The air was already significantly cooler on the ocean, but as they sailed along the coast into Northern Meihua it dropped enough for everyone else on the ship to throw on another layer or two. Not quite as bundled as Xueye who pulled the mantle tighter around him as he sipped the herbal tea that Dr.Jingji just brewed him. The sun setting on the horizon wasn’t helping with the chill that carried on the wind either. “Doing alright?” Xinhua’s voice came from his right. “A little

The hustle and bustle of the docks was just as much as Xueye expected. Even so he couldn’t help the nervous flutter in his chest. It was almost overwhelming to the point he’d subconsciously lingered closer to Jinse or Yushi at any given moment as they walked amidst the crowd. Jinse picked up on the slight nervous energy and since Yushi insisted on carrying Xueye’s luggage, he wrapped his arm around Xueye’s shoulder and pulled him in closer. Tension visibly left Xueye at the

Yushi awoke to a dull ache all over his body. He was reminded of how tender his bruises still were especially when he rolled onto his side where the worst one on his shoulder was. He groaned as he sat upright, fortunately the pain wasn’t as bad as yesterday. He wanted to peel off the bandages since surely the balm had its chance to soak in by now, but it was too dark in the room to even consider fully assessing the damage. Finally deciding to rise for the day he glanced out t

Jinse had walked a short distance away before leaning against the wall surrounding some other residence. He placed his hands together in front of his face as he slowly slid down the wall into a crouch. He needed just a moment to gather himself. He didn’t really wish to go far just yet, feeling his own obsession with Xueye clawing its way through his throat. “Tough time there, Boss?” Wuye’s voice came from the direction Jinse just came from. “Don’t pretend like you didn’t hear

Xinhua had taken off to continue preparations and Lingyao had shown up so the doctor was talking with her downstairs. She sounded quite eager to help when he told her at first but it’s been quiet since. She was taking in the necessary knowledge very diligently. It left Xueye with Yushi and Jinse in a rather contented silence. When Xueye started cleaning up but before he could get too far into it, Jinse snatched the bowl he was holding. When Xueye looked up at him with a pout

As Xinhua approached Dr.Jingji’s apothecary shop, she spotted Jinse and Wuye talking about something, tucked beneath a canopy to remain out of the rain. Xinhua couldn’t help the stray thought that popped into her head. Wondering if Jinse was in the form she saw last night if he would smell like a wet dog out in this rain. She tried to stifle a snicker but Jinse heard her and glanced over. Busted now, might as well say hello, Xinhua thought to herself as she smiled and waved.

“You did all of this to him?” Dr.Jingji glared at Jinse who was leaning against the wall ever so casually. Yushi had shrugged his robes off and revealed a mixture of small scratches and bruises all over but an especially dark bruise blossomed across his shoulder where Jinse had forced Yushi to the ground. “It could be worse,” Jinse shrugged with a smirk, but he dared not look the doctor in the eye. “I think this is the first time since training under Master Zan that I’ve actu

Xinhua was pacing her office in the Department of Justice, reading over the report she’d just written up. Knowing more about what Jinse was, she had a better idea of what actually happened to Jianhong. She was starting to think about the other unfortunate accidents that happened to those that horribly wronged Xueye. The only one she recalled being truly fatal was the one time their father tried to arrange a marriage for Xueye without anyone in the family knowing. Back then, w

Dark clouds loomed over the palace as what little sun was available leaked through just briefly. Shizhe couldn’t help but sigh at the unfortunate timing of the rain that was threatening to fall. She wasn’t entirely surprised that her bed was empty that morning either, though it was also a little disappointing she knew Xinhua was working hard to make everything easier for Xueye. She no longer felt bone tired so it was all the more reason to get up and look for those she needed

“Doctor,” Yushi called out in a soft whisper. Having finished eating, Xueye was starting to drift off once more, leaning against Yushi’s shoulder as they sat by the fire. Yushi really hoped Xueye could actually rest this time. “Do you think we can let him sleep now?” “Of course,” Dr.Jingji smiled at the sweet sight of Xueye dozing off, looking completely relaxed in Yushi’s presence. Dr.Jingji was happy with how normalized Xueye’s temperature had been since his return and if t

Shizhe opened her eyes and it was as though the room was filled with water. She looked towards where Wuye was but he was no longer there. She caught a glimpse of movement coming from behind her and she turned around as quickly as she could. A man with dark hair that drifted in the waters and eyes that looked deeper than the depths she was in. She couldn’t breathe, she was starting to panic. “Go on, take a breath,” the man sneered. “Accept my gift instead of hers and you won’t

Xinhua noticed rather quickly how Jinse’s mood soured the further they walked. She wished that she didn’t have to take him away so soon but it was obvious whatever was on his mind, he really could use Shizhe’s help. She hoped that the two really could help each other. Arriving at the palace, Xinhua guided Jinse and Wuye straight to Shizhe’s home. Before stepping up to the door, Xinhua noticed Shizhe was already waiting in the garden, watching the horizon with a distant expres

Wuye was waiting outside the gates of the graveyard. He was toying with the string of the little silk brocade pouch that contained the talisman that he made for Xueye, alongside a few materials that would help keep it active without someone giving it qi. He had been thinking about the situation he’d found himself in. He couldn’t help but wonder if his part in all this was in fact to protect the Moon Goddess’s children or there was something else he wasn’t aware of. He wished

Xueye had finally collected himself enough to set off to their next destination. He began to shed the blankets he’d been bundled in and began to fold them until the doctor came over and took them from him, dropping them in the seat Xueye was just in unceremoniously. Dr. Jingji then wrapped a scarf around Xueye, knowing he’d likely still be cold through the day. “Thank you doctor, but you don’t-,” Before Xueye could finish his sentence Dr.Jingji held his hand up. “It doesn’t

Jinse found Wuye right where he left him. Drinking at the bar in the Fox's Den despite the hour. It didn’t matter to the God of Wind what time of day it was. He was often referred to as the God of Revelry for a reason. “Maque, I have need of your talents,” Jinse called from the front door. The place was closed and would remain so that day but it was still a place of respite for those that worked under Jinse if they had no other place to be. At that moment it was just Wuye and

The door to Qingkong’s room was open. Xueye hoped that he hadn’t heard them downstairs. The last thing he wanted to do was worry his little brother. Qingkong glanced over at Xueye upon hearing his shuffling. Qingkong could tell from a glance that Xueye was uneasy about something. “Gege, what’s troubling you?” Qingkong held his hand out to invite Xueye to join him on the bed. Xueye flinched and hesitated. So much for not worrying him… Xueye thought rather dismayed. He was los

It was a rather warm spring day, yet Xueye still found himself pulling the extra robe he’d thrown on loosely just a bit more snuggly around him. The motion didn’t go unnoticed by Yushi and Jinse, who exchanged looks. Jinse reached over and tapped Yushi’s arm to weave his qi into Yushi to initiate a telepathic communication between them. “Did Shizhe tell you about Xueye’s blessing?” Jinse asked through the newly established connection. Yushi simply nodded in response. “ About

Emilios paced back and forth, reading a tome about the pantheon of Meihua. Ever since making landfall and taking up residence in the Ju clan’s estate, per Korina’s persuasion, he’d taken to their library as of late. Emilios had a hard time looking into Shendu’s identity in detail. The Water God was quite over bearing and ever present. When Emilios realized Shendu was asleep instead of just meditating like he usually does at night, Emilios felt more comfortable reading up on t

A storm raged, battering Xueye from all sides. It was freezing cold and the wind had whipped the rain up to be almost painful as it hit him. Xueye was confused, trying to look around for anything familiar but the rain water stung his eyes. This was different, nothing around was familiar, there were no voices nor sense of being watched like he’d expected with such strange scenes. Rather it was as though whatever was watching him before was focused on something else entirely an

Yushi sat at the table in the back room of Dr.Jingji’s shop, sipping the tea that the doctor had made to help him calm down. The shop was closed for the day with Lingyao spending time with her family and Dr.Jingji taking care of Qingkong, who was still resting upstairs. The doctor had set about gathering herbs for another remedy as Yushi was explaining his more recent concerns, eyes lingering on the snowdrop flowers growing from a small pot in the window. Their drooping white