Chapter 35 - 35 - Intruders

Long Aotian pulled his lover and ran through the dark passageway.

"Long, why are we running? Don't we have this space's pearl," Xia Che said, holding the shining pearl up.

Long turned back, peered at him, he whispered, "Aham, That... yeah it's true. Why do we have to run?" His long strides came to a sudden pause. He blinked rapidly and wiped his sweat.

"Hmm why are we running? Let's walk," Xia cheerfully pulled the stunned little snake.

They walked for a long time until he came to the forked pathway.

"We are back here!" Xia touched the coarse walls of the pathway. He touched his slimy fingers and whispered, "Hmm, The walls were slightly damp."

"Maybe we are somewhere in the mountains," Long whispered, touching the moss forming near the cavern opening.

"How did we even end up here?" Xia rubbed his pink nose.

Long noticed this and held his hands. His lover's hands were stone cold. "Why are you this cold?" Long held his hands and rubbed them vigorously. He glanced at his slightly pale lover.

He pulled his black robe and draped it on the silly crayfish's shoulders. "These clothes don't keep you warm, right?" he pulled the robes labels and tied it around his waist.

"I have a very weak tolerance to cold. So Yukiya enchanted the clothes I was wearing before." Xia whispered, pulling his new red shirt's sleeve.

Long scrunched up his brows and glanced at him in concern. "Here, come close. I'll keep you warm," he pulled his lover into his arms. Mystic powers inside of him surged, enveloping him in a warm glow.

"Wow, you are so warm," Xia whispered and nuzzled into his clothes. Pulling open the little snake's shirt, he put his head inside. He could feel the rapid heartbeat pounding against the little snake's chest.

Xia pulled his face away from his body and held his face. "Long, why is your heart beating so fast? Are you sick again?"

Long Aotian nuzzled into his cold palms and whispered, "No, I am not. It's just—you make my heart beat so fast."

This remark made the silly crayfish blush like crazy. "I—I do?"

Long held his lover's palm and placed it on his pounding heart. "Yes, you are the only one who is able to make my heart beat so fast." He gazed deeply into his eyes. The silly crayfish looked down with a blush on his face.

"It's because you have not met many people before. And maybe in the future... it might change." Just after Xia whispered that he could feel his own heart clenching in pain. He held his chest, with his eyes wide open. 'Just the thought of that made my heart... Ache.'

Lon pulled his palms in his hands and gazed deeply into his eyes. "Never. my heart will never change." He kissed his lover's cold palms. "Xia, you might not believe it but..... I have met many people."

"Really, but I found you when you were a baby," Xia whispered with a confused look.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and continued, "I have met so many people before I met you. Selfish, Vain, Condescending, Power hungry ..." he let out a deep breath and opened his eyes. "But Xia you... You came into my life and showed me that there are pure people out here in this world."

"I'm not pure. I'm just a little dull when it comes to human feelings," Xia said with a small pout.

Long cupped his delicate face and kissed him softly on his lips. He peered deeply into his eyes, "You are not stupid. You are innocent and pure." He kissed his forehead.

Xia felt his entire face heat up from the little snake's remark. "I—I...." He pushed the snake's shoulders. "I am not innocent either," he glanced up at him through his lashes. A guilty feeling rose in his heart. 'My little Long thinks that I am innocent. How will he react if he knew that I adopted him for his luck?'

Long glanced at his lover, shuffling his feet. 'Oh, he is so cute even when he is nervous,' he chuckled. "Whatever you say, but you are a little innocent crayfish to me," he kissed his chubby cheeks.

Pouting, Xia kicked some small rocks. "Hmm," he whispered and nodded.

"Boss, do you think that inn keeper lied?" A vague murmur came from the nearby passage.

Xia pulled the little snake into his arms and pushed him to the nearby damp wall. He glanced at him and placed a finger on his lips.

"Shh, I think he is nearby," the stranger's voice echoed.

"Everyone, start searching near that forked passage way," a stern voice said.

Xia Che held his breath and glanced up vigilantly.