The Beginning

The bustling city of Huang’An was as lively as ever, woman busied themselves accommodating their time to buy delicious delicacies and cosmetics in the crowded market.

Youngsters played under the vibrant light of the sun kissing their cheeks faint red and getting sweaty and sticky at the playground.

Older men also join in the surging noise keeping themselves occupied with gambles, and some were already drinking in the early blossom of the parting dawn.

Jia on the other hand was running against the cramped street.

The man needed money for his ill sister and to make ends meet.

He was adopted by his former owner---- Chen Xu, his Shixiong.

Jia dashed, smiling wide unbothered by the passerby. It may not be obvious but he had a deep affection for his owner.

It was already a heaven-sent gift for him to be at the man’s side. In anyhow he could look at him all he wants. Even at the safe distance.

And when he reaches the tavern, Jia gingerly opened the side door where he met eyes with Chen Xu.

“Chen-Shixiong” he called lovingly, chasing his breath.

Chen-Xu was an attractive man, having a petite and lean physique, some can’t help but awe for a moment to appreciate this beauty. He was a man alright, yet, he had the eyes of a sensual maiden adding to his ethereal beauty, a lip looking like it was tainted with crimson blood sitting gracefully in that pale skin. Truly captivating that Jia can’t control his flustered face.

It is no wonder his Shixiong already ties a knot with someone he desired to live with for the rest of the man’s day.

“I am going to melt by that gaze, you know?” Chen Xu teasingly smiled at him turning his back again after acknowledging the lad's presence.

Jia was caught off guard, his face stupefied making the tip of his ear seared with a hot sensation. “I... pardon this lowly for being late today.” he bowed down paying his respect.

Digressing the fact that his Shixiong just makes fun of the way he looks at him.

“Don’t concern yourself, besides we can’t accept customers for the time being. Zixhen Gege will visit here with his brother finally! Do you remember what I told about---- Xiao Zihan?” Chen Xu merrily enunciated while assembling alcohol on the shelves.

“Unn… not a single one I forgotten what Shixiong told me,” Jia replied with a slight frown dropping an eye.

He knew who was going to visit them over and over again--- it was the man who stole Chen Xu’s heart. The only sole reason why Jia felt insecure about himself.

“Surely, that kid and you will be acquainted in no time.” dimpled smile welcomes Jia’s languorous facade.

“I will try my very best Shixiong,” he mumbled.

“Right, my bao was a man of his words. You must go to your chamber now. Dress the one I put there and go straight into the main hall.” Chen Xu waved his hand dismissing Jia.

The man bowed once again and leave silently. It wasn’t difficult for him to cover up what he feels about his Shixiong.

He doesn’t want to disrespect Chen Xu….

His Shixiong was the one who helped them when they were in demise.

The only person who gives a hand saving them from death’s door.

Reminding him of that particular time when his Shixiong embraced his severe skin and bone body without feeling disgusted.

Jia’s heart fluttered, eyes soften even though their first meeting was not pleasingly good memories to keep, but up to now, it was the best one.

And the only way he repaid his Shixiong for giving him new life was to serve him.

The fondness he felt can only be hidden inside. The timidity kept him silent for all these years.

Jia as always shrugged that uncomfortable feeling off his chest.

The lad went to his dressing chamber, making sure he was cordial and formal in meeting the guest.

He picks up the robes inspecting thoroughly if it is not disheveled. Fixing his long curly hair and tying it up, the loosened curtain bangs displayed, sway gracefully on his face.

Giving him a youthful appearance concealing his old years. Although he wore simple robes, he had a statuesque figure, his lean arms seemingly alluring.

The facial features add up to his charming silhouette. The man had a face of a serene temperament that captivates attention.

After making sure everything was in place, he made his way languidly taking his steps as he heard faint laughter across the hall.

He strode carefully to the figures “Jia, come here Zixhen Gege was looking for you.” Chen-Xu exclaimed eyes gleaming out with excitement and adoration.

Jia stood beside his owner bowed his head making a fist and palm salute.

“Greetings Shixiong, this lowly one was happy to meet you again.” He then faces the figurine.

Standing so elegant, the man’s build was refined and intellectual making his character respectful with an endearing aura.

“Enough with the proper greetings already.” reaching Jia’s head and patting it lightly.

How can he hate this man? a gentle noble with unmoving principles. Surely, was all suitable for Chen-Xu who had a loving and caring personality.

Looking at Jia beaming with delight he uttered “Chen-lang your bao was as always polite and well behaved not like my little brother.” he then proceeds to tap lightly Jia’s shoulder cheering the man’s good character.

“I am beyond untroubled knowing that my Chen-Lang finds someone like you”. Zixhen continued.

Jia didn’t know if he should be happy or displeased. He gulped heavily, there were pangs of distress lingering in him, but he never really let the thought ruin his day.

The man just slightly smiles at Zixhen

‘Zixhen-Gege… don’t tease anymore, this Chen-Lang was just only admiring Xiao Bao that I had.’’ his Chen-Shixiong exclaimed.

“I wish my little brother will behave more like him.” Zixhen slightly sighs eyes on Jia looking tenderly.

“You mean Xiao Zihan? Speaking of which, where is the child? Screwing outside again?’’ his Shixiong questions the man darting eyes on the troubled man.

Then proceeded to say “Forget it, Jia will wait for Xiao Zhan’s arrival.” he looked at Jia nodding for his approval, and the man nodded back.

“Hmm, that would also do.” As they bid parting farewells the two went out first.

Jia takes a deep breath

He turned to examine those backs. The embodiment of the two was suitable for each other. Jia smiled bitterly, maybe the two were destined together. Every step away from him was like an expanding boundary between them.

It was also a reminder of how lowly he was compared to them. He wonders if somehow; someone would look at him like how Chen-Xu fondly looked at Zixhen.

He watches helplessly as the figures fade from his sight. He heavily sighs with a hint of misery.

“I wish I was him.” he sadly murmurs from under his breath; slightly shaking his head.

“Who was him? he was surprised by the whisper behind, making him swiftly turn to whoever was talking.

The young man teasingly grins, looking at Jia as if he just found something interesting to make fun of.

The man surely was undeniably seductive, his almond eyes were staring straight at the startled man.

His heavily-defined pouty lips filled his overall appearance almost like a metaphoric cite ‘‘the fallen angel’ and from his perfect contour to his jawline it was so grateful that even when the young sir simply smiles, makes the attentive eyes steady stiff.

His figure also was greedily flawless, giving him a bewitching aura from his stunning robes.

“So, is this the young master Shixiong was talking about?” he said to himself.

He bowed down as he welcome the young man “May this peasant know if the young master’s name----’ he was cut off by the man.

"Save your greetings, pretty man. I have come here with my Zixhen Gege.”

Jia gave him a calculating look. What is this young man talking about?

Shouldn’t at least give a poor man a face, calling him a pretty man doesn’t even sound like a compliment for Jia.

The man put his act together as he smile slightly and spoke at Zihan with such enthusiasm “I was informed of your arrival and was ordered to wait for the master so I can escort you to the chamber.” Zihan raises an eyebrow, focusing his gaze on Jia.

“Hmm… your name? your name was Jia, right?” Zihan asked him thinking hard he propped a hand on his chin.

“Right, this lowly one’s name was Jia.” he was a dumbfounded never in his life that this master would recognize him?

“Ah!! I knew now… hmmm so it was you... “ Zihan nodded like he was agreeing on something encircling Jia as if he found some interesting.

“Gege always scolded me almost every second of every day. He would compare me to the man’s name Jia.” He exclaimed intently looking at Jia from head to toe.

“I cannot be compared to the young master.” Jia being on the receiving end simply glossed over, blaming Zihan’s sly behavior won’t change a thing anyway.

Zihan waves his hand at the stale proclamation.

“No, that doesn’t concern anything for me at all. It's just you were too polite and obedient around your age even though Chen Gege treated you as a family.” His head slightly shakes in disagreement.

“Don’t you want to experience indulging in the pleasures of life? Yes?” he nudges Jia trying to get the man to submit to his possible temptation.

“No” Jia answered flatly.

“Eh… how can a man tolerate such boring life like yours?” hands on his temples massaging the non-existence ache in the head, looking worriedly confused.

“I am not lonely though,” Jia said to himself the man shrugged the subject off and asked Zihan.

“Shixiong must be waiting for the young master’s presence. We must hurry now that you are here.” he decided to walk past Zihan for the man to follow.

As they were pacing through the heavy walls, Zihan initiate the talk

“So, mind this saintly Gege to inform Zihan where I find a brothel nearby?” Jia’s mouth twitches not answering the question as he strode; unbothered by the young man.

Zihan chuckled under his breath “Ah, my mistake someone like you will never know what a brothel looks like.” He was teasing Jia and the man didn’t seem interested at all.

Suddenly, Zihan again irritatingly nudges at Jia with an overwhelmed look and gleaming eyes feigning Jia’s now distorted face.

“Then, do you want to come with me? I have heard that there were beauties in the brothel and was very popular among nobles. Hmm?” the young man had an affable character, disappointingly good at using it on his shamelessness ideals.

“Don’t tell me you never held a woman before? Never bed someone?” Zihan teasingly eyed him with a smug face.

‘A WHAT?’ Jia stared at him bewildered his eyebrows raise as his jaw dropped slightly. He can’t help exclaiming since Zihan’s words were unscrupulous enough.

The young man laughs heartily, he was enjoying the poor man's impression.

The way Jia gaped at those words made him want to tease more.

He can’t help but add twisted mockery to the man “Say, Is Jia a male virgin?

“Is that why your only knowledge was to serve others; how about you?’ continued laughing as he didn’t care what the man was thinking about him.

Jia was stupefied, eyebrows furrowed, stunned by what he just heard.

He thought that this Zihan loves poking him. Realizing he doesn’t want this man to stick with him.

It’ll only make him shameless and this whole bunch of stupid conversation makes him flushed red.

Meeting this man can be intolerable to take and so, is that why Yang Zixhen always visited the tavern to get away with Zihan?

Ever since this man’s presence was met by him, he already fought silent battles inside. Composing his distorted face once more, hurried his steps to the chamber so he can be freed from this unhinged man.

“Hey, I was just teasing you… Jia-Ge was embarrassed? The man strode faster to level Jia’s steps.

‘‘It is better for a young master to control such a repulsive mouth. Someone here might misunderstand you. Do you want to sully your dignity?.” feeling that he had gotten a hold of himself not to give a spank to this twisted madman makes him triumphant or, so does he think?

“And perhaps is this how young master behaving in such length; acting all impudent without a sense of standards?” he added not wanting to look if the man was insulted by his words.

But Zihan was delighted as ever, the man boisterously laughs at the scolding, he was so into it that he repeatedly taps Jia’s shoulder as the poor man was disturbed.

“You scold too much and yet, for a servant like you isn’t it any better than a noble to do this kind of “impolite” ways as you say? You should be thankful enough Jia-Ge, the way you act is much more like my type. If you were a woman, we could have such great times together” Zihan replied.

Jia didn’t know what to do; he thought he would probably die of madness before having auspicious life in the latter.

Although his face was calm as a serene lake; yet bounded with him the raging bull ready to lunge at Zihan.

Now, all he has to do is play along praying that this man would not make fun of him any longer.

He carefully looks at Zihan, side-eyeing the man who was much carefree and lively.

“He was just mocking me and all. I must endure this,” he says to himself...…..

They finally reach the chamber, the end of his suffering Jia announced their presence; as the door slides open.

“Chen-Gege” Zihan waves his hand, radiating his most innocent smile.

“Xiao Zihan?” Chen Xu abruptly stands up with excitement in his tone. Moving closer to the silhouettes.

“Chen-Ge this Xiao Zihan misses you, too bad Shixiong never wants me to visit.” the young master acts as if he was wrong by this, making Jia express deep grim on his very face.

Zixhen on the other hand looked at them tenderly while sipping a tea.

Chen Xu then looks at the groggy Jia, he giggled softly as he taps Zihan’s shoulder.

What did you do to my bao? He wasn’t pale as we left him before. Did you start bullying him?" They gaze at Jia who was momentarily frozen.

Zihan with a smug face exclaimed confidently “ahh… Jia-Ge was bold. He told me that he held tons of women in bed and he also told this Zihan where to look for a popular brothel.” The pretending fox makes a facepalm looking like he was disappointed.

The room went silent as Jia quickly look at the young man.

“No, I… I…” Jia was betrayed by his stuttering voice. His throat bobbed as he was bewildered by sudden blame.

Zihan walks back where Jia is stupefied “Do not worry Ge. I do understand it is only natural for a man but, please do not tell me your experiences it is so—he eyed Jia’s already redden face.

“So immoral for someone like you to teach me positions on the bed.” he bashfully murmured, intentional, to be heard by the people present in the chamber.

“I…. Didn’t tell…” he was cut off by Zihan as the man puts a finger on Jia’s mouth stopping him from talking back.

‘Hush now, I know, this Zihan knew.” Then he pats the poor man back lightly.

Chen Xu can be heard sighing deeply as Zixhen chuckled behind them.

“Stop teasing Jia now.” he moves closer to the two as Chen-Xu pinches Zihan’s ear making the man scramble. Dragging his feet to where Zixhen was sitting.

Chen Xu stops to look in the poor man's direction “Jia, you are dismissed for now. You can stroll around or go home early both might do as well.”

The embarrassed lad bowed down he didn’t forget to gaze at Zihan with a murderous look, but the young master just shrugged it off chuckling in triumphant.

He dashes ahead not wanting the man to pay attention to him anymore.

It was making Jia sick out of the head. He didn’t even have time to explain his side, but he knew Shixiong would never believe those blatant accusations.

He scorns Zihan a thousand times in his heart already.

Outside the tavern

The street with always crowded people filled the noise everywhere. Jia inhaled deeply.

“Ah... what an awful day".He said to himself.

He strolls around and plans to go home so he can tend to his sister; Jia never forgot to buy his sister her favorite mantou.

As he was walking enjoying the scene before him. He notices a group of people circling an eccentric shop. Jia got his

curiosity out of him and so lured himself closer to the surging noise.

“Do you think that was real?” a young man was seen holding a jade pendant nicely decorated with beads and fine shiny stones.

Jia listens attentively he finds interest in the pendant. It was so beautiful, he had never seen anything similar to it.

“Perhaps, it made this shop stand out.” he thought

“This pendant can tell your future. The shop owner told me to put a drop of my blood and wrap it with hay then, I shall wait for a full moon and bury this thing where the moon shines the moons.” the young man confidently blurted out something he found interesting.

“And, if the Fortnight passes you can take the buried pendant in the middle of the night. The color will tell you your future.” the young man uttered feeling convivial.

Jia scoffs at the story. He didn’t believe in made-up prophecies. Coming here was a waste of time.

The man was ready to leave when he bumps into someone making the person lose balance and fall.

“ACKKK…” a girl was stumbling upon a flat ground making her butt ache by hitting the hard ground.

Jia hurriedly helped her “I am deeply sorry for not noticing you. Are you okay?” he stretches an arm to help her stand.

The woman accepted him as she stands up patting her robes from the remaining debris.

“Is there any way I can compensate you perhaps?” Jia felt responsible for the mess and so coaxed the girl if he can do something to fix his wrong.

“This…. this…. I... I am... fine… this peasant is fine young sir must not worry himself over…. nothing...” the woman stutters seemingly afraid of the stranger.

She hesitates to look at Jia her head bowed down staring at the ground.

“Is there any hurt anywhere? I can’t really-----” Jia halted as he notices the girl’s hand was shaking uncontrollably.

“Are…… you.” He reaches a hand to the woman but his actions made the woman scramble.

Making the woman look at him with overbearing fearing.

Jia’s eyes widen he now clearly sees the woman's face. There was burnt flesh on her neck. A visible trace of a bruise on her right cheek was displayed before Jia’s.

The woman was panicking, Jia wanted to reach out for her but the woman run away swiftly. Passing the crowds like a madman.

“That wrench again… so stinky maybe the rumors were true that girl was the sole remnants.” A middle-aged man spat as he watches the woman running, disrupting the crowded people.

Jia helplessly watches as the woman fades from his sight. He went out feeling bad about what happened today. After a long stroll, he reaches his house.

He enters the house as his sister turns to look at him.

“Jia Gege?” she walks closer as she met eyes with her brother.

“Unn… A'yang eat already?’ he tenderly looks at his sister.

“No, I was waiting for Gege’s mantou every day.” the young girl radiates a smile like a sun warming Jia’s weary heart.

He patted the sweet girl and give her the mantou. The girl gladly accepted the food as she tenderly hugs his brother.

The two went on their day. As the young night cover all of the city.

As for Jia who wanted to retire early to his room, he can’t help but remember the woman. Her eyes stared at him like it was begging for help.

Jia lies down, eyes shut he waited until the drowsiness visits him…….

The eccentric shop before was also shut close the door to the entrance. A man wearing a black cloak can be seen staring at the various colorful pendant. He caresses those like a living treasure. A woman was seen standing in the corner her head bowed down.

“Did you find what we are looking for?” asked the woman without batting an eye.

“My Lord…. I… I can’t seem to… I.” suddenly the woman was swung on the walls. Creating a crack as the slumped body fall.

With a flick of the man’s hand, the woman was slammed by an unnatural force. A black wisp of clouds surrounded the man.

“WORTHLESS AS EVER.” He spat out those words, eyes turning white.

“My… My... Lord… I beg you…. I beg you to give me a chance…” crying for her life as the woman knelt pleading. The side of her head drips with fresh blood flowing down in her contour.

The old man heavily paces through the woman kicking her, making the woman stumble. He then proceeded to grab the woman burnt neck, gripping hard that the woman had trouble breathing.

“My days were already near. Do you plan on leading the clan... a useless woman like you! Unless we had a vessel our clans cannot be wiped out without avenging those resented souls...” his left hand grabbing the woman’s hair.

“Do you understand?” the woman shakingly nodded choking back her words. Tears and snot rolled from her cheeks and everywhere.

The man let go, stand back as he turns, and walk away. Leaving the woman to her demise.

She touches her burnt neck, with a purplish color traced around it and the rim of her eyes was red.

"Help... help me" she helplessly mutters under her shaking breath.