The Yunxiao Sect had quieted for the evening.
A gentle breeze rustled through the pine trees, stirring the lanterns that hung from every eave. Golden light flickered across the courtyard where the Liu Twins had set up a small feast of warm buns, skewered pork, and little jugs of peach blossom wine. They sat with Mo Tianzun, who was only half-listening to Zhenhai's jokes and Fenglan's dramatic impersonations of Emperor Tianxun's grumpy face.
"—and then the Empress Dowager went, 'How dare a husband leave his wife~'," Fenglan cried in a falsetto, flipping his sleeves over his shoulders like a lady. "I nearly choked on my dumpling, I swear!"
Zhenhai laughed, elbowing Tianzun. "You should've seen your face. I haven't seen a more deadpan expression since that time Fenglan fell off the boat and you didn't even blink."
Mo Tianzun gave a small smirk, sipping from his untouched wine. His now golden eyes no longer blue as sky, though, flicked to the horizon—where the moon was rising like a pale lantern in the sky.
"I'm fine," he said softly.
"You don't look fine," Fenglan said, mouth full of food. "You look like a jilted bride who didn't get to throw her bouquet."
"Shut up," Tianzun muttered.
They kept chatting, laughter growing louder as the night deepened. But as the shadows stretched, and the moonlight spilled across the rooftops, Tianzun quietly stood up.
"I'm turning in."
"But we got night snacks!" Zhenhai called.
"Eat them yourselves."
—————
Instead of returning to Lin Xuanji's old room, Tianzun had rented a small side courtyard guest room tucked away near the cliff edge of the sect. It was quiet. Peaceful. And far from the Twins who loved to pester him.
But it was also lonely.
He sat by the low table for a long time, staring at the moon through the open window. Then, with a soft sigh, he stood, slipped on his outer robe, and wandered through the night streets of Yunxiao.
He stopped at a stall lit by lantern light.
"Two jars of your strongest," he said to the old seller.
Not long after, Mo Tianzun sat by himself on the wooden pavilion, high above the cliffs, drinking. The scent of peach and firewine clung to the air. The first jar vanished quickly. The second halfway through, he began to hiccup softly.
"Hic —damn you," he muttered.
His cheeks were flushed, eyes glassy. "Damn you, Longxuan… married... wife-having... hypocrite... prince."
The wind picked up slightly.
Then—a click.
The paper screen of the window shifted open.
A figure climbed silently in through the side entrance, the scent of lotus following him. He wore light blue robes, his hair untied, falling around his face like ink threads under moonlight.
Mo Tianzun blinked. "Who the hell...?"
The man stepped closer.
"Baby..."
Tianzun's eyes widened.
His drunken haze turned to fire. He stood up so fast he nearly toppled over, but he caught himself and launched a punch toward the man's face.
"I told you not to call me that—"
But a hand caught his wrist—strong, trembling, warm.
"I'm sorry, Tianzun," Longxuan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn't want it—I couldn't stop the marriage. I fought them. I did everything I could. But I never once betrayed you."
Tianzun's throat clenched.
"Liar," he spat. "I hate you."
"I know."
"I hate you so much."
"I know."
And then Mo Tianzun gripped Longxuan collar and pull Longxuan closer and—he kiss him, Longxuan kissed back immediately. They started kissing.
Not soft. Not gentle.
It was a clash of rage, sadness, and desperation. A collision of unsaid words and shattered pride. Mo Tianzun's fists gripped Longxuan's collar tighter, dragging him closer. Longxuan's arms wrapped around him, crushing him against his chest.
The pavilion around them blurred, lost in moonlight and firewine and breathless gasps.
Tianzun broke the kiss, chest heaving. "You're still married," he said bitterly.
"I'm divorcing her."
"You can't."
"I will."
"You shouldn't."
"I already sent the papers."
"You're a fool."
"I know."
Their foreheads touched.
Silence fell again—soft, cold wind brushing their cheeks.
Tianzun shivered slightly, and Longxuan reached down to gather him into his arms, sitting them both back onto the floor, wrapped in each other's warmth.
"let's forget everything tonight...
just the two of us against our faith"