Chapter 256 - Testing the man

"Come on, runt, stop running around and clean yourself up. Ugh, you look like someone poured tar over you." Eren gestured toward Nansich, who was bouncing around like a whirlwind.Nansich touched his black hair, sticky with Grayling ichor. "Why do they bleed black... because they have a black soul," he mumbled as he dashed toward them.

"How could I know," Eren muttered, pulling Nansich by the shoulders to steady him.

Varon subtly pulled his lover’s hand away again.

"Jealous guy. His hand isn’t going to melt when he touches me," Nansich whispered, a hint of jealousy in his tone.

Varon shot him a flat look, then simply hugged his lover’s waist and walked off.

"Seriously, this couple infuriates me," Jian muttered, shaking his head. To his dismay, his friend was blushing as he spoke softly to Xing Yu. "I feel a bit lonely now."

"Join the gang," Li Wang said, stepping up and handing him a water bottle.

They quickly gathered their backpacks that were tossed carelessly on the ground, and began trekking back to their old lodging. The road was familiar but overgrown, nature reclaiming the land in the two years since they had last been here.

Just as the house came into view, Nansich leapt toward the trees. "God, I missed eating fruits the most!" he screamed, plucking a peach and devouring it like a crazed madman.

"Hey! Don’t eat all of them!" Li Wang called, grabbing a few ripe fruits for himself.

Standing on the familiar dirt road, Jian’s eyes swept over the orchard. The trees had grown wild, forming a small forest. It was familiar yet strange, like a half-forgotten memory pressing against the present. A subtle ache of nostalgia washed over him.

The house itself stood in the middle, small and worn but still intact.

"Ahh, home sweet home! It feels great to be back!" Nansich shouted, barreling into the house with bits of peach smeared across his face.

It had been two years since their last Grayling hunting, but the previous five years had been even more grueling. They had moved across the globe, dismantling Grayling forces one by one. Gradually, the creatures had gone into hiding, and humans had begun to reclaim a semblance of peace. Some regions even returned to farming. The ship they had just taken down was the last of the few remaining threats.

Jian stepped into the house, dropping his heavy backpack by the door, just like the others.

"Oh my god, the water’s still running! I’m taking the Hallway bathroom!" Nansich shouted, tearing off his clothes and sprinting toward the bathroom.

Varon quickly hid his lover’s eyes with his hand, muttering under his breath about the man’s uncontainable energy.

Chuckling, Jian walked toward the room he shared with Xing Yu. A memory surfaced unbidden. His hand trembled slightly as he lifted it to his lips.

This was the bed—the same place where, years ago, he had shared a bitter-sweet kiss with Xing Yu. The man had been unconscious with a high fever, and Jian had fed him medicine mouth to mouth. It couldn’t quite be called a kiss, but it had been his first.

"I... I’ll go wash up," Jian whispered to himself, dashing to the bathroom, trying to hide the rapid thump of his heart.

He scrubbed off the black goo, emerging with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Xing Yu was already in the room, focused on some intricate piece of technology. He glanced briefly at Jian, expression neutral, then returned to his work.

Jian’s gaze fell to his own body. Five years of fighting and moving constantly had reshaped him—his sleek frame now bore muscle, a prominent six-pack, and a defined mermaid line. In fact he had stepped out intentionally, testing Xing Yu’s reaction.

But all he got was Just a fleeting glance.

A flicker of anger and frustration surged in him. T

his was supposed to be his mate—the one he was meant to crave, to ignite his heart.

Instead, Xing Yu acted as if nothing had changed. No lust, no longing, no... anything.

All they did was hold hands—once, occasionally—and that had been enough in the early days to set Jian’s heart racing.

Now... now it felt like Xing Yu didn’t even want him.

The thought churned uneasily in Jian’s chest.

Maybe Farians didn’t have romantic bones, he thought bitterly. Maybe they didn’t do the stupid, passionate, human things that made hearts pound and faces flush.

But after seeing Eren and Varon so openly affectionate, so comfortably in love, Jian felt a mix of envy, confusion, and ache.

The gap between what he felt and what Xing Yu displayed seemed impossibly wide.

Jian was seething. Heat pooled in his chest, and every nerve in his body pulsed with frustration. He needed to know—did this man crave him at all, or was it all a cold facade? The uncertainty gnawed at him like a live wire.

Taking a bold step, he moved toward the wardrobe opposite Xing Yu’s work table. "Wow... the clothes we left are still here," he murmured casually, though the edge in his voice betrayed him.

With deliberate slowness, Jian dropped the towel, letting it fall to the floor. The cool air kissed his skin, making the heat in his chest flare even higher. His hands ran over the neatly folded garments, picking out what he wanted. Piece by piece, he dressed, his back facing Xing Yu—but he felt it. That unflinching gaze, burning into his spine like a blade.

"My shirt is a bit tight, though," he muttered casually, tossing the fabric over his shoulders and adjusting it. He glanced over his shoulder, trying to catch a hint of Xing Yu’s attention.

Xing Yu didn’t look up. His eyes remained glued to the intricate gadget on his desk, fingers delicately adjusting components. Jian’s brow furrowed, irritation bubbling into fury.

’Was I imagining it...? Didn’t he just glance at me? No... fuck this. This is really pissing me off!’

The tension coiled inside him like a spring ready to snap. Jian spun on his heels, towel forgotten, and strode out the door.