Creak...Creeak...Creeeak

  Siiiiiiiiiiiissshhhhhh!

  The sound tore through the stillness as the massive gate began to shift, its ancient hinges groaning like some colossal beast roused from a deep, unwilling sleep. The stone underfoot seemed to hum with the strain.

  A narrow gap split open, widening slowly, and from it spilled a thick tide of grey gas.

  It rolled out in heavy coils, writhing and hissing like smoke with a will of its own, spreading across the threshold.

  Jin Yu’s gaze slid over it, his steps unhurried.

  No hostile energy alert. No threat.

  He noted.

  The gas lacked the venom of a curse, instead, it pulsed with a strange pull, its depths whispering of somewhere far beyond this place.

  It's not leading to the cavern.

  He realized but didn’t break his stride. “better not be somewhere ugly ” he muttered, prepared to create chaos if it is so.

  ----

  In front of the mountain cave sat Seer, still as carefree as ever, but the chill in his eyes had not reduced a bit.

  Su remained kneeling before him, his expression frozen in disbelief, as if his mind refused to process the reality he now faced. His fingers trembled uncontrollably, pale and slender in the dim light.

  He stared at them: they were white as porcelain, smooth as silk. Every curve was delicate, every joint fine and graceful. They were the kind of hands one might imagine trailing over embroidered silk, not gripping a blade.

  Soft. Beautiful. Fragile.

  No sane soul would look at them and think “man.” And the worst part: he could feel it. The gentleness in his heartbeat, the subtle grace in his posture… the poisonous edge that had once defined him was gone, replaced by something soft, and unbearable.

  Tears stung his eyes as he raised his head, he blinked repeatedly, trying to stop them from falling, but it only got harder.

  An unfamiliar feeling of grief, indignation and something soft bloomed in his heart.

  Something that should have been strange and totally foreign now felt like his second nature, as if that was whom he was meant to be, whom he has always been.

  His whole emotions was a mess. A total mess he had no control over.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  He gazed right at Seer's eyes, tears falling uncontrollably.

  "Turn me back" his voice came out soft and tiny, barely above a whisper.

  He suddenly trembled at the sound of his voice, eyes widening as his hand flew to cover his mouth.

  His face turned a blush of red from embarrassment. But then, he realized it was even more embarrassing for a man to do that, so he quickly covered his face with his hands, blushing harder.

  Feeling the unnatural softness of his palms, his tears brimmed all the more, blurring his vision. Helplessness gnawed at his chest until it broke him completely, and he burst into sobs.

  Yet even his weeping betrayed him. The sound that left his throat was not the raw, broken cry of a man, but something soft, lilting, almost melodic. Each note of grief rang with a feminine fragility he loathed, as though even his sorrow had been stolen and reshaped.

  Just then–

  Phrrooooooooom.

  A circular motion of white light began forming at the cave entrance, Su instantly raised his head, his tear filled face reflecting on Seer's eyes that had suddenly defrosted several degrees.

  Seer stared intently at the portal, his eyes fixed and unwavering.

  A moment later, Jin Yu appeared, his eyes locked on Seer that instantly switched.

  The coldness in his eyes had vanished, replaced by the usual playful and carefree demeanor, he leaned back on the chair and crossed his arms before feinting a disappointed look.

  He seized Jin Yu up and down with his eyes, then spoke.

  "Tch Tch, you didn't lose an arm, so boring"

  Jin Yu raised an eyebrow and stepped closer, his eyes flitting to the kneeling Su before looking back at Seer.

  "Boring?," He gave a knowing smile. "It definitely isn't"

  Seer froze for a moment before standing up instantly, almost embarrassed.

  "It's not what...."

  Jin Yu nodded immediately. "I know I know, I won't ask"

  He waved him off and walked away, towards the forest.

  Seer frowned and followed behind. "It's really not like that" he said indignantly.

  Jin Yu nodded once and walked faster.

  "I heard you "

  Seer frowned even further and caught up with him. "I'm telling you, he's a man."

  Jin Yu froze in his steps, theatrically, he turned to stare at Seer, eyes widened in an exaggerated manner.

  He looked back, at Su, who blushed in embarrassment before lowering his head, then back a Seer.

  Ding!

  Influence points +10,000

  (Emotion provoked: Embarrassment)

  Jin Yu mouth opened slightly as if in utter disbelief.

  Seer thought he was surprised that Su looked so ladylike, so he repeated himself, nodding seriously.

  "It's true, that's a man"

  As though he couldn't believe Seer could utter such lie, he finally spoke. "Bro.... You didn't have to lie like that, I really don't care"

  Seer froze,

  and blinked repeatedly, his mind buffered like a lagging screen.

  A moment later, his expression suddenly dropped before his face scrunched up in anger. "I'm not lying, he really is a man" his said flatly, his voice a little cold.

  Jin Yu gave Su another glance before shaking his head in sympathy. He faced Seer and spoke. "That's harsh man, you shouldn't say that about a lady." Yu refused to believe any other than he saw.

  "Why won't you believe me?!" Seer asked in frustration.

  "Okay, okay, I do"

  Jin Yu gave up and walked away but Seer dragged him back, towards Su.

  "What now?" Jin Yu asked, almost rolling his eyes.

  "See by yourself " Seer said curtly.

  Jin Yu eyes widened slightly, dreading the meaning.

  "See what?"

  Seer turned him to face the still bowing Su, who avoid their gaze from shame.

  "You," he pointed at him. "take off your clothes"

  He demanded.

  Jin Yu's heart almost stopped from shock. His eyes widened.

  "She should what?"

  Seer didn't answer him, he glared at Su who had covered his chest with his arms, panic flickering in his eyes.

  "Now!" Seer demanded.

  Jin Yu patted Seer's chest to push him back. "What's wrong with you man, that's enough, I said I heard you"

  But Seer remained stubborn. He ignored Jin Yu.

  "Now, and I'll give you a solution " he said to Su in all seriousness.

  Su's head instantly whipped up, he gazed at Seer with his moist eyes, astonished.

  Without hesitation, he crawled closer to him "Really?" He asked, tears stinging his eyes from hope and joy.

  "Yes." Seer nodded. "I don't lie." he added.

  Happiness bloomed in Su's eyes, his heart trembled in expectation as he nodded repeatedly, sniffing and wiping tears off his face with the back of his hand.

  "Okay" he agreed in a tiny voice but knelt still, eyes shifting in embarrassment, unsure how to begin.

  Jin Yu was starting to have his whole life belief turned upside down.

  "That's really a man?" He couldn't help but ask, unwilling to associate anything related to 'man' to the person before him.

  Seer nodded, his eyes focused on Su, as if he couldn't wait to prove himself right. "You'll see for yourself"