Rebirth of MC

After Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan recounteverything that happened in the middle of their mission to Long Haotian and the Head priest, the two elders' expression deepens in thought.

"There's also this." Taking out that black talisman, Huo Zaiyuan places it down before the Elder priest. "This is something Mingxi and his squad acquired after running into zombies controlled by that "Sorcerer's cult". I did a little bit of research with them and discovered it resembles the charm for expelling the dead, but the rune's end has been altered."

"Hmmthis rune is indeed the charm for expelling the dead used by those who practice the art of "overtaking corpses" with a bit of alteration. On top of that, the ink used for this talisman is saturated with evil energy. I will need to take it back to study it closely." The Elder Taoist priest's eyebrows draw together as he places the black talisman securely in a wooden case. "I will also settle this matter of the temple's library being robbed. Little Yuan, you don't look too good. You have to rest properly."

"Un, then I will trouble Master with this matter." Huo Zaiyuan nods.

"Grandfather, Head priest, I will return with little Yuan first. Please notify us when there's any new information," Long Zhanye says as he gets up from the chair.

"Sure. Go back and rest."

When the two men walk out of the command centre back to the dormitory, they spend the entire journey in thoughtful silence. Long Zhanye's expression is hard, so deep in contemplation that he doesn't notice when the youth originally keeping pace gradually falls behind.

"ZhanZhanye"

Huo Zaiyuan's voice is no louder than a whisper, but Long Zhanye's keen ears hear it all the same. Even though he is still lost within his mind, his body subconsciously stops and turns.

Only to startle out of his thoughts when Huo Zaiyuan sways, then collapses.

"Little Yuan!" Long Zhanye's arms wrap around Huo Zaiyuan's body before it could meet the hard ground.

Huo Zaiyuan stares wordless up at the man cradling him close, a hand cupping his cheek, mouth calling his name frantically and anxiety plastered across his face. Try as Huo Zaiyuan might to keep his eyes open, his eyelids feel too heavy and slowly flutters close. Strength fleeing his body, Huo Zaiyuan surrenders to the darkness.

~~~

With no tension in his entire body, he is extremely comfortable and cosy. But just as he feels as though the darkness will swallow him whole, rays of silver light breaks through the shadows

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As he slowly regains consciousness, Huo Zaiyuan registers two voices conversing softly. His eyelids unhurriedly open and the first thing he sees is Long Zhanye sitting at the bedside, looking at him with a face full of worry. On the other end stands Qin Jun, holding his medical kit in hand.

"Sleeping prince, you've finally awakened. If you continue sleeping any longer, eldest brother Long would have torn me apart." Seeing him stir, Qin Jun flashes him a bright smile. "Little Yuan, haven't I told you countless time before? If you are tired, then rest properly. Too much accumulation of stress and exhaustion is not good for your body."

"I'm fine, only exerted a bit too much spiritual energy, that's all. A little nap and I'll be back to normal," Huo Zaiyuan mumbles in reply. He moves to sit up, but his body feels strangely heavy and stiff, incapable of making his muscles work theway he wants them to. It is as though steel plates and rods have been inserted into him when he had been unconscious. His body sways, then topples to the side.

"Don't force yourself. If you fall ill or become injured again, the one whose heart will hurt is me." Immediately moving to support Huo Zaiyuan by hugging him to his chest, Long Zhanye sighs and his brow furrows, tenderness smouldering in his eyes.

"Zhanye" Heart quivering as he beholds Long Zhanye's frown, Huo Zaiyuan slowly lifts a hand to smooth the wrinkled brow out. A distressed look does not suit this man at all.

Reaching out to clasp Huo Zaiyuan's soft hand, Long Zhanye brings it down from his forehead towards his lips, kissing his fingertips and palm.

"I will rest properly, so stop worrying." Leaning his head on Long Zhanye chest, he closes his eyes again.

Being a sensitive person, Qin Jun slips out as soon as the two starts getting intimate. Shouldering the medical kit, he leaves this room to this pair of lovers. After all, with Long Zhanye there, Huo Zaiyuan will definitely be fine.

"That's my good little Yuan," Long Zhanye murmurs, planting a kiss on his forehead.

"Come up on the bed, let's rest together." Shuffling over on the mattress and pulling the blanket open, Huo Zaiyuan gestures for the other man to lay down.

"All right."

Long Zhanye doesn't refuse, taking off his boots and coat before burrowing under the blanket, wrapping his arms around Huo Zaiyuan. Very soon, the only sound within the room is calm, even breathing.

~~~

After resting for an entire afternoon with Long Zhanye, Huo Zaiyuan has recuperated a little in terms of spiritual energy. His body condition has improved a lot too. Informing Long Zhanye that he will be entering his space, Huo Zaiyuan disappears in a flash of silver.

Who would have imagined that as soon as he appears in the space, the little tree spirit tearfully throws itself at him. Its small weeping face is extremely pitiful ah.

"Cheep cheep!!"

"What's the matter? Why are you crying?" Huo Zaiyuan exclaims in alarm.

This little spirit has always been an obedient and clever child. Ever since he left the space in its hands, everything is neat and orderly, completely removing this small burden from Huo Zaiyuan's shoulders. Hence, he has grown incredibly fond of this tiny creature, pampering it like a small child. So what was up with this guy today?

Before the tree spirit can respond, a small sphere of silver light speeds into the bamboo house, immediately honing in on the little creature and smacking it soundly on the head.

The poor spirit is so shocked that its soul all but leaves its body, cradling its sore head in both hands and wailing mournfully.

Huo Zaiyuan freezes as he stares at the white-haired, fiendish-looking being clad in white clothes. Only when the tree spirit starts wailing does he snap out of it, hands darting out to separate the two small creatures.

"Youwhat exactly is going on here? What are you?" Huo Zaiyuan asks the little white being currently having its collar pinched between his finger and thumb.

He certainly doesn't remember having this little thing in his space. Could it be this creature is like the tree spirit, transforming after absorbing the potent energy within the space?

The originally calm little white being held up mid-air suddenly frowns as it glances at Huo Zaiyuan's questioning expression. Anger fills it small face as it brandishes a clenched fist and hollers unintelligibly. Struggling out of Huo Zaiyuan's hold, it flies out of the house.

"Ai! Hang on!" Chasing after it, he spots that white-clothed creature zooming into the leafy crown of the first peach tree, hiding behind a branch.

Seeing the other party hiding up there so thoroughly that not a single thread of its attire is visible, he heaves a short sigh. Placating the still bawling tree spirit, he turns and walks back to the bamboo house to meditate.

Just as he places his back to the tree, that white-clothed being slowly peeks out from behind a leaf. Seeing Huo Zaiyuan's back to it, a wronged expression fills its eyes and a deeper frown wrinkles its brow. Emitting a tiny mumble, it appears rather resentful.

But what is is resentful about, only it knows.

An unending stream of dormant spiritual power is absorbed little by little, transforming into inner spiritual energy as it enters Huo Zaiyuan's body. The various aches in his body fades and exhaustion lifts. Faintly, he senses that he is reaching another breakthrough. The warm current circulates through his meridians, returning to a dense sphere at his abdomen. Every exhale expels turbid breath, and the light tingles in his limbs finally halt.

As Huo Zaiyuan slowly opens his eyes, his gaze lands on the little tree spirit sitting before him, hugging a bright red tomato and happily nibbling on the fruit. Lifting his head, he notices the white-clothed creature sitting on the bamboo table, staring dazedly at the portrait of Huo Tianji, a forlorn expression etched on its face.

Getting to his feet, Huo Zaiyuan glides soundlessly over to the table. He doesn't quite know why his instincts are telling him to be a bit more cautious just in case he accidentally scares the little creature.

"Do you recognise Huo Tianji?"

Huo Zaiyuan's soft inquiry cause the being to stiffen, head snapping towards him. This time, however, it doesn't holler angrily or flee and hide, instead staring at him absently for a while, then nods hesitantly.

"Have you always been residing in this space?" Faced with the little white being's docile look, Huo Zaiyuan knows it will not try to flee again, so he allows himself to lean against the corner of the table and inquire.

It shakes its head before drifting up and towards the ancient wooden case given to him by the mysterious old man. The being transforms back to a sphere of silver light and phases through the closed lid. Before Huo Zaiyuan can react, the lid pops open and out flies a silver jian[1]. The weapon hovers for a moment in the middle of the bamboo house, then drifts slowly to a stop in front of Huo Zaiyuan.

"So you are the spirit of the silver jian within that box," Eyeing the now horizontal double-edged blade appreciatively, Huo Zaiyuan murmurs.

When he first opened the wooden case in the Hummer, he was taken back when he saw this silver sword beneath the brocade silk. However, he didn't think much of it, simply storing it in his space.

Now this little guy should be a sword spirit or a being similar to it, and judging from the way it stared at his ancestor's portrait, it must have been Huo Tianji's personal sword.

Not only that, it seems the mysterious old man also recognised Huo Tianji and knows that Huo Zaiyuan is his successor, which is why he gave this sword away.

As Huo Zaiyuan is deep in thought, a faint silver light flashes along the blade. Two characters appear on the surface of the box's lid, and it takes him a while before he can finally read what is written.

"Liu Ying. Is that your name?"

The jian gives off a brilliant shine as though confirming his question, then starts to spin around Huo Zaiyuan.

He is able to sense a feeling of joy emitting from the blade which prompts him to smile faintly. "Since you are Huo Tianji's personal sword, and the old man gave you to me, then I will not object to you remaining by my side from now onwards."

In another flash of silver, the jian transforms back into the white-clothed creature and settles down on Huo Zaiyuan's shoulder, nodding lightly.

Like this, another little spirit takes up residence in Huo Zaiyuan's space. For some obscure reason he cannot seem to grasp, the obedient and docile little Liu Ying becomes rather 'savage' when faced with the tree spirit. Every time he enters, he is always met with the scene of the little tree spirit being bullied by the little sword spirit. It is only a long while later does he eventually discover the reason behind it.

Footnotes:

[1] Jian = Chinese straight, double-edged sword. So something like this, except the hilt is of white jade.