the man.
"The tea is about to get cold."
"A certain runaway fairy didn't give me enough time to show my sincerity, so I had to make a statement for the slow-minded people." Ji Zhixuan moved the empty chair to Shen Yuan's side before taking his seat. "What happened?"
"It's…difficult to explain. Simply put, the situation with Zhou Jingchen isn't as I thought it was. I'm changing plans," Shen Yuan declared.
"Do you need my help?" Ji Zhixuan picked up the teapot and poured the tea for them.
"Yeah. You know this world better than I do after all."
Ji Zhixuan paused. Foreign memories flashed in his mind only to disappear like words written on sand being washed away into the sea.
Red flickered in his eyes before sinking back into the bottomless ink.
"…You're saying that as if you're not from this world."
Shen Yuan rested his chin on his palm with a mysterious smile. "What if I'm not? Would you not fancy me if I'm a ghost?"
"If you're a ghost, then I'll find a treasure to permanently bind your soul to this body you are using, so neither death nor demons can capture you back," Ji Zhixuan calmly answered.
"There's such a thing?"
"Even if it doesn't exist right now, Immortal Sanctuary will have them."
"Immortal Sanctuary?"
"Every 100 years, a spiritual island emerges itself at the center of Longshen Isles, south of this continent. So far, we only know that it was created by an immortal in ancient times for his seclusion and harbors countless treasures. It's been forecasted since a decade ago that it will appear this year, within 6 months. The palace is currently in preparation for its emergence."
"Then…" Shen Yuan straightened up. "Do you think there'll be a treasure that can transfer one soul into another?"
"It's a place where it houses a sword that can tear the sky and a pill that can make one live forever. It's more difficult to imagine anything lesser than that to not exist."
"6 months…huh?" Shen Yuan fell into thought.
The first time he entered the neural space, he spent around 2 weeks inside, and 3 days passed in reality. The second time, he spent around 2 months, and 2 weeks passed in reality.
There wasn't any pattern he could follow.
If he used the conversion from the previous session, 6 months in this place equaled 5 to 6 weeks in reality—more than a month. The leap from the previous session would be very big, though then again, the second session was almost 5 times longer than the first one. In comparison, this would only take 3 times longer.
Since they talked about the vulture becoming stronger, Yang Mei should think this was the case. Terminating the link midway would negatively affect his psyche, and even without his agreement with Gao Lang, she wasn't someone who would do such a rash thing. She probably would only take such measures if there were life-threatening signs.
It should be fine to spend that much time here. The problem was Zhou Yi. What should he do about him until the island appeared?
A warm hand blanketed over his and pulled him out of his thoughts. Ji Zhixuan gave a gentle squeeze and nodded in support. "If that's what you need, then I'll accompany you."
Shen Yuan looked at Ji Zhixuan strangely. "Isn't that a given? Who else am I going there with?"
Ji Zhixuan blinked and couldn't help but chuckle. "That is true."
"You're laughing at me. Is not having any acquaintance so funny?"
"No, I'm not laughing at you."
"Do you think I'm deaf? When is the lightning going to strike?"
"I'm not. Truly." Ji Zhixuan brought Shen Yuan's hand to his lips and kissed it in appeasement. "I'm just overwhelmed by how lovely you are. Be more dependent on me. Let me show off how capable I am."
"Are you more capable than the commander of the civil guard?" Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows.
As an answer, Ji Zhixuan stood up and turned to show his back. "See for yourself."
Shen Yuan trailed his eyes down the sculpted spine. Even through the fabric, his muscles and shoulder blades were well-defined. It was a back one would feel reassured to take shelter behind.
He counted to seven only to find the chain didn't end until the last diamond rested above his waist.
Ji Zhixuan was a 9-star activator.
As expected. Shen Yuan was more surprised he wasn't a 10-star activator. Maybe because a portion of him was taken.
"Now, tell me. Why is your mark reduced by one?" Ji Zhixuan sat back down and smiled without warmth. "And what did that surname Zhou give you?"
Since Shen Yuan had a change of plan anyway, it didn't matter anymore whether Ji Zhixuan knew about his strength, though he would still hide it from the public since it would be nothing but trouble.
He placed the pouch on the table and slid it over to Ji Zhixuan. "Special-grade solid concealer. For my mark."
Ji Zhixuan took out the case and opened it. His eyes narrowed in their scrutiny, like a curator inspecting art pieces at the museum. "Something like this, my store sells a better one. This will irritate your skin after 3 to 5 hours, depending on your skin sensitivity. It's fine for activators since our skin is tough, but this is not suitable for catalysts. Rather than special grade, it's more appropriate to call it military grade. Its purpose is not for makeup after all. Use it often and you'll contract permanent skin damage."
He tossed it back into the pouch before holding it in his fist and smashing it with a clench. It clattered to the ground with dull thuds.
"I'll have Wang Ren fetch one from the store along with its cleansing agent. It's softer on your skin and clinically approved, so you can use it every day without problem. Erase the entire thing you're using right now."
Planning to do just that, Shen Yuan called in the dedicated waiter waiting outside and asked for a small cup of vinegar, a slice of lemon, and a napkin. The items he requested soon arrived, and he mixed the lemon juice with the vinegar before dipping the napkin into the blend.
"Did you think hiding your mark will make you less desirable?" Ji Zhixuan felt a little helpless. "People don't view 3-star and 2-star catalysts that much differently. Moreover, after my declaration, nobody would dare bother you with their courting. You don't need to cover your mark."
"3-star might not be all that different." Shen Yuan positioned the napkin from the top and dragged it down his chest, wiping off all the coverage in one swipe. "But what about 5-star?"
Ji Zhixuan widened his eyes. He stared at the diamonds on the fair chest for a long while before reaching out for a touch.
Shen Yuan let his fingers fall on his body and lightly shuddered as they glided down his skin. He swallowed down the voice threatening to escape his throat though a small sigh managed to slip away.
Again with this weird sensitivity. Not to mention, it became even worse. Ji Zhixuan was only touching him, not biting nor kissing, but his heart pounded so prevalently that he could hear it in his ears.
It must be the mark.
He hated this world more and more.
Feeling the faint tremble under his touch, Ji Zhixuan raised his focus and feasted on the flushed man. His lenses obscured the depth of his gaze. "Certainly, this is something that must be kept hidden."
"Zhou Jingchen found out about this the other day. That was why he searched for me the past week and fussed so much earlier." Shen Yuan missed the desire in Ji Zhixuan's eyes, too preoccupied by the sensation.
"Found out? Or let him find out?" Ji Zhixuan retrieved his hand and fixed his glasses.
"That's not the point." Shen Yuan sighed, both in relief and helplessness. "Either way, I'm still figuring out what I should do with him until the sanctuary appears."
"Are you willing or allowed to tell me your objective with him?"
Shen Yuan studied Ji Zhixuan for a moment before shifting his gaze out the window. "No. You're not ready yet."
As long as Ji Zhixuan still had attachments to this world, he wouldn't tell him the truth.
Ji Zhixuan frowned and wanted to ask what it had anything to do with him being ready, but as if his neck was bound with chains, it constricted the words in his throat. A voice, his own yet foreign, echoed from the depth of his soul.
Don't doubt.
Don't question.
He's your salvation.
The room fell into a long silence before Ji Zhixuan surrendered to his instinct. "I understand."
His struggle was clear for Shen Yuan to see and he knew it was the vulture's attempt to keep its promise. For someone who loves to be in control, having none of that in this situation must be frustrating. He knew fairly well from personal experience.
But this was exactly why Ji Zhixuan wasn't ready.
He stood up and changed his seat to Ji Zhixuan's lap. The man welcomed him with open arms and supported his waist to prevent him from falling.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but I need to tread carefully. I only do things when I'm 90% if not 100% sure of the outcome." Shen Yuan snuggled into Ji Zhixuan and rested his head on his shoulder. "Everything will make sense in due time. I promise."
Realizing he was comforting him, Ji Zhixuan let out a soft chuckle and petted Shen Yuan's hair. "It would be a lie if I said I'm not curious at all, but I know some things are better left unspoken. Don't worry about me and do what you have to do. You have my unconditional support."
Shen Yuan lifted his head to face Ji Zhixuan and reunited their long-separated lips with a smile.
"I know."