Rebirth of MC

Black robes that are completely opposite from the white clothes of a Taoist priest, it is plain to see that the colour black suits this man very well. However, he still yearns to see dazzling, warm white.

[Master, please reconsider] A small figure kneels on the ground before him, deep reluctance in their eyes.

[My decision is final. Without him, I am nothing more than a Heretical Dragon exiled by his own Divine race.] A hand extends outwards, silver spiritual energy condensing in his palm. Injecting it into the spring pool's water, the black-haired man chuckles lowly. [I have already placed your spirit within the Dragon pearl. If one day, I fail to find him again, protect him on my behalf.]

[Understood.]

A long, scaled body dives into the depths of the water. This pool that once sealed him away, that was once the object of his millennium-long hatred, will now be his eternal resting place.

When he awakens again, he will once more grasp onto that soft, slender hand and never let go.

Never let gonever let go of whom?

White hair, white robes. That isno, that's right. The image shouldn't be like this.

[I have no family anymore.] A delicate, slim youth says as sorrow and vulnerability surfaces in his dark eyes.

No familyif you don't have a family, then I will give you one.

[Zhanye] Long hair drifting in an invisible wind, yearning and deep concern is clearly displayed on his face. The voice calling his name is exceedingly soft and gentle.

That's right. This man belongs to himlittle Yuan.

~~~

The silver light within the spring water gradually bleeds into a strange purplish-red colour. Slowly, it congeals into a dense sphere and rises out of the pool. The Seven Paths Energy Conjugation Array begins to revolve around the edges of the pool, glowing runes rising up to hang in the air. Absorbing the dormant spiritual energy in the surrounding air and transforming it into pure spiritual power, the runes transmit it into the water. Kneeling a foot away from the edge of the pool, Lian Xiang curls an arm around the shoulders of the unconscious Huo Zaiyuan. The Taoist passed out shortly after completing the array due to spiritual exhaustion. Half his attention is fixed on Long Zhanye, monitoring his condition while the other half doesnt shift away from his unconscious friend.

His brow wrinkles as the sphere of evil energy enters the man's body again. That's not right. That energy has clearly been expelled completely so why is it being reabsorbed?

Two fingers in front of his lips, Lian Xiang's mouth moves in a silent chant. The array extends outward as golden tendrils of energy seep into it, causing the glowing runes to rotate faster. A Buddhist demon-repelling rune appears, diving into the water.

But as soon as the golden characters approach the pool, an invisible protective barrier shimmers into existence, blocking the runes and dispersing them. Immediately after, Long Zhanye's body rises from the waters. His shadow lengthens, spiralling around the motionless form. Black, smooth scales over a long, serpentine body, razor-sharp claws and a golden mane

Rarghh - !!

The shadow roars, the loud noise shaking the Heavens and Earth. A burst of fear surfaces in Lian Xiang's heart and a trickle of blood leaks out a corner of his mouth.

"Heretical Dragon" Holding the unconscious Huo Zaiyuan to his bosom, Lian Xiang mumbles as he retreats.

Or at least, he tries to. For who knows when, Long Zhanye's hand is intertwined tightly around Huo Zaiyuan's. The man himself is clearly still unconscious, but try as Lian Xiang might, it is impossible to force him to release his grip. Finally, the Buddhist can only lift his head to stare at the back dragon who is currently eyeing him like a tiger does its prey.

"Heretical Dragon, if you are truly deeply in love with him, then retract this power of yours that is able to bring him harm. He has exhausted all his inner spiritual energy and cannot withstand this pressure."

Whether or not the black dragon understood what Lian Xiang said can be pondered over later, but it seemed to have grasped the general idea, for its dark eyes blink once before gradually withdrawing.

As the shadow disappears, the atmospheric pressure lightens as well, allowing Lian Xiang to breath easier.

But the hand wrapping around Huo Zaiyuan's own doesn't seem willing to let go in the slightest, so he can only accompany these two in sitting near the pool. He reckons that if he tries to do anything else, it will only result in provoking the Heretical Dragon into appearing once more.

Although he hasn't yet formed a solid opinion about Long Zhanye, he can't help the curiosity rising after seeing the man's shadow morphing into the Heretical Dragon.

Senior officer Long is someone he has met countless times due to accompanying Mo Junfan to A City whenever a meeting is being held. While he is not familiar with the man, he can tell the soldier is a very capable individual without the slightest trace of spiritual awareness, let alone possessing the power of a Dragon or a sliver of demonic energy. Long Zhanye is nothing more than an ordinary human. Perhaps the Heretical Dragon's shadow did not come from the man himself, but from the Dragon pearl inside his mouth?

It was only a brief few seconds, not long enough for Lian Xiang to draw solid conclusions. But no matter if Long Zhanye is an ordinary human or the Heretical Dragon, as long as his best friend loves him, he will help Huo Zaiyuan protect that person.

For an entire day and night, neither Long Zhanye nor Huo Zaiyuan show signs of awakening. Exhausted from the ordeals of this day as well as the depletion of his reserves, Lian Xiang eventually dozes off.

~~~

Who knows how long he slept for, but when his eyes finally open, his pupils flashes gold and silver before reverting back to their original inky black colour. Slowly lifting his hand, he studies the familiar black scales and razor-sharp claws that are tougher than the hardest metal. With a small tilt of his head, the scales recede, claws turning back into normal fingernails. Only when he tries to lift the other hand does he realises he is gripping something. Soft, smooth skin and gentle warmth, is it comparable to the finest white jade. This feeling is one he is exceedingly familiar with.

Head snapping around, he stares at the person he misses with his entire being, who is currently in the arms of another. Displeasure darkening his face, he rises from the pool and pads silently over to the two youths.

Perhaps the sound of water droplets hitting the floor alerts the one cradling his treasure, for the youth lifts his head, dark eyes locking onto his own hard gaze. This tranquil, bland look is also rather familiar, but for some reason, he cannot seem to recall who it belongs to.

"Return him to this deity." Long Zhanye finally speaks, arms reaching out to take the unconscious individual from Lian Xiang.

The address of "this deity" causes Lian Xiang's eyes to widen in shock.

"You areHeretical Dragon?!"

Only one person in Lian Xiang's memory dares address himself this way. Besides the egotistical Heretical Dragon himself, there is no second person bold enough.

Long Zhanye is the Heretical Dragon? Or did the spirit within the Dragon pearl take over his body?

"I am not the Heretical Dragon. I am Long Zhanye, his husband." Long Zhanye seizes his little Yuan back from Lian Xiang, cradling him close to his chest like a priceless treasure.

"Even after reincarnation and rebirth, the deep feeling between both of you is still hard to severe." Lian Xiang sighs lightly, standing to his feet.

"Even if our relationship is easily broken, this deity has never thought about severing it. Our love has withstood the test of time, it is naturally difficult to disrupt." Supporting Huo Zaiyuan with his right hand, he flicks his left, materialising a tray of vegetarian dishes and handing it over to Lian Xiang. "If I starve you to death, little Yuan will definitely be heartbroken. Finish eating and you can return."

"With you here, my heart can be at ease." Lian Xiang doesn't refuse, taking the offered food and wandering off to a corner in order not to interrupt the lovers.

Although his current cultivation level is comparatively high, two days of ceaselessly expanding spiritual energy as well as not being able to rest peacefully have taken a toll on his body and left him starving.

Gaze shifting from the quietly eating Lian Xiang to the Huo Zaiyuan in his embrace, Long Zhanye extends a foot, placing it against the dragon sculpture of the spring pool. The pool itself vanishes from the living room, taking Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan along.

In a blink of an eye, the two men appear before the bamboo house. Cradling Huo Zaiyuan close, Long Zhanye carries him in and sets him gently down on the bamboo bed.

Just as he is about to pull the blanket up to Huo Zaiyuan chin and tuck his beloved in, a streak of silver darts into the room, attacking Long Zhanye without warning.

Following a soft clang, Long Zhanye grips the edge of a silver blade between two fingers. Flicking his wrist, he tosses the jian away, throwing it out of the house and watching silently as it lands heavily onto the grass.

In a poof, the silver jian reverts back to spirit form, and Liu Ying charges towards Long Zhanye once more. Before it could land a hit on the other man, the sword spirit's little head is grasped firmly in Long Zhanyes hand. Struggling against the steadfast grip, Liu Ying can only brandish its tiny limbs to vent its frustration.

"Stupid thing. Several thousand years of not seeing your face and you're still as foolish as ever." Saying these harsh words, he flings Liu Ying away once more. At the same moment, two black streams of light darts down, piercing the sword spirit's body.

When Liu Ying falls to the ground, it is now as tall as a six-year-old kid.

"Repulsive Heretical Dragon! Pretending to be a human and bullying my master! I will beat you to death!!" Scrambling back to its feet, it throws itself forward, so angry that it doesnt even notice it has grown significantly.

"Idiot." Snapping his fingers, another stream of black light sinks into the space between Liu Ying's eyebrows. The spirit's body freezes and it drops to the ground for the fourth time in less than a minute, unable to move.

Immediately after, a little green being flies out of the bamboo house. As soon as it spots Long Zhanye, a dazzling smile breaks out on its chubby face, bowing to the man deferentially.

With another wave of his hand and black light, the little tree spirit also gradually grows to the size of a six-year-old child. Touching down lightly on the ground, it kneels before Long Zhanye.

"Lu Er respectfully welcomes Master Long."

"Hn. Drag him away somewhere. For the time being, don't come in and interrupt me," Nodding curtly in acknowledgement, Long Zhanye orders.

"Yes." The tree spirit that calls itself Lu Er immediately lifts the motionless Liu Ying over its shoulder before disappearing into the bamboo forest.

A peaceful silence finally settles within the house and Long Zhanye moves over to the bedside, fingers caressing Huo Zaiyuan's sleeping face tenderly.

"At last, I can hold your hand again. This time, I absolutely will not let go."