Rebirth of MC

Regarding that little episode with He Lianming, Huo Zaiyuan completely doesn't put it on his mind. After strolling around the safe zone with the three sticky tails that day, he stayed at home to meditate for the next two days. In the evening of the second consecutive day of cultivation, Long Zhanye who had been busy working ever since returning to A City eventually wraps up his affairs.

"Finally finished. I'm exhausted to death. Little Yuan, I request comfort and compensation."

Like a whiny kid, Long Zhanye has his arms wrapped around Huo Zaiyuan's soft waist, sticking to his back as the latter moves around the kitchen preparing dinner.

"Am I not preparing a meal for you now? Don't stick on me, go wait at the table," Huo Zaiyuan says as he deftly stirs the egg noddles currently boiling in the pot. Nevertheless, he doesn't make a move to push the man holding him away.

"Little Yuan, you don't love me anymore." Burying his nose in Huo Zaiyuan hair and inhaling that light, fresh scent, Long Zhanye can't resist nipping that fair neck.

"Ah - you" A tingle runs through Huo Zaiyuan's body at Long Zhanye's sneak attack on his neck. The bowl in his hand nearly falls as his finger momentarily lost its strength. "Stop distracting me and shoo. Didn't you say you are tired and hungry?"

Placing the items in his hands down on the counter, Huo Zaiyuan eventually chases the shameless man out of the kitchen. Or else if he keeps letting Zhanye do as he pleases, dinner wouldn't be cooked on time.

Watching Long Zhanye saunter out of the kitchen, Huo Zaiyuan sighs lightly. Every time he faces this man, his calm and cool-headed persona shatters completelyhe always feels like there is something irresistible about Zhanye that draws him in. This sort of feeling is rather dangerous, in his opinion, but damn if he doesn't dislike it.

After clearing the bowls and utensils when dinner is done, Huo Zaiyuan returns to the hall and sees Long Zhanye sprawled lazily on the sofa with both eyes closed. His military coat is thrown aside, leaving only a white, skintight inner shirt that serves to emphasise Long Zhanye's extremely fit figure

"If you're tired, go take a shower before going to bed, hmm?" Huo Zaiyua says softly as he walks towards Long Zhanye.

"Just a little." Long Zhanye's eyelids flutter open and he reaches out to grip Huo Zaiyuan's forearms, pulling him down gently into his embrace. "Accompany me to lie down for a while."

Falling on top of Long Zhanye, Huo Zaiyuan stares at the brazen male and sighs softly. "What am I to do with you"

Placing his hands on Long Zhanye's hips, Huo Zaiyuan leans his head on the firm chest before allowing his eyelids to slide shut.

Unknowingly, when the couple next opens their eyes, it is early morning of the next day, and they woke due to someone knocking on their door.

Due to curling up with each other for an entire night, their clothes are in disarray, and the knocking has become increasingly insistent. In the end, Long Zhanye lets Huo Zaiyuan go to the bathroom to shower and change while he merely drapes the slightly crumpled coat over his shoulders and answers the door.

"Hmph, you brat! Really becoming more and more lazy. Just look at the state of your uniform!" Standing at the other side of the door, Long Haotian frowns as he takes in his treasured grandson's wrinkled and messy clothes, his old face darkening.

"Grandfather, isn't it your fault for running over this early in the morning? I was really exhausted after dinner yesterday. Didn't even shower before dozing off." Scratching his head, Long Zhanye yawns, blatantly ignoring his grandfather's dark expression.

"Hn, I came to find little Yuan. Move aside." It is rare for Grandfather Long to brush his only grandson aside, but today, he shoves past Long Zhanye and enters the unit. "Where is little Yuan? Is he still sleeping?"

"Grandfather, you're here?" Huo Zaiyuan who has finish showering and changing steps out of the bedroom. A warm smile surfaces as soon as he catches sight of Long Haotian.

"My Elder Taoist friend returned yesterday so I came to find you. Come, come, let's go." As he speaks, Long Haotian drags Huo Zaiyuan away by the arm.

"Grandfather, isn't it inappropriate behaviour to drag little Yuan off to the Elder Taoist priest?" Long Zhanye obstructs the doorway.

"How is it inappropriate? Move aside." Once again shoving pass his grandson, the elder mutters under his breath. "Hmph, really becoming more and more uncute. He was so soft and pure when he was young, so obedient and cleverblahblahblah"

Being brushed aside by the old man and abandoned by his lover, as well as overhearing the parting murmurs of his grandfather, Long Zhanye stands at the doorway, his heart displaying a "" expression.

Who did he offend early this morning?! (Author's note: Poor little Long gong.)

"Grandfather, is it okay to disturb this Elder Taoist priest so early in the morning?" Huo Zaiyuan asks as he keeps pace beside the Commander-in-chief.

"Doesn't matter, doesn't matter. That old man has always been an early-riser." Long Haotian shakes his head. "Aiduring that time when my old friend predicted that stupid grandson of mine will not live past thirty, it really caused me a lot of worries. After the apocalypse, when he contacted me from X City and confirmed that he couldn't find this "Huo Zaiyuan" person, my anxiety increased. On that same day, he told me he likes someone and even if we manage to find this "Huo Zaiyuan", he will definitely not separate with his beloved. I thought to let him do as he pleases. Since his fated one cannot be found, I might as well let him be with whoever he loves. That way, even if he really doesn't live past thirty, at least there will be some fond memories left behind. Or at least be able to give me a great-grandson before he reaches that ageWho would have thought he finally admitted the person he loves is a male only after returning to A City. At that time, I was really angry. That stupid brat has always followed me to the barracks since childhood, interacting with the soldiers and army personnel there. He can be so at ease even under a hail of bullets but ask him to cook three simple mealsthe end results would be too horrible to see. Therefore, I opposed it, too afraid that the person he loves is just like him. But unexpectedly, the person he has been searching for all this while is you. And on top of that, you are a good cook. That is why this old man feels relieved. From here on, I will have to trouble you to look after that little rascal."

"Yes." Listening to the elder's long-winded prattling, Huo Zaiyuan doesn't feel the least bit bored or annoyed, instead, a rare warmth envelops his heart.

He is able to tell clear as day that Long Haotian dearly loves Long Zhanye. This majestic Commander-in-chief of the army is in actual fact a kind and soft-hearted grandfather.

"The Elder Taoist just returned, but I drag you out so urgently mostly due to discussing the matter of that stupid brattherefore, I'm very sorry. It's Grandfather Long's selfishness."

"No, not at all. I also don't wish to see him" Huo Zaiyuan trails off, unwilling to finish this sentence. After a long pause, he continues. "I would like to meet this Elder Taoist priest."

He has seen the School of Taoism in E City's safe zone, but it is rather obvious that A City's school is much grander, with every aspect of the layout carefully planned out. Located in the north but facing the south, even its front gates are layered with a large array full of spiritual energy.

A master.

A rare expression of amazement surfaces on Huo Zaiyuan's calm face as he allows his gaze to wander.

"Hehehold pal, the little friend by your side is not a common folk ah."

Suddenly, a cheerful laughter rings out as a white-robed, white-haired and long-beared elder appears before the two, a kind smile on his wrinkled face.

"Hahaold pal. Your senses are as keen as ever." A booming laugh erupts from Long Haotian before he pats the Elder Taoist priest on the shoulder. "My stupid grandson finally managed to find his fated one. Come, come, quickly tell me, how can I ensure my precious grandson survive this approaching crisis?"

Stroking his long, white beard, Tian Jizi nods after hearing Long Haotian's question, gaze fixed unwaveringly on Huo Zaiyuan.

"Un, un."

"What are you 'Un'-ing for? Quickly say ah!" Seeing the old priest nod repeatedly while smiling, Long Haotian eventually explodes from impatience.

"This child's flesh and bones are saturated with spiritual energy. Looking at his graceful facial features, there will "

"Old pal, I am not asking about this. I'm asking about my grandson. The person you say can break his early death has been found. What should be done next?" Long Haotian growls, grabbing his old friend by the collar and shaking him lightly.

This old Taoist friend of his really knows how to push people's buttons. Anyone with a little less patience is bound to burst from irritation.

Seeing Grandfather Long blow his top at the still smiling Elder, Huo Zaiyuan can't help a mirthful smile breaking forth.

These two elderly men are a really interesting pair of friends.

"Oh, that was your question ah. Calm down, calm down. Let's head inside for a cup of tea and this old priest will explain everything slowly," Deftly throwing off Long Haotian's death grip on his collar, the Elder Taoist priest says, tone unhurried as he strokes a hand down his precious beard.

After following the Elder into the building, said Elder pours the other two some bamboo bark tea in a bamboo teacup.

As the bamboo house in Huo Zaiyuan's space uses bamboo for every piece of furniture and utensil, he is very familiar with bamboo wares. Therefore, he becomes a little more amiable when he sees the Elder offering them tea in bamboo cups.

Bamboo bark tea leaves are dried pieces of bamboo usually harvested early in the morning, when the bamboo is at its hardest and filled with morning dew.

This light and clear fragrance match Huo Zaiyuan's taste very well, and he can't help liking it after the first sip. Thinking back to the bamboo forest in his space, he makes a note to harvest some for tea leaves later.

"When I calculated little Zhanye's destiny that day, the reading was left incomplete, for I needed to be in the presence of his fated person before I can continue. Now that I have met this little brother, I know for sure that he is little Zhanye's precious person. However"

"Again with the "however"?!" An itch resurfaces in his heart after hearing this word from his old friend's mouth.

Because the last this the Taoist said this, he followed up by telling him his grandson would not live past thirty.

"From this little friend's facethis Elder cannot calculate the final stretch." The Elder Taoist priest eventually admits with a sigh.

"What do you mean? Are you saying Zhanye will still" Eyebrows drawing together, Long Haotian almost leaps out of his seat.

"Not at all, not at all. This is a mystery only known to the Heavens. After meeting this little friend, little Zhanye's fate is tied closely to his. The two are inseparable. Their future will be filled with uncertain events. That is all this Elder can tell you. Not even my years of experience can calculate what lies ahead of them."

"Elder's meaning is, the original destiny has changed?" Before Long Haotian can flip the table, Huo Zaiyuan who has stayed silent throughout finally opens his mouth.

"Un, un." The old priest gives Huo Zaiyuan a brilliant smile and a profound riddle. "Divination between Heaven and men. The glimpses an ordinary person catches from fate is a mystery only known to the Heavens."