The next morning, they exchanged many hugs and goodbyes as Tang Yin and Jiang continued on their way. Making a dash out of the Vast Sea City and then towards the spirit forest. As soon as the Vast Sea City vanished into the distance, Jiang spread his wings, with Yin close by. The two, heading into the sky as they hit the clouds, Jiang fully transformed into his dragon self. 

She landed on Jiang's back and wrapped herself in her coat.

Fixing it with her hand before leaning close onto Jiang and closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth seeping in from beneath his scales. Jiang was flying gently as she dozed off on his back, her hand holding onto him as the landscape beneath them passed by. 

It was quiet and peaceful. 

Though unlike before, Jiang headed higher and higher the further inland they went. As cities and villages that passed beneath them grew more and more numerous. Jiang's mighty wings beat once in a while as she touched the clouds surrounding them, and they slowly turned darker.

The white passing into grey and into darker grey. 

"A storm," Yin muttered, and Jiang glowed in agreement. 

"Yes. We either need to land or rise even higher." He said. "Landing is better. I am not sure how good an idea it is to stay airborne with you on my back." 

"I can handle it," Yin argued. "We also have no idea who or what is below us." 

"Up there, you will have difficulty breathing, Yin, and it will be a turbulent flight, and with only one arm, you cannot hold on like before." He refuted calmly and then headed lower. Yin gritted her teeth. He had a point.

With only one hand, she might be able to hold on, but it was nowhere near as stable as before and in the hights they were talking about she would indeed find breathing difficult. 

The tempest above them slowly began to intensify as Jiang descended.

The wind was ripping at her when they were heading lower. There was nothing but misty grey field of seeming nothingless that they indetified as forest below them when Jiang grew smaller and smaller as they lowered until he was human and Yin stretched out her wings, putting away her coat. 

The wind ripped at her and Jiang grabbed her dress to keep her close, stabilizing her. 

They landed when it was pouring. Tang Yin is struggling to keep in the air from the downpour.

The ground was a mess, and they soon found themselves knee-deep in the mud. Stomping through the weather. From above, they had seen a small cave, but they were unable to reach it due to the wind; even crossing against it had become impossible as they were thrown around like toys. 

Jiang grimaced. "Damn, I can't transform. We are still too close to human territory." 

"Whoe is us." Yin cursed as she cursed. The wind had been picking up now as well. It was tearing at them; her coat was now more of a burden than a protection, even if it kept her halfway warm and at least her upper body dry. If not for her googles, she doubted she'd see anything. "It should be over there, though," Yin said and gritted her teeth. 

Jiang grabbed her hand, and once again, they were marching until they huddled into a small stony but dry cave. 

Jiang leaned back. "Well, this is the moment when I hate my human form." 

Yin huffed. "Be happy you have a second one. Damn, it's cold." 

"Come here." Jiang spread his arms. "And get out of that coat." 

Yin put the coat back into storage, her clothes mostly wet. "I need to get out of this." She muttered and then stared at Jiang. "Turn around." 

"To narrow in here." He grumbled and closed his eyes. "This will have to do." 

Yin nodded and then changed into something dry. "You should change to. Or at least get out of that wet shirt." She said. 

Jiang opened his eyes. "Then close your eyes." She closed her eyes and heard the rustling of fabric. Unable to help herself, bursting from curiosity, she cracked one eye slightly open. 

Damn, she had seen Jiang shirtless before, but now he was standing there in underwear, and hell, the man was built. She closed her eyes again. 

"I am done. Now get here." He said and stretched out his arms. Yin huddled against him, and it was warm. Wrapped up in a hug, she noted just how much bigger he was. 

When he hugged her like this, it was like being wrapped up in a warm blanket. A very warm and somehow comfy but hard one. Damn that six pack, why the hell was it comfortable? 

She curled up. 

"Cold?" Jiang asked her with a laugh in his voice. 

"Nope. Not anymore." She said, and Jiang huffed, amused. 

"Good." He said, and Yin closed her eyes, letting the comfort seep in. 

"Jiang." She muttered. "You know, I thought I was done with men. Like never again." 

"Mhh?" 

"I have terrible taste and all...but." She opened her eyes and looked straight at him before smiling with a blush on her cheeks. "I think I am going to give it another shot. I just gotta take it slow. Very slow." 

"Got it. No worries." He muttered, leaning back, his temple against hers. "As slow as you want." 

"Good. Because I have really, really terrible taste. I don't wanna get hurt again." She muttered, feeling very drowsy. 

"Got it," Jiang said. "We take as long as you need, and you know. For that taste. Maybe you should just take someone who is not quite allthat human." 

"Mhh." She hummed. Jiang leaned downward and gave her a peck on the cheek. He hugged her closer and felt she was so frail beneath his arms. So breakable. He could crush her effortlessly with a slight claw. Even for a human, she was small. 

He looked at the symbol on her temple. A crescent moon shines silver beneath the light. 

"My friend. I am asking myself, did you intend this?" Jiang muttered. "I cannot help wonder." 

He closed his eyes, gazing into the storm-cloud sky. Behind it was the moon, his friends' sigil, and a part of his legacy. The god of the moon, the god of souls. He was the one who guarded and kept the river of billions of souls between thousands of worlds safe and moving. 

If it was him. He could have done it intentionally. Jiang sighed.

Why did he even think about it? 

"I don't know if she can bear your legacy." He muttered. "It might be too heavy. I do not wish to see her suffer." 

Tang Yin, in his arms, moved. Wiggling even closer to him, clearly she was still cold. He let her change into a position that was more uncomfortable for him, but he knew would be cozier for her.