Work Text:
For Mu Ziqi, the past couple of weeks had been the strangest of his entire life (that he could remember, at least). It’s not as if they were bad; on the contrary, almost everything was not just good, but wonderful, better than anything he could have imagined.
He wasn’t fond of the fact that he’d been told by a bunch of old men and a magic rock that he was destined to save the world, and he wasn’t fond of having to waste his day away training with a weapon he’d never asked for in the first place, but—-
There was Miaomiao. Miaomiao, who had only weeks ago been so out of reach, engaged to a man who could likely provide so much more for her than Ziqi ever could. In the end, though, that man, his half-brother somehow, had envied him, envied the life he led and the genuine affection Miaomiao had for him.
He thought of the afternoon in that room full of flowers, Miaomiao tight in his embrace, her tears staining his shoulders.
They were… together now, and for Ziqi, the idea almost took his breath away. He had never wanted to be anything more than a shield for his sister, never thought his life held any value beyond that. But now there was something else, someone else. And she thought that Ziqi was the best thing he could possibly be.
One day, when this was all over, he would marry Miaomiao. They would go back to her father’s home, and they’d step over the saddle together and bow to heaven and earth and one another. She would wear red, and Ziqi would make sure no expense was spared on her bridal clothing, on her phoenix crown, and on her jewelry. He had seen her in bridal finery twice before, and in neither of those cases was she marrying him. Ziqi had to admit he was sore about it. Miaomiao was always beautiful, but she looked especially beautiful then.
There was Mu Yao, his a-jie, his anchor and the only person he’d had in his heart at all until the past several months. When he’d accepted that Miaomiao knew his secret and that she wasn’t going to tell anyone, it was oddly freeing. Perhaps the pressure of keeping a secret was lessened when he could share it with someone else, and of course, the fact that she not only accepted his demon half but wasn’t afraid of it—maybe even liked it (‘You were so amazing,’ he recalled her saying, and his chest felt warm)—was life-changing for him.
But he knew that feeling of freeness could never be complete until his sister knew. He despised the way she’d found out, hated the way he’d been manipulated into it instead of being able to tell her on his own. She’d been hurt by it, hurt that he’d worked so hard to keep it from her, that everyone else knew but her. He knew she wasn’t angry at him, but angry at herself, and he couldn’t stand that.
Ziqi wished he could take her pain away. Even if she hadn’t accepted him, he would wish this no less, but he was loath to admit that Fuyi was much better at such things.
This early evening, the Four Bamboo Masters, as they’d come to be called, were sitting outside Wenxin’s home around a small campfire. The old man had gone inside to ‘take care of some things,’ and Ziqi could not have been more grateful. He was tired of him hovering around, tired of how much time he spent with Miaomiao, Mu Yao, and even Cui Cui.
Speaking of Cui Cui, he had no idea where the sprout had wandered off to. Probably, he had gone to spend time with his senile grandfather.
Miaomiao was chatting and gesturing animatedly as she roasted a sweet potato over the fire. Ziqi had just burnt his own, so distracted by watching her that he’d forgotten he was even holding it. Miaomiao had laughed and teased him, but she quickly took up the task of making a new one for him. He pressed his shoulder to her, craving her contact, her warmth. She squeezed his hand with her own free one.
Across from them, Mu Yao and Liu Fuyi sat on a log together. He was… getting used to them. Maybe it would have been harder if he didn’t have Miaomiao, or if Fuyi hadn’t proven himself a decent person (he’d kept his secret, and he’d lied to his shifu for him; this still rendered Ziqi almost speechless to recall).
Miaomiao pulled the potato out of the fire, and Ziqi reached for it. “Wait until it cools down!” she hissed, and he huffed and pouted. She placed it on a small flat rock next to the discarded stick from her own sweet potato.
Mu Yao smiled at the pair, gentle and fond. She let her hands dangle in her lap and made eye contact with them. “I’m really happy for you two,” she stated simply. “I’d been wondering when this would happen.” Ziqi froze. Obviously his sister knew that he and Miaomiao were together, but this was the first time she’d addressed it so directly.
He tried to ignore the way the heat was rising on his face and fiddled with one of the chains on his belt. Miaomiao twiddled her fingers, her cheeks puffed out slightly in a nervous pout.
She let out a quiet laugh. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know.”
The pair exhaled, and Miaomiao changed the subject by grabbing the now cooler sweet potato and handing it to Ziqi. He bit into it without hesitation and marveled at how she had managed to cook it the perfect amount. Had she paid this much attention to how he liked his food prepared?
“A’Sheng,” Mu Yao was the one to break the silence again, and he looked up at her, his mouth still full of food. “I’ve been meaning to ask… about you being a half demon.” Her voice shook, his usually reliable sister showing clear nerves.
Miaomiao placed a palm on his shoulder. He let the hand that held what little remained of his sweet potato fall between his legs, and he stared downward. “What about it?” he asked, almost a whisper.
“I should be able to tell,” Mu Yao finally continued, “when someone is a demon or… part demon. It’s one of the first things you learn as a demon catcher.”
“Mmm,” was all Ziqi said in reply.
“How do you hide it?”
Mu Yao still looked nervous, as if unsure if she should be asking about this. She was his a-jie, so of course she had the right.
But he knew she was ashamed, ashamed of the fact that he hadn’t felt safe telling her the truth. Ashamed of the fact that her hatred of demons had been part of what had instilled in him such a fear of his own self. Maybe, he thought, she didn’t feel like she should have the privilege of asking about this.
He couldn’t let her believe that. Seeing his hesitation, Miaomiao opened her mouth to speak, but she closed it when Liu Fuyi shook his head in her direction.
Ziqi sighed and finished off the last bite of his sweet potato. Then, he gestured toward the golden ribbon tied around his ponytail.
Mu Yao furrowed her brows for a moment, then her mouth dropped open in an ‘o.’. “Your headband?”
He nodded.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you without it.” She tapped her chin. “Even when I first met you…”
“I’ve had it for as long as I can remember,” Ziqi explained, and his voice was soft, hesitant, and perhaps a bit sad. Miaomiao discreetly brushed his hand.
“What happens when you take it off?”
The crackle of the fire was Mu Yao’s only answer at first, then another deep sigh from Ziqi. He shook his head, despondent. “It’s nothing you want to see.”
“Ziqi…” Miaomiao said softly. She rubbed the top of his knuckles in a soothing motion.
Mu Yao closed her eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “I do want to see it, A’Sheng. I don’t want any more secrets between us.”
He frowned, his head darting upward to stare at her. “A-jie, it’s really not important it—”
“Will it hurt you?” she asked.
“No…”
“Will it hurt someone else?”
“Of course not!” he exclaimed, his eyes wide.
“Then show me.”
He bit his lip and frowned, frustration crossing his face as he attempted to formulate a response. “It’s… scary,” he finally managed.
Miaomiao shot him a sympathetic look but remained silent. Ziqi was sure she wanted to butt in, wanted to reassure him that he wasn’t frightening, that there was nothing wrong with his demon form.
But Miaomiao was odd, so different from others who would, even if they knew he wouldn’t harm them, likely be alarmed by his demon form; with its smoky miasma and orange-red burning glow.
He loved her for it, adored her. She was unique in other ways; silly and wise, and sometimes she would say the weirdest things; about other worlds or ideas and concepts he’d never heard of, and he’d be confused, but… he’d like hearing about it. In all the strangeness of it, he found a sort of comfort. “In that world, I was an ordinary girl.”
Being ordinary didn’t sound so bad when he thought about it.
“You’ve seen him without his ribbon, right, Miaomiao?” Mu Yao turned to her and asked. Miaomiao let out a short squeak and almost leaped into the air. Ziqi hid a small smile, endeared.
“Huh? I umm—"
“That day, when you defeated a tier seven demon all on your own?” She stared at both of them. Her expression was firm, assured, as if she had no doubt of what she was accusing. From Fuyi came a quiet, amused grunt.
“A-jie is too smart,” Ziqi grumbled, and her intense expression melted into a soft smile.
“Miaomiao,” Mu Yao continued. “Is A’Sheng scary?”
Miaomiao freed herself from Ziqi’s hold and waved her hands in front of her. “Not at all!” She bit back a smile. “He’s really not scary. He’s cool. He’s so strong when he takes his ribbon off. You wouldn’t believe how quickly he took out the water demon queen that day.”
Mu Yao stifled a brief laugh, and Ziqi was reminded that long before he had, his sister had been the first one endeared by Miaomiao. He would have to make up for lost time.
“Would Miaomiao lie?” Her expression was almost mischievous, aware that she was about to gain a victory over her stubborn little brother.
Ziqi made a noise that could best be described as between a grunt and a groan and ran a hand down his face. He stood up, brushing off his lap as he did so, and took a deep breath to calm himself. Miaomiao pushed herself up off the ground next to him and stood close at his side, her eyes on him.
“Ziqi,” she whispered so only he could hear, “do you need help?”
He shook his head. “I’ve always been scared of doing this,” he began, and he glanced down to the ground, suddenly finding the grass he’d scuffed with his shoes to be very compelling. “Not just because of people’s reactions, but because I worry that… “ He averted his eyes, self-conscious, and a self-deprecating smile crossed his lips. “One day I won’t be able to turn back.”
“A’Sheng…”
“But I owe it to you to not hide any more.” Ziqi’s smile brightened just a bit, and closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he yanked out his golden ribbon.
He dropped it into Miaomiao’s palm, who held it tight as he transformed.
It was warm, heady and strange but not unwelcome. When he’d transformed in the reflection domain, it was the first time his ribbon had been removed since he was a child. It had been overwhelming, burning hot enough that he struggled for air while he transformed, and almost painful in how much power was being released, as if it was escaping from every pore, struggling to be free after so long kept inside. As much as Miaomiao had said she wasn’t frightened, he was.
But this time it felt like a release of breath after coming to the surface.
He opened his eyes; strands of silver-black hair, burnished with that reddish-orange glow, being the first thing they met. He brushed them out of his face, feeling his nails, with their unfamiliar, dark tips, against his skin.
Ziqi shuddered and raised his star-bright eyes, daring to see the reaction of his sister. “A-jie…” he said, and it sounded uncanny, as it always did in this form; almost like an echo, or like the sound of your voice on a quiet early morning outside.
Mu Yao gulped. She shook her head, working up courage, and stared at him. In her eyes shone a mix of emotion. There was an edge of fear, yes; he couldn’t deny it. And that shot a pang through his heart, lodged in like the head of an arrow. But there was something else: resolve—and love.
“A’Sheng,” she finally said, and she slowly stepped around the campfire until she was just a few feet in front of him. “It’s you?”
“Of course it is,” he replied. “Who else would it be?” He tried to keep his voice soft, muted and unassuming, so unlike himself. Maybe he shouldn’t have. His sister was a powerful demon catcher, not a frightened rabbit, but he was still so anxious, terrified even.
She jerked her head up and gave him a firm nod, filled with conviction. “Yes, of course you are.”
Next to them, Miaomiao beamed, clenching the ribbon in her hand to stop herself from squealing in delight.
Mu Yao raised her arm and pressed the palm of her hand to Ziqi’s face. He could feel the slight shake of it, and hesitantly, he placed his own hand on top to stabilize it. “Will it burn?” she asked. She looked upward at the streaks of what looked like fire that weaved their way through his hair.
He shook his head. “No. I… don’t know how it would be if someone else touched me, touched my hair or my clothes when I’m like this, but if it’s someone I don’t see as a danger, it’s…”
She moved her hand up, past the lotus huadian on his forehead and onto the crown of his head. Like before, when she found out his half-demon identity, she gave it a gentle pat.
Ziqi’s shoulders slumped, and he had to stop his knees from buckling under him as well. The relief poured out of his body, and he couldn’t help it; he cried.
He couldn’t even be bothered with being ashamed of the unnatural, burning tears he shed in this form. What did such things matter, when his sister was there, just a breath away and filled with love and pride for him? When Miaomiao was next to him, ready to fight for her life to defend him if it were necessary.
“All my life,” Mu Yao began, “I’ve been taught to fear demons. I—I’m sorry if it looked like I was afraid of you at first. It just took me a moment to get over the surprise… it’s…”
“A-jie,” Ziqi interrupted. “I understand. I know it’s not personal… I just…” He shook his head and frowned. “I just don’t want anything to change about us. Is that okay?”
She smiled and pressed her hand to his face once more. “It will change, but in a good way. I know you so much better now. I know how you’ve been hurting, I know how you’ve had to hide, and I know what’s in your heart.” She patted his cheek. “It will change for the better.”
And Ziqi smiled, and it was bright and beaming; that of a child who had kept a painful secret clutched to his chest his entire life—and was now free of it. Never once in this form, rarely at all, even, had anything close to this expression crossed his face.
“A’Sheng, thank you.” Mu Yao held out her arms, and she did something she hadn’t done since they were much younger, since they were freshly on their own, alone in a world with no guiding star.
She embraced him.
He inhaled sharply and returned her gesture, his arms wrapped around her back and his head resting atop hers. “Shouldn’t I be the one to thank you?” Mu Yao just shook her head.
They stood like that for a moment, or minutes; neither of them bothered to count. Once they had been two children, barely teenagers, adrift in the world with no anchor but each other. They weren’t that now; they had Miaomiao, and they had Fuyi.
But the memory of it would remain, and it would always be a part of them. How could there ever be a world where it ended any way but this, with them loving and supporting each other even after their deepest secrets have been revealed? No matter how frightening those secrets may be.
Miaomiao stood next to the pair, and Ziqi could sense that she was practically bubbling, about to boil over like a teapot. He imagined her shifting her feet back and forth, using all her willpower not to interrupt the siblings with her excitement.
She did not hold out much longer.
“Ziqi, Mu Yao-jiejie!” She finally exclaimed, and she wrapped her arms around Ziqi’s center as well, her chin on Ziqi’s shoulder. He let out a quiet ‘hmph’ and tipped his face toward her, resting his cheek atop her head.
Truly, he thought, this was not a bad place to be.
Until Ling Miaomiao turned her face toward Liu Fuyi and gestured for him to join them. “Come on, Liu-dage, you too.”
“Ah Miaomiao, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” he replied with a smile. “I’ll leave this to you three.”
Miaomiao pouted and let out a quiet huff. “Nonsense, we’re the Four Bamboo Masters, but right now, there are only three of us here.”
“Mi—” She placed a finger to Ziqi’s lips, silencing him before he could interrupt. He groaned. Mu Yao gave Fuyi a soft nod, and he shook his head, walking over to join the group.
Ziqi was beginning to discover, as the taller, older man wrapped his arms around him in a light hug, that being part of the Four Bamboo Masters apparently meant that you would always give in to Miaomiao’s whims. An unofficial rule, perhaps.
Well, at least he wasn’t alone in being willing to do just about anything to put a smile on her face.
He did not miss Fuyi sneakily reaching around him to take Mu Yao’s hand. Neither did Miaomiao, who bit back a smile.
Ziqi was about to squeeze out of the four-person hug, with him as the center, when he heard the pitter-patter of small footsteps, followed by a familiar voice.
“Why is Mu Sheng transformed?” Cui Cui asked, catching his breath when he joined them by the campfire. “Did you guys have to fight a demon?”
“Nothing like that.” Mu Yao smiled at him.
Miaomiao wasted no time in yanking the little bamboo sprout into their group hug, turning four into five. Cui Cui blinked, confused for a moment, but then shrugged and wrapped his arms around Ziqi’s waist.
It was so warm…
And it wasn’t unpleasant .
How could this be his life now? Perhaps the group hug was a bit much, but the meaning behind it was that there were four people who cared about him, cared enough to embrace him, cared enough to push aside any pre-existing notions they may have had, cared enough to not only accept his secret, but hold it safe in their hearts.
Ziqi was stubborn, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew he wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. He’d made sure of that for his own safety and for his sister’s safety.
Somehow that hadn’t mattered.
He shook his head and huffed, then wiggled in the grasp of his captors. The hint was taken, and all four of them released him from their hold. Mu Yao patted his shoulder one more time and smiled reassuringly.
Miaomiao tugged his sleeve. “Mu Yao-jiejie,” she said. She pivoted back and forth, taking his sleeve along with her. “Do you mind if I borrow your little brother for a while?”
Mu Yao let out a short laugh. “I think that’s up to A’Sheng.”
“Ah— uhh— let me put my ribbon back on,” Ziqi said. Miaomiao gripped the ribbon in her free hand tighter.
“Ziqi,” she replied, and her voice was quiet, shy. “Can you leave it off for a minute?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and furrowed his brow, nonplussed. “I guess…”
Miaomiao took his hand and led him away from the campfire.
He noticed, as he followed her, that the glow his hair and clothing emitted had lessened, and the miasma that surrounded his body was nearly gone. It was almost like the longer he was in this form, the more it—
Miaomiao spotted a stone bench, far out of sight of the campfire, and she pulled Ziqi down to sit next to her. He obliged, and then somewhat reluctantly, released her hand.
“Miaomiao,” he began, “what is this? I really should put my ribbon back in. It’s been several minutes, and…” She placed the ribbon in the palm of his hand, but when he reached up to pull his hair back, she rested her hand on his forearm and shook her head.
“Not yet.”
He nodded and lowered his arms.
“What were you thinking about?” she asked. “You seemed really deep in thought while we were walking over here.”
Ziqi stared upward; the sky was so bright, the stars finally making their appearance as early evening gave way to night. “I was thinking about how… the previous times I’ve transformed, I felt like the demonic power was going to overtake me, like I wasn’t in control of my thoughts. My brain would get fuzzy, but tonight I’m… oddly calm.”
“I’ve been thinking about that too,” Miaomiao said. She took his hand in her lap and rubbed circles on his palm. “It was so dramatic the first time you transformed in front of me. But by now?” She tapped her chin. “And the black smoke?”
“Miasma.”
“Mhmm. It’s almost gone.” Miaomiao nodded. “Ziqi, do you think maybe… the reason you always felt like your power was going to overtake you is because you kept it bottled up? Maybe you’re meant to transform sometimes, to release it, instead of keeping it hidden.” She gave him a sweet smile and tapped the tip of his nose. “It’s part of you. I wonder if accepting that is the key to being able to control your power.”
Ziqi’s eyes widened, but then he let out a loud sigh. “I don’t know…” He grimaced. “I don’t want to take that risk. Miaomiao, it’s safer if I just avoid it.”
“You told me once that you were worried you were becoming too strong and that someday you wouldn’t be able to control yourself.” Ziqi nodded. “How did you feel tonight?”
“Normal,” Ziqi replied, almost a whisper. “I feel clear-headed.” He twisted the gold ribbon around in his fingers. “It’s not that I don’t think you might be onto something. I just… what if you’re wrong?” And his eyes were wide and red-rimmed, because how could he not be scared? Because those he loved knew his secret and accepted him now? That didn’t change his nature.
What had his nature ever done for him but cause him pain?
It’s saved your life. It saved Miaomiao’s life.
Miaomiao let out a sound of affirmation. “Just think about it, okay? Maybe if we look around, we can even find out some more information. I’m sure there are other half-demons out there in the world, right?”
He hmphed. “If they aren’t hiding just like I was.”
Miaomiao squeezed his hand. “I also wanted to bring you over here because…” She lowered her eyes and bit her lip, and her expression, which had previously been bright and hopeful, morphed into one of sadness, of regret. “I-I remember what happened… when you transformed last… when I was frightened of you.”
Ziqi pulled his hand away and gestured widely in front of him. “It’s not your fault. I know. It was that stupid bracelet and—”
She shook her head. “I know you’re not mad at me. I know you don’t hold it against me.” She let out a short, hollow laugh. “Knowing you, you blame yourself.” He glanced askance and did not respond. “But I need to talk about it.”
“Miaomiao…”
She pressed herself to his side. “When I had that bracelet on, it wasn’t just that I didn’t have feelings for you. It wasn’t just that I had feelings for the marquis instead.” She frowned. “It was more than that. It was… like I was muted.”
“Like someone had dimmed your light,” Ziqi replied. “Miaomiao, I know. I know you weren’t entirely yourself.” He turned and cupped her cheek in his hand, rubbing his thumb across it. “I know you wouldn’t be scared of me.”
She leaned into his touch. “I wondered why the bracelet did that, but then I thought—” her lips quirked up in a smile, “that if I was still myself, maybe I’d have fallen for you again.”
Ziqi froze, and his expression became one of such tenderness that it took Miaomiao’s breath away. He always did this. Every time she did or said something sweet, the poor man looked as if he were about to cry all over again. It was sweet, but she wished he wasn’t so shocked by the mere idea of someone cherishing him.
“Miaomiao,” was all he could manage. He shuddered and brought her hand to his lips, pressing the softest, briefest kiss to it.
Ziqi did not miss the light blush that colored her cheeks in response.
There were so many things he’d never really done until he met Miaomiao. He’d never blushed like he did now; he’d never felt his stomach flip and fill with butterflies; he’d never wanted to cry just because someone said something nice to him; he’d never had someone he could act so free with; laugh with, play with, and tease.
He adored his sister, but their relationship was… not like that. There was so much built into it: guilt and secrets, duty and responsibility. None of that existed with Miaomiao.
Miaomiao was first his best friend, the one that held his greatest secret in her heart and cherished it like her own. He’d treated her so poorly at first. He knew why, knew he was, in his mind, just trying to protect himself and Mu Yao, but it didn’t stop guilt from pooling in his stomach, from sourness settling like a heavy pit in the bottom of it.
But despite his many shortcomings, despite the way he’d tried so hard to push her away, here she was. They’d moved beyond best friends and into something more, and occasionally, he had to pinch himself so he’d believe it was real.
However, his dreams were rarely sweet, and this was sweeter than anything.
“Ziqi,” Miaomiao finally broke the silence. “Can I tell you a secret?”
He could only nod.
She grinned, and he noticed the pink of her cheeks had not abated. “I think that…” She looked away for a moment, overcome with bashfulness. “You are really beautiful like this.”
Ziqi couldn’t hold the tears back this time, and he cursed himself for crying again, the second time that evening. Miaomiao didn’t hesitate to reach up and wipe his tears away, not paying any mind to their strangeness.
“You’re always handsome though…” She patted his cheek and pushed a strand of hair out of his face, placing it behind his ear.
“Not as much as you,” he replied, turning away and staring downward. Then his eyes widened. “I mean, I’m not as beautiful as you, not handsome.” He gestured wildly in front of him and groaned loudly.
Miaomiao laughed. “Can I kiss you?” she asked, and her cheeks were so bright, and he thought that really, he wouldn’t mind staring at her forever.
The newly discovered butterflies erupted in his stomach, and his mouth felt so dry, he wondered if he could even speak.
He nodded, but before she could lean in, he unspooled the gold ribbon in his hand and reached up to tie his hair back into its proper ponytail. Miaomiao let out an aggrieved sigh and pushed his arms down once more.
“You would even kiss me like this?” He froze.
She nodded, and her expression was somehow both timid and ablaze with need. “Actually… I really want to.”
Ziqi closed his eyes for a moment and then let a small smile cross his lips. He would never fully understand her, but maybe that was okay. The things he didn’t understand were some of the things he loved about her most.
He nodded and made a sound in the affirmative.
This would be their first proper kiss. He would not deny her, nor did he want to deny her.
Miaomiao placed her hand behind his neck, her fingers threading through his thick, silver-black hair, and she pulled herself upward.
Then, after only a moment’s hesitation, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his.
It was like a part of him he didn’t know had existed before came to life in that moment, and he felt as if a light had burst inside of him, so filled with warmth and longing he was.
Ziqi closed his eyes and returned the kiss as well as he could. He didn’t know anything about this; not only did he not have experience, but he hadn’t even thought about it before he met Miaomiao. He certainly had not paid attention to the way anyone else did it. He would have worried about disappointing Miaomiao, but somehow… he knew he wouldn’t. Even if he wasn’t good at it, he wouldn’t.
Miaomiao’s lips were so soft, and he could feel her smile into the kiss, which just made his heart race even faster.
He didn’t want this to ever end.
Ziqi had no desire to be the heavenly demon catcher, had no desire to be the one to save the world. But Miaomiao lived in this world, as did everyone he loved.
Miaomiao, who kissed him like a woman parched, like he was the most precious treasure on earth. Who was pulling away now and staring at him with eyes half-lidded, filled with so much affection that he had trouble believing it could ever be for him.
Wordlessly, she took the ribbon from his hands and reached behind his head, tying his hair back into the ponytail that hid his identity.
With it back on, despite being back in his normal human form, he felt no different. Maybe Miaomiao really was right about his power…
“Was that okay?” he finally asked.
Miaomiao turned back to face forward with a perky bounce. “Yes, but I think it could be better.”
His mouth dropped open, and he let out an annoyed grunt. “It was my first time. I’m—”
She grinned, and he knew that grin; she was about to do something mischievous, and if he wasn’t so far gone for her, he’d have been annoyed, but—
“I’m just saying you need practice.” She turned to face him once more, and with laughter on her lips, she pressed a short peck to his. “So I’m going to be your kissing shifu from now on.”
Ziqi hmphed and then grinned. “Shifu, how often will we have to practice?”
Miaomiao scratched her chin, feigning consideration, before replying. “Hmm, I don’t want my disciple’s skills to get rusty, so how about at least once a day?”
“And if my shifu forgets, can I remind her?”
Playfully, he returned her previous gesture, giving her a brief peck on the lips. Miaomiao laughed louder and just nodded.
“Let me show you something I’ve been working on.” She pressed herself to his side again, and this time, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
The stars had grown even brighter since he last looked, as the veil of night had descended further upon the valley. There were so many, and he could see the trail of a pastel bright galaxy weaving through them. When he looked at Miaomiao, he almost thought he could see it reflected in her eyes. “Hmm?”
“Sparks, go!” Miaomiao exclaimed, repeating the incantation he had once taught her and doing the accompanying hand gesture.
But this time it wasn’t sparks that emerged from her hands; it was her own, new, and still mysterious rainbow core power.
It burned bright as it exploded beyond her and rose into the night sky, eventually forming what resembled a vivid, glowing rainbow that spread over the valley. A rainbow in the dark of night—who could have imagined such a thing? It almost glittered with light, and Ziqi thought it looked like something out of a storybook or a painting.
“What do you think?” Miaomiao asked, clearly pleased with herself.
“Not bad,” Ziqi replied, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a playful smile.
“Not bad?” She narrowed her eyes and pouted. “I worked on this for hours today,” she whined.
Ziqi crossed his arms and turned his head slightly downward to stare at her. “This afternoon? That must have been when I was stuck being lectured and beat down by that shameless old man.” He feigned a dramatic sigh. “If only my disciple had come and asked me for help with her magic, maybe I could have gotten a reprieve.”
Miaomiao cupped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle, then snuggled even closer to Ziqi. “You’re not really mad, are you?”
He smiled, then like a cat lazily stretching, wrapped his arm back around her shoulder. “How could I be mad tonight?”
She beamed and moved her face closer to his, their noses eventually smacking together. They both laughed quietly, and nuzzled each other, nose to nose, cheek to cheek.
“It’s beautiful, I promise,” he assured her, and it was.
Elsewhere in the valley, he knew Mu Yao, Liu Fuyi, and Cuicui must have had their eyes upward to the sky as well, breathless at the beauty Miaomiao had created for all of them.
The rainbow that sparkled in the sky above, the millions of stars that twinkled, and the celestial river that snaked through them, all brought light to the ink-dark night. Ziqi had his own rainbow now, his own stars and silver river, and they shone bright in his universe. He shared this moment with them; his family, his love. It didn't matter how dark the world was, how cold and empty it seemed, because as long as they existed, it was worth protecting.