- Chapter Start –

Di FeiSheng and Li LianHua are presentable again by the time there's a knock on the door.

"Come in," Li LianHua calls. As soon as it's opened, Hulijing bounds in and makes a beeline for him. He barks once in greeting before licking his hands and pressing against his legs.

"I've missed you too," Li LianHua tells him, offering smiles and cuddles.

Satisfied, Hulijing goes to greet Di FeiSheng in the same way. When Minister Fang and Madam He enter, Li LianHua quickly clasps his hands together and bows deeply, grateful for the supportive hand wrapping around his elbow.

"Fang-daren, He-tangzhu. Please accept my deepest thanks-"

"Li-shenyi!" Madam He hurries forward to raise him from his bow with two capable hands under his arms. "Please don't embarrass us like this."

She frowns at him and even waggles a finger in his face

"Have you forgotten you are XiaoBao's best friend and shifu? And my saviour and good friend too? No thanks needed at all!"

"My wife is right, Li-shenyi." Minister Fang comes forward with a kindly smile. "I'm sure you remember that you restored my good name with the Emperor, and that my family and I are forever in your debt."

Li LianHua blames his weakened state for the sting in his eyes.

"Still, I have imposed upon your hospitality and greatly inconvenienced you all. Di-mengzhu and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts." He bows again and this time so does Di FeiSheng.

"Why are you referring to him by his title?" Madam He looks even more exasperated. "He is A-Fei and our good friend too! Besides, aren't you two a cou-"

"Niang, you're embarrassing them." Fang DuoBing enters the room and steps aside for A-Li and two other maids, each carrying a laden tray. "Let them eat before the food gets cold."

- o –

Plain rice congee, braised chicken, steamed fish and assorted vegetables. Li LianHua's nose twitches and his mouth waters. His senses have returned and everything looks and smells delicious!

"Try the chicken." Di FeiSheng places a piece of boneless chicken thigh in his bowl.

"And the fish." Fang DuoBing adds a piece of fish.

Li LianHua complies with a smile. He would feel awkward if not for his hosts having hot tea and a platter of sweet pastries to nibble on. Which, come to think of it, look very good too!

- o –

The next morning…

As soon as they wake up, XunMing, Wu Yan and the Drug Demon pack what little belongings they had brought with them. Despite sleeping for several hours, XunMing still feels tired and his chest twinges sharply when he moves. He's not looking forward to the long journey ahead of them.

They enter the main hall to see Guan HeMeng and Su XiaoYong seated at one of the tables with a pile of paper wrapped parcels.

"XunMing-gongzi, just the person I'm looking for," Guan HeMeng says in lieu of a greeting. "These medicinal herbs are for you."

The Drug Demon frowns and turns away, but Wu Yan hurries forward to accept the packets.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Guan-shenyi, Su-guniang." He gives a deep bow. "We are leaving soon, but rest assured I will prepare each dose myself and make sure that XunMing takes them, no matter how bitter the taste."

Guan HeMeng raises an eyebrow at that.

"My patients can vouch that my medicines are never that unpleasant to take. But this particular patient" - he nods at XunMing – "shouldn't be traveling in his condition."

"Yes, yes, stay here. I can have my home all to myself again," the Drug Demon mutters.

Abashed, XunMing turns to him.

Yao Mo, thank you for putting up with us and for all your efforts to heal my injuries. Wu Yan and I will not follow you back to Yucheng. We plan to stay at the Jinyuan HQ from now on."

"And where is that?" Guan HeMeng asks, looking displeased.

"Where is what?" Madam He bustles up to them. "Guan-shenyi, Su-guniang, I hope you two have had a good night's sleep. You're just in time for breakfast!"

"Thank you, He-tangzhu! Guan-dage and I accept your kind invitation," Su XiaoYong replies before Guan HeMeng can.

"He-tangzhu." XunMing offers a salute, "the three of us" – he indicates the Drug Demon, Wu Yan and himself – "have trespassed enough on your kind hospitality and will be leaving soon."

"Nonsense! Yao Mo has completed his task and may leave, but you are too injured to travel. Stay here until you're better. Wu Yan too, he can keep an eye on you."

"But-"

"I suggest you accept He-tangzhu's kind invitation. For the sake of your injuries if nothing else," Guan HeMeng cuts in. "Alternatively, you can stay at my place. It's not too far from here."

"With all due respect, Guan-shenyi, you have a lot more patients and I have a lot more room." Madam He looks very pleased at this fact.

Seeing Wu Yan nodding in agreement, XunMing makes another attempt.

"He-tangzhu is very generous, but I can't afford to pay-"

"Pay? Who said anything about paying?" Madam He looks horrified. "Tianji Hall is my home, not an inn!"

"But-"

"No payment required! I insist that you two stay until you're recovered."

"My apologies for interrupting. I will take my leave now." The Drug Demon gives her a quick bow before hurrying off, not even bothering to acknowledge the others.

"Rude," Su XiaoYong mutters under her breath.

Madam He waits until he's out of earshot before turning back to XunMing and Wu Yan with a conspiratorial grin.

"By the way, YunFei apologises for putting you two in Yao Mo's room last night. He didn't realise that you are together!"

Su XiaoYong lets out a surprised giggle while XunMing and Wu Yan turn red. They're both saved from having to reply when a familiar voice shouts "Watch out!" followed by the sounds of thuds and startled cries.

"That's XiaoBao!" Madam He exclaims.

- o –

A few minutes earlier…

Fang DuoBing is on his way to see Li LianHua and Di FeiSheng when he spies a familiar figure wearing a black eyepatch outside the main gates, talking to the head guard.

"Is this Tianji Hall?"

"Yes," the head guard replies. "State your name and purpose."

"Liu Rujing. I heard that Li XiangYi is staying here."

"Liu-qianbei?" Fang DuoBing goes up to them. "It is you! I'm Fang DuoBing, we've met before."

"Your voice sounds familiar. Are you that Baichuan Academy detective who came to my place?"

"Yes, I am! Welcome to my home. Please, come in." Fang DuoBing nods at the head guard to open the gates.

"I didn't recognise Li-menzhu's voice when you two came to retrieve your friend," Liu Rujing says as they walked towards the main hall. Reaching inside his robes, he pulls out several pieces of paper. "I'm returning your one thousand taels of silver."

Fang DuoBing shakes his head.

"Keep it as a token of my gratitude. After all, you did find A-Fei."

"If you insist." Liu Rujing stuffs the papers back in his robes. His expression is sombre. "I came to pay my respects to Li XiangYi… if it's not too late."

"It's not," Fang DuoBing assures him with a smile. "You'll be happy to know that Li LianHua – Li XiangYi - is cured!"

Liu Rujing looks stunned.

"But I heard he was dying of Bicha poisoning!"

"Yes, but he's fine now," Fang DuoBing assures him. "In fact, I'm on my way to see him and A-Fei. You can come with me."

A rare smile lights up Liu Rujing's stern face and his footsteps quicken, carrying him ahead of Fang DuoBing.

"So, that A-Fei is?"

"Di FeiSheng, of course! They're courting!"

"Courting?!" Liu Rujing looks over his shoulder in shock. "Di FeiSheng is the Demon Leader of the JinYuan Alliance! How-"

Too late, Fang DuoBing hears rapid footsteps approaching them from around the corner.

"Watch out!" He tries to grab Liu Rujing's elbow, but someone rushes into view and slams right into him.

- o –

Madam He is the first to arrive on the scene, followed by Guan HeMeng, Su XiaoYong, Wu Yan and XunMing. The Drug Demon is lying sprawled on top of someone on the ground, and Fang DuoBing is hovering beside them.

"Yao Mo, are you alright?" Wu Yan asks.

"Why are you pinning someone to the ground?" Su XiaoYong peers closer, trying to see who the other person is.

"Can't you see it was an accident?" The Drug Demon fumes.

"Can't you see I'm blind?" Another voice complains. "Whoever you are, get off me!"

- o -

In the largest guestroom…

Li LianHua opens his eyes and squints at the bright sunlight spilling in through the windows. For a moment, he wonders if he's back in Lotus Tower with Di FeiSheng spooning him from behind, Hulijing asleep over on their legs, and Fang DuoBing hugging one of his arms.

But only Di FeiSheng is here with one arm around his waist and warm breaths puffing in regular intervals against the side of his neck. Li LianHua's eyes flutter closed; the knowledge that he has this man all to himself is a heady one. The temptation to snuggle even closer is there even though he feels almost too warm now.

He resists. He's already pressed flushed against Di FeiSheng from neck to foot with a very tell-tale something nestled against his buttocks. It's both exciting and nerve-wracking. He has to bite back a gasp when his body stirs in response, something it hasn't done for a decade.

"Li LianHua?" The arm around his waist tenses and curls, tugging him even more firmly against its owner.

"A-Fei." Li LianHua cringes at how breathless he sounds. "I hope this isn't a normal occurrence for you."

"Waking up with you in my arms?" Di FeiSheng mumbles, sounding like he's half asleep.

"Waking up with someone in your arms."

There's a pause and then Di FeiSheng shifts away and pulls on Li LianHua's shoulder to make him lie on his back.

"When have I had anyone in my bed?" He asks, looming over him with voice still gravelly with sleep.

Smiling, Li LianHua reaches up to cup a lean cheek.

"What you said to XiaoBao last night…"

"Do we have to talk about him now?" Di FeiSheng looks fully awake. And annoyed.

Li LianHua just waits.

"I haven't kissed anyone except you," Di FeiSheng admits before raising an eyebrow. "Since we are on this topic, what about you and Qiao WanMian?"

Li LianHua shakes his head.

"You two were engaged," Di FeiSheng reminds him.

Li LianHua shrugs, curious fingertips trailing over a sharp cheekbone and down to that cleft chin.

"We were also very young. I kissed her forehead once if that counts?"

Di FeiSheng huffs, annoyance giving way to a small, pleased smile.

"So Li-menzhu was innocent then. What about Li-shenyi?"

Li LianHua looks at him in disbelief.

"Li-shenyi was dying of Bicha poisoning and struggling to survive. Why would he spend money and energy - both of which he didn't have – getting close enough to kiss someone?"

"Ah. Of course." Di FeiSheng attempts to look contrite, but ends up looking smug instead.

"But I recall Di-mengzhu had sixty percent of his energy when Li LianHua only had ten?"

"I was in seclusion. Apart from conserving my power and trying to get stronger, there was only Yao Mo for company. Surely you're not suggesting..."

The near horrified expression on his face has Li LianHua swallowing a laugh.

"Before our East Sea battle, you were at full strength. And no, I don't mean Jiao LiQiao."

"I was never interested in women," Di FeiSheng says bluntly. "Nor in any of the men I met, rivals or strangers or subordinates. It was Li XiangYi who occupied my thoughts day and night then. And it is Li LianHua who continues to occupy my thoughts day and night now."

Li LianHua feels his heart turn to mush. His fingers tighten on that strong chin and he tugs, pleased when Di FeiSheng follows willingly.

The resultant kisses are every bit as good as last night's.

"How do you feel? Still in pain?" Di FeiSheng asks after the sixth – or eighth – kiss. They're both breathing rather quickly at this point.

"A little," Li LianHua admits. While his limbs aren't trembling anymore, his bones still feel… brittle.

A regretful look crosses Di FeiSheng's face. He nods and touches his lips to Li LianHua's forehead. It's sweet, even chaste, but-

"A-Fei, I'm not made of glass."

"Oh?" Di FeiSheng's eyes gleam at once. He moves to lie between Li LianHua's thighs, nudging them apart and making himself comfortable.

"You're heavy," LianHua complains at once, but without heat.

"You carried me on your back before," Di FeiSheng counters and rocks against him.

Oh.

Li LianHua's back arches as his body responds with a firm throb. That feels good. It's been so long, he can't even remember the last time he touched himself.

With a somewhat breathless chuckle, Di FeiSheng rocks against him again… and again. Li LianHua clutches at his shoulders as he grows harder.

"Good?"

"Yes… more…"

Di FeiSheng ups the pace, sending his heart racing… until someone knocks on the door.

"Di-mengzhu, Li-shenyi, your breakfast is here," a male voice announces.

Di FeiSheng slumps down against Li LianHua who winces for real this time.

"A-Fei, warn a man before you squash the life out of him!"

"Sorry. Are you alright?"

Li LianHua nods.

"Tianji Hall's hospitality is excellent," Di FeiSheng says, "but Di-mengzhu plans to kidnap Li-shenyi this afternoon. Just to escape all these interruptions."

"Oh?" Li LianHua swallows a snicker. "And where does Di-mengzhu plan to take Li-shenyi?"

"To that ridiculous mobile home of his, of course."

- Chapter End –

Thank you for reading! LRJ appears in Episode 20 min 9-13. He can also be seen among the crowd at YBQ's trial in Episode 40 :)

dage = eldest brother
daren = respecful title for superior
gongzi = young master / mister
guniang = unmarried female
mengzhu = alliance leader
niang = mother
qianbei = someone more senior but not elderly
shenyi = doctor
shifu = martial teacher
tangzhu - hall master