When A-Xuan woke up the first thing he did was sign up for Mystic Warfare when he saw that Ming indeed sent the money.

He actually has money to pay but he needs to have a record of him paying for his participation. That way once the truth is out the whole realm will see what his plan was all along.

A-Xuan spent a rather normal day, he just went to class. It was boring to him but he needs to graduate for the original. He shopped for new clothes and had them shipped to his new apartment.

He isn’t planning on taking any of the things that belonged to the original. At lunch, he didn’t eat with Ming and his friends as usual.

He wants to separate from him, he’ll have to pretend to be friends with him when the show starts so he just wants to enjoy those two weeks.

He’s used to pretending, to have to follow a script but if he doesn’t have to he won’t. After two days he could finally move into his apartment.

After class, he emptied his room, and after tossing everything he left for his new apartment.

He had already hired staff so everything was already tidy. He only hired them for the day so when he would come home they wouldn’t be anyone.

Huang Xing closed his computer and leaned back on his chair. He grabbed the stick note on his desk and left. He looked out the window while he was driven to the address.

When he arrived he looked at the building surprised. He asked the driver:

"You’re sure this is the right address?"

"Yes sir."

"You can leave I’ll go back on my own."

Huang Xing got out of the car admiring the sky-high building. How can an orphan afford to live in such a place?

He entered and walked to the reception area and asked for A-Xuan’s apartment. The woman made him wait while she asked the guardian if he was there.

Once she confirmed that he was indeed there she led him to the elevator. When the elevator stopped the doors opened into a massive space, his elevator door opened directly into his living room.

The living room was richly decorated. Behind it was multiple hallways that led to the kitchen and the dining hall. The stairs on the side led to multiple bedrooms.

Huang Xing walked to the stairs but he stopped when he saw A-Xuan on top of it looking at him. He was surprised and his cheeks were flushed, he seemed paralyzed with fear.

He could smell food when he entered so he was probably planning on eating, he’ll accompany him then.

"Come down."

A-Xuan came down the stairs slowly. When he reached the last step he stopped looking up at Huang Xing. He grabbed his hand and led A-Xuan to the dining hall. A-Xuan looked at their intertwined hands smiling.

He obediently followed him. Huang Xing let go of his hand and took a seat at the head of the table.

He looked at all the food displayed on the table wondering how someone so small could eat this much. He looked up and saw that A-Xuan was just standing there awkwardly.

Huang Xing lifted his hand and ordered:

"Come."

A-Xuan walked hesitantly and stopped when he reached him. He pulled him on his lap and A-Xuan looked at him surprised, when he circled his waist his entire face became red.

Huang Xing smirked, he likes how reactive he is. It would certainly be interesting under different circumstances. He grabbed the chopsticks feeding himself and A-Xuan.

He likes how obediently he would open his mouth when he would bring the food. After they were done eating A-Xuan tried to get up but Huang Xing stopped him by tightening his hold.

He asked:

"I thought you were an orphan?"

A-Xuan looked at him as pain flashed through his eyes.

"I am."

"How can you afford to live in this place?"

A-Xuan explained:

"I invested all the money I saved up over the years."

"Seems like you made the right investment, usually only strong seer would get this lucky. Are you?"

A-Xuan looked away and said uncomfortably:

"I-I’m not a seer."

Huang Xing could tell that he was hiding something related to his tier. Usually, he wouldn’t dig deep with the witches he slept with but this time he felt curious.

Huang Xing pinched his chin lightly and turned his head so they were face to face. He asked:

"What are you?"

A-Xuan stammered:

"I-I..."

"Tell me now."

A-Xuan said with difficulty:

"The orphanage I grew up in was poor. The witches running it kept all the funds and only gave the witches there the bare minimum. Once they would get 2 tiered witches they would exploit them until they were dry. So when the seer came I made him read me as tier 3."

Huang Xing frowned.

"What’s your real tier?"

A-Xuan looked down pursing his lips. Huang Xing could tell that he kept this secret his whole life to protect himself. Witches would for sure abuse a powerful orphan.

Huang Xing felt a pinch in his stomach, he lifted his head and said:

"You can trust me."

A-Xuan’s eyes moistened as he said shakily:

"Everyone always expects me to do something for them because they know I’m an orphan. If it’s like that when they think I’m a 3 tiered witch what is it going to be when they find out it’s not true? So can I trust you?"

It’s the truth, the original downplayed his power so the witches who ran the orphanage wouldn’t exploit him. If they knew he was a mage he would be their slave and he would never be able to enter Divine U.

As a mage, he was able to pose as any tier he wished and the imprint customary to mages only appear if the witch wish it.

Huang Xing reassured him without realizing it:

"You can, I won’t say a word I promise."

A-Xuan closed his eyes and a tear fell when he opened them again. Huang Xing wiped the tear and waited for him to open up. A-Xuan looked at him as if he was trying to see if he could trust him.

After a while he whispered:

"I’m a mage."

Huang Xing was stunned, he can’t even feel how strong his core is. Mages can hide their power but since it’s so rare any 1 tiered witch would scream it at the top of their lungs.

They aren’t any records of mages who would hide their power since those witches would live the most amazing life, they are basically gods.

But here is a witch who hid his whole life because the witches around him only exploited him. Huang Xing looked into his eyes and he could see how worried he was about his reaction.

He asked:

"Can I feel your core’s power?"

A-Xuan swallowed and let down the shackle on his core, and a blue leaf appeared between his eyebrows. Huang Xing took a breath feeling his rich power. He is the strongest mage he has ever met.

The last mage was born 300 years ago and he met him when he was younger but he died 5 years ago. Mages can live 2 times longer than other witches.

So A-Xuan is the only mage in the realm. He touched the blue leaf on his forehead and kissed it. When he looked at him again the youth was surprised and he was blushing. How can he be so adorable?

Huang Xing caressed his cheek asking:

"Do you always blush like that or only for me?"

A-Xuan looked down putting back the shackle on his core and the blue leaf disappeared. He knows Huang Xing won’t say anything, his husband is trustworthy in every life.

He had a suspicion when he first met him at his office and he had the confirmation when he held his hand.

In almost every life, his husband is emotionally detached but he only feels for him. Still, he is a bit worried because Huang Xing is the original’s uncle.

He is bound to find out at some point but knowing his husband he would want to deal with it himself.

But A-Xuan wants to be the one to take revenge so if he hides the royal birthmark on his hip he’s afraid about how he’ll react when he finds out the truth later.

You know what I’ll let him know before anything happens so he can make his choice. If he doesn’t want to be with me then I’ll just finish this mission get his soul flakes when he dies and leave for the next world.

He doesn’t like the idea of a lifetime without him but ultimately it’s for his husband’s good so he would do it anyway.

A-Xuan got up flustered but Huang Xing wouldn’t let go. He kept struggling until he fell to the floor his t-shirt lifted.

He sat there on the ground like a statue, his cheeks were red and he seemed embarrassed. Huang Xing smiled and got up, he squatted in front of him and looked into his shining eyes.

He reached out for his hand but he stopped midway when he saw a birthmark on his hip. He looked at him shocked, A-Xuan seem to get scared and backed up. He got up and ran back upstairs to his room.