Yetao signalled Barcode to start, and the drumbeat began. Yetao waited for precisely three beats before his first movement, a subtle shift that signaled his absolute command of timing.
When he finally began to dance, it was with an elegance that belied the power contained within each gesture. His movements flowed like silk caught in a gentle breeze—continuous, seamless, yet precisely controlled.
There was something profoundly refined in the way he extended his arms, each finger positioned with deliberate grace, creating lines that drew appreciative murmurs from the dance instructors scattered throughout the audience.
The audience unconsciously straightened their postures as they watched, as if mere observation of such refined movement demanded a more dignified bearing.
Minghao, normally quick to dismiss, remained fixed on Yetao's movements. Yetao told stories many had never heard spoken but somehow recognized tales of struggle, persistence, and transformation that transcended the barrier of unfamiliar art.
As Yetao moved across the stage with impossible grace, Bambam's breath grew shallow. The sensation spreading through his chest was unfamiliar and alarming—a warmth that radiated outward with each beat of the drums, each fluid movement of Yetao's form. His heartbeat, usually as steady and predictable as his daily routines, now accelerated with a life of its own.
"This is absurd", Bambam thought as he placed his hand in his chest, as an attempt to stop his beating heart.
But he was not the only one who fell prey to his performance then. The phoenix lord has also felt something crack within him. A wall he hadn't even recognized, constructed over decades of solitary living and emotional caution, began to crumble. In its place surged something terrifying in its intensity, but he didn't know what to name it.
Yetao's final movement hung suspended in the silent hall, his body curved like a question mark against the dimming light.
All he could hear was his heartbeat warming despite his controlled breaths. Yetao flinched with the wave of applause that crashed through the audience like thunder.
Within he could feel the moment of happiness by pleasing the audience, the white dragon's heart scale reached Yetao.
Yetao's body absorbed the heart scale, and he had those visions again.
This time, he saw a huge orange fire surge through the sea, reaching the sky and a big bird emerged from the base. He again saw that he was holding a man in his arms, crying hard. But couldn't see his face clearly. He tried hard to see his face, but an unexplainable force evaded his mind and he fell unconscious.
Barcode, who was near him at the stage supported him, preventing him from falling. Everyone else panicked. The phoenix lord and Bambam rushed to the scene. Minghao and Jeff were worried too, but handled the panicked crowd, seeing Yetao had people protecting him.
Bambam carried Yetao like a princess and made him rest on his bed and the others arrived.
"I know what you'll try to pull now, Bambam. Yetao will wake up after a few hours of rest. Don't even think about giving your life energy to him again. You can't take more than 2 elixirs a week, since we're snakes", Jackson warned him and Bambam clenched his fist in his inability.
"I could do it", the phoenix lord offered which made Bambam to squint his eyes in suspicion.
"You're snakes who can't keep your body purified by elixirs and the dragons can't give their life energy since it would threaten the others. But I can, right?", the phoenix lord was confidant.
Jackson hesitated a bit but nodded to agree and he proceeded.
The phoenix lord signalled the others apart from the clan leaders, to move out. He removed his mask and held Yetao's hand gently. He passed his energy to him with full force without his flow restricting mask.
Yetao slowly opened his eyes after a few minutes and saw a blurred figure of a man sitting beside him. He widened his eyes with all his energy left to be shocked.
"Oscar?", Yetao gasped on seeing him.
"You know me?", Oscar was surprised.
"Does he not know me? Is he from this game world then?", Yetao's thoughts faded along with his consciousness making him to sleep transforming to his fox form.
"How cute!!!", Oscar screamed internally but maintained his composure as the phoenix lord for the others.
"He's good now. He just needs rest as of now. I'll take care of him", Oscar offered but Bambam was annoyed.
"I really appreciate your help. But I will take care of him now. You can go", Bambam forced a smile denying his help.
"How could you? What if he faints again? You can't even give your life force as of now", Oscar's remarks hit Bambam's ego.
"Why would he faint again if you have already provided with enough energy? Don't tell me you were stingy in providing him energy", Bambam said sarcastically which hit Oscar's pride.
Their eyes locked in mutual hostility, tension crackling between them like electric current.
When Jackson was about to lose his composure, someone unexpected broke out.
"Can you both please stop? He's literally resting and you're fighting like kids? Both of you get out. I'll take care of him", Barcode shouted in anger.
"Jeff gege, take them out", Barcode's expression even threatened Jeff, and he immediately dragged Oscar away. Confused by the situation, Jackson dragged Bambam away.
"I never knew this side of his existed too. How cool", Jeff was inspired by Barcode's fury and started to fanboy him and Jackson sighed.
"Why did you drag me away? I said I would take care of him", Oscar sulked.
"Why are you sulking about it? Barcode will take care of him well. Leave it at that", Jeff brushed it off, but Oscar was determined.
"If you do this, then how can I score points? Jeff gege, let me go", Oscar struggled from Jeff's clutch.
"Score points?", Jeff was confused.
"I like him", Oscar blurted which made everyone freeze in shock.
Jackson coughed denying the unbelievable situation and his hand, holding BamBam was scorching hot because Bambam was annoyed to the core.
"What did you just say? Care to say that again?", Bambam's eyes glazed like fire as he raised one of his brows in fury.
Understanding the heat of the moment, like how they could start a war at any given moment, Jackson and Jeff signalled each other. They both dragged away the person they're holding in opposite directions.
Jackson locked up Bambam in a room.
"I know you can break-open this door anytime. Just know that you'll never see me again if you do that", Jackson threatened him.
"But gege...he...", Bambam was furious, but he couldn't defy Jackson. He stayed silent with numerous thoughts running through his head.
Meanwhile Jeff twisted Oscar's ear saying, "Are you nuts? Why did you say that?", Jeff was flabbergasted and Oscar groaned in pain.
"Gege! It hurts", Oscar finally broke-free from Jeff's clutch.
"Good that it does. What did you have in your head while saying such a thing out of nowhere? What will I tell your mom if she found out about this? She's already in hot water with the demon realm. If she ever finds out you took a liking to one of us, she'll wage a war for sure", Jeff was scared of the aftermath of Oscar's actions.
"Gege...I'll take care of mom. Just help me this one time. Hmm?", Oscar's pleading eyes hit Jeff's soft spot. But Jeff knew to make a rational decision.
"Oscar, this is a matter involving Yetao's feelings. If you have the courage to be enemies with Bambam, then you can pursue Yetao. But only when he wakes up. After all, Yetao should be the one to give you his consent regarding your feeling, not me", Jeff patted Oscar's shoulders and left the room, silently locking it, which made Oscar's escape plan go to waste.
"Arghh.....Why should I fear Bambam? I'll do whatever it takes to win his heart", Oscar was determined.
When these two men were battling for Yetao's heart, Yetao slowly opened his eyes after a whole long day of sleep and woke up on the next evening. He was still in his fox form.
"You woke up?", Barcode smiled in relief that Yetao is back.
"Huh? I'm still here?", Yetao purred.
"Wait, isn't Oscar the one who saved me? He's here? Or is he an NPC?", Yetao was lost in his thoughts.
"Yetao, is something wrong?", Barcode couldn't understand his words since he was not a lord.
Yetao squirmed around in the bed struggling to speak. Understanding his actions, Barcode summoned Jackson and Jeff.
Jackson placed his hand on Yetao's head and turned him back to the human form.
The first word came out of Yetao's mouth was, "Where's Oscar?". Yetao's eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation.
"You already knew him?", Jeff was confused.
"Um.... I've heard of him. He's a legendary lord right?", Yetao blurted whatever and forced a smile.
"He likes Oscar already? Jeff was nervous by the statement and looked at Jackson who had a serious expression in his face.
"Before that, can you tell us what you saw in your vision this time?", Jackson clenched his hand like he fears something that shouldn't be in the vision.
Yetao's expression changed serious. He thought of what he saw in his vision.
"Was it the same?", Jackson asked with a hint of fear in his eyes.
"No, it was a bit different. I saw a big bird this time. It emitted an orange ray to the sky", Yetao said.
"Bird? Is it what I think it is?", Jeff was lost in his thoughts.
"So, the vision is different this time? Seems like what I worried won't happen then", Jacskon's lips curved to make a smile of relief.
"But about the man I was holding.... Should I tell them? But I don't even know him?", Yetao was conflicted in his thoughts.
"I'll just tell them if I remembered his face", Yetao decided to hide it.
"I think our next target is Oscar then", Jeff claimed which made Yetao bewildered.
Jackson nodded in agreement.
Barcode looked at everyone in confusion, since the topic is new to him. Jeff noticed it.
"I'll tell you later, ok?", Jeff assured Barcode, and he left the room to give them some privacy.
"What do you mean by saying that Oscar is the next target?", Yetao was serious.
"The bird that can connect heaven and earth with its light, it's phoenix", Jeff stated.
"I think your vision shows your next target", Jeff proposed a theory.
"But.... that didn't seem like it. It felt way too real. Like it really happened a long time ago. And the man....", Yetao was wandering in his thoughts.
"If it's like that, then shouldn't I collect the heart of all the five demon clans? Speaking of which, where's the wolf clan. I believe I didn't see them during my performance", Yetao was curious.
"Oh, seems like the wolf lord is busy with something. He sent his apology and gifts via his confidant", Jeff stated.
"Before that, we need to focus on the heart of the phoenix lord first", Jackson stated.
"But I don't know about the rules of phoenix clan", Jeff was stressed out.
"Isn't all the demon clans same? I just need to impress him in some way right?", Yetao was clueless.
"He's not from the demon clan Yetao. He's half immortal", Jeff's statement confused Yetao.
"His mother... is my aunt. But she just hate the demon realm. Can't blame her for that though", Jeff let out a deep sigh.
Yetao was lost in his thoughts, thinking seriously about his next step.
"I'll make him spill it", Yetao said.
"How?", Jackson was clueless too.
"I don't know. But we can't ask him directly about it, can we? I need to speak to him first. Where is he?", Yetao was determined.
Jackson and Jeff had their doubts but at this point, they have no other choice.
After getting Oscar's whereabouts from Jeff, Yetao headed straight towards the room he's locked at. It was already open considering how it has been a day.
Yetao slowly peeked into the room but was startled to hear a voice from behind.
"You came to see me?", Oscar grinned from ear to ear in the happiness of seeing his crush.
Yetao's eyes were fixed on Oscar. He couldn't believe he's seeing a familiar face in the unfamiliar world.
"I know I'm handsome, but if you stare at me like that....", Oscar's face started to flush.
Yetao quickly looked away from him and cleared his throat.
"Um... do you know me?", Yetao blurted out.
"Of course I do. You're the beauty who made me fall", Oscar said with a smiling face innocently which made Yetao to cough hard.
"Excuse me?", Yetao was flustered.
"I already liked you when I saw you for the first time yesterday. But I fell for you when I watched you dance", Oscar confidently admitted.
"Saw for the first time? Then he's a game character too? But what's with this sudden confession. I know he's not the Oscar I know. But still....this is....", Yetao screamed internally.
When Yetao was struggling to understand the situation, someone pulled him from behind.
"What are you doing here? Your servants were searching for you", Bambam said with a serious face to Yetao, while glaring at Oscar.
Yetao flinched by the unexpected pull.
"He came to see me. Why are you meddling unnecessarily?", Oscar glared back at him.
"I'm not obliged to answer your question, beak boy", Bambam held Yetao and teleported to a small arched bridge above a river.
Yetao looked around to see the entrance of the palace, far away from him.
"Where are we? Wait... first, why did you take me here without my permission?", Yetao was annoyed but thankful in the inside since he was clueless on how to handle Oscar.
"Taotao, what were you about to reply?", Bambam was serious.
"Reply to what?", Yetao couldn't get it.
"To his confession", Bambam spilled.
Yetao remembered it again and flustered.
"Why are you blushing? Do you like him?", Bambam was angry but his hands trembled in fear to know the answer.
"Why does it matter to you?", Yetao snapped at him.
"Because I like you," Bambam's confession erupted with unexpected force, the words hanging in the sudden stillness that followed. His declaration seemed to transform the very atmosphere around them, as a gentle breeze stirred to life beneath the watchful gaze of the moon.
Silver light spilled across his features, illuminating the vulnerability etched there, while casting the surrounding trees in ethereal glow. Their leaves shivered and danced in response, as if nature itself celebrated this truth that had been hidden away for far too long—now finally revealed under the moon's patient witness.
His eyes locked on Yetao's, unflinching and possessive, as he growled, "I can't give you up to any other guy, you get it?"—the words landing between them not as a question but as a declaration of territory, raw and unapologetic in its jealousy, the moonlight catching the fierce determination etched across his features.
Yetao froze, his body becoming as still as the statues in the palace garden. The moonlight caught the widening of his eyes, turning them to reflective pools of disbelief. His breath—so carefully controlled during his dance—now caught painfully in his throat. Time seemed to crystallize around him, suspending the impossible moment.
When Yetao was drowning in the thought of his surprise confession, he heard a very familiar voice.
"Taotao?....", the voice said.
Without a second thought, Yetao turned the side to see the owner of the voice.
"Lu?", Yetao was surprised, but felt choked that he might not know him.
"Is that really you, Taotao? I thought I'd debut without you. Why would you play such a stupid game?", Whylucas welled up tears.
Yetao's vision blurred without warning, the familiar face before him suddenly swimming behind a veil of gathering tears. Yetao immediately ran towards Lucas and hugged him tightly bawling his eyes out.
"I was so scared Lu", Yetao's fear, loneliness, anxiety and all the negative emotions he pent up broke out all of a sudden.
"Lu?", Bambam was bewildered and annoyed, seeing the number of men in Yetao's life.
Will he win Yetao's heart facing such a strong rival?