To Raise a Soul 49.2

As quick as lightning, they arrived back at their apartment. Frightened, Yu Zhen didn’t want to step out of the car. He wanted to resist peacefully, but Yin Yan opened the door for him, undid his safety belt, and “gently” led him to the elevator. 

With the elevator’s ascension, shivers ran across Yu Zhen’s body.

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose. I was a bit hot-headed… N-n-no, my brain wasn’t working. My brain was offline.”

Yin Yan remained silent. His expression reflected off the elevator door was completely calm.

“I can explain, really! Did my bite hurt? S-sorry.”

Yin Yan maintained his silence, but his grip on Yu Zhen’s shoulder tightened. 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!

Yu Zhen’s hair stood on end. He blankly kept watch until the elevator reached the top floor, at which point he grabbed onto the open elevator door. “I won’t dare to do it again. Really. I know my mistakes. I was wrong.”

Yin Yan skillfully broke his hold on the door and led him into their apartment. Yin Yan then abruptly spun around, keeping half a step’s distance between them, and causing Yu Zhen’s back to stick against the door. With hooded eyes, Yin Yan looked down at Yu Zhen without saying a word.

The door was cold, just like Yu Zhen’s heart at that moment. 

Though terrified, Yu Zhen looked back at Yin Yan. He saw that Yin Yan’s gaze reached depths that he was unable to fathom. He wanted to hide but didn’t dare to. He stuttered, “A-are you angry? H-how about I let you b-bite me back?”

“Remember this is what you yourself have said.”

Stunned silly, Yu Zhen mumbled, “H-huh?”

A shadow fell over him as Yin Yan stepped closer, closing the distance between them. He cupped Yu Zhen’s face in two hands and lowered his head, slowly pressing his lips onto Yu Zhen’s as the smaller man’s eyes widened.

Their lips were gently locked together followed by slow movements from Yin Yan. 

… But your energy earlier was so fierce.

Yu Zhen looked into Yin Yan’s eyes and saw his own terrified appearance. Again, a heat took over his mind and he pulled Yin Yan into a hug. 

There’s only me.

He couldn’t help but part his lips and lightly lick at Yin Yan’s broken lip. 

Within Yin Yan’s calm eyes, there appeared to be no care for anything but the person reflected in them. There’s only me. An ordinary, scared, and not-so-outstanding person. 

This guy… he has me in his eyes. He always has.  

His heart suddenly made a lot of noise. He tightened his grip on Yin Yan and slowly closed his eyes. Raising his head, he gently licked Yin Yan’s wounded lip again. 

Although he was shy, he didn’t want to let go of the person before him.

[I will take responsibility for this.]

Xin Xiaoxiao said that after she and her first love shared their first kiss, he had said the same thing – because he had already wanted to be with her for a long time.

Yin Yan said the same thing to me. Does that mean Yin Yan has also wanted to be with me for a long time?

That’s good. It’s great.

From the moment that Yin Yan’s lip had been licked, his entire body had frozen up.

Yin Yan’s ears turned red and he looked at Yu Zhen. The man had seemed terrified to death just moments ago but had begun actively kissing and licking him. His peace had long been shattered to the point that no trace of it could be seen. 

Evil disciple!

Yin Yan’s eyebrows knitted together. There was a trace of frustration in his eyes. 

This isn’t right. H-how could I let my disciple take the lead in this sort of thing?

Tightening his grip, he shifted into an active mode and deeply kissed the darling in his arms. 

San’er silently covered his eyes.  I’m still a child, don’t be like this.

Once Yin Yan made his move, Yu Zhen was utterly defeated. His lead and his breath were both stolen away. While his waist was tightly held, his legs had softened and a heat ran through his body.

“Mmm…Don’t.”

When Yu Zhen opened his eyes, his gaze was captured by the tenderness in Yin Yan’s eyes. Heart shaken, he stopped struggling and meekly continued holding onto Yin Yan.

L-let’s keep kissing then. I do kind of want to kiss more.

They were young and energetic. Although one had taken on the path of a cultivator and the other was an elder with a youthful appearance, it did not mean their hearts were truly free of desires.

Their bodies were pressed against each other, and their kisses were deep, resulting in a reaction in them both.

Yu Zhen hesitated for a moment, but once again, he “shamelessly” continued and pulled up the hem of Yin Yan’s shirt. Blushing, he reached under Yin Yan’s clothes.

Yin Yan’s body stiffened. He suddenly backed away and grabbed Yu Zhen’s hand. Then he produced a pill and stuffed it into Yu Zhen’s mouth.

The action turned Yu Zhen’s heart and body cold. He looked at Yin Yan’s slightly reddened lips, and dumbstruck by the turn of events, he stared at Yin Yan. 

Yin Yan hoarsely explained, “It’ll affect your Taoist heart.”

Yu Zhen was speechless. After a long moment, he withdrew his hand. Then he pointed at Yin Yan’s disheveled clothes and reddened lips. “Y-you’re talking about a Taoist heart right now?” 

Yin Yan fed him another pill and then ate one himself. Then he stretched his arms out and went to hug Yu Zhen.

Although his body had calmed down, his head hadn’t cooled. Seeing the outstretched arms, Yu Zhen immediately reached out his arms to return the embrace.

“You have to wear your clothes properly.” Yin Yan helped straighten out his clothes and said, “I’ll go make Eight Treasures Cubed Rabbit for you.” It sounded as if he was coaxing a child. 

… He left!

He really left!

Yu Zhen glanced at his outstretched arms, then he glanced at his orderly clothes. He suddenly shouted, “You pulled up my clothes! Did you think that tucking my shirt back can cover up how you wanted to touch me?!”

Clang!

A kitchen utensil had fallen onto the ground. Yin Yan, pretending to be calm and honorable, replied, “Yu Zhen, as a cultivator, you have to be cautious with your words and careful with your actions.”

What?! Careful with words?! Careful with actions?! You’ve already done it! But you’re not letting me say it?!

Don’t pretend to be a cute harmless dog when you’re a wolf! 

Yu Zhen turned around and began scratching the door’s wooden panels. In his anger, he wanted to smack his head on the door.

Whoosh.

A pill flew from the kitchen and hovered in front of his lips.

“Please don’t let it affect your Taoist heart.” 

Yu Zhen glared at the pill in front of him. After a long standoff, he resentfully ate the pill, then turned around and ran into his dimensional pot.

Taoist heart! Taoist heart! I won’t care if you die from repressing yourself! You old virgin cultivator! 

The sapling in the dimensional pot had grown ten leaves. Yu Zhen transferred it from its little pot to an empty spot beside the lotus pond. He lay down on his back beside the plant. Then he stared at the blue sky that was simulated by the dimensional pot and lost himself in his thoughts.

We kissed.

Yu Zhen turned around to lie on his stomach, covering himself with mud.

We kissed for a long time.

He had face-planted into the soil as if he wanted to suffocate himself.

I almost touched it.

He turned his head and let out a long breath. Slowly, his usual self, along with his usual timidness, returned.

I dallied with Yin Yan and was indecent with him. I dallied with Yin Yan, someone who is like my elder and teacher… And I even cussed him out in my heart. I was confident when I cussed him out.

Have I been possessed?

He sat up and looked at himself in disbelief and then held his head in his hands.

What happened? How did I become so bold and outrageous? I was very unrestrained with Yin Yan. It’s like we’ve already been familiar. Very familiar. As if we’ve been together for many, many years. 

Does love make people go crazy?

No, that’s not right.

He lowered his hands again and looked down at his muddied trousers. 

Yin Yan… Do I really like him? Does acting like that make two people a harmonious couple? Did my plan to become close family succeed?

After all, we did kiss for a long time. And some touching almost happened.

He suddenly blushed again and mindlessly picked at his muddy trousers. His eyes glistened with joy and bashfulness.

This should count as mutual love. You like me and I like you. It should be mutual love… Wait! Wait a minute!

He frowned and thought back to the conversations they’d had that day. He was stunned.

No, Yin Yan didn’t say he likes me, only that he would take responsibility.

… Was what just happened a show of Yin Yan taking responsibility? People from ancient times seem to care more about reputation and integrity, so much so that they would need to take responsibility after seeing even just a bit of skin.

And with Yin Yan’s rigid, follow-the-rule-to-the-letter type personality…

Badump.

Yu Zhen plopped back into the mud. He stared blankly and his heart was filled with despair.

No, I don’t want that kind of love.

Knock, knock.

“Dinner is ready. Come out for food.”

Yu Zhen’s stomach growled. He had no other choice. He hadn’t eaten lunch, so it was difficult to ignore the hunger.

Yu Zhen dejectedly sat up. He eyed the entrance to the dimensional pot, rubbed his face, and finally stood up. 

Yin Yan watched helplessly as his previously clean and beautiful disciple emerged from the pot like a clay figurine. 

“You…” He had no words for a while.

Yu Zhen hadn’t realized the issue. Seeing that Yin Yan was unwilling to even speak with him, he felt even more dejected. He turned his head and asked, “What about me? Didn’t you call me out for food?” Did you dislike me all along?

“…”

I’m filthy and stupid.

Yin Yan’s helpless gaze remained fixed on him. He stepped closer and touched Yu Zhen’s hair, leaving his hand covered in mud. Indulgently, he rapped Yu Zhen’s forehead, held his hand, and led him to the bathroom. 

Yu Zhen’s heart skipped a beat at the quiet but doting actions. He looked up at Yin Yan and the heavy feeling in his heart lifted a little. His gaze trailed along Yin Yan’s arm, to their connected hands. 

One hand was slender and pale while the other was dirty and muddy.

Yu Zhen stiffened as he realized something. He looked down at himself and his face flushed in embarrassment. He struggled, attempting to pull his hand back. “I-I accidentally fell in the dimensional pot. Right, I fell. You-I…”

“You’re lying.”

Yin Yan pushed him into the bathroom and brushed his hand against Yu Zhen’s mud-streaked face. He abruptly leaned down and kissed Yu Zhen, then he asked, “Do you want to wash by yourself? Or do you want me to help you?”

Boom!

Yu Zhen felt the blood throughout his body begin boiling at that question. He wanted to shamelessly reply “help me wash up”, but just before the words left his lips, he realized that he was once again acting bold and unrestrained. He shook his head and said, “No, no need. I’ll wash by myself. Right, I’ll wash myself.”

As he spoke he pushed Yin Yan out. He was afraid that if he was even one second slower, he might take back his own words and ask Yin Yan to stay.

Yin Yan cooperatively left the bathroom. Before Yu Zhen had shut the door, he added, “Your hair is also dirty.”

“I’ll wash my hair. I’ll wash it twice. I can guarantee that it’ll be clean.” Yu Zhen didn’t dare to look at him. He darted back in and quickly shut the door.

Yin Yan waited outside the door until the sound of running water could be heard. He turned around and then shook his hand, removing the dirt on it. Then he entered the dining room and eyed the piping hot Eight Treasures Cubed Rabbit. He picked up the dish with both hands and released true fire.

Cubed rabbit isn’t tasty after it cools. 

San’er who had drifted out of the bathroom to avoid seeing his master shower: “…” Using true fire to keep the rabbit meat warm. Cultivators who are dating are really scary.