Fei Qianchi looked around. After returning and speaking with Tian Sichan, he now had his own personal peak with his own courtyard. His peak was called Mengxiang Peak, a name that he had offhandedly chose.

With all his things settled into his residence, Fei Qianchi walked around. Mengxiang Peak was settled further away from the other peaks. It was normally quiet and silent, even more so than Taohua Peak. Fei Qianchi smiled as he walked around.

Today, Baicheng was coming. More than five days have already passed. Although Fei Qianchi found that things were now a bit strange between him and Zhu Longwang, he knew that Baicheng and his relationship would remain the same nonetheless.

"Qianchi."

At this familiar voice, Fei Qianchi turned around with a smile on his lips. Although Mengxiang Peak was carefully protected by an array, he allowed certain people to enter without bothering about the barrier.

"Baicheng." Fei Qianchi smiled as he stepped towards the other man.

Baicheng was dressed in a blue robe. His hair was carefully tied up, a light smile upon his lips as his crimson eyes shone. "You finally have your own peak." Baicheng walked with Fei Qianchi as Fei Qianchi led them towards his study room.

"After talking with you, I thought about it some more." Fei Qianchi smiled as he opened the door, allowing Baicheng to enter.

Inside of the room, many books and manuals were lined on shelves. There was a tall table with chairs and a shorter small table by the books. On the shorter table, papers and brushes were set with a book near.

Baicheng looked around, smiling as he noticed the window that showed the scenery of a small pond. "This place does look beautiful. It's perfect for you."

At these words, Fei Qianchi laughed. Baicheng was like this. Some days, he could be serious and quiet, while other days, he was more relaxed and outgoing.

"I chose this peak because it is relatively quiet. Not a lot of people wander to this part of the sect, hence, I chose it. Although I was a bit worried about moving out, I believed that it was time for me to move away." Fei Qianchi lightly said, holding a small jug of wine in his hand. Baicheng didn't like to drink tea, he preferred wine instead. As he sat down on the ground, he took out two jade cups as he slowly poured wine into them.

Fei Qianchi set the jug of wine onto the table, looking at Baicheng as he walked around. The man walked with a reserved smile on his face, looking at the books and carefully taking some out to read.

At that moment, Baicheng's eyes looked towards a further corner. "Ah... you have a guqin."

Fei Qianchi glanced over. "Oh, I do. Unfortunately, I do not know how to play it. It was here before I moved in. My Master said that it was a relatively rare guqin so I kept it."

As Baicheng looked at the guqin, he suddenly spoke up, "I heard that the Lord of Suzhou also plays the guqin. I believe they said that it was his preferred weapon."

Fei Qianchi furrowed his brows. It seems like Zhu Longwang did say something about this. "I believe that he does." As he looked at Baicheng, the man walked up and strummed the strings. "Do you also play this instrument?" Fei Qianchi couldn't see the man's expression but he could feel a strong emotion coming from the man.

"I... do. Someone once taught it to me. Unfortunately, that person is now dead." Baicheng turned around and smiled as if he didn't mean anything.

With these words, Fei Qianchi was a bit startled. He remembered Baicheng said that he was betrayed in the past. That was why the man was so secretive about his life.

"This matter seems too grim." Baicheng quickly changed the subject. He smiled as he walked over and sat down, grabbing the cup of wine. "Tell me about you. What have you been doing during this time?"

Fei Qianchi could tell that the man was changing the subject and he went along with it. He smiled, dismissing the emotions in his heart, the weird feeling that something was amiss. "Of course. Where should I start?"

"From the beginning," Baicheng replied.

Fei Qianchi didn't mind as he began talking.

In the room, there were occasional voices and laughs.

Fei Qianchi looked up as he felt a presence enter. Since the array was not activated, it was a person he could trust.

"Hmm, did someone arrive?" Baicheng asked, setting down the cup onto the table.

Fei Qianchi nodded. "Will you stay or will you leave?"

Baicheng laughed, looking at Fei Qianchi, "You can't give me those eyes and think that I'll leave. Of course, I'll stay. Though I have my own personal problems, I'm sure that a man you trust is someone trustworthy."

Hearing this, Fei Qianchi was relieved. This way, he could introduce the two. Although he wouldn't disclose Baicheng's identity, he did want to introduce Zhu Longwang to Baicheng.

"Let's go. You shouldn't let that person wait for too long." Baicheng smiled as he stood up, fixing his robe while looking at Fei Qianchi.

Fei Qianchi nodded as he stood up and they walked out.

Walking closer, Zhu Longwang was dressed in a white robe. His hair was held up by a jade hairpin. Fei Qianchi had not finished making the Feng Jade hairpin yet. He just needed to add a few more details.

"Hmm, that man looks familiar." Next to Fei Qianchi, Baicheng whispered underneath his breath.

"Really?" Fei Qianchi asked, his mouth near Baicheng's ear.

Fei Qianchi glanced at Zhu Longwang. The man had a furrow upon his brows, glancing at Baicheng. His expression was a bit cold, but it was normal. Zhu Longwang was never one who opened to strangers right away.

"Longwang." Fei Qianchi greeted with a smile.

"Qianchi," Zhu Longwang finally called out. Yet, while saying this his eyes were on Baicheng.

Fei Qianchi smiled, watching as Baicheng nodded his head towards Zhu Longwang, cupping his fist.

"My name is Baicheng, a wandering cultivator. It is an honor to meet you, Immortal Zhu. Qianchi has talked about you quite a bit during this time." Baicheng softly said, a smile on his lips as he directed his eyes towards Zhu Longwang.

Fei Qianchi looked at Zhu Longwang. He could tell that the man was processing this information, his body was taunt and straight. Finally, the man returned, "It is an honor to meet you. You must be the one who saved Qianchi."

"Yes, I stumbled upon him by chance. After that, he stayed by my side for a while." Baicheng's eyes twinkled.

"Let's go talk inside."

Fei Qianchi felt a slight animosity in the air, knowing that Zhu Longwang had his guard up against Baicheng. Unfortunately, Fei Qianchi could not intercept. As Baicheng nodded and mischievously smiled at him, he smiled.

Turning back, he saw Zhu Longwang standing with a deep expression, lips drawn tight.

Fei Qianchi's brows furrowed...

-

"Hmm? What is that light?" Fei Qianchi asked as he peered at Zhu Longwang's hand. Within the man's hand, a star appeared with a flashing light.

Zhu Lngwang's lips curved, "They call it the Guardian of the Night." Zhu Longwang replied, looking up into Fei Qianchi's eyes.

Eyes widening, Fei Qianchi exclaimed, "Guardian of the Night? That seems like a hefty name." He leaned in towards Zhu Longwang.

At this, Zhu Longwang calmly explained, "Well, the Guardian of the Night was once a star in the sky before it fell down to earth. People say that it wanted to witness and help the humans find the truest form of love and so, it made a pact with the Nine Heavens and came down to earth. It doesn't have a human form, but it has a soul. That much gives it immense power."

"What is its role?" Fei Qianchi had never heard of this before. He had been alive for a long time now, but this was the first time Zhu Longwang had spoke about this.

"It only appears when it deems someone worthy of being trusted and guided. It will give you power in return for an item of your giving. It's main goal is to help you seek love and then it will be set free to find another person to guide. It also has the power to heal and purify anything that has been affected by darkness. Since it's main goal is to seek out love, it helps erase darkness." The light in Zhu Longwang's hand shimmer and moved, flourishing with a brightly under the dark sky.

"And it appeared for you?" Fei Qianchi questioned, a bit awed by what Zhu Longwang had told him.

"Well, I got lucky." Even as he said this, Fei Qianchi noticed a light smile on the man's lips.

"So have you found the person you love?" Fei Qianchi couldn't help but jokingly asked. There was a sneaky smile on his lips as he peered into Zhu Longwang's purple eyes.

The man sitting before him was silent for a while. As he turned his head towards the night sky, the light in his hand displayed, "Who knows, maybe I have and maybe I haven't?"

-

Fei Qianchi was running. Forgetting his image, he ran towards Zhu Longwang, the man who quietly sat under the tree with a manual in his hand.

"Longwang!" Fei Qianchi's voice was a bit ragged, but the look of excitement on his face was visible.

Zhu Longwang furrowed his brows, setting down his book as he asked, "I thought Baicheng took you to Fuxin Market."

Fei Qianchi couldn't get the words out of his mouth, stammering and stumbling over his tongue. But there was a bright light in his eyes. How to say it?

"I... I confessed to him, Longwang. He returned my feelings." Fei Qianchi finally calmed down as he whispered, the realization setting in.

Zhu Longwang grew quiet, hearing this. He paused for a second, eyelash fluttering as Fei Qianchi kept his eyes on the man. The man's face grew colder, but there was no visible change on his face.

"Oh... congratulations." Zhu Longwang didn't say anything more than that.

Fei Qianchi suddenly felt a hard feeling strike at him. Obviously, he got what he wanted, yet something felt wrong. All this time, Fei Qianchi worked hard to divert his attention from Zhu Longwang. He forced himself to keep away from Zhu Longwang, forcing his feelings to disappear.

When the first few years passed and Fei Qianchi found his emotions growing out of control, he suppressed it. He diverted the emotions he felt for Zhu Longwang, forcing it onto Baicheng. It was in this way that Fei Qianchi gradually let go of Zhu Longwang. Over the years, their relationship became a bit colder, but they were still close.

"Longwang, what do I do now?" Fei Qianchi asked. It felt odd, seeking this type of information from someone that he... no, they were only friends. It was normal for friends to ask these types of questions.

Zhu Longwang opened his mouth, closing in silence. Finally, he replied, "Do what your heart wants. Don't suppress your feelings. I can tell that you love him."

For some reason, Fei Qianchi's heart pulsed in pain. He didn't know why. From Zhu Longwang's mouth, these words were a bit painful to hear. But he mustered a bright smile, "I will."

"Is that all that you came here for?" Zhu Longwang asked, opening the book once more as he read through, flipping the pages.

Fei Qianchi looked at the man. He could feel that Zhu Longwang was a bit colder today. It might be due to all the recent stress he was going through.

"Yes, although, my Master wanted you to know that the Sect Leader scheduled another meeting later on today." Fei Qianchi looked to see if the man would say anything. When Zhu Longwang remained quiet, he could only bite his lips before he continued, "I still have to go back and talk to Fei Shang. Sorry for bothering you."

There was a strong feeling in him as he walked away. Their relationship was no longer the same. Fei Qianchi knew that a rift had appeared between the two of them. He couldn't break this rift, he was unable to fix it because he didn't understand. And so, as he paid more attention to Baicheng, and suppressed his feelings, he drifted even further away from Zhu Longwang. They barely met up with one another now. It was as if the two had become strangers.

Fei Qianchi suddenly sighed, as if this sigh could relieve him of his worries. He ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it backwards. He couldn't think about this too much. He still had to meet up with Fei Shang.

Biting his lips, Fei Qianchi arrived and entered into the courtyard of Shuihua Peak.

"Fei Shang?" Fei Qianchi called out. Though he could feel a presence near, he still called out to make his presence known.

"Brother," It didn't take long before Fei Shang appeared. Holding a manual in his hand, he popped out of the door. "You're here."

Fei Shang remained the same. His temperament was more mature and quiet, but he was diligent in his work. Having been an immortal for over fifty years now, his power also soared. With lips straightened, brown eyes staring at Fei Qianchi, he invited, "Come in first. Meiyao is also here."

Hearing this name, Fei Qianchi finally smiled, his heart feeling a bit lighter. Qi Meiyao was like his sister.

"Senior Brother!" Qi Meiyao peeked her head out as she smiled, looking at Fei Qianchi.

Qi Meiyao was on the verge of becoming an immortal. As she was a cultivator that majored in refining, it was a bit harder to cultivate but she was a genius in her own field. Qi Meiyao was a beauty. She was graceful and elegant, befitting of her identity.

"Junior Sister." Fei Qianchi greeted as he walked in.

Fei Shang pointed out two seats for them and they sat down.

Fei Qianchi looked at Qi Meiyao, who had a brilliant smile on her face. "You seem awfully happy today. Did something good happen?"

At this, Qi Meiyao's smile only got brighter, "Fei Shang is about to talk about it. He'll tell you." She pointed at Fei Shang.

Fei Shang soon came over, taking a seat as he poured tea into three cups. "Brother, like Meiyao said, I do have something to tell you."

"Hmm, what is it?" Fei Qianchi accepted the cup of tea as he asked. Truthfully, he had been spending a lot of time with Baicheng so he wasn't able to come to meet Fei Shang often. Not to mention, he tried to visit Zhu Longwang, but since the mood was never light, he usually left early.

"Meiyao is engaged." Fei Shang took a sip of tea, eyeing the woman who sat with a smile on her face. "The groom-to-be is Shu Dianwei."

"Shu Dianwei?" Fei Qianchi repeated, feeling that the name was familiar. Finally, it snapped. It was the man that he and Fei Shang saved before.

Thinking about this, Fei Qianchi wondered how the two had met. "How did you meet him, Meiyao?"

Being the focus of attention, Qi Meiyao flushed a bit but still replied. "I first met Dianwei a decade ago. We talked for a bit before we got to know each other. Our progress was very slow but he finally proposed an engagement to my father a few days ago." She twiddled with her fingers.

Hearing this, Fei Qianchi smiled. Truthfully, Qi Meiyao was known around Fushui Sect. She was both beautiful and strong, many wondered why she did not fancy a man. Now, she was finally in love. He understood that Shu Dianwei was not a bad match for Qi Meiyao. Since the two were in love, then it was a good thing for them to get together. After all, as cultivators, many did not seek a partner and chose to seek ascension instead.

"That is good. Actually, I have something to say too." Fei Qianchi bit the bullet. He set the cup down, looking at both Fei Shang and Qi Meiyao. "I am currently in a relationship with Baicheng."

At this, there was a silence in the room.

Fei Qianchi glanced at Fei Shang's expression. The man's brows were furrowed, albeit with confusion. Qi Meiyao was a bit stunned, her eyes widening but then she quickly said. "Senior Brother, as your Junior Sister, I forbid you from meeting that man. Who knows what he will do to my handsome Senior Brother?" But even as she said this, the remarkable smile on her face defeated her tone.

Hearing these playful words, Fei Qianchi lightly chuckled, shaking his head. He looked at Fei Shang who still remained silent.

"Fei Shang?" Fei Qianchi called out.

Fei Shang blinked a few more times before he said, "Sorry, I was just a bit shocked. Brother, are you sure that you love... him?"

Facing Fei Shang's serious brown eyes, Fei Qianchi became silent. Did he love him? A part of him said yes, but another part of him screamed no. He... felt like he loved Baicheng. He didn't know what these emotions could be explained as. Ever since he pushed Zhu Longwang away, Baicheng became his refuge.

"I," Fei Qianchi stopped before he recollected himself. "I do." Without knowing why, there was suddenly a searing pain in his heart.

Fei Shang became silent and Qi Meiyao hurriedly switched the subjects.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother. Bring him around more. He has been by your side for a while now, not to mention that he did save you." Qi Meiyao exclaimed, eyes lighting up.

Fei Qianchi turned his attention to Qi Meiyao, "Of course. Congratulations to your engagement too. Shu Dianwei is a good man, he will be perfect for you."

Qi Meiyao flushed but she still smiled. "I know, I don't intend to ever let him go."

As the subjects changed, it was as if Fei Shang's words were forgotten. But in Fei Qianchi's heart, they repeatedly struck a cord in him.

He didn't understand himself anymore.

"You love him, just admit it, Qianchi. So what if you refuse to admit your heart? Will pretending to love Baicheng and pushing Zhu Longwang away satisfy you heart?"

At this voice, Fei Qianchi couldn't say anything. He... did not love Zhu Longwang. What existed between them was simply friendship. It will never cross that. They will always be friends, only friends, no more than that.

.

.

.