Kiss Me in My Sleep

Story

The first time Yinghua saw Zhiyuan, he thought he was dead.

Yinghua had killed an evil cultivator in a fight and searched the dungeon. Then he saw a naked man lying very still with blood and fluid between his legs. 

When Yinghua bent down to cover him with spare clothing, he found that the man was still breathing, so he helped him to sit up.

He's still alive, Yinghua thought and fed him a pill to replenish his life energy.

The man opened his eyes and whispered, "No…"

"You're safe now. Your captor is dead." Yinghua took out a handkerchief. "What's your name?"

"Zhiyuan…" the man whispered before fainting.

Yinghua caught his head and let Zhiyuan lean against him. He frowned when he checked his pulse. The evil cultivator must have used up Zhiyuan's life energy as a cauldron. Zhiyuan wouldn't live long.

Anger and disgust at the evil cultivator filled his heart. It was against the Heavenly mandate and basic human decency to use people as cauldrons. Yinghua crushed the evil cultivator's golden core so that he couldn't revive. It was no help to Zhiyuan.

He covered Zhiyuan up with his spare clothing and carried him away from the dungeon. He had a duty to him.

---

Yinghua took Zhiyuan to a mortal doctor. The doctor shook his head and said, "I'm sorry. He's so ill that his organs are failing. I can suggest recipes for food that would benefit his health, but it's beyond my skill to treat him."

"Thank you. Please tell me about the recipes." Yinghua said.

Zhiyuan's hands were fair and smooth. He came from a good family and would have had a bright future if not for his abduction. Yinghua knew that fate could be fickle and cruel, but he still wanted to do something for Zhiyuan.

When Zhiyuan woke up, he struggled to get out of bed. "Thank you for saving me. Thank you for killing the monster."

Yinghua pushed him back to the bed and pulled up his blanket.

"It's the least that I could do. Your family must have missed you. I can bring you to them."

Zhiyuan looked into his eyes. "I'll die soon, won't I? They have already grieved for me once. It's unnecessary to break their hearts twice."

"What about you?"

"I would live through my last days as best as I could. Would you mind spreading my ashes into the riverside when I die? I want to be clean when I return to earth."

"Let me take care of you," Yinghua said. Zhiyuan was too weak to live alone without friends or families. He couldn't abandon Zhiyuan to die alone away from home.

As a cultivator, Yinghua used to travel for years. It was nothing to stay and take care of Zhiyuan.

Zhiyuan looked down and bit his lips. "If you don't see me as a burden."

—

Yinghua hired an old woman to cook the dishes the doctor recommended for Zhiyuan's health. Zhiyuan was as fragile as a willow leaf. He asked for ink brushes, plain paper fans and paint as soon as he could get out of bed.

"I want to support myself," he said as he painted flowers and birds on the fans. His flowers and birds were vivid and lively. Yinghua worried that Zhiyuan poured his heart into them.

"Don't exhaust yourself. Let me help you with selling them," Yinghua said.

He understood Zhiyuan's need for independence, but Zhiyuan was still weak. He couldn't afford to exhaust himself.

Yinghua made sure he ate and slept well. He also sent letters to his friends and elders for advice to help Zhiyuan.

To avoid unnecessary attention, Yinghua disguised himself as a mortal martial art trainer. After years of cultivation, it was strange to live among ordinary people.

Zhiyuan still needed a lot of rest, so Yinghua returned to their house with books and spent the day with him.

"The women adore your fans. They bought out everything and kept blushing and smiling."

Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. "Do you train with fellow female cultivators in your sect?"

"Yes. They often asked me for help with their sword fighting skills."

Zhiyuan stared at him and muttered something.

This confused Yinghua. "What's wrong?"

"No, everything is all right," Zhiyuan shook his head and chuckled.

It was comfortable to talk with Zhiyuan because of his wry humour and insight. They grew closer when time passed.

—

When the QingMing Festival approached, Zhiyuan became quiet and distracted.

Yinghua took him to fly a kite by the riverside. The mortals flew kites at the QingMing FestivaI to drive away bad luck. Yan knew it was only a custom, but he wished that the kite would take away Zhiyuan's bad health.

Zhiyuan's eyes brightened and his face reddened when flying the kite. When he was breathless and needed a break, he asked, "Why did you become a cultivator?"

"When I was five, there was a famine. My master saved me and brought me back to the sect. It was over three centuries ago."

"You don't look your age."

"I'm lucky. I achieved my breakthrough when I was about twenty, so I would keep my look."

The sunlight shone on Zhiyuan's half grey hair. Some people mistook Zhiyuan as his older brother, which made Yinghua sad.

Time was working against them. He hoped he could find help for Zhiyuan soon.

"I was on my way to take the Imperial exam. My teachers all said I was well prepared, and I was eager to see more of the world. Then I became a captive." Zhiyuan's voice was soft, but he pressed his nails hard into his palm.

No words were adequate, so Yinghua held his hands.

"I don't know why it happened to me," Zhiyuan continued. "I prayed to every deity I have heard of. I thought I was going to die, but you saved me."

Yinghua listened quietly, as he sensed that Zhiyuan needed to talk.

"Sometimes I wonder about what could have happened, but I'm still alive. I can fly kites with you, while the monster is now in ashes." There was a light in his eyes.

Yinghua's heart raced. At that moment, he realised that he fell in love with him.

—

"Do you want to travel with me? It's the season for water lilies and pomegranate flowers in the south." Yinghua asked.

Yinghua's friend Weiling specialised in the path of medicine and lived in the south. She hasn't responded to Yinghua's letters yet, probably because she was busy with medical experiments. She might be able to help.

"You're so kind," Zhiyuan said. "I'm only a mayfly, but you're striving to reach heaven. You don't need to stay anymore out of obligation. I can take care of myself."

Yinghua once befriended a mortal. He attended her funeral and swept her grave until her gravestone vanished with time. She used to say, "Let's drink and have fun now! How can I enjoy myself after death?"

"It doesn't matter. You're my boon companion. I want nothing more than to see the blossom with you."

Zhiyuan smiled. "Then let's go together."

---

They travelled to the south by boat. Zhiyuan spent a lot of time at the boatside looking at the river. "I don't remember it being so huge."

He sounded so young. Yinghua hoped Zhiyuan could at least recover his stolen life.

A week later, Weiling replied to his letter and agreed to help them.

—

"I'm so glad to see you, Yinghua. I have just developed a new pill and need a testing subject," Weiling said.

Zhiyuan widened his eyes and pulled Yinghua back.

"It's harmless! Trust me! The worst it does is being useless."

"My friend needs treatment. Please give him a checkup," Yinghua said.

Weiling was an expert alchemist and doctor, but too keen about experimentation.

Weiling nodded. "Sure! Let's come in."

—

After the medical examination, Weiling invited Yinghua to talk outside. "Zhiyuan was robbed of his life energy as a human cauldron. Our medicine is too strong for mortals, but mortal medication couldn't heal him."

"Is there another way?" Yinghua asked.

Weiling's expression turned more serious. "I have studied similar cases. Once, a cultivator transferred their life energy to and saved the patient. There's a huge caveat."

"Do you mean…"

"If you want to help him, you have to act as a cauldron to send your life energy during sex. You will recover with the help of my pills , but you have to be sure that you want to do it."

"Let's tell Zhiyuan." Yinghua said.

"No," Zhiyuan said.

Weiling has left them alone in the room to discuss this option. Yinghua didn't expect Zhiyuan's reaction to be so negative.

Yinghua knitted his brows. "I know it doesn't sound good, but Weiling's a trustworthy and excellent doctor. I promise you that I won't take advantage."

"It doesn't matter. I have gone through hell as a cauldron. I can't let you suffer like me. I don't want to turn into a monster like him."

"It's different. I volunteer."

Zhiyuan's knuckles became white. "Why? Why do you want to do this? I don't need you to pity me."

"I'm not doing it out of sympathy." Yinghua said. "I love you. I want to spend as much time with you as possible. More importantly, I want you to be able to pursue your dream and life."

Zhiyuan opened his mouth but no sounds came. He stared at Yinghua and asked, "Why? I'm only a mortal. Can you discuss springs and autumns with a cicada? Have you thought of the problems?"

"I'll stay by your side until the end. We may part one day, but every moment we spend together is a treasure."

"You…" Zhiyuan shuttered. "Do you really know what you're saying?"

Yinghua sat by his side and held his hands. "Please give us a chance."

"I'll regret it," Zhiyuan said. Then he kissed Yinghua.

Their teeth knocked together.

"Open your mouth," Zhiyuan said while blushing.

It took some time and accident for them to find the right position. The light touch of their tongues sent butterfly to Yinghua's stomach,

Zhiyuan was distracting, Yinghua thought. He had never found recalling cultivation instructions so hard. They touched each other clumsily, learning how to pleasure each other.

When they reached their climax, Yinghua restrained himself and followed the cultivation method. His life energy passed through to Zhiyuan, whose face had a healthier glow.

Yinghua cradled Zhiyuan in his arms afterwards. He hoped they could have met in better circumstances, but he was happy that they got together.

—

After a series of treatments, Zhiyuan's health has recovered. Weiling said he could live to his normal lifespan. They decided to travel together to see more of the world.

"Do you like the peach flower wine?" Yinghua asked as he sipped from his cup.

Zhiyuan's face reddened. "Do you want to have a taste?"

Yinghua blinked and kissed him. It was easy and smooth, but no less lovely.

He didn't know what the future would be, but he treasured everyday with Zhiyuan.