Chapter Text
Walking through the unfamiliar town, Jin Ling's steps are leisurely as he looks around. Lan Sizhui stopped at an herbal shop and the overlapping smells irritate his senses, so he opted to wander around while he waits. He pauses for a moment outside a store with a vibrant silk banner announcing its wares before continuing down the street.
“Are you alone, daozhang?” Jin Ling stops, turning at the call. His response catches in his throat as he chokes back a gasp, his ears heating when a busty, barely clothed girl walks up to him.
“Looking for something to do? I'm free right now if you need to let off a little steam." She offers him a coquettish smile, long fingernail tapping her fair neck.
“N-No, I don't… I have a…!" Jin Ling shakes his head as he stumbles back a step. He flinches when she grabs his arm and tries to pull away. But she only steps up to his side, squishing his arm against her chest. His hand twitches, but he reigns in the urge to form a sword seal. He is not in danger and doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
“You already have a girl? Your fiance?" The girl pouts for a moment before her rouged lips curve again. She trails her fingers down Jin Ling's arm to grab his hand, dropping her voice as she says, “It's all right, she doesn't have to know if you just come in for a drink, yeah? And maybe you could learn something new to please her.”
Lan Sizhui exits the herbal shop, tucking a parcel into his sleeve as he glances around. ‘Where could A-Ling be? He never goes fa–’ Lan Sizhui’s steps slow when he spots Jin Ling standing beside a pretty girl outside what is obviously a brothel. Though his Clan rules forbid entering such an establishment, Lan Sizhui is not ignorant of the appearance of the building.
He almost laughs at how red Jin Ling's face is as a tittering voice rings out until he notices her holding his partner’s hand as she presses against him. Without a word, Lan Sizhui covers the distance in a few strides to grab Jin Ling and pull him away by the hand.
After a moment of surprise, the girl is joined by a few of her sisters, calling out to Lan Sizhui, “Handsome daozhang, come back! We were still negotiating!”
“We just wanted to drink tea together!”
“If you want, though, you and your pretty friend can get a special, 1 for the 2 of you,” the girl titters, winking when Lan Sizhui and Jin Ling pause to look back. She places a hand at her chest, smiling as she leans forward, her bosom, barely covered as it is, coming dangerously close to falling out.
Lan Sizhui just laughs, his grip tightening around Jin Ling’s hand. He offers a slight bow and smiles as he says, “No thank you, niangzi. We're perfectly happy together already.”
Eyes widening, the girl blushes, her mouth opening into an O behind her hand. At her back, a few other girls peek out, squealing and blushing.
“Sizhui…!" Tugging on Lan Sizhui's sleeve, Jin Ling gapes and ducks his head when his partner glances his way. High voices and laughter follow them as Lan Sizhui leads Jin Ling away. He peeks over his shoulder and sighs in relief as the brothel fades out of sight.
Stepping into the opening of an alleyway, Lan Sizhui spins around. He laughs when Jin Ling flinches, reaching up with his free hand to pinch a flushed cheek. “Why were you so embarrassed, A-Ling? You’ve interacted with women before.”
“Yeah… But not like…” Jin Ling drops his gaze, mumbling. Sure there might be plenty of women in the Jin Sect, but none of them are as bold or…or scantily dressed. And they have certainly never flirted with him before.
“...Unless you wanted to?”
“Never!" Jin Ling jolts forward a step, gripping Lan Sizhui's hand as he shakes his head. He looks to the side as he stumbles over an explanation, “B-But girls are more delicate. I couldn't just…just shove her away. What if she fell and got hurt. She needs to…or well, I mean, g-girls like that, they…sell their… Or, um…”
Lan Sizhui smiles at Jin Ling’s flustered expression. He was just teasing; he already knows his partner has no interest in anyone else. Glancing around, Lan Sizhui steps close and brushes a quick kiss to Jin Ling's petal pink cheek. “You’re a good man, mm, A-Ling? If you're finished, we should meet up with Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen.”
“Mm. Don't tell them about this.”
“Of course not!" Lan Sizhui laughs, squeezing Jin Ling's hand before leading him to their meeting place. ‘I almost wish Jingyi had been here to witness how much Ling has matured. When we were younger he would have thrown off anyone who touched him, regardless of gender.’
They find Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen already seated inside the teahouse. Though he arrived with his Clan member, they separated for the afternoon when Jin Ling found them so Lan Sizhui could spend some time alone with his partner. But they made plans to meet back up in the evening and work out their strategy for the Night Hunt.
After taking a seat and ordering a few snacks, Lan Sizhui starts writing extra talismans. He focuses on that task while the other boys discuss strategy around him. Every once in a while he adds his input but the others are experienced and can make up a plan of attack without him.
“Have you heard?" Once they have worked out their roles in the Night Hunt, Lan Jingyi decides to bring up a new topic of conversation. He grins, making sure he has everyone's attention before continuing, “The new rankings are out.”
“Rankings?” Jin Ling glances across the table from where he had been looking over Lan Sizhui's talisman in an excuse to lean in close to his partner. Despite his desire for indifference, he finds himself curious that Lan Jingyi felt the need to bring up a random topic.
“Mm, for the most handsome cultivator.”
“The what?”
“Some shimei and shijie from the various sects compiled a list of the best looking cultivators in our generation. Guess who's at the top of the list.”
Lan Sizhui sets down his brush and looks up with a smile, “I’m sure it's A-Ling.”
Jin Ling crosses his arms and rolls his eyes, saying, “Sizhui, obviously.”
Ouyang Zizhen laughs at their answers and shares a look with Lan Jingyi as the other young man grins. “It's Sizhui. But you're a close second, Jin Ling.”
Lan Sizhui smiles when Jin Ling looks his way and nudges his foot. He is aware that a lot of the women from various sects find him good-looking, but he really thinks that of the two of them Jin Ling is more handsome.
A bit disappointed by how well they accepted the results, Lan Jingyi can’t resist ruffling Jin Ling’s feathers a little. “You probably lost the top spot because of that attitude, Jin Ling.”
“Lan Jingyi, you…!”
Lan Sizhui and Ouyang Zizhen laugh. But Lan Sizhui also grabs Jin Ling’s hand under the table, threading their fingers. “Be nice, Jingyi.”
Donning his haughty air, Jin Ling raises a brow at Lan Jingyi, smirking. He doesn't really care about the results, but if Lan Jingyi wants to get a rise out of him, two can play at this game. “If Sizhui and I got the top spots, where did you score?”
Lan Jingyi scowls and Ouyang Zizhen laughs again, patting him on the shoulder. Huffing as he shrugs his shoulders, Lan Jingyi continues with the rankings, “That gongzi, Cai Hualin, from the rich boy sect got third.”
Jin Ling rolls his eyes, scoffing. People always thought he grew up spoiled being the heir of the Jin Sect, but this newer minor sect has been making a name for themselves in recent years. All because they were founded by a wealthy businessman with sons who possessed decent aptitudes for cultivation, and can afford a large number of fancy weapons. Plus the Sect has ties with high level families of the imperial court. Cai Hualin is undeniably handsome, but he is also known for being more interested in wooing other female cultivators than actually cultivating.
“And Ouyang Zizhen made fourth.”
“Mm, that's good to hear." Lan Sizhui smiles watching Ouyang Zizhen blush while rubbing the back of his neck. The young man has always been handsome, if a little plain. But he really grew up in the past few years. Plus, Ouyang Zizhen is popular with the younger, more shy girls after he rescued a group of young shimei during a Night Hunt.
“If we're done gossiping, the sun is setting, so it's time to head out." Jin Ling rises before Lan Jingyi can inform them who is the fifth most handsome. But it doesn't matter because he really just wanted to see who the two of them would think placed first. And he guessed both of their responses with unerring accuracy. Of course, Lan Sizhui would never praise his own looks, and with the way Jin Ling stares at Lan Sizhui, it is obvious how highly he regards his partner.
Walking through the dense woods, the young men are about to split up when Jin Ling lunges forward and grabs Lan Sizhui. He pulls his partner against his chest right before he can step onto something rustling the bushes.
After a moment, when the rustling stops and nothing jumps out, Lan Sizhui laughs, pressing a hand to Jin Ling's chest over his racing heart. From the side Lan Jingyi snorts, saying, “What would the girls think if they knew the second most handsome cultivator was skittish at night? They might have to drop you down a spot.”
“Shut up, Lan Jingyi." Jin Ling tightens his hold around Lan Sizhui before relaxing when all remains quiet around them.
“Jingyi, are you still talking about that," Lan Sizhui chuckles. He glances at Jin Ling's frown before looking over to Lan Jingyi rolling his eyes off to the side. Patting Jin Ling's chest, he makes to step back, reassuring his partner, “It's all right, A-Ling. I'm–”
All of them still, bodies tensing when the rustling starts up again from the bushes behind them. As a group, they whirl around right as a giant snake rises between two large trees, its tail coiling beneath the monster as it bares its fangs with a hiss.
As ominous rustling sounds around their group, Jin Ling releases his hold on Lan Sizhui. He takes a step to the side so Lan Sizhui can draw his sword with everyone else. The young men all share a look before launching into their attacks as planned when the first monster strikes, aiming for Ouyang Zizhen.
After making quick work of the monsters, the young men return to the inn they had booked rooms in earlier. Lan Sizhui and Jin Ling retire to their shared room, while Ouyang Zizhen and Lan Jingyi have separate rooms close by. Although Lan Jingyi and Ouyang Zizhen had shared a teasing eye roll, it is no secret that Lan Sizhui shares Jin Ling's residence during his stays in Lanling.
Slipping off his boots and hanging up his sword, Lan Sizhui considers Jin Ling for a moment, his heart rate picking up as his partner peeks a glance at him. He is grateful their group managed to resolve the nefarious presence with ease. With this Night Hunt happening only a week before his monthly visit to Lanling, Lan Xichen had stopped him before he and Lan Jingyi left to tell him, “Feel free to go home with Jin Ling when you finish. What're a few extra days?”
Smiling, Lan Sizhui steps over to Jin Ling and winds his arms around his neck. His smile tilts into a grin as he says, “You worked hard tonight. Want to let off some steam?”
Jin Ling's eyes widen, his hands at Lan Sizhui's waist squeezing tight. “You heard that?”
Lan Sizhui just laughs and leans in for a kiss. He tugs on the ribbon holding Jin Ling's hair cuff in place and slips it through soft strands of hair as they fall across his arms. His fingers tangle in the hair at Jin Ling's nape, his partner shivering as fingertips tease the sensitive skin.
Jin Ling hesitates when lips cover his own, but as his body heats with desire when Lan Sizhui presses against him, his concern is pushed to the side. He parts his lips as hands run down his back and untie his waist sash.
Fitting his tongue past Jin Ling's supple lips, Lan Sizhui unties Jin Ling's top layer and pulls it off over his head. Resuming their kiss, he pushes on his partner's shoulders until Jin Ling bumps into the bed, dropping onto the edge. Propping his knee on the bed, Lan Sizhui fits it between Jin Ling's legs, pressing against his crotch.
Jin Ling pulls back from the kiss, holding Lan Sizhui still with a hand at his waist. “Hngh…! Isn't Lan Jingyi just–”
“It's fine, this is a nice inn. He'd have to press his ear to the wall to hear anything.” Lan Sizhui grins and leans in to kiss Jin Ling's neck. He trails his lips lower, pulling open white inner robes and slipping them down Jin Ling’s arms to press his mouth over his racing heart. Peeking up at Jin Ling’s peony flushed face, Lan Sizhui raises his head and brushes his fingers along a petal soft cheek. “We can just sleep if–”
“Nn, I want to." Jin Ling shakes his head and draws Lan Sizhui into a kiss. He reaches up to untie the Lan forehead ribbon as Lan Sizhui slips out of his robes. Holding the ribbon, his fingers trail through Lan Sizhui’s silky strands of hair as they drape down his back after pulling out his hair cuff.
His palms trace a strong back, drawing Lan Sizhui against him to rise up and lay his partner back on the bed. Untying his trousers, Jin Ling pauses after dropping the garment on the floor. Glancing down, his gaze follows the path his fingertips trace along Lan Sizhui's inner thigh. ‘Wh-What do I…?’ His pulse jumps when Lan Sizhui moans. ‘I need to prepare Sizhui for what’s next.’
Sliding forward, Jin Ling leans over the edge of the bed and reaches into Lan Sizhui’s discarded robes, searching for the bottles of oils his partner always has. Rolling onto his side, Lan Sizhui catches Jin Ling's wrist, his words rushed, “Ah, A-Ling, here, I’ll grab them.
“You remember what to do?” Lan Sizhui teases as he lays back on the bed and hands over the bottle of oils. He is unresisting as Jin Ling slides between his legs, reaching up to tuck dark hair behind his lover’s ear to get a better look at his serious expression.
“Mm…” Smearing the oils over a hand, Jin Ling pushes up one of Lan Sizhui's legs. He rubs his fingers between the mounds of Lan Sizhui’s backside, paying extra attention to his softening hole. When Lan Sizhui takes a deep breath, he fits a finger inside, swallowing audibly as his own covered arousal presses against his trousers in reflection of his lover’s stiff cock.
Lan Sizhui gasps when a second finger is added, the slick appendages pressing deep inside. His next breath morphs into a wince as his body tenses and a strong hand tightens the hold around his leg. Jolting, Jin Ling apologizes, dropping Lan Sizhui’s leg over his thigh. He is trying his best to be careful with his lover, but still feels awkward leading.
“It's all right, A-Ling. Though…" Lan Sizhui twists his neck, grinning as he tugs on Jin Ling's loose hair brushing his stomach, twining it around a finger, “I'm sure this would be easier with a woman.”
“Nn." Jin Ling drops his head. He fits a third finger inside, peeking at Lan Sizhui’s face as he twists the digits, pushing them as far as he can reach. “I wouldn’t know. I love you.”
Lan Sizhui frowns taking in Jin Ling's sullen expression. ‘Wait, I didn't mean to upset–’
All Lan Sizhui can manage in response is a moan as Jin Ling twists his fingers, teasing right under that spot deep inside. Keeping his head down, Jin Ling focuses on stretching Lan Sizhui out. He spreads his fingers until a strangled gasp sounds and heated fingertips brush his wrist. Feeling that he has prepared enough, Jin Ling pulls his fingers out to grip Lan Sizhui’s trembling thigh.
Chest heaving, Lan Sizhui rolls his neck when Jin Ling releases his hold on his leg. His heart drops when Jin Ling peeks at him then looks away before their eyes can meet. Shifting back, Jin Ling mumbles, “I-If you'd been thinking y-you don't want to…anymore… We don’t–”
“No!" Lan Sizhui lurches into a seated position, grabbing Jin Ling's hand and bringing it to his lips. He tips up Jin Ling's head with his gentle fingers at his jaw to meet his eye. “I'm sorry, A-Ling. I was just teasing. You know what it's like in my sect–I don't know anything about women either."
Jin Ling nods, a small smile curving his lips as he leans into Lan Sizhui's touch. Glancing down, Lan Sizhui trails his free hand along Jin Ling’s stomach, tugging on the top of his trousers where there is a prominent bulge. “Do you still want to? You know you can always practice with me.”
‘How much did he hear?’ Jin Ling flushes at the sensual glint in Lan Sizhui’s eye. His hand trembles as he reaches down to grab his lover's hand. “Mm.”
“Good, because I'm all ready for you.” Lan Sizhui's smile grows as he covers Jin Ling's open mouth with his own before his lover can say any more. Pushing him back on the bed, he fits his knees on either side of Jin Ling's slim waist and shifts back over his thighs to untie his trousers. Pulling back to take a gasping breath, Lan Sizhui shakes his hand from Jin Ling's hold to stroke his cheek. His words are soft and filled with affection as he murmurs, “I'm the same. I only love you.”
He tugs down Jin Ling's trousers as heated palms slide up his bare thighs. Shifting forward, Lan Sizhui leans over to press a tender kiss over the cinnabar dot between his lover's handsome brow before rising to his knees. With a hand braced on Jin Ling's stomach, Lan Sizhui reaches behind to smear some of the excess oil over his lover's cock before guiding the head to his backside.
“Sizhui, wai– Mph!” Jin Ling bites his lip as Lan Sizhui lowers his hips. His groan is echoed by Lan Sizhui as the tip of his cock fits inside. While Lan Sizhui rocks his hips to take in more, Jin Ling squeezes firm thighs. A groan rumbles in his throat as soft, squishing insides envelop his cock. His breath hitches as he watches Lan Sizhui's regal brow wrinkle then smooth as he breathes out. The pleasure is clear on his face despite the slightest tremor in his legs beneath Jin Ling's hands.
Lifting one hand, Jin Ling cups Lan Sizhui’s cheek, pushing his bangs out of the way to take in the flush raining down his face like a shower of camellia petals. His heart pounds against his ribs as Lan Sizhui leans into the touch and turns his head to kiss his palm before smiling at him. ‘How would those girls even know how beautiful Sizhui really is?’
Most of their nights together, Jin Ling enjoys witnessing Lan Sizhui lose his composure after the forehead ribbon is removed. He relishes the way Lan Sizhui presses him into the bed, always eager to remove his clothes so they can be more intimate. And so, Jin Ling often forgets how good it feels inside his lover. Until they switch positions, with Lan Sizhui gasping and moaning as he clenches around him.
Jin Ling groans as his cock fits all the way inside when Lan Sizhui drops his hips. Before he can start moving, Jin Ling grabs Lan Sizhui’s waist and rolls them to position himself on top.
“I-I'll handle things…ngh!" Jin Ling drops his head as Lan Sizhui shifts, wrapping a shapely leg around his thigh. He kisses Lan Sizhui’s temple before taking a deep breath that rustles his eyelashes.
Lan Sizhui's laugh cuts short when Jin Ling thrusts his hips, shoving flush against his backside. A groan sounds by his ear as his insides clench around that intruding cock. His next breath is a gasp when Jin Ling pulls back before thrusting all the way inside again. “Hngh, ahh…!”
Body rocking with the motion of Jin Ling's hips, Lan Sizhui twists his waist so his lover's cock hits his amorous spot inside. Taking the movement as invitation, Jin Ling grabs Lan Sizhui's leg and shifts back on his knees to thrust deeper. A startled gasp rips from Lan Sizhui's throat as numbing pleasure races through his limbs.
He lifts a hand to his mouth as Jin Ling rocks his hips; not to muffle any noises passing his lips, but in an attempt to hide the tears that leak from his eyes. They are just from surprise, really, and he doesn’t want to worry Jin Ling. In his excitement to pleasure his lover in this way he had forgotten how rough Jin Ling is. But it also feels good as his body adjusts to the motion of Jin Ling above him.
Watching Lan Sizhui breathe out as he pulls back then gasp when he thrusts forward, Jin Ling finds a rhythm that is stimulating for the both of them. He rocks his hips to rub along slick insides until he jams against the lining walls. Every time he reaches Lan Sizhui’s depths his lover clenches so tight around him, and Jin Ling worries about losing control to the sensation of his pleasure.
Continuing in this way, the sounds of fevered breathing and slapping of flesh drown out even the beating of hearts in ears as Jin Ling rocks his hips. Noticing the slightest tremor in Lan Sizhui’s arm, Jin Ling drops his leg to pull down his hand and replace it with his lips. His tongue muffles Lan Sizhui’s next cry as he presses deep before rocking his hips.
“Ngh, hah..! A-A-Ling, wai–!” Lan Sizhui’s back arches, separating from their kiss. His entire body shakes as warm fluid sprays over his stomach.
Jin Ling barely pauses, his grip around Lan Sizhui’s thigh leaving vivid bruises as softened insides clench around his cock. The moment Lan Sizhui relaxes enough, he thrusts his hips. He bites back a ragged groan as Lan Sizhui cries his name, curling his shoulders as the heat coiling in his stomach rushes to his lower body. His passion peaks, his lover’s name escaping in a ragged breath, “Sizhui…!”
Lan Sizhui tenses beneath Jin Ling, the both of them gasping. His fingers clench in the sweat-soaked blanket bunched up under his hips as thick, viscous fluid fills him up. ‘Hah… We almost peaked at the same time tonight.’
Lan Sizhui shivers, pulled from his thoughts as heated palms slide down the sensitive skin of his waist to grip his hips. He looks up into Jin Ling’s handsome face, made all the more sensually alluring by the smeared remains of cinnabar between his brow. His legs tremble as Jin Ling bends over him, stiff cock slipping through the fluid inside.
Heart pounding in his ears at how beautiful Lan Sizhui looks colored like a blooming peony, Jing Ling traces his fingertips along a slender neck and leans down. He kisses his temple, fevered words buzzing past his lips, “I love you.”
Smiling, Lan Sizhui squeezes Jin Ling’s waist between his knees to stop him from pulling away. He brushes sweat-soaked strands of hair from Jin Ling’s face to trail his fingers down a soft cheek. “I think you're the most handsome, A-Ling.”
“Hngh… S-Sizhui!” Jin Ling flushes, swallowing hard as his still hard cock seems to stiffen further.
Groaning as the pressure at his backside increases with the growth of that intrusion, Lan Sizhui manages to maintain his smile at the look on Jin Ling’s face. He tugs on long, trailing strands of dark hair to bring his lover in close to murmur against swollen lips, “We can do it again, if you want.”
“Mm.”
Warm and content after their bath with Jin Ling's arms around his waist, Lan Sizhui rests with his head on his partner's shoulder. He nuzzles Jin Ling's neck, breathing deeply of a floral scent mixed with his clan's soap. The smell reminds him…
“Oh, A-Ling, here." Lan Sizhui rolls over to rummage through his clothes on the floor. Turning back to Jin Ling he offers the young man a palm-sized cloth pouch. Though it is small, the craftsmanship on the pouch is exquisite in its silk material and elaborately stitched peony design. “It's a perfumed sachet that should help calm your nerves when you're stressed.”
Jin Ling frowns, accepting the embroidered pouch–not like he is unhappy, but confused. “I know you don't like strong scents, so I just filled it with floral plants that remind me of you.”
During his last visit to Lanling, Jin Ling had spent half the time pacing his room, anxious about an upcoming meeting. And when Lan Sizhui noticed that Jin Ling’s incense burner had not been lit in a while, he offered to light it. But Jin Ling had claimed that the strong scents gave him a headache. That first night, Lan Sizhui was barely able to soothe him enough to get him to sleep.
Jin Ling takes a tentative sniff of the pouch. The smell is pleasant and not too strong like most sachets the girls in his clan like to trade around. When he breathes in again, he detects a slight woody smell, like the scent of incense that clings to Lan Sizhui’s skin. Mixed with the florals, it is comforting, like waking up beside his partner.
“I know it's really simple, but…” Lan Sizhui takes Jin Ling’s hand and leans in to kiss his cheek, voice soft with affection as he says, “Happy birthday.”
“Ah…” Jin Ling had almost forgotten. He knows Su Rong planned a special banquet for when he returned from the Night Hunt but he hadn't realized it was already his birthday. Peeking up at Lan Sizhui, heat climbs his neck at the warm smile filled with affection for him alone. Entwining their fingers with the pouch caught between their palms, he pulls Lan Sizhui into his side. He kisses the smile from Lan Sizhui’s lips before burying his flushed face in a soft neck. “I love you. Thank you for the gift.”