Hei Xiazi
It turned out that after leaving behind the hellish nest of snakes, they had to turn back in search of the diving equipment needed to keep up moving into the sewer they found earlier that seems to connect with the Queen Mother's Palace. They travel their way back until nightfall and when Xiazi see that his precious Xiao Hua was about to be bitten by a deadly snake, his body acted on his own accord and put himself in harm's way to save his lovely flower.
He was confident that the snake was not going to bite through his boots, of course and he make it clear to a slightly panicked Xiao Hua, who killed the snake at his feet, but at the end he was proven wrong, to Xiao Hua's dismays. As Hei Xiazi fainted into his arms, he carry the man into one of the tents as San Xing order for the antidote to be given to Yuchen at once.
As soon as he got it, he injected the antidote to Xiazi, apply an antibiotic cream and bandage his foot before patiently waited for the man in glasses to wake up. His action was not necessary as he would had reacted in time to avoid been bite, but he was a bit flattered for Xiazi to act as a desperate lover in need to prove his worth and devotion.
"You silly man... I'm not a damsel in distress... and I rather have you alive than dead." Xiao Hua whisper as he waited for the idiot to wake up and after a few minutes he did with a soft moan. Immediately after he was trying to move, which Xiao Hua of course prevented.
"Don't move just yet you idiot. Let the antidote take a full effect before that." Xiao Hua order and Xiazi smiled.
"I did good, right? What about offering some cash as a reward for saving your life?" Xiazi joked, but only got a finger on his foot right in where he was bitten, which make him yelp a bit.
"Who said you did good? It was unnecessary and unwanted, although when we get back I promise to buy you a high quality pair of boots in repayment." Xiao Hua offer.
"Cash will be better..." Xiazi pouted.
"Your life matters more to me. I told you not to do this again, I can take care of myself." Xiao Hua told him.
"Since life matters more, in that case I can said the same to you. Earlier I was worry when you slip inside that sewer we found and you volunteer to enter on your own and I call your name several times, fearing something happen to you, with no answer from you."
"I did answer."
"Oh right, with annoyance at that too. How is that caring for my life? I you had answer a little later than you did, I would probably strain or hurt my back and arms trying to pull you back on my own in a flash."
"But I did answer."
"Hua'er..."
"Hei Xiazi, it's not that easy to get rid of me, otherwise I would had die a long time ago."
"I'm just saying that you tend to forget others care for you. To be honest, you had done so much on your own, mostly because you were forced to be the head of your family at such a young age, that you are reluctant to get help in times of needs."
"Ridiculous, I can handle things on my own."
"Oh, you are quite capable, I'm sure... but I can see your loneliness as clear as I see in the darkest night."
"I am not..."
"Don't even try to deny it, Hua'er. We get along so well from the start of our dual journey precisely because of that. You needed a companion as much as I needed one too and you enjoy our journey no matter how much you try to deny it, otherwise you would had abandon me right when we got out of that hellish tunnel. I like you, which is why I kiss you and you kiss me back..."
"That didn't meant..."
"Yeah, yeah, didn't meant anything, just a promise fulfilled in a desperate time... but you are wrong. You save me more than once, worry about me, tolerate my jokes and tease, kiss me back out of desperation, refuse to leave me behind in that swampy river and just a few hours ago, you were even piss off by Mop trying to threatening me and send him flaying to the ground, which only means you care the same way... but you are so stubborn..."
"You have recover, I'm going out."
"Xie Yuchen..." Xiazi said as he took the hand of the fleeing man and pull him down so he would sit on the bed as well and ignoring the pain coming from his foot, he moved closer and placed his arms around Xiao Hua's slim waist.
"I'm not going to force you to do something that you don't want... just don't think no one besides your family cares for you... it's far from the truth." At that Xiao Hua relaxed.
"Alright, as long as you do the same. Stop risking your life unnecessary."
"I will as long as you are not in danger."
"You are so hopeless..."
"What about another kiss to make me..."
"In your dreams. Let go of me, someone is coming." Xiao Hua demanded and Xiazi obeyed in an instant. Xiao Hua stood just before San Xing came inside the tent.
They discussed about the hired group that were getting in their way and later that night they even try to get rid of them in one go. Of course, they were prepare for such expected outcome and when the fools got blinded by the poisonous gas, they got the upper hand.
As Xiazi approached with the group he had tied together, he notice that his Xiao Hua was even more handsome with glasses.
"Master San, we can leave first thing in the morning, everything is under control now." Xiazi said.
"Good." The older man agree. Xiazi then turned to look at Hua'er.
"What a surprise, you actually look better than me in shades." Xiazi admitted with a smile.
"Of course. Did they give you much troubles?" Xiao Hua asked as he looked at the group he had brought.
"Not much, you?" Xiazi asked in return.
"None at all..." Xiao Hua responded with a smile.
"Yeah, but we better cure their eyes, otherwise they will be a burden to us." San Xing said and walked away.
"Alright... I got this one." Xiazi said as he passed his lamp to Xiao Hua and make Mop, who was the leader of the little revolt, stood up in front of him.
"You, listen carefully. There is only one blind man than can look good on shades and that's me, got it?" At that Xiao Hua smirked.
"Yes, yes! Only you Master Xiazi!" Mop yelled almost crying and Xiazi used a bit of mud to make a thick line under his each of his eyes, which almost make Xiao Hua laugh.
"I have apply the cure to you, so make sure not to open your eyes for half an hour and to let it there for another half a year. Do you understand?" Xiazi asked, as Xiao Hua try his best not to laugh.
"Yes." Mop said in sobs.
"Good, remember it well, otherwise you may become a permanent blind." Xiazi pressed.
"I will remember! I swear!" Mop yelped and satisfy with the pathetic display of the cowardly man, Xiazi turned to look at Xiao Hua.
"Don't laugh or you will ruin the punishment." He whisper to Xiao Hua.
"Punishment? For what?" Xiao Hua asked.
"He try something on you." Xiazi whisper again.
"So should I place mud over the ones you got?" Xiao Hua asked back.
"No need, they already had theirs, but you can always offer a kiss to console me." Xiazi whisper even lower, so only Xiao Hua will hear him.
"I don't need to console you. You are as good as ever." Xiao Hua teased back as he slightly tapped one of Xiazi's shoulders and went away to talk with San Xing.
"Damn, he is so hard to catch... we will see who remain at the end..." Xiazi though as he watched the man and smiled.
The next morning, both Wu Xie and San Xing's group headed out to their particular destination. Xiaoge guided Wu Xie and the rest of his group to the temple they had spot earlier. As expected it was all in ruins and it was rather small, but maybe it could give them clues as to where to look next.
Thus they examine the ruins and Xiaoge easily spotted what they were looking for, as if he had been there before and knew exactly what and where to find what he was looking for.
"Wu Xie, look here." Xiaoge said as he pointed at the wall and Wu Xie was instantly at his side.
"It's the relief sculpture." Xiaoge added and Wu Xie look closer to it.
"Alright... then let's see to where this can tell and lead us." Wu Xie said as he stared at the relief and gather the information on it to decipher that place mystery.
AN: This little one is for heihua. I had not forgot about them, so I hope you don't mind the cut on pingxie in this one. Thanks for reading and see you next time. 😊❤