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“Oh? You’re interested in someone, Your Highness Qi Ying?”
Quan Yizhen stopped in his tracks. He was walking through the heavenly roads. The renewed heavenly realm was ethereal and harmonious, as if it had never been destroyed by an era-changing battle. After leaving the monthly meeting in the Palace of Divine Might (name to be changed), Pei Ming had stuck to Quan Yizhen and blabbered about a lot of things Quan Yizhen wasn’t interested in; however, that last statement caught his attention. There was indeed someone that Quan Yizhen recently discovered had feelings for.
“How do you know?” Quan Yizhen asked defensively. He hadn’t talked to anyone about the matter.
Pei Ming smirked. “Let’s say I’m particularly acute in this subject. So, who is it?”
Quan Yizhen frowned. “Not your business.”
Ever since Jun Wu was dethroned, Shi Wudu killed, and Ling Wen forced to work under arrest, Pei Ming had been looking for Quan Yizhen rather frequently, acting chummy and cracking jokes. Quan Yizhen wasn’t happy with that attention. He didn’t stand Pei Ming. Problems aroused by Qi Rong or not, their personalities simply weren't compatible. He wasn’t interested in making friends with the Martial God of the North.
There was no way Quan Yizhen would tell Pei Ming that he was in love with Yin Yu.
“Don’t be like that.” Pei Ming put a hand on Quan Yizhen’s shoulder. “Does this person reciprocate you? Tell me about it.”
Quan Yizhen’s face darkened. He shook Pei Ming’s hand off.
“Ah! Perhaps, are you having a romantic dilemma? I could provide good advice for that.”
Quan Yizhen twisted his mouth. Pei Ming saw his hesitance and pushed. “When it comes to matters of the heart, I’m confident I can help.”
After considering it for a moment, Quan Yizhen yielded. “He won’t accept my feelings.”
“Is he not interested in you?”
“He won’t even listen to me. Every time I tried telling him how I felt, he’d avoid me.”
Pei Ming hummed. “I see. He hasn’t considered you as a serious option, then. At least, this means you still have a chance.”
Quan Yizhen perked at that. “I do?”
“Yes, Your Highness! If there’s no rejection, there’s a chance.”
“What should I do?”
Quan Yizhen wasn’t happy to ask Pei Ming for advice, but he recognized the other’s experience in relationships.
Pei Ming straightened his back proudly. “Have you thought of giving this person a present?” he asked.
Quan Yizhen furrowed his eyebrows. “No…”
“You haven’t given him anything?”
“No.”
“Not once?”
“No.” Quan Yizhen didn’t remember giving proper gifts to Yin Yu. However, there was a reason for that. “He doesn’t like gifts.”
Once, when Quan Yizhen tried to give Yin Yu something for his birthday, Yin Yu had said it wasn’t necessary, a simple congratulation was enough. Quan Yizhen was 13 back then, and he had taken that to heart. After that, he never tried to give Yin Yu anything again. Maybe he gave him a trinket here and there, but never something meaningful or valuable. If he carefully thought about it, his shixiong had given him so many things over the years, it was weird that Quan Yizhen never gave him anything back.
“Aiyah, Your Highness Qi Ying, there’s no one that doesn’t like to get gifts.” Pei Ming clicked his tongue. “If he told you not to get him anything, it was probably him being modest. You should begin right there! Get him something really good, and I’m sure he’ll give you a chance.”
Quan Yizhen thought it over. He didn’t like to admit it, but Pei Ming was right. If he got a nice gift for his shixiong, he would be happy. He would probably hear Quan Yizhen out. And, maybe, he would stop throwing energy blasts at Quan Yizhen every time they met.
“What should I give him?”
Pei Ming hummed in thought. “Well, jewelry is a safe option. Luxurious clothing, delicate fragrances. Something that looks pretty and expensive. You have to demonstrate that you will only get the best of the best for him.”
Quan Yizhen could understand that. He also liked luxurious things, so his shixiong would probably like something in that vein.
“But it can’t be just whatever either,” Pei Ming continued. “It has to be unique. Something that not everyone else has. That will make him feel special and appreciated. I assure you that will let him know your feelings.”
Quan Yizhen nodded. “Alright. Thanks.”
“Good luck, Qi Ying. Let’s meet for some tea later. I’d love to hear how you fare with that shixiong of yours.” Pei Ming said with a wink.
Quan Yizhen scrunched his nose. As he thought, he just didn’t like Pei Ming.
Quan Yizhen walked to his palace, lost in thought. He had a lot of precious items stored. Quan Yizhen loved shiny, golden ornaments. He had many exquisite robes that he never used. Maybe he could give something from that to Yin Yu. However, wasn’t a gift better if it was brand new? Quan Yizhen thought that going to the mortal realm could give him more ideas about what kind of gifts to prepare for your special someone that was set on not accepting your confession.
So, without wasting time, Quan Yizhen jumped from heaven and arrived at a grand city in the western territories. People couldn’t see him. Quan Yizhen could stroll calmly without worrying about anything aside from his task.
Going through the main street of the city, there were many shops full of objects that gentleman and ladies sought with stars in their eyes. However, Quan Yizhen wasn’t impressed by any. There were many exquisite ornaments, but somehow nothing seemed right. He couldn’t imagine Yin Yu wearing the jade bracelets while working, nor could he imagine him using white silk robes while fighting monsters. He could imagine Yin Yu’s scowling face after seeing such gifts. No, his shixiong needed something different, something that made him realize just how Quan Yizhen saw him: a noble, skillful person; someone Quan Yizhen respected and admired.
The street led to the heart of that city. There, Quan Yizhen came across a huge temple with his own figure inside. Quan Yizhen remembered this temple well. It was one of the oldest Qi Ying temples. He also remembered when the same temple worshiped a graceful, straight-haired swordsman instead. He still remembered when all the temples in the region had the name Yin Yu engraved on the entrance plaques.
That was a thing of the past. Now, there were many Qi Ying temples coated in gold and jade, each bigger than the last. Quan Yizhen thought once, after ascending, that his shixiong and him would have statues one beside the other, become a powerful pair to be adored as one, but unfortunately no one else thought the same as him. Not even Yin Yu.
It didn’t matter. Quan Yizhen needed to look for a gift for his shixiong.
As Quan Yizhen kept walking, something caught his attention. He found a small hidden shrine in between buildings. He saw the little statue representing a god in the altar—probably a local minor god—and a memory came to him. Like a candle lighting up above his head, he knew at that moment which gift would be perfect for Yin Yu. Happily, he went back the way he came and returned to heaven.
It was noon in Ghost City. At this time of the day, the place was almost deserted. Ghost City unraveled in the night, the sunlight was a natural enemy of the dead. Yin Yu had been a ghost for a couple of years now and he, too, preferred to avoid direct sunlight. He didn’t have a weak constitution, but even the supreme ghosts had a tough time with it. That’s why he mostly stayed indoors. Staying in Paradise Manor didn’t mean less work, though. There was always inventory to do, reports to write or objects to order. Yin Yu kept himself busy enough. The downside to it was that he was also easy to locate, and it was harder for him to escape.
Quan Yizhen didn’t need to announce his arrival. Yin Yu felt like the sunlight had found its way inside the moment Quan Yizhen set foot into the room. He immediately felt exhausted.
“Shixiong!” Quan Yizhen greeted, his smile blinding. “I came to see you.”
“Is His Highness Qi Ying so free to come here so much?” Yin Yu asked.
“I always make time for you, shixiong.”
Yin Yu cleared his throat. “What are you doing here?”
Yin Yu had come to accept his shidi’s strange attachment to himself. He didn’t understand it, but he learned it was moot to fight it. He allowed Quan Yizhen to visit him, but their relationship had remained in an ambiguous amiable friendship. If they could be called friends. If Yin Yu asked himself, he couldn’t figure out what he felt towards Quan Yizhen. Quan Yizhen’s constant attention just made him more confused about it.
“I brought you a gift.” Quan Yizhen took a beautiful wooden box out of his qiankun pouch. “Here.”
“A gift? Why?”
“You said once that you didn’t need presents. But I think that’s wrong. Getting gifts makes me happy, so I hope you get happy as well.” He put the box on a nearby table. “I wanted to give you something to express my feelings... Please accept it,” Quan Yizhen said, suddenly shy.
Yin Yu glanced at his shidi, having a weird premonition, and then at the box. With a sigh, he reluctantly opened it.
He was rendered speechless. Yin Yu looked at the object in front of him in shock.
“... What's this?” He found his voice.
Quan Yizhen puffed his chest proudly. “A gift. Do you like it, shixiong? I put a lot of thought into it.“
“Like it? This… This is…!”
The object inside the wooden box was a delicate, golden statuette of a martial god. The young god was posing with his sword over his head, ready to slay whichever enemy came across him. Heroism filled the small face. At a different time anyone that saw it would have felt a grandiose aura coming from it, and would’ve regarded it a loyal representation of His Highness Yin Yu. Now, there were little similarities between the ghost and the statuette facing each other.
“Do you remember, shixiong? This one was one of the first statues your followers did to honor you. I don’t think it looks like you, but it’s pretty, isn’t it?”
Yin Yu took the figure with his trembling hands, and without a moment’s hesitation, he let the figure fall to the floor. With a thud, the statue cracked. The sword it held high broke away. Its face got full of lines, extending like a web.
Quan Yizhen gasped. “Shixiong! Why—?”
“Why would I want this?!” Yin Yu spouted. Quan Yizhen didn’t know if it was his imagination, but he felt the room temperature drop quickly.
“You don’t? I thought you would be pleased. It’s the only statue left of when—”
“Don’t say it. This thing is repulsive. I don’t want to see it. Why would you think I wanted to remember this? Is it a joke for you? Everything that happened?”
“No! Of course not! I just thought you would understand. This is you.”
“That’s not me.” Yin Yu tightened his lips. “It wasn’t then, even less now. Don’t ever bring something like this to me again.”
Quan Yizhen’s face was contorted in a pitiful expression.
“I’m… sorry, shixiong. I thought you would like it.” Quan Yizhen said, aghast at what just happened.
Yin Yu shook his head. “You clearly didn’t think.” His anger was palpable, dripping off every word.
“I-I’ll bring you something better. Let me—”
“No. Leave. I don’t want to see you right now.”
It was Yin Yu who left the room first, though. He walked away, leaving shadows in his step. Quan Yizhen was astonished. He couldn’t go after Yin Yu and ask for explanations. He realized he messed up. Again. Badly. Why was it that whenever he tried to do something good for his shixiong, he would wrong Yin Yu instead? Quan Yizhen was engulfed by fear. He couldn’t let himself lose Yin Yu once more. There couldn’t be a repeat of that incident. He had to mend this, but Quan Yizhen didn’t dare to face Yin Yu now, not without a good way of apologizing.
Quan Yizhen truly was at a loss on what to do. Regardless, he was determined to make things right and see Yin Yu excited about something. He’d give anything to see Yin Yu smiling at him again.
The world might have forgotten about Yin Yu, but his presence never left Quan Yizhen’s heart. His name was carved within the walls of his chest and his purple eyes painted in the murals of Quan Yizhen’s mind. How could he forget Yin Yu? Impossible.
Nonetheless, the past had been painful and filled with regrets. It seemed that, no matter how many years have passed, Yin Yu couldn’t see past it and move on. Didn’t he see that for Quan Yizhen all was forgiven? Why couldn’t he see that?
Once again, Quan Yizhen felt he was missing something important that prevented him from fully understanding Yin Yu. But, what could it possibly be? He rummaged through his mind to no avail. He needed advice, better advice than Pei Ming’s—who had gained a permanent place in Quan Yizhen’s blacklist. Unfortunately, there weren’t many people Quan Yizhen would trust with this topic. If it was before, he could have asked Jun Wu. The Emperor always seemed to have an answer for everything. Now, Quan Yizhen would punch Jun Wu straight in the face if he saw him.
So, if Jun Wu wasn’t an option, who else could compare to his wisdom? The seat for Heavenly Emperor had remained empty, yet that didn’t mean there weren’t people that could fill the position.
The new Heavenly Realm kept a close eye on Ling Wen after what she did with the Brocade Immortal, yet, she was unexpectedly one of the strongest candidates for the Heavenly Throne. The Palace of Ling Wen worked most diligently, and Ling Wen herself was venerated amongst mortals in both her male and female forms as the most hard-working civil goddess.
Alas, there hadn’t been a single empress, neither in the heavens above nor in the mortal realm below. Thus, the heavenly officials were concerned to appoint her such a distinguished and formidable task. For the time being, the post was vacant. In theory.
After White No-Face’s facade was revealed, the heavens felt nothing was real anymore, except for His Royal Highness the former God-Pleasing Crown Prince of Xianle, whom White No-Face’s had tortured and wronged over the centuries. And the heavens let him do so, unknowing that behind the emperor’s skin hid the enemy, biding his time.
A newfound admiration for Xie Lian was born in everyone’s mind. He was soon appointed as Heavenly Emperor by a majority consensus. No matter how many times Xie Lian refused the mantle, all heavenly officials reported to him, regardless. At first, he had tried to discourage them from calling him “Your Majesty”, but it was no use. Even if the officials didn’t address him so, it was as if they did; thus, Xie Lian let them be.
Ling Wen often conducted the meetings at the Palace of Divine Might, as she was very needed to handle affairs in the Heavenly Court. Nevertheless, some heavenly officials still had ingrained that the Palace of Ling Wen was overworked and inefficient. Therefore, whenever Xie Lian turned up to the Heavenly Court, he was flocked by many heavenly officials seeking advice or briefing him about current troubles in the realm. Some even dared to venture in Ghost City to seek His Highness’ counsel—a huge mistake.
On his part, Quan Yizhen respected Ling Wen’s knowledge, but she was always doing a hundred things at once. He couldn’t wait on her to be available. Quan Yizhen initially thought that His Highness the Crown Prince of Xianle might help with his predicament. If anyone would know what to do in any situation, that was him. However, on second thought, Xie Lian might be overwhelmed as well, and might need some peace of mind.
Regardless, Quan Yizhen had never been someone that overthinks the circumstances. He needed help and the person that could provide it was in the same building as him. The choice was too easy. He resolved to seek Xie Lian’s advice on this matter.
Quan Yizhen walked through Paradise Manor until he found a servant, who promptly sought Xie Lian. He was then guided to the garden parlor where guests awaited. He had to admit that Crimson Rain Sought Flower had good taste; the man was despicable, however, his taste and artistic talents were unmistakable.
As Quan Yizhen admired the quiet flower garden with its koi pond and its carefully crafted bridges, he heard some calm and poised footsteps. He shot his head up alarmed, then a soft voice spoke:
“Your Highness Qi Ying, you were looking for me?”
Quan Yizhen turned to see Xie Lian smiling. He still wore that humble daoist white robe and some silk bands around his neck, despite no longer having cursed shackles… just like Yin Yu.
“Y-yes, I was,” Quan Yizhen found himself stammering a bit.
“What can I do for you, Your Highness?”
Quan Yizhen gulped. He couldn’t believe he was actually doing this and his nerves betrayed him. It was embarrassing. Suddenly, Quan Yizhen realized that he was at a loss as to where to start.
“Is there something wrong in the Heavenly Capital?” Xie Lian pressed, seeing Quan Yizhen’s distress.
“No, Your Majes—I mean, Your Highness,” Quan Yizhen answered and corrected Xie Lian’s title in the nick of time, as he continued, “it’s not that. Actually, it has to do with my shixiong.”
As Xie Lian had rejected the mantle repeatedly, there were instances that officials addressed him as “Your Majesty” by accident. Quan Yizhen believed that Xie Lian was more than worthy of the title, but he also respected his wishes. Yet, his tongue went faster than his mind and almost made a mistake. Fortunately, Xie Lian didn’t notice.
“Oh,” Xie Lian uttered upon realization, then he continued, “has something happened between you two?”
Quan Yizhen took a deep breath and then answered earnestly. “I think I have offended him. I hoped Your Highness could help me.”
“Oh, alright. What happened?”
And so, Quan Yizhen gave a full recount of what transpired with Yin Yu and the golden statuette. Xie Lian pondered Quan Yizhen’s words for a moment.
“I had kept that statue because it looks as bright and wonderful as shixiong looks. I really thought it would make shixiong happy to remember that. But I was wrong and made shixiong upset.”
Xie Lian sighed, quite moved. Even though Quan Yizhen was very straightforward and had no qualms in showing grand gestures of appreciation, Xie Lian could tell that his intentions were honest. Alas, the method, perhaps, had been the problem.
“I can tell that Your Highness’ intentions were pure and sincere, however, perhaps the gift didn’t show those intentions adequately. You thought only of what the object meant for you, rather than what it meant to him.”
Quan Yizhen frowned, confused. “Then, what kind of gift is suitable?”
Xie Lian smiled tenderly and answered.
“I believe Your Highness must turn his thoughts to something meaningful for His Highness Yin Yu and yourself, as well. It must be something that only both of you share and that its existence is only known to the both of you alone. Something that speaks of both the past and the present, as well as something heartfelt, memorable and unmistakingly unique and unknown for anyone but you.”
Quan Yizhen took in Xie Lian’s words. After a while, he asked.
“Has Crimson Rain Sought Flower given you something like that?”
Xie Lian was a bit taken aback. “Yes, he has.”
“What was it?”
“Well…” Xie Lian placed a hand over his chest where the chain with the silver crystal ring hung around his neck. He couldn’t afford to tell Quan Yizhen what he really thought this ring was. Though Hua Cheng never said it, and he even waved off any of Xie Lian’s concerns of its importance, Xie Lian knew he held Hua Cheng’s ashes around his neck.
Nonetheless, Xie Lian simply said, “San Lang gave me something he made with his own hands that I still wear till this day. He made it a very long time ago and had always meant to give it to me, however, never found an appropriate time.”
He showed Quan Yizhen the ring and he admired it stunned.
“You are very lucky to have someone as crafty as Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”
“Thank you! Yes, he is very talented. He even painted a detailed portrait of the Flower Crowned Prince in Puqi Shrine. I daresay it’s the most accurate depiction of my Shangyuan Festival outfit. I didn’t notice at the time, but San Lang had been there 800 years ago on that very same day.”
After a pause, Quan Yizhen asked.
“I can’t make anything like that. What could I possibly give shixiong?”
Xie Lian sighed, “I don’t know, Your Highness. I am not well acquainted with His Highness Yin Yu, nor do I know the depth of your relationship. Rather than the object, think of what he would love to see. Think of the memories you cherish of the both of you, as well as the feelings he doesn’t know yet.”
Quan Yizhen sighed and nodded, a bit resigned.
Xie Lian encouraged him. “There’s no rush, nothing done rashly ever prospers. Rest assured, with patience you’ll find the perfect gift for His Highness, you’ll see.”
Quan Yizhen smiled as he stood, cupping his hands in a solemn bow.
“Thank you. I’m off.”
Xie Lian bowed as well with a warm smile. Thus, Quan Yizhen took his leave. Xie Lian sighed and then walked out of the courtyard. He picked a flower from the garden on his way out.
It took some time before Quan Yizhen could think of a fitting gift for his shixiong. He reflected Xie Lian’s words with dedication, and thought long and hard about all the moments he had shared with his shixiong. At the end, a long ago memory gave him an answer. After more time passed, Quan Yizhen successfully prepared the gift and set out to meet his shixiong.
Unlike other occasions, Quan Yizhen sent word to Yin Yu in advance that he would come to Ghost City and wanted to meet him. Yin Yu didn’t reply. Quan Yizhen didn’t get deterred by that. He still came and waited by the lake in front of Paradise Manor.
Quan Yizhen knew that there was a possibility that Yin Yu wouldn’t show up. He realized his shixiong was truly offended, and was in his right to refuse the invitation. However, Quan Yizhen's desire to see Yin Yu was stronger, so he waited. After one shichen passed, Yin Yu hadn't come, but Quan Yizhen remained in place. After another shichen passed, Quan Yizhen lost his confidence and wondered if he should leave, after all. Before he could decide though, Yin Yu appeared. His expression was cold, but his hands were trembling slightly.
“You could have left,” Yin Yu said.
Quan Yizhen shook his head. “I'm glad I waited. You came, shixiong.”
Maybe Yin Yu forgot he wasn't wearing his mask, he let his embarrassment show on his face at Quan Yizhen's words.
“Why did you want to see me?” Yin Yu asked.
“I have a gift for you.”
Yin Yu scowled. “If you bring out another one of those statues, I’ll turn it to dust, along with you.”
“No, it’s not that.” Quan Yizhen withered. “I’m sorry about that, shixiong.”
Yin Yu seemed restless. “Just go ahead. What is it?”
Without another word, Quan Yizhen took out a silk pouch. He presented it to Yin Yu. Yin Yu arched an eyebrow, but he accepted the pouch, nonetheless. With some vacillation, he untangled the thread closing the pouch, and took out what was inside.
“It didn’t come out as nice as I wanted it to, but I put a lot of effort into it. I did it all by myself, shixiong! I hope… you… like it,” Quan Yizhen rambled.
The item that Yin Yu held in his hand was a woven tassel.
Making a woven tassel wasn't too complicated. It was a fun activity that even children could do. Back when Yin Yu and Quan Yizhen were training in their sect, it had become a custom between the teenage disciples to gift handmade tassels during the Qi Xi Festival. Most would make simple colorful tassels and give them to their friends. Some bold ones would take the occasion to confess their love. In particular, when two people had twin sword tassels, it would be a sign of their romantic affection.
One year, Yin Yu had just returned from a mission when he had found a gloomy Quan Yizhen sitting away from the day's celebrations.
“Yizhen, what are you doing here? Everyone’s about to have dinner. Aren’t you coming?”
“No, I’m good,” Quan Yizhen had said.
Yin Yu was aware of Quan Yizhen's difficulty to mingle with others, so he figured Quan Yizhen wasn’t enjoying the festival much. Yin Yu had sat down beside his shidi.
“Shixiong, have you gotten tassels from others?”
Yin Yu had arched an eyebrow. “Yes, I have received some in the past. I don’t accept them anymore.”
“Oh,” Quan Yizhen had twisted his mouth. No further explanation provided.
Yin Yu had indeed received many friendship tassels in past years. Even Jian Yu, who constantly claimed the custom was childish, had given him a tassel at one point. Yin Yu had given out some as well. He never attached much importance to it, it was just an informal practice between friends. But for Quan Yizhen the situation had been the opposite. It wasn’t a secret that the boy didn't have many fans, even those disciples that were cordial to him never gave him a tassel. At first Quan Yizhen hadn't given it much importance, but even an uncaring guy like him was a normal teenager that recognized rejection and found it hurtful.
Yin Yu had noticed Quan Yizhen’s undecorated sword, not a lone ornament dangling from it. He quickly figured out the situation.
Yin Yu was already past the age to take part in such exchanges. Besides, as the head disciple, gifting tassels to a few would seem preferential. But he'd always had a soft spot for his unruly shidi. Quan Yizhen was a misunderstood child Yin Yu wanted to protect.
“Extend your hand,” Yin Yu had said. Quan Yizhen looked at him with confusion, but obeyed. “Here,” Yin Yu put a woven tassel in Quan Yizhen's hand.
It was a beautiful blue and golden tassel. A jade bead interlaced at the center. It was nicer that the tassels the other disciples exchanged. Quan Yizhen's eyes brightened. “For me?”
Yin Yu smiled. “Of course. Happy Qi Xi.”
“But, shixiong, isn't this yours?” Quan Yizhen glanced at Yin Yu's sword, now tassel-less.
It was indeed the tassel Yin Yu attached to his own sword. It was a gift from his family, although it didn’t carry any particular sentiment. He thought it would be fine to give it to his shidi. It was a present thought of in the spur of the moment, so he could understand if Quan Yizhen found it a poor gift.
“Yes, it’s mine. Sorry, Yizhen, if you don't want it—”
“No! I want it!”
Quan Yizhen immediately put it in his sword's hilt and showed it proudly to his shixiong. Yin Yu laughed and ruffled his hair. After that, Quan Yizhen went on using that tassel on his sword.
The memory had come unprompted to Yin Yu. Although it happened so long ago, Yin Yu held his days at the sect dearly, and remembered them with clarity. Besides, how could he avoid recalling it? Although Quan Yizhen's handmade tassel wasn’t pretty—it had frayed threads and wrong loops—Yin Yu recognized the pattern with one look. It was blue and golden and had a jade bead crudely woven at the center.
“It matches with mine,” Quan Yizhen said, confirming Yin Yu’s conjecture. He turned so his sword was more visible. A prettier tassel yet looking the same as the one Yin Yu had, swung from its hilt.
Yin Yu gaped. “You still have that?”
“I put a special spell on it so it wouldn't break. I like it a lot.”
After Quan Yizhen ascended, Yin Yu had told him to use something more appropriate for his sword—and if he asked out of bitterness, it wasn’t relevant. Quan Yizhen didn't want to, but at his shixiong’s insistence, he had changed his tassel to a golden one.
“I thought you would have thrown it away,” Yin Yu said.
“No way! I would never throw away your gifts.”
“It wasn’t even a proper gift…”
“I was very happy when you gave it to me. Every time I see it, I feel happy again. It was the best gift ever.”
Yin Yu didn't know where to look. Eventually his gaze fell back to the tassel in his hand.
“So, you made this?” he asked.
“Yes. I didn’t know if you’d like it, but His Highness said the thought it's what counts.” Quan Yizhen sheepishly scratched his head. “Back in the sect, do you remember what matching sword tassels meant?”
Yin Yu fidgeted. “O-of course, I remember.”
“Then, will you accept having matching tassels with me?”
Yin Yu hardened his expression. “Do you understand what it means? This isn’t a frivolous teenage promise. Are you sure you get what you’re offering by giving me this?”
“I know. I’m serious about this.”
Yin Yu narrowed his eyes. He didn’t seem convinced.
Quan Yizhen breathed in. He’d been waiting so long to let Yin Yu know this one thing, that the words were practically stumbling to get out. However, he had to say it clearly. He couldn’t mess up.
He breathed out. “I love you, shixiong.”
If Yin Yu weren’t a ghost, Quan Yizhen would have worried when he stopped breathing.
“What are you saying?” Yin Yu asked.
“I love you,” Quan Yizhen repeated. “Won't you accept my gift? I want us to be together.”
Yin Yu kept silent. He looked at Quan Yizhen, then at the woven tassel, then back at Quan Yizhen. The silence extended long enough that Quan Yizhen could hear his own heartbeat quicken in anxiety.
“You forgot something.” Yin Yu finally talked.
“Huh?”
“When someone accepted a matching sword tassel, it was an acceptance of courting. So, it doesn't mean our relationship would change right away. There are steps to follow.”
Quan Yizhen blanked. Was it really like that? He didn't remember. It wasn’t like he was that interested in the matter at the time, so maybe some details escaped him. Then, he reacted at what Yin Yu was actually saying.
“Wait, shixiong, that means you accept it? You love me?”
Yin Yu pinched his cheek. “Listen! I'll keep your tassel, but it doesn't mean I lo—I share your feelings. You have to work harder for that.”
Although Yin Yu said such harsh words, his grip on Quan Yizhen's cheek had no force behind it. He let go and patted him lightly. “Now go. I'm busy.“
Quan Yizhen beamed. “I’ll work hard, shixiong! I'll bring you the best gift ever next time! You'll see.”
“Don’t bring gifts. I really don't need any.” Yin Yu waved him away.
Quan Yizhen had learned that even if those words were muttered, it didn't mean he had to follow them. He would show his shixiong just how serious his courting would be. After all, his shixiong deserved all the best things in the world.
Next time they meet, Quan Yizhen would appear with a fine brocade robe. Yin Yu would burn it at once and give a lecture to his shidi. In his belt, however, a blue and golden frayed tassel would stay tightly secured.