CH 148

Chapter 148: One year

During the few scavenging missions the Long Yuan squad went on, Huo Zaiyuan dumps everything into his space, rearranging items into two separate piles: to keep and to sell. Everything he doesn't think necessary would be sorted into the latter pile and sold in the market district. Looking down at the N number of points on his card, he feels a sense of accomplishment.

The safe zone has already sent people off to investigate matters regarding the ‘Sorcerer's cult’, poisonous swamps and devil ants. As Huo Zaiyuan has a deep understanding about these swamps and devil ants, a special order came from the higher-ups warning all mercenary squads to report any traces of them immediately upon returning.

However, as there hasn't been any news pertaining to sightings of poisonous swamps or devil ants so far, Huo Zaiyuan decides to enter 'closed-door cultivation' once more. Afraid that news might arrive during his cultivation, Huo Zaiyuan hands a peach wood tile to Long Zhanye before entering his space. If an emergency arises, all Zhanye has to do is burn the tile and Huo Zaiyuan will immediately stop cultivating.

Little did he imagine that this 'closed-door cultivation' period is a lot longer than he predicted. Although he broke through the fifth level and entered the sixth, he discovered he was gone for a year the moment he exits the space.

On the day he eventually exits, it is six in the morning. Long Zhanye is already awake and in the middle of changing when suddenly, the mirror reflects a flash of silver light and a long-haired male with delicate countenance appears in the middle of the bed.

Long Zhanye's eyes widen, immediately snapping his head around to see that, yes, he is not dreaming. Sitting on the bed is the very person he has been thinking about for the past year.

"Little Yuan!"

"It's been…eh! A while…" Huo Zaiyuan finds himself wrapped tightly in Long Zhanye's arms. A familiar embrace, familiar tobacco scent and warmth…his heart all but melts into a soft, gooey puddle.

"Really missed you." Three words to encompass all the longing accumulated in his heart over the past year.

Huo Zaiyuan's mouth curves into a gentle and fond smile as he returns the hug. "Although cultivation required me to clear my mind and heart, I too, missed you the entire time."

"I know. Besides me, who else would occupy your thoughts?" Long Zhanye pulls back a little to take in the face of his beloved even as a cocky smirk surfaces.

"So arrogant. I can think about grandfather, or Elder priest grandfather, or Qin Jun, little Qing, mhmm…"

The rest of Huo Zaiyuan's words are cut off swiftly as Long Zhanye lowers his head and claims his lips.

Long Zhanye's kiss resembles his personality. Soft and gentle but equally intense and forceful. Domineering. He swoops in and takes what he desires. His tongue invades without mercy, intertwining with Huo Zaiyuan's soft one. Any coherent thought Huo Zaiyuan has scatters, mind shutting down as he gives in, allowing Long Zhanye to conquer him, staking his claim as he plunders every nook and cranny of Huo Zaiyuan's mouth.

Huo Zaiyuan's hands slide downwards from Long Zhanye's shoulders to his chest, then further down until his palms rest on the older man's hips. Slender fingers tighten, inciting Long Zhanye to deepen the kiss.

The atmosphere in the room seems to grow hot and heavy as a Long Zhanye slowly lowers his lover onto the bed and pins him beneath his body. An arm curls around the slim waist as the other cups the back of Huo Zaiyuan's neck.

It is only until the couple find themselves short of breath that the long and deep kiss breaks. Panting, their gaze locks as their breath mingles.

"Little Yuan has changed." Long fingers stroke leisurely down the side of the delicate, jade-like face. Long Zhanye can't resist kissing his soft petal lips once more. "You've become thinner, taller, hair has grown longer and you're even more stunning. Just looking at you is enough to make my heartbeat increase again."

Hearing this, Huo Zaiyuan is torn between embarrassment and annoyance before settling on eyeing the older man sternly. "What nonsense are you spouting? I've only been gone for a few days. How can I change so much in such a short time? That's right, did anything important happen during the past few days?"

"I'm not talking nonsense. Beloved, you were gone for an entire year," Long Zhanye murmurs, enclosing his little Yuan in another hug, reluctant to let go.

Huo Zaiyuan startles. Never did he imagine he would be gone for this long. He was aware that his 'close-door cultivation' this time was longer than before, but an entire year! Over three hundred days ah!

"Then, the others? How are they?"

If he has been gone for a year and Long Zhanye did not use the wooden tile he left behind, does that mean nothing major happened throughout this entire time?

"The others are doing fine. Everyone misses you," Long Zhanye replies, rubbing the youth's head soothingly.

After a year of not getting a haircut, Huo Zaiyuan's hair has grown from slightly below the scapulars to his lower back. Nonetheless, it doesn't make him look feminine, but rather, gives him a charming and noble look.

"Are you preparing to attend a meeting?" Huo Zaiyuan asks as he takes in the neatly pressed military uniform, with his coat button left undone, displaying the white inner shirt beneath.

Long Zhanye typically doesn't wear his full military uniform, unless he is handling military affairs or attending a meeting for high-ranking military personnel within the base.

"Un, there is a meeting this morning. Do you want to come along? Little Qing and Qin Jun will be there too," Long Zhanye says as he places his hands on Huo Zaiyuan's waist.

"Why would little Qing and Qin Jun participate in a military conference?" Huo Zaiyuan questions, a little puzzled.

"Quite a lot of things happened during your 'close-door cultivation' period. Little Qing and General Long worked together to produce a more sophisticated and advanced version of the armoured car, and was thus promoted to chief mechanic. About a month ago, Qin Jun worked continuously for two days and two nights to save more than two hundred lives, and was dubbed the most valued doctor within the safe zone."

As Long Zhanye speaks, he gets off the bed and helps Huo Zaiyuan up to his feet. Hearing the older man's words, a proud smile lights up Huo Zaiyuan's face. Reaching out, he begins to button his lover's coat.

"Everyone else did something remarkable. What about you? My Lord Captain Long, what sort of splendid deeds did you accomplish this past year?" Finish fastening the buttons, Huo Zaiyuan smooths the fabric down and tugs on the stiff collars of Long Zhanye's coat. Leaning in, he smiles teasingly at the other man.

It is at this point that he realises he has indeed grown taller. Before, he only comes up to Long Zhanye's shoulder. Now, the top of his head reaches the soldier's lower jaw. Huu…cultivating for an entire year in his space. Really inconceivable ah.

"Me ah, my most exceptional deed is thinking about you ah. Thinking about you every second, every minute, every hour, and every day for more than three hundred days." Long Zhanye smiles dazzlingly as he picks up a tossed-aside coat and drapes it over Huo Zaiyuan's shoulders.

"Sweet mouth and a glib tongue. Rascal." Huo Zaiyuan shoves him away playfully.

Huo Zaiyuan cooks some noodles for breakfast, and the two leave the unit after the meal. Seeing the safe zone again after an entire year, everywhere seems strange and unfamiliar. Now, the safe zone has extended to encompass the entire A City, and the amount of survivors within has increased many folds.

A year and a half after Judgement Day, humanity has gradually adapted to living in a dangerous, chaotic world. Every human here is determined to work hard in order to ensure their survival.

When Huo Zaiyuan exits his space, winter has already come. Although A City is located in the south, thanks to the strange shift in the weather patterns, snow drifts down from the sky, coating everything in a layer of white. Footprints are left behind when one walks down the street. Thus, an additional daily task has been added: to clear snow from principal areas and junctures.

"Little Yuan has not seen snow for quite a while now, right?" Clasping hands, Long Zhanye turns to gaze at Huo Zaiyuan, whose head is currently tilted towards the sky, transfixed by the gently falling snow.

"Un, a very long time. Never thought I would see snow in the south." Reaching out with a palm up to catch the snowflakes, Huo Zaiyuan hums in agreement.

It was the start of winter when he entered his space to cultivate. At that time, the weather still hasn't turned cold and chilly, so he has no idea if snow fell last year.

The snow that lands on his outstretched palm and melts doesn't feel cold to Huo Zaiyuan. For someone with spiritual power running through his meridians, even if he wore summer clothes and stands out in the cold for a whole day, he will not freeze to death. Nor will his extremities become frostbitten. Either way, he can't deny he doesn't like the pure white colour painting the landscape.

"Not long after you entered your space, a blizzard occurred and brought a lot of headaches to the higher-ups. The blizzard continued for a month without pause. Only after it died down did the weather become warm again rather quickly," Long Zhanye answers his unasked question without any prompting.

"It seems I missed quite a lot this past year." Hand dropping back to his side, Huo Zaiyuan shoots Long Zhanye a soft smile, squeezing his lover's hand. "From now onwards, I will always accompany every day, no matter if the sun rises or sets[1]."

"All right."

Huo Zaiyuan is someone who seldom says such sweet, affectionate words. Coming from him, the sincerity and conviction coating it allows Long Zhanye to believe it wholeheartedly.

One leading and one following, the couple crosses the safe zone to the command centre, leaving behind a set of footprints that doesn't disappear for a long while. The rest of the short journey passes in companionable silence. That day, more than a few sweepers and passing survivors witnesses senior officer Long holding hands with an extremely good-looking, long-haired youth. These two men walking side by side creates a very lovely scene, like a painting coming to life.

Just as the couple arrives outside the entrance of the command centre, a soft but sharp voice rings out from behind. "Older brother Long, good morning! Yi? Who are you holding hands with? Where did this beauty come from… Ahh…I'll tell little Yuan that you are fickle-hearted. Taking advantage of his absence to pick up another little beauty."

"Aha." A low snicker suddenly erupts.

"What are you laughing at? I'm talking about you — you mistress!!" Li Qing's face reddens in indignation at the low laughter, temper exploding.

"Little Qingqing, haven't seen you for a year, but you haven't changed one bit." Saying this, Huo Zaiyuan steps out from behind Long Zhanye, looking at his fuming best friend.

"…Little…little Yuan!"

Footnotes:

[1] Sun rise or sun sets: Can also mean "through fortunate or calamity".