Whispers From The Heavenly Realm

A month passed just like that. The boys were bursting with spiritual energy. They had spent 30 days and 30 nights meditating and training on the land of Ling Ye, successfully returning home stronger than before. Even though his vassals had their doubts when they started, they couldn't help but thank Bai Xu for his guidance. 

The five of them made their way back to the great master once again, kowtowing to him in greeting after paying their respects to the Heavenly Emperor. The master looked between the four of them, taking in their appearances. Neither of the boys could tell what he was thinking. They just stood together with baited breath, awaiting his judgement.

"Very well," the man finally said. "You shall join me ten days from now and we will start your training. You will train atop this mountain for a year before you can descend again."

The five of them kowtowed in gratitude and made their way out of the temple. Only after they were off the temple grounds, did the boys start cheering. All their hard work paid off and they could now train to become strong cultivators. Bai Xu was the most ecstatic, but one couldn't tell with how calm he remained. He just led the group back to the Royal Palace.

"My dear Highness," Bao Xian said softly, walking beside him once again and placing his hand on his back as they walked. "Is something the matter?"

"I just wasn't expecting to have to wait so long to start training," Bai Xu said, a complicated expression gracing his features. "Isn't it a bit odd that we have to wait another ten days just to start training again?"

"Don't think much about the delay," his friend told him. "We now have time to get our affairs in order."

"Didn't we already do that before we ascended the mountain?" Bai Xu asked, his tone laced with aggravation. "Why must I wait?"

"Patience, my dear Highness," Bao Xian told him with a gentle smile. "Things will work out. There's no need for you to stress about it."

Bai Xu slowly nodded his head and kept his eyes on the mountain path. It took a few hours for them to descend the mountain. The group was exhausted and ready to lie down in their beds. Hiking up and down a mountain really was too tiring.

"His Highness is back!" a voice shouted into the night once the group stepped off the path. People started cheering all around them as the group was crowded. Water and food was shoved into Bai Xu's face, overwhelming him slightly.

He kept a soft smile on his face as he greeted the people, while his four vassals took the offerings. A few palace guards broke through the crowd so they could lead the Crown Prince to safety. It was a strenuous task pushing through the crowd that seemed to only grow in size.

Once they finally made it to the palace, Bai Xu's smile dropped and he wiped his forehead in exhaustion. He looked back towards the people who were now locked behind the palace gates. He loved the people of his kingdom, but he also thought they should learn how to control themselves around him.

"Someone should really teach them a lesson," Zhong Ran spat out in discontent. "How can they just mob you like that? Where's the respect?"

"It's because I don't go out much," Bai Xu said as they walked inside. "Not without a carriage. They were just excited, that's all. Besides, we got a lot of food from them. That's always a nice treat."

"You're exhausted, Your Highness," Bao Xian stated, studying his expression. "Don't try and act like their actions don't bug you. It's clear that they do."

"Yeah! Their excitement isn't even directed towards me, and even I can't stand it," Guan Qi said with a dignified huff.

"It's fine," Bai Xu said, his tone filled with finality. He was done discussing the matter, so the group quieted down. They walked a few steps inside when a loud shout was heard.

"My son!" the voice of a middle aged woman cried out. A woman dressed in magnificent robes of gold and red came rushing out of a room, making her way towards Bai Xu. She pulled the boy into a tight embrace. "How I missed you so! What are you doing home so early? Is everything alright?"

"Can't I come home to visit my mother?" Bai Xu asked the queen with a soft smile, hugging her back. The woman tsk-ed lightly and hit his chest, pulling out of the hug to look at him. 

"You're tired, my son," she said, softly. "Bao Xian, bring this boy to his bed chambers and have him rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Bao Xian said softly, kowtowing towards her before grabbing Bai Xu's arm and leading him away. He glanced back at their other three friends. "Put the food away and get some rest yourselves."

Bao Xian then led the Crown Prince to his room. Once they were behind closed doors, he helped the prince to strip out of his clothes and prepared a bath for him. Bai Xu could only watch him in silence as Bao Xian moved around the room.

"Gege," Bai Xu said, causing the other to freeze. The other has never addressed him that way before. "Stay with me tonight."

"Huh?" Bao Xian asked, taken aback by his words. "That's not… That's not very proper of me–"

"You slept by my side for 30 nights," Bai Xu stated. "What's another night?"

"I couldn't possibly sleep in Your Highness's room," Bao Xian said, turning his back to him to hide his flustered state. 

"Then I will sleep in your room," Bai Xu said, shrugging his shoulders and stepping into the bath that was drawn for him.

"It's improper for you to sleep in a servant's quarters," Bao Xian said, shaking his head repeatedly. "That won't do."

"Fine. Then you're staying here," the prince said, shrugging his shoulders. Bao Xian looked at him in disbelief. 

"But there will be talk–"

"Let them talk," the prince said indifferently. 

"Your Highness," Bao Xian said, unsure of how to respond. He just shook his head and continued scurrying around the room. There wasn't anything to do, but he wanted to keep himself busy.

"You should take a bath too," Bai Xu spoke up. "We haven't taken one in days."

"I will after Your High–"

"Join me," Bai Xu suddenly said. Bao Xian stopped in his tracks, his entire face going red at those words. "My tub is big enough for both of us."

"No no no, it's fine," Bao Xian said, shaking his head repeatedly. He refused to turn and meet the prince's gaze.

"Gege. What are you scared of?" Bai Xu asked, getting out of the tub. He calmly walked towards the other boy.

"C-come on," Bai Xian breathed out, backing away as Bai Xu advanced. "A mere vassal…. Getting in a tub with the Crown Prince? H-how improp–"

"We're both boys," Bai Xu cut him off, reaching out to start pulling off the older male's outer robes. "And we bathed together in that river. A few times. So it's not like it's anything new. So what's the issue?"

"But– The other three were there…"

"So you want them in the tub with us too?" Bai Xu asked with raised eyebrows. Bao Xian quickly shook his head. "Come on, let's get these clothes off of you."

"Y-your Highness, you're… Why are you doing this?" Bao Xian asked. "Asking me to sleep with you and take a bath with you…"

Bai Xu chose not to answer and continued to help Bao Xian out of his clothes. He then took his hand and led him over to the bath. He stepped in first, pulling on the other's hand to have him join him. Bao Xian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, following the other into the tub. As Bai Xu said, it really was big enough for the both of them. 

"Why are you so red?" Bai Xu asked, tilting his head to the side as he stared at the other. His friend ignored his question and immediately started cleaning himself. Bai Xu leaned over to help.

"Your Highness!" the voice of Guan Qi said as the door opened. He and Mu Chen made their way in, carrying two trays of food. They stopped, however, when they saw the two in the tub. Bai Xu rested his hand on Bao Xian's knee and glanced over at them. "O-oh. Sorry. Um. We brought you dinner. And.. yeah…"

"It's not what you think!" Bao Xian cried out, desperately trying to get out of the tub. The other two placed the food down and rushed out of the room, pulling the door closed behind them. 

"Just leave them be," the prince said as Bao Xian scrambled to get out.

"Your Highness! I think it's best I stay in my own room tonight!" Bao Xian cried as he finally got out of the tub. He didn't even care about drying himself off as he pulled on his inner robes and rushed out of the room. 

Bai Xu could only watch him leave, feeling a bit sad about his departure. He sighed and finished up in the tub before getting out and dressing himself. He didn't care about getting rid of the water or even eating at that moment. He just dressed into his sleep robes and walked over to his bed. It's been a while since he's felt this lonely. For the last 30 days, Bao Xian hasn't left his side even once.

"I shouldn't have forced him," Bai Xu said with a sigh, crawling under his covers. He couldn't brush off the feeling of sadness that overtook him as he closed his eyes. More importantly, he suddenly hated being alone.

Bai Xu didn't see Bao Xian really at all during the time they waited to start their training. He was escorted everywhere by the other three. When Bao Xian would join them, he would be in the very back, avoiding talking to anyone. The other three would whisper to each other, trying to figure out what was going on between them. 

The Crown Prince grew sadder and sadder. He could never get a word out before Bao Xian would rush off in another direction. On the day they were to leave for the mountain, Bai Xu was scared that the other wouldn't even join them. The group all gathered around at the palace gates, waiting to leave. After a long while of waiting, Bao Xian hadn't made any appearance. 

"Is he not coming?" Zhong Ran asked, glancing around. "Your Highness… We have to go."

"I don't… I can't just leave him," Bai Xu said. The others could hear the longing in his voice. He glanced back as everyone led him forward. 

"Wait!" a voice cried out. A bright smile appeared on Bai Xu's face as Bao Xian came rushing out.

"You're here!" Bai Xu exclaimed.

Bao Xian nodded towards him and caught up with the group. Before he could even avoid him, Bai Xu immediately hooked his arm with the other's. He was scared he would run away again. He was terrified that he was losing him.

"Your Highness," Bao Xian said in greeting. 

"You've been avoiding me," Bai Xu said as they left the palace gates. "Did I push you too hard?"

"No, of course not," Bao Xian said, glancing at him. "You had every right to not want to be alone. I just got flustered."

"Don't," Bai Xu told him. Bao Xian looked at him, his mouth open to say something. "Don't be with me. Just be natural. You bathe me, put me to bed, feed me… Let me do the same. Maybe I'm the prince and it's your job. But you deserve help as well. You shouldn't shoulder everything. Lean on me too."

"But to bathe me?" Bao Xian asked with raised eyebrows.

"Stop waiting until I'm asleep to think of yourself and take care of yourself," Bai Xu told him. "Might as well let me help you take care of you while you help me."

Bao Xain hummed lightly, unsure of how to respond. He appreciated the sentiment. But wouldn't it be weird? Everyone would misunderstand them. Didn't their friends do just that? Maybe His Highness didn't hear their gossip, but he did. 

They would never say anything about the Prince directly to his face, though they wouldn't say it to anyone else either. But they're not afraid to speak about these things to each other. And the three talk alot.

"Your Highness," Bao Xian said, looking towards him. "I just want to know… Has something changed between us? Am I more than just a servant?"

"Aren't all of you?" Bai Xu asked, looking back at the other three. "Haven't I made it clear that the four of you are my closest friends? I only ever interact with you guys."

"But you-"

"Do I see you in a better light?" Bai Xu asked, lowering his voice so only he could hear. "Of course I do. You're my best friend. I trust you more than anyone. We grew up together. You're my gege."

Bao Xian listened to his words, feeling his face go hot once again. He had a feeling there was some deeper meaning behind those words, and half of him had a feeling he felt exactly the same. The more he thought of it, the more he realized Bai Xu was literally his world. If anything happened to the Crown Prince, he didn't know what he would ever do with himself. He needed His Highness, just as much as the other needed him. 

"How long do you think it will take for His Highness to ascend?" Guan Qi asked, turning the attention to himself and causing the two to abandon the conversation they were having. "He's already 17, right?"

"17 is young for someone to ascend," Mu Chen spoke up. "It could take a couple years. It's possible he'll ascend when he's in his 20s."

"I'd rather ascend while I'm 17 then wait until my twenties," Bai Xu said, a glint in his eyes.

"Isn't that too early?" Bao Xian asked. He never thought it was a good idea for someone to be too young when they ascended. Everyone they cared about was still a part of the world. That could be catastrophic. 

"If I grow older and ascend when I'm old, I'm going to look old for a millenia," Bai Xu said. "I don't want to look old. I want to be youthful."

The group all agreed to this. Who wouldn't want to look young. But Bao Xian still didn't fully agree. They had no experience of the world, so how could they survive for a thousand years? It would make life pretty hard, wouldn't it? Certain decisions could make things go incredibly wrong. 

"You don't agree," Bai Xu said after noticing how silent Bao Xian had been on the whole matter. "How old do you think I should be when I ascend?"

"I think the youngest you should be is at least 25. But even that seems too young," Bao Xian said with a sigh. "But what's the rush, anyway? Why not live in the moment now? Gods can live for thousands of years! But you can only be mortal once, you know? You have a wonderful life right now. Don't be so quick to just throw it away. I know you want to protect people, but right now your people are living wonderfully."

"What do you think I should do with my time, then?" Bai Xu asked. And he seemed genuinely curious. 

"Cultivate, and cultivate seriously," Bao Xian told him. He moved his hand down and grabbed onto the prince's, squeezing it lightly. "But also, just live life, you know? Find someone to love. When you are a god, you won't have time for a relationship."

"What if the person I love is someone I want to take with me to heaven?" Bai Xu asked. Bao Xian froze and looked at him. His random stop confused the boys behind them, who also stopped and stared at the two of them in confusion.

"There's someone you love?" Bao Xian asked him. He didn't know why he was suddenly feeling disappointed.

"Your Highness, is there a young lady you fancy from the Kingdom?" Mu Chen asked.

"How come you never talk about her?" Zhong Ran asked as the three rushed over to start discussing this sudden news. Bai Xu let out an awkward laugh, looking between the three of them.

"It's nothing like that," Bai Xu said, shaking his head with a soft smile. 

"You already said it," Guan Qi said, placing his arm around his shoulders. "So who is it that His Highness loves? What's she like?"

"Really guys," Bai Xu said, glancing back at Bao Xian who had fallen behind them. "There's no girl."

"There's no girl?" Guan Qi asked. He exchanged glances with Mu Chen before both of them suddenly nodded in understanding. "So that's it, then."

"What's it?" Zhong Ran asked, suddenly feeling as if he were out of the loop. Mu Chen whispered something into his ear, causing the oldest boy's eyes to widen in realization. "That make so much more sense!"

"Right?" Mu Chen asked. "I don't know why we didn't see it earlier!"

"See what?" Bai Xu asked with narrowed eyes. The three just brushed him off and set off ahead of them. Bai Xu stared after them in confusion. "What is wrong with you guys?"

"Is there really someone you like?" Bao Xian asked, finally coming back to his senses. 

"I promise," Bai Xu said, reaching his hand out towards him. "Come on. We're almost there."

Bao Xian let out a deep sigh and took his hand, keeping his eyes on the road as they walked. The silence between them was a little awkward. They both have gone through a whirlwind of emotions, and they were both trying to figure out how to get over it. They had an exciting year ahead of them where they were going to be trained by a great cultivator. Bai Xu was finally getting what he always wanted. And Bao Xian didn't want to take this moment away from him. He was going to support him every step of the way.