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The soldiers made camp on the mountainside, a sharp cliff allowing them to see out into the forest-filled valley beyond. The seasons had begun to change, granting all those who looked out a sea of greens melding with oranges, reds, and a smattering of browns. The cliffside also brought with it a stiff breeze, not that Shang Bu Huan minded as he simply wrapped his cloak tighter around himself.
There was a pleasant din of activity around him as he looked out, the gentle clinks of hammers ramming tent posts into the ground, the soft rumble of cart wheels spinning as they moved supplies from one place to the next, and the soft murmur of idle chatter melding in with the rustling of nature that permeated all around them. Shang let out a soft sigh, allowing himself to smile ever so slightly at the view.
“From all the way up here, the Western Border looks almost peaceful.”
Footsteps approached, and Shang didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
“Talking to yourself again, Bu Huan?”
Shang chuckled, finally pulling his gaze away to see Wan Jun Po standing at his side, currently gazing out at the same view before them.
“Yeah, old habit I picked up from how many years of travelling by myself,” Shang watched the older man as he spoke, noting how the light of setting sun lit up the general’s armor in a fiery red instead of the normal auburn, how the precious metals glistened and sparkled. He even watched as the man looked unfettered by the chill breeze and the silver hair of his ponytail and bangs gently floating with the wind. The man looked every part of the brave and inspiring heroes that would adorn the grand murals in the Phoenix Light Palace. Hell, Shang would not be surprised if the general did become the subject to one of those murals one day, and he couldn’t think of any man more deserving.
Unaware of the staring, Jun Po continued to look onward, “Beautiful isn’t it, Bu Huan?”
Shang smiled dreamily, still staring at the other, “Yeah, it certainly is.”
Jun Po looked back at the other, “I daresay even the Palace Gardens can’t even compare.”
“Er--” Shang froze up, realizing that the other was still referring to the cliffside view. His face grew hot and he quickly looked away at the sight and prayed the evening sun could hide the redness in his cheeks.
“Y-Yeah, definitely! A sight like this? Couldn’t ask for a better birthday present!”
An awkward silence settled between the two men, and a few beats passed before Shang registered what he just said out loud.
“Wait…”
The heat in Shang’s cheeks didn’t let up as he heard the dawning realization in Jun Po’s voice. The general fully turned to look at Shang with a wide-eyed expression of surprise.
“Today’s your birthday? Truly!?”
Shang nodded slowly, “Yeah, not that I really celebrate it all that much nowadays. Another result from being on my own for a while.”
Jun Po nodded in understanding, “I can sympathize. Putting priority on my duties has distracted me from my own milestones, I’ll admit. If I may ask: How old are you?”
Shang hummed in thought and let out a laugh, “You know what? I forgot to keep track.”
Jun Po laughed as well, “Now that does not surprise me.”
The older man reached out, putting a gentle arm around Shang’s shoulders to steer him away from the cliffside.
“Come. At the very least, I can help you celebrate this evening.”
Shang snickered, grinning up at the other, “Why, General Wan! I didn’t know you could be so forward! What will the others say?”
Jun Po stumbled at the tease, not even being subtle as he attempted to fumble through a response as his face grew redder and redder. Shang couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. Abruptly, Jun Po released Shang and quickly stepped away to make his escape. That only made Shang laugh harder as he ran after him.
“Oi! Where do you think you’re going!? You owe me a birthday celebration!”
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The Odd Shop was shaping up nicely. The last of their supplies was tucked away into the various rooms and onto the copious amount of shelves that will undoubtedly fill as time went on. Shang was impressed that such a place existed in Xi You, and it was exactly as Tian Gong Gui Jiang described it. It was spacious enough to house all four travellers, and it was isolated enough to avoid the Emperor's soldiers that were still prowling the countryside with orders to kill the Sword Plundering Nemesis and detain the Court Virtuoso.
Now the group rested comfortably as the sky turned orange from the setting sun. Music filled the air as Mu Tian Ming plucked at the strings her guqin and Lang Wu Yao accompanied the melody with notes from his own pipa as he sat next to Shang. For the first time in a while, Shang was finally able to feel as though he could lean back where he sat and take a breather.
“Bu Huan?”
Tian Ming stopped playing her instrument, prompting the other to stop as well and letting the silence resettle around them. Shang tilted his head up to look at her.
“Hm? Something wrong?”
She shook her head with a soft smile, “No, everything’s quite alright. It’s just… do you know what day it is today?”
Shang furrowed his brow and scratched his nose as he thought about it, “Uhhhhh-- a few days after the Moon Festival? Wait!”
He blinked with surprise, realizing what she was talking about. He had been so busy running around with those damned magic swords that he completely forgot his birthday was already upon him.
“Oh! I think he got it!” Lang’s pipa, Ling Ya, teased.
“The man spends too much time concerned on what’s around him and no time for himself,” Gui Jiang harrumphed as he continued to sip from his cup of warm tea. Tian Ming, meanwhile, took the moment to get up from her instrument and take a seat on the other side of Shang. He looked back and forth between those who sat around him, at the warm calming smile of Tian Ming and then at the intense stare of Wu Yao. He let out a sigh, a smile quirking up ever so slightly.
“Alright alright, no need to hang over me about this.”
Tian Ming twittered with laughter and withdrew a small parcel that she placed gently on Shang’s lap. It was simply a box, with little decoration to indicate what could be inside. Knowing what he was prompted to do, Shang pulled the lid open with careful fingers and blinked with surprise at the sight of the small sculpted pastries inside.
“Oh hell yeah!” Ling Ya cheered at the sight of the mooncakes, “You better be sharing those, old man!”
“Look who’s talking,” Shang deadpanned and looked back at Tian Ming who watched with glee.
“I know we weren’t able to celebrate the Moon Festival this year with our travels, so I managed to purchase the cakes at the last village market we passed through.”
“Thanks, really,” Shang mumbled, nodding towards her, “I’ll share these, I swear.”
“There’s no need to, really. It’s your birthday.”
“Come on!” Ling Ya spoke up again, “It’s the kid’s turn now! He’s got a present for you, Shang!”
Shang looked over in surprise. Wu Yao looked positively flustered as he glared at Ling Ya in anger. He raised his hand to begin his harsh strumming, but Shang cut him off quickly.
“You got me a present too?”
Wu Yao paused, slowly lowering his hand as he nodded.
“Yes, I did,” He murmured as he placed Ling Ya down to withdraw an item he had concealed on his person.
Nervously, Wu Yao placed the item delicately into Shang’s outstretched hand. It was light in his hold, and the first thing Shang noticed was the shock of yellow on his palm. He furrowed his brow briefly in thought, and then his jaw went slack as he saw what it truly was.
Sunflowers, the green stems twisted and tied together into a circle, a circle large enough to be placed on one’s head.
“How cute!” Tian Ming cooed with delight, “You should put it on, Bu Huan!”
“Now that I would love to see!” Ling Ya cheered, cackling all the while. Shang knew full well his face was bright red and everyone could see it. However, Wu Yao seemed to be just as flustered, lips pressed tight together as his cheeks bloomed a bright pink.
“Hey, you don’t have to worry about it,” Shang tried to reassure the young man while quickly rubbing his own cheeks free of blush, “These things are tough to make right? And I have no idea when you managed to find sunflowers, so… Thanks. It’s really nice.”
Wu Yao physically relaxed at the other’s words, finally allowing himself a small smile as he nodded. Shang reached over and gently ruffled that wild head of red hair, eliciting a soft hum of a chuckle from Wu Yao as the young man leaned into the touch. Smiling broadly, Shang retracted his hand and picked up the box of mooncakes, but not before placing the flower crown on top of his head.
“Here, let’s dig in. I’m starving!”
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The room was silent in the dark of the night, not that Shang would want anything else at the moment. He sat by the window, idly staring at the waxing moon overhead. The bottle of rice wine he had brought into the room was already half-empty, and he knew it wasn’t going to last.
The door to the room opened with barely a sound, and then shut just as softly. Shang let out a weary sigh, burying his face into his free hand.
“Whatever you’re scheming, do it later. I’m not in the mood.”
That didn’t stop Lin Xue Ya from coming to a stop at Shang’s side, sitting down next to him by the window.
“I’m flattered, Sir Shang,” The trickster was all smiles and teasing tones, “That you suspect me of a plot due to my presence alone.”
“Am I wrong?” Shang shot a glare at Lin, but it quickly fizzled out with a sigh as he turned his eyes back up towards the moon. Lin kept watching him, tilting his head slightly with curiosity.
“Is something the matter?” Lin’s tone was matter-of-fact, no sense of unnecessary concern and more expectant that Shang would answer, and the other didn’t feel like dodging the question.
“Everything,” Shang sighed, “Everything’s the matter.”
Lin simply nodded, but did not press further. Shang knew Lin witnessed much from following him around, delighted in the adversaries that nipped at the vagabond’s heels, and witnessed the struggles those around the both of them had to face. At this point, Shang was tired. He was tired of seeing his friends getting hurt on his behalf, tired of his past constantly looming over him like a shadow.
And yet, as he looked to the side to look at the trickster, Shang was surprised to see how much of a constant Lin had become. Despite everything, the man was unflappable, went through it all with a smile and flip of his hair. If anything, Shang didn’t have to worry for him, even if the whole of the Divine Swarm surrounded the lot of them with the full might of Huo Shi Ming Huang’s power, Lin would still somehow find his way back to Shang’s side with a teasing remark to try to get under his skin. For that, Shang was surprisingly thankful.
Shang continued to stare at the trickster, seeing the Enigmatic Gale’s white locks practically glow under the moonlight that poured into the room, illuminating his elegant features and causing the detailings in his hair pieces and robes to sparkle with every slight gesture or movement. Lin must’ve been well aware of this, as he was slow in his movement to lift the tip of his pipe to his lips, letting his mouth linger as he took in the smoke, and like a dragon he let the vapors stream out of his mouth and curl in the air around them. It was a gesture he did often, and yet this night Shang couldn’t take his eyes off of it.
He lowered his free hand to place it on the floor, simultaneously surprised and not surprised to feel the soft skin of Lin’s hand already there. And yet neither man made a move to acknowledge this or attempt to pull away.
“It’s my birthday today, you know,” Shang finally spoke as he tore his eyes away, looking back up at the sky.
“Oh?” Lin verbally perked up, “Are you planning on celebrating tonight, Sir Shang?”
Perhaps the other was testing him. No, Shang knew he was being tested as he felt the trickster’s fingers shifting and begin to intertwine with Shang’s own on the floor. He took a swing from the bottle of rice wine with his other hand and held it out for Lin to take.
“Depends on if you’re in the mood to.”
Lin put his pipe away with the flick of his hand and accepted the bottle, giving Shang a soft coy smile.
“With someone as entertaining as you? Always.”
Shang let himself smile at that comment, watching as the other man took a small sip as he adjusted his own fingers to hold Lin’s hand properly.
“Happy Birthday to me, then, I guess...”