--Cultivate--

[eyesofaproxy]

[When Wise was very young, or at least younger than he is now, he'd gotten lost in the forest outside Helios. He was only saved by a passing wandering cultivator, and to this day he's wanted to meet the man again to thank him. It doesn't matter that Helios fell and he and Belle moved to Yunkui Summit, he wants to find that man and thank him for what he did that day. He changed the trajectory of Wise's life, he's pretty sure, and he deserves to know that.

Granted, a wandering cultivator isn't why Wise (and Belle) is now the heir to Yunkui Summit, that is entirely because of Yixuan-shifu and their own unique abilities, but all the same. That man inspired Wise to get with Belle to create Phatheon, a nameless somebody who is able to hire people to handle things the larger temples and sects can't or won't.

Right now, though, Wise is not acting in the guise of Phaetheon. Wise is acting in the guise of a very annoyed older brother being strongarmed into going down the mountain for an annual check up, since apparently the doctors are all afraid of coming up the mountain after last year's run-in with Eous the spiritual monster rabbit. Cowards.]

I don't need to go right now, Belle, really.

Yes you do! And because there's bandits on the road, I even hired you a bodyguard!

Belle...

Comments

[eyesofaproxy]

One moment.

[Wise's eyes are a bright blue again as he studies the array, which is a matching shade of blue. After a moment, the glow vanishes and Wise looks at Lighter. His eyes are still tinged with blue.]

Fairy. The spirit bound to the array.

[fuegor]

I thought I felt a spirit around here. That's pretty impressive. I've been around the block for a while but I don't think I've seen this kind of cultivation before.

[Usually they were all about dispersing, cleansing, moving etc. Not binding long term.]

So, that thing with your eyes...?

[It's got something to do with this Fairy, at least in part.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Oh, you've noticed.

[He stands, stretching.]

My sister and I...we don't cultivate like the rest of Yunkui, at least not entirely. I don't know how to explain Fairy, not really, but we use talismans and arrays more than swords or other weapons. [Belle has her fan and Wise has his throwing knives, but they don't tell people about that.] Physically, we can't handle typical methods of cultivation.

[fuegor]

I see. That'd explain why you both need bodyguards, but being a capable cultivator isn't all about knowing how to fight. Sure, it's a big component, but you probably caught onto those traps a while ago faster than I did.

[And putting aside anything beneath the surface, Wise didn't exactly look like a guy to take to a work-out routine.]

You're sharp, I like that.

[eyesofaproxy]

[He smiles.]

We try. We can actually do a lot with our cultivation methods, though we try to keep most of it quiet. If people knew what Belle and I could do...it'd be Yiling and the Burial Mounds all over again.

[That's centuries old at this point, but when the people involved are immortals history doesn't really die like that.]

[fuegor]

[SNORTS.]

Heavens forbid, huh? I still hear campfire stories about that one.

[The flavor of it is a lot different depending on if it's a straight or queer person reciting the tale, though.]

... You think that's got something to do with why the Exaltists have their eyes on you?

[eyesofaproxy]

Shifu and Immortal Jiang are friends.

[So.]

Probably. We know they want their hands on Fairy, and she's bound to us, so...

[fuegor]

They want you.

["There are precious things on the summit we need."

Lighter didn't fully understand how this worked, but if this spirit Fairy was separated from Wise or Belle that's high risk for a qi deviation.

He'll have more to give to his contacts to be aware of. But he'll only ask as a hypothetical to keep Wise private. Not like it would stand out, Lighter tended to ask out of pocket things a lot.]

Too bad they're not gonna get you.

[eyesofaproxy]

[He smiles again, a little cheeky.]

Going to make sure of that, daozhang?

[fuegor]

I sure am, gongzi.

[He can play the cheeky game too.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[Ignore the pink cheeks, please.]

Good. So can I ask a question?

[fuegor]

Sure, shoot.

[eyesofaproxy]

Why do you wear a blindfold?

[fuegor]

Well... the truth is I get queasy around the sight of blood. It'd be a bad look if Hongse Sanren passed out when trying to quell the resentful spirits of a family being wiped out or something.

[It wasn't entirely a lie!! But not the whole truth either.]

Heh, guess that's pretty surprising to learn from such an established cultivator like me, huh?

[eyesofaproxy]

[There's more, Wise is sure, but he won't press.]

I mean, have you met Hugo?

[Lycaon's...thing.]

[fuegor]

A couple of times. He's an interesting guy, but I've never worked with him directly.

[He can't help feeling like a third wheel, sometimes. But well, not like it's the first time. The Lady Yao's bodyguard hired him for backup once too.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Okay then. You being squeamish is the least weird thing in this area, entirely because Hugo is around.

[fuegor]

Haha, you know what? You've got a point there. But yeah, that's the reason for it. And it's just easier to keep on most of the time so I never forget to put it back on during a job.

[He forgot once. It was a Mistake.]

[eyesofaproxy]

Makes sense.

[They head out of the cave and back to the rest of the temple.

That night, Wise slips out of his suite to head to the springs in the back. They're kept warm with Pan Yinhu's cultivation and they're perfect for a relaxing soak at night.]

[fuegor]

[Wise will find the springs occupied already.

Lighter didn't always have the chance to have a proper soak in hot springs, so he's been here a few minutes. His hair was gathered to one side over his shoulder and Wise could see him from a side view, eyes closed and just relaxing. He was tall enough that his torso could be seen above water.

And all the scars it bore. Across his arms, his chest, his back. He lifted one of his hands to brush his bangs away and they're just as scarred. On closer inspection one might notice they've been broken multiple times.

But here Lighter was, calm and steady in the water with his entire body wet from either it or lingering mist. It certainly made his muscles stand out. His arms, his chest, his core so strong the path of those muscles went past the water.

All in all, Lighter cut quite the figure for someone who just happened to catch it.]

[eyesofaproxy]

[The lantern hanging nearby helps, giving Lighter an almost mystical look.

Wise, meanwhile, is having a crisis as he ducks back behind the rocks nearby because he is very, very gay and Lighter is far, far too handsome for his own good. Does he say anything? Does he just wait?]

[fuegor]

[Lighter did sense someone nearby. In fact he was looking directly at the rocks Wise was ducking behind. No hiding from someone of Lighter's skill.

What he didn't sense was hostility so he'll just keep looking at the rocks for a little while but not saying anything except to himself:]

... Hmm. Wonder if I've been in the bath too long.

[eyesofaproxy]

[...right. He probably knows.

Wise does not get up but he does call out:]

Lighter?

[fuegor]

Wise? Yeah, it's me.

[Said turning around to face the rocks. So Wise gets a great view of his pecs from up front.

His bangs were wet so his eyes were still a bit hard to see from a distance.]

Did you wanna use the springs? I'll wrap up so you can.

[eyesofaproxy]

[Fuck, he's strong. Wise is a weak, weak gay.]

I did, yeah, but you don't have to leave! I can wait.

[Or they can share but he's not saying that.]