Chapter Eighteen: A Breath Of Fresh Air

Nie Asreal's gaze was heavy and captivating. He couldn't look away. It was like a searing connection had been ignited inside of him. It created this feeling and need to just run and leave or run into his arms-

Why did his face burn so much?

Yi Lian looked up at the sun. He had never felt such heat before in his life. His skin started to feel like it was melting.

He pushed these thoughts out of his mind and focused on the situation at hand.

The Sect Leaders saluted him. Yi Lian whispered a thank you to Bai Xi-Wang before joining his brother at his Uncle's side. After a moment of burning he formed an ice crystal in his hand and slipped it into his sleeve.

He mindlessly made another and passed it to his brother. Yi Jian seemed to have tensed before receiving it but Yi Lian paid no mind to it.

Nie Yang, "Well if he's anything like your other prized disciple this event will indeed be interesting."

Zhou Chen chucked but tried to hide it with a cough.

Yi Lian saw his brother fall into a silent rage but he didn't really mind the comments. He didn't need the validation of others-

Nie Asreal, "Actually father, Yi Lian is very powerful and knowledgeable. I heard he gained immortality just a few months ago and he is only my age."

Yi Lian threw the thought away. Validation, yes more of that is definitely needed.

Nie Yang squinted. "Is that so… Oh well. My son Nie Asreal here has a good future ahead of him. I'm sure he will achieve many more great things soon as well. This Prince will have to try and reach his level tomorrow."

He laughed with Zhou Chen. They really were quite the pair. That or Zhou Chen just liked being malicious. It's not as if he got along with any other Sect leader.

Bai Jin chimed in, "Yi Lian has performed excellently. I'm sure he'll have no problem winning the event tomorrow."

Yi Lian suddenly remembered why he liked being the forgotten prince. Having people passive aggressively fight over him and his strengths was beyond uncomfortable. He felt his ice crystal melt. It really was too hot to stand out here and as they had all arrived he tapped his Uncle subtly.

Sect Leader Yi, "Shall we make our way to our chambers?"

Nie Yang nodded. "Nie Asreal, take the princes to their rooms."

Nie Asreal smiled and walked over to them.

He bowed very eloquently. "Your Highness, it is an honour to meet you again, especially now that you are the strongest cultivator of our generation."

Yi Lian blushed furiously. The amount of compliments in one sentence was really quite overwhelming. "You can call me Yi Lian, Second Young Master Nie."

Nie Asreal smiled and stepped closer, cutting Yi Jian off from the interaction. "Then you must call me Nie Asreal if we are indeed so close."

Yi Lian melted. He had never felt like this before yet here he was. Sure he had talked about Nie Asreal a bit… a lot, to his friends but that was very different to being in front of the man himself, and a man he was. He kept his mischievous and youthful face yet now it was defined and sung the tune of a forbidden erotic song one had to sneak out to hear.

Yi Lian, "Nie Asreal- I never thanked you."

Nie Asreal smiled. "For what?"

Yi Lian was dazed for a second because he had just realised both that his smile was so wonderful and that he was actually in a conversation with Nie Asreal.

Yi Lian, "For the flower! I mean, I accidentally destroyed it in the end but I really did appreciate such a pretty thing."

Yi Jian wanted to die on the spot.

Nie Asreal chuckled and guided the two into the castle wall. "Oh I thought it survived the incident. If I had known I would have made you a new one."

Yi Jian tutted, "Because we had to tell you about every affair..."

Nie Asreal chuckled, "Funny, I didn't realise I was talking to you!"

Yi Lian let out a loud 'Ha' and clasped a hand over his mouth. Only then did he realise something was a bit off. He put his hand out in front of him. There was frost climbing around his hand like a lace glove a fancy lady of the night may wear.

Nie Asreal halted immediately to examine it.

Yi Lian worried, "It's alright! I think…"

Nie Asreal made stern eye contact. "Has this happened before?"

Yi Lian, "No…"

Nie Asreal told Yi Jian a few directions to his room before grabbing Yi Lian's hand and dragging him over to his room.

Once inside he sat him down on a seating mat and started investigating. Nie Asreal's room was surprisingly empty. Only the needed furniture and some miscellaneous objects. No riches or treasures of an average sect leader's son.

After what seemed like hours he finished checking him over and sighed. "Your spiritual energy is being agitated by the fire/heat energy around The Deserted Capital. I can calm it for a while but not for long."

Yi Lian, "What will happen if i leave it?"

Nie Asreal, "Well you might still feel… hot, but the frost will stop spreading. It seems that the cold energy is leaking out of your meridians and into your body. It seems like it has for a long time. I thought this last time we met but your brother distracted me. Your immortal body will be unaffected though so you only have to worry about it other than being warm once I do this."

Yi Lian smiled. "It really is excessively hot here…'"

Nie Asreal laughed, "Only to you Yi Lian." With that he passed over some of his spiritual energy. For it to work he had to have spiritual energy going through him that was untainted by his miss cultivation. Obviously the only way would be to have someone else's. This caused the frost to retreat like spiders to a torch.

Nie Asreal suddenly remembered something important. "May I try something?"

Yi Lian nodded. Nie Asreal took his hands in his, palm up. He tapped his fingers together before drawing using his index finger across Yi Lian's palm like it were a blank talisman. Yi Lian didn't recognise the symbols or how he was drawing pastel green from nowhere so he just stared in awe.

When the symbol was drawn he felt his spiritual energy crawling beneath his skin, all the way to his hand.

Yi Lian, "What's happening? I've never seen this before."

Nie Asreal laughed. "Because I just made it up. Do you like it?"

Yi Lian nodded. Nie Asreal's face heated. Yi Lian was just so innocent and sweet. He still had to get to know this changed and insightful Yi Lian but it made him happy to know that he was still the same little blushing prince being hidden away in his tower.

Yi Lian gasped. In his hand appeared a crystal yet not. A necklace with a small Orchid dangling from the end of a light chain. It was made from a mix of ice and something else, it looked like glass but held a blue tinge and a green reflection. Truly a magical device.

Nie Asreal took it from his hand. "May I?"

Yi Lian nodded. Nie Asreal picked up the necklace and leaned forward to reach behind his head. Yi Lian's eyes blew wide as his face was just a moment away from touching his.

He felt his breath grace his lips, his slightly parted lips and gulped.

He felt his breath quicken and his eyes draw downwards whilst Nie Asreal took pleasure in staring into those beautiful green eyes. He could get lost in them for years and years and never have a thought to leave.

Yi Lian was unlike any flower he'd seen before, any person or creature to come into his life, none could compare. Only one word came to mind when he saw this face; beautiful. In every aspect.

Nie Asreal had seen Yi Lian in passing a year prior yet he daren't say. He saw him and some Bai Sect disciples walking back to an inn, all laughing and talking. He was happy. So happy. So content with the world around him. Just seeing him that one time, for only a second, filled him with the freshest breath of air that one could never have even atop the highest peak or in the freshest of valleys. Now he was here, in front of him. Breathing again finally.

Nie Asreal sat back and smiled genuinely. "I worried you would call it demonic."

Yi Lian tilted his head and looked at the object dangling in front of his chest. "Type of energy is obserlite. It's intent that is the real question. You are incredibly smart Nie Asreal."

Nie Asreal was taken aback. "Things are... easy to create. I think that given the right place you would be beyond my capabilities."

Yi Lian shook his head vigorously and waved his hands. "No I don't think-"

Nie Asreal reached over to a box and brought out a blank piece of talisman paper and brush. "Here. Try it, I'll help you."

When Yi Lian froze he placed the brush quickly in his hand. "It's to do with what you want it to do, the emotions and things you want from it."

Yi Lian stared with intent at the blank paper.

Nie Asreal, "No don't focus so much. Relax and draw…"

Y Lian slowly closed his eyes, and he drew. Symbols and rhythms appeared as the paper filled with life and creation. Nie Asreal wasn't surprised and only looked at Yi Lian's softly closed lids.

He felt insane. No one made him feel this way. He hadn't even felt this closeness in general before. He was the lone wolf, the rough. Yet he never wanted to be alone if Yi Lian was.

Yi Lian picked up the talisman and squinted. "I really don't know what this says… How do we know what it'll do?"

Nie Asreal shrugged. "Let's find out!'

Yi Lian, "No-!"