Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)

- Chapter Start -

At the World Armoury, ZiShu had found it easy to channel his refined qi into Wen KeXing. He found it even easier to do the same for Ye BaiYi whose body accepted both their qi eagerly, almost greedily. Ye BaiYi's meridians were still intact so it didn't take very long for his core to fill up, and his body to strengthen and regain its former vitality.

If ZiShu wasn't focused on the transfer of qi, on the sharing of the LiuHe technique, and the monitoring of the energy levels between the three of them, he might be amused at what that implied. Once Ye BaiYi made up his mind, he followed through without hesitation or reservations. He expected them to do the same.

Wen KeXing was just like him, but his fears that ZiShu would sacrifice his newly gained health to repair his soulmate's meridians had made him hesitate at the World Armoury. ZiShu had had to coax and persuade him into accepting his qi. Not that he had minded at all, enchanted by the rare and beguiling sight of an anxious and uncertain Lao Wen...

Drat. So much for being focused. ZiShu returned to the task at hand, sensing that Wen KeXing was doing the same beside him, ensuring the flow of power and energy between them remained in balance. No more self-sacrificing. ZiShu wanted his Lao Wen by his side and the two of them wanted to help Ye BaiYi as well.

By the time they completed the process, Ye BaiYi's eyes were bright and his skin had regained its former smoothness. Apart from his long hair which remained a striking mix of black and white, he looked like the first time they had seen him at that inn, happily eating and surrounded by piles of empty dishes and a gawking audience.

The three of them remained still for the next few minutes, hands still holding tight to one another as their bodies adapted to the new levels of energy. ZiShu saw Wen KeXing looking at Ye BaiYi with a tiny, pleased smile on his face and couldn't help smiling as well. Those two preferred communicating with bickering and insults instead of sincere words.

It was Ye BaiYi who moved first, tugging his hands free and resting them on his knees. He looked down, frowning as if deep in thought, and then he met their gazes and nodded.

"Thank you," he said gruffly. "I still think you two brats shouldn't have done this. But for what it's worth, I am grateful."

"You're welcome, Senior Ye," ZiShu replied at once.

"Yup, you owe us now," Wen KeXing quipped, his smile widening into a grin.

Ye BaiYi opened his mouth to argue and then he just rolled his eyes and rose to his feet.

"Well then! Naps are for old people!" With that, he strode to the door and pulled it open. "Oi! Qin HuaiZhang's disciple's disciple! I mean, the first one!"

"Wait. What is he...?" Wen KeXing looked as baffled as ZiShu felt.

Still hand in hand, they got up and went out to see a puzzled ChengLing trotting up to Ye BaiYi. It turned out that the ex-immortal now felt energised enough to hold an impromptu training session for the new disciples of Four Seasons Manor.

"When you told him we needed his help, I didn't think he'd want to start right now," Wen KeXing said blankly as ChengLing threw them a betrayed look before going off to look for the others.

ZiShu just shrugged.

- o -

For the next half hour, the two of them watched in bemusement as Ye BaiYi put the disciples through a warm up session and then a series of exercises under the late afternoon sun.

After a while, Wen KeXing started fanning himself and gave a theatrical sigh.

"A-Xu, it pains me to say this, but we may have made a mistake," he said in a plaintive voice which didn't hide his laughter.

"Maybe," ZiShu replied with a smile. He wasn't about to complain though.

By tacit agreement, they ignored the other disciples' furtive glances for intervention with ChengLing's being the most desperate. They only stopped watching when A QinLai came to tell them that he had prepared a warm bath in BeiYuan's private bathroom.

- o -

The wooden tub was half filled with steaming water that was redolent with fragrant herbs. It was also a lot bigger than the old tub at Four Seasons Manor.

ZiShu shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Jing BeiYuan had grown up in the lap of luxury. He lived a simpler life now with Wu Xi, but still clung to some of the creature comforts he loved, like luxurious robes and hot baths. He was also a loyal and generous friend who insisted on sharing his home and amenities.

Making a mental note to get a similar tub once they moved back to Four Seasons Manor, ZiShu untied his sash and tossed it on a nearby chair. His scalp was suddenly itching with all the dust accumulated over the past few days. He and Wen KeXing had made do with a quick wash at a stream during the ride back from the Armoury. They had also cleaned up a bit this afternoon, but he still longed for a hot bath and the chance to wash his hair.

He wasn't the only one. Two warm hands squeezed his shoulders as a familiar body pressed against his back.

"A hot bath at long last!"

The reverent words made ZiShu grin.

"And a tub big enough for two." The hands on his shoulders tightened. "Big enough to bathe in... and more."

ZiShu let out a soundless sigh. He couldn't deny he had thought about more as well, seeing as they would be sharing a bath for the first time. But faced with a Wen KeXing who radiated confidence and vitality, he found himself thinking again of the vulnerable man he had witnessed at the World Armoury.

Of course ZiShu would take a healed and healthy Wen KeXing over a frail, weakened one any day. It was just that his Lao Wen had looked so appealing then, shy and pink cheeked as he implied he had never been kissed...

Closing his eyes, ZiShu swallowed. His body flushed with heat with a curl of anticipation warming his stomach. No, not now. Pressing his lips together, he looked over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow.

"BeiYuan is generous enough to share his tub with us so let's stick to bathing, hm?"

Wen KeXing lowered his gaze to hide the gleam in them and stuck out his lower lip in an exaggerated pout.

"A-Xu, I'm sure he and Wu Xi have done all sorts of-"

"And let's not think about that," ZiShu interrupted hastily as he moved away. "Besides, it's the middle of the afternoon and the inner courtyard is just outside."

The mere thought of his twenty disciples hearing anything they shouldn't while they sweated under the sun was enough to make him hot and cold all over. Lost in his thoughts, he disrobed slower than usual. When he was clad in just his inner trousers, he turned to see Wen KeXing in the same state of undress, standing beside the tub. ZiShu had to swallow again as he took in that tall, sparse frame. Wen KeXing's broad shoulders and lean chest were less muscled than his own, but he looked lithe and strong.

"I thought you'd have gone in by now," ZiShu said.

There was more than enough light streaming in the small high windows for him to see Wen KeXing's fleeting smile and shrug. He looked oddly indecisive now, long fingers toying with the ties of his trousers.

Had he heard ZiShu's earlier thoughts?

"A-Xu..."

ZiShu found himself moving closer.

"Yes?"

Wen KeXing brought forward a swathe of silver hair.

"My hair."

"Lao Wen, I told you. It's beautiful," ZiShu assured him, equal parts amused and charmed by his soulmate's continuous need for assurance.

"I know, but..."

"But?" ZiShu tipped his head to one side.

"My eyebrows are still dark, but everywhere else... isn't!"

"Oh." ZiShu's gaze automatically went to Wen KeXing's trousers. "Are you sure?"

Stupid question. Really, very stupid.

"Yes!"

ZiShu moved even closer.

"I want to see."

"You'll laugh."

"No, I won't."

Wen KeXing's eyes met his before skittering away.

"It looks... I look old! There!" His voice came out as an almost agonised whisper.

ZiShu had to bite his lip hard to hold back his laughter. The courtyard was just a few feet away, he reminded himself.

"I'm sure you don't."

He closed one hand over the one gripping the trousers, sly fingertips finding the strings.

"Lao Wen, let me see," he said against Wen KeXing's lips. He felt the tiny nod and tugged the other's hand away together with the strings, causing the trousers to fall to the floor.

With another reassuring kiss, he stepped back and looked down.

Oh.

Wen KeXing was telling the truth. His body hair was indeed as fair as his head.

He was also lying. Of all the words ZiShu could think of as he stared, 'old' wasn't one of them. His heartbeat doubled in speed, sending his blood to pool between his thighs.

"Lao Wen, you're gorgeous," he said on a groan and looked up to see Wen KeXing breath held and pink cheeked.

"Really?"

"Trust me," ZiShu told him and smiled as Wen KeXing visibly relaxed. They kissed again, bodies pressing together and growing even warmer.

"A-Xu, I want to see you too."

Wiggling a hand between them, ZiShu untied his trousers and let them fall. Then he stepped out of them, hearing the sharp, indrawn breath.

"My A-Xu is perfect."

ZiShu found himself blushing. He took a deep breath to ground himself and felt his resolve waver as he breathed in Wen KeXing's scent.

"Bath," he managed.

"Bath. And then?"

"And then nothing. The courtyard is just outside, remember?"

"But A-Xu..."

Ignoring him, ZiShu moved to the tub and stepped inside before he could change his mind, wincing at how hot the water was.

"A-Xu!"

"Hush!"

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed it :)