Whispers From The Heavenly Realm

The group returned to the land of Ling Ye to train in solidarity once again. They didn't know how long they were going to stay, but they had definitely lost some connection with their cultivation. Because they were so new at cultivation, they were learning quick that they couldn't be so unstable with their training. They stayed wary of the prince, unsure of what his mood would be. Only Bao Xian really had no worries whatsoever. Or so the others thought.

Bao Xian really was cautious when around him. He was extra careful not to say the wrong thing, and made sure that Bai Xu was happy. He knew how gentle and nice Bai Xu could be, so he wanted to bring that Bai Xu back. That was the Bai Xu the kingdom loved and looked up to.

"Gege," Bai Xu said one night as they laid under the stars, staring up at the night sky. Bao Xian turned his head to look at him. "Are you scared of me?"

"What?" Bao Xian asked, frowning lightly at his words. He sighed and reached over, taking Bai Xu's hand and linking their fingers together. "I'm not scared of you. I've never been scared of you. My dear Highness, can't you see? I love you."

Bai Xu smiled lightly at his words, looking away. After observing him for a moment, Bao Xian realized something. Bai Xu wasn't being selfish. He didn't reject him two years ago because he had ulterior motives. He pushed him away because he was shy. And saying the words 'I love you' made him even more shy. Bao Xian was used to him being forward and taking what he wanted. But the concept of love and relationships must have scared him. He didn't know or understand how to handle them.

"I don't think you understand just how sad I was when you left," Bai Xu said. 

"I think I do," Bao Xian told him, squeezing his hand. "I think when I left, you felt lonely and abandoned. It's what I was feeling after our conversation. I was sad. And I know you were sad too. So I'm sorry that I left you."

"I love you," Bai Xu finally said, shyly looking away from him. Bao Xian smiled and reached over to move hair out of his eyes. 

"Thank you for finally saying that," Bao Xian told him. He knew not to do anything more than that. He was going to allow Bai Xu to go his own pace. Just hearing him say those words was enough. 

"I did say that. Two years ago," Bai Xu said. Bao Xian hummed lightly, shrugging his shoulders. 

"You didn't say the words," Bao Xian said. "But you're right, technically you did."

"Dummy," Bai Xu mumbled, getting up. He stared at him for a moment. "Come on. Let's get back to training."

And so they trained. The group continued to cultivate together for a couple years. Bai Xu would take any mission that came to him, in hopes it would lead to a heavenly tribulation. He and Bao Xian stayed inseparable, yet the only thing that really changed between them was that Bao Xian finally cuddled him at night. 

One night, right before Bai Xu's 25th birthday, a major event happened. A band of nefarious creatures surrounded the borders of the Kingdom of Wuyong. The guards were struggling keeping them back. Everyone was at a loss of what to do. Things were getting heated until Bai Xu and his four vassals descended the mountain. 

That night, Bai Xu defeated the nefarious creatures. Lightning flashed and thunder clapped. A heavenly tribulation had finally taken place, and Bai Xu finally ascended. 

The whole Kingdom fell into celebration once again. Their Crown Prince had become a god? It was the greatest honor! Within days, people started constructing temples and worshipping him. Bai Xu was over the moon! His friends couldn't be prouder.

"What now?" Bao Xian asked as they sat atop an altar, overlooking the prince's devotees. "What's your plan?"

"Answer their prayers, gain merits," Bai Xu told him. "I need to find devotees from more than just Wuyong."

"I think that shouldn't be a problem," Bao Xian told him. "Word will spread about how great you are and people will willingly follow you. Make sure you take care of your believers before you worry about getting more. You're newly ascended. I don't want you getting overwhelmed. I also don't want you to take on all the weight. Remember, the four of us are here to help you. Especially me."

"We're here for you," Mu Chen agreed. "I'm just grateful that you brought us here with you. I"ve never felt stronger!"

"He always said he would," Guan Qi piped up. "Now we can meet other heavenly officials and learn how to be just as cool as them!"

"It's too early for us to run off and play," Zhong Ran said with a soft laugh, patting the youngest on the back. "But we really should greet the other heavenly officials! Make acquaintances! It's smart to make friends so that if we ever need it, we can get help with the toughest of situations."

"We'll be fine," Bai Xu said, shaking his head. Bao Xian let out a deep sigh. The Crown Prince was too proud to ask for help. So of course he wouldn't want to talk to other people.

"They're right," Bao Xian said, softly. "I think it's a great idea to talk with the other gods. You never know when you would have to go on a mission with them."

"I don't need other friends," Bai Xu said, stubbornly. "I have you guys. What more do I need?"

"Your Highness," Zhong Ran breathed out with a deep sigh. "This isn't the human realm. Things won't be easy if you decide to distance yourself from the other heavenly officials. If you want to make an impression on these guys, you need to greet the others. It's customary for newly ascended gods to visit each palace and offer a gift. You open yourself to them, and they will open themselves up to you!"

"The only god I care to help or to get help from is Lord Tian Qi! Everyone else is irrelevant!" Bai Xu said, his eyes going red. His friends all frowned deeply, worried about his way of thinking.

"Your Highness," Mu Chen said, sounding a bit disappointed with him. "How could you say that? You just disrespected the entirety of the Heavenly Court! Word gets out, and you will get shunned by all of heaven! This is way bigger than the Kingdom of Wuyong. I'm sorry, but you're not the big cheese anymore."

"Maybe Bao Xian was right," Zhong Ran said in dismay. "It's just too early for ascension. You have the mind of a child. A spoiled Crown Prince who never was told no."

"Get out!" Bai Xu cried, standing up. His whole body was shaking in anger. "Get out now!"

"Your Highness!" Mu Chen cried out, indignantly. "You-"

"Go! Before I banish you back to Earth!" he shouted. His friends all walked away, deciding it was best to give him space. Only Bao Xian stayed behind, silently staring at the devotees in the temple they resided in. He had tried his best to stay out of this argument. He had to pick his battles. He definitely agreed with their friends, but he also couldn't allow himself to upset the prince.

"Bai Xu–"

"You too," Bai Xu said, glaring at Bao Xian. "Now. Go."

"No," Bao Xian stated, staring at him with narrowed eyes. "I told you I'm going to stand by your side. I'm not going to leave now."

"And I don't want you by my side right now," Bai Xu told him. "I need you out now before I hurt you!"

Bao Xian sadly nodded his head and left as well. He was scared for what this could mean for Bai Xu's future. If he went on this way, he would be hated by all of the Heavenly Realm. Sure, if he didn't want to befriend the other heavenly officials, then so be it. There were a few independent officials. But to completely disregard them?

He felt like things were going to go very downhill, and it was going to go fast. He didn't realize his bad fortune would happen so soon. This was very bad.

"He still won't talk to you?" Zhong Ran asked as he and Bao Xian sat together, gathering prayers of Bai Xu's followers. It's been a week since their argument, and no one wanted to step up and apologize. Everyone believed in their own causes and thought this was something that couldn't be overlooked. 

"Of course he won't," Bao Xian said. "He's pretty angry. We have to leave him be for now."

"This is all going extremely wrong," Zhong Ran said. "His Highness has changed. I'm scared about his future. And if this is how he's going to act, I'm not sure how much I want to stand with him. He's not the sweet, innocent and loving guy we used to know. He let ascension get to his head and now he thinks he's the most important person in the whole world."

"He's excited. And scared. And overwhelmed. He doesn't want to have to worry about getting to know a bunch of new people," Bao Xian said. "He shouldn't have disrespected them. And I don't agree with him not wanting to greet the other palaces. But His Highness has always been like this. We're his only friends. He never stayed long when talking to the people of Wuyong. His Highness would rather keep to himself and his closest friends. Even if we don't agree, we need to stay by his side. He needs us."

"He needs to check his attitude before he tries to rely on us for anything," Zhong Ran said. "I have half the mind to introduce myself to other palaces so I don't get screwed over in his affairs."

"You're thinking of leaving him?" Bao Xian asked, suddenly getting angry himself. "You need to give him time! He's stressed. He needs time to acclimate."

Zhong Ran gave him a calculating stare, unsure of how to respond to him. Bao Xian wanted to scream to him just how important it was to stand by Bai Xu in this moment. One wrong move from them and the prince could fall into a whole black hole of doom. Bao Xian didn't want to see that happen. He wanted to protect Bai Xu from failure.

"I just think right now is the time he needs us most," Bao Xian continued. "If we give up on him during a time like this, what does that say about us? I'll try and talk to him. Just give me some time to get through to him."

"Fine," Zhong Ran said. "But my patience is running cold. And I'm the most patient out of the four of us."

"Untrue," Bao Xian said. Zhong Ran frowned slightly. Bao Xian was right, though. The most patient of the entire group was most definitely Bao Xian. "Continue this session of prayers. I'm going to go find him."

"You really think he'll let you talk to him?" the other asked. 

"He's going to have to," Bao Xian said, turning and leaving the temple.

That night, he sat in Bai Xu's room inside his newly built palace. One would think the palace in Wuyong was extravagant, but this heavenly palace was much more breathtaking. It felt ethereal just walking around it. Bai Xu loved to walk the halls and sleep in his giant bed. Sure, they didn't need sleep at all, but Bai Xu loved his sleep since he was a kid. 

Bai Xu walked into the room, freezing when he saw the older male. He hesitated, standing in the doorway with a complicated look on his face. Bao Xian patted the bed next to him, asking him to sit down. The younger hesitated before sighing and walking over to him. 

"Gege," he said softly, sitting down on the bed. 

"You're really good at pushing me away," Bao Xian said, sounding disappointed. "You need to stop that. Especially when you're upset. You have to start letting me in."

"You agree with them," Bai Xu said, frowning lightly.

"Whether I agree with them or not, it doesn't mean I won't take your side," Bao Xian said. "You already know my thoughts on stuff like this. But I also know you should follow your heart. I'm not going to make you listen to what I think might be right. Because I want you to make your own decisions."

"Do you think I'm going to mess this up?" Bai Xu asked, his voice laced with anxiousness. Bao Xian took his hand in his own.

"I'm not going to let it happen. I told you before that something is going to go wrong, but that's a problem for another time. We have to stand together," Bao Xian told him. "If we stand together, then you're not going to mess up. Just be careful with the decisions you make and don't piss off anyone important."

"Seems like I probably will," the prince said with a deep sigh. He closed his eyes, a lone tear running down his cheek. The older boy sighed and reached over, wiping the tear away. 

"Don't think that way," Bao Xian said, softly. "I believe in you. I don't care what anyone else says, either. You are so strong. And you are good. I know that you are going to do everything in your power to help your people. You have a big heart. Don't let people get you down, okay? Stay true to yourself and to your people."

"Why do you believe in me so much?" Bai Xu asked, opening his eyes again to look at the other.

"Why shouldn't I believe in you?" Bao Xian asked him. He squeezed his hand, a small smile lacing his lips. "I love you, Bai Xu. Don't ever forget that. I believe in you because I know who you truly are. I believe in you because I love you. People can say a thousand things against you, but I'll never stop believing in you. I will always be by your side. Do you hear me?"

Bai Xu slowly nodded his head, at a loss of what to say anymore. The older boy leaned in and lightly pecked his lips. He then pulled him into a tight hug, pulling him to his chest. He hated seeing his prince this upset. He wished there was something more he could do to make him feel better. 

"Thank you," Bai Xu whispered. "Thank you so much."

"My dear Highness," Bao Xian said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You have me. Remember that, always. You have me."

"I know," Bai Xu said. "And that's enough for me. All I need is you."