Metropolitan Police.
Supernatural Investigation Department Unit.
Everyone was following the figure of Xie Ye who was carrying a young man in huge hoodies on his back while carrying a huge pillow and blanket with another hand. The man on Xie Ye's back had his face all covered by the former's wide shoulders and only the slight stray cobalt hair strand could be seen. Last night Gui Lan had revised the Authority he used on the heavenly laws. He made sure that everyone would recognize Hei Lan as Gui Lan. Since both Hei Lan and Gui Lan's identity had merged, his qualifications and origin were released. As the young heir of Gui Clan and the next seat to the Minister's throne everyone adored Gui Lan. He became the idol and model figure of the Esper world.
The reason why Xie Ye is carrying him to work is because he overtaxed himself with last night pleasure and frolic for a few hours with Xie Ye in the bathroom. He is now tired as hell.
Surrounding them were officers who heard about Hei Lan's real identity as Gui Lan.
"Isn't that Special Officer Xie?"
"Indeed. I heard he was busy with the preparation for the D-Day."
"If that's Special Officer Xie, then that person on his back must be...!!"
"It's Special Officer Hei Lan!!"
"Is it true that he is the prime minister's son?"
"It's true! Our espers comrades said that the one who saved them 15 years ago is him."
"15 years ago? He was only 6 years old that time. Are you playing with me?"
"I'm not. Don't treat him like normals. Even among the Espers he's above everyone else. They've said he had awakened so many abilities and was almost equal to Gods."
"How many did he have?"
"In the records it says that he has Telepathy, Retrocognition, Teleportation and Ice Element."
"Amazing~ he could use all those?"
"But wasn't Sir Xie's abilities amazing as well? It's not a lot but aside from mind reading his second skill is a badass. He could copy the abilities of other espers and make it his own."
"Indeed, thought he doesn't have 100% control over it, I heard that he could use at least 70% of its original strength."
All of the sudden the crowd heard a voice in their minds. It was Xie Ye's voice.
Xie Ye: {Get back to work! Stop loitering around during work hours!}
The stern and cold voice of Xie Ye resounds directly to their minds, scaring these little officers to death that they've saluted instinctively in response.
"Yes sir!" They disperse in an orderly manner after they've finished their salutations.
Once the people in the are left, only the quietness of the empty hallway remains. Somebody suddenly giggles breaking the silence in the area. It was Gui Lan who just woke up.
"I've let you copy my skills this morning and you're already using it. There is something you need to promise me." said Gui Lan.
Xie Ye pulled the one on his back to move in front of him and princess carried him.
"What is it? I'll promise you anything Lan'er." responded Xie Ye.
"Promise to never use Authority with Telepathy. These two abilities have conflicting nature. One seeks control while the other creates links for stability. It cannot be used at the same time. The backlash from doing so is a bit too much for the brain and body."
Xie Ye was about to respond but then he remembered Gui Lan using Authority with Telepathy when they were children. Now learning about the backlash of these two abilities made him remember Gui Lan's paleness that night. His usual body warmth is almost gone, his skin is so pale as if he has no blood even his lips were a bit purple. At that time Gui Lan was only 6 years old, he used to love sleeping but he never takes too many unusual naps. He also doesn't oversleep beyond normal times but after that day when they fought, he noticed Gui Lan's body seems weaker than before.
Knowing this Xie Ye wrapped the blanket in his arms around Gui Lan. He held his hand and put it to his cheeks checking his temperature through Gui Lan's palm. He sighed in relief when he felt the hands were warm unlike from the last touch in their childhood.
"Okay I promise you." replied Xie Ye.
"It's too hot! Why did you wrap me in a blanket like some kind of cocoon, A'Ye!?" complained Gui Lan.
Passing the pillow to Gui Lan's arms, "Bear with it for a moment. I'll bring you somewhere to give you a full body check up." said Xie Ye who left in the hurry carrying Gui Lan in his arms.
[Host since your injured soul affects your body, with a full body check up they will see that your vessel state isn't normal and might declare you as a dying person. Your soul damage percentage was suppressed down to 38% after self repairing and physique upgrade for 15 years despite it healing your soul inside this world is impossible.]
Gui Lan responded like he didn't care but he knew that his lifespan in this world had greatly reduced.
"How long could this vessel last? Give me an exact duration." he asked.
[If the host continues to live as a normal esper using your ability without overworking yourself the host should be able to live until 70, but if the host uses the other skill card and the damage in your soul increases then you can only live only until 40.]
"Either at 40 or 70 years old? But the normal lifespan of espers in this world is above 100. Normally, for someone of my level I should be able to live until I am 150 years old."
[The host's soul injury is caused by the Divine Laws of the highest realm. Since the host had received the punishment in this little star unless you left this place there aren't any possibilities to cure your soul.]
"I know." replied Gui Lan.
Hearing this Gui Lan could only divert his lover's attention to something else and acted like he was panicking. He started striking Xie Ye with the pillow in his arms.
"No. no. no! I won't agree with the full body check up! My body is covered with your love marks. Even though I'm shameless I won't agree letting others see by body!" said Gui Lan.
Xie Ye paused for a moment upon remembering the events that happened last night and this morning. Now looking at his lover's blushing face he was very reluctant to let others see his lover's current state. Despite his hesitation, Xie Ye could still feel uneasiness in his heart. It was something extremely uncomfortable like for some reason he knew that Gui Lan was hiding something from him. He was being indecisive until he heard Ye Xiajie's voice in his head.
'Don't let him notice. If he knew that we have awareness that he is hiding something then, it will be harder for us to know the truth. Seek for the opportunity and wait. I have a way to check his current state if it's a must.'
Upon hearing Ye Xiajie's voice in his head he understood what he should do next. To secretly look for the answers of his question he must act like he didn't notice anything.
Taking the pillow away from Gui Lan, he pulled the latter into an intimate kiss. Since no one else is around in the hallway they've indulged themselves to each other's existence. It wasn't until Gui Lan was out of breath that Xie Ye let him go. Xie Ye kissed Gui Lan's forehead before hugging him tightly in his embrace.
"Indeed. No one else aside from me can see your body. No one else." murmured Xie Ye, no one else could see his crimson eyes turning into a darker shade as if being mixed with the color of darkness.
------
Office of the Chief
As the couple reached their destination, at the moment they've opened the doors, what welcomed them is a huge crowd of familiar people. Inside the room is not only the usual couple, Yi Zheng and Li Xing, there's Yun Li, Xu Lun, Professor Sen, Ke Lou and Lin Ye around. After Gui Lan altered the content of the Authority he used to the heavenly laws, aside from the enemies everyone on his side were now able to see through him as Gui Lan.
"Welcome Home, Gui Lan!"
They've all said to Gui Lan. Xie Ye let Gui Lan down but still held his waist. He didn't allow the latter to leave his side at all.
"Aside from Yun Li no one else seems to recognize me though. But looking through your past memories I can only say: You've done well in surviving! I'm proud." said Gui Lan with his usual sly smile as Hei Lan.
Seeing Gui Lan standing before them, some of them couldn't stop their tears from falling. After all, the person who saved their lives 15 years ago and the person who have been protecting them in the shadows have always been Gui Lan. They knew that SID was created for them because Gui Lan requested it. The Minister's Household has always protected them because Gui Lan wished for it. All this time the syndicate wasn't able to learn who and where they are because Gui Lan and Xie Ye were controlling things in the shadows. They were under Gui Lan's wings the whole time.
Li Xing was the first one who ran towards Gui Lan in tears. Following Yi Zheng who have the same expression these two hugged the couple before them. Among the group these two were the most attached to these pairs.
"A'Lan! Sobs~ where have you been? Are you hurt? Welcome back~ Wuwu~" said Li Xing.
Yi Zheng spoke, "Sniff! A'Lan... I didn't notice... You've been with us... for a few months... already... No wonder... dage have been... bullying me... those clothes... were his~ I will look for it. I promise."
"What clothes?" asked Gui Lan.
"The one you let me borrow the last time I took a bath during my first meeting with you as Hei Lan." replied Yi Zheng who immediately shrank behind Li Xing upon meeting Xie Ye's warning eyes.
"Oh~ those. Don't worry about it. Those are just A'Ye's spare clothes. He wouldn't mind..." Gui Lan was suddenly cut off by Xie Ye.
Xie Ye interrupts, "I mind. You've picked those clothes personally for me! Those are mine. A'Yi must return it!" he said.
"It's been months already since the day he borrowed it. I'm pretty sure Yi-ge had lost it somewhere. Forget about it already." said Gui Lan who looked up to Xie Ye.
Xie Ye averted his eyes and didn't reply, Gui Lan took his silence as yes.
Gui Lan said, "Don't worry about the clothes anymore, Yi-ge."
"O-Oh... O-Okay. Hehe~" replied Yi Zheng while stuttering.
Gui Lan looked at Yi Zheng who was covered in sweats with his eyes swimming around. What Gui Lan couldn't see, above his head Xie Ye is glaring at Yi Zheng.
There's an obvious message within those warning eyes:
"Return my clothes! Don't you dare tell Lan'er! I'm going to beat you up if you do."
From the sidelines:
"The boss is still a bully even at this age." said Xu Lun.
"I dare that you speak a bit louder. Let's see if your situation would be any different from Yi Zheng." retorted Yun Lin.
Hearing this Xu Lun instantly shut his mouth off as he couldn't afford his boss being pissed at him. Let Yi Zheng suffer instead. Seeing this close interaction between the children, Lin Ye and Ke Luo couldn't help but laugh. This little group have always been like this. Gui Lan and Xie Ye have always been the leaders and center of this group while the rest follow and adore them. Yi Zheng acting silly in this age is because of his undeniable trust towards the two. Li Xing is the same as he took Gui Lan as his emotional pillar when they were children. Yun Li and Xu Lun might be a bit detached but they watch the group and support them from the side.
It's been awhile since this group had reunited. This reunion is a short peace before they enter the final battle that will lead them to a peaceful future.