The sun had slowly sunk in the sky, its golden light no longer at its apex, but stretched thin over the horizon, casting long shadows across the bustling streets. The air was still warm, but a cool breeze had begun to whisper through the alleyways, a quiet prelude to the evening. A few hours had passed since they had embarked on their excursion, weaving their way through the crowded market streets, the smells of fresh food, spices, and incense thick in the air. Merchants called out, trying to lure customers to their stalls, and children ran between them, laughing and playing in the fading daylight.
After Liu Haoyu had completely humiliated Yao Yuxuan in front of the candy maker, he had unceremoniously carried him off. The memory of that moment still burned brightly in Yao Yuxuan's mind. His pride had taken a beating, but there was little he could do but endure it.
Their destination was a peaceful, shaded alley, just a short distance away from a shop that sold musical instruments and their accessories. The alley was quiet, shielded from the sun by the tall buildings that flanked it on either side. The coolness of the shadows was a welcome relief after the heat of the afternoon.
Liu Haoyu, the tall, imposing figure with his silvery hair catching the last light of the day, carefully placed his smaller, fairer companion on the ground. He was meticulous in ensuring Yao Yuxuan's back was supported against the wooden wall of the building beside them. There was a gentleness in his movements that Yao Yuxuan couldn't quite reconcile with the harshness of their earlier interactions.
The dragon prince held up a finger to Yao Yuxuan, silently indicating he would be right back, before disappearing around the corner, leaving Yao Yuxuan alone in the quiet alley.
For the first time that day, Yao Yuxuan was left alone with his thoughts, and it wasn't the reprieve he had hoped for. His mind swirled with conflicting emotions. There was a fleeting temptation to escape while Liu Haoyu was gone, to slip away into the crowded streets and disappear. But that thought was quickly dismissed. Too many uncertainties loomed over him like dark clouds. He had no idea how long Liu Haoyu would be gone, nor whether the dragon had some means of tracking him.
Yao Yuxuan cursed under his breath, frustrated by his helplessness. He despised being reliant on someone else, especially someone like Liu Haoyu. But as much as it pained him to admit, the dragon prince had treated him surprisingly well—well enough to make him question his earlier animosity. Yes, it was clear that Liu Haoyu had his reasons for keeping him alive, but there was a strange consideration in the way he handled him. Even after the humiliation, his health and well-being seemed to matter to the dragon.
That realization tugged at something deep inside Yao Yuxuan. He hated admitting it, but it was nice. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. His body, however, was quick to remind him that he wasn't in any shape to be thinking about such things. A wave of fatigue washed over him, stronger than before, and he could feel the weariness settle deep into his bones.
With a heavy sigh, Yao Yuxuan closed his eyes and allowed himself to slip into a shallow meditation. The world around him faded into the background, leaving only the steady rhythm of his breathing and the distant sounds of the marketplace. Even in this state, he remained acutely aware of his surroundings, but it was easier to focus inward, to assess the damage his body had suffered. He steadied his breathing, relaxing his mind, and with each inhale, he guided a gentle flow of qi through his damaged meridians, hoping to soothe the ache that had been growing steadily worse since the morning.
But hope was a cruel thing.
As the qi flowed through his broken meridians, it felt like fire coursing through his veins. Each pulse of energy was met with a wave of agonizing pain, like his nerves were being set alight. His body rebelled against the attempt to heal, every fiber of his being screaming in protest. His meridians, shattered and twisted, were in no state to support any kind of energy manipulation.
Yao Yuxuan grit his teeth, trying to endure the pain, but it was too much. He barely managed three rounds of circulation before his eyes flew open in agony. His chest tightened, and he doubled over, gasping for breath as his body was wracked with uncontrollable coughing. Blood spattered the ground in front of him, staining the cobblestones with dark, crimson drops. His limbs gave out, and he collapsed to the side, curling into a fetal position as he continued to cough violently, each spasm sending fresh pain radiating through his chest.
A few passersby glanced into the alley, their eyes briefly settling on Yao Yuxuan's trembling form. Some looked concerned, but others, more accustomed to the darker sides of life in the city, gave him looks of disgust before hurrying along, uninterested in getting involved.
Then, a familiar voice broke through the haze of pain.
"Yao Yuxuan, I leave for five minutes, and I come back to find you on the brink of death. What in the name of the heavens have you done?"
Liu Haoyu's voice was deep, tinged with exasperation, but also concern. He stood over Yao Yuxuan, holding an ornate, painted gourd in one hand. His silver brows furrowed as he knelt beside the coughing man, lifting him into an upright position with surprising care.
Yao Yuxuan's vision swam, the world around him fading in and out of focus. Liu Haoyu's face was a blur, and his voice was a distant echo, barely discernible over the ringing in his ears. It took every ounce of strength Yao Yuxuan had to force out the words, his voice a hoarse whisper. "My… meridians… broken… Qi circulation... did this…"
Liu Haoyu's frown deepened as he waved a hand over Yao Yuxuan's face, dispelling the mask spell that concealed his true form. His sharp eyes scanned the injured man, taking in his bloodstained lips and the pallor of his skin.
"You can't use your qi right now," Liu Haoyu scolded gently, though his tone remained stern. "Even for something as simple as meditation. If you keep pushing your already shattered meridians, you'll trigger the worst qi deviation in history! It's no different than trying to walk on two broken legs. Do you understand how reckless you're being?"
Yao Yuxuan's lashes fluttered, his eyes instinctively lowering in shame. "I… I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Liu Haoyu shook his head, his expression softening slightly. "If you're truly sorry, then stop trying to destroy yourself." He uncapped the gourd and held it to Yao Yuxuan's lips. "Drink this."
The liquid that poured from the gourd was milky and cool, a stark contrast to the heat of the blood that had filled Yao Yuxuan's mouth. It flowed down his throat easily, the taste surprisingly pleasant, though he couldn't identify the exact flavor. Within moments, the effects of the concoction began to take hold, the searing pain in his meridians easing slightly. His vision steadied, and the dizziness that had plagued him started to subside.
After a few minutes, Yao Yuxuan felt stable enough to sit upright without assistance. He looked at Liu Haoyu, who had settled down in front of him, sitting cross-legged as he patiently waited for the medicine to take effect. The dragon prince's expression was unreadable, but there was a calmness in his presence that Yao Yuxuan found strangely reassuring.
"What… what was that?" Yao Yuxuan asked, motioning weakly toward the gourd.
Liu Haoyu gave him a faint smile. "It's medicine. Something to help you recover more quickly, but only if you stop using your qi. If you keep pushing yourself, not even the sun and moon dragons will be able to save you."
"I see…" Yao Yuxuan whispered, his voice trailing off. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he reached into his robes, pulling out the two bags of sugar figurines they had bought earlier. He handed the remaining dragon-shaped one to Liu Haoyu, keeping the lotus blossom for himself. "Here, try this. It's yummy."
Liu Haoyu raised an eyebrow but accepted the treat. He licked the dragon's head a few times before biting it off, chewing thoughtfully. After a moment, he smiled. "It's… pretty good. Do you really like these?"
Yao Yuxuan nodded softly, biting into his lotus with a faint smile of his own. "I enjoy them a lot. When I lived at the Red Begonia, my aunt would occasionally visit me, and she'd always take me out to get a sugar figurine."
"Ah," Liu Haoyu nodded, though it was clear he had no personal experience with such things. "So, do you like them because they're tasty, or is it because they hold sentimental value for you?"
Yao Yuxuan's eyes grew distant for a moment, and he raised a shaky hand to brush a few strands of his inky hair out of his eyes. "Both, I suppose. I love the flavor, but… my aunt was one of the only people who ever cared enough to visit me. She's the only one who bought me treats, who looked after me… even for just a little while."
Liu Haoyu's gaze sharpened. "Is she dead? Why didn't she visit you while you were living all alone on those cliffs?"
"No," Yao Yuxuan replied, his voice growing softer. He didn't feel like continuing the conversation. Talking about his family only brought up painful memories, and he didn't have the energy to dwell on them. He just wanted peace, even if it was fleeting.
Liu Haoyu seemed to sense Yao Yuxuan's reluctance and finished his treat in silence. After a moment, he looked at Yao Yuxuan with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I think I really like these sugar figurines. Thanks for suggesting we try them."