HYMN OF PAST

A man of six-point-two stature stands beneath the tall cherry blossom tree, dressed in an embroidered long white hanfu that shines like a star in the sun.

He has a heart-shaped face, plentiful flat black brows, and upturned brown eyes.

Not to mentioned that long thick lashes, a turned up nose, round earlobes, and a bow shaped red lips. With pale ivory smooth skin, that almost make anyone afraid to approach and touch such a man with peerless and delicate features.

He took cover beneath the tree, staring at the flower petals that were falling from the tree.

"Autumn is coming," he mumbled.

The wind passed through him, making his black long hair tied in a ponytail sway like leaves.

He appeared relaxed and content, as if he have found his true calling and the meaning of life.

Slowly, his right hand reached for the petals that drift down from the tree, when out of nowhere a large hand touched his and entwined it with him.

Startled he quickly pull away, but when he smelled the familiar scent close behind him, he sighed in relief and made a light, soft scoffing sound with his lips that almost sounds like a sly grin.

He glance at his side and saw a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties.

This man was seven feet, one inch tall, has mesomorph, triangle body and a broad shoulder.

A square shaped face with straight high arch brows, down turned dark grey eyes, open eyelashes, and a bulbous nose.  A square ear, and an upturned light pink lip.

His outward appearance is commanding, but his heart is as soft as a muffin. The man who wore long white sleeve hanfu, who happened to be his lover, can testify such.

"I finally found you. Cian Xia." He said.

Cian Xia, also known as Elder Xia, was the third-rank elder of the Ran Sect, a prestigious cultivation sect ranked among the world’s leading powers alongside the Han Sect.

The man who had just spoken his name, Wun Lan, was the fourth-rank elder of the Han Sect, one of the most powerful first-rank cultivation sects in the world.

"You made me nervous." Wun Lan said.

"I looked everywhere for you, but I couldn't find you. I was under the impression you went into seclusion without consulting me again. "

Cian Xia released their entwined hands and gently patted Wun Lan’s head without turning around.

“How could I?” he murmured.

“I don’t need to go into seclusion anymore… not when I already have you.”

Wun Lan chuckled and burrowed his face happily into his lover’s shoulder.

For a moment, he considered what to say, before speaking words that caught Cian Xia off guard.

“Let’s get married, Cian Xia.”

Cian Xia flinched, his face flushing as he processed the unexpected proposal.

“Mn,” he murmured.

Wun Lan, unsure if he had heard correctly, pressed for confirmation.

“Did you say yes or no?”

Cian Xia, still blushing, replied softly,

"Wun Lan… you know I hate to repeat myself.”

“I know, I know,” Wun Lan admitted, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“But I didn’t quite hear you.”

Cian Xia sighed and repeated his answer, his cheeks burning brighter.

“Mn.”

Overjoyed, Wun Lan can't help, but let out a triumphant shout, spinning around like a madman. Cian Xia’s blush deepened.

“Yes! Yes! He said yes!” Wun Lan cheered.

“Wun Lan, not so loud…” Cian Xia approached, embarrassed.

Hearing his shy tone, Wun Lan immediately returned to his side, wrapping his arms around Cian Xia’s waist, drawing him close and pressing soft kisses to his cheeks.

Their eyes met, brimming with warmth, admiration, and broaden love.

“Aiyo… did I make my Cian Xia feel embarrassed?” Wun Lan teased, grinning.

Cian Xia said nothing, lowering his head and biting his lower lip. Wun Lan’s grin widened in satisfaction.

Speaking soothingly, he hugged Cian Xia tightly, burying his face in his lover’s shoulder and inhaling the familiar lavender scent.

“I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have you in my life. I love you, Cian Xia.” Wun Lan whispered.

Cian Xia pressed closer, sighing softly as he buried his face in Wun Lan’s firm chest.

“I feel the same. I am fortunate to have you, and I love you too.”

Seasons passed, spiritual veins beneath the earth shifting with time, yet their love remained steady and enduring, like an ancient tree rooted against the time.

Then came the day when even that tree began to wither.

At the gates of the Nether Abyss, demonic qi roared like a storm breaking loose from the underworld.

The sky above churned crimson and black, lightning streaking across the clouds as if heaven itself refused to look upon what was happening.

“Cian Xia…”

Wun Lan’s voice was hoarse, strained from holding back the tide of demons clawing at the fractured gate.

Blood stained the corner of his lips, his spiritual energy burning from overexertion. Yet his arms were steady as he cradled Cian Xia close, with his left hand.

“Go back to them. Our people still need you.”

Before Cian Xia could respond, a sharp crack split the air.

Wun Lan summoned his spiritual chain whip, its engraved runes flaring gold against the encroaching darkness.

With the last of his strength, he lashed it forward.

The chain coiled tightly around Cian Xia’s waist and, in the next breath, hurled him beyond the gates.

The impact knocking the air from his lungs. Pain shot through his back, but he barely felt it.

“WUN LAN!”

He struggled immediately, forcing his spiritual energy to surge through his meridians, trying to shatter the glowing chains binding him.

The backlash burned against his core, but the weapon did not waver.

It recognized only one master, and it would not yield.

“No! Wun Lan, unbind me! Release me at once!”

His voice broke as his struggles continue, fingers clawing at the radiant chains biting into his waist.

Through the thinning veil of the collapsing gate, he saw Wun Lan standing alone before the abyss.

Demonic beasts surged from the darkness, their howls shaking the air. Corrupted claws tore at the narrowing fissure in space, desperate to break through. Violent demonic qi churned like a storm around him.

Yet Wun Lan did not retreat.

He stood tall at the heart of the formation, spiritual light radiating from his body as he forced the gate closed inch by inch.

Blood seeped from his lips. His meridians were clearly at their limit. Still, his expression remained gentle.

Tears of pain slipped silently down his face, and he was smiling.

“Cian-a…” His voice drifted through the collapsing rift, softer now, carried by the wind of spiritual turbulence.

“Wait for me.”

The gate trembled violently.

“I will return. I swear it on my Dao heart. I will find you… and stay by your side for the rest of our lives.”

His body began to scatter into motes of golden ash, the backlash of sealing an ancient gate alone.

Cian Xia’s breath hitched violently. It felt as if an invisible hand had reached into his chest and crushed his heart.

“No…” His voice shaking.

“No, stop—”

He forced his spiritual core to surge once again, trying to shatter the chains, but still no results.

Inside the gate, Wun Lan’s form grew faint, dissolving into light.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered, though his own tears would not stop.

“It's all right, Cian Xia..."

The gate sealed.

The last thing Cian Xia saw was his smile, and then, nothing.

The spiritual chain fell away, lifelessly from his body and he collapsed to his knees.

For a moment, he could not hear anything, and could not breathe.

The world felt distant, hollow, and unreal. Then the pain struck, raw, suffocating, and tearing through him like a blade.

“…No.”

His hands trembled against the ground.

“NO!”

His scream tore through the mountains, echoing across the heavens.

“You said you wouldn’t leave me! You said we would always be...”

His voice cracked, breaking apart with each word.

“A-Lan… come back. Please… come back… WUN LAN!!!”

But only silence answered him, and the wind carried away the last trace of ash.