The Secret Recipe for Healing His Soul?

Xiang Yu nodded with satisfaction. Good. With this oath, that fake dragon wouldn't be able to try anything funny. He was on the safe side now. "Then let's go save that man." He turned around and wanted to go but Xin Lan grabbed him by the back of his robe and pulled him back. "Not so fast."

Xiang Yu lashed out at him and jumped back when Xin Lan let go. "What do you think you're doing?"

Xin Lan smirked. "Actually, that's what I'd like to ask you. Never mind that oath. I've sworn it and I will keep my word. If you managed to heal His Majesty, then I will accompany you on this trial. What I'd like to know though is what you expect me to do."

Xiang Yu furrowed his brows, making the mark between his brows ripple as if it had a life of its own. "What do you mean? Didn't I say to accompany me?"

Xin Lan nodded. "You did and I accepted but what exactly do you understand as accompanying? Obviously, you don't like me being in love with you, you don't like me being close and you don't like me touching you either. What kind of accompanying are you thinking of?"

Xiang Yu fell quiet for a moment. Actually, he hadn't thought too much about it. He only wanted to have another shot at being happy. He wanted to have a few precious memories. Whether that would work out or not … he had no idea. But would this guy understand if he told him? He really didn't want to talk about it either. This fake dragon had no right to know about his life. He needed to explain though or things might go wrong on his trial.

In the end, he decided to just state plainly what he expected. He raised his chin and looked at Xin Lan as if daring him to complain. "Naturally, you'll be my lover. See it as me being nice to you. I'm actually giving you the chance to realize your feelings for a while."

Xin Lan looked at the person in front of him and pondered. This definitely wasn't a normal request. It wouldn't be from any person and it certainly wasn't from a fallen god that had become one exactly because of a love trial. "What happened on your last trial?"

Xiang Yu turned away. "What's it to you? You should just do your part and not care about anything else. Now, don't you want to go and save that man? I don't have that much time. We should hurry up." He raised a hand and the space in front of him ripped open. Without a look back, he stepped through it and reappeared in the Yun Zou Sect.

Xin Lan looked at the gate that Xiang Yu had opened casually and clicked his tongue. This guy … He really made full use of the fact that he could do something that only he knew about. Well, it really wasn't his problem. Whatever had happened on that guy's first trial and why ever he was reacting like this every time they saw each other, he shouldn't care. He had only promised to accompany him on his second trial, so he would do that. Everything else was of no importance.

He also stepped through the gate and the crack slowly closed behind him as if Xiang Yu had left it open for him to follow.

Xin Lan gazed at the fallen god and motioned for him to stay where he was. "I'll go look for His Majesty. Wait here." With that, he went into the house and finally saw Jinde sitting in the study, a brush in hand and his gaze focused on the paper in front of him. As for the person he was painting … Xin Lan's eyes flashed a trace of hurt but he forced himself to suppress it. It was normal for his Master to long for his family. There was nothing strange about that. There was no reason for him to feel like this at all.

Xin Lan stopped in the door and smiled. "I've brought that fallen god back again. He said he'll be able to heal you now."

Jinde looked up and smiled, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "I see that." He got up and walked toward the door, stepping past Xin Lan and reaching out to pat the fallen god's head. "So you're here again. What made you leave so fast the last time? Xin Lan wouldn't have bullied you, would he?"

Xin Lan turned around and looked at the person behind him incredulously. Hadn't he told him to wait? And, wait, why was he being so docile when his Master touched him? Don't tell him that kind of feisty behavior was reserved for him?

To Xin Lan's dismay, Xiang Yu actually smiled at Jinde. He pulled out the jar where he had put in the earth from the Da He and showed it to him. "I brought you something from the High Heavens. It should help with your soul. Now, you only need a place where you can use it without being disturbed and I'm sure we can heal your soul."

Jinde raised his brows and carefully took the jar, peeking inside. This … It seemed to be nothing more than mud and water? That was the secret recipe for healing his soul? He really wouldn't have thought …