Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 57: Zopyra — IV

By the sixth day, the influence of Long ZhenHai’s and Hu Lijing’s estrus waned little by little as the amount of time they spent in fortification decreased. Still unable to return to civilization until their estrus was fully resolved, they simply chose to find amusement with each other.

Personally, Long ZhenHai’s favourite activity for amusement was kissing which ended with them fucking together all over again, much to Hu Lijing’s chagrin and his body’s dismay.

Not that he refused the dragon’s advances.

These days of vulnerability were the only time when Hu Lijing would ever let Long ZhenHai seem him unguarded, walls down and completely relaxed.

Sometimes they would spent hours on end in the warm sea water, sometimes they would spent it soaking in a nearby spring — don’t ask him, Hu Lijing had no idea where this spring came from — while Long ZhenHai would show off his treasure collection to Hu Lijing, preening with delight whenever the fox praised him.

Hu Lijing had to admit, Long ZhenHai’s collection was impressive, more than that even. And it also made sense considering the dragon’s age. For people even just a century was enough to collect one too many riches, but for a dragon like him, even three centuries were short or not enough.

By the sixth day, Hu Lijing was exhausted to his bones, body sore and aching pleasantly as he soaked in the spring water, eyes closed and head tilted back, long amber locks splayed across his back as he let out a sigh of contentment.

Too much sex aside, Long ZhenHai’s lair wasn’t half bad. They had been dual cultivating for the past few days with very few breaks in between — courtesy to their estrus — so the yang and yin that mingled together with their union filled their bodies to the brim, making Hu Lijing feel full without even consuming food.

They didn’t need to eat food anyway.

Heaving another soft sigh, Hu Lijing shifted around, back against the rocky edge of the spring as he slid down, knees bending under the water while he sank in.

Submerged in the warm water upto his nose, the fox spirit pursed his lips, a whimsical thought crossing his mind as he exhaled into the water, making bubbles rise as large ripples waves away from him.

It was childishly idle, yes, but it was fun. Especially when he was alone right now. freewebnøvel.com

Hu Lijing’s giggles stopped as he canted his head to the side, droplets of water trailing down his face as he rose up, neck craning to look around.

Where had Long ZhenHai gone? What was holding him up for him to take such a long time?

Hu Lijing blinked, fluffy tails materialising as they splashed around in the water, mirroring his confusion.

Didn’t Long ZhenHai say that he would be back soon before going away? What wasn’t he back yet?

More than half an hour had already passed since he left and Hu Lijing soaked in the hot spring.

He still wasn’t back.

Worry started to brew in the divine fox’s heart, simmering slowly as he turned around, ready to step out and go look for Long ZhenHai in case the dragon had gotten distracted by something sparkling again.

Sometimes his dragonic nature was hard for Hu Lijing to understand and for Long ZhenHai to ignore, leading him to getting side-tracked and neglecting what he was supposed to be doing in favour of collecting wealth, be it gold, gems or pearls.

How else would the cave in his lair be so full of wealth?

With a shake of his head, Hu Lijing smiled wryly and raised his leg to step out of the water, the sparse droplets of it drying as his body temperature increased, causing vapours to rise from his skin as he bent forward to pick up his inner robes.

Rolling his neck slightly, Hu Lijing stretched his body, long amber hair grazing down his back and flowing forward as he picked up the robes, throwing it on.

As the breeze blew and leaves of the trees rustled, birds twittering and trilling the singing the song of nature that Hu Lijing couldn’t hope to understand, he padded forward, hands raising to sweep a lock of hair behind his ears as he looked around, frown on his face.

Slightly, his lips opened, plush and pink as he called out to the dragon.

"ZhenHai? Long ZhenHai?" He bit back yet another sigh and strode deeper into the forest, making his way towards Long ZhenHai’s treasure hoard while hoping to find the latter there.

He walked, long legs trudging forward as he weaved through the forest, tall trees towering above him as they dwarfed his height, dim shadows loomed over him, the sparse rays of sunlight spilling past the cover of leaves like flour passing through a sieve.

Hu Lijing turned from side to side, head tilted ever so slightly as he hummed with a thoughtful frown, keen ears twitching to catch any traces of the sounds of an overzealous dragon.

He heard none.

Not until he walked deeper into the forest and finally reached his destination.

That was a gigantic cave.

Hu Lijing looked up, head leaned back as his eyes raked up and down the cave, judgement shining in those amber irises.

He then dipped his head into a bow, arm bent slightly as his over hand fussed with the sleeve of another.

Heat followed his body, embers hot on his heels as his steps charred the grass under his feet.

He was flames, he was embers, the very spirit of fire who took on a mortal form, divinity hiding itself under a human shell.

His eyes shone as he hummed to himself, pressing his body closer to the blocked entrance. Tucking his ear against it, the fox listened, lips pressed together and eyes narrowed as his palms pressed on the rock.

From inside, the sound of something clattering to the ground, numerous metals clinking together, hurried steps scampering around could be heard.

Hu Lijing’s eyes narrowed further, long lashes trembling as he listened keenly, the wide sleeves of his robes brushing against the entrance as he pressed closer.

Suspicion started budding in his otherwise calm mind, while Hu Lijing didn’t have much to suspect Long ZhenHai for, because in spite of all his genius as a spirit beast and as a cultivator, sometimes the dragon could be very... For the lack of better words—

Dim-witted.

Who could say for sure what he was up to?

Just trying to think about it gave Hu Lijing a dull headache not to mention how much of his brain power would be used in wanting to figure out the workings of a whimsical mind.

He waited, hoping that Long ZhenHai would just come out himself. So he waited, holding on to the futile hope as he stood completely still and listened.

He waited and waited and waited.

Safe to say, by the time Long ZhenHai made it out of his hoard, Hu Lijing was left trembling in annoyance.

Which is to say, hours had passed and the dragon had yet to get the fuck out of his little happy world!

Hu Lijing drew in a deep breath, in a valiant attempt to calm himself down from the edge of exploding in rage. His hands slowly curled into fists as he pulled them off the closed entrance and dropped them to his sides.

Fine. He could understand now that both of their estrus had passed, Long ZhenHai didn’t really need his company which was fair.

Even if it stung, made him feel like his heart was being squeezed by someone in a vice grip and like a heavy weight had settled in his chest, he could understand that.

But this was no way of treating a person he had slept with. Sure Long ZhenHai could prefer to stay hidden amidst his treasures and not come out after what had transpired between them, but the least he could do was inform Hu Lijing that he was going to do so!

Otherwise why would the divine fox be worried about him?!

Hu Lijing took another deep breath, lips wobbling slightly unable to help but feel a little wronged. Tears filled his eyes as he sniffled quietly.

Shit. The emotional after effects of the estrus had yet to subside it seemed, else Hu Lijing was not someone who’d let his emotions get to him so easily.

Hastily, the divine fox raised his arm, wiping his eyes dry with his sleeve as he swallowed slightly. Taking a few steps back, he looked at the closed entrance and let out a scoff before rushing forward.

A scowl contorted on his features as he huffed, sliding the gigantic rock aside with ease, and stepped in, seething in silence.

He wouldn’t reprimand Long ZhenHai. No, it was not his right to. Not after he had tried to cease the dragon’s advances by treating his gift with disregard.

He would speak to him calmly. Yes, he would. It was easy. Hu Lijing was older and had a better control over his emotions.

He could do that.

But the moment he saw Long ZhenHai, sitting carelessly between his treasures, the latter’s fingers curling around an intricate headress made of—Hu Lijing had no idea what, he snapped.

"What is so important that you didn’t return to me?" He asked, sounding more peeved than he had intended, arms crossed on his chest.

His voice startled Long ZhenHai, who flinched in response and immediately scrambled to hide away the headdress before turning to look at him, hands behind his back.

Observing his behaviour, Hu Lijing’s eyes narrowed again, slight irritation crossed his face before he huffed, voice tight.

"No need to hide, I’ve seen it already." Long ZhenHai’s face turned sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. Hu Lijing snorted, gut twisting as he walked closer to the dragon. "Who is it for anyway, Your lover?"

Wait. Did he perhaps sound jealous?!

Fuck.

Hu Lijing shook his head internally and rubbed his face, a sudden exhaustion weighing down on him.

"ZhenHai need not hide it from me. I wouldn’t judge." He paused, lips twitching. "Who are they anyway?" He couldn’t help but probe. "Do I know them?"

Long ZhenHai looked at him, confusion, surprise and then finally hurt flashing on his handsome face as he stood up, holding the headdress as he walked towards Hu Lijing.

"Jing’ge..." He began, voice hoarse but gentle as he stood in front of Hu Lijing’s, frowning. "It is you—" he raised the headdress "—this is for you..."

Hu Lijing stilled, amber eyes flickering between the beautiful headdress and Long ZhenHai, his heart skipped a beat.

"... What?"