Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 59: Zopyra — VI

That fallout had happened more than six hundred years ago. Now, Hu Lijing was almost a thousand years old.

A lot of things had transpired in the years that faded away. Countless seasons changed, generations changed and in Hu Lijing’s very long lifespan, he witnessed birth of many, fall of a few and passing of one too many spirits.

Hu Lijing heaved a sigh, sitting behind his desk as he filed through the scrolls, eyebrows drawn on a furrow.

His pointed fox ears lay flat on his head in dejection as he read the content of the scroll, amber eyes flickering swiftly.

As he sat on the chair, nine fully formed tails swished around with a partially formed tenth tail symbolising his old age in spite of the youthful face.

With another heavy sigh, the divine fox spirit put the scroll down and closed his eyes, leaning against the back of the chair as he pressed his fingers on his eyelids.

His countenance was glum, long hair flowing down his chest as they pooled on his lap. His tails flicked in the air, shoulders tense.

Him and Long ZhenHai weren’t even on talking terms since that day. Hardly did they ever cross paths under normal circumstances and if they did, Long ZhenHai would covertly turn away, expressing his displeasure, without a sound and take a different path.

Since that day, the only time they were ever as close as they had been a long time ago was when they were going through estrus together.

Long ZhenHai’s touch, his body, his kisses lingered, his fingers held tighter, some days his voice was a sob, Hu Lijing’s heart ached from that.

But by the time they were done with their estrus, Long ZhenHai would go back to the usual indifferent coldness that made Hu Lijing’s heart twist with regret and agony.

Deep down, both of them knew that they loved each other. It was just the matter of Hu Lijing’s rejection and Long ZhenHai’s confession.

A box of worms neither dared to address, scared of losing the little connection they had with each other.

Hu Lijing let out a groan of frustration, pushing himself away from the table as he rubbed his face, nine tails flickering furiously as the most recent memory resurfaced in his mind.

...

They had spent their estrus together again.

This time, instead of in a male body, Hu Lijing chose to lay with Long ZhenHai in his partially female body on a whim.

The past six days had been pleasurable, heated bodies pressed against one another, moans and sounds of carnal delight filled their days and nights for that period of time.

Hu Lijing liked these six days because during these times, Long ZhenHai didn’t treat him with indifference. Because during these times his soul didn’t ache.

However, this didn’t mean that Hu Lijing was willing to accept Long ZhenHai’s pure love. He was wholly undeserving of the dragon’s love, his heart.

They were opposites. Fire and water, a

Ember and sea, waves and flickering flames, heat and cold.

They were inextricably together yet so achingly different in all the ways Hu Lijing could think of.

Long ZhenHai and him falling in love was bad enough, them laying together, entangled in fiery passion and tender embrace was worse. Their physical relationship an anomaly.

Anomalies were to be erased.

Those that opposed fate, rebelled against destiny were obliterated.

Hu Lijing didn’t want such a fate to befall them, especially Long ZhenHai.

Fire was warm, it was hot and the heat dried up the water. It eliminated everything that opposed it. Fire was cruel.

Water was cool, it was cold and wet. Moisture extinguished any flames, doused any sparks of heat or embers. It was ruthless, it would never allow something that rebelled against it to exist with itself.

Fire and water. They were never meant to be one. Their nature destructive and their purpose mutual restraint to each other. Falling in love was their first step towards mutual destruction.

Sleeping with one another, their second step towards the inevitable doom.

The least Hu Lijing could do for his love was to stop their steps before they walked deeper into this beautiful path paved to hell.

It was his ode to his beloved.

An ode Long ZhenHai would perhaps never understand. But that was okay, Hu Lijing could live with the dragon’s dislike for him.

As long as he was safe. As long as he was out of harm’s way.

Moreover, Long ZhenHai and Hu Lijing’s feelings for one another, their love was strange.

It was — to put it simply — something that was not supposed to happen, much less exist.

Hu Lijing shuddered, lying limp and exhausted on the dragon’s bed, curled up to himself as he hugged the duvet covering his body.

Pleasure buzzed in his veins, burning warmly under his skin as he closed his eyes, turned on his side and opened his eyes, amber eyes quietly gazing at Long ZhenHai’s strong, thoroughly clawed back back as the latter put on his inner robes, preparing to walk out of his own room and leave Hu Lijing to his own devices.

A little sluggish, Hu Lijing shifted under the duvet and twisted around slightly. As he continued to stare at his back wordlessly.

Once Long ZhenHai was fully clothes, his back hidden under the robe and he rose from the bed, Hu Lijing opened his mouth, voice soft but hoarse as he spoke, lethargic.

"Leaving me again?"

At his question, Long ZhenHai’s body froze, his back visibly tensing as he stepped away from the bed.

"Yes," in a reluctant and stiff voice, the dragon answered him, not even turning to look at Hu Lijing. "I wouldn’t want you to be discomforted by my presence now, would I?"

Hu Lijing could hear the slightest hint of bitterness in his otherwise cold voice.

Closing his eyes, Hu Lijing let out a chuckle, soft and defeated as he nodded despite knowing Long ZhenHai probably couldn’t see it.

"I see." He answered, voice trembling as he resisted the urge to reach out and hold the hem of his robe. "I see..." Painfully, he repeated, voice fading away as he frowned.

He turned, lying on his back as he looked up at the ceiling, eyes watering as he blinked, not wanting to see Long ZhenHai leave for the nth time.

After a long time, the fox spirit swallowed the painful lump in his throat, ears ringing from the sound of Long ZhenHai’s muffled footsteps falling towards the door.

Taking a deep breath through his mouth, Hu Lijing licked his lips, tongue swiping against the soft flesh.

"Does..." as he spoke slowly, Long ZhenHai’s feet paused, slowing down to hear Hu Lijing’s question. "Does Long ZhenHai hate me?"

Hu Lijing gulped, Long ZhenHai’s question from centuries ago echoing in his mind.

Please, Jing’ge don’t hate me.

Hu Lijing closed his eyes, hand curling into a fist on his chest.

Please ZhenHai, please don’t hate your Jing’ge.

After a long period of silence, Long ZhenHai replied.

"No... I can never hate Jing’ge. No matter what he does."

Hu Lijing swallowed a whimper.

That was enough. A stray drop of tear slipped out of his eyes.

That was more than enough.