It was like a light wind had caressed his lips, but that breeze was filled with warmth…
T-then, had that been big brother’s lips?
H-his senses weren’t mistaken, right?
The instant after Gu Zuo reacted, his eyes widened, his face blushed a deep red, and he felt like the top of his head was giving off smoke. It was like his entire body was about to burst into flames!
Just a moment ago, he and his big brother k-kissed…
But what were big brother’s intentions?
Gu Zuo was dumbstruck.
No matter how unconvinced he was, he also knew that, in this world, it certainly wasn’t typical for the mouths of two men to touch. If it was just to give a goodnight kiss on the forehead, that was fine. A kiss of gratitude on the cheek could also work.
However, he didn’t believe that his big brother would make such a low-level mistake.
In a flash, an enormous surging tide welled up from the bottom of his heart.
— Was it just as he imagined?
But this was truly too abrupt. He totally didn’t expect to be suddenly kissed on the lips by his big brother!
Gu Zuo endured the tremendous feelings of bashfulness and embarrassment. He raised his head to look at Gongyi Tianheng.
At this time, Tianheng’s expression was gentle and soft, and didn’t appear any different from usual. It just seemed to exude something particularly attractive. Most of all was his eyes, which were tender and focused — In his eyes, there was only the small, reflected image of Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo held his breath. He felt like he was being drawn in by something. There was no way to move his line of sight away.
He used some formidable willpower to get his mind moving, and muttered: “Big brother, this is…”
Just now, that wasn’t an illusion, right?
But why did it feel like he was dreaming…
Tianheng softly chuckled: “What Ah Zuo sees is the truth.”
Gu Zuo blanked.
Tianheng leaned over again. This time around, he stuck out the tip of his tongue, and teasingly swept it over Gu Zuo’s lips: “Ah Zuo? Don’t get distracted now.”
Gu Zuo gasped in exhilaration.
At last, Tianheng’s eyes were dyed with a hint of frustrated exasperation.
He reached out a hand, and pulled Gu Zuo flush against his chest. Shortly thereafter, he slightly opened his mouth, captured those lips, and tenderly sucked. His other hand lightly caressed and stroked the back of Gu Zuo’s head, pressing him further into Tianheng’s embrace. Soon after, the tip of his tongue gently danced over Gu Zuo’s lips and teeth, seeking entrance. It penetrated deeply, and lovingly entangled itself with its partner…
Gu Zuo was thoroughly, completely, dumbfounded.
When he confusedly watched as his family’s big brother approached, he sensed big brother’s scent surrounding him. He felt the warmth on his lips, the press against his teeth, and the coiling touch across his tongue… That kind of tender, resolute, and possessive feeling utterly consumed him.
It caused his body to stiffen, not knowing how to react. He could only passively let that sucking and invasive power engulf him from inside out.
At this moment, Gu Zuo didn’t have any thoughts.
He could only see the enlarged, handsome face of his dear big brother, and he could only feel big brother’s warm exhaled breaths. Little by little, he was covered in big brother’s scent.
It was to the point that, once he could finally take a breath, the watery lights that carried his affection rose unbidden to the surface of his eyes.
Gu Zuo suddenly gasped for air.
The side of his face stuck to his dear big brother’s wide and expansive chest. He listened to the heartbeat coming from that chest. It felt somewhat faster than normal.
His mind was a blank, white sheet.
“Big brother…”
He subconsciously called out in a low voice.
However, in the end, what did he want to say? Many thoughts emerged from the bottom of his heart, but it seemed that he didn’t know how to put them into words.
Soon after, a pair of warm hands cupped his face, and gently raised his head.
Gu Zuo looked up. The blush on his face showed no signs of fading.
Tianheng faintly smiled: “I understand Ah Zuo’s feelings.”
Gu Zuo’s face reddened even more. Ah! H-he didn’t know when big brother found out!
Tianheng’s gaze softened even more: “Does Ah Zuo understand my feelings?”
Gu Zuo’s eyes widened.
Tianheng couldn’t help chuckling, and simply nipped the tip of Gu Zuo’s nose. In a warm voice, he said: “Does Ah Zuo have anything he wants to say to me? On this day, right this moment&#k2026;”
The tone of his words was gentle. It seemed to carry an indescribable type of coaxing.
Gu Zuo took a deep breath: “I like big brother.”
As he spoke, he thought of what he had always wanted to say to his big brother. There none of those previous doubts. Instead, he pushed onward: “I love and adore big brother. It’s just like the cherished longing between a man and a woman.”
Tianheng smiled again.
From his gaze, the darkness, which had always been hidden within the depths of his eyes in the past, was now receding. Though it was hardly bright and shining, it bore a supple warmth that seemed to condense like a drop of pure water. He gently said: “I also like Ah Zuo, and I cherish Ah Zuo the same way.”
At this moment, the ecstasy of fulfilling his long-held dream flooded Gu Zuo. He couldn’t even think about anything else. The only thing that occupied his mind was the young man before his eyes.
Tianheng embraced Gu Zuo in his arms. His voice was smooth and steady, but his tone carried a type confidence that left no room for doubt: “From now on, Ah Zuo only belongs to me.”
Gu Zuo closed his eyes, and used some strength to nuzzle against Tianheng’s chest: “I belong to big brother.” Then, he wrapped his arms around Tianheng’s waist, and supplemented with a muffled voice, “But big brother also belongs to me. There can be no one else.”
Tianheng laughed, and his chest faintly shook: “There will never be anyone else.” He softly sighed and said, “Ah Zuo, rest assured. You are my one and only.”
After Gu Zuo nestled into Tianheng’s embrace for a while, his reddened face burrowed out. At this time, the two of them were already waiting at a street corner. Not far away, a low-profile car drove over. It was the driver who brought them here during the day.
They walked to the car.
Once the driver saw them, he let out a clear sigh of relief.
Tianheng opened the door, and beckoned at Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo got into the car. Looking at the perfect side-profile of his big brother sitting next to him, he suddenly felt that tonight was like a dream come true. Did he really get together with Tianheng so easily?
Tianheng reached out a hand to ruffle Gu Zuo’s hair, and pulled him over so that they were leaning against one another: “Want to take a nap?”
Actually, Gu Zuo’s physical body wasn’t particularly exhausted. However, because his state of mind had been too excited today, he was a little tired. Moreover, he was seriously lacking in any sense of reality right now. He always wanted to snuggle up with his big brother again… Hence, he dawdled for just a moment or two before following along.
In the front, the driver remained silent, and didn’t make a sound.
However, he witnessed this scene from the rearview mirror… He felt that the atmosphere between these two people seemed to have become even more peculiar. After that, he pondered about telling his employer about this once he went back.
Gu Zuo peacefully leaned against Tianheng’s shoulder, and slowly digested the fact that he and Tianheng were finally together. Because of the constant intimacy, what happened just now, as well as the many matters that he once experienced with Tianheng in the other world, quickly flashed across his mind one after another.
Gradually, from the bottom of his heart, he realized just how strange the relationship between him and big brother had become over the past few years. From making use of each other at the start, to trusting in one another, and to something that was ambiguous and unknown later on — The changes amid this transformation were silent and imperceptible.
Before he even noticed it, the closeness between the two of them was already very different from how brothers interacted with each other.
Initially, Gu Zuo was in the middle of everything, and didn’t understand clearly. He could only see his own intentions, but couldn’t see that Tianheng’s doting upon him had already crossed a certain boundary. And now, when he recalled those past actions again, he made a discovery from numerous, minor details. In fact, not only his attitude towards Tianheng, but Tianheng’s attitude towards himself hadn’t been quite right from the very beginning. Then, was there another period of time when it became even more obvious and deliberate than before?
If Gu Zuo didn’t know his family’s big brother very well, it would’ve been impossible for him to recognize this deliberate intention. Moreover, according to the timeframe, perhaps it wasn’t long after he found out that he was interested in Tianheng that Tianheng likewise started treating him differently… This shouldn’t have been an illusion.
Having calmed down, Gu Zuo’s face couldn’t help revealing a joyous, smiling expression.
As it turned out, he and his big brother had been secretly in love with each other.
Perhaps, when he was completely stuck on how he couldn’t both have his big brother’s affections and return to the modern world, his big brother was also worried about how to make him feel the same way?
Knowing that he had never been alone in these matters of the heart was truly comforting.
At this time, Gu Zuo recalled when he reunited with big brother in this world. Big brother’s mood had nearly flown into a rage.
It wasn’t that strange. If one’s cherished and trusted person had actually been thinking about leaving the entire time, anyone would be angry. And surprisingly, big brother’s anger reached the point that the punishment was…spanking him. Now that he thought about it, apart from the anger, there was also the reluctance of letting go?
Thinking about it a little deeper, it was like an indescribable sweetness was welling up.
Gu Zuo hastily waved away these clingy notions.
But later on, it did seem that big brother treated him more…intimately.
He couldn’t help but think about his own very obvious displays after they reunited. He almost couldn’t stop himself from facepalming. He truly couldn’t see the forest for the trees! If big brother really was a straight man, he probably wouldn’t have been able to find out. But since big brother wasn’t straight, he certainly would’ve recognized Gu Zuo’s thoughts after they got back together! It was no wonder that there was so much activity afterwards. At this time, he recalled all those things that had some special meaning. It really was like he was being seduced… Ah, he shouldn’t think such indecent thoughts.
Gu Zuo vaguely felt that part of the reason why big brother raised him up high, but set him down gently ought to have been because his own feelings were exposed. Also, big brother probably wasn’t ready to make things official at that time. Instead, big brother wanted to watch Gu Zuo rack his brains to romantically pursue him. There was certainly an intent to punish him among all of this, right? After seeing Gu Zuo put so much thought into it, big brother was slowly appeased, and his anger completely disappeared.
And today…
Maybe it wasn’t only Gu Zuo who considered this a “date”. Perhaps, Tianheng thought the same.
At this point, Gu Zuo couldn’t help thinking about the boring plans for the date and all those dull “games” — And yet, Tianheng kept him company, and gave them a try one after another. In that movie theater, there were quite a few times when he was in a trace, wanting to pounce and take advantage of his big brother. Moreover, the illusion that big brother would’ve certainly allowed this probably wasn’t an illusion at all. Rather, big brother had been waiting for him to “take advantage”?
In the end, he missed those opportunities for nothing. On the contrary, he made big brother disappointed.
When all was said and done, Gu Zuo wasn’t a fool. Even though he was very young in the past, and there were many things he would’ve never considered, after following Tianheng for so long, he gained a lot of experience.
Although he was deeply involved in the beginning and couldn’t see things clearly, now that he had a firm grasp of the end of this thread, everything that happened previously was straightened out.
Thus, his heart, which was held in suspense due to a lack of any realism, slowly developed a sense of security through these memories, and gradually settled down.
He and big brother were really together.
Gu Zuo’s breathing slowly evened out.
Now that he could be together with big brother, it was like they were in harmony. It would truly be perfect if they never parted again.
Immediately following this, another voice passed into his consciousness.
[Ah Zuo, I feel the same, too.]
Unexpectedly, it was Tianheng’s voice transmission.
Gu Zuo suddenly reacted. That sentence just a moment ago, did he unconsciously send it to big brother? Soon after, he abruptly realized that the faded connection between himself and Tianheng had become inseparably close. All of a sudden, it was like they were now closer than flesh and blood!
They could transmit thoughts? Had the guardian contract become even more firm and secure?
Gu Zuo startled, and suddenly sat up.
Tianheng knew what he was amazed about, and transmitted.
[Ah Zuo, calm down a little bit. We certainly can share our thoughts.]
Gu Zuo slowly relaxed.
[When I first returned to this world, not only did the system lack energy, I also had no way to sense big brother’s existence. Even when big brother approached, the connection didn’t work. We also couldn’t transmit thoughts. But now, we suddenly can… I just don’t know why.]
Tianheng pondered for a moment.
[I can sense that the contract between me and Ah Zuo has become even clearer.]
Gu Zuo nodded his head.
Indeed, it was like this. Previously, although he and big brother shared a telepathic link, and could perceive the contract’s existence, this perception wasn’t particularly strong. It was only when they came across danger that this perception would be a bit more distinct.
However, it was different now. Not only was the contract more clear and distinct, it made him feel that there was an inseparably close connection between the two of them. This kind of connection didn’t only exist at the psychic level. It seemed to reach a physical level, too.
Tianheng sent another voice transmission.
[How much about this guardian contract does Ah Zuo understand?]
A spirited light flashed across Gu Zuo’s mind. He suddenly remembered some things.
[Right, big brother. The guardian contract is divided into four stages. In the past, big brother and I reached the second stage. Now, maybe it’s because we confessed that the contract advanced a step?]
Undoubtedly, this conjecture made sense.
The third stage was called Life and Death Companions. It required that the friendship between the pharmacist and guardian deepened to such a degree that it underwent a qualitative change. Moreover, both of them needed to be willing to give their lives for the other person.
Originally, Gu Zuo and Tianheng’s contract had been stuck at the second stage for a long time. It was because Tianheng’s rationality dominated his emotions. In addition, Gu Zuo felt uneasy about Gu Qi and wanted to go back, which left a barrier in his heart.
But when the accident with the Void-Breaking Shuttle occurred, Tianheng knew perfectly well that there was a problem, but he didn’t hesitate to grab Gu Zuo’s hand. This was a type of conditioned reflex, and there wasn’t enough time to think rationally. Therefore, at that moment, Tianheng’s side had already achieved the state of “braving life and death together”. As for Gu Zuo, he was a very emotional person. His family and his loved one were equally important to him. He was also willing to risk his life for both sides, but his family and his loved one were in two different worlds. The balance in his heart kept tilting back and forth. But this was no longer an issue. The person he loved and his cherished family were in the same world, the family reunion was in sight, and the relationship with his loved one was confirmed. The barrier in his heart was gone. Naturally, everything followed its proper course.
Hence, the contract between the two officially upgraded from the second stage’s Profound Friendship to the third stage’s Life and Death Companions.
Gu Zuo thought about it, and told his dear big brother about everything.
[I wonder if the semi-illusory state of our contract is due to the system’s lack of energy? Could it be because the establishment of the contract is related to the will of the world? Or maybe, there’s a relationship between the contract’s feedback and the the concentration of ambient qi? Since this world’s ambient qi is very sparse, this world’s path of martial arts is especially weak and small, and the path of spirituality is completely nonexistent, the contract’s connection has become very faint here. But my relationship with big brother… En, after taking the next step, we were able to reach Life and Death Companions. This kind of connection is intimately close from the body to the mind. It’s only natural that it’s unaffected by the world’s limitations. Big brother, what do you think?]
Tianheng faintly nodded his head.
[Ah Zuo’s conjecture makes a lot of sense.]
Gu Zuo’s lips couldn’t help pursing into a small smile. There was a little pride, but there was even more happiness.
[It’s only a pity that we can’t go back. Although our injuries can be transferred to one another during the third stage, it seems that our strength already exceeds the need for any wound transferals in this world… It was difficult to upgrade the contract to the third stage, so it’s a bit of a waste.]
However, voice transmissions were a very good thing. After the upgrade, the maximum range of his psychic power was now the maximum distance of his telepathic connection with his guardian. Ah, this was incredibly convenient.
However, right at this time, Tianheng’s tone carried some surprise.
[Ah Zuo, why do you think that we can’t go back?]
Gu Zuo stared blankly.
[The Void-Breaking Shuttle’s energy is depleted. I also don’t have any way to refine the earth-level Void Pill…]
At this moment, he suddenly realized that he tacitly accepted that they weren’t able to return, but his big brother didn’t seem to think the same. Tianheng wasn’t resigned to this fate.
In that case, what were they supposed to do?
In a split second, Gu Zuo’s mind was thrown into disarray.
Yes. Granted that he was in harmony with big brother, Tianheng was still the same person who wanted to step foot upon the pinnacle of the path of martial arts. Big brother’s family, big brother’s master, everything that he had was in that world. It was impossible for Tianheng to willingly remain in this world and not do everything he could to go back.
But what about himself?
He also couldn’t abandon his dad and father, and leave for another world with big brother.
Of course, now that he had the Void-Breaking Shuttle, if he could go back, perhaps he could think of a way to refill the shuttle’s energy and visit his family. However, it was conceivable that the power to travel through spacetime ought to be hard to find… With his dad and father’s lifespans, how many times could he go back and forth?
A bitter, pained feeling suddenly welled up and filled Gu Zuo’s heart.
Emotions and feelings were the most important things to him, but he couldn’t let the feelings between him and his lover, with Tianheng, be his whole world. These feelings couldn’t make him drop everything else either.
Because all of his feelings were originally a part of him, if he lost this part, he wouldn’t be a complete Gu Zuo.
The car was still traveling along the road, but as Gu Zuo’s complexion paled, the atmosphere, which was clearly warm and affectionate just now, seemed to turn slightly gloomy.
— Until Tianheng raised a hand, and vigorously ruffled Gu Zuo’s hair.
Gu Zuo lifted his panicked eyes.
Tianheng was somewhat unwilling to let go, and faintly sighed.
[Ah Zuo, don’t overthink it.]
Gu Zuo’s eyes were similarly filled with lots of reluctance. Although Gu Zuo didn’t voice the notions in his heart, with Tianheng’s intelligence, how could he not know what Gu Zuo was thinking?
Shortly thereafter, Tianheng pulled him into a close embrace. His tone was very gentle and soft.
[Ah Zuo, the methods of returning aren’t necessarily limited to just these two types. Once you bring the system’s energy back to full strength, you can ask the system. Maybe it knows about other options. From what I can see, since that system is following you, perhaps it also isn’t necessarily willing to remain in this world for too long…]
Gu Zuo was silent.
He knew that this probability was very high, but he certainly wasn’t going to compromise with the system when his dad and father were still alive. That system was similar to a type of inheritance. Thus, he vaguely knew that the system wouldn’t obliterate him so easily.
[Although Ah Zuo can’t refine earth-level pills, it’s possible that the Void-Breaking Shuttle can be replenished. While the ambient qi in this place is thin, if we can attract many organizations with medicinal pills, there’s a chance that we can find useable energy sources… Ah Zuo only needs to concern himself with Uncle Gu and Uncle Zhao.]
Gu Zuo suddenly raised his head.
Tianheng faintly smiled.
[Ah Zuo has always wanted to stay in this place to accompany these two uncles. Why have you never considered…that you and I can bring the two uncles back to that world? Every man has his own ambitions. Though this world is convenient, its inhabitants have short lifespans and its lands are narrow and small. It can’t compare to the vast and boundless Central Continent. In this elder brother’s opinion, so-called science and technology aren’t as dazzling as the path of martial arts. The two uncles are rather restricted in this place, and not everything they experienced here was pleasant.
[But if they go with us to the Central Continent, they can be placed under the protection of Ten Ultimates Sect. Ah Zuo possesses many outstanding items and medicines, and I have accumulated lots of resources. How could it be possible for the two uncles to not set foot upon the path of martial arts and enjoy untold years of life with Ah Zuo?]
Gu Zuo’s breathing suddenly hastened.
Indeed, he had never thought about this problem to such an extent, but now that it was pointed out by his family’s big brother, his way of thinking immediately changed directions — Right, it could also be like this!
Renouncing the modern world really was quite a pity, but Gu Zuo believed that a family that stayed together was the most important.
Due to the threats of that obscure organization back then, father was forcibly taken away, and the business that was arduously set up had long been wiped out. In order to provide for their family and hide himself, dad couldn’t establish a medical career at all.
At the same time, both father and dad were orphans. Apart from each other, there wasn’t anyone else whom they would miss… Since it was like this, why not switch to a wider world and start over?
At this moment, Gu Zuo’s mind was turning quickly.
Actually, if he wanted to bring people back, he only needed to replenish the Void-Breaking Shuttle. The shuttle was capable of taking along him and big brother. If it was in good condition, maybe it could bring even more people. It only needed them to properly use a drop of blood to recognize an owner and be refined… As for how the Void-Breaking Shuttle was restored, even though they couldn’t think of a way right now, the system probably could.
As such, what they currently needed to do was to replenish the system’s energy so that it could wake up.
T/N: Sorry for the delay, I had some stuff IRL to handle.
Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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