A feverish energy buzzed through the palace corridors that morning. Servants scurried between halls, their footsteps quick and purposeful on the polished stone floors.
Yetao felt nervous to see his judge. But was also confidant with himself. Jeff, who had just arrived the entrance, saw Yetao's troubled expression.
"Like I said, he's a good man. And the ceremony is only tomorrow. You have a lot of time to prepare. Don't be nervous", Jeff consoled Yetao which made him to release a hint of smile in relief.
When Yetao was barely consoled, Bambam arrived the entrance looking at Yetao. They both made eye contact with a serious expression and Yetao finally broke the string by averting his eyes first, which made Bambam feel irked.
Barcode noticed the tension in the air between them but waited for a time to speak with Yetao.
"They've spotted his entourage on the eastern ridge," announced the servant of the Black dragon palace, his voice cracking slightly despite his attempt at composure.
Yetao composed himself and made himself ready to meet his target.
"Could it be some celebrity this time too? Or someone totally new?", Yetao was conflicted in his thoughts.
The massive palace gate groaned open, revealing a striking figure of a man. The silhouette of the White Dragon-tall and elegant, with hair like spun moonlight falling past his shoulders. Behind him trailed an entourage of servants, each bearing the white dragon insignia on flowing silk robes.
Yetao's heart raced seeing such a magnificent scene in front of him. He squinted his eyes to get a clear look at his face and was totally flabbergasted.
"Isn't he Xu minghao?", Yetao's thoughts froze.
"What's with the horde of celebrities in this game? How in the world can I satisfy him? Isn't he a dance monster?", Yetao felt nervous.
Minghao paused at the threshold, surveying the assembled people with a slight tilt of his head when Jeff came and hugged him.
"Long time no see, my baby brother", Jeff squeezed his cheeks making everyone's jaw drop.
Minghao had a stern expression throughout Jeff's play of affection like he's already tired of everything.
"Baby brother?", Yetao was confused.
"He's Jeff gege's cousin. Both of their fathers are brothers and so are they", Barcode clarified his doubt.
"I'm tired. Want to sleep", Minghao looked at Jeff with expressionless eyes and Jeff sighed.
"Minghao, we're literally meeting after 3 months and you're avoiding me now?", Jeff pouted and threw his puppy eyes at him.
"I know right? Why am I meeting you so soon?", Minghao dodged it by opening his hand fan.
Minghao greeted Jackson and Bambam with a slight bow and went straight to his room since he already knows his way around the palace.
Jeff let out a deep sigh and the people dispersed to take care of the other things before ceremony.
Yetao was lost in his thoughts and walked aimlessly when Bambam blocked his path. Yetao bumped into his chest letting out a groan and stopped.
"Why did you block my way?", Yetao yelled at Bambam.
"Then, were you planning to jump into the lake?", Bambam yelled back at him.
Yetao saw behind Bambam and there was a lake. Yetao cleared his throat evading Bambam's concern and tried to get away from him but Bambam blocked his path again.
"I believe there is no lake in the path I'm going right now", Yetao glared daggers at him.
"Ignoring is not an option now, Taotao", Bambam was desperate.
Yetao let out a sigh and asked, "What now?"
"Have this", Bambam placed a red ginseng in Yetao's hand which made Yetao confused.
"I see you've been practicing a lot for the past week. Going at it without taking care of your health will only make you faint on stage. Eat it tonight and regain some energy", Bambam left after delivering his message.
"What's with him?", Yetao was confused but took it with him and went to his practice area to have a final rehearsal with Barcode.
"You arrived? What's that in your hand?", Barcode was curious.
"This? It's red ginseng. Someone gave me this since I'm practicing a lot", Yetao said and showed it to Barcode which made him shocked.
"Who gave you this?", Barcode was astonished.
"Why.... do you look like that? Is it something awesome?", Yetao was confused.
"Awesome? This is more than that. This ginseng only grows in the reaper forest. And judging by its texture. This at least a 2000-year-old ginseng", Barcode's eye sparkled seeing the rare ginseng.
"So? What about it? Is that forest miles away or something?", Yetao couldn't get why Barcode is having such an expression.
"It's not about distance. That is a dangerous forest. Normal people can lose their life if they even go nearby the forest", Barcode claimed.
"Well, I know he's not a normal one. So that settles", Yetao sighed and tried to pass on from the topic but Barcode explained further.
"It's not that simple. The forest is surrounded with poisonous miasma. Even if someone manages to get in, they must pay a price to get out", Barcode's voice saddened.
Yetao was bewildered. "How did you know so much about it?", Yetao was curious.
"Wolf clan's strength is their medicinal knowledge. My mom... once tried to go into the forest but.....she never returned", Barcode started to well up tears but consoled himself with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, I....shouldn't have asked", Yetao was worried.
"It's alright. She did it for a reason and I respect her decision. Jeff gege's mom looked after us like her own family. The least we could do was trying to save her from the brainwash", Barcode forced a smile.
"Although I miss her sometimes", Barcode couldn't control his tears and Yetao hugged him.
"It's ok to cry", Yetao's words gave enough strength for Barcode to bawl his eyes out. He cried in Yetao's arms for a while.
After a long weep, Barcode calmed down and wiped the tears away.
"Is Bambam gege the one who brought you this?", Barcode hit the point and Yetao flinched.
"He fought with Jackson gege 5 days ago and went somewhere despite the fury he faced. I... don't know what's happening between you two. And I don't want to convince you that he's someone good. I just want you to speak it out and solve it. Sometimes, the answer might be very near, but we don't notice it", Barcode's words shook Yetao's heart.
Yetao smiled and nodded at Barcode's consideration.
Yetao forced Barcode to rest in his room since his eyes are all swollen from crying. He looked at the ginseng pouch, he's carrying in his waist.
"Barcode is right. I was too harsh on him just because he does whatever he wants. I need to speak with him", Yetao was determined.
Yetao headed straight towards Bambam's room, since he was both worried and angry.
"But why did he go to such lengths to get me this? Did I ask him?", Yetao was furious when he opened the door without knocking. But all his fury vanished into thin air when he saw Bambam panting from pain in his bed.
Yetao panicked and went near Bambam.
"What are you doing here?", Bambam squinted his eyes in disbelief.
Yetao saw Bambam's veins are turning blue and clearly visible on his neck. He tried to see his chest by removing his attire, but Bambam resisted. Despite his resistance, Yetao saw it. Blue veins were emerging from all over his body. Yetao was shattered.
"Why did you go there? Did I ask you to bring it?", Yetao cried in anger.
Understanding that Yetao might've found out the truth, Bambam evaded the question.
"It's not a big deal. I'm a snake, remember? I can handle that much poison", Bambam forced a smile but Yetao saw through it.
"I asked WHY you did it", Yetao was furious as he searched for the grade 1 elixir he hid in his sleeves.
"Because you were trying too hard", Bambam's words made Yetao to stop and look at him.
"I wanted to help you in any way I can", Bambam confided.
Yetao pursed his lips to control the tears in his eyes.
"Then you should've just kept your mouth shut, you pervert", Yetao closed Bambam's mouth by feeding him with the elixir.
"Just sleep. If you even move an inch, I'll shout to the world you're a pervert", Yetao's threat made Bambam to laugh.
"What's funny here? I'm serious", Yetao glared at him.
Bambam slowly reached Yetao's hands and held it saying, "I'm... sorry Taotao" and went to sleep.
"If you're sorry, recover fast", Yetao mumbled as he sulked.
Leaving Bambam to rest, Yetao went to the kitchen and boiled the ginseng.
"That idiot almost died getting this. I must eat it well", Yetao mumbled as he was pouring the soup into a bowl for himself and Bambam, when he heard someone approach him.
"Is that a ginseng soup?", Minghao arrived the kitchen with his eyes curious about what Yetao's holding.
Yetao froze.
"What is he doing here? Of all people to meet, how can I confront my judge before my performance?", Yetao screamed internally but nodded to answer his question.
"Can I have some?", Minghao's innocent eyes made Yetao to fall prey.
"Yes, there's plenty to spare. You can have some", Yetao handed a bowl of soup to him and he drank it right away even though it was hot.
"Huh? I just boiled it. Did you burn your tongue?", Yetao was worried.
"I'm cold. So, it's even", Minghao's words made Yetao confused.
"Is he saying that he has a cold personality? How can that save him from burning his tongue?", Yetao was lost in his thoughts which made Minghao sigh.
"I can read your mind from your face, kid. White dragons breathe ice when black dragons breathe fire. Didn't you know that?", Minghao raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I must've lived under a rock", Yetao forced a smile since he was embarrassed.
Minghao just nodded agreeing to what Yetao said.
"Wow! This man is something. Don't people usually say something like 'It's alright' in this situation? He's cold in and out. How am I going to get his heart scale?", Yetao was worried in his thoughts.
"This soup saved me. I almost died trying to escape Jeff gege. He's quite an affectionate man", Minghao sighed in relief.
Yetao remembered how Jeff squished his cheek when he arrived and giggled.
"See? It's laughable, isn't it? He's still treating me like a baby", Minghao sulked.
"He can make such an expression?", Yetao was surprised as he drank his portion of soup and felt refreshed.
"I heard you're performing tomorrow", Minghao spilled and Yetao flinched.
"I don't know why. But Jeff gege pestered me to watch your performance", Minghao stated and Yetao forced a smile nodding as yes.
"All the best", Minghao said with a stern expression and left which made Yetao to be more stressed out.
"He's really a man with few words", Yetao thought.
He took the other bowl of ginseng soup to Bambam's room and left it there with a note to drink it, since Bambam was sleeping.
When Yetao left to rest early, since it is a big day tomorrow he saw Jeff.
"Looks like you're done for the day", Jeff stated and Yetao nodded.
"Your performance will be tomorrow evening since the phoenix clan arrives morning. As for the wolf clan, the said they'll make it to the ceremony in the evening. Don't fret and do well. It's alright even if it fails. We can always think of another way, ok?", Jeff consoled Yetao which made him smile in relief.
Even though his mind is restless. He forced himself to get ample amount of sleep to give a flawless performance.
Just like that, the night fell, and the morning came.
The phoenix lord entered the palace gates with along with his guards and servants. The sight was magnificent, but Yetao couldn't see the face of the phoenix lord, since he wore a mask.
When the whole palace is waiting to welcome him along with its lord, the phoenix lord went towards Yetao and stood before him.
"Huh? Why is he standing before me? Should I bow or something?", Yetao bowed in respect but the man stood still.
Yetao screamed internally not knowing what to do.
"You're scaring the kid, my friend. Why don't you get inside for a welcome party?", Jeff forced a smile and pulled the Phoenix lord but he didn't budge.
"Your hand", the phoenix lord asked Yetao in a dominant tone.
"This voice....", Yetao felt a familiar voice in his tone. When he offered his hand, the phoenix lord held and kissed it making Yetao to flinch.
Everyone's jaw dropped once again.
Yetao screamed internally not knowing what to do and Jeff came to his aid.
"Um.... I'm sorry, but he's a man, my friend", Jeff forced a laugh.
"So what?", the man said tilting his head slightly.
Yetao was bewildered and so are the others.
"You know what? Consider yourself lucky that Bambam is not here", Jeff dragged the Phoenix lord like a kid to the resting area.
"Why does that matter? Why are you dragging me? Let me go", the Phoenix lord tried to get away from Jeff's clutch but got dragged away eventually.
"What did just happen?", Yetao was shocked yet flushed at the phoenix lord's behaviour. He slapped his cheeks and got out of it.
"Looks like you got a follower now", Barcode teased Yetao and let out a sneaky smile.
"What follower? Let's have a final rehearsal. Come with me", Yetao evaded the question and dragged Barcode away.
Time passed like electricity, with the heat of the legendary four demon clans united, the ceremony began with Jeff's oath. Since he already had his crown years ago, the ceremony begun with rituals, passing on to the performances.
Yetao stood alone on the grand hall, the weight of a hundred expectant gazes pressing against him from the sides like physical force. The audience had fallen so silent that he could even hear the soft hiss of the chandelier above him.
Minghao just arrived since he was bored by all the previous performances. Aside from the fact that Jeff pestered him, he came to see the kid who gave him the ginseng soup.
Bambam looked at Yetao with stern eyes, some expression that gave him confidence which said the unspoken words: You can do it.
Yetao's lips curved to make a smile of relief and he took position, the music begun.