Chapter 23 Through Thunder and Rain

When Deming was lying on the bed the next night, the darkness of the room was suddenly broken by a flash of lightning, followed by the deep rumble of thunder in the sky. He heard the soft, steady patter of drizzle rain on the ceramic tiles of the roof, a lonely sound. His heart aching with concern for Zhiqiang, he quickly grabbed his clothes, an umbrella from the corner of the room, and walked towards the back door, his movements determined.

He ran towards the training ground, the rain growing heavier, soaking his clothes. Standing at the gate, he saw Guozhao Zhiqiang, utterly soaked, still in the same unmoving, disciplined position he had seen two days ago, a statue of endurance. He walked quickly to Guozhao Zhiqiang and stood beside him, holding the umbrella over his head, shielding him from the relentless downpour.

Guozhao Zhiqiang sighed, a weary sound. "Why are you here, Deming? You will get sick, standing in this rain." A loud thunderclap resonated across the night sky, shaking the ground.

Deming, his voice soft but firm, said, "You have been here for two days without food and water. I can't… I can't just leave you."

"Go back!" Guozhao Zhiqiang demanded, his voice sharp, pulling away from the small shelter of the umbrella, stepping back into the full force of the rain. "I am being punished, reflecting on my mistakes, and you are going back now. Don't bring that umbrella closer, Deming. Don't make it harder."

Deming stood in front of him immediately, blocking his view, his face etched with concern. "This is too cruel, Zhiqiang. I don't like it. You don't deserve this."

Guozhao Zhiqiang sighed, a profound weariness in his voice, and explained, "Listen, Deming, I don't think this is cruel. As hunters, we have to protect lives, and uphold justice. I understand why Uncle Lim punishes me. I truly violated the rules that I swore to protect, by losing control. I accept this."

Deming said softly, his voice trembling, "You said you want me to be your companion, Zhiqiang, are you serious? Do you truly mean it?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked deeply at Deming, his eyes unwavering, even through thunder and rain. "I do, Deming. Every word."

"That's it? Just companionship?" Deming asked, a hint of vulnerability in his voice, seeking a deeper meaning.

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, his gaze filled with intense emotion. "I want you to be my soulmate, Deming. A person who will always stand by my side, through everything."

Deming looked up, his eyes meeting Zhiqiang's, a profound understanding dawning within him. "Then I will be your shadow, Zhiqiang. No matter where you go, I will stay with you until the day you no longer need me, until you cast me aside."

"If you can't keep your words, Deming, don't make a promise," Guozhao Zhiqiang warned, his voice serious, testing his resolve.

"I don't guarantee to be with you forever, Zhiqiang," Deming clarified, his voice firm, "but as long as you need me, as long as you want me, I will be your shadow, your constant companion."

Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled, a rare, genuine smile that softened his face, and closed his eyes, a profound sense of peace washing over him. "It's a promise, Deming. Now, you can leave. Go back to the inn, you'll catch a cold." His lips were shaking fiercely from the cold and exhaustion, but he felt his heart was full of warmth, overflowing with a joy he hadn't known in years.

Deming felt a sharp heartache, a new, unfamiliar sensation. This was a strange feeling; he had never felt this way for anyone before, this profound empathy and concern. Guozhao Zhiqiang once promised him that he would take him far away and live in a city in the clouds. He was the only person who really cared about him, who lost control because of him, who fought for him. A week ago, Guozhao Zhiqiang carried him back in the heavy rain to treat his wounds, a tender, protective act. He felt a searing pain in his heart when he saw Guozhao Zhiqiang's trembling lips, his exhaustion.

He knew why Guozhao Zhiqiang was willing to go through these troubles for him. Guozhao Zhiqiang must have felt a profound wrong that he left Deming in the dungeon for nine years, which is why he lost control, why he was so desperate to protect him. He wanted someone to love him; when he was locked in the dungeon, he dreamed of this person every night, the kind man who held him. Now his dream came true. Guozhao Zhiqiang loves him, truly, deeply, and all Guozhao Zhiqiang wants is love, companionship, a connection. Love is Guozhao Zhiqiang's only requirement, so he can at least do that much for the only one who never leaves him under any circumstances, the one who truly sees him.

Deming's umbrella fell to the ground, forgotten. He approached Guozhao Zhiqiang, his movements deliberate, stood on tiptoe, and kissed Guozhao Zhiqiang's trembling lips lightly, a soft, tender touch. Then he put his arms around Guozhao Zhiqiang's waist and buried his face on Guozhao Zhiqiang's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "Do you feel a little warmer now, Zhiqiang?" he said softly, his voice muffled.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his voice a little strained, "Don't be like this, Deming. If you enter my life and then decide to leave, if you break this, I would rather we not start this ambiguous relationship. I cannot bear another heartbreak."

"I will never leave you until you no longer need me, Zhiqiang," Deming vowed, his voice firm, filled with a newfound certainty. He held Guozhao Zhiqiang tighter, clinging to him. "From now on, I will leave my happiness in the palm of your hands. So, don't let me slip away, don't let me fall."

Guozhao Zhiqiang held Deming tightly in his arms, his heart swelling with an overwhelming joy, and patted Deming's head with his left hand, a tender, protective gesture. He had waited for nine years for a moment like this—a moment that filled his heart with warmth, a profound sense of belonging. He remembered what his Shimu, Ping'an, had said to him when he returned home with a broken heart nine years ago. Her words were, "If you found that person who truly loves you for who you are, then no mountain is too high for that person to climb, no ocean is too wide for that person to swim across, or no path is too dangerous for that person to walk to reach you. Only that special person will be worthy to shed your tears for." He kissed Deming's left temple, a soft, lingering touch.

"It's much warmer, Deming. Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Deming cried softly, tears of relief and burgeoning love. "Thank you, Zhiqiang," he whispered back, his voice breaking.

Guozhao Zhiqiang kissed him again on the left temple. This was the first time Deming had called him by his name, "Zhiqiang," and he was so happy that he wanted to roll on the ground to express his pure, unadulterated happiness. He whispered, his voice filled with a profound hope, "We both have an ugly past, Deming, filled with pain, but from now on, let us only build good memories, beautiful ones together." Deming nodded, burying his face deeper into the arms of Guozhao Zhiqiang, accepting the promise.

Guozhao Zhiqiang lowered his head and leaned towards Deming's lips, his gaze seeking permission. Deming, his heart pounding, raised his head to look at Guozhao Zhiqiang, who bowed his head and kissed Deming, a deep, passionate kiss.

Guozhho Zhiqiang put his tongue into Deming's mouth, seeking a deeper connection. His tongue twisted with Deming's, a dance of intimacy. As the rain poured down around them, washing over their bodies, the two men sucked each other's lips and tongues, lost in the moment.

After the kiss, Guozhao Zhiqiang hugged Deming tightly in his arms, holding him close, and the rain continued to pour down, a cleansing torrent. The dark night sky was full of lightning and thunder, but the hearts of the young couple were filled with warmth, a radiant, undeniable love.

Hu Dingxiang, who was hiding on the other side of the training ground, concealed by the shadows and the pouring rain, felt a sharp, agonizing pain in his heart, a twist of bitter jealousy. He liked Guozhao Zhiqiang the first time he saw him, a powerful, attractive hunter. Guozhao Zhiqiang was his first kiss, a stolen moment of intimacy he believed was his right. Guozhao Zhiqiang should have belonged to him, should have been his tool, his prize. If Guozhao Zhiqiang were his hunter, his loyal subordinate, he would conquer all the obstacles thrown at him, achieving ultimate power. He clenched his fists, furious, his face contorted with rage and possessiveness. "My only mistake was to let him sleep with you!" he snarled, a venomous whisper into the storm.

Weici stood in the rain, forgotten, watching the two men kissing, her heart pounding, about to burst with a strange, unfamiliar ache. Weici cried and whimpered softly, tears mingling with the rain on her face, "Brother Deming, why him and not me? Why do you choose him?"

Early the next morning, the sun had just begun to rise, painting the sky in soft hues. The ground was wet, and many puddles of water and mud could still be seen from the relentless rain last night. The Tam brothers and Weici came to the gate of the training ground and met the four disciples: Hu Dingxiang, Zhou Caihong, Yi Guozhi, Lu He, and Sien Ye, all gathered to witness the end of the punishment.

Standing in the center of the training ground was Guozhao Zhiqiang, still motionless, a figure of unwavering resolve, while Deming leaned on Guozhao Zhiqiang's right leg and had fallen asleep on the ground, his head resting peacefully against Zhiqiang's thigh, oblivious to the onlookers.

Yi Guozhi, Sien Ye, and Lu He expressed their dissatisfaction, their faces grim, because Guozhao Zhiqiang's expression was exactly the same as when he was punished on the first day. Guozhao Zhiqiang's health had not declined as much as they had hoped, his endurance frustratingly immense.

Weici walked to Deming and patted his right shoulder lightly. "Brother Deming, good morning," she said softly.

Deming woke up, blinking slowly, and saw Weici. He stretched out his arms, a contented sigh escaping him. "Weici," he said, his voice soft and relaxed. He slowly got up with the help of Weici, his movements still a little stiff.

"Your pants are dirty and muddy, Brother Deming," Weici noted, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Yi Guozhi mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Black Hunter, you certainly deserve your title 'The Black Hunter'. You were punished for three days without eating or drinking, and you were still standing! If it was other people, their knees will probably be weak now, they'd be crawling!"

Tam Kun sarcastically said, a smirk on his face, "Because we have no pathetic disciples in our clan, Yi Guozhi. We're all tough." He smirked at Yi Guozhi, a direct challenge.

Yi Guozhi had also heard this sentence in Tam Village when he was fighting Yang Bao, and it still stung. He pointed at Tam Kun, his face contorted with rage, "Tam Kun! You loser! Do you dare to duel me?!"

Tam Kun stepped forward, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Bring it on, Yi Guozhi, and I'm happy to accept it! If General Lim punished us, I'm ready to stand for three days, thanks to the strictness of my Third Master. Can you hold on for three days, Yi Guozhi?" He challenged Yi Guozhi with a confident smile. "I'm sure that on the third day of our punishment, I'll walk out of this training ground, but on the other hand, the young master of the Golden Gate Sector probably crawled out of here at a loss, begging for mercy!"

As Yi Guozhi was about to lunge his attack at Tam Kun, his rage overcoming him, Hu Dingxiang, ever the cunning manipulator, stopped him. "Brother Yi, no… not now. It's not worth it."

Yi Guozhi, still fuming, continued to criticize Guozhao Zhiqiang, his voice dripping with contempt, "As the most distinguished Senior Brother of your sector, you have decided to be a cutsleeve, a disgrace!" He noticed that Guozhao Zhiqiang rolled his eyes at him, a clear sign of his annoyance. He knew that if he continued to verbally attack Guozhao Zhiqiang, Guozhao Zhiqiang might lose control and be punished more severely, which was his ultimate goal. "You like Brother Hu, but since Brother Hu is different from you, you deliberately picked someone who looks like Brother Hu, a mere substitute!"

Tam Kun angrily shouted, his face red with indignation, "Yi Guozhi… be careful of your dirty mouth! You're crossing a line!"

Tian Xiang walked in from a distance, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the tension. "Childe Yi, my First Master has warned you, if you still want your front teeth, you'd better pay attention to your words. You're insulting our Senior Brother."

Zheng Tingfeng smiled handsomely, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Find someone who can exchange poetry lines with you, Childe Yi. Our Senior Brother is illiterate and knows nothing about poetry, so your insults are wasted on him."

Zheng Yaozu scoffed, adding to the mockery. "You should choose someone like me or Brother Xiang to exchange poetry lines with you, someone who appreciates wit. Do you think it's easy for people to provoke our Senior Brother, Yi Guozhi?" He smirked at Yi Guozhi, a challenging look. "Our Senior Brother never cares too much about the words of people like you, insignificant flies."

Tian Xiang stepped in, his voice casual, but his words sharp. "Oh, you haven't heard, Childe Yi...? Our Senior Brother never denies that he likes men. He's quite open about it."

Zheng Yaozu smiled, his eyes sparkling with mischief, and challenged, "Childe Yi, don't tell me, you fell in love with our Senior Brother, so that's why you always bite him whenever you have a chance, trying to get his attention?" He laughed, a boisterous sound. He shook his head dramatically. "Tsk… Tsk… tsk… unrequited love is so pitiful, isn't it?" The four young hunters burst out laughing at Yi Guozhi's expense, enjoying his humiliation.

Zhou Caihong looked at the four laughing hunters, her face contorted with disapproval. "Guozhao Hunters should be polite and respectful! Seeing that you are all colluding with my cousin, Yi Guozhi, and insulting others, I have to change my view of your sector! You're all barbarians!"

Tian Xiang scoffed, his voice calm and steady. "Lady Zhou, there is a saying in our Guozhao Principle that matched this situation perfectly, that is 'treat other people the way you want to be treated'. You get what you give." He smiled at Zhou Caihong, a challenging glint in his eye.

Guozhao Zhiqiang, who had remained silent, coldly looked at his younger brothers, his gaze firm. "Enough," he commanded, ending the verbal sparring. He turned to Yi Guozhi, his voice clear and resonant. "Deming might look like Childe Hu, but he is not him. Their faces are very similar, yes, I might even mistake Childe Hu for Deming. But Deming was never a replacement to begin with. He is his own person, and he is the one I love." He turned around and smiled softly at Deming, a tender, loving expression. "Let's go back to the Inn, Deming. You need rest."

The hunters and the two friends walked out of the training ground, leaving behind the fuming disciples of Snow Sector and Golden Gate Sector, their humiliation palpable.

Tian Xiang whispered, a triumphant grin on his face, "Do you see that? Senior Brother smiled! A real smile!"

Zheng Yaozu agreed, his eyes wide with awe. "I have never seen Senior Brother smile like that before, not a genuine one!"

"He is such a lady killer," Tian Xiang said, shaking his head in mock despair.

Zheng Yaozu corrected Tian Xiang, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Man killer, Tian Xiang. Man killer." He giggled, enjoying the thought.

Zheng Tingfeng looked at Tian Xiang and Zheng Yaozu, shaking his head with a fond, exasperated smile, amused by their antics.