Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Yingxing has a stalker. He’s absolutely sure of this. He’s been constantly feeling eyes watching him, at almost all hours of the day. He feels the prying gaze when he’s working in the forge, making him jumpy and paranoid and unable to focus on his work. He feels a chill down his back when he walks home, causing him to scrutinize the shadows and flinch when he hears the rustle of leaves in the wind.

He’d voiced his worries to an acquaintance in the Artisanship Commission when he first noticed the presence of a stalker, but they had told him he was being paranoid. “Maybe you’re worried about being robbed, now that you’re making all that money,” they’d said to him.

Now, Yingxing could go to the cloud knights and request guards to watch over him in the day; they would not refuse the Forge Master of the Xianzhou. But he doesn’t want a group of greenhorn knights hanging around his forge, watching him work every day; its distracting. So he decides that he can handle this stalker situation himself.

Except it has now been three weeks since he first took notice of his stalker and he’s exhausted. His sleep is interrupted by moments of abrupt waking, unable to shake the feeling that he might be killed in his sleep, and its starting to affect his work at the forge. Just today the fatigue had caused him to lose focus and he’d nearly nailed himself in the hand with his hammer while shaping the metal for a sword. So he decides, fine, tomorrow he’ll go to the Realm Keeping Commission and request a guard, no matter how irritating it might be to have a shadow, so long as it gives him some peace of mind to have someone watching his back.

He drags his feet on the way home. He doesn’t even have the energy to worry about his stalker. He’ll just go straight home and maybe nothing will happen to him. Unfortunately, it seems that things don’t ever go well for Yingxing because he’s grabbed and dragged into an alley. Is the stalker finally striking?

He fumbles for the sword at his hip and slashes at his attacker’s arm. He is released as he sees the glint of a metal blade in his opponent’s hand. He has three opponents, a small group of thugs with cheaply made steel knives.

Yingxing lunges quickly, slicing diagonally upwards and catching the one closest to him in the chest. The cut is shallow, but he follows up with a stronger downward strike, using gravity to his advantage as his sword cuts deeply into the thug’s dominant shoulder. He can feel the scrape of metal on bone as the thug falls and he pulls his sword from their body.

The other two thugs stumble back as their companion falls, clutching their wounded shoulder. “Shit, he’s better than I thought,” one of them says. Even though this is not the time for distractions, Yingxing cannot help wondering why everyone assumes he is weak. Sure, he’s on the leaner side, but he works in a forge for goodness sake. It only makes sense for him to have good upper-body strength.

He refocuses on the thugs when one of them gives a sharp whistle. Heavy footsteps sound behind him and when he glances back, there are three more men blocking the exit of the alley. This isn’t good. No matter that he has decent fighting prowess, this is one exhausted middle-aged man against five prepared thugs. Not to mention the alley is dark, and its hard to see his opponents. There’s no way he’s getting out of this fight unscathed.

Yingxing raises his sword in preparation as the thugs advance. As he gets ready to swing, he hears a very wet slice and the splatter of blood. One of the thugs collapses heavily to the ground. Standing behind the body on the floor is a tall figure, face obscured by shadow. The four remaining thugs shriek and scramble away, but the stranger strikes faster than they can get away. Yingxing is too stunned to do anything but stare as the stranger runs their blade through the thugs’ bodies one by one and four bodies fall to the ground. Their blood splashes onto his pants and shoes, warm and sticky when his pants cling to his skin.

The stranger turns to face Yingxing and he freezes. This stranger has a sharp, dangerous aura. Its too dark to see their face, but Yingxing suddenly realizes that he knows this stranger’s chilling gaze. He had thought that the thugs were the ones stalking him the past three weeks, waiting until he was too exhausted from fatigue to remain alert, but he was mistaken. This threatening aura. This vicious stare. This is the one who was watching Yingxing at all hours of the day. And now Yingxing is going to die. This murderous stranger is going to kill him now, and Yingxing cannot move.

The stranger raises their blade above their head, blood glistening on the edge. Yingxing should raise his sword to block, but his limbs are like lead. He cannot move an inch. He can only stare at the blade over his head, gleaming like an executioner’s axe. The blade swings down and Yingxing braces himself for death.

But it doesn’t come. The sword is brought down to the stranger’s side, flicking the blood off the blade. Yingxing watches, stunned, as the stranger sheathes their blade and turns away. Did…the stranger suddenly change their mind about killing him…? Or were they just trying to scare him? Either way, Yingxing has been spared from this stranger’s blade, and he isn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He keeps silent as the stranger leaves swiftly, leaving him alone in a bloodstained alley with six dead bodies at his feet.

Yingxing goes home, dazed and dead tired, and collapses into bed without washing up. His eyelids are heavy. As he is falling asleep, an absurd thought drifts into his mind. Was that stranger…saving him from the thugs?

Chapter Text

Yingxing wakes to a harsh beam of sunlight in his eyes. He throws an arm over his face and groans. Its much later than he usually wakes, though this is unsurprising given the events of last night. He sits up with a groan. He feels filthy. He’s covered in dried sweat from the forge and blood from the thugs. His pants, now stained with blood, are stiff when he stands. His bed is also covered in flakes of dried blood. He sighs and makes his way to the bathroom.

He fills the tub with hot water and peels his clothes off. While waiting for the tub to fill, he tries to rinse the blood out of his pants but its quickly seeming like these pants are unsalvageable. Making a mental note to throw them out, he steps into the bathtub and begins to wash.

Yingxing takes his time in the bathroom, carefully combing through his long hair and letting the heat from the bath draw the three-week long fatigue from his muscles. By the time he is dressed and has changed his bedsheets and starts heading towards the forge, its nearly noon. Well, its not like anyone is waiting for him. The Forge Master works at his own schedule. He doesn’t have apprentices either; he doesn’t have the patience to guide others while also working on his own projects.

It occurs to Yingxing that he should alert the cloud knights about last night’s situation. However, as he nears the alley, there is already a group of knights investigating. The alley has been cordoned off on both sides. Now, Yingxing should go over and give his account of the situation. Especially since his stalker has revealed themself to be a very murderous, very dangerous person who will likely continue to stalk him. Unfortunately, Yingxing is a very stubborn, very prideful man. He has gone three weeks without assistance in this stalking situation so far, and he shall continue to do so. And hey, he wasn’t killed last night, so maybe he’ll be fine.

Yingxing gives the knights a wide berth and heads to his forge. But when he gets there, he stops short in the doorway. Because there is someone standing in his forge. There is a beautiful young man standing by his desk, looking at his weapon sketches. The stranger straightens up and turns to face him, and Yingxing gasps. The man’s gaze pierces through him, and a familiar chill runs down his spine.

He knows this chilling aura. Yingxing’s dangerous stalker is standing in his forge, staring right at him. Although…this young man is terribly handsome. Long dark hair tipped with red. Striking crimson-gold eyes. And a very generous chest straining against the embroidered long coat he wears. Even if Yingxing is killed in this moment, at least the last thing he sees will be this young beauty. He feels a smile at the corners of his lips at that ridiculous thought.

The stranger looks Yingxing up and down, but though his gaze is sharp, the action strangely doesn’t feel judgmental. He looks like he is about to say something, but he turns away and looks back at the sketches on the desk.

“You…Who are you?” Yingxing needs to know. Because this striking young man has been watching him for the past three weeks and only stepped forward last night when Yingxing was in danger. He needs to know who this man is. Because he’s dangerous. Definitely not because he is the most beautiful man Yingxing has ever laid eyes on. Definitely not because Yingxing wants to bed him. Absolutely not.

A knock comes at his door, effectively snapping Yingxing out of his fantasies. He turns to peek out through the crack between the doors. Its Jing Yuan, standing the door in his cloud knight uniform. His guest might not want to be seen though, so Yingxing turns to address him, but the stranger has disappeared. The window in the back of the forge is open, a slight breeze blowing in. That’s probably how he got in too.

Yingxing opens the door to Jing Yuan’s beaming smile. “Yingxing-ge!” he greets cheerily. Yingxing reaches up to ruffle Jing Yuan’s fluffy hair. “Hey, Xiao-Yuan.”

Jing Yuan pouts a little. “I’m not little anymore, ge.” He’s right. Jing Yuan had gone and grown up while Yingxing wasn’t looking and now he’s as tall as him and Dan Feng. Yingxing misses when he was still a shy teenager, hiding behind Jingliu and shuffling his feet when anyone addressed him.

“Ge, be careful when you go home at night. Six men were killed in an alley last night. I’m investigating with the other knights but whoever did it is probably still out there.” Jing Yuan hesitates for a moment. “Should…Um, do you want me to walk you home tonight?” He looks a little embarrassed to be offering. Did he come here just to warn Yingxing? How sweet. Yingxing grins at the light flush on Jing Yuan’s cheeks and shakes his head.

“Don’t worry so much, Xiao-Yuan. I may be old, but I’m not weak. I’ll be alright.” He feels a little bad about hiding his involvement in the incident from Jing Yuan, but he doesn’t really want to reveal the identity of his beautiful stranger. Even if the stranger is likely a very dangerous murderer.

Jing Yuan looks reluctant to accept his refusal, but he seems to know that he can’t argue against Yingxing’s obstinacy. He nods and turns to leave with another warning to be cautious. He doesn’t often leave so abruptly, but he likely has to get back to his investigation.

He probably snuck away to come to Yingxing’s forge. Yingxing sighs a little; Jing Yuan has always been prone to moments of disobedience like this. Jingliu should really talk to him about that…

- 

Yingxing returns to his work. He has multiple commissions to work on, and he has to go pick up a piece of red jade that he is planning to use for the hilt of a dagger. And he’s been making sketches of ideas for weapons for the other members of the High Cloud Quintet which he wants to keep working on but the commissions have to come first.

All in all, Yingxing is incredibly busy for the next week. But his thoughts keep drifting back to his mysterious stranger. Sure, he’s got this deadly aura that makes the hairs on the back of Yingxing’s neck stand up. But Yingxing has such a soft spot for beautiful, dangerous things.

He keeps glancing towards the window at the back of his forge like he’s expecting the man to come climbing though at any moment.

He still feels the eyes watching him all day, but instead of making him fearful, it sends a thrilling spark down his back. It reminds him of the plot of a light novel he saw for sale at a bookshop once: a naive young man falling in love with his obsessive stalker.

Yingxing can’t help scoffing at himself at the thought. He’s a man in his forties acting like some schoolboy with a crush. He turns back to the weapon he’s sharpening, resolving to put the stranger out of his mind from now on.

Chapter Text

Yingxing swipes the back of a hand across his sweaty brow and sighs heavily. He’s been forge welding multiple pieces of steel together for a greatsword. A client had requested a large, heavy blade of steel, and it requires a lot of time to make a piece of steel large enough.

While Yingxing very much enjoys crafting, all this hammering is making his muscles burn. Not to mention the heat. He’s been at it for so long, he’s taken off his coat and shirt in an attempt to cool off a little.

He reaches to check the steel when he hears the doors open. He frowns; no one comes in unannounced like this. Jing Yuan and Dan Feng always knock and wait for him to let them in. Jingliu never visits him because she hates the heat of the forge. Baiheng, when she wants to see him, will send a cycrane with an invitation to lunch. Clients arrange meetings elsewhere, always bringing gifts of expensive wine and sweet pastries for the Forge Master.

Yingxing turns to tell his unexpected guest to leave but freezes. The beautiful stranger is standing in the doorway. His one appearance in the alley that night seemed to be a one-off situation, and Yingxing hadn’t been expecting to see him again.

The man looks a little stunned too, like maybe he hadn’t been expecting Yingxing to be here or something. Yingxing knows that can’t be the case though, since he could feel the man watching him, or the forge, all day.

Yingxing puts his hammer down and faces the man fully, waiting for him to say something. The man remains silent though, and stares at Yingxing for so long that he’s starting to feel a little self-conscious of his shirtless chest. He isn’t about to put his coat back on though.

So he crosses his arms instead. “Can I help you with something?” As nice as it is to see the man again, he isn’t about to spend all day waiting for him to speak; he's got hammering to get to.

This seems to shake the man out of his staring contest, and he comes over to Yingxing’s desk. This is when Yingxing notices a small package that the man is holding which he sets on the desk. “For you,” the man says gruffly. Wow, even his voice is irresistible.

Without another word, the man leaves as quickly as he came, leaving the doors open behind him. What is he, a delivery man? Bringing a package and immediately leaving without a word. Yingxing runs a hand through his hair. The man’s behavior is as strange as he is.

The package turns out to be a sealed bottle of an incredibly expensive wine. One of Yingxing’s favourites, but not one he indulges in often due to its exorbitant price tag. Where did he even get this, much less decide to hand it off to Yingxing?

Yingxing isn’t sure if he should drink something from a stranger, so he leaves the bottle at his desk and turns back to the forge.

Unfortunately, when night falls he gives in to temptation and unseals the bottle to pour himself a cup. It wouldn’t do to waste such good wine after all. 

The wine is sweet and strong, and slightly warm from the heat of the forge. Yingxing savours it slowly. Others may think its strange to drink spirits in the forge, but Yingxing does most of his eating and drinking here, unwilling to leave his projects for a moment longer than he has to.

He is tempted to finish the entire bottle now, but it wouldn’t do to get drunk when he still has work to do. He saves the rest of the wine for later and returns to his work.

-

This bottle of wine seems to have jumpstarted some sort of feral gift-giving instinct from Yingxing’s handsome stalker because every other day the man will walk into the forge and leave something on Yingxing’s desk.

The gifts are always of the exquisite, expensive sort too. Delicate pastries, beautiful earrings and hairpins, and fine wines. Yingxing can’t help but wonder if the man has been stealing these.

The next time the stranger comes, he hands Yingxing a package of rare Mengding tea. It suddenly occurs to Yingxing that he doesn’t know the other man’s name. He doesn’t want to keep calling him ‘The Stranger’ either. He reaches out and grips the man’s wrist as he turns to leave.

“Wait. Have a drink with me.”

The man tries to pull his arm out of Yingxing’s grip, leaning his body away from him. Unfortunately for him, years of working in the forge has given Yingxing very good grip strength. He’s not about to let go so easily.

The man does not acquiesce, but Yingxing is incredibly stubborn. He keeps a tight grip on his wrist while he prepares the tea. Its hard to make tea with only one hand but the man is still trying to pry Yingxing’s fingers off so he’ll have to make do unless he wants his kidnapped guest to run off.

When the tea is ready, he brings the pot to the table at the front of the forge. He shoves the man into one of the chairs and presses his index finger into the man’s forehead. “Don’t. Run. Away.” Somehow this makes the man stop struggling so he releases him and pours the tea into two cups, one of which he places in front of his guest.

“Alright, what’s your name?” A bit of an abrupt start, but Yingxing isn’t about to beat around the bush. The man sitting on the other side of the table doesn’t seem like the type to like small talk anyway. Perhaps he will require some coaxing. “Here, I’ll start. My name is Yingxing, though I suppose you already know that, what with you watching me all the time.”

To the man’s credit, he doesn’t flinch when Yingxing calls him out. He remains silent though, scowling down into his cup of tea.

Yingxing can’t exactly force him into introducing himself. Well, he can wait. He takes the chance to study the man. He’s definitely not ogling him. He’s definitely not looking at his dark hair, and how nicely it contrasts his pale skin. He’s not thinking about tangling his fingers in it, and maybe pulling the man’s head backward to expose his throat. He’s certainly not imagining how it might feel to kiss underneath his jawline. Would he be loud? Or is he the type to muffle any noise he makes? Would he cry if Yingxing teases him? He hopes so-

“…Ren.”

“Huh?” Yingxing is abruptly snapped out of his filthy thoughts.

“My name. Ren.” The man —Ren— is no longer glaring into his tea, but is now looking towards the hot coals of the forge.

Ren. The edge of a blade. The name suits him, with his sharp gaze and deadly aura, though it doesn’t seem to be his real name. No matter. At least Yingxing now has a name to place to the pretty face.

He asks more questions, like why Ren is following him, among other things. But he only receives silence. It seems that giving Yingxing his name is all Ren is willing to offer. Yingxing is disappointed at the lack of answers, but not surprised. Ren does seem like the stubborn, closed-off type.

-

Later, after Ren has escaped Yingxing’s interrogation, Yingxing goes home and for once does not feel a watchful gaze following him. He wonders if this means he won’t see Ren anymore. He hopes not; he thinks he likes Ren’s company, despite his silence. If nothing else, he'd like to have someone to talk to, even if they don’t reply.

And the luxury of receiving fine gifts every other day certainly doesn’t hurt.

Chapter Text

While the watchful eyes have disappeared, the gifts and visits do not stop, to Yingxing’s relief.

It has been several months now of Yingxing manhandling Ren into sharing tea and snacks with him when he comes by to deliver his regularly scheduled exquisite, definitely stolen presents. Despite this, Ren has not offered much information about himself.

Yingxing has to poke and prod and pry answers out of him. Trying to get him to reply makes Yingxing feel like he’s trying to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.

So far, all he knows is unimportant little bits of Ren’s life: he doesn’t like doing dishes, but he is apparently good at folding laundry. Yingxing thinks this sounds like a lie though because Ren is always wearing the same clothes whenever he sees him. Unless he owns multiple copies of the exact same coat.

He’s a wandering swordsman. But Yingxing questions whether he knows the meaning of the word ‘wandering’ since he always seems to be lingering around his forge.

He also likes cats, which makes Yingxing wrinkle his nose. Jing Yuan has a cat, and Yingxing swears she has something against him specifically. Clawing at his pant legs and pushing his cups over whenever Jing Yuan brings her to High Cloud Quintet meetings.

When Yingxing voices this to Ren, the other man frowns. “Mimi…the lion?”

What? “Lion? No, no Mimi is a cat.”

“Hmm…” Ren looks like he wants to say something but he ultimately remains silent. Does he know an unruly lion also named Mimi? Sounds like a nightmare.

Yingxing has also found that despite Ren’s reserved personality, he is surprisingly easy to read, especially when it comes to the food they share. When he likes a particular snack, he eats it slowly, like he’s trying to make it last longer. But when he doesn’t like something, he will scowl at it warily as if it might jump up and start biting him. It seems like most green coloured snacks (and teas) elicit this reaction. Does this guy have something against the colour green?

It seems like Ren also has something against the High Cloud Quintet. When Yingxing suggests introducing Ren to them, his face pinches and he abruptly disappears without a word. Yingxing doesn’t see him for the next three days. Yingxing worries that he’s offended him somehow, but when Ren returns he is carrying two presents instead of his usual one, as if he’s trying to make up for disappearing so suddenly.

-

Ren has been staying in the forge for longer and longer periods of time, which Yingxing appreciates because it means he has someone to talk to instead of having to keep his thoughts to himself. Even if its less talking to him and more talking at him. Ren doesn’t really contribute to the conversation, but he hums and grunts at appropriate intervals to show he’s listening.

There’s been a lull in work orders for Yingxing though, so he takes the chance to work on the weapons he’s planning to gift his friends.

A long glaive for Jing Yuan. He has the strength to wield one, and he’s been training with glaives with the other cloud knights. Yingxing thinks it would suit him, especially as he grows into it. A tall, handsome man with a large, intimidating weapon.

Dan Feng already owns a good spear, crafted specially for him by his Vidyadhara retainers, but Yingxing could absolutely do a better job than those old-fashioned fools. Something light so it doesn’t hinder his movement, and he could craft and implement an additional artifact to make it easier to channel his Cloudhymn.

For Jingliu, he wants to make an unbreakable sword. Her strength as a swordmaster makes it so that she shatters any sword she practices with, no matter how well it is made. At least she will have experience using a variety of swords so he doesn’t have to worry about the weight or length being something she is unfamiliar with. An unbreakable sword is a tall order though, even for Yingxing. Perhaps he can come up with something that can be put back together infinitely, no matter how many times it breaks.

He’ll make a longbow for Baiheng. He’ll implement a curio that can reduce the draw weight without losing arrow speed. And a set of silver arrows, carved with an inscription so they will return to her automatically. He’ll have to experiment with the inscription though, to make sure the arrows don’t end up piercing someone in the head on the way back.

Yingxing has ideas for the weapons, but they’re still in development. He sketches them out on his desk, sounding out ideas as he thinks of them. Ren sits opposite him, quietly watching him work. His silence is unsurprising, but when Yingxing glances toward him, he has an unreadable look on his face. He doesn’t seem uncomfortable though, so Yingxing lets him be.

-

Yingxing starts to notice that Ren is quite focused when Yingxing is working. He watches attentively when he hammers metal at the forge, and observes raptly when he carves designs into his blades.

Yingxing had thought he might be interested in crafting so he offered to teach him something simple, but Ren had shaken his head violently and had been gloomy for the rest of the week.

*It doesn’t seem like he isn’t interested, but his adamant refusal…*Perhaps Yingxing will observe him more closely for now.

-

Yingxing eventually manages to cajole Ren into going out to town with him. Since Yingxing spends almost all his time in the forge, they have only ever spent time together at the forge while Yingxing works. But Baiheng will return from a long expedition tomorrow, and Yingxing wants to buy a gift to welcome her back with.

Ren is incredibly skittish though, and Yingxing has to once again keep a tight grip on his wrist in case he bolts.

People give them both a wide berth, and when Yingxing glances at Ren, he can clearly see why people are avoiding them. Ren’s sharp gaze keeps darting around, glaring at everyone they come across. His intimidating presence is certainly not helping matters.

Yingxing leans towards Ren. “You have to stop glaring at everything. I’m never going to find a gift for Baiheng if the shopkeepers keep hiding away from us.”

Ren doesn’t stop his glowering, but at least he keeps his head down so he isn’t meeting anyone’s eyes anymore.

Yingxing visits every shop in the market, looking at hairpins, rare books, decorative fans, and fortune charms. He even looks at a shop selling short daggers, but he quickly dismisses these. The prices are ridiculous, especially when he can make daggers himself at a much higher quality.

They stop at a restaurant for lunch. Yingxing is familiar with Ren’s taste in teas and pastries, but nothing about what savoury foods he likes. Ren doesn’t offer any insights though, so Yingxing just orders a few dishes that he likes for them to share. He doesn’t order anything green (what the hell is this guy’s problem with the colour green?) but he has to order at least one vegetable dish.

Ren doesn’t seem to have an issue with that though, and eats some of everything without complaint. Maybe he just doesn’t like green sweets?

As they eat, Ren selects pieces of fish and meat from the dishes in front of them and places them in Yingxing’s bowl. Yingxing cannot help smiling at this endearing display of affection. Ren’s chopsticks tremble when he reaches over though. That doesn’t seem to be caused by nervousness…Is he injured under that glove? He doesn’t want Ren to shut down if he probes though, so he keeps silent for now.

They spend the rest of the day browsing the shops in Aurum Alley, but Yingxing doesn’t find anything suitable. They return to the forge, and Yingxing slumps at his desk disappointed.

“…Aren’t you a craftsman?” Yingxing looks up when Ren speaks. Ren is scowling at him. Yingxing frowns at this strange question.

“Of course I am. Haven’t you been watching me work all this time?”

“Then make something.”

Make something? Ren’s right. Yingxing could carve a charm for Baiheng himself.

Yingxing stands abruptly, startling Ren. Looking through the materials in the back of the forge, he finds a fine piece of light green jade. He leaves it on his desk and goes back to retrieve his carving tools. When he returns, Ren is glaring at the piece of raw jade. Seriously, what is his problem with green things?

Yingxing ignores Ren’s unending glowering and sits down to carve the jade. Despite Ren’s evident hatred for the piece of green jade, he still sits across Yingxing to watch him work.

Chapter Text

Yingxing works throughout the night, alternating between carving and polishing the piece of jade to perfection. He’s used to working through the night, so he doesn’t feel too tired. Ren’s eyes are drooping though, and he’s slouching a little in his seat.

Yingxing holds the finished charm up to the light from the window. It shines nicely, a flat little tablet the size of his palm with Baiheng’s name carved into it. On the back, he has carved a short prayer for protection.

Ren sits up straighter now that Yingxing is done with the jade. At least he isn’t scowling at it anymore. Yingxing holds out the tablet for Ren to see. He takes it carefully, holding it in his cupped hands like its a fragile piece of glass.

Yingxing lets him admire it while he cleans up the table and puts his tools away.

The High Cloud Quintet will be gathering in town soon, so Ren hands the tablet back to Yingxing. Maybe Yingxing could convince Ren to come with him to meet the others. He wants his friends to meet this endearing young man that keeps him company in the forge and shares sweets with him.

Yingxing doesn’t want to drag Ren there—everyone is going to think he kidnapped some random man—but he doesn’t exactly have time to slowly persuade him.

“I want to introduce you to the rest of the High Cloud Quintet. Come meet them today.”

This request seems to startle Ren into full alertness. He glares harshly at Yingxing. “I don’t want to meet them. Ever.” There is more aggression in his voice than expected.

Yingxing crosses his arms. “So long as you keep meeting me here, you cannot avoid them. I am also a member of the Quintet, and I don’t want you to be some dirty secret I’m keeping from them.”

However, Ren is unfortunately just as stubborn as Yingxing is. He’s starting to understand how frustrated his friends feel when he stubbornly refuses to put his hammer down and they have to drag him back to his house to take a break.

“Look, come meet them just this once. I won’t ask you again after this. I have few close friends, and I want you to know each other.”

Ren eventually very, very reluctantly agrees, on the condition that he would only stay long enough to introduce himself. Better than nothing, at least.

They take turns in the bathroom attached to the forge to freshen up a little after their sleepless night.

When Yingxing steps out of the bathroom, he sees that Ren has found (stolen?) a lacquered wood box for the jade charm. There’s soft padding on the inside to prevent its contents from being jostled around. Yingxing tucks the charm into the box and heads out of the forge.

Ren’s face is pinched as he follows him. As they walk down the street, Yingxing realizes he never asked Ren why he is so averse to meeting the rest of the Quintet. Its true that he doesn’t seem like a friendly person, but this doesn’t seem like simple introversion. Oh Aeons what if Ren is some sort of…wanted criminal? Is that why he’s so skittish when he’s outside? Somehow, that possibility isn’t as alarming as it should be. Its probably not true anyways.

Yingxing turns to ask Ren directly but he is immediately distracted because wow. The light of the Xianzhou Luofu’s artificial sunrise dyes Ren’s hair and eyelashes gold, giving him a heavenly glow despite his gloomy countenance.

When Ren tilts his head to face him, the gold light gives his eyes a fiery glow, making them even more breathtaking than before.

Ren squints at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Yingxing grins. “Admiring your pretty face,” he replies shamelessly.

Ren scowls and turns away, but Yingxing can see a light blush on his cheeks. Yingxing smiles winningly, patting Ren’s shoulder and urging him forward.

-

The other members of the High Cloud Quintet have already gathered at a pavilion next to a training courtyard. Jing Yuan and Baiheng wave wildly when they sees Yingxing. Out of the corner of his eye, Yingxing sees Ren slow his steps until he is walking behind Yingxing instead of next to him.

Dan Feng and Jingliu look up as Yingxing approaches. Jingliu looks towards Ren standing behind Yingxing. “Looks like the great Forge Master finally deigns to join us,” she teases. “Who is your guest?”

Yingxing puts a hand on Ren’s back and pushes him forward. “This is my new friend…” He nudges Ren to introduce himself.

“Ren,” he says curtly. Ren’s face is straight, but his jaw is clenched. He looks like he’s trying very hard not to frown. See, he’s normal. Please like him.

Jing Yuan hums. Dan Feng studies him closely. Jingliu…looks very suspicious. There’s a chill in the air. That’s not good. Yingxing shuffles his feet a little, feeling like a child being scrutinized. He awaits Jingliu’s judgement, but Ren speaks before she can say anything. “I’ve introduced myself, as agreed. I’m leaving.”

With that, he leaves so quickly it looks like he’s running away, though Yingxing supposes he may as well be doing so.

Baiheng smiles gently at Yingxing. “Xiao-Xingxing, did you bribe a stranger to be your friend?” What? That’s absurd. Though Yingxing does see how it might seem so.

“No! No, of course not. I would never do that.” He’s actually definitely done that before. Multiple times. He isn’t good at keeping friends. But not this time! “We are friends. Ren is just…shy.”

“Yingxing. How do you know that man?” Jingliu has a very stern expression on her face.

“Uh,” He’s a little thrown off by how serious she looks. He can’t exactly tell them he watched Ren kill six guys in under a minute though. That’s not going to give them a good impression of the man. “He was standing in my forge when I got there one day.”

“And you decide to make friends with the man who broke into your forge? Are you mad?!” Okay, wow. Sure, its a little strange to hang out with the guy whom you caught breaking and entering, but that’s harsh. Plus its not like Ren has done anything to him, and he has had hundreds of opportunities to do so.

Yingxing tells Jingliu such, but she sighs heavily, sounding exasperated.

“Yingxing. Listen to me. That man is dangerous. I have seen thousands of criminals in my lifetime, and that man has the aura of a killer. He may not have harmed you yet, but he would not hesitate to do so. You must stay away from him.”

Dan Feng nods as Jingliu speaks. “I may not have the same experience in such matters as Jingliu, but I do sense a sinister energy from that man. I implore you to take caution.”

Okay, so Yingxing wasn’t expecting both Jingliu and Dan Feng to be so opposed to Ren’s presence in Yingxing’s life. They’re not wrong about Ren being a killer, but that was a one-off thing. He really isn’t as bad as they’re making him out to be.

-

Yingxing spends the rest of the day with his dear friends, eating and drinking and talking. Ren is not brought up again. Baiheng tells them about her expedition. She tells them about armies of borisin they wiped out from their starskiffs and adventures to the other Xianzhou ships through the skies. Yingxing gives her the jade charm and tells her to stay safe.

Jingliu tests Jing Yuan’s skills in the courtyard. They spar a few rounds, though Jing Yuan doesn’t come close to defeating his master. Dan Feng offers some tips from the side while Yingxing and Baiheng cheer them on.

Dan Feng, tongue loosened by sweet liquor, complains about his retainers and endless duties keeping him locked in his office. Baiheng jokes about sneaking out through the window. Yingxing doesn’t think the upright and high-minded Yinyue-jun would ever do something like that, but Dan Feng looks like he’s sincerely considering it. The life of the High Elder of the Vidyadhara is not as carefree as one would believe.

-

Later, drunk on wine and laughter, Yingxing is just barely able to walk steadily. He is planning to head home, but some longing to see Ren takes him to his forge.

He is disappointed to see the forge devoid of human presence though. He collapses at his desk and stares at his sketches. He listlessly pushes his pencils around, watching them roll across the wooden surface of the desk. He thinks he hears one of them fall to the floor, but he can’t be bothered to lean down to pick it up.

His hazy mind pictures Ren’s gorgeous face. Yingxing thinks he loves him. His cat-like skittishness. His roundabout way of making sure Yingxing eats and drinks by bringing him teas and snacks. His grumpy face when faced with things he doesn’t like. His embarrassed blush when Yingxing teases him. The way he keeps Yingxing company in the forge even though he surely must be bored just sitting there.

Yingxing could endlessly list the things he likes about Ren. His stubborn demeanor, so similar to Yingxing’s own. His shaky fingers when he carefully pets the cats that lie in the sun outside the forge. The wistful way he touches Yingxing’s drawings when he thinks Yingxing isn’t looking. There’s a story somewhere there, but Yingxing will wait until Ren is ready to share.

Yingxing thinks he loves Ren. If he courts him patiently, perhaps Ren could come to love Yingxing too.

Chapter Text

Someone’s hand is on Yingxing’s shoulder, shaking him awake. Ugh, his head hurts. He squints his eyes open and sees Ren leaning over him. Oh, if only Yingxing could wake up to this view every day.

Ren straightens up and removes his hand from Yingxing’s shoulder. Yingxing immediately misses his warmth.

“You’ll ruin your back sleeping here.”

Ren is certainly right about that. His back and neck ache fiercely as he sits up. His mouth is dry and cottony too. A glance out the window reveals it to be early morning. Yingxing must have fallen asleep at his desk after his contemplation yesterday. He rolls his neck, wincing as he feels the muscles cramp and pull. His age really is catching up to him.

He stands and shuffles towards the bathroom, back twinging the whole time. He longs for a bath with hot water, but he’ll have to make do with a shower for now since there’s no tub in his forge bathroom. The muscles in his shoulders spasm when he raises his arms to wash his hair so he hurries through the motions.

Yingxing doesn’t keep spare clothes in the forge so he dresses back in his clothes from yesterday. He wrings the water out of his hair as best he can, but he has a lot of hair and there’s a lot of water. Eventually he figures he can just let the heat of the forge dry his hair naturally. Is he even going to be able to start the forge in this state?

When Yingxing steps out, he finds that Ren has cleaned up the pencils and sketches on his desk and stacked them neatly. There’s a cup of water and a bowl of congee on the table in the front. Did Ren go out to get this for him? Ren points to the chair. “Sit here.”

Yingxing sits. The water soothes his headache, and the congee is smooth and lightly salted. It tastes even better knowing that Ren got this specially for him. Ren’s hands unexpectedly come back onto Yingxing’s shoulders. Ren doesn’t often touch Yingxing voluntarily, so Yingxing savours this moment as the warmth from Ren’s hands seep through his shirt.

Ren presses his hands into Yingxing’s shoulders, slowly massaging the tension out of them. Yingxing relaxes, sighing as the ache is carefully worked out of him. Ren uses the heels of his palms rather than his fingers, like he’s kneading dough.

Yingxing is disappointed when Ren’s hands retreat, but they soon return to the base of his head. He rubs the joints of his thumbs up and down the length of the muscles in the back and sides of Yingxing’s neck. He closes his eyes in happiness. Its relaxing, and Yingxing relishes this pampering, feeling like Jing Yuan’s spoiled housecat. His eyes snap open abruptly at that thought. He doesn’t want to be compared to Mimi, that little devil.

But its so comfortable like this under Ren’s focused ministrations. Yingxing could get used to this.

-

After last night’s revelation, Yingxing decides that he is going to woo Ren. Easier said than done though. Yingxing has little experience in platonic relationships, let alone romantic relations. The number of friends he has is in the single digits, and he has had a grand total of zero romantic partners.

Well, Jing Yuan is always saying that the best way to show affection is to do this thing called ‘acts of service’. Hmm. Ren is always looking after Yingxing, reminding him to eat and rest, and listening when he goes on long weapon-related tangents, and Yingxing does want to reciprocate.

He isn’t really sure what kind of ‘act of service’ he can do though. Most of the things Ren does for him revolve around the fact that Yingxing is married to his forge and has no other hobbies. He doesn’t know what Ren does for a living. Does he even work? The only thing Yingxing knows about Ren’s day-to-day life is that he does a lot of sitting. He either sits at the table in the forge to watch Yingxing work, or he sits on the floor outside the forge and pet the stray cats that flock around him.

Never mind. Surely there are other ‘acts of service’ that Yingxing can do.

Yingxing ventures out to look for Jing Yuan. Ren predictably does not follow him out, but he doesn’t need Ren to be there this time.

He catches Jing Yuan during his lunch time at the canteen where the trainee cloud knights are eating. Jing Yuan isn’t a trainee anymore, but he likes to go back for the free food. Yingxing saunters over to where Jing Yuan is collecting his free lunch.

They find a table outside to sit and chat. Yingxing cuts to the chase. “Xiao-Yuan, what would you say counts as an ‘act of service’?”

Jing Yuan peers at him. “Ge, are you…are you courting someone?” He grins widely. Yingxing doesn’t like that look. That’s what Jing Yuan looks like when he’s about to play a horrible prank. “Wow, I can’t believe my socially inept Yingxing-ge is courting someone. They grow up so fast.”

Yingxing scowls. Jing Yuan cackles at him. “Don’t worry. With my expert advice, you’ll be a married man in no time.” Well, fine. Jing Yuan can laugh as much as he wants as long as his advice actually helps.

“If it were me, I would cook them a meal,” Jing Yuan looks like he regrets his words the moment he says them. Let it never be said that Yingxing is a good cook.

Baiheng had tried to teach him once. “It’s like crafting, just with food!” She’d claimed. In Yingxing’s opinion, cooking is nothing like crafting. For one, turning the heat up in the forge makes the metal soften faster. Turning the heat up in the kitchen only makes the food burn faster. Also, cutting vegetables is nothing like carving wood. And how was Yingxing supposed to know that leaving the ginkgo cores in the nuts would make the soup bitter?

Anyways, Yingxing is atrocious at cooking, so that’s off the table.

“How about this then? You could draw them a bath. And then when they get in, you follow them in and push them up against the wall-” Yingxing claps a hand over Jing Yuan’s mouth. What has Jingliu been teaching her unruly disciple?

-

Jing Yuan turns out to be incredibly unhelpful. But the suggestion about cooking gave Yingxing an idea. He can craft something and incorporate that into his ‘act of service’. What to make though, that’s the real question.

Maybe he can get some ideas from Dan Feng. Yinyue-jun of the Vidyadhara probably has thousands of people clamouring at the chance to woo him. Surely he has some experience in the matter.

-

Meeting with the High Elder of the Vidyadhara is an unnecessarily complicated process. The guards at the entrance to Scalegorge Waterscape first confirm his identity, then they check him for dangerous possessions. The next set of guards also confirm his identity, even though surely the Forge Master is well known throughout the Xianzhou. He gets asked for his credentials and proof of identity so many times he isn’t even sure his name is ‘Yingxing’ anymore.

When Yingxing finally steps into Dan Feng’s office, he has to take a moment to admire the architecture. This isn’t his first time here, but the beauty of the decorations always takes his breath away. Tall pillars carved with roaring dragons. Huge hanging scrolls, some painted with landscapes of serene lotus ponds and others with majestic waterfalls.

Dan Feng himself is sitting at his desk, reading through some sheets of paper. He looks up when Yingxing comes in. “Yingxing? What brings you all the way here? Did something happen?” He looks a little concerned.

“No, no. Nothing happened. I just wanted some advice.” Yingxing hurries to assuage his worries. Dan Feng, despite his stoic and aloof countenance, is actually quite a worrywart.

“You must have a lot of suitors don’t you? What do they usually do to win you over?”

Dan Feng looks a little surprised by the question. Well, it is quite the unexpected query. He gestures to a tall painted paper screen at the corner of the room. “Look behind that screen. You’ll find your answer there.” So mysterious.

Yingxing moves the screen aside and gasps. There are stacks upon stacks of exquisite lacquered boxes of various sizes. He tilts the lid of one of them open. Inside sits a delicate glass brooch. The box next to that holds a few bound books with beautiful covers. Another large box behind that one has bolts of soft, shiny silk. Are these…gifts? And Dan Feng just left them in the corner here?

“As you can see, I am sent hundreds of these daily. I simply cannot be bothered to look through them anymore. If any of those interest you, feel free to take them off my hands.” Is Dan Feng suggesting that Yingxing steals some of the presents? Absolutely not, though the offer is tempting. Yingxing closes the boxes and replaces the screen in front of them.

Dan Feng is looking at him strangely. “Are you courting someone, Yingxing?” Ugh, is Yingxing being that obvious about it?

“Do you object?”

Dan Feng shakes his head lightly. “Of course not. I am glad you have found someone of interest. So long as its not that Ren character.”

Uhh…

“I do hope you have heeded my and Jingliu’s warnings. You really mustn’t meet that man anymore.”

How is Yingxing supposed to say that he’s actually meeting him every day?

-

Yingxing eventually escapes Dan Feng’s office.

A gift might be a good idea. Ren is still occasionally giving Yingxing exquisite (definitely stolen) gifts, so it wouldn’t be strange to give him something in return. What to give him though? Given Yingxing’s suspicion that Ren is some kind of phantom thief in his free time, he probably just steals whatever he wants. There isn’t really anything Yingxing can give him that he couldn’t get by himself.

Well, Jingliu and Baiheng have a pretty good relationship. How two women of such different personalities can get along so well, Yingxing has no idea. But surely they could give him some ideas.

-

He finds Jingliu in her estate, training in her courtyard while Baiheng watches from the shade.

Honestly, he isn’t sure what he was expecting from the Luofu’s Sword Champion. That woman knows nothing other than swords and battle, Yingxing thinks as he pants, lying supine on Jingliu’s courtyard. She had demanded a spar upon seeing him and had given him a thorough beatdown.

“What was the point of that? I’m a craftsman, not a warrior. Go to Jing Yuan if you want to beat someone up.”

Jingliu scoffs at him. “I’m training you to protect yourself.” Is this how she trains Jing Yuan? How brutal.

“Protect myself from what? There are cloud knights patrolling every street. I’m not about to be mugged.”

“Do you think I am some fool? I know you’re still seeing that ‘Ren’. If you will not stop meeting him, I shall make it so that you can protect yourself should he attempt to harm you.” How does she know that?

Yingxing wipes a hand across his brow and sighs. “Ren isn’t going to hurt me. We’re friends.”

“You have horrible taste in friends.”

“You’re only insulting yourself, you know.”

Jingliu clicks her tongue and waggles her sword at him. “Get up. Your training isn’t over.”

-

Thoroughly sore everywhere, Yingxing drapes himself across Baiheng’s lap. “Baiheng-jie, your girlfriend is bullying me.” Baiheng laughs and pets his sweaty hair.

Jingliu slaps Yingxing’s leg. “Who’s your Jiejie? Stop bothering her.” She sits down cross-legged across them.

Yingxing suddenly remembers what he came here for. “Jie, how did Jingliu woo you? What made you settle for such a violent, unromantic, mediocre woman?”

He yelps suddenly when Jingliu pokes him in the back with her training sword. “Excuse me, I’m a wonderful person to be around. I treat Baiheng very well.”

Baiheng pinches his cheek lightly. “She was very sweet when we were courting. She took me to see the most beautiful sights and eat at the most wonderful restaurants.”

“She was always the first to welcome me back from my long expeditions. Ahh, we used to go on long walks on moonlit nights, and we’d drink warm wine with sweet mooncakes.”

Wow, so even the dull and harsh Jingliu can be romantic sometimes.

Yingxing says so to Jingliu who promptly kicks him in the stomach. “You! You irritating loon. How does Baiheng put up with you!”

Yingxing, in a moment of maturity, sticks his tongue out at her and turns away, curling into Baiheng. He grins when Jingliu growls in frustration. She likes to appear calm and collected as the Sword Champion, but with her friends she is hot-tempered and passionate. It’s always fun to mess with her.

-

Jingliu and Baiheng didn’t offer as much help as Yingxing was hoping for. Taking someone out to dinner would be a good idea for anyone other than Ren. With his intense unwillingness for going outside, he’s not likely to agree to that and Yingxing doesn’t want to keep dragging him around.

Baiheng…well she’s a very touchy person, and that’s how she shows affection for her friends. She’s fond of hugs, and she’s always ruffling Jing Yuan’s hair or slinging her arm around Dan Feng’s shoulders despite his protests. She also always kisses Jingliu on the cheek. Yingxing tries to imagine how that might go over with his skittish and flighty Ren. He’d freeze up and blush (which would be nice to see), but then he’d probably run away and Yingxing would never see him again. That would not be ideal.

This is disappointing. Yingxing has made no progress in his courting endeavors despite spending a full day looking for advice.

Disheartened, he returns to his forge. He doesn’t expect Ren to be waiting for him, but there he is. He has his back to Yingxing, crouching in front of the forge and poking at the hot coals. The bright red glow of the coals lights his silhouette in an orange halo. When he shifts to face Yingxing, the red tips of his hair catch the light, giving them a fiery glow. How beautiful.

Yingxing comes over to stand before Ren, who remains crouched but tilts his head up to meet Yingxing’s eyes. Some quiet, warm feeling in his chest compels him to reach out and brush the backs of his fingers down the side of Ren’s face. His cheeks are warm from the forge. When Ren doesn’t move away, Yingxing carefully strokes his hand down Ren’s hair. It’s so soft. Ren closes his eyes and leans into Yingxing’s hand. Oh. He wasn’t expecting that but…Yingxing could get used to this.

Chapter Text

Yingxing has decided what he will do for Ren. And he’s not going to do anything. By which he means that instead of doing some activity for Ren, he is instead going to make him something. Yingxing is a craftsman after all.

Getting to pet Ren’s soft, smooth hair gave Yingxing the idea to craft a comb for him. Ren probably takes great care of his hair to maintain its silky smooth texture. He’ll probably like something for his hair. Probably.

The Forge Master is most well known for his work with weapons and metals, but Yingxing is also skilled at working with stones and wood.

Yingxing goes out to find a suitable block of wood. He brings Ren along with him to get an idea of what material he’d prefer, though the man is grouching the whole way.

He goes to his usual wood supplier, a pair of sisters named Zitan and Qingtan. Their shop is hidden away behind Aurum Alley’s main street. Quite an unfortunate place for a merchant, but they’ve been getting more business these days now that its public knowledge that the Forge Master gets his materials here.

The shop is empty today with only Qingtan behind the counter. Yingxing has heard that they started doing deliveries directly to buyers for a higher price. Zitan must be out doing the day’s deliveries, leaving Qingtan to look after the shop.

Yingxing looks through the shop’s display cases of various wood blocks. He measures the weight of the blocks and examines the wood grain. He’s been here enough times that Qingtan just lets him find what he needs without bothering them.

Yingxing holds up two blocks of cherry wood and sandalwood for Ren’s consideration. “Which one do you like better?”

Ren barely glances at either. “Why are you asking me? You’re the craftsman.”

Right, he hasn’t told Ren what this is for yet. “It’s for you. I’m making you a comb.” No point keeping it secret when Ren is going to be watching him work anyway. Plus, Yingxing likes to know his clients’ preferences.

Ren shakes his head. “It’s unnecessary.”

Yingxing should have expected that response. “Just accept it. I’m making it no matter what you say.” He holds out the two blocks of wood. “So, which do you like better?”

Ren looks at both pieces of wood, but it doesn’t seem like he has much opinion on either. He shrugs. Fine, Yingxing will pick for him.

Cherry wood is hard and good for carving, but sandalwood is softer and has a soothing fragrance. Hmm, it’s hard to decide. He considers red cedar’s unique colouring and straight grain, and apple wood for its smooth surface and dense grain. He looks at the various blocks of mahogany too, but it’s such a commonly used wood that Yingxing worries it won’t feel special enough for a gift. He hums and haws for so long that Ren gets bored and walks away to do his own browsing.

Yingxing, unable to decide on just one, eventually buys all five different types of wood. He finds Ren looking at the shop’s small collection of finished wood carvings. “Did you see anything you want?”

Ren shakes his head and follows Yingxing out.

They find an outdoor restaurant to stop at for lunch. As they approach, Yingxing hears a familiar voice in the distance.

“Yingxing-ge!” Jing Yuan is in the distance, running towards them. Yingxing sees Ren freeze up in the corner of his eye. Is he going to run? Yingxing can’t even stop him, since both his hands are occupied with carrying his wood purchases.

Ren doesn’t leave though, and Jing Yuan soon catches up with them. “Nice to see you again, Ren-xiansheng.” Yingxing glances over. Ren doesn’t look old enough for Jing Yuan to be calling him xiansheng. He’s probably teasing. Ren doesn’t seem to take offense though, simply nodding in greeting.

Jing Yuan invites himself into their lunch outing. Ren once again doesn’t have any input for the food, so Yingxing orders for them, with some suggestions from Jing Yuan who apparently comes to this restaurant often.

Yingxing shows Jing Yuan his purchases. It seems to bore him though, “You should get some hobbies other than crafting y’know. How about getting into light novels?”

Light novels? Books have no place in a forge. One wrong flame and the books will be burned to ashes. He is about to tell Jing Yuan so but they are interrupted when their food arrives.

Seasoned vegetables, steamed fish, spicy stir-fried pork slices, and fluffy white rice. Mm, what a feast. The table is quiet as they eat except for the sound of their utensils. Ren once again picks pieces of meat and fish with his shaky chopsticks and deposits them into Yingxing’s bowl. When Jing Yuan notices, he gives Yingxing a cheeky wide grin. Yingxing kicks Jing Yuan’s shin underneath the table.

After their meal, Jing Yuan offers to carry Yingxing’s wood blocks back to his forge for him in exchange for the meal. As they walk, Jing Yuan asks Ren about what he does for work. Even Yingxing doesn’t know if Ren has a job. Probably not, considering the amount of time Ren spends accompanying Yingxing in the forge.

Predictably, Ren remains silent throughout Jing Yuan’s questioning, only offering answers to mundane questions like his favourite colour (red) and whether he likes cats (yes, very much). When Jing Yuan learns of Ren’s fondness for cats, he starts excitedly telling him about Mimi, not even giving Ren a chance to respond. Ren doesn’t seem to mind Jing Yuan’s rambling, but he looks like he’s holding back a smile. Or a frown, its hard to tell with Ren.

When they get back to the forge, Jing Yuan places the wood blocks on the table in the front, far away from the fire in the forge. As he leaves, he turns back to address Ren. “You’re not as bad as Master makes you out to be, Ren-xiansheng. I mean you are kind of quiet, but that doesn’t bother me. I’ll come hang out again some other time.” With that, Jing Yuan leaves, probably going back to his cloud knight lieutenant duties.

Yingxing smiles at Ren. “I’m glad at least Jing Yuan likes you. Jingliu and Dan Feng…well, they’re just naturally cautious people. Don’t be too offended.”

Ren looks a little confused at that statement. Yingxing can’t think why he might be confused until it occurs to him that Ren hadn’t been present for Jingliu’s suspicious questioning, having run off right after announcing his name.

“Ah, Jingliu and Dan Feng are just a little suspicious of you. But don’t worry! I’m sure they’ll come around.”

Ren hums, seeming neither offended nor surprised.

Yingxing decides to get started on his comb carving. Unfortunately, he now faces the problem of which wood to use. He had postponed the problem by buying all the woods that interested him, but its not like he can use all of them at once. Although, Ren did just say that he likes red. Red cedar is the most red coloured wood he has, and since Ren doesn’t seem to have any opinions about the wood, Yingxing will just use red cedar. Problem solved.

He starts by drawing out the design of the comb on paper first. Ren has spider lilies embroidered on the tails of his long coat, so Yingxing will incorporate that into the comb.

Yingxing works tirelessly until dusk, carefully carving and sanding the wood. He wants to continue but Ren pulls him away to eat dinner and rest for the night.

-

Unfortunately, the next day Yingxing is summoned to the Realm Keeping Commission to meet General Teng Xiao along with the other members of the High Cloud Quintet, so he can’t immediately continue with his comb.

He can’t imagine what the General has summoned Yingxing for. The General meets with Jingliu regularly, since the Sword Champion deals with criminals often. Jing Yuan is something like General Teng Xiao’s assistant and they meet nearly every day. He has regular correspondence with Dan Feng as the High Elder of the Vidyadhara, and Baiheng is the Luofu’s most skilled starskiff pilot and regularly receives missions from the General’s office. Yingxing though? There’s no reason why the General would need to meet Yingxing directly, unless…they are going to war…? Surely not…

-

Yingxing is unfortunately correct in his assumption that the Luofu might be going to war. General Teng Xiao tells them of a potential invasion by the Denizens of Abundance.

Ultimately, it’s only a possibility but the General wants them to be prepared. Yingxing, along with others in the Artisanship Commission are to keep the cloud knights well-stocked with weapons and armour.

-

Yingxing stands in front of the fire of the forge in silence.

Ren, ever perceptive of Yingxing’s troubles, asks what the matter is. Yingxing tells him.

The Abundance. The Abundance that killed Yingxing’s family and took his home. And now they might be coming here.

He cannot help but feel fear. Fear for what might happen to the Luofu. To his dear friends who will be expected to fight in the front lines.

Ren seems to notice that Yingxing needs a moment to himself because he leaves the forge, closing the doors behind him.

Yingxing stares into the hot red glow of the forge. He’s a craftsman, not a warrior. So he will protect the people he loves in the only way a craftsman can. The weapons he had planned for his friends, he will complete them. Those weapons will protect countless lives.

-

Yingxing works endlessly, day and night, forgoing food and sleep. Ren has to physically drag him away from the forge when Yingxing is too tired to resist. He postpones all existing commissions and refuses new ones, desperate to finish at least these four weapons before the Abundance comes.

Sometimes, he’s aware that Ren is speaking to him, and as much as he wants to listen he really doesn’t have time for distractions. The fatigue is already slowing him down a little. If he stops, his friends might be gone before he finishes even one weapon.

Ren has taken to holding baos up to his mouth when he deems it time for food and Yingxing will take bites directly out of Ren’s hand.

-

After a month of near non-stop forging, the exhaustion is starting to affect Yingxing’s memory. He will pick up the blade of the glaive to polish it, only to suddenly realize he hasn’t even sharpened it yet. Or he will heat the forge so he can temper the metal for the sword, only to remember he had already finished the tempering the day before.

Yingxing is infinitely grateful for Ren’s presence in the forge in these moments. He will remind Yingxing of where he left off for each weapon when he forgets. On days that Ren isn’t around, he leaves pieces of paper around the forge to remind Yingxing to eat and drink. He doesn’t often heed the reminders for food and water, and it seems like Ren has noticed because he leaves packed lunches and pots of tea at the table for Yingxing.

Its such a sweet gesture, but Yingxing doesn’t even have time to feel endeared by it.

Later that week, Ren stands in front of the forge in the early morning, blocking Yingxing’s access to it. “Move, Ren. I need the forge.”

Ren stands firm, arms crossed.

What the hell is he just standing there for? “Ren. Move.”

“No. You’ve been going on for too long. You have to rest. Now.”

Yingxing runs a hand through his hair and sighs, frustrated. “What’s the problem? You’ve never been this insistent before. I have to work!”

Ren scowls. “Because I realized I’m enabling your terrible working habits.”

Enabling his terrible working habits? “What am I, some unruly child that needs minding? I was happy for your help, but if you’re going to start stopping me from working, then I don’t need your company. Leave.”

Ren’s face goes blank, and despite his anger Yingxing immediately regrets his words. “Ren-”

Ren grabs Yingxing’s arms and throws him into the chair at his desk. “I don’t care. I don’t care whether you want my company or not, but you have to rest. This isn’t even just about your health anymore. Your work is slow. You can’t remember which steps you’ve already done and which ones you haven’t. Not to mention you’re starting to cut corners. Did you even notice that the metal for the sword is not fully welded?” He’s cutting corners? He didn’t even notice.

Ren steps back. “Get it together. Make the weapons.” He turns away, long hair hiding his expression. “Everything else…just leave it to me.” Those words are so quiet it doesn’t seem like Yingxing was supposed to hear them. ‘Leave it to me’? What is he talking about?

Ren leaves, closing the door behind him and leaving Yingxing alone in his cold forge.