‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍" Xiong'An, wait", Joln called behind Adrian as he was carrying a bowl of noddles to go and sit at the table furthest from everyone . Kijad had it delivered to the meeting room they were in.

Herim was with Berlieh at the nearby inn. Since the resturant was practically full, sect members were outside. the servants grouped with some local wolves while the triplets sat with each other .. Fortunately Ryle had gone to Jakhyer so the causes of discomfort for Adrian have been minimized

He rotated to the wolf startling him and before he could acknowledge his call , Joln already encompassed Adrian. By default Adrian backed away only to collide onto the adjuscent wall.

He looked to the side giving Joln his cheek bone. Within seconds Joln turned his face back using his finger so that their eyes are meeting. Naturally Adrian would be blushing but today he is just so non-reactive because Joln is holding him in the position that Ryle was holding Joln. It's too awkward and insulting. However Joln isn't unnecessarily or provactively close to Adrian's face as was Ryle to Joln.

" Why are you ignoring me?" He kept the stern face that used to tantalised Adrian only for the sole fact that it reminded him of Ryle . Now when he does it , he understands that Joln must have adopted it from being with Ryle.

Adrian moved away but then Joln slammed another hand in front of him , compelling him to go back into his lock. He clasped harder on the hot plate , contemplating to slam it on his face and break his nose

" Atleast say something", Joln was sincere

" Something! ", Adrian was extremely cheeky

Adrian tried to escape but Joln caught his hand and pulled him back to the position again.

" Did I do something wrong?",

His face changed from playful to indefinitely serious.. he no longer looked like the pendatic soulless beast that he always is but rather the delicate Joln that makes fun of Adrian's awful singing voice.

Adrian felt a little bad hearing him be like that . It appeared like he was a terrible friend for holding a huge grudge over something like this. It's not a crime or sin to like someone afterall.Adrian's eyes and heart turned a shade red as he held back the tears of guilt and betrayal. He thought it must have been difficult for Joln to show feelings like that ,given his personality or atleast the one that he displays. Still even the one that joln doesn't realize he is showing is also a potential emotional wreck. He shook his head when he knew he was lying to both of them. So he felt his face heating up.

Joln smiled weakly and asked if he can feed Adrian which he concepted by knoddding so that Joln doesn't hear the crack in his voice.

With his hand , he took the chopsticks and he lifted the vegetable from the plate and he raised it to Adrian's slim and slightly kissable lips.

With his eyes fixed on Joln and Joln's on Adrian's mouth, he opened his dried lips and Joln fed him the vegetable without deterring from those lips . The instant the warm variety of spice touched his tongue and tenderness of the cooked food worshipped his taste buds, he couldn't hold himself so he closed his eyes and looked away.

" Don't ", he sang him but Adrian refused to obey .

Joln scoffed , placed the chopsticks and turned back to leave . After a few seconds, the doors slid close.

As he left Adrian turned his head back to him and he was indeed crying.

Joln must be so good at lying that he can act so sincere despite being with Adrian's favorite individual.

It hurts that Adrian never told Joln, that Adrian never confessed to Ryle, that Ryle likes Joln even when Adrian is so much infatuated with him. It just hurts so much . Even pretending that he is fine just makes him feel worse. He has to let Ryle adore his friend because he doesn't want to hurt Joln or have Joln think he did or is doing something wrong by loving Ryle. Afterall if he suddenly confessed to Ryle , what would be the reward? If anything, things are going to get more tense and he might lose his friendship with Joln or even the other two royale, Valian and Syin.

He fell downwards to sit on his legs , placed the bowl to his side and he simply just sobbed and sobbed.

He hates this. This Jealousy, this hate , this love and Anger!!

(Two hours later )

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" Act normal, act normal", Adrian told himself as he ran to syin and Valian who were speaking to each other.

They were leaning by the carriage and possibly very deep in conversation.

He placed his hand over Valian' shoulder ,who told him he is not a walker, making him stand facing Syin

" What are you talking about?", Adrian inquired moving his eyes to and fro both his company . Those who couldn't tell from his tone, he was trying too much and was forcing happiness.

Syin simply replied that the villagers have been bombarding thme with updates and they are currently awaiting Kijad to begin investigating.

" The girl with Herim explained everything about the restaurant owner's daughter but it's still very strange ", Valian said as if he didn't feel confident about anything.

Unlike normal investigations were an individual works with clues that have been left by the culprit or the victim itself, it is rather difficult for cultivators.

Victims usually didn't pitray more than three common symptoms out of the atleast eight chief concerns they display. And even when having an identical problem, sometimes in a group of hundred only twenty would have a common symptom at differing extremities. For example temperature. Some would be in unnaturally cold , others supremely hot meanwhile some would be sweating despite shivering. It's all very complicated.

So the best way that cultivators can identify a problem and solve it , is when it is in action. They can be able to distinguish which of the triasikogon they are supposed to implement.

Otherwise all they can just do is stabilisation technique of calming the acupoints, sort of prescribing a mild painkiller for all general patients of pain while awaiting the results of the actual illness. Though it does sound like unnecessary stalling, it is actually significantly helpful. If a wolf that was showing symptoms of behaving like a fox ,then through the long-run, it doesn't show those signs again then they maybe be mild or better yet recovering. Howbeit sometimes the yin energy could be slowly assimilating. Needless to say ,it is quite unreliable to think this way because all yin creatures show their abilities in order spark and fuel some type of rellibios behavior for thier jolting. Sort of the thing humans call , ' the thrill of doing bad'

Another thing is even though the sole purpose of a cultivation school is to deal with foxes, there is not really been a whole complete fox that has been noted. Wolves simply show signs of possibly being one or going to be one but never really of actually being one.

They call them foxes but they are actually just cubs.

" I think we are going to have to stabilize all of them and look at all the residents in town ", Syin spoke looking forward to the tedious journey but his audience didn't seem enthusiastic about the task

" You do realize with my old bones , I can't even breathe without getting tired. What you are asking is going to take forever. This matter could be spreading the whole grounds for all we know .", Adrian complained and went to touch Syin's face but instead placed his arms around his neck and Syin crossed his arms over his own chest . Valian chuckled.

" It would be foolish if we chased every tail. All incidents are reported to the capital, let's go there and find out which is the first incident and the last and check those place while studying all the cases ", Joln explained placing his arms around Adrian's waist and resting his chin on shoulder. He emerged out of nowhere.

Syin scoffed and asked if that implies they are going to leave the civilians like this.

Joln released Adrian and questioned him that if one wants to turn off a fire does one go through each and every single thread of grass or is it better to check where is started and where it was last sighted. Valian told Syin that Joln does have a point except that some grounds delay reporting the incident to the capital and take matters into their own hands thinking it's just a small matter , not really worth informing... the king .

A momentary pause occurred between the cousins which Joln and Adrian picked up but only Adrian was in the dark.

Syin hates when the wolves mention his father or his position as heir to the throne because him coming here he wanted freedom from that kind of uptight life. So many rules , so many obligations and too many expectations. He wants to be able to be a reliable cultivator which includes going back and forth to the capital to the king ,to his father and acting like the man commands him as of a king . If he succeds he wants it to becsuse of his efforts not because the king gave him his DNA. In conclusion he wants to feel the world and prosper without the soft coating that his father makes.

Valian understands how Syin feels about this but he doesn't trully appreciate how much of an impact it has on him . They might talk about but it may sometimes comes across as being spoilt to Valian so Syin tends to avoid it while Valian seems to keep forgetting it's a sensitive topic. Also him acting the way he does when it is mentioned shows to the audience that there is something that is going on or something that is being hidden.

" Excuse me , childes .Tian ZhoZhung said to give you this letter ", he handed it to Syin already knowing who he was .

Adrian and Joln moved closer to read the contents but as Valian was about to move in, the man slowly slipped a small letter onto his belt and he excused himself.

Valian checked and he looked to the contents before shoving it into his pocket. He went to the others and likewise Kijad told them to book an inn and rest while he invisteigates somethings.

" I don't want to sleep", Joln shrieked feeling belittled and Syin knodded to the words.

" We have no choice", Valian told them and he went towards the carriages.

Joln eyed Adrian who forced a smile Joln definitely didn't fall for. He could see he was faking it and even when he touched him it was surprisingly cold and unreactive. He now felt bad like he scolded Adrian into pretending like they are on okay grounds.

' did I really not do anything wrong? ', he asked himself continuously but failed to reply himself.

He does like Ryle but this coldness he is receiving from

Adrian is much more savage and unforgiving than that

from Ryle whom he hadn't spoken to for more than two days.

He smiled it off and continued looking at him equipped with one mission, to give him some space as that always does the trick

(Two hours later)

They were gathered in one room while Herim was still outside with the girl.

Adrian was on the bed sleeping with covers, Syin on the table reading and Valian had disappeared yet again despite being in foreign land. Keeping tabs on him is so difficult . Joln was writing some calligraphy but would occasionally look at Adrian breathing slowly.

Syin placed the book down and he walked out saying he was going to look for his cousin.

No one stopped him and it seemed like no one heard that.

" Can I come and sleep there?", Joln asked still writing

' No , because you are not Ryle( who I wish to have me touch ).. Yes ( you still a friend of mine).. No ( I think I no longer want you near me).. ', what did he mean to say

" Mhm!", Adrian answered and he heard Joln push the chair.

He braced himself to feel him touching him but instead he heard the door close as Joln had also left the room.

He exhaled and peeked to find himself all alone.

***

Ryle walked into the inn and as he turned his head he saw Syin sleeping on the table by the window with a little bit of the Sun falling on his face.

He walked to him and sat opposite. He smiled and raised his hand to cover the sun .

"Why are you seating here all alone?", He whispered

" I was waiting", Syin answered and woke up startling Ryle to accidentally drop snow on his face and retract his arm.

" I was waiting for Valian", he yawned and greeted Ryle.

Ryle told him he should be more generous to his body as sleeping on a desk is not good. he asked Syin how his hand feels since he froze him last time

" It's fine. Just a little numb from sleeping", he answered shaking it then later emitting some orange light.

" Cute", Ryle giggled and when Syin raised his eyes , he found Ryle looking at him instead of the hand

He stood up and laughed sweetly as he walked to the room that was reserved for him.

Like a robot Syin stood up as well...