Archive of Our Own

BOOM.

An enormous spider collapses to the ground, the forest floor quaking with the vibrations. A single red Soul Ring floats up in the air above it, shining brilliantly through the mist of the forest.

Tang San pants heavily, his stance relaxing as he withdraws Blue Silver Grass from around the withering and fading Soul Beast, wiping sweat off of his brow and brushing dirt off himself. He squats down on the ground to let himself recover from the mad rush and surprise attack that led him here, in the middle of an unfamiliar forest, all the way into the den of a 100,000-year-old Lucky Spider.

Really, he should have kept running—but he knows that as soon as they spot their prey, Lucky Spiders pursue until they defeat or are defeated. Any Soul Master who had lived to tell the tale of one had been gifted with not only a powerful Soul Ring, but also some kind of new ability.

Tang San stands up. He doesn’t need a new ability from another spider—isn’t immunity to poison enough? But it would be a waste to let it disappear after all of that effort. Ugh, and taking a detour just before dinner was a mistake. Now Xie Yun is sure to be worried about him.

When Tang San approaches the Soul Ring, the last of the spider vanishes completely. The light from the ring is warm, comfortable if slightly eerie, and Tang San reaches out hesitantly to touch it. Though he had defeated the Soul Beast, it’s up to his body whether or not it can withstand the power of such an ancient Soul Ring.

Tang San braces himself, closing his eyes as his fingers make contact, and the Soul Ring courses through him. It flows through his veins, and he breathes deeply as it settles within, a gentle breeze from somewhere unknown caressing his face as a slight hum vibrates in his chest.

He feels as light as air, like he’s floating above the ground, and the overwhelming delight that bursts through his heart causes unshed tears in his eyes. When he opens them again, the outline of his body is glowing in the same brilliant red of the Soul Ring, and it slips down around his feet before it dims completely.

...That’s it? Tang San pats himself, checking over his body. That felt like the opposite of resistance. Could it have been that easy?

He summons his Soul Rings to check, and—yes, there it is: the proud ancient ring above his others.

But what’s the ability? Tang San scrunches his eyebrows in thought. He should talk to Master Yu about this after dinner and—oh no! He’s so late for dinner!

Whatever the gift is, he’s sure it’s something great, if his body was so welcoming to it.

“A-San?!” Xie Yun asks, alarmed as soon as Tang San enters the inn. He scrambles up from the dinner table, conversation with his companions forgotten as he rushes over to touch and check Tang San’s body, ending his inspection by lacing their fingers together and squeezing. “What happened to you?”

“I, um,” Tang San begins nervously, glancing down at their threaded fingers—his fingers are a little dirty, now that he’s looking properly—and then at their curious audience, “got in a fight.”

Xiao Wu and Master Yu crowd in front of Tang San seconds later, flanking a gaping Xie Yun. “Who was it? I’ll make them pay!” Xiao Wu says, raising her fists, while Master Yu tuts and rubs at his face with a cloth.

“Before dinner?” Master Yu chastises. “I knew we should have sent someone along to check out the town with you. This town is full of those arrogant Soul Masters.”

“Ohhh,” Xiao Wu says. “The ones who like to make trouble before a tournament?” She turns around to share a look with Zhou Fei back at the table, who punches her own palm threateningly. They give each other a single, serious nod, and Xiao Wu turns back to Tang San, smiling innocently, but also frighteningly. “Don’t worry, San-ge. Leave it to us.”

Tang San winces under all of the fuss. “Ah, it wasn’t really—well, it was just a Soul Beast. A—erm, a 100,000-year-old one…” His voice trails off.

“WHAT?!”

The entire inn shakes with the simultaneous uproar.

Xie Yun is the first to recover, leaning forward with a knowing smile. “Did you beat it? May we see?”

Tang San nods shyly, summoning his rings again, and the entire inn goes still, openly gawking in awe. When they vanish again, everyone starts asking rapid-fire questions, talking over each other as the chaos gets louder.

Oh, dear. Now what? He’d been hoping just to tell a few people, not the whole world!

Xie Yun turns around, addressing the room at large. “Alright, everyone,” he begins, squeezing Tang San’s hands behind him. “My beauty and I need our privacy right now, at this very moment. Please leave us be.” He pulls him towards the staircase, and Tang San ducks his head, avoiding everyone’s gazes. Don’t say anything embarrassing, don’t say anything—

“Wait, doesn’t he need to eat?” Xiao Wu calls after them, gesturing to the dinner table.

Xie Yun turns back to smirk at her. “I’ve got something else for him to eat.”

The room echoes with a groan, returning to their earlier conversation and Tang San kicks his shin, making Xie Yun barely flinch while he laughs, tugging him up the staircase.

“I don’t get it,” is the last thing Tang San hears behind him, taken into the inn room he shares with Xie Yun. Bless his pure meimei.

“You’re so shameless,” Tang San complains, his face hot as Xie Yun closes the door behind them.

“You love me for it,” Xie Yun says, kissing his cheek. He steps out of his space to reveal an actual meal set up for him on the table. “And I was serious.”

Tang San’s eyes widen, and his mouth falls into a little pout, accepting defeat for now. “...Thank you,” he mumbles slightly grudgingly, following him to the table.

Xie Yun only smiles, handing him chopsticks as he sits across from him. As Tang San eats, Xie Yun recounts the ridiculous conversations they had been having before he arrived, something about a bet between Zhou Fei and Lander over who could outdrink the other.

They’re in high spirits these days as they continue their travels, working together to help those in need as hired mercenaries—while also advancing their studies, Master Yu is always quick to add. They’re a rowdy bunch, a mix of martial artists from one kind of world and Soul Masters from another, but they feel like Tang San’s family. A warm feeling sits in his tummy, and it’s not from the food (though delicious).

A knock at the door interrupts Xie Yun’s chatter, and he goes to answer it.

A concerned voice filters through the entrance. “Are you both… decent?”

Xie Yun laughs through a yes, and Tang San looks up to see his teacher.

“Master Yu!” Tang San greets, gesturing for him to come in.

“Sorry to bother you both this late, but I wanted to talk about that Soul Beast,” Master Yu says, following Xie Yun inside. “I’m guessing you didn’t seek it out?”

Xie Yun gives him his seat in favor of sitting next to Tang San, elbows leaning on the table.

Tang San nods, chewing thoughtfully. “It was a Lucky Spider.”

“A Lucky Spider? In these woods?” Master Yu asks incredulously. He withdraws a small notebook from his robes and opens it on the table, his newest manuscript in cataloguing unknown Soul Beasts. He flips to a section on rare Soul Beasts, his finger tracing the lines of information he’s collected. “How strange. This is most likely the first sighting on this side of the continent.”

“What makes Lucky Spiders… lucky?” Xie Yun asks.

“They’re said to give the victor some kind of ability. It can be anything—incredible strength, or maybe breathing underwater. Lander and I only know of five.” He nods to Tang San. “You make six.”

Tang San’s mouth twists in an uncertain frown. He wonders if there’s a way to find out more from the other victors—but he knows tracking them down would interfere with their work. “What if I don’t know my ability yet?”

“Hmm,” Master Yu asks, reading over his notes. “Maybe you won’t know right away. Is there anything you felt from the Soul Ring?”

Tang San shakes his head, eyes dipping down to his food as he puts down his chopsticks. Not a single clue to go on. It’s not that he’s disappointed per se, but he was expecting… more.

Xie Yun rubs his back soothingly, and Tang San throws him a grateful smile. “In that case,” Xie Yun says, turning to Master Yu, “we should put him through training. Maybe something will trigger his ability.”

“I wholeheartedly agree,” Master Yu says, nodding. He closes his notebook, putting it away. “Sparring with the others will help you strategize and think on your feet—it may come out by chance.”

Well, he hasn’t sparred with them in a while, often too busy to entertain the thought. It might serve for something. “Okay,” Tang San decides. “Let me try it.”

“Great.” Master Yu smiles and stands up, no doubt thrilled to put his students through more training. “We’ve got some long days ahead of us. You should get some rest.” He shoots a meaningful, if suspicious glance at Xie Yun before he walks away, who throws his hands up in surrender.

“Thank you,” Tang San calls after him, and when he hears the door shut again, he slumps against Xie Yun’s side. Exhaustion crawls through his body, catching up to him now that his stomach is sated.

Xie Yun brushes his hair behind his shoulder, kissing his temple. “Let me bathe you before bed, my beauty,” he murmurs into his hair.

Tang San only has the energy to hum and nod, allowing Xie Yun to guide him to the bath. His mind slowly drifts as he feels the familiar warmth of Xie Yun’s hands removing his clothes, his touch gentle yet firm massaging the stiffness in his shoulders, until Tang San’s eyes flutter shut, dozing in the water.

It’s a lazy sort of arousal he feels moments later, when Xie Yun reaches down and wraps a hand around his half-hard length, and Tang San’s small gasp is swallowed by Xie Yun’s mouth. He clutches at Xie Yun’s arm to ground himself, angling his neck back as Xie Yun tugs at his hair. Xie Yun touches him leisurely, their breath heavy in the space between them, until Tang San comes with a soft moan, biting down on Xie Yun’s lips as he works him through it.

Tang San sighs comfortably when Xie Yun lets go of him, his body relaxed and sliding down the edge of the bath. He barely registers Xie Yun picking him up and readying them both for bed, and for a long time just before he drifts off to sleep, all he feels is the warm embrace of Xie Yun’s body.

Friendly spiders meet him at the corners of his dreams, dancing in celebration. Tang San falls asleep with a smile on his face.

The next few days of training occur between their jobs; Xiao Wu, with her seemingly endless stamina, is best for hand-to-hand combat, and Lander gives everyone stealth missions focused on strategy. Xie Yun is the best at these, but he pairs up with Tang San in order to help him find a solution.

Or so he says. If it gives them an excuse to fool around in private, Tang San doesn’t say anything, not with Xie Yun’s tongue down his throat.

When they show up slightly disheveled and finishing first out of the teams, Master Yu mutters something about cheating on the test, to which, with a cheeky grin, Xie Yun responds, “Lover’s benefits.”

As time passes, however, and Tang San still hasn’t discovered a single clue about his supposed ability, he starts to feel frustrated.

The day when he spars with Zhuqing, her feline claws dangerously close to his skin as he dodges her attacks in all the ways he knows, is the day when he concludes, “This isn’t working.”

And Xie Yun, lounging on a nearby boulder and composing a song on his dizi about his lover, the gorgeous Soul Master who slayed a rare beast, pauses his playing to say, “So stop.”

Neither Tang San nor Zhuqing effectively stop, but Tang San is so thrown off by the advice that his steps falter and Zhuqing does rip a short line into his sleeve. She freezes then, perhaps surprised that Tang San didn’t dodge her attack, which makes Tang San relax his guard, glaring at Xie Yun.

“What do you mean?” Tang San asks.

Xie Yun’s expression is nonchalant, the dizi swinging back and forth in one hand. “The training isn’t working, so stop,” he says.

“Why would I do that?” Tang San argues. He knows that he’s tired, but the bite comes out in his voice regardless.

Xie Yun smiles at him, and it reflexively makes his heart skip a beat, but he pushes the feeling away to stand his ground. “Because,” Xie Yun says, letting go of his dizi to jump off the boulder, “you’re upset that you haven’t figured it out yet.”

A silent staredown between the young couple, opposing expressions on their faces. Xie Yun has always been so good at reading his expressions, even before he could voice them. He’s never the type to pry—but somehow, he always knows what to do.

Xie Yun walks across the field, taking Tang San’s tense hand and kissing the back of it. His eyes sparkle with a glint of mischief as they rise to meet Tang San’s gaze. “Would you give me the honor of sparring with you, my beauty?”

Zhuqing clears her throat loudly, her mouth a thin line. “I’m staying out of this. I’ll give Master Yu the report for today.” She turns around and leaves, and in the middle of this open field, not expected back for a while—

—they’re alone.

Tang San clears his throat, slipping his hand out of Xie Yun’s grasp. “Fine,” he says, taking a few steps back and readying his stance again.

Xie Yun doesn’t let his playful smile drop; rather, he raises an eyebrow in interest and mirrors him, raising his fists. “Ready?”

Tang San beckons with an open hand, palm up. “Let’s go,” he says, a small smirk playing on his mouth as the interest in Xie Yun’s eyes sharpens.

They move at the same time, Xie Yun easily blocking his attacks with his bare hands. Where Tang San relies on precision in his attacks, Xie Yun is agile, just a bit faster than him. Their styles are similar enough that they don’t spar very often, but when they do, Xie Yun has the most infuriating cocky smirk whenever Tang San tries to throw him something unexpected, and it fails.

Just like now.

“What’s wrong, my beauty?” Xie Yun asks, tilting his head to dodge a punch and then pressing a kiss to Tang San’s wrist before he pulls away. He smiles. “You haven’t hit me once yet.”

Tang San grits his teeth in response, the petty frustration bubbling in his chest as his attacks grow messy, missing more and more with each passing minute. Why did he agree to this again? Nothing is working. Why is he even bothering? Maybe the Lucky Spider didn’t have an ability to give him. Maybe the only special thing about it was its Soul Ring.

“Hold still,” Tang San snaps, his strategy dissolving in favor of trying to land a hit.

Xie Yun dances with him across the field, perfectly unbothered until they reach a row of bushes at the edge of a forest, and the next time Tang San throws a punch, Xie Yun grabs his fist and yanks, dragging him down with him as he falls backwards.

Tang San’s breath is knocked out of him as he lands on Xie Yun awkwardly, and he barely has enough time to react before Xie Yun rolls them over and kisses him, prying his mouth open.

“What—mmph—are you doing?” Tang San snarls breathlessly, struggling to push him away, but Xie Yun grips his wrists, holding him down.

“Sparring with you,” Xie Yun murmurs, biting just under Tang San’s jaw. “What does it look like?”

A tiny moan escapes Tang San’s lips. “Get off and fight me properly,” he protests weakly. He feels like he’s clinging to his only lead, but he knows deep down that this whole training regime is leading to a dead end.

“I am. I think you’re losing, my beauty,” Xie Yun notes. He ignores Tang San’s next glare in favor of kissing him again, and this time Tang San returns it with as much force as he can.

If that’s how he wants to play it, Tang San thinks, and he bites and sucks at Xie Yun’s tongue, feeling a low amused hum that makes his body shiver traitorously. His hands twitch, the strength in his wrists leaving the more that Xie Yun licks the inside of his mouth, and Xie Yun releases his hold.

Tang San takes that exact moment to roll them back around, seated comfortably across Xie Yun’s lap and panting, a triumphant smile on his face.

But when he looks at Xie Yun, fully expecting to have taken him by surprise, all he sees is a sly smirk, coupled with that same earlier mischief in his eyes.

“What’s this? Has my beauty bested me?” Xie Yun asks, running his hands up his thighs and squeezing. “Only time will tell.”

A frown replaces Tang San’s smile, and he wastes no time yanking off Xie Yun’s belt, followed by his underwear. “You hush,” he mutters, though he knows his pink face is betraying him too. When he takes out Xie Yun’s arousal, he’s surprised to see him half-hard, but, well, Tang San would be lying if he said he wasn’t affected too.

He scoots back and licks his lips before he takes Xie Yun in his mouth, swallowing him down easily. He loves the thickness of Xie Yun’s length, the way it stretches his mouth when it’s fully hard. Tang San knows he could come from this alone, but he figures the best way to make Xie Yun shut up is to go all the way.

“Mm,” Xie Yun groans around Tang San’s wet noises, pushing his hair back to see him better. “Don’t you look sexy like this.” He strokes Tang San’s cheek where his own arousal is poking out. “As usual.”

Tang San pulls off, scraping his teeth along the tip as a warning while his cheeks are flaming. No matter how much time passes, he’s still not immune to Xie Yun’s praise. “And aren’t you noisy, as usual.”

“Feisty,” Xie Yun grins, winking. “You know I love your sass.”

Tang San rolls his eyes, forcing his gaze away as he mostly disrobes himself, waiting for the inevitable—

“A-San,” Xie Yun gasps, “are you going to ride me?” He sits up on his elbows, all of his attention on the underwear sliding down Tang San’s legs. “But we don’t have oil.”

He’s piecing it together. Tang San doesn’t trust his voice to hide how shy he feels doing this, but he’s already set his mind on it. With one hand on the ground, Tang San spits on his hand and reaches underneath himself.

Even though Tang San is looking away, he can hear Xie Yun’s breathless groan, as well as feel the way Xie Yun’s arousal twitches against his thigh. “You can’t expect me to stay still for this,” Xie Yun says, stroking himself and adding very emphatically, “Fuck.”

“N-No,” Tang San manages, then silently swears at his mouth. He ducks his head as he drives his fingers deeper, but—a new source of frustration—he can’t stretch himself as well as Xie Yun does. He bites his lips, trying to spread his two fingers with difficulty.

Xie Yun makes a curious noise. “May I help you with that?” he murmurs, sitting up and squeezing Tang San’s ass to pull him closer on his lap.

Tang San’s hips stutter at the force of his grip, Xie Yun’s low, aroused voice dizzying enough that he has to grip onto his shoulders for leverage. Fine, he thinks. This isn’t working anyway. He sits fully onto Xie Yun’s lap, wraps his arms around his neck, and whispers, “Finish it for me.”

Xie Yun chuckles into his neck, one arm holding up a fistful of Tang San’s inner robes while the other reaches up to his mouth, fingers slipping inside to coat them in more saliva. Tang San sucks at them harshly before Xie Yun pulls them out again, his other hand lightly pinching his thigh. Xie Yun’s wet fingers do slide in with less resistance, but the trembling of Tang San’s legs doesn’t go unnoticed. “I’m going to hurt you without oil,” he notes, a slight pout on his mouth as he kisses a trail up Tang San’s cheek, kissing the corner of his eye before a tear spills over.

“No,” Tang San whimpers when Xie Yun adds another finger and crooks them, “I want it.” He’s dealt with pain worse than this, he can handle it.

Xie Yun doesn’t look very convinced with that, but when he’s done as much as he can, he helps Tang San sink onto his length gingerly, distracting him with kisses. Other than a slight hiss from the both of them, Tang San manages to take all of his length somewhat comfortably, forgetting to kiss Xie Yun back as he pants into his mouth.

“My strong beauty,” Xie Yun admires when he pulls away, resting his hands on Tang San’s hips, and Tang San leans his forehead on his shoulder, recovering his breath. It doesn’t hurt really, he just needs to adjust.

He thinks, at least. He tests it by grinding in circles, rising off of Xie Yun a little. The slide isn’t very smooth, but Tang San finds that he likes the slight burn. The pressure feels all the more intense, and the pain dulls into pleasure as Xie Yun strokes his length, leaving encouraging kisses along his chest.

When Tang San relaxes enough to increase his pace, Xie Yun bites one of his nipples around a groan. “You’re so tight, A-San,” he gasps, his free hand surely leaving bruises on Tang San’s hips. “I won’t last.”

“Me n-neither,” Tang San says, gritting his teeth as he bounces harder, the pleasure crawling all the way down to his toes. He throws his head back when Xie Yun starts to meet some of his thrusts, reflexively clenching around him, and Xie Yun all but attacks his exposed neck.

Tang San squeezes Xie Yun’s shoulders, releasing breathy moans with each bite until he brings up two fingers to cover Xie Yun’s mouth. “L-let me,” he says.

Xie Yun kisses his fingers. “Of course, my beauty,” he purrs. His hands slide down to the curve of Tang San’s ass, spreading his cheeks further.

Tang San twitches, sweat pooling along his collar as he rises almost completely off of Xie Yun. But before Tang San has the chance to even blink, Xie Yun pulls him down to the hilt, hitting his sweet spot brutally. Tang San screams, barely managing to cover his mouth while he comes, and he clings to Xie Yun’s neck as Xie Yun continues to bounce him on his lap.

“A-Ah—” Tang San moans, the thrusts rendering him oversensitive, and when Xie Yun comes, the tears in Tang San’s eyes fall down his cheeks while Xie Yun kisses him open-mouthed.

They kiss even as Xie Yun pulls out, laying them both down on the ground to recover, but once Tang San gathers his bearings, he notices Xie Yun smiling fondly at him.

“You bested me,” Xie Yun says, pecking him once. “I knew I was no match for the legendary Tang San.”

And Tang San breathes out a giggle, dissolving into laughter as he hides his face in Xie Yun’s neck. His chest tickles with the ridiculousness of the situation. He didn’t find the ability, but he’s not as upset as he thought he would be, now. There will be another way, definitely.

Xie Yun smiles and cards his fingers through Tang San’s hair, the sunlight filtering through the trees making lines across his face.

He’s sure of it.

As they fall into a light doze, Tang San thinks, Oh god, how am I going to explain my robes to Xiao Wu… just before consciousness melts away.

Later that night, after bumping into Master Yu, who had taken one look at both him and Xie Yun and shooed them away, Tang San uses the cover of the night to go fill up a wooden basin outside the inn with water.

Unfortunately, Xiao Wu is taking a stroll.

“San-ge!” she trills, skipping up to peer inside the empty basin. She furrows her eyebrows. “What’s this for?”

“Ah!” Tang San exclaims, because what excuse could he come up with on the spot? Late night laundry? “Xiao Wu, I’m—uh,” he starts, then remembers the rip from earlier, “it’s for my robes. I ripped them earlier.”

Xiao Wu tilts her head, pouting a little bit. “Why do you need water?”

“W-Well, um,” he explains, “sometimes rips are easier to fix on clothing when it’s wet.” He thanks any higher being above for helping him maintain a poker face.

“Really?” Xiao Wu asks, an enormous smile on her face at learning the simplest (untrue) fact. “I’ve never tried that! Can you show me how?” She seems so eager to learn that Tang San almost feels bad about lying.

He brushes his hair behind his ear nervously. “First I have to test it. I can’t teach my meimei something false! I, uh—it’s a secret from my mother,” he says, nodding almost to himself. “So don’t share it until I know it’s true!”

Xiao Wu straightens up, making a motion of zipping her mouth. She looks back at the water. “But I still want to help San-ge,” she says, and with that, she goes to pump water for the basin.

Tang San shakes his head fondly, accepting the help. By the time they finish, she’s buzzing around him and, on their way back to the inn, making grand gestures as she recounts her job that day in great detail—a complicated series of events involving a lost shoe and a runaway musician—when they see Master Yu standing just outside Tang San’s door, looking through his notes and pacing.

“Hi, Master Yu!” Xiao Wu greets, holding her hands behind herself.

Master Yu looks up, notices the basin in Tang San’s arms, makes eye contact with him, and they both look away. He clears his throat. “Good evening, you two. Tang San, if I could have a word with you?”

Tang San nods, turning to Xiao Wu. “Thanks for the help, meimei. You should go to bed.”

Xiao Wu pouts a little bit, fiddling with the end of her braid, but she doesn’t protest this time. “Okay.”

If she had her bunny ears out, Tang San knows he would see them drooping. He feels a little bad again before he remembers, “Don’t forget we have to get up before sunrise tomorrow for our next job.”

Xiao Wu gasps. “You’re right!” She rushes off to her inn room across the hall. “Good night!” she calls over her shoulder.

Master Yu and Tang San share a laugh as they walk into Tang San’s room. Inside, Xie Yun is sitting at a low table, his inkbrush poised over paper, but he carefully puts it down when he sees them. He greets them quickly, standing up to help Tang San place the basin over an empty table and then kissing him on the cheek. They murmur between themselves about the laundry as they gather their things, Xie Yun already rolling up his sleeves to start washing even though it’s really not a two-person job.

“So, I hear the training isn’t working?” Master Yu says, leaning against the closed door. It’s not quite a private conversation, but Tang San does feel responsible for making everyone train a little more.

“No,” Tang San sighs, pausing in his washing. “How long did it take the others to discover their Lucky Spider abilities?”

Master Yu’s mouth twists into a frown. “At most, a week.”

Tang San rubs the bar of soap just a bit too roughly against his robes. Xie Yun gently takes both from him. The nagging feeling of defeat rises to the surface, and Tang San finally admits, “I think the spider didn’t give me anything. Is that possible?”

Both Xie Yun and Master Yu startle at his words, concern peeking through their eyes. He knows how he sounds, but maybe there’s just no use in literally fighting until he finds an answer. He’s counting his blessings after all; he really has no need for more, be it money or power.

“I…” Master Yu begins, scratching the back of his neck, “I guess so. But there’s so much we don’t know.”

Tang San falls silent, directing his attention to his robes.

Xie Yun squeezes his hand in the water. A few beats pass and Master Yu exhales deeply. There’s nothing more to be said.

“Alright,” Master Yu says, clapping his hands once. “Well, we’ve got our work cut out for us in the next few weeks. That excursion into Si Xiang Mountain is coming up soon.”

Tang San nods once. “Okay. See you then.”

Master Yu closes the door gently behind him, and Tang San tunes out of the world completely as he focuses on washing. He doesn’t stop until he notices Xie Yun moving closer to him, and when he looks up:

“There is nothing greater that my beauty needs,” Xie Yun says, “if he already rules a kingdom in someone else’s eyes.”

Tang San blinks a few times, meeting his ever-adoring gaze and smiling softly. To himself, he may be insufficient; not good enough. To someone else, however, he may be the world—someone perfect.

Someone to depend on.

He’s not sure if he’s worthy, but he will always work hard to meet that expectation.

Xie Yun then, of course, ruins the moment by wrapping a wet arm around his neck to pull him close and loudly kiss his cheek. Tang San squeaks, pulling away and trying to flick water at him.

They descend into a mini-water fight, and through the grin that begins to hurt his face, Tang San thinks, I can’t rule this kingdom without him.

A month of odd jobs and odder journeys make for both priceless experiences and confusing incidents.

It begins with a tingle down Tang San’s back—just the slightest, but enough that he notices it. At first, he thought Xie Yun had tried a sneak-tickle attack, but when he directs a very devastating pout to him, all Xie Yun does is raise an eyebrow in confusion and kiss him, as if that’s enough to placate him. (It is.) And when he touches his back, the feeling vanishes, and he doesn’t think more on it.

The next thing he notices is his dreams. Just like the first day after he felled the spider, tiny ones occasionally visit and dance in his dreams. He doesn’t understand the significance, but he knows it has to do with the Lucky Spider. Xie Yun even thinks his body is still adjusting to the power. Perhaps the ability is so great that it hasn’t settled yet, he suggests. His optimism is infectious.

But the last thing, the cause for most concern, is the occasional nausea recently. It’s not exactly the nausea that worries him; it’s when it happens, and how strong it is.

On the morning of the last day’s journey to Si Xiang Mountain, Tang San wakes up with the worst stomach ache imaginable, and when Xie Yun kisses him good morning, he turns around and throws up on the floor.

“Was it my morning breath?” Xie Yun asks knowingly, brushing Tang San’s hair away from his face. Tang San cracks a watery smile, but he’s still heaving. “Don’t answer that. I’ll make some tea.” He gets out of their bed and leaves, pulling on his robes haphazardly.

Tang San sighs, wiping his eyes and mouth. Was it the food from last night? Though he’s no stranger to nausea, it had never culminated in something like this. He sits himself back against the wall behind the bed, closing his eyes to catch his breath.

A rush of footsteps outside his room, and when he peeks an eye open, he sees three heads poking in through the entrance: Xiao Wu, Rongrong, and Chuchu.

“Tang—!” Xiao Wu shouts until Rongrong and Chuchu cover her mouth.

“Can’t you see he’s resting?” Rongrong chastises, making Xiao Wu’s eyes grow large and guilty.

“Sorry,” she whispers to everyone, but Tang San shakes his head.

“It’s okay. Come in,” he says, sitting himself more upright.

Xiao Wu leads the charge with tiptoes while the other two follow her hesitantly. When her eyes fall to the mess on the ground, she quickens her pace, pulling Rongrong with her to clean it. Tang San tries to protest, but they shush him before he can open his mouth.

Chuchu walks in last with tea on a tray, stepping around the girls to set it on a nearby table. She pours Tang San some tea, explaining, “Xie Yun sends this along. He went to find Lander, since Master Yu went ahead to meet the guardians of the mountain.”

Tang San nods, accepting the tea from her. The smell of ginger alone helps his stomach settle, and he takes small sips, worried that his stomach may reject this too.

“I’m sorry to put you all through this,” Tang San sighs, staring down at his teacup. Their mission will be delayed too.

“San-ge, you take care of all of us when we’re sick,” Xiao Wu says, pouting. She deposits the mop she had been using into a bucket, and Rongrong throws the water out of a window.

“Hongjun doesn’t even know yet. That boy is going to kick up a fuss when he finds out you’re not well,” Rongrong says, closing the window.

They’re right, but Tang San still feels responsible. It’s probably just food poisoning, and if that’s the case, then he should be fine soon.

The girls continue to fuss over him despite his insistence that he’s okay, and then Lander and Xie Yun arrive. They make way for Lander to sit on the edge of the bed, while Xie Yun refills Tang San’s half-empty teacup.

Lander presses a hand to Tang San’s forehead, stroking his beard with the other. “Seems like a fever.”

Tang San frowns. “I’m fine, really—” he says, but when he moves too fast, the nausea returns, and everyone else jumps forward, clamoring. Chuchu even holds the bucket up just in case.

“Any chance we can delay the meeting with the guardians?” Xie Yun asks when it’s clear that Tang San won’t in fact throw up again. Xie Yun sits next to him, placing a wet cloth on his forehead and stroking his cheek.

Lander stands up, nodding sagely. “They can wait. One of them owes me a favor anyway.” He pats Tang San’s leg. “We’ll ask them to meet us halfway. You get some rest.”

Tang San nods, leaning into Xie Yun’s touch almost unconsciously. At the forefront of his mind had been the journey ahead, but with Lander’s blessing, he lets the worry go, feeling a wave of exhaustion fall over him.

He doesn’t quite hear anyone leave, but he does feel the bed dip as Xie Yun takes his tea and settles under the covers again, pulling him against his chest.

The only thing he does hear clearly is the girls giggling between themselves, but before he can register the word that stands out a little bit more than the rest, he falls asleep, the smell of cedar surrounding him.

Tang San feels better, much more energetic the next day. The group takes it slow, however, immediately alert when he admits that he had been feeling nausea for a while now. Master Yu, meanwhile, has sent a letter with details on where to meet, and the group makes its way up the mountain.

The four guardians of Si Xiang Mountain seem to be rather bored immortals, if their requests were anything to go by. They had said that they wanted to meet the mercenaries in person to determine whether they were up to the task: the task of finding rare items that belong to the earth. According to them, it wasn’t a job fit for just anyone, but someone who could determine when and where to acquire those items.

As they walk, the girls whisper among themselves excitedly, a mix of bewilderment and surprise on their faces as their discussion grows more heated. Every time Lander throws them a look for walking too slowly, they shut up, speeding up until he seems satisfied, and the conversation begins again. Tang San would find it funny if he didn’t feel like they were looking at him, but whenever he looks up, they’re still absorbed in their circle.

He must be imagining it.

The sun begins to descend to the west, sliding towards the cover of another mountain, and Lander announces that they’ve just a few more kilometers.

“Another break?” Xie Yun asks, stroking the back of Tang San’s hand where their hands are intertwined.

Tang San shakes his head, but truth be told, the sunlight is warm enough that he wouldn’t mind taking a nap in it. Maybe another time. He yawns at the thought, not noticing Xiao Wu sidling up next to him and staring intently.

“Ah!” he exclaims, clutching his chest. She can be very sneaky when she wants. “Hi, meimei.”

“San-ge,” she begins seriously, her eyes hardened and mouth twisted at the corner, like she’s solving a riddle, “is it possible for boys to get pregnant?”

Xie Yun chokes, turning away to mask it with a cough, and Tang San is slack-jawed, hoping nobody else heard the words that came out of her mouth. He doesn’t think he’s the best person to be asked.

“U-um,” he begins, beginning to sweat a little, “probably not, b-but,” he adds when he sees her expression melting into sadness—why does he feel like he’s crushing her dreams?—“maybe i-if they really want to, it can happen.”

Her usual ease and warmth returns to her in the form of a wide, hopeful smile. “Like if two people really love each other?” she asks.

“Exactly that,” Tang San says, elbowing Xie Yun when he hears him stifling his laughter.

“Yay!” Xiao Wu says, running off again to join the rest of the girls.

“So,” Xie Yun whispers in his ear, “wanna make a baby?”

“Stop it,” Tang San complains, face flushing. He tries to let go of Xie Yun’s hand as a show of petty protest, but Xie Yun pulls him back before he can get too far and smothers him in kisses all over his face while he squeals. He really hopes nobody is looking at him now, but he’s too preoccupied to check.

He’s never truly given a lot of thought to children; he loves them, but he was always busy. His unconventional mix of a family felt like enough to him, and he felt satisfied with being an older brother figure to Hongjun and Xiao Wu. Adopting a child could be an option, but he’s not sure if there’s ever a good time.

Following the small commotion, the group arrive at a large stone gate, one resembling the entrance to a shrine. In front of this stands Master Yu, along with another person lavishly decorated in red robes. The man’s chin is high as the rouge on his cheeks highlight the eyes that stare down at them, the red symbol on his forehead shining.

“Welcome,” he says simply, and the only sound that greets him is a lone gust of wind that blows through.

Lander raises his eyebrows. “Mu Xiaoqiao! Nice to see you. Where are the others?”

“The other guardians had pressing business,” Mu Xiaoqiao says, a delicate sweep of his fingers to accompany his words, “…for once. As the lord of this mountain, I will speak for them.”

Master Yu scratches his head, nodding in greeting to the group fidgeting silently. “It was pretty sudden.”

Mu Xiaoqiao raises both of his hands for silence, though the mercenaries haven’t said a word. “I sense a disturbance in the air,” he says, closing his eyes. “A miracle has been brought to this mountain on this very day.”

The stunned silence grows longer, and Tang San isn’t sure if his nausea is returning. He rubs his stomach subconsciously.

“You!” Mu Xiaoqiao shouts suddenly, pointing to Tang San, who freezes and points to himself. “You are special.”

“Of course he is! He—” Xiao Wu pipes up, but Zhuqing covers her mouth this time as Mu Xiaoqiao glances at them mildly, perhaps offended by the interruption.

Mu Xiaoqiao clears his throat with more sweeps of his hands like he’s playing a stringed instrument. He points at Tang San again, certainty through every word. “Something powerful lies within you. The goddess of fortune smiled upon you!”

Yang Jin whispers something to Li Yan about not understanding, but it comes out a bit loud in the silence.

Lander turns around. “Is anyone following?”

Everyone shakes their head, including Master Yu.

Mu Xiaoqiao rubs his forehead, dropping his dramatics. “This boy is pregnant.”

A few things happen consecutively:

Tang San laughs incredulously.

Xie Yun’s mouth drops open, eyes sparkling.

Xiao Wu gasps. Next to her, the girls, except for the solemn Zhuqing and Zhou Fei, who do not manage to hide smirks, scream.

Master Yu buries his face into his hands.

Hongjun and Yang Jin share a bewildered look, and Oscar cries between them. Meanwhile, Dai Mubai stares blankly into empty space.

And finally, Lander turns around, with an accusatory finger at Xie Yun. “You!!!” he says.

“W-Wait,” Tang San says, still drunk on giggles. “I-It’s not possible. Right?” He looks back at Mu Xiaoqiao, whose serious expression hasn’t changed at all.

The group descends into chaos upon his silence, the noise so loud that it makes Tang San’s head spin. M-Maybe the nausea really is returning aga—

His perspective tilts as he finds himself carried in the arms of Xie Yun. Tang San’s arms automatically wrap around his neck, more out of fear of falling than anything, but it makes the girls coo. He’s sure his ears are burning, and Xie Yun makes it worse when he says:

“No more walking for you today, my beauty,” Xie Yun declares. This does help abate the nausea, but the worst part is that the girls start clapping at his words.

Oh, no. He’s really pregnant? If Xie Yun was shameless before, he can’t imagine how much worse he’ll become. He hides in the crook of Xie Yun’s neck, pinching his nape.

“Ouch,” Xie Yun says, readjusting his embrace to hold Tang San more securely. “Our child is going to inherit your strength, my beauty.” As flustered as he is, Tang San’s heart twirls in his chest at the adoration in his voice.

“I think we now know what the Lucky Spider’s ability was,” Master Yu says, if a bit awkwardly.

“Fertility?” Xie Yun asks. With that smug of a voice, Tang San just knows that Xie Yun is waggling his eyebrows.

No wonder the Soul Ring had accepted him so easily. If he had truly not wanted anything of the sort, his body would have rejected it. He remembers the unexpected happiness he felt when the power entered him. Because of such incredible strength, it’s simply logical to expect an incredible ability such as this.

He breathes out another laugh as he ponders all of this, interrupting the continuing conversation as he begins to accept the strange circumstances. Xie Yun takes that as a signal to turn around in search of an inn, kissing the crown of his head.

Nobody seems to follow for now, talking amongst themselves as they figure out their next plans.

“Wait. What about the mission?” Tang San hears in the fading distance.

“Yeah, just find this fancy pearl. Your news was far more entertaining.”

Before, Tang San had been the kind to wake up bright and early, help with cooking and chores, and even help craft weapons on some occasions. Now, Xie Yun, as well as most of their entourage, barely lets him lift a finger.

He’s endeared by their behavior, though he does find other menial things to do, restless as he is. This usually involves helping Oscar with his plays—perhaps acting out this character or that character, or going on trips to the market with Chuchu. According to the town doctors, he shouldn’t be doing any arduous work: which means no complicated or risky jobs for the time being.

So Tang San spends his days finding things to do, as well as reading a lot about recorded Soul Beasts and history. When he finds sections about spiders, he unconsciously smiles. Every day, he touches his stomach, wondering when he’ll have the physical proof of this wonder. Even though the cause of the pregnancy is unconventional, he’s expected to follow the same timeframe as a human.

Pregnancy, huh? He wishes he could show his mother.

His father, meanwhile, is on the other side of the continent. Tang San hopes to tell him the news in person, but unfortunately, it would take about a week to journey back home. So, they decide to wait until they tie up loose ends from their jobs and learn more about the nature of his pregnancy.

Tang San now isn’t the only one who monitors what he eats; all of the cooks in their group now know what he can and cannot eat. No more of Oscar’s Soul Spirit foods for now: the group had dealt with enough food surprises, let alone his newest one that he called the Concealing Carrot: First Version.

And then there are the occasional cravings. Their entourage had thought nothing would beat Xie Yun’s determination when he was first courting Tang San until, well, they noticed he was off yet again to find the next food reluctantly requested by his beauty.

Between all of these adjustments to this routine, it’s not until many weeks later that they’re almost ready to set off.

Xie Yun starts his day with a kiss to Tang San’s stomach as he’s wont to do, but he follows this up with a pause, one finger dragging over his stomach.

“A-San,” he whispers to a sleepy Tang San, “I think you’re showing.”

“Really?” Tang San sits up, rubbing his eyes before his fingers touch his stomach. He can’t see it—maybe a mirror would help? He stands up, walking to the one at the vanity, turning to the side, and—

“Wow,” he breathes. There’s a slight curve when he traces the edge of his stomach, the way his finger rises over the slightest bump. It’s really there. A baby is growing inside of him. He’s quiet, awed, drawing endless invisible circles on his skin.

He doesn’t know how long he stands there. The next thing he registers is Xie Yun standing behind him and wrapping him up in an enormous hug, his head leaning on Tang San’s shoulder. Tang San meets his gaze in the mirror, a beautiful, brilliant smile permanently etched onto Xie Yun’s mouth, and his eyes feel misty.

“We made this together,” Xie Yun murmurs, moving Tang San’s hair aside to kiss his shoulder.

Tang San turns around in his embrace and hugs him without another word, basking in his warmth, the arms that protect him even when he doesn’t need it, the words of affirmation always at the ready. He breathes in the familiar, comforting smell of his lover, closing his eyes as Xie Yun sways them from side to side.

For a moment of peace in the morning light, as the sun shines in through the windows and the distant chatter of their larger family can be heard, they stand there and just… be.

Of course, as soon as everyone finds out about the nearly invisible bump, they all bicker amongst themselves over who gets to touch first, blatantly skipping the part where they need to ask for Tang San’s permission. Tang San just shares a laugh with Xie Yun at the breakfast table, watching them gradually settle down as they figure out a system.

Chuchu ends up being first, beating everyone in a game of drawing sticks. Tang San stands up, and though he’s not wearing a thin robe, the outline is just barely there—but it doesn’t stop their enthusiasm at all.

The boys react with trepidation at the bump, as if they don’t know how to function around a pregnant person, causing Master Yu to nudge them towards Tang San first while the girls squeal, but, to their credit, try to restrain themselves. Meanwhile, Oscar cries as soon as he touches Tang San’s stomach, enveloping him in a wailing hug.

“You’re definitely taking the fruits my Soul Spirit made on your trip, right?” he asks when he gathers himself, sniffling loudly.

Arms trapped by his sides, Tang San pats him awkwardly. He shares a terrified look with Xie Yun. “Of course!”

“Great.” Oscar lets go of him then, accepting the tissue that Xiao Wu offers, and blows his nose. “That kid will grow up so strong.” The girls offer consoling pats.

Xiao Wu is the last to go, staring at Tang San’s stomach in wonder as she touches the tiny bump. Her mouth has a determined twist, focused like she’s trying to figure out something. Eventually, she puts her ear to his stomach, and then she smiles.

“I can hear it,” she says, and even Tang San gasps this time.

Before anyone has a chance to get closer, Xie Yun is there, but he has a curious look on his face as he tries to listen.

“I don’t hear anything,” he says.

Xiao Wu nods sagely. “That’s because I’m a Spirit Beast! Tang San absorbed the Lucky Spider, and the Lucky Spider is protecting Tang San while he carries the baby.”

Tang San suddenly thinks back to the dreams he’s had, the ones that guided him along a certain path. Maybe the spider wants to guide him to a healthy birth.

“What is it saying?”

Xiao Wu shakes her head. “It doesn’t say anything. I just hear happiness.”

Tang San ducks his head, touching his stomach absentmindedly again and smiling. It’s not only the people around him who worry. Thank you, he thinks to himself.

“Wait,” Yang Jin interrupts, his eyes wide. “Does that mean—is Tang San going to have a spider baby?”

The group descends into chaos again, Xiao Wu and Master Yu so staunchly denying it while Tang San feels a headache coming on. Li Yan tells him that spiders lay eggs, to which Yang Jin makes a slow nod of understanding before his expression melts into bewilderment at the thought. Tang San doesn’t want to know. Xie Yun laughs at the whole thing, taking Tang San’s hand and bumping their hips playfully.

When they’ve all settled down again, their group sends them off on their voyage to see Tang San’s father. Master Yu frets as if they won’t see each other for a year, checking and rechecking all of their belongings (though they both pack light), while Lander gives them a single pat on the back and tells them to be careful. The rest take turns hugging him.

The distance to see Tang San’s father isn’t the longest, or the most difficult, but they have to pass through several major towns and small roads between. It feels much like traveling with their group, but without all of the things they need to worry about when living with more than ten people.

Between the nights and the days, Tang San and Xie Yun talk about everything and nothing, most especially their plans when their baby is born. For now, their lifestyle will remain the same, but perhaps in the future they will find somewhere to settle down. There will be no greater help than their large, unusual mix of a family.

Throughout these conversations accompanied by the skies and the trees, they find their own peace in the new, rare privacy between them.

“When was the last time you saw him?” Xie Yun asks, adjusting the bags over his shoulder, his other hand threaded through Tang San’s.

“Before I left for Si Lan Ke Academy. He couldn’t give me the teaching I needed, so he sent me away while he pursued his own goals.” Tang San drops his gaze to the ground. “But he was never very good at replying to my letters. I hope he’s ready to see me.”

Xie Yun squeezes his hand. “He’ll be thrilled to see you.”

“Yeah,” Tang San says, cracking a smile. “And you. He knows about you too.”

Xie Yun gasps dramatically. “Did you mention my best features? My stunning good looks?”

“What best features?” Tang San asks innocently, and Xie Yun makes a noise of protest before he pulls a giggling Tang San into his arms, sticking onto him as Tang San attempts to continue on their way.

Tang San’s childhood home is the same as he remembers it: secluded, quiet, but still welcoming. When the skies are clear, the sun and the moon shine down a spotlight on it, illuminating the wooden boards of the house.

They step up the stairs, and Tang San knocks on the door, anxiety and excitement rolled into his fingertips.

“I’m not interested,” comes a gruff voice from inside.

“Dad, it’s me. Tang San.”

Creaking floorboards on the other side of the door greet him before the door swings open, and Tang San is met with the face of his father, hair greying and face littered with wrinkles. How long has it been now?

“Tang San,” he says, stunned until Tang San throws him off-balance with the force of his hug.

“Dad!” Tang San exclaims, squeezing tight. “I’m back!”

“Y-You are,” his father stutters, patting him on the back. In his letters, Tang San had never hinted at coming home; his father told him to return when he mastered his Soul Spirits, and he wanted to make his father proud.

Though he has more yet to learn, his last Soul Ring was no easy feat. Something else now takes precedence.

“I’m sorry I never visited,” Tang San says, his voice becoming small. His father is just a little bit taller than him, and it makes him nostalgic for his childhood when he couldn’t even reach his waist.

His father gives a small chuckle. “As long as you’ve been training hard.”

Tang San nods vigorously, pulling back to sniffle, happiness overwhelming his chest.

“Who’s this?” his father asks when he notices Xie Yun, who bows in greeting.

“This is Xie Yun, the one I told you about in my letters,” Tang San says, taking Xie Yun’s hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Xie Yun says.

But the silence stretches on for a few beats too long. Tang San sees his father’s eyes hardening, just barely narrowing, and he clears his throat awkwardly, opening his mouth to say something.

“Nice to meet you too,” his father finally mutters. He goes back inside the house, gesturing for them to follow. “Come help with dinner.”

Xie Yun throws a panicked glance to Tang San, who tries to smile comfortingly. He doesn’t think it works, but his father can’t possibly mean any harm. They’re just here to catch up and deliver news; it should be like an easy walk through the forest.

His father has them set up for dinner, the kitchen eerily silent. When Tang San was a kid, he used to fill these spaces up with chatter, but now every time he says something, his father gives a grunt of acknowledgement.

“So,” his father addresses Xie Yun, when they’re all sitting at the kitchen table, the room only illuminated by a few flickering candles, the darkness creeping up through the walls. Xie Yun scooches closer to Tang San. “How do I know you’re good for my son?”

“Dad!” Tang San whines, but his father cuts him off.

“You’re famous, you know. Is your name really Xie Yun?” He bites off a thick piece of meat.

“O-of course it is,” Xie Yun says, smiling brightly. “Isn’t Tang Hao a revered name too? Perhaps we come from the same ilk.”

Tang San’s father ignores him. “What about Qian Suiyou, the famous poet?”

“That’s my pen name. All poets need a good mystery,” Xie Yun says, gesturing with his chopsticks. “Would you like me to recite something? I have one about—”

Tang San’s father leans forward, eyes narrowed. “Then who’s Xiao Chuan, the runaway prince?”

Tang San raises his eyebrows, glancing at Xie Yun’s frozen expression.

“Ah—” Xie Yun laughs a bit too high. “You’ve done your research.”

Tang San’s father has a permanent frown on his face, etched deeper when he sees Tang San’s expression. “So you’ve been lying to him. How can he trust someone who lies?”

“There’s nothing false about my feelings for Tang San,” Xie Yun argues. His gaze doesn’t waver, his fists clenched on the table.

“How does he know that?” Tang San’s father challenges.

“Because I’m pregnant,” Tang San blurts.

“You’re—what?!” his father practically yells, standing up as he glares at Xie Yun, eyes turning bloodthirsty. “What have you done to my son?!”

Xie Yun takes that moment to hide Tang San behind himself, though this has more of an effect of Tang San awkwardly leaning to one side. Tang San would laugh at his priorities if his father didn’t look like he was about to summon his Soul Spirit.

“Dad, this is why I came home,” Tang San argues over Xie Yun’s shoulder, trying to take his father’s attention away from the silent staredown. “I wanted to tell you.”

“That’s not possible. And you two aren’t ready to have a baby,” his father growls.

“I think it’s up to us to decide,” Xie Yun says cooly.

“Dad…” Tears of frustration well up in Tang San’s eyes. This was supposed to be a happy reunion. Though he understands his father’s distrust, Tang San has never once doubted the depth of Xie Yun’s feelings or dedication. His past doesn’t matter. “I’m really happy,” he says, his voice cracking.

The hard set of his jaw, the fire in his eyes, everything in his father’s demeanor melts, eyes locking onto Tang San. Xie Yun is still guarded as his father watches them, looking back and forth between the couple. The flames of the candles lick the air, bright and powerful.

“...You better not leave him,” his father grumbles, sitting back down.

“Never. I was intending to marry him from the beginning,” Xie Yun says. There’s not a single lack of conviction in his words.

Tang San startles, blushing as he squeezes Xie Yun’s arm. W-What?

His father makes a bemused sound, calm returning to his posture through every exhale. He shakes his head. “How did this even happen?”

“The Lucky Spider,” Tang San says, relaxing slightly.

His father raises his eyebrows. “You defeated one?” At Tang San’s nod, he whistles. “So you have mastered your Soul Spirits.”

Tang San pulls away a little from his Xie Yun shield, but Xie Yun holds his hand protectively still. “It was a nice surprise.” He rubs his stomach unconsciously.

“Well,” his father says. “I guess I can’t argue with that. You’ve held your own all these years, my son.”

It’s the closest his father would get to saying that he’s proud, but Tang San knows how he feels regardless. It’s enough for him, at least.

The atmosphere in the kitchen feels a little lighter now, like Tang San can breathe, and though his father continues to eye Xie Yun suspiciously, he says nothing more, and maybe, just maybe, he thinks—they’ll get along with time.

If not, he knows that Xie Yun would stop at nothing to convince his father. He knows how important he is to Tang San.

The rest of the dinner continues on with relative ease, and Tang San yawns to himself the more that he eats while his father talks about his work up with the major clans throughout the continent. Exhaustion falls over him again as he barely registers his own words, asking, “Daddy, would you pass the soup?”

His father, and then Xie Yun, both reach across the table, make eye contact, the former with a glare and the latter with wide eyes—

And freeze.

Tang San’s father closes his eyes, his hand on his forehead. “I’ll give you five seconds to start running.”

Xie Yun’s leg hits the table with a bang before he gets up, but he doesn’t let it stop him in his quest to run out the door, Tang San gaping with his hand in mid-air, face turning completely red.

Oh god. Now he’s ruined Xie Yun’s chance at a good relationship with his father.

From a distance, they hear the echo of Xie Yun’s voice saying:

“I’m a father now too!”

Later that night, after Tang San has reminded his father that he will be a grandfather and has to set a good example (to which his father mutters that he can start after the baby is born), and after Tang San has collected a fearful Xie Yun from the forest, the couple lies in Tang San’s small childhood bed, facing each other as they cuddle in their inner robes.

“You’re ridiculous,” Tang San mumbles, but his eyes are warm, gentle when they look at Xie Yun. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Which part?” Xie Yun asks, brushing Tang San’s hair away from his face. “The daddy kink?”

“No—” Tang San starts, but he’s so taken aback that he giggles, burying his face in Xie Yun’s neck.

Xie Yun runs his hand through Tang San’s hair. “Then what?”

Tang San looks up at him. “When you said you wanted to marry me.” His heart has been spinning on a loop ever since this declaration.

“Oh, that?” Xie Yun asks casually. He manages to look embarrassed despite everything. “I—o-only if you agree, of course—I shan’t force my beauty to do anyth—”

Tang San kisses him, silencing him as he cups his cheek. It’s a tender kiss, not too firm but nothing like a peck either, and Xie Yun breathes in like a man without air, pulling just a hair away and kissing, kissing, kissing.

“Is that answer enough?” Tang San asks, licking his lips.

“More than enough,” Xie Yun says, diving back in.

Tang San had never given much thought to love until he met Xie Yun. It was confusing at first, strange feelings blooming in his chest and embarrassing misunderstandings, but Xie Yun had been sincere—is sincere, and Tang San felt safe in his arms, smiling whenever he was around. Now, Tang San knows his heart, warm while Xie Yun kisses him.

Tang San lets out a sharp gasp when Xie Yun bites his lower lip. “Shhh,” Xie Yun murmurs, tracing his lip with an index finger. “Don’t want to wake your dad.”

“He’s across the house,” Tang San insists, pressing closer to taste Xie Yun’s mouth again. “He won’t be able to hear.”

“And I thought I was the daring one,” Xie Yun says between kisses.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about… laogong,” Tang San croons, smiling innocently.

Xie Yun’s groan is muffled in his next kiss, hand sliding down to caress Tang San’s baby bump, one hand so large that it covers the whole bump. Tang San doesn’t know what’s come over him, but the combination of everything—his hormones, the thought of marrying Xie Yun, and maybe his future husband being in his childhood bed—is driving him a little crazy. He reaches underneath Xie Yun’s underwear to stroke his half-hard length, and Xie Yun lets out a strangled noise, grabbing his wrist.

“Turn around,” Xie Yun manages to say, pulling off Tang San’s inner robe as he faces the other side of the room, and he gathers him close, against his bare chest, barely covered by his own clothing. “Can you stay quiet while I fuck you?”

Tang San reaches for the oil he left earlier on the table, passing it to Xie Yun. “Haven’t we mastered this? All this time with the others in small inns?”

Xie Yun chuckles, sending a shiver down Tang San’s back. He coats two of his fingers in oil and nudges them against Tang San’s entrance. “You’re louder than you think you are, my beauty.”

There’s a protest on Tang San’s lips at those words, but it turns into a needy whine. Xie Yun leans over him to take his mouth again, pushing his fingers deeper and stretching them without much resistance. Tang San feels more loose and sensitive at this point in his pregnancy, setting all of his skin on fire whenever Xie Yun touches him. That being said, they haven’t done too much in the past several weeks, usually too preoccupied with something else.

Maybe it’s been too long since their last time really indulging in each other—and that’s why Tang San wants this, right now.

The oil is left forgotten on the table when Xie Yun discovers he doesn’t really need any more, and he slides inside easily, Tang San inhaling deeply as he feels the entire length.

“Ready?” Xie Yun whispers, rubbing Tang San’s stomach again.

Tang San nods, covering his mouth when Xie Yun begins to pull out, moving slowly while his fingers crawl up his torso to play with his nipples. Every flick and pinch of them sends a new spark of electricity up his spine, spreading to every corner of his body. A familiar tingle lingers on his back as Xie Yun fucks him, and in the haze of his mind, Tang San thinks it’s because of the pace, lasting long enough that he can feel every inch of Xie Yun’s length.

“Pregnancy makes you even more gorgeous, A-San,” Xie Yun says, burying his nose in Tang San’s hair. “You’re glowing.”

Tang San forces back a moan, flushed and gathering sweat on his neck. Xie Yun’s praise feels even more devastating in this moment.

“And whenever I do this—” Xie Yun continues, pinching his nipple harshly and making Tang San squeak high-pitched, unable to hide it, “—you have the cutest reactions.”

“S-Stop,” Tang San gasps through his own fingers, but he loves the way Xie Yun’s arousal throbs inside of him.

“What, you’re ready to stop?” Xie Yun teases, fingers crawling up further to stroke the hands covering his mouth.

Tang San shakes his head vigorously, forcing back his moans. “N-No,” he almost blurts, voice shaky. “Go faster.”

Xie Yun laughs quietly. “So much for being quiet.”

He guides Tang San to his knees, protectively supporting his stomach as he leans over him again, this time with Tang San’s head resting on a pillow, his lower body angled and lined up with Xie Yun’s as he speeds up.

Tang San tries his best to muffle his cries into the pillow, hands clenched around the edges as he’s pushed forward by the force of Xie Yun’s thrusts. Xie Yun leaves bites along his back, grinding well into him, and Tang San forces his eyes shut, drowning in bliss.

The tingle, spark on his back returns then, but Tang San has no way of processing what exactly is happening because seconds later, he comes after a thrust to his most sensitive area, and before he can even relish in the high, he hears a very sudden:

crack, crack, crack, crack.

What?? He opens his eyes, and—to his horror, he sees four long spider legs sprouting out of his back, two of which have wrapped around Xie Yun, pressing their bodies together and trapping Xie Yun’s hands around his stomach gently. Then he looks to his other side and finds four more, the other pair of the two doing the same. Then he realizes Xie Yun has stopped thrusting. Um—

“Tang San?” his father calls out. “Everything alright?”

Oh, goddamnit. “Fine!” he shouts, feeling Xie Yun shaking with laughter behind him. At least someone’s enjoying himself. “I just broke something!”

He’s grateful that his father doesn’t ask about Xie Yun for once.

The devil himself brushes his lips over Tang San’s spine. “So… Spider legs? I can’t believe it never occurred to me that I might be into this. I had no idea how badly your body wanted me, my beauty.”

Tang San covers his face, torn between letting his body relax from his climax or wishing for the ground to swallow him completely. “I think… this was another gift from the Lucky Spider.”

“Considering the only thing I can really move is my lower body, I would agree,” he says, demonstrating. Somehow, despite the mortifying situation, it still sends sparks of pleasure through Tang San. “Maybe to make sure I impregnate you.”

This is where Tang San descends into a fit of giggles. “But I’m already—!” he protests, gasping for breath. “Nevermind. We’re not telling anyone about this.”

Xie Yun bites his neck again. “Fine with me. I get to keep sexy pregnant spider Tang San all to myself.”

“Oh my god.” Tang San whacks the side of his thigh where he can reach it. “J-Just finish already.”

Xie Yun laughs again, resuming his thrusting. “But I think the hottest thing,” he whispers in his ear, “is that you’re into it too.”

When Tang San clenches around him reflexively, he doesn’t think anything he’ll say will change Xie Yun’s mind. Instead, he buries his red face in the pillow while Xie Yun climaxes, breathless.

If Xie Yun is the devil, then Tang San is married to him.

Out of all of the strange incidents that wound them up here, Tang San has to say, in the end, having a baby wasn’t the strangest thing to happen to him.

They later learn that the spider legs, yes, grow out of his back randomly when they’re having sex, but Xie Yun takes it in stride. He has no lack of compliments for his beauty, and they find ways to work with it. However, Tang San definitely thinks it gets in the way—so he tries to, well, train it… but sex isn’t the only way! Whenever he uses the Lucky Spider’s Soul Ring, he finds a way to train it.

After all, Xie Yun says, there’s no way I can impregnate you again. It should wait until after you’ve given birth. He does have a point, but his enthusiasm is… incredible.

Tang San’s father surprisingly believed that nothing was wrong, but he seemed to be more preoccupied with staring suspiciously at Xie Yun. He probably thought that Xie Yun was the cause of the noise, but he still said nothing in order to appear polite in front of his son. (He later cries at the wedding, and then denies it.)

Xie Yun and Tang San get married not too late after they’ve reunited with their larger family, the entire group in yet another uproar as they designate preparations and clear out their job schedules. This time, even Lander and Dai Mubai cry, and the couple are given so many gifts and congratulations from everyone, even acquaintances, that they decide to invest in a home, somewhere central in a major town of the continent. It’s not that they’ll start living there immediately, but instead for when they’re ready.

And finally, between all of the happiness and difficulties of a pregnancy, they welcome their child into their world on a bright spring day, bearing Xie Yun’s nose and Tang San’s eyes, and with all of the warmth of their smiles between, and Tang San cries until he’s dried out of tears, and nobody in the world could possibly remove the smile on Xie Yun’s face.

“Do you want to sing her a song?” Tang San asks, a few months later, when they’re settled for bed in another inn, their larger family just outside if they need any help. He’s holding their baby, A-Yun, in his arms, sitting across Xie Yun’s lap, leaning on his shoulder. Tang San insisted that Xie Yun choose her name, and when he chose ‘A-Yun, because she’s soft and fluffy like my beauty,’ Tang San smiled so fondly he wondered if he was glowing.

“Which one?” Xie Yun murmurs, stroking Tang San’s flank. He’s composed a few new ones recently. “The one about the runaway prince and the boy he falls in love with?”

Tang San looks up at his loving gaze, smiling softly. “Yes,” he whispers. “That one.”

A-Yun falls asleep like magic at his voice, her parents holding her close. Tang San closes his eyes too, but Xie Yun is there to watch over them.

None of this was strange at all, Tang San thinks. It was fate.