Yao Yuxuan had fallen deep into the recesses of sleep that night, his mind finally allowing him a reprieve from the relentless strain of his waking hours. The darkness behind his closed eyelids was peaceful, a rare stillness he was unaccustomed to. He didn't have any dreams, which was unusual for him; even when he would put himself into light sleep-like states during his vigil, nightmares typically plagued his mind—haunting visions of things that hardly ever made sense.
But this night was different. His body, usually tense and worn from the constant demands of his duties, felt rested for the first time in years despite the injury to his core. It was as if the burden that had weighed him down for so long had finally lifted, if only temporarily. Slowly, as if testing the waters of wakefulness, Yao Yuxuan rolled onto his side, the soft bedding beneath him cradling his form. His muscles protested slightly, but the pain was dull, muted by the deep rest he had achieved. With a quiet groan, he willed himself into a sitting position, his movements deliberate and cautious.
Across the room, Liu Haoyu was already awake, sitting at the small wooden table that occupied a corner of their shared space. A few books were stacked before him, their leather-bound covers worn and faded with age. He was sipping from a delicate porcelain cup that Yao Yuxuan assumed contained tea, the steam rising in soft tendrils that curled into the air. The atmosphere in the room was serene, almost domestic, starkly contrasting to the tension that usually hung between them. Liu Haoyu flipped through the yellowed pages of one of the books with practiced ease, his lavender eyes scanning the text with quiet concentration.
The soft rustling of the sheets as Yao Yuxuan stirred caught Liu Haoyu's attention. He lifted his eyes from the book, his eyebrows raising slightly in surprise at the sight before him. "You're able to sit up pretty easily now, then?" he observed, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"I wouldn't say it's easy," Yao Yuxuan replied with a breathy and pained laugh, his chest tightening slightly with the effort. "But I'm not ready to vomit, so I'd call it a win."
"Maybe my white clothes will be safe at last," Liu Haoyu said grimly, setting his cup down with a soft clink. He glanced over at Yao Yuxuan, his gaze appraising. "Try to come have a seat. Let's see how you can handle that. And whenever you're ready to dress, I can call the spirits in."
A deep green pillow lay on the ground beside Liu Haoyu, the rich fabric embroidered with delicate golden patterns. He patted it a few times in invitation, the sound barely audible in the quiet room. Yao Yuxuan eyed the distance between the bed and the pillow, his resolve hardening. Slowly, he shoved the quilt off his legs, the cool air brushing against his skin as he braced himself for the challenge ahead. His feet met the ground with a slight thud, and he sucked in a deep breath as he pushed himself to stand.
The world tilted dangerously as soon as he was upright, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. The familiar ache in his chest started to pulsate, each beat of his heart sending sharp pangs through his body. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as he swayed slightly, his strength threatening to give out beneath him. Instinctively, he grabbed hold of one of the bed's sturdy pillars, using it to stabilize himself. His long, ebony hair fell messily around his face, shrouding his pallid features as he leaned forward, struggling to catch his breath. His free hand clutched at his chest, his fingers digging into the fabric of his robes as he shivered from the effort.
Liu Haoyu had initially been ready to move forward and assist him the rest of the way. But as he watched Yao Yuxuan fight through the discomfort, he decided against it. Although still miserable and far from healthy, Yao Yuxuan was in a much better state than he had been the day before. It was necessary, Liu Haoyu thought, for a body to force itself to recover quickly. He knew that coddling Yao Yuxuan wouldn't help in the long run.
After what felt like an eternity of labored breathing, Yao Yuxuan's vision finally refocused. The world around him settled, the spinning slowing to a manageable pace. Determined, he took a few steps to the table, each clumsy and unsteady movement. But he made it, collapsing onto the pillow with a sense of victory he hadn't felt in a long time. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, but the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips was genuine.
Liu Haoyu nodded in acknowledgment of his achievement, a small smile of approval touching his lips. "Nice work," he said. "Can I see your hand for a moment?"
Yao Yuxuan glared at him, keeping his hands neatly folded in his lap. "No."
Liu Haoyu rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by the defiance. "I'm not going to curse you again. I want to check your vitals."
The black-haired man frowned, his reluctance evident, but he relented. He raised his thin hand to the table and lent it to the demon. Liu Haoyu's long fingers, calm and steady, caressed his wrist gently as he concentrated, auditing the state of Yao Yuxuan's heart and spiritual core. The dark ends of Liu Haoyu's ponytail swayed slightly when he tilted his head, his brow furrowing with frustration as he assessed the damage.
"Your body is healing much quicker than your core," Liu Haoyu said after a moment, releasing Yao Yuxuan's hand with a thoughtful expression. "I haven't seen or heard of anything like this."
Yao Yuxuan, still exhausted from his short trek from the bed to the table, heaved a shaky sigh, his chest rising and falling unevenly. "I've always suspected that I was cursed or something, but I never found any evidence to support it."
"I also thought you might be cursed," Liu Haoyu agreed, his brows furrowed in thought. "But I can't find any traces of a curse in you. In fact, at this point, I think a curse on your spiritual core might be preferable to whatever is wrong with it currently."
Yao Yuxuan laughed dryly, a sound devoid of humor. "If you want to curse my core, you may as well. It isn't like I can stop you."
"…I can't," Liu Haoyu admitted reluctantly after several long moments of silence, his eyes narrowing as he considered his words. For a moment, it seemed as if he couldn't decide whether or not to elaborate further, but eventually, he relented. "I've taken you with me because I need your core. But I can't use your core in this state. We must stabilize it first, or it will be useless to me."
"Ah." Yao Yuxuan's expression darkened, the weight of the revelation settling over him like a heavy shroud. "Fattening the prey before eating it. And here I thought the demon assassin might not be so bad."
Liu Haoyu didn't grace him with a response. His lavender eyes narrowed as he finished the rest of his tea in one long, deliberate sip. The silence between them grew tense, thick with the unspoken threat of what was to come. After setting his cup down, Liu Haoyu raised his hand to the air and began to draw an array, his index fingertip glowing with a faint purple light. As he cast the spell, a floral marking appeared on his forehead, a symbol of his power. Within moments, two small ghostly spirits materialized in the room, their ethereal forms shimmering in the dim light. One of them held a dark blue robe in its arms, the fabric neatly folded.
The spirits, now fully visible to Yao Yuxuan for the first time, appeared to be children—a little girl and a little boy, both around twelve years old. They had strikingly similar features, their pale faces framed by dark hair that fell in soft waves around their shoulders. Despite their spectral nature, there was a sense of warmth and life to them that caught Yao Yuxuan off guard.
"Twins?" Yao Yuxuan murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.
Liu Haoyu nodded. "En. They are twins. The girl is named Qin Meili, and her brother is Qin Lei. Qin Lei is mute; his tongue was removed early in his life when he was alive, and so he never learned to speak, even after death."
Yao Yuxuan looked at the boy, his heart aching with an unfamiliar sorrow. What kind of life must they have led before, for Qin Lei to have his tongue cut off as a small child? The thought made his chest tighten with sympathy. "They're both quite cute," he said softly, a faint smile touching his lips.
"A-Mei," Liu Haoyu called, and the little girl ghost straightened from her bow, her expression respectful. "After the two of you get him dressed, comb his hair. Lei-er, take his night robes and clean them."
"Yes, Your Majesty," she responded in a quiet, polite voice, bowing again. Qin Lei followed suit, his head bowed low in deference. The two spirits moved with graceful efficiency, their forms flickering slightly as they approached Yao Yuxuan.
"Excuse us, honored guest," Qin Meili said, her tone soft and respectful as she addressed Yao Yuxuan. The little ghost smiled shyly, her ethereal form exuding a gentle warmth.
Yao Yuxuan waved a hand dismissively, permitting them to proceed. He allowed the children to dress and care for him, their delicate hands working with practiced ease. As they fussed over him, adjusting his robes and combing his long hair, he couldn't help but feel a sense of fondness for the two young spirits. They were quite adorable, their earnestness endearing in a way he hadn't expected.
While the children busied themselves with their tasks, Liu Haoyu slipped away without a word, his presence vanishing as quietly as a shadow. He disappeared through the second-story window, leaving Yao Yuxuan alone with the early morning sun that had just begun to filter into the room, casting a soft, golden light over everything.
For a brief moment, as the sunlight warmed his skin and the gentle ministrations of the spirits eased the tension in his body, Yao Yuxuan allowed himself to forget the dangers ahead. In that fleeting instant, all that existed was the warmth, the light, and the tender care of two spirits who had seen more suffering in their short lives than most could imagine. It was a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless, in a world that had long since grown cold.