Chapter 38

"We're here." XingYing announced. They were still on the wagon, having been relaxing for the past hours. XingYing stands up steadily, walking to the edge of the wagon. If they don't hop on now, they might miss it. XingYing steps off simply, before turning around. "Yao Wang, are you coming?" XingYing called.

Yao Wang looked at him, before nodding. He stood up as well, a little less steadily, before walking to the edge. He was only getting farther and farther away from XingYing. Yao Wang jumped off, missing calculating the jump. XingYing ran up, catching Yao Wang before he fell.

XingYing hooked Yao Wang's legs over his arms, holdin the other bridal style. Yao Wang's eyes widened once he realized what the other was doing. Was he going to hold him while they walked? XingYing walked into the lavender field, the rows of purple contrasting their colors. XingYing lifts Yao Wang high so he doesn't touch the ground. "Uh, XingYing…" Yao Wang awkwardly starts.

Yao Wang's legs dangled with each step, as XingYing stayed extra silent. The wind blew, allowing both the flowers and the pieces of cloth stitched together to flow in the wind. Yao Wang leaned slightly on XingYing's chest, not enough to be intimate, not too little to be cautious. Yao Wang was probably being cautious. He cleared his throat.

"Uh, you can….. Put me down."

XingYing didn't answer him, only holding Yao Wang tighter. Yao Wang sighed, tapping XingYing's shoulder. XingYing glanced down at Yao Wang, before backing up. "No. Your clothes will get dirty." XingYing explained. Yao Wang slowly nodded, his arms hooked around XingYing's neck. Yao would have gotten his hanfu dirty is he walked through the fertile soil, but all he had to do was change. He wouldn't have gotten his clothes dirty at all if he was in his god form. But he

Yao Wang and XingYing made it to an old house, obviously abandoned. It seemed to have been there forever. It seemed that the house was grown by lavender. Lavender was all around the sides of the house, blocking most of the entrance. It was a small house, white with a gray tiled roof.

XingYing stood up to the wooden steps, finally setting Yao Wang onto his feet. Yao Wang, now being able to move freely, looked around. This entire place seemed purple, the waves of lavender creating a mystical atmosphere. Something Heaven couldn't obtain. Well only one place really could.

XingYing grabbed Yao Wang's hand, pulling him inside the house. Just like the outside, it was mostly empty. The house was abandoned, that was for sure No ghosts had come to roam it yet though, so it seemed new. "Is the entire field abandoned?" Yao Wang asks. XingYIng hums and nods. He walks into the kitchen.

Yao Wang doesn't follow, instead walking around other parts of the small house. It was barely enough to fit one person, yet it was perfect for XingYing. It felt just like the young man. XingYing hums softly from the kitchen. "Yes. Well, not until I found this place." XingYing explains. Yao Wang slowly walks back, walking into the kitchen XingYing had a pot of water sitting on top of a pit, most likely lit with a golden flame.

"You take care of the lavender?" Yao Wang asks. XingYing glances over, before nodding. "I do. I know how to take care of lavender well." He had a small piece on the brick counter, resting next to the pot. He was making lavender tea. "I want to help." Yao Wang says, walking up to stand beside XingYing. The man only gave him a glance, before grabbing a small glass.

He slides it over to Yao Wang, placing the blooming flower in the bowl. "Pluck the leaves. It will go in the tea." XinYing instructed. Yao Wang nodded, beginning to do as he was told. XingYing reached up, grabbing two tea cups. Both with different Han designs. "You know, it's incredible how you made this place into your home." Yao Wang said, looking around before beginning to pick the flower.

The petals were a deep purple at the curved edges, before going into a lighter shade as it went down to the stem. Yao Wang didn't think this one stock would be enough, but as Yao Wang kept plucking, the bowl began to be filled with the precious flower. Slowly, the water started to boil, bubbles floating to the service. "May I?" XingYing asked, placing his hand on the bowl. Yao Wang, however, shook his head. "Let me do it, you might burn yourself." Yao Wang explained.

At first, XingYing was going to say no, that was obvious, but the ghost nodded, stepping back from the pot. Yao Wang knew he was treating the other like a kid, but he really didn't want the other to get burned. Plus the sewing on his glove may get wet from the steam, which may cause mold. Yao Wang didn't want that either.

He stepped closer to the water, placing exactly nine-teen flowers in each cup. He turned around to look at XingYing. "Do you have honey?" Yao Wang asked. XingYing thought for a moment, before nodding. "I believe I do." He walked into a cupboard, grabbing a small pot of honey. It was about the size of the teacup, but it will do very well. Yao Wang held the pot, only pouring a small amount of the golden syrup in each teacup, before setting it down.

Finally, he poured the boiling water, making sure none splashed as he poured it. The bowl was practically empty when Yao Wang stopped pouring. He smiled proudly at himself, watching the petals float to the surface. He placed the pot down, picking up a cup to hand to XingYing. "That's how I used to make lavender tea when I was a human. I picked them from my garden."

XingYing politely took the cup, whiffing some of the air before humming. "It smells delicious." He complimented, before taking a sip. Yao Wang smiled worriedly, waiting for any negative reaction. But there wasn't one, XingYing nodding his head. "It tastes better than my own." He observes softly. Yao Wang smiled.

Yao Wang held his own cup in his hands, taking a sip. It had the taste of floral and sweet. It had an earthy taste, but Yao Wang loved it. The sweet honey and lavender was perfect on a colder day. XingYing nudges Yao Wang playfully. "I shouldn't be shocked you know how to make things with flowers, should I?" XingYing asks, before taking another sip. Yao Wan nods.

"No, you really shouldn't."