Yetao collapsed onto the sand in exhaustion, spreading his arms and legs wide as he lay staring up at the darkening sky. The day's fruitless search had drained him completely. Beside him, Thio immediately mimicked his posture, tiny limbs stretched out in perfect imitation. Yetao couldn't help but chuckle at the endearing sight, reaching over to ruffle the child's hair affectionately as his gaze drifted to the emerging stars above.
Noting Yetao's obvious fatigue, Bambam saw an opportunity. "You both take a rest," he suggested casually. "I'll take a quick bath and come right back."
Yetao nodded absently, his mind already drifting toward sleep. But as he watched Bambam's retreating figure disappear down the beach, a realization struck him. He sat up abruptly, sand falling from his robes.
"Come to think of it, it's been days since I took a bath," he sighed, suddenly aware of his disheveled state. "Shame on me." It was almost laughable that he'd been living mere steps from the ocean yet had been too preoccupied with escape plans to even think of bathing.
Looking down at Thio, who was still happily sprawled in mimicry beside him, Yetao's expression softened into a smile. "Can we play with water for a bit now?" he suggested. The child tilted his head curiously before matching Yetao's smile with one of his own—not fully understanding the question but happy simply because his "mommy" was happy.
Meanwhile, Bambam had made his way to the opposite side of the island, carefully checking that he wasn't being followed before wading into the water. Once certain of his privacy, he summoned the glass snake—his secret messenger and the only creature capable of passing through the barrier he had let around the island.
The snake rose from the water, its transparent body catching moonlight in prismatic flashes as it bowed respectfully before its master.
"What's the situation?" Bambam inquired, his tone suddenly commanding and serious—nothing like the playful persona he maintained around Yetao.
The snake hissed a response that only Bambam could understand, and a smirk played across his face. "An immortal who secured the Lightning Jade? Now this is a new character," he mused, interest piqued. "Where is he now?"
The snake's next report caused Bambam's expression to darken considerably, all amusement vanishing from his features. "You can go now," he commanded after a moment. "Report to me if you find anything else."
With another respectful bow, the snake sank beneath the surface and disappeared. Bambam stood alone in the water, teeth clenched in determination. "No matter who comes, I'm not letting Yetao out of my barrier," he vowed to the night air, his decision absolute.
After dressing in his robes once more, Bambam headed back toward the area where he had left Yetao and Thio. As he approached, he froze in place at the sight that greeted him: Yetao and Thio were both in the water, laughing and playing in the moonlight. Bambam quickly turned away, flustered by the vision of Yetao who wore only in a thin white robe that clung to his form when wet.
"Did you finish washing up?" Yetao called out, noticing Bambam's arrival.
Bambam turned slowly, his composure nearly shattering at the sight. Droplets of water clung to Yetao's hair, reflecting the moonlight and giving him an ethereal appearance that left Bambam temporarily speechless. He stood motionless, entranced by the surreal beauty before him.
Yetao furrowed his brow in confusion at Bambam's strange behavior. "If you didn't, then come here," he called, completely unbothered by their proximity since they were both men. "Thio is the master of this sea. He's doing some cute tricks here."
As if to demonstrate, Thio began performing a series of impressive aquatic maneuvers—swirling through the water, diving gracefully beneath the surface, and executing perfect backflips despite his childish form.
Bambam's annoyance grew as he observed the scene. He recalled how the Yetao from the other world was bothered when Bambam visited him during a bath and insisted that they were both men. This Yetao's nonchalance was both frustrating and challenging.
"Fine," Bambam thought with determination. "I'll show him what his weakness is."
Without further hesitation, he entered the water, deliberately removing his outer robes to expose his muscular arms and chiseled abdomen. Yetao didn't notice immediately, but as Bambam approached closer, the display became impossible to ignore.
"This kid can do everything, huh?" Bambam remarked with a calculated smirk, running his hand through his wet hair. The water made his skin glisten, and his eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
The effect was immediate. Yetao flushed deeply and choked on water in his surprise. With feigned concern, Bambam took a broad leaf and patted Yetao's head to help him recover, careful to avoid direct contact.
"Taotao, are you alright?" he asked, pretending worry while secretly pleased by the reaction he had provoked.
When Yetao regained his breath, he did something unexpected—he reached out and grabbed Bambam's extended arm, his curiosity apparently overriding his earlier prohibition against touch.
"You said you were weak, right? Then what is this?" Yetao asked, poking at Bambam's muscled arm with genuine surprise. "How could this be bigger than mine?" He pulled up his own sleeve to compare, seemingly oblivious to Bambam's shocked expression.
Bambam turned his head away in disbelief. "I miss the old Taotao suddenly," he lamented internally, caught off guard by this version's forthright approach.
Thio, ever observant, noticed Bambam's suspicious behavior and the attention Yetao was giving him. Determined to reclaim his "mommy," the child let out a loud cry, pretending to be injured. He acted as though he had a sudden leg cramp, his performance convincing enough to immediately draw Yetao's concern.
Abandoning his examination of Bambam's physique, Yetao rushed to comfort the crying child. He hugged and patted Thio soothingly before carrying him out of the water, leaving Bambam alone and frustrated.
As Bambam sighed heavily, thinking how nothing seemed to go his way, the supposedly injured Thio made an observation from his privileged position in Yetao's arms. He noticed Yetao's flushed face, his shivering lips, and the way he kept stealing glances at Bambam from the corner of his eye.
"You saved me, Thio," Yetao whispered with a relieved sigh as they moved away, but the child wasn't fooled. Thio understood in that moment that Yetao was attracted to Bambam, and his little face formed a displeased pout.
After all the commotion finally settled, the night passed quietly into morning, with each of the three harboring their own private thoughts about the events of the evening.
It was a peaceful morning, the kind where dewdrops lingered on leaves and the waves made a soothing song against the rocks. Yet peace eluded Yetao as he moved about the island, his gaze deliberately avoiding Bambam whenever their paths crossed. Each time Bambam entered his peripheral vision, Yetao would find sudden interest in the ground, the sky, or anything else that wasn't Bambam's questioning eyes.
Bambam noticed this strange behavior immediately. His brow furrowed as he watched Yetao disappear around corners and make excuses to leave whenever they found themselves alone. "What could have changed since yesterday?", he wondered, mentally retracing his actions for any missteps or offenses he might have committed unknowingly.
"Did he find something about me?" Bambam whispered to himself, anxiety gnawing at his chest. "Why is he behaving like that?"
Throughout the morning, Bambam orchestrated several scenarios where Yetao would have no choice but to look at him directly. But each time, Yetao found ways to assist or respond without meeting his gaze, going farther away from him to have a "secluded" cultivation. His behavior grew increasingly suspicious with each evasion.
From one side of the shore, Thio observed this peculiar play with raised eyebrows. He had already caught on to Bambam's intentions, recognizing the calculated nature of these "coincidences." Still, he kept his observations to himself, noting how Yetao's cheeks colored faintly whenever Bambam came near. Instead, Thio retreated further into the shadows, sulking silently as he watched the two circle each other.
By midday, Bambam's patience had worn thin. "Desperate times call for desperate measures", he thought, formulating a new plan. He waited until Yetao was nearby, then let out a convincing groan of pain, his hands flying to his eyes.
"Something's in my eye", he gasped, bending forward in apparent distress. "It burns!"
Thio rolled his eyes from his vantage point, seeing through the performance immediately. But he remained silent, curious to see how this would play out.
Yetao froze at the sound of Bambam's distress. For a moment, he seemed to battle with himself—his instinct to help warring with whatever had been keeping him distant. Concern quickly won out. Within seconds, he was at Bambam's side, all previous avoidance forgotten.
"Let me see," Yetao said, his voice gentle as he reached out and carefully cupped Bambam's face between his palms. His touch was cautious, almost reverential, as he tilted Bambam's face toward the light. "Don't rub it; you'll make it worse."
Bambam continued his charade, wincing convincingly as Yetao examined him. Inside, however, he felt triumphant. This close, Yetao could not escape his gaze.
Leaning in, Yetao softly blew a stream of air across Bambam's eye, his breath warm against Bambam's skin. "Is it any better?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Bambam blinked slowly, his eyes never leaving Yetao's. "Much better," he replied, making no move to pull away.
Their faces remained inches apart, and as the seconds stretched between them, a blush began to creep across Yetao's cheeks. The color deepened until his entire face was flushed crimson, and suddenly, as if realizing their proximity, he jerked backward.
"If you're alright... then I'll go," Yetao mumbled, already turning away, his composure visibly shattered.
"Is this the reason you're avoiding me?" Bambam's question cut through the air, stopping Yetao mid-step.
Yetao's shoulders tensed, but he did not turn around. "I have no reason to avoid you though," he replied, his voice strained as he kept his back firmly toward Bambam.
A smile played at the corners of Bambam's lips as he advanced, circling around until he faced Yetao directly. He leaned in, close enough that Yetao could feel his breath, but carefully maintaining a sliver of space between them. His hands were clasped behind his back, the picture of innocence despite the mischief dancing in his eyes.
"Did I make your heart flutter?" Bambam asked bluntly.
The question sent Yetao into a fit of coughing, his face contorting in a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief. "How can you say something like that while being sober?" he sputtered, clearly at a loss for words.
Bambam's lips curved into a smirk. Deliberately, he raised his arm, showcasing the vivid red sleeve of his garment. He held it beside Yetao's face, close enough to demonstrate the comparison without actually touching him.
"Then why is your cheek the same color as this sleeve?" he teased, his voice low and playful.
Yetao's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, caught in his own reaction, unable to deny the evidence literally staring him in the face.
"Care to explain?" Bambam pressed, his smile widening to reveal a row of perfect teeth. He knew he had Yetao cornered—trapped between truth and denial.
Yetao stood motionless, as if rooted to the spot by Bambam's words. His lips parted, but no sound emerged. The tension between them was palpable, charged with unspoken emotions and revelations hovering on the precipice of acknowledgment.
Their moment of connection shattered when a deafening crack split the air. Lightning tore through the sky above the island, a brilliant flash of white-blue energy that ripped through the protective barrier that had surrounded them for so long. The ground beneath their feet trembled with the force of it.
Instantly, Bambam's posture changed. His playfulness vanished, replaced by the alertness of a predator sensing danger. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon, his body tense and ready.
From the tear in the barrier emerged a figure, tall and imposing. Before Bambam could react, the newcomer had crossed the distance between them with inhuman speed. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Yetao by the arm and pulled him protectively to his side, positioning himself between Yetao and Bambam. His eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on Bambam with unveiled hostility.
"Yuchen! You finally came!" Yetao exclaimed, his voice bright with recognition and relief. The awkwardness of moments before was forgotten in the excitement of seeing his friend. "What took you so long?"
Bambam flinched at the name, recognition slamming into him like a physical blow. "Yuchen? The one who took the parallel eye? ".
Across the small clearing, Yuchen's eyes showed clear hatred for the demon lord standing before him. Neither spoke, but the silent declaration of war hung in the air between them.
Yetao looked from one to the other, confusion evident in his features as he sensed the tension but failed to comprehend its source.
The three stood frozen in this tableau of unspoken conflict—Yuchen protective, Bambam calculating, and Yetao bewildered—while around them, the island seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see which of these powerful forces would make the first move in a game that had been centuries in the making.
Only time would tell if the fragile connection between Yetao and Bambam could survive the truth of Bambam's identity, or if their love would be extinguished before it had truly begun to flame.