Chapter One Hundred And Sixty Five - I have reached my limit

Author's note; I hint at a little bit of adult time in the last couple of paragraphs...

There were many rumours flying about the institute about the man named Jin Li. Some were idle gossip, such as how he was unruly, seldom attended lectures and destructive tendencies (this latter was towards combat dummies, however oddly enough or perhaps not, this part was not mentioned). There were the more pink rumours that he was handsome, his fighting form elegant and refined and he respected women, not looking down on them as the weaker sex when it came to martial arts. He'd been linked to many a belle, including the Twin Lotuses, which had drawn the jealousy of others, so much so that he'd fought with seniors as well fellow first years and there was no mention of him losing these battles.

He was rumoured to be a fallen noble, cast out with just the silk upon his back, but he still walked around with a regal air as if such a set back meant nothing to him. He had taken on missions that were usually picked only by seniors and completed them. He'd easily beaten many wild spiritual beasts as he sought to gain experience in the mountains. He'd gained the recognition of Teacher Corne's only student as well as the eccentric Teacher Corvus and a few others. And an odd, generally unknown, little alchemist with Yin Yang hair was said to be under his protection.

Thus when the young Master realised that this was the Jin Li, who had fought the Barbarian (the senior berserker, who happened to later win his way into the martial arts inner school) and had drawn with him, he'd realised his mistake and decidedly turned tail.

These rumours and long tales that floated about the institute had either not yet reached the ears of he who was at the centre of them or more likely, he simply did not care. Right now all of his attention was upon the watery eyes of his beloved alchemist and the swollen lips beneath them.

After circling the Festival grounds for a little longer, they had returned home, bringing back the trove of 'treasures' as well as a couple of books on herbs and medicinal tea, the medicinal wine and two cute jade ornaments, one of a koi fish and one of a lion cub. The latter had been picked by Jin Li, who felt it resembled a certain someone. Leon had quickly cooked a pot of rice, stir fried some vegetables and mixed together a fragrant chilli sauce to bring it all together and the pair had sat down to eat. After the meal, Leon had expressed his wish to taste the medicinal wine.

The wine was fruity and easy to drink, with a pleasant aftertaste. The spiritual energies within were pure and as Leon's belly warmed, his meridians drew the energies into themselves and he'd circulated them just once before they settled into his innersea. However, it was still alcohol, something small Leon was still not accustomed to and even after one cup did he glance over at Jin Li with misty, sanguine eyes, causing the other to down his cup before dragging him to the bed to devour his mouth and entangle their tongues.

It was just a pity, Leon felt, as Jin Li pulled him into his chest as he slept, that it never went any further.

The poor alchemist was at his limit, teased so many times yet having to will away each and every time the results of Jin Li's seductions. And with the Medicinal Wine's slight side effects still coursing through his blood, it was a restless night that followed as it didn't turn limp until dawn. And not long after his eyes finally closed in order to sleep, was he tossed beneath the infuriating man and not in a productive way!

Jin Li, oblivious to Leon's discomfort, had wanted to kiss him farewell, for he'd promised Senior Bowyer a duel and the latter had declared it must be on this day, or rather, that morning. For Bowyer was due to go out on a mission that would take a few weeks, but wanted one last round with his junior before he left. Jin Li had not been able to get out of it.

"I'll come back this evening," Jin Li advised him, after he saw that his small alchemist was too tired to follow him.

Leon fell asleep soon after due to sheer exhaustion.

It's said that our wishes and deeds are often portrayed in our dreams and Leon could quite well agree with this for his could only be described as eighteen plus and requiring some censorship. When he awoke a few hours later, it was with a reddened face, a rather sticky and damp patch as well as still suffering a morning affliction... just in the afternoon instead.

With a sigh, he rose from his bed and shuffled uncomfortably to his makeshift bathroom, reaching for the bucket and beginning the arduous task of filling the bath and heating the water. After quickly reheating some left over rice into a congee and quickly eating it, his bath was ready for him to soak in. His robes were tossed to one side, he would try and clean the mess from within the undergarment after his bath. He crouched in the small tub wiping away the remnants of his dreams all the while cursing Jin Li for causing this.

He wanted to say; you don't have to suppress yourself, I want you too! He wanted to say; let me touch you, let me please you, let's resolve this together. But Jin Li usually left him breathless and tongue-tied. That and he'd never done that sort of thing in his past life, so what experience did he have that he could claim to release Jin Li from the need to suppress through some mental technique?

Glancing down at that part of him which expressed itself far more clearly than Leon was able to, yet was still ignored by the frustrating martial artist, his fingers reached out tentatively, wrapping around the stiff object. Upon touching the sensitive part, a slight hiss escaped him. It ached to be touched, but it really ached to be touched by Jin Li. Leon wanted Jin Li's hand to be the one stroking along its length, or dare he think it, replacing hand with mouth. A shudder shot down his spine as he imagined it, imagined his lover teasing the column and the head of it and a groan escaped his lips; "Jin Li...!"

"You dare...?"