#Gege...i need to make a shrine for you

[winterrbluess]

Had to get this out of my system for the sake of my poor mind😵‍💫😵‍💫 (volume 29 redraw)

[sicksorrows]

i need this man so badly no mad will ever compare to this beautiful specimen. if nanami didnt exist—i dont exist. i am so thankful for gege making this beautiful man. no one is better than him. the glowup he got is so sexy imagine dating him from the start and seeing him grow up to be THAT FINE ASS MAN. oh my god the unspeakable things id do to him im literally going feral even seeing these pictures. idgaf how boring he was, boring men are so fine. I wish I was nanamis friend, bff, gf, wife, soulmate, all of the above. I NEED HIS DICK INSIDE MY MOUTH RIGHT NOWWAGHHHHH. if we lived tg and he came home tired and the first thing he asks for is coffee id give it to him no hesitation, id also give head on the way. I want this dude inside me where at this point, we're molded together to create a new species that never existed before. in my next lifetime I want to see nanami. I will watch jjk and see that man and know he is the best character out there. there may be a few characters who come close to him but no one will ever, ever beat him (except mahito, but that doesn't count.) he can do anything to me and id literally thank him. if gege makes more animations of jjk, id want to see this man living his life in malaysia. every single thing in the world is a nanami reference. ties? nanami (that reminds me I want him to blindfold me with his tie and fuck me so good I collapse in his arms (I also want to get him pregnant, but anyway)) blazer? nanami. blond hair? nanami. bread? nanami. literally anything? nanami. I originally was watching this show for Gojo and knew nothing about nanami but when he popped up on the screen I literally exploded everywhere. when I was watching season 2, I knew he was gonna die. the second I was on season 2 episode 18 10:24 I almost ended my life. I hate you mahito. I will never get why he had to die. WHY COULDNT HE BE A VILLAIN AND STAY IN THE SHOW FOREVER. IM GONNA CRY. NANAMI IS THE BEST CHARACTER EVER. when I get money im gonna make the biggest shrine for him to the point my house will be nanami shaped and have nanami all over it. I need a man who IS nanami, not like nanami, IS nanami. he is genuinely the best thing to ever exist in this planet earth and in this generation and im so glad I was alive when he died. ilovenanami.

[yoyowrites]

small hc that mu qing is the best cook out of the xianle group and he still occasionally cooks. he doesn't need to. he usually doesn't eat the food himself, instead leaving it to his poorest devotees. those meals are a secret even from other people in his camp. he doesn't plan for anyone to find out but people never plan for their secrets to be revealed.

xie lian, after the honeymoon period calms a bit, loves to drop by on short notice. he only does it to fengxin and mu qing. after mu qing's friendship confession the air, while occasionally a bit awkward, was much lighter. xie lian wanted to catch up and also be mire straight forward with the fact that they are friends. when he asked hua cheng how to do that, his husband told him to just be himself.

so xie lian sent a letter stating, he'd be at mu qing's palace that afternoon. when he appeared, the palace seemed to be mostly empty, no mu qing in sight. xie lian was ready to hop back down when a scent caught his attention. xie lian had come right after fulfilling a prayer and was a but hungry.bhe let his nose lead the way.

he found mu qing, relaxed, hair in a low braid, plating what he'd just finished cooking. he was so focused he didn't notice xie lian until he called out.

"ah mu qing," xie lian didn't bat an eye when a serving spoon was sent his way. he dodged it easily and stepped closer "what are you doing?"

"your highness, shouldn't that be my question? why are you in my palace?"

xie lian tilted his head in question "i sent notice didn't i?"

mu qing shook his head in disbelief but he had shown up at puqi shrine unnanounced more than one. "its nothing."

"i didn't know you ate?" xie lian pressed.

"I don't," mu qing got his serving spoon and cleaned it.

"but you cook?"

mu qing sighed and handed xie lian the plate. xie lian shook his head to deny but mu qing put the plate in his hand. "you're practically drooling over this. if i let you leave in this state who knows what that thing you call a spouse will pull."

xie lian saw through the lie. he's not so weak as to faint and if xie lian returned early due to hunger hua cheng would be happy to spend time eating together. still, he sat and happily took a bite. then his tears began to flow.

mu qing, who had been leaning with his arms crossed across from him, was startled. he walked closer with his arms outstretched unsure what to do. "your highness? what's wrong?"

it was like xie lian was in a trance, he took another bite and more tears fell.

"your highness if my food displeases you spit it out!" mu qing raised his voice in panic.

"no no," xie lian finally said. "it's good. i just haven't eaten this in so long."

mu qing relaxed. what he'd cooked was the staple dish of the kingdom of xianle. the recipe had long since been lost and its no wonder that xie lian hadn't had it forever.

"please wipe your tears," mu qing handed gim a napkin. "it's nothing to cry about."

xie lian took it graciously. "my apologies."

"now you make me look like the bad guy," mu qing said. "just finish your food, your highness."

after a few more bites, xie lian offhandedly mentions how he'd like to hua cheng to try the meal. as soon as the words left his mouth, his husband appeared by his side. seeing xie lian's red and puffy eyes, he wanted to make someone suffer but xie lian gives him a bite of the food. hua cheng pauses and chews.

"good right?" xie lian said. "mu qing made it."

"not as good as what gege makes but its passable."

xie lian laughed.

"you two know I'm still here," mu qing said. "you can take it home and please do not come and go to my palace as you please."

"ah, sorry mu qing."

the three bid their goodbyes.

that night, when they were laying in bed together. hua cheng brushed a stray hair from xie lian's face and asked "do you miss the kingdom? it was your home after all."

xie lian leans in to the touch and smiles. "my home is with you. the meal was just a nice memory."

[estrella-etoile]

HuaLian Are So Bad at Flirting They're Good

Oh my god. How can we not fall completely and entirely in love with Season 2 of the donghua?

Why do I say I adore it so much? Because of just how cringe HuaLian are with one another. It's so embarrassingly endearing seeing these two complete love failures try to figure out how to flirt (and do it terribly for anyone not named the other).

Let us start with our sweet lonely old man Xie Lian. He feels his loneliness so hard at Pu Qi shrine it hurts. He clutches a ring and the second Ling Wen reaches out he hides that ring under his robes, guarding it like a precious secret. And yet... does he think "hmm, I had a wonderful time with San Lang! I hope he had a wonderful time with me, maybe I should try to figure out how to get in touch to "try" to return this ring (but really to see him.)

Good thing Jun Wu tried to drive a wedge between them by sending XL to Ghost City to find out (for the first time in his life) that it was Hua Cheng's territory.

Then XL is in Ghost City. And he's trying not to swoon when he sees that his handsome San Lang maxed out peak hotness and is letting him win and touching him. "He's teasing me." (He let you bet a god for a half-eaten mantou and played fake rounds until he'd rubbed enough of his luck onto you to lose gracefully. SIGH) Yet instead of going "wow I wonder if San Lang likes me?" he watches an indirect kiss and a smirk and runs away.

You would think that this would make XL the biggest dork? And at episode 2, you would be right.

But my dear San Lang. My lovely precious ghost king BB goes so far into the cringe the next episode that he grabs the prize from XL.

We start with the try to be cool "gege pretended not to know me and then did not come find me!" while accidentally leaving the impression he was headed to a brothel (which... given XL's first three minutes in Ghost City... not entirely impossible). So yeah. Off to a great start ghost king.

He did at least look okay with the discussion of a home versus a residence (and scored himself a perma-invite to Pu Qi... because XL was looking for any possible opening to make that clear too.) And a pretty good explanation of why he's in charge of the city of sin. Then the trying to take care of gege during a PTSD flashback, yes! Go San Lang Go!

And then... the armory. It was adorable watching XL fangirl over the weapons. And seeing him smile and talk about how great they all were.

But babygirl HC... don't just smile smoothly and say "I will give you the whole armory." Yes yes, we all know you feel this way, but... not on the first date. When XL also politely refused (because that's kind of a HUGE offer to him), don't double down with "then you can have this room and visit any time you want! OH! I can help you with upkeep!"

XL has not really even come to terms with the fact that there is this person who enjoys his company yet. He's really really confused about the whole why the world's most handsome ghost king wants to be around him. You're just going to confuse him way way too much by trying to give him an arsenal of spiritual weapons.

But here's the thing. It worked. Sort of. Not because XL accepted the swords, but because he accepted the affection and the friendship. He doesn't want HC's status or his wealth. He wants to pet HC's uber-weapon and talk about sacred swords with someone. He wants HC's company. And maybe because HC's existence has pointed out that most relationships are transactions, he starts his approach using that mentality, even though his love and affection for XL is the opposite of transactional.

HC doesn't need to wine and dine XL. He needs to visit Pu Qi shrine as much as he wants.

Neither of these precious beans understand what a normal relationship looks like. So it's not a surprise that what they both want is the same: a genuine and unconditional connection. They have it already, so even when they both attempt to flirt with each other in ways that would make Pei Ming have an aneurysm, they still eventually triumph.

Because below the surface attempts is something so sincere and deep that they'll get there, and even find those silly cringe surface things hilarious when they sort it all out together.

[littleholmes]

from busted, slashed, and bloody to clean and healed in one move after using reverse cursed technique to heal his cursed technique and then attack Sukuna—

That wasn’t easy, indeed. Gojo cut that way too close for comfort but that was a WILD display of just how quickly Satoru can shift gears and prioritize his energy in a fight, but also what he’s improved since he was a teen and fought Toji.

I’d hoped he’d heal from that cliff hanger attack since he’s always had reverse cursed running Post-Toji incident, and he did—which is a relief (as I said before, you never know when Gege will decide to take someone). But that last attack, and really this whole chapter, I was reminded of that convo in 76 when Satoru used those Toji fights to learn where he needed to improve and shifted his energy.

Having Limitless and Reverse Cursed running uses up a ton of energy but it also keeps him safe from the constant attacks he’s been under since he was a baby because he’s the Six Eyes. It also means he’s always thinking with a fresh brain, so, as chaotic as he is sometimes, he’s sharp and that translates to his quick thought when he’s in battle.

We saw that this chapter when he shifted his technique from healing himself physically to healing his technique (yo, I heard you like techniques so I…)

Yuta noticed what he was doing after everyone started to get highly concerned that Gojo was taking blow after strike from Sukuna with no healing in between and it looked like he’s going to lose and die.

But Gojo isn’t the type to just take it, and he didn’t. That final blow of using Red at point blank range to send Sukuna flying into his Shrine was an excellent show of how Gojo started working post-Toji incident to improve and prioritize how he can keep himself safe and fight better—and whew Satoru Gojo really did put in that work.

In the panel grab above from 76, teen Gojo said he wanted to work on teleporting further, and now adult Gojo can go far in, like, less than a blink-level fast.

He wanted to work on using less energy with Limitless—and he has, it’s constantly running but takes like no energy. And he wanted Reverse running always and he pretty much has ever since Toji practically killed him.

He also wanted to work on activating Red and Blue, and as adult he can and does, which we’ve seen before with Hollow Purple and his use of Red and Blue individually. We saw this very clearly here in 226.

He already perfected his goal to ‘minimize hand signs’ at the time and we saw that in this chapter and a few times in previous ones.

Gojo has thoroughly progressed, and now in this chapter, we see him bring it all together to ensure his survival with Sukuna’s domain and technique overpowering his.

He took a significant blow physically and healed that with Reverse but then between his depleting energy and technique and his physical damage and opening a simple domain, he’s used up so much he had to make the choice to shift Reverse from healing himself physically to healing his technique while taking a bunch of hits and damage from Sukuna. Then once his technique was healed enough he used his speed, probably teleporting, to get close to Sukuna at just the right moment to use Red so he could heal physically and send Sukuna flying in one move.

He effectively prioritized in a way that none of the students and friends saw coming.

He used everything he improved upon over the years since the Toji fights and managed to make it out of another close call (albeit this one closer than most).

idk I’m rambling but this chapter was amazing, I loved all the speculation from all the characters, but I enjoyed seeing this part of the fight and seeing that progression in Gojo from 76 to now. (And also I’m gonna tag my friend @theanimepsychologist here because these last few chapters have been so incredible I’m sure I’ve missed something)

[sunnyfoxsstuff]

Hey felt a little sick kinda nauseous lastnight but im not dead xD anyways i hope you all are fine and well and that your days are going well ;)

Chapter 3: new's

FX:"if he's dead why would he be there then? I mean it doesnt seem like him to want revenge"

Xie lian didnt really know what to do or say but he decided he'd still help shi qingxuan if he need help on that note mu qing and feng xing left soon after,

A little while later shi qingxuan came out with the New fresh robe on that xie lian gave him it had only one color but he seemed content with it, they've continued the day by chatting catching up while at the same Time shi qingxuan would help xie lian with chores and such soon enough the Sun started setting down for the day

Sqx:"between do you know if uh, hua cheng's gonna Come?" Looking at xie lian

XL:"he probably will why? Do you need something? I could try to help you" looking back at shi qingxuan with a gentle smile

Sqx:"ah- uh- well i dont think you could help me honestly, dont take it against you though!" He said a bit awkwardly, a silence then took place until he spoke again "actually could you ask hua cheng to bring he xuan? I wanna start over our friendship and make it up for what my brother did to him because of me but i know hua cheng wouldnt even want to help me" looking straight at xie lian with a determined look keeping his bright smile on sure of himself

Xie lian was speechless he wanted to refuse after all shi qingxuan had countless nightmare's about what happened back there in black water's manor, he xuan's manor and now he was willing to see he xuan again, "i'll see what i can do but are you really sure?" He answered concerned, shi qingxuan just nodded and smiled at his Friend, xie lian went on and prepared their diner which shi qingxuan was fearing he did not want to die a seccond time by xie lian's food but before he could say anything a swarm of silver butterfly's appeared and a tingling sound could be heard

"san lang! Welcome home" said xie lian with a bright smile looking at the red ghost king that appeared out of the swarm of silver butterfly's

HC:"did gege missed me?" He chuckle smiling back but glaring back looking over at shi qingxuan "what is he. Doing here gege? Is he bothering you again"he say's in a calm but strict ton

XL:"now now he isnt here for that actually he's only staying the night he wanted to Come visit me, we'll talk about all this around diner alright? It's almost done" he say's calmly putting a hand on hua cheng's back to then go back to cooking, hua cheng followed xie lian watching him cook

Shi qingxuan on his side decided to go outside, take some fresh air knowing hua cheng could've definitely tried to put him out of puqi shrine, After what felt like minutes but were only second's shi qingxuan got up and went a bit forward on the grass and started to dance like he used to to summon the wind his right hand acting like he was still holding his fan,

Xie lian noticing shi qingxuan wasnt inside proceeded on goin to the door looking outside seeing shi qingxuan dancing his old dance even noticing the gesture he was doing as if he had a fan, hua cheng soon joined xie lian's side

XL:"Say san lang do you think you could call the black Ghost king over for tomorrow?" He say's keeping his eye's on shi qingxuan dancing as calm as the wind is

HC:"why if i may ask gege" raising an eyebrow turning his head to xie lian

Pausing for minute xie lian then turn's his head to hua cheng "shi qingxuan he..came here to ask to meet black water"

HC:"tch, im not gonna do something for him." He say's crossing his arm's

XL:"san lang!" Sighing "then do it for me? After all im the one asking you it"looking away having his mind up about it

HC:"fine if it's what gege want, though you do know that your 'friend' is dead right? Its as clear as day light" walking back to the table setting bowl's down to eat and glasse's

XL:"of course i know even if it's hard to take it in" looking at hua cheng setting the table

Sorry but imma stop it here again i already wrote it longer than i thought i could it was hard to put up sense in what i would write next and all sadly no he xuan in this chapter and dont mind the title please i didnt know what to put :')

[runabout-river]

@ourmondobongo

Needed to continue this conversation on a new post!

I can see 3 explanations for this Malevolent Shrine and its altered construct.

It's infused with the 10ST, or

It's a different version of MS, or

It's a mix of both

10 Shadows Technique

When I first saw this page, my first thought was "shikigami". It's the multiple eyes that, like you said, remind us of Nue and Agito but it's also the hands, it's overall animalistic design and also the dark spine that keeps it in the air.

Like we already said, this could've happened because Sukuna was forced to use parts of his brain that weren't damaged by UV and those extra parts may have been the place where 10ST is stored.

This would mean that this look happened on accident or better said, it's a compromise Sukuna had to make to expand his domain again. Or he simply sacrificed the 10ST for the remainder of this fight and that's why it looks like that right now.

As was already said in the story, the construct has no innate ability, it merely symbolizes the centre of MS so the addition of the 10ST wouldn't add anything to it outside of the expansion of the domain itself. If this DE had been properly fused with Chimera Shadow Garden than I think the text would've indicated it. (Except Gege wanted to hide that part and explain it later, like how Miwa(?) suddenly appeared to protect Maki.

My overall assumption for more than a year now since Megumi has been possessed, is that a reincarnated sorcerer doesn't have access to the DE of their host because a DE comes from the soul and that has been submerged now. So if that above is the 10ST than it's only a shallow paint of it.

Another Version of Malevolent Shrine

To expand MS, Sukuna had to make 3 compromises: Binding Vows, different handsign and usage of other parts of his brain. The last 2 could've very well changed the appearance of his construct but I'm concentrating on his handsign now

(The handsigns that the characters are using for their DEs come from a set of Buddhist greetings when I remember it correctly. These greetings are limited so as long as Gege doesn't expand his pool, the amount of characters with DE will stay low (as is the case right now). It could also happen that some characters will have the same handsign for their DE)

Kusakabe said that for a DE, you have to mix a set of parameters until it all fits and that changing those parameters is insane (paraphrasing) but that's exactly what Sukuna and Gojo did during their fight.

My theory is that changing the trigger of MS - the enmaten handsign - is the cause for why his construct is different now. Other sorcerers most likely wouldn't be able to expand their domains at all when they don't use their normal handsign but Sukuna somehow pushed that through.

IMO, the change of handsign itself changed the appearance of the construct (and maybe overall ability of the domain?) simply because it's not its own handsign. It's not about Gojo's sign in particular but about Sukuna needing a one-handed sign which forced his domain through a shape it's not accustomed to.

(This would also be true when that isn't Gojo's sign.)

The construct itself, while bizarre at first glance, also fits into Sukuna's established themes re his previous construct, his inner domain and his face.

The animal parts would come from the deer bones and skull, there is a mouth behind Sukuna that's the same as the mouth in his normal MS, the bones on top remind me of the deer antlers but also the ripcage his inner domain is in, and the hands symbolize Sukuna's own because that's how he uses his CT.

(Worth noting is that Makora has been destroyed; if some part of it would reappear again, it would be his wheel.)

The multiple eyes look like Sukuna's own face.

Gege did a few design changes when he reintroduced original Sukuna; he's better looking now for one and less animalistic. His right eyes are now significantly bigger as well, extremely big actually and IMO that's because Gege sketched that construct at the same time and matched Sukuna's look with it (plus other story related reasons probably)

And of course, the change in the construct's look could be a mix of everything I've said right now.

We'll definitely get more domain expansions in the future especially with Megumi's CSG looming on the horizon so this will get answered most likely... just not in the next three months.

[yuujiheart]

Man yuji could have eaten sukuna and have sukuna learning love that way but gege hates yuji so much he rather leave a continuation open with sukuna but it would be without yuji

It's so sad he hates Yuji so much, ruining sukuna too since sukuita was so good

Anon, I understand you since I would always prefer them coexisting together but logically that was not possible since tengen was in sukuna remains and if yuji eats that it would be him inside of that tomb of star stuck forever maintaining the barriers which I personally would have hated that a lot.

Now in my opinion I don't think gege hates yuji or any character in general.. He just thinks of them as a tool to tell the story he wants to. And getting attached to them would probably affect his writing.. But that doesn't mean his handling of yuji as the mc is great as a character tho he has done yuji justice but as an mc absolutely not.

Maybe because jjk in general was more plot driven although he somewhat gave up on that plot too in the end ... I will discuss that in another post..

I don't know how you got this idea that he can continue sukuna without yuji ..maybe before but not now. You know why??.. Because if you notice gege hasn't resolved plotlines at all. Especially related to yuji.. Like yuji's lineage, his soul being intertwined with sukuna. We still don't know if his connection has severed or not. (And before you doubt remember rika still had connection with yuta even after she passed on in vol 0. then even after changing body that connection still did not break.) Then we have jin itadori and kaori.. We all saw kenny had expectations for him but we never got any clear ans for that.

In 257 sukuna said kenny wouldn't have a child for no reason. I know some people say it was to contain sukuna but then why sukuna didn't acknowledge that although in the next page he does say the finger was sealed in yuji to ensure his strength as vessel and to make him a cg player.. But it is clear kenny had other reasons too which even sukuna couldn't comprehend.. Then we have cursed realm and yuji sukuna trip which isn't clear if it was his domain or what, his domain name too. Not to forget he gave us another plotline too that is that girl who is dressed like shrine maiden.

What I am trying to say is that gege can't make a sequel without solving these plot points which he deliberately chose not to resolve and he needs BOTH yuji and sukuna for that and kenjaku too.. The only question is whether he does it through a sequel, prequel,anime, q&a or simply decides to ignore..

[crystalsamethyst]

Ficlet Request for 100 followers! Post-canon Hualian domestic fluff! 😁

Hii! Here you go ❤️ I hope you enjoy!

A gentle, refreshing breeze flowed over a small shrine nestled on a hill. It picked up and softly tossed around the long fine strands of Xie Lian’s hair, making him sigh in peaceful bliss. That sensation mixed with the sunset was just such a wonderful end to the day, soon made completely perfect by the presence of his husband.

Hua Cheng sat next to him with a tray in his hands, offering up a cup of tea. With a small hum and nod of thanks, Xie Lian took it and sipped, savouring the delicate flavour and marveling at the talents of his husband.

“Today was really nice,” he whispered, looking out over the sights from the hill. “I love when we can do so much here.”

His husband took a moment to reply, and when he spoke, his voice was filled with warm laughter. “Gege, today has not been what I would call ‘nice’. It was one degree away from being classified as a disaster.”

“Getting stuck and falling into the mud of the rice fields is nothing,” he waved it off. He’d had far worse tumbles in the past 800 years.

“What about that ox going mad and chasing you?”

“I’m a fast runner.”

“And the farmhouse falling around you?”

“I don’t even notice anymore,” Xie Lian laughed, remembering the thousands of times the houses he built collapsed or burned down. “That farmhouse was destined to fall in the next wind storm anyways. It was better taken down by me; besides, it gives us a good upcoming project.”

Hua Cheng frowned at that and then sighed, shaking his head. “Your shackles have been gone for years, and yet your luck still seems to be against you.”

Xie Lian hummed again and leaned into his husband’s arm. “My luck has gotten a thousand times better ever since I met you. Even when I answer prayers on my own, I’m a lot better off than I used to be, and it’s all thanks to you, San Lang.”

“Gege…”

The way Hua Cheng was looking at him, Xie Lian knew he wanted to protest or to offer to transfer him all of his luck. It had been a conversation they’d brushed over several times, though the god definitely thought his husband was overreacting.

“Even if you weren’t able to pass it, your love is all the luck I need. With it, I can endure anything… Even when the things that go wrong really can’t be compared to how it used to be.”

After putting the tray down next to him in the grass, Hua Cheng delicately took the nearly-emptied cup out of his husband’s hands to put on it as well. Xie Lian laughed when the ghost king then lunged at him, sending them rolling from the impact.

Hua Cheng pulled his husband in to rest on top of his chest, and wrapped his arms around him in a tight, snug hold that both of them enjoyed immensely, enjoyed the moment until the sun went down.

When the evening chill finally started to settle, though neither of them were really affectedby it, they still moved inside to have a late meal of offerings and pull each other back into the tight hug once they made it to their bed.

“… Really though, San Lang, my luck has gotten better,” Xie Lian murmured into his husband’s chest. “Didn’t you notice? I didn’t get hurt even a little bit.”

“Of course I noticed. Had you gotten hurt, there would’ve been dire consequences.”

Xie Lian laughed. “Like what? There’s nothing you can do about gravity or the nature of animals.”

“There isn’t, but I would have had no choice but to swoop in and give you plenty of ‘care’ in plain sight,” he teased, making the god groan and bury his face in even more.

“San Laaaang…”

“Maybe some extra spiritual energy applied directly to the spots that might have been sore… Imagine if the villagers had to witness me literally kiss your-“

Xie Lian huffed and turned without prying himself from the hold on him. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Gege,” Hua Cheng whined, nuzzling into his hair. “Gege, I’m sorry.”

“Shh. I’m sleeping.”

[beautifulsnake2162020]

We have it all (Hualian adopted daughter fanfic) Chapter 6

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. I only do this for fun.

Premise: Not long after comforting a bullied girl named Meng Ai, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian find themselves adopting her and together they form a family they didn't know they had needed for awhile.

Story/Genre tags: Slice of life-ish (mainly), Family focused, Hua Cheng's houses finally become homes, there may be an overarching story but that's not the focus, Hualian being parents, Fengqing being uncles, Lang Qianqiu falling in love with someone who was raised by the Xianle squad, technically post-canon (though I haven't read the books so if there are some ooc moments please forgive me).

AO3 Link

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5

Follower tags: @anonimgato1507

AN: This might be my last chapter for awhile since my midterms will start at the end of September. But this isn't the last chapter of the story. Updates are just going to slow down for awhile (because I want to graduate already). Chapter 7 and 8 are already in the works. So I made this chapter extra long to make up for the more delayed updates.

Chapter 6

"Now you know all you need to know. Please, I don't care if I have become despicable in your eyes. Meng Ai doesn't deserve to live in fear as the consequence of my sins and the delusions of my family." He stands up to briefly relieve himself leaving them alone in the room to discuss.

"Hmm."

"What are you thinking?"

"With all things considered I would like to adopt her..."

"But?"

"But I wonder if Xiao-Ai will even like it?" Xie Lian couldn't hide his worries even if he wanted to.

"What if she thinks we are taking her away from her parents?" He sighs as he leans into his seat.

"Gege." Hua Cheng says gently with reassurance as he puts his hand on Xie Lian's.

"Do you want to adopt her?" Xie Lian now looking into Hua Cheng's eyes could feel his love no matter what choice he makes. He also knew that Hua Cheng already knows the answer. But hearing him tell him was also his way of making whatever his decision was become real.

"Yes, I do." Hua Cheng smiles as he now holds both hands both of Xie Lian's hands in his.

"But what if she doesn't want to be adopted by us?" Hua Cheng thinks a bit before finally speaking.

"The four of us will have to be honest with her. That way the transition from one set of parents to another won't be as difficult. At least she'll know from the start that we are doing this because we care about her." Xie Lian smiles.

"You too?" Hua Cheng lets out a small chuckle.

"She's a little hard to resist." Not long after they hear a commotion outside.

"Will she be safe here?" They hear Ji Huifan ask someone, the concern in his voice was evident.

"I've already summoned some of my best soldiers to come and be discreet while guarding Xiwangmu's temple." Mu Qing's voice reverberated throughout the halls of the temple. The couple shared a look. No words needed to be said with what they've just learnt.

If Mu Qing was here then that could only mean that Meng Ai was in danger and was targeted while she was staying in Puqi shrine. And so he brought her here to keep her safe. Feng Xin was probably still in Puqi dealing with what's left of the threat that remained. From the brief time they've had with Ji Huifan the "she" in question must either be Jing Mei or Meng Ai.

They later learn it was both.

By the time everyone assembled in the room they were in while soldiers from both Mu Qing and Feng Xin were discreetly guarding the temple, they already knew deep in their hearts that they were going to adopt her.

It was more of a question of how to make the transition easier for her.

______________________________________________________________

"Where's Fu Yao and Nan Feng?" Meng Ai asks as Jing Mei places her favorite breakfast congee on front of her. Her favorite part of it was of course the hard boiled tea eggs, there were three slices of egg halves today. That was generous of her mother Meng Ai thought since normally she would be lucky to get two.

"They are taking care of something that their Gods ordered them to do. Don't worry you'll be able to see them soon." Xie Lian says reassuredly as he takes his place beside Hua Cheng. While Jing Mei was a patient woman, teaching Xie Lian how to cook actually palatable food was not a one day affair. After almost setting the kitchen on fire she quickly ordered one of the chefs to let him out and told him that they'll try again some other time.

"Aiai, there's something your mother and I have to tell you." Hearing the seriousness of Ji Huifan Hua Cheng discreetly orders for all other servants except for Yin Yu to leave. Yin Yu was needed since he was in charge of Paradise Manor's security.

"What is it?" Jing Mei takes a seat across Meng Ai, not wanting to do this but at the same time understanding why Xie Lian and Hua Cheng wanted for her to know.

"Do you remember when we were still moving from place to place before we lived in Hu village?" Meng Ai nods.

"Was it because of bad people almost kidnapping me on the last village?" Jing Mei nods while in her periphery she could see Hua Cheng raise an eye brow and Xie Lian's look of concern.

"Yes, well those people are after you and your father and I are doing everything we can to protect you."

"I know mama." Jing Mei smiles sadly as she takes a breath before continuing.

"Do you remember why I don't tell you my visions?"

"Because if you tell the ones in your visions what you saw things might change so much."

"Yes...that's right." Meng Ai takes a guess to help ease Jing Mei's burden.

"Did you see a vision about me mama?" Jin Mei's eyes begin to water but forces herself to hold them back for now.

"Yes, a very horrible one. I saw it after I gave birth to you. So your father and I prayed to Xiwangmu what we could do to keep you safe and live a life to the fullest."

"What did Xiwangmu say?" She asks as she turns to her father.

"She said that as long as you have one parent who is alive and one who is dead, then you will be safe from those who have been chasing us and live a full life." Meng Ai's widen in shock.

"But I don't want either of you to die!"

"Aiai, we know." Ji Huifan says as he embraces her.

"Do you remember when a pretty woman with the suanpan that you liked visited us in the last village before Hu village?" Meng Ai nods and makes a guess.

"Is she Xiwangmu?"

"Not exactly. But she's related to her." Jing Mei says as she stands up from her seat and puts herself on front of Meng Ai.

"We've been praying to Xiwangmu to find another way to save you. And the pretty lady with the suanpan was sent by Xiwangmu to clarify that being a parent does not mean they have to be related to you by blood." This time Meng Ai's eyes widened in realization as she turned toward Hua Cheng and Xie Lian for the first time since the conversation began.

"Xiao-Ai." Xie Lian begins "It is okay if you cannot make a decision right now. This is a lot to take in-"

"Would staying with you and San Lang keep mama and baba alive?"

"I could send some assistance to protect your parents." Hua Cheng says in a reassuring and gentle tone.

"But it's uncertain?"

"Aiai, my darling nothing is absolutely certain." Jing Mei says as she looks at Meng Ai in the eyes.

"All we could do is do our best. This is what the four of us have talked about, all we are waiting for is your choice. Is it okay if Xie Lian and Hua Cheng become your parents too?" Everyone was silent as Meng Ai was slowly realizing what is going to happen.

"I don't want to lose you and baba." Ji Huifen embraces her as tears slowly begin pouring down her eyes.

"You will never lose us, a part of us will always be with you. You are not losing anyone, you are gaining two more people who will care and love you just as much as we do."

"We won't be leaving now. But we have to so that you will be given the life that you deserve and become the person that you want to be. What is it that you keep promising your baba and I every new year?"

Meng Ai struggles as her parents wipe the tears from her eyes.

"I won't ever give up on my dreams to become who I want to be. No matter what it takes."

"Are you going to start now?" Meng Ai stubbornly shakes her head.

"No mama."

"Good, making dreams come true is not easy. But it can be done. Always remember that Aiai." She nods as she hugs both Ji Huifan and Jing Mei. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian let them have their moment. No one knows when Ji Huifan will need to leave to finally put an end to his cursed family or when Xiwangmu will once again require Jing Mei to act as her oracle. It's better to let them savor each other's presence while they can.

Their sacrifice to give them Meng Ai as their daughter will not be in vain.

______________________________________________________________

"Are you sure that they've disappeared from and after Jingdezhen?" An intimidating figure asks as one of the mage mercenaries who was giving her a report.

"We cannot locate them anywhere after someone transported them to somewhere from within within the shrine to Jingdezhen. As expected they sought refuge in Xiwangmu's temple but they had divine assistance."

"I'm not surprised. My sister-in-law is one of her priestesses. I wouldn't put it above her to request aid from the other Gods." The female figure then throws a knife at the mage mercenary who was reporting. The blade being a little too close to his ear while still missing him completely.

Instead it latched itself on Feng Xin's armor.

Or it would have, had he not moved out of the way.

"What God are you?"

"What makes you think that?" She smiles as she throws another knife his way.

"You are absolutely right. You are not a God, you are a clone." Fuck! Feng Xin curses internally as he dodges attacks from all sides as he attempts to make his escape.

But his clone is overwhelmed and instead he ends up on his knees towards the woman who has been throwing knives at him. Now that he was close he could see her skin was pale with a grayish undertone. Her lips had dried up blood surrounding it.

"You know I've always been curious. I've never drunk directly from a God before. I wonder if a clone's blood will taste any different from other mortals?" It was only then that Feng Xin noticed that none of the mercenaries were close to them as the woman puts him on the ground as she begins to straddle him. She was a lot heavier than he had expected to feel. The pressure made by her sitting on top of his clone's ribcage was making breathing difficult.

"Get off me!" He tries pushing her off only for her to restrain his hands.

"Don't worry." Her fangs begin to make themselves more prominent.

"I'm skilled enough to make sure nobody feels pain. You might find yourself enjoying it." But before she could do anything she was blasted away from Feng Xin and outside of the tent they currently occupied.

"You idiot!" He knows immediately who his savior is and he couldn't help a smile from appearing on his face.

Mu Qing's clone manages to deflect then shield them from further attacks as they make their escape.

"Really!? This is how you do a reconnaissance mission?" Mu Qing immediately scolds him when they meet in private in heaven.

"I used a clone, I didn't expect anyone to detect anything from it. Normally nobody could even tell that our clones had anything divine in them."

"In case you forgot, these aren't normal people. These are cursed immortals who are only satisfied when they drink blood preferably from victims who are scared or in pain. Weren't you listening to Jing Mei?!"

"Mu Qing I'm fine now." He looks at Feng Xin unconvinced.

"Thanks to this experience at least now we know that they could even tell the difference between a clone and when it's actually us even though we would be in disguise." Mu Qing couldn't help but snort.

"I could have figured that out without having to get close to one of them." Feng Xin gets up to walk closer to where Mu Qing was standing. He sighs as he's finally on front of him.

"I'm sorry for not telling you. But I couldn't wait to investigate after Hua Cheng and Xie Lian brought them to Ghost City. My curiosity got the better of me." Mu Qing sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

"If you want your curiosity satisfied then read a book."

"Not fast enough for me, and Lingwen and her officials were already busy."

"Then contact Chenxi, that's what I did." Now it was Feng Xin's turn to be exasperated.

"I've tried that she wasn't responding."

"Did you use the conventional channels?"

"Yes, why?" This time Mu Qing couldn't help but have a smug expression. A little bit of revenge over Feng Xin for making him worry.

"Like her mother she doesn't respond to conventional channels. She doesn't like being here as much as her parents, so like them she ignores messages from conventional channels. It's why she and her mother have oracles as their priests and priestesses. Oracles are receptive of messages from the otherworldly and serves as their informants. Since no one in heaven typically sends messages from other immortals through their priest or priestess this was how I was able to make contact with her."

"Fuck." Mu Qing now breaks out in laughter savoring being a few steps ahead of him. Serves him right for making him use a clone to save his.

"I was going to tell you that I've arranged for the two of us to meet her. She's willing to tell us all she knows. But nooo! You just had to do a poorly done intelligence mission in a campsite filled with mage mercenaries who could summon and control any creature. And don't get me started on how a cursed immortal almost-" He was stopped midrant as he felt Feng Xin's lips on his. Through the kiss he could feel the sincerity Feng Xin always had and that he truly was remorseful.

He knows what this is really about. And he now sees his mistake.

"How do I make it up to you?" Feng Xin asks in between kisses that he has begun reciprocating.

"If we are going to make this work you tell me your plans. You don't have to be detailed - I could figure out the rest on my own. Or is that instruction only for me?" He says as he breaks away from their kiss looking him straight in the eyes.

"No it wasn't. And you don't have to figure things out on your own. Not anymore."

"I could say the same for you." He couldn't resist anymore and brings Feng Xin closer for another more deeper kiss.

It's a good thing he found another cultivation path that was a sufficient replacement for his current one. While it was still early on in his new relationship with Feng Xin and they haven't gone that far, he had already begun taking steps in the alternative path of cultivation. There's no limit to how many paths of cultivation one could take. But if one became a God with a path of cultivation then for their powers to not be decreased too much another path of cultivation should immediately replace it. And he was nothing if not thorough.

______________________________________________________________

"Well?" Xie Lian asks nervously as Jing Mei tastes the simple broth that he has managed not to overcook. Even though Hua Cheng insists that he doesn't need to learn how to cook, he can't help but feel guilty at not being able to. So when he noticed Jing Mei's cooking was praised by Feng Xin and Mu Qing he asked her if she could teach him. And under the condition that Hua Cheng wouldn't interfere with her sometimes harsh instructions, even he has to admit that Xie Lian's cooking had improved under Jing Mei's tutelage.

"It's on the bland side, the vegetables you placed weren't able to release their full flavor since you placed them a little too late. But on the bright side you didn't burn the food and it is easier to add flavor through spices. Good Job Dianxie." He sighs in relief over his progress.

"Jing Mei, by any chance you could teach me how to make some of Xiao-Ai's favorite foods? It might ease the change of her moving in with us." Jing Mei couldn't help but snort a laugh.

"I'm afraid if you do that she'll grow up to have the sugar disease. It's already enough that I inherited it from my own mother. I hope that Aiai doesn't get it, but it is something to take note of. She has a sweet tooth which is why I'm strict with how much mooncakes she gets for her birthday. And it doesn't help that Ji Huifan likes to sneak Nan Gua Bings and Tanghulus behind my back whenever he returns from one of his missions."

"Oh? But I thought she liked congee?"

"She does, in a way that it's a necessary sustenance to avoid being hungry. It's for her health and it also teaches her that some things are sweeter when they are earned. It makes it that much more special." Jing Mei releases a sigh.

"At least that's what I hope would happen." Xie Lian offers an understanding look.

"I wonder if she'll even open herself up to me and San Lang after your talk with her. Sometimes I doubt if she'll be able to trust us after that."

"She will." Jing Mei says confidently as she looks at Xie Lian straight in his eyes.

"She may be a little closed off now, but if she really didn't like you she would simply ignore both of you and suffer in silence. The mere fact that she's not afraid to express herself to either you or Hua Cheng shows that she has already begun trusting both of you." Jing Mei then sprinkles some spices from the spice rack. A part of her is still in awe that Hua Cheng was not only able to have this many spices but also that he was able to preserve their freshness for far longer. But given that Hua Cheng was practically one of if not the most powerful ghosts and is the wealthiest she isn't surprised that rare spices occupied space in his kitchen. Back in Fu Dao spices that the traders called Saffron and Cardamom were so expensive only the elite could afford them. She was able to have an indulgence of them every now and then when she was lucky enough to recieve gifts of such.

And now Meng Ai would probably grow up indulged in it if they weren't careful. Or she would probably be bored with it and not understand why these spices were so coveted.

"She thinks Huifan and I don't know about how the children of Hu village were bullying her. But I noticed it right away when she didn't talk much to them and would actively do things in order to avoid them. In her mind she's thinking that they won't listen to her anyway and just want to make fun of her and make her day miserable. So why bother talking to them? We have tried speaking with their parents in private but they see us as outsiders to their community. One day out of the blue we arrived and began changing things in the village."

"Not everyone liked it." She nodded.

"The ones in power didn't, those that weren't were grateful for our services. But then again it's hard to please everyone." She then gets a bowl and pours out the broth that Xie Lian made that was made palatable with her choice of spices. She then places noodles that will be cooked just right from the broth's residual heat. Finally she then garnishes it with a quickly diced spring onion before serving it to Xie Lian.

"Stir it a bit but don't eat it yet." He looks at her puzzled.

"Why not?"

"A volunteer has arrived to help us. Hello Hua Cheng, please have a seat." Xie Lian relaxes as he feels himself embraced from behind.

"I hope you haven't been too hard on him while I'm gone." Jing Mei couldn't help but internally roll her eyes at Hua Cheng's underlying threat. Out of respect for Xie Lian she restrained herself from actually doing it.

"He has made a great improvement today. Please have a seat - there is something I would like you to do."

"Which is?"

"Feed the broth to Dianxie." Xie Lian couldn't help but blush as Hua Cheng begins to relax a little more.

"I appreciate that you've decided to include me in your culinary lessons."

"Actually there is a reason why I want you to do it. Dianxie will have his eyes closed and won't be able to feed himself." Xie Lian makes himself comfortable now understanding what Jing Mei is trying to do. She wants him to focus on the food.

"Ready Gege?" Xie Lian was about to say yes when Ruoye decided to turn itself into his blindfold to the amusement of both his husband and teacher.

"I wasn't going to peek Ruoye."

"Ruoye just wants to make sure you could focus."

"Okay San Lang, I'm ready." He opens his mouth as Hua Cheng feeds him a right amount of the noodles that he slurps up.

"Focus on the food Dianxie, what do your senses tell you?" With his tongue he could taste how the noodles were just right. Not too soggy nor stiff, but the way he chewed and the way the noodles had spread the broth he and Jing Mei had created was filled with flavor. He could now understand why Jing Mei had called his earlier attempt bland when the plenty subtle flavors complemented each other as he swallowed it.

"The subtle flavors are sublime, I could now appreciate why you added them to the broth."

"What else?"

"Um I will need another serving San Lang."

"Say ah." This time Xie Lian got more of the broth than the noodles. With more of the broth there was a suprising layer of sweetness that he did not expect from a broth. How the cabbage and string beans added an interesting texture to a simple meal. It made him reflect on the times when he was fortunate enough to recieve the best meals made by the best chefs of the land. He appreciated their efforts and savored their works. A part of him was jealous of how they could create works that was immediately beneficial since everyone had to eat.

Jing Mei was right in making him return to the basic senses of appreciating food without his sight.

______________________________________________________________

"Baba what type of spirits are Xie Lian, Nan Feng, and Fu Yao?" Meng Ai asks as she and Ji Huifan are on a tour lead by Yin Yu of the gardens. Yin Yu reccommended that they explore the gardens section by section. The gardens were too vast to be explored in a week, and even less by a few hours in a day. Today was their first day and the tour had just ended with Yin Yu needing to take his leave after being summoned by Hua Cheng. Ji Huifan, followed by Meng Ai decided to sit under one of the trees to avoid harming the flowers.

"Before I tell you the answer, tell me first what you have observed." Meng Ai reflects back on what she had felt and sensed with them. She remembers that they had a heart beat, that there was a lightness? No, she thinks to herself. That's not the right word. The best she could come up is that they didn't cling to their forms. But San Lang also didn't cling to his form but he had the tell tale clinginess that ghosts had. That's why when she first felt his presence she knew he was a ghost. But he was also the first ghost to actually talk to her and not just simply ignore her or scare her away.

"I don't know if this is the right word but compared to ghosts like San Lang, they don't really cling to themselves and they have a heartbeat. I wanted to say that there is a lightness to them but that's not quite it. Nan Feng and Fu Yao are soldiers and there is a bit of darkness that also comes with them. Which is why I don't think lightness is the right word."

"Mmhmm, what else have you observed Aiai?" She closes her eyes as she focuses even harder on what she could remember.

"They are powerful - but San Lang is also powerful but their powers feel very different. San Lang's power is more grounded? Or at least that's how I feel whenever I'm around him. But with Xie Lian, Nan Feng and Fu Yao their power comes from the air? The sky? Something from above or somewhere we cannot see." As she opens her eyes she sees him nodding in approval.

"And given all of these observations - what do you think they are Aiai?" She thinks back to a few days ago when she just learned that she will be staying with San Lang and Xie Lian and that they are going to be her new parents and keep her safe.

They were the best choice because San Lang was already dead since he was a ghost, and somehow Xie Lian was considered to still be alive.

And this was something shared with Nan Feng and Fu Yao - but what? Despite San Lang being a ghost he still felt very much alive in her opinion.

Before she could think further an attendant was sent to get them. It was time for dinner. Since one day her mama and baba would be going away she wanted to have dinner with all of them present. Even her new parents, San Lang and Xie Lian.

She couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty since she didn't mean to act badly towards them. But they will have her for the rest of her life and she doesn't know when she will see her mama and baba again once they leave her here for good. San Lang promised that he would make sure they are protected as much as possible and she knows that her baba is working on stopping the scary people that keep following them around.

As they enter the manor something catches her eye.

She takes a quick glance at where her father was escorted by the attendant. The dining room was just straight ahead of where they were. She promises she'll just be quick. She just needs to know what was it that caught her eye.

So she moves closer to what appears to be a shrine.

It's similar to the one at Puqi but it was so vibrant. The mask the crown prince of Xianle appeared to be like the ones she would sometimes see rich people wearing. The sword in one hand looked so dangerous yet at the same time it was beautiful. Both in what it could do and on its own. And the flower on the other hand looked so much like the floating lotus flowers that Yin Yu had showed them earlier. She told him that this was her first time seeing them with her own eyes and she would only see pictures of them. And then her mother taught her how to make paper lotus flowers and whenever they visited a temple of Xiwangmu's or Chenxi's that had a river created for the temple, she would help her place their paper lotus flowers on the water and watch them float away.

"But what if it sinks?"

"Then it is no longer a paper lotus flower." She remembered getting upset.

"But what if I want it to still be a paper lotus flower?"

"Aiai." Her mother settles herself next to her.

"Why do you want it to remain a paper lotus flower?"

"Because you and I made it together. I don't want it to be ruined."

"Oh Aiai." Her mother brings her in her embrace.

"Do you still remember the time we made them?" She nods as she wonders why it seems her mother was sad and yet she was smiling.

"Those paper flowers won't erase the experience we had of making them. That will never go away. But the paper flowers don't need to be preserved just because those were good memories. What matters is the time we shared."

She was younger then, and she is only now starting to understand what her mother was trying to say. It's not the object that matters. It's the people.

"Do you like it?" She felt before she heard San Lang behind her. She was about to apologize for being late when she noticed his expression showing that he already knew and wasn't upset.

"It's so beautiful, I couldn't help but want to look at it." He goes beside her as they look at the portrait of the crown prince of Xianle together. It was only then that she realized that there was no food offerings.

"San Lang why are there no food for the crown prince of Xianle?" He couldn't help but make a small chuckle.

"Because Xiao-Ai, he couldn't appreciate them if they just stayed here."

"Huh? Why?" Hua Cheng heard that Ji Huifan was asking her to make a guess on what type of spirits Xie Lian and his two former attendants were. He could understand why he didn't simply want to give her the answer since she needed to learn how to think for herself.

And also arriving at the answer on your own was its own reward. A concept that is difficult to explain to a little girl. Which is why Ji Huifan only lays out clues but wants her to arrive on the answer by herself.

"Food deserves to be consumed, savored, and enjoyed. He already does that whenever and wherever he is."

"Even here?"

"Especially here." She glances at the painting that called to her. Hmm another mystery that will occupy her mind.

Speaking of mysteries, she realizes that there is another mystery that she hopes she could get the answer too.

"San Lang, may I ask you something?" He lowers himself so that his eye was at the same level as hers.

"Ask away little one."

"My parents say that you and Xie Lian are the key to keeping me safe. Because you are a ghost and are already dead and Xie Lian is still alive...I'm worried."

"About what?" He asks her gently and tenderly. Her heart already feels safe whenever he is around. But she wants to know so badly.

"Aren't you worried that one day Xie Lian would one day die? I'm already scared that mama or baba would die because of the people chasing us. What if because of me, Xie Lian dies? I don't want you to be lonely." San Lang gives her a reassuring and knowing smile. Something about the way his eye glistens is telling her that there is something she doesn't know. Something just out of her reach.

"That is the one thing I can guarantee will not happen. You don't need to worry about that little one."

"But how can you be so sure?" Her voice almost breaks asking.

"I am sure because I am still around. As long as I love him and never ever forget him he will never die." He then rises up as he offers her his hand. A red thread is attached to one of his fingers. She takes his hand and he escorts her back to the dining room. She watches as everyone was waiting for her.

"Don't worry - she was just looking at the shrine."

"Oh what do you think Xiao-Ai?"

"It was so beautiful and vibrant Xie Lian! It reminds me of the painting in Puqi Shrine." He chuckles as he glances at San Lang.

"Should I?"

"If you would like." He then turns to her with a grin.

"I'm not surprised why you find them so similar. San Lang made both of them." They turn to him in amazement as his stance was relaxed. As Xie Lian continues to explain how the shrine in the manor came to be, what really caught her eye was the absolute love and devotion San Lang had for Xie Lian.

If only she could find someone who would look at her the same way he would look at Xie Lian. Or the love she could still feel between her parents who after adjusting to a new environment have managed to make it feel like home was always with them wherever they went.

Later that night as she settles in her bed she wonders what Chenxi must have felt to have lost Hua Lijie to the arms of death before she could marry him.

Did he treat her as person with otherworldly powers? Or did he treat her how a follower worships a Goddess?

Her love preserved the peaches in a place where she didn't have that many followers compared to other places that made her one of their patron Gods. For Gods to survive in such a place they must at the very least be known if worship was not possible. Did he perhaps notice this and loved her so much that he became so devoted to her so she could continue to be with him in a place where she didn't have as much power?

She touches the silver butterfly that San Lang gave to her. It wasn't hard to see the love between him and Xie Lian. And even though she wasn't paying attention to every single word that was said, she could sense the gratitude and love from Xie Lian as well.

But why would he have that reaction when San Lang painted the crown prince?

"Had trouble sleeping?" Xie Lian asks her as she joins him in practicing calligraphy.

"A question refused to let me." She adjusts her grip to experiment if her calligraphy will improve.

"And what was it?"

"I was wondering how Chenxi feels when she lost someone who was so in love with her. I was wondering what their relationship was like to make her go against her parents to try to make him immortal only for him to die before they even got married. Mama says her love is what preserved and affected them. So when Hua Lijie's family scared, trapped, and abused her in a place when she wasn't worshipped or known as much her change of feelings is what lead them to have a cursed immortal life that was worse than death after eating them." She decided that her new grip must have had better results since her strokes were now clearer.

"Did Hua Lijie love her as a person? Or did he already love her as a Goddess? Though one with less power in the place where he lived. Did he in the course of their relationship decide to be a devoted follower so that she won't ever leave his home or his side?" Xie Lian simply smiles at her from his seat across her. He reaches out to correct her grip so that her wrist won't be strained from practicing. On his own hand was a red string also tied on a finger similar to San Lang's. Perhaps it was something married couples who were both men did. A part of her couldn't help but wonder how they managed to prevent those red strings from getting into their food.

"I may not know Chenxi's exact feelings to Hou Lijie but I do remember how I realized I was in love with San Lang." She became intrigued as she finds herself putting down her brush to listen attentively.

"It was gradual. I couldn't help but feel something in my heart towards him early on. I didn't know what it was exactly. All I could feel whenever I'm around him is that I wanted to be with him. If I could help it I don't want to burden him with anything. But he insisted anyway and no matter what I did, no matter what decision I made, he stayed." He lets out a small chuckle as he lets his hand rest.

"One time before we became a couple I set this place on fire." She feels her eyes widen.

"Huh? How?"

"I was trying to save someone and tried to prevent from some of my friends and San Lang from fighting. It didn't work so I maneuvered myself in a way that they won't hurt each other. E-ming sliced me instead and when we were leaving I set fire to the armoury to prevent further fights from breaking out."

"And then what happened?"

"I had thought that he would be upset with me because I burnt the old version of this place down. I also felt guilty because I only told him half-truths about why I was here the first time. When we met again, it turned out we both thought that we hurt each other so deeply that we expected hatred from the other."

"Wait - what was he apologizing for?"

"For getting carried away with the conflict that lead to E-ming injuring me." She heard a cooing sound from behind Xie Lian. E-ming's eye had once again opened and it felt teary eyed.

"It's okay E-ming, I know you didn't mean it. I've already forgiven both of you." He grabs the hilt and gives it a few pets.

"Would you like to give E-ming pets?"

"But my hands are messy. E-ming I don't want to make you dirty with ink." A sad whining sound comes out of E-ming as he places him back in their previous place.

"She has a point E-ming."

"I'll pet you after my calligraphy practice!" After E-ming lets out a happy yelp she returns her attention back to the story.

"San Lang didn't care about you burning this place?" Xie Lian nods.

"I was surprised too. I apologized to him first and then he apologized for things that he thought I would hate him for. What a pair we were even back then." He giggles as he resumes his calligraphy.

"He explained that those things could be easily built again. And after that and all the incidents after he says that no matter what choice I've made, what path I've taken, whether those were mistakes or not or whether it was acting as the worst version of myself...all of those things were simply states of myself. But I have always been myself, and it was this person that he loves and is devoted to." Xie Lian then notices the stick on the incense clock has finally burnt out. Practice was over.

"After he told that to me, it was then I knew that I loved him and was in love with him even before that. To have someone accept you for who you are no matter what happens...I never knew I would be one of the lucky ones to have met their mate. Or to even have a mate at all."

Later on she would see them looking at each other lovingly as they took a stroll on a part of the gardens she hasn't toured yet.

And then she realized something.

The reason why the paintings in both shrines seemed so similar was not only because San Lang made them. She couldn't explain how but something about both paintings made her feel devotion, belonging ...

... and love.

She felt love whenever she was within the presence of either painting. It's why she felt safe in Puqi shrine after she first met them. It's why after meeting them she wanted to visit Puqi shrine whenever she was trying to escape her bullies.

Because there was love...

...and that made it feel like home.

And now she has the answer.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this more lengthy chapter to make up for the more delayed updates. I wrote this while listening to Hong Jue (Red Supreme) and Wei Chen (In front of the red curtain) on a loop. I wanted to give Meng Ai a moment with each of her parents to hopefully show what each one gives her. And also I wanted to give Fengqing a romantic moment while at the same time also clarifying the power level of the vampire family (that's what I call them in my head).

[cursedvibes]

"Don't interfere with Gojo's fight, you'll only be a burden" 🤡 anyways I think we all agree this was a terrible fight with a terribly executed ending. It feels like bad writing, with Gege unsealing Gojo and not knowing what to do with him having a bunch of characters waiting to progress and be developed. Just unnecessary, like what did the fight accomplish? Gojo straight up forgetting about Megumi and being like "oh nvm, i was never gonna win anywyay" just feels OOC.

One of the most anticipated fights in the whole manga and it was kinda trash. I hope the plot moves along now. Like you said, I want to see the students fighting Sukuna and Kenjaku, also give me the parent Kenjaku reveal moment with Yuji, Gege, and some KenJin flashbacks. Perhaps add in a little "Jin is actually alive". As compensation.

Also waiting on that Sukuna/Yuji fight. Please Gege let that one be good.

I don't know if it's because Gege lost passion for the story, but there would've been dozens of better options on how to do the fight besides "students sit on their ass and watch the live stream of their teacher's death". F in chat, guys! No, don't interfere, that would be too interesting and feel way too natural.

I really don't want to be this harsh, but everything since Gojo's unsealing has just been very questionable writing decisions. I like the Culling Game actually, I enjoyed it more than Shibuya, even when we were focusing on characters I didn't care as much about. It didn't have the constant threat of death I expected, but it was still good and I especially liked all the new lore and character exploration. Execution of Yuki's death was meh and there could've been done more with the fight, but it still moved me. Tsumiki turning out to be a piece of cardboard was my first real disappointment, but I could've looked past that if her and Yorozu's death would've been executed better. And after that it was just kinda...bad.

Angel agrees to unseal Gojo without explanation despite refusing to do that earlier. Backdoor has no drawbacks, Gojo is just out now. He's kinda weird post-Prison Realm and definitely different from before with changed priorities, but we don't get anything concrete about him or his time in containment that would give more depth to this. He just feels kinda detached. And then one month timeskip. I still remember when people said we would get flashbacks during the fight to explain what the characters were up to. But nope, nothing. Who knows if the main characters have an actual plan, Gojo definitely doesn't seem prepared. We get vague hints at Gojo using his time in the Prison Realm to adjust his domain, but we don't hear his perspective on that (would've been too interesting), we are just told about how he must feel by other characters. It's such basic things that could have made this fight more engaging and moving, but we barely get anything. On top of that it is stretched over 14 chapters and 4 months for no reason. Just make it hit harder from the beginning and shorten it that way. Kenjaku and Yuki were powerhouses and they didn't need this much time. Also the constant Gojover teasers got old very fast.

However, Gojo did manage to strip Sukuna off his domain and Mahoraga, so that will make things a little bit easier for the others. Sukuna can't just vaporize everyone with Malevolent Shrine anymore.

With the Kenjaku vs Gojo fight not happening, I am more confident though that we will get more focus on Kenjaku & Yuuji and explore their relationship and past. Feels like there will be more time dedicated to them, although that also depends on how Yuuji vs Sukuna goes. I am very excited for what's to come either way.

[tmariea]

Wash Away the Weariness

Fandom: TGCF/Heaven Official's Blessing

Pairing: Hua Cheng/Xie Lian

Rating: G

Summary:

“San Lang is so kind for letting me borrow his bath.” “Actually gege, I was hoping you might let me help you wash.” ----- Or, Xie Lian comes home dirty and tired after a day planting in Puqi Village, and Hua Cheng takes this as the opportunity to spoil him that it is.

Written for day 12 of MXTX-tober: Hair

Read on AO3, or below the cut!

By the time Xie Lian made it back to the Shrine, the sun was well below the horizon.  It had been a planting day in Puqi Village, an activity that most Heavenly Officials would have deemed beneath his dignity.  Even if not Xie Lian’s particular dignity, then at least the dignity of his station.  The locals at least were always grateful for extra hands, and he was grateful for a way to give his thanks; everyone here had allowed him to make a home for himself, the first real home he’d had in a while.  He needed to at least repay the favor.  He had spent several awkward conversations deflecting requests to bless the fields with good fortune in the coming season though, for fear of causing drought or blight instead.After all that work since sunup, he was entirely ready to collapse on his mat and sleep until noon - except, there was more planting to be done at dawn anyway.

What Xie Lian hadn’t been expecting was there to be light from the Shrine windows, but he wasn’t surprised.  He hadn’t told Hua Cheng about the planting days on purpose.  He would have wanted to drop all of his other obligations to help Xie Lian out, regardless of any indifference towards the village.  But, he seemed to have a preternatural sense for when Xie Lian had a hard or tiring day.

The ghost king in question was sitting by the altar when Xie Lian opened the door, watching smoke from the incense he had no doubt lit drift into the air.  “Good evening, San Lang,” Xie Lian said, and leaned down to steal a quick kiss.  He wanted nothing more than to drop into Hua Cheng’s lap and melt into his hold in the way only an exhausted body could, but he had to admit he was completely bedraggled.  He’d tied his hair up into a very messy bun, his robes were still tucked up into his belt and pant legs rolled to expose the mud smeared all the way from his knees to his toes, and he wondered if the dirt embedded in the whorls of his fingerprints would come out even if he scrubbed them with a brush.  He knew Hua Cheng had personal experience stumbling back in such a state from planting days where he’d helped, but Xie Lian hesitated still.  “Let me clean up a bit first.”

“Welcome home, gege.  What have you been up to all day?”  Hua Cheng asked, letting his gaze drift across Xie Lian’s body.  There was a spark in his eye that made Xie Lian have to fight back a blush; he shouldn’t be appealing when this much of a mess, right?

“Planting water chestnuts.  There’s more to be done tomorrow too.  San Lang is always welcome to stay the night, but I’ll need to sleep before long.”

Hua Cheng only hummed, the light in his eye changing to the one from when he got an idea instead.  “This one might have something for that then, if you would permit me to take you back to Paradise Manor for the evening instead.”

Xie Lian turned to hang his straw hat on it’s peg while he pretended to consider.  He had a feeling he knew at least part of where Hua Cheng was going with this.  Truly the draw of Paradise Manor’s real bath, in comparison to the basin of cold water he would have washed up in here just so he wouldn’t have to make a fire and heat it, was just too great.  “Alright, so long as San Lang can have me back here by dawn tomorrow.”

“Anything for you Dianxia,” Hua Cheng intoned, and Xie Lian did a bad job of concealing his snicker at the muscle that twitched in his cheek.  He knew Hua Cheng would be loath to give him back so soon.

Xie Lian kissed that cheek in silent apology, and took Hua Cheng’s hand, letting himself be whisked back to the Manor.  As soon as they stepped into in the main hall, he felt some of the tension he hadn’t even noticed relax out of his shoulders.  It was still early spring, and the Shrine had been colder than he had realized.  “San Lang is so kind for letting me borrow his bath.”

“Actually gege, I was hoping you might let me help you wash,” Hua Cheng said has he began leading them in the direction of the master suite.

Xie Lian felt his cheeks start to heat, and raised his free hand to press it against the side of his face.  Being comfortable even just changing or otherwise being nude in front of Hua Cheng as something he was still very much getting used to, much less any kind of touch in that state.

Hua Cheng gave his hand a comforting squeeze, no doubt picking up on his hesitancy.  “Only if gege wishes.  I can wait for you to come to bed if you would prefer to bathe alone.”

“I think I would wish,” Xie Lian replied, taking a steadying breath and squeezing the hand back.  Hua Cheng was never anything but respectful of him and how far he was comfortable progressing their relationship.  He doubted this would be any different.  He looked back up at Hua Cheng with a smile, just in time to catch a pleased look on the ghost king’s face.

“After you then.”  Hua Cheng opened the door to his suites and gestured forward.

Ghost City had many bathhouses, beautiful and well-appointed with amenities.  However, Hua Cheng’s station and wealth afforded him his own private bath, a fact that Xie Lian was grateful for.  It wasn’t even just a bronze tub, which would have been luxury enough, but instead a small pool sunk into the floor and lined with stone tiles.  It was also already full of steaming water; Hua Cheng must have called ahead on a private array to have it filled before they’d even arrived.  Xie Lian thought he could just about melt at the sight.

He stepped over to a bench near the wall to begin undoing his robes, only to be stopped as Hua Cheng said, “Allow me.”

All Xie Lian could muster was an, “Ah, okay,” and then let his hands fall to his sides.    He hardly knew what to do with them while Hua Cheng stepped up so they were only standing with inches between them. Xie Lian had been dressed and undressed constantly in his life as a prince, but that was so long ago it almost felt as if it had happened to someone else, or something he’d read in a book once and only imagined.  He’d fallen completely out of the habit.  

Hua Cheng reached for the edges of Xie Lian’s robes, which made the god’s heart rate pick up with momentary nervousness (ridiculous, you take off your outer robe every night to go to sleep with him), only to settle back down as those hands lingered, caressing his shoulders in a calming way.  Each piece of clothing was the same, gentle hands brushing up and down at his waist, his hips, until he was bare before Hua Cheng.

“Is this alright, gege?”

“Yes, this is fine.”  And actually, it was.  Hua Cheng’s touch had spoken of slowness and care, in a way that had assuaged much of his self-consciousness.  It still burbled along under the surface, but at a level that he could set to the side.  Xie Lian gave him a warm smile, and stepped up to the edge of the pool.

The water was so hot when he first stepped in, that he had to pause for a moment standing on the bench halfway into the pool, before easing the rest of the way in with a groan.  He could hear Hua Cheng’s delighted laughter from behind him.  “San Laaang,” Xie Lian said with only a touch of a whine in his voice.  He turned around so he could drape his arms lazily along the edge of the bath, and rest his cheek on them, while he watched Hua Cheng finish folding his white robes neatly onto the bench.

“Yes, gege?  Is the water nice?” he asked, while removing his rings and bracers to place on the bench too.

“Very nice, thank you.  But you, you are enjoying this too much.”

Hua Cheng only made a humming noise in his throat, one which sounded suspiciously like a self-satisfied agreement, and moved next to collect a towel and rummage about on a set of shelves.  He pulled down bottles and brushes and soap beans, before coming to kneel on the towel next to the bath and lay out his finds.  “Of course I am enjoying a chance to spoil my Dianxia.  It’s my favorite activity.  Aside from holding my Dianxia, or kissing my Dianxia, or—”

Xie Lian cut him off by sitting up and pressing both of his hands to Hua Cheng’s face.  “You are too much!  And all of that is too much too.” He took away just one hand to gesture to the row of tools and products.  Hua Cheng just kissed the palm still over his lips, causing Xie Lian to squeak in surprise at the same time as he felt like sparks were shooting up his fingers and down his wrist.  His reflex was to pull the hand away, but Hua Cheng gently caught his wrist and lowered it to his lap to begin cleaning under the nails with a pick.

Xie Lian felt he could hardly protest a second time; he had agreed to let Hua Cheng help him bathe after all.  What had he expected that to consist of, a quick wash of his body and hair with rice water?  There was no way it was going to be that simplistic.  So he sighed and relaxed back against the edge of the pool, letting all of his muscles slacken against the tiles - slightly warm from the proximity to the water - and his hand lay still in Hua Cheng’s lap.

Once the nails on his first hand were cleaned and an attempt had been made on the dirt in his fingerprints - as expected, there was still a little bit between the creases but also Hua Cheng had been gentler with his scrubbing than was truly necessary - Xie Lian passed over his other hand willingly.  “What is San Lang thinking about?” he asked.

“I was wondering if gege would let me paint his nails.  I expect gege wouldn’t want black, but I could get pale peach, or gold, or,” and Xie Lian couldn’t help but notice the faint flush nearly hidden by the bowed angle of Hua Cheng’s head, “would you wear red?”

“Ah, I don’t know, it seems so impractical for me!  You know I work with my hands all the time,” Xie Lian replied with the first thoughts that came to his mind.  It had always been the same when he was Crowned Prince; even though painted nails were fashionable with the nobility his cultivation training had made it impractical.  But then he paused to considered it further.  There was something really beautiful about Hua Cheng’s black nails against his pale hands.  What might it look like against his own?  What would it look like to so boldly wear Hua Cheng’s color?  “… maybe someday.”

“I’ll have to find a few colors gege might like then, for someday.”  Hua Cheng did a bad job of disguising the excited light in his eye behind a self satisfied grin.  

Xie Lian couldn’t help but smile back as his heart did funny things in his chest at the sight of Hua Cheng so happy.  But then remembering the ghost king’s particular penchant for going over the top, added, “Just a few.  A pale peach sounds nice.  And San Lang can pick out his favorite red, too.”

It was Xie Lian’s turn to be satisfied with himself as Hua Cheng let out a breathy, “Gege,” with a gob-smacked expression on his face.  He recovered quickly enough though, giving Xie Lian possession of his hand back and asking for a leg next.

The position that required made Xie Lian laugh at first, with his hands braced on the seat so he could rest a foot on the side of the pool.  It remained funny, and a little ticklish, while Hua Cheng scrubbed at the dirt on his foot and up his shins from ankle to knee.  It became less so, the anxiety he’d kept at a buzz so low he had nearly forgotten it bubbling up again, as the hands attending to him moved up to his thigh.  Xie Lian’s hands clenched almost without his notice around the edge of the bench, and he bit the inside of his lip.  How had, through all of this so far, he failed to notice the distinct presence of each of Hua Cheng’s fingertips?

The anxiety spawned frustration, his mind pulling in two different directions by the emotions.  This was Hua Cheng, he would never touch him in a way Xie Lian didn’t want.  And he did want that kind of touch to mean something more someday, to be comfortable with that, but not now, not now.  And it wasn’t that now, the hands gentle but not insistent so why couldn’t the rest of him believe—

“Would gege tell me how to plant water chestnuts?  I’ve only ever helped with the rice.”

Xie Lian snapped out of his spiral with an inelegant, “Huh?”  When he looked back up into Hua Cheng’s eye, that gaze was locked onto his face and held a different question, ‘are you still alright?’  Xie Lian took a calming breath and shook the competing thoughts out of his head.  “Oh, ah, yes of course.”  He launched into a description of water chestnut bulbs and how to bury them in the flooded fields, while Hua Cheng’s hands resumed their task.  It was easy enough to throw himself into the distraction; Hua Cheng’s hunger for knowledge was vast, and wonderful for knowing his full attention was fixed on Xie Lian’s words and only his words.

By the time he was done with the miniature lesson, both of his legs were clean, and Hua Cheng instructed, “Gege, turn around so I can wash your back.”  That he could do with a contented sigh.  Even if the hands against his bare skin was new, there was an easy familiarity from Hua Cheng running his hands up and down Xie Lian’s back as he fell asleep, any time they spent the night together.  This time it was accompanied by a harder press of fingers, thumbs tracing with intention in an arc from the top to bottom of his shoulder blades, then down the middle of his back on either side of his spine.  When Xie Lian made an inquiring noise, Hua Cheng answered, “Gege did such hard work bent over all day; this lowly one couldn’t possibly let him go back out sore tomorrow.”  And then he really set to work on his back, section by section, devoting knuckles and the heel of his palm to the task in addition to his thumbs.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian groaned as Hua Cheng dug into a particularly difficult knot.  He felt like he was only being held up by the shape of the bathing pool and those hands.

“Yes?  Is there something you wanted to tell me?” asked his mischievous ghost, as if he was completely unaware of the absolute puddle of god that was about melt all over his bathroom floor if he kept that up.

“Feels good.  That one had been bothering me actually.”  Xie Lian momentarily dislodged the hands as he rotated his shoulder a bit to test the improved mobility, and then leaned back again.

“I couldn’t let gege hurt,” Hua Cheng said, voice softer than before and touch fleeting.  It took Xie Lian a moment to recognize that it had been the gentlest kiss to the spot.  But then the insincere tone was back.  “Should I give gege more massages then?  Maybe next time on the bed so I can give better pressure?”

“Heavens yes,” Xie Lian said with another moan.  He recognized the irony of getting so worked up about his legs and then egging Hua Cheng on in this.  But his beloved teased him so much that it was always a great pleasure to fluster him in return.  This time apparent in the way his hands stuttered where they had continued with the massage.  He grinned thinking of the faint cracks he knew would be on Hua Cheng’s face - the almost imperceptible widening of his eye, the slight slackening of his jaw.  Xie Lian would would let himself be teased forever if only he could see that expression too.

It seemed the massage didn’t just stop with his back, because as soon as Hua Cheng got his hands into Xie Lian’s hair, he started rubbing circles into his scalp.  If Xie Lian had thought he couldn’t get any more boneless, this just about proved him wrong.  Hua Cheng laughed at him as he obviously fought to keep his head from lolling.  “Come, lay your head on my lap,” he instructed.

“Ah, I’d just get San Lang wet,” Xie Lian protested, not even mentioning the obvious impracticality.

“We’re about to get into sleep clothes anyway.  Please, gege?”

Xie Lian gave in, because that really did sound nice.  To still give access to most of his head, he turned a little to rest the side of his face on Hua Cheng’s knees.  He did have to turn his head back just a bit to try to see Hua Cheng’s expression, such a soft smile.  Xie Lian loved knowing that he was the only one who got to see Hua Cheng like this, something special just for the two of them.  

He stopped considering such things pretty quickly though, as the hands returned to his hair.  This time Hua Cheng’s fingers seemed to just be absently rubbing, without any particular goal.  It still felt good, and Xie Lian found himself drifting with his eyes half-shut for a little while, until the dig of the tile into his shoulder reminded him where he was.  “Alright, enough of that,” he said, far too sleepily for the admonishment to mean anything, “I’m about to end up spending the whole night in your tub, and then I really will be sore in the morning.”

“Apologies gege.  I guess I will have to find a better place next time, so you can fall asleep in my lap comfortably.”

Xie Lian’s cheeks felt warm at the thought, and perhaps if he was lucky Hua Cheng would assume that was just from the heat.  He was only ever lucky when it came to Hua Cheng, so maybe he could convince himself it was working.  He did want to do this again though, so he gave an affirmative, “Mn,” in reply.

He had to lift his head back up then, so Hua Cheng could actually get to the task of washing his hair.  After that, he stepped out of the bath to let Hua Cheng bundle him up into the biggest, warmest towel he’d ever felt, pinning his arms to his sides and all.  Xie Lian laughed.  “San Lang, I look like one of your butterfly cocoons.”

“Sure,” Hua Cheng replied with a grin, “but usually it’s the pretty thing that comes out of the cocoon, not what goes into it.”

Xie Lian snorted dramatically, to prevent himself from dissolving into giggles at his ghost’s shameless flirting.  He wiggled a hand out from the towel and pushed against Hua Cheng’s chest.  “You said you were about to get into sleep robes too.  Go on, while I dry off.”

“But I was supposed to get to help gege with his whole bath.”

“I think I can do just this one thing, so you’re not still wet too.  Go on, and then I’ll let you comb my hair.”  Xie Lian had a feeling that would be a good enough exchange, and it was at least one that Hua Cheng accepted.  He turned back to the bench and handed over a set of white sleep robes, before starting to strip off his own outer robes.  Xie Lian set to his own task, cheeks heating.  ‘Ridiculous, he’s been seeing you naked all night,’ he tried to tell himself, promptly realized that that was just making matters worse, and decided it was best if he just stopped thinking.

Dressed and dried, Xie Lian sat down on the stool set out before a bronze mirror.  Examining his own reflection, especially in a stable surface rather than in a stream or a basin of water, was also an activity he’d fallen out of practice with.  Time was, the figure in the mirror was always proud and tall, impeccably dressed and convinced of his own invincibility.  The Xie Lian who looked back at him now still had an upright posture, but a little tired, a little worn around the edges.  But then he watched the reflection of Hua Cheng step up behind him, saw the way his own face changed.  Hua Cheng had always been the one to remind him what it meant to be happy, and what did a little wear compare to a gift like that?

“Would Dianxia let his San Lang braid his hair?” Hua Cheng asked, shaking the god from his minor ruminations.

Thinking of a day in his little shrine, when their positions were reversed, Xie Lian said, “What, you don’t want to give me a crooked ponytail?”

“No, I think that one is better suited for me, don’t you think.”  Hua Cheng’s eye was sparkling as reached around to the small table and picked up a vial of hair oil.

  They were surrounded by the scent of honeysuckle as he began to work it through Xie Lian’s hair.  It was a different scent than Hua Cheng usually wore - a little musky, a little like roses - so he must have bought this oil with Xie Lian in mind.  As much as Hua Cheng liked to insist that everything he had was Xie Lian’s, this kind of little thing was what made him feel most like he belonged in Hua Cheng’s home.  Not everything handed over to him, but the thought of his hair oil on the shelf next to Hua Cheng’s.  Something for each of them, next to, not subsumed by.

He felt like those thoughts, all of his thoughts since he sat down before the mirror really, were too weighty, too complicated, to voice in the state of sleepy relaxation that was taking him over again courtesy of the hands in his hair.  So instead he said, “This scent is nice.  Thank you for picking it for me, San Lang.”

Hua Cheng was good at understanding him without words anyway.  “Of course, gege,” he said out loud, but the slower stroke of his hands against Xie Lian’s scalp before he separated the hair out for braiding said that he knew.

Xie Lian stood once the braid was tied off, and Hua Cheng took his arm again, as if leading him to a grand procession, not just through the door to the bedroom.  He even held open the door, and pulled back the sheets.  Xie Lian could protest, but at this point he felt like there may not be any purpose left to that.

“You know, maybe I should come out to help with the planting tomorrow, now that gege has so kindly taught me how to plant water chestnuts,” Hua Cheng suggested as he rounded the bed and slid beneath the blankets on the other side.

“Hmm, but I thought San Lang said he had important ghost city business to attend to.  I thought he said it might take all week.  Have you finished already?”  It was the reason Xie Lian had made a point of not mentioning the planting days in the first place.

Hua Cheng groaned and turned his face into the pillow.  “It’s so boring dealing with that trash.  Almost as bad as calligraphy practice.  Almost worse.”

“If it’s anything like calligraphy practice, then it’s good for you.”

“Gege is so cruel to his San Lang.”

Xie Lian could only laugh at the dramatics that he was well accustomed to by now.  “I suppose I will just have to make it up.”  He pulled on Hua Cheng’s shoulder a bit, to get him to turn his face out of the pillow, and leaned in for the kiss that he’d been wanting since he first found Hua Cheng waiting in Puqi Shrine.

The humming sound Hua Cheng made against his lips said that this was a perfectly acceptable apology.  As did the fingers that cupped the back of his neck and worked their way into the hair at the base of his braid, and the hand that stroked up and down his back, a mirror from in the bath.  Xie Lian hooked a knee over Hua Cheng’s legs, and shifted closer, but he really didn’t have the energy left for much more than that.  He let himself drift on the feeling of the lazy, languid kisses, until eventually he let his head droop into the crook of Hua Cheng’s neck.

“Next time, San Lang will have to let me help him bathe,” he said, mostly muffled into the red silk sleep robe.

It seemed Hua Cheng understood anyway, because he replied, “This lowly one couldn’t possibly let—”

“Shhh,” Xie Lian cut him off, and then leaned up to kiss the protest away.  “You took such good care of me.  I want to take care of San Lang too.”

“If gege would let me come out planting with him tomorrow, you’d have an excuse for that sooner.”

“San Lang!”  Xie Lian laughed and gave a halfhearted swat against Hua Cheng’s chest.  “I know I can’t really stop you.”  One look at the smug grin forming on his ghost king’s face, and Xie Lian turned over in his hold so he was facing away.  “Goodnight!”

“Good idea, we both have to be up early then.”

“I’m already asleep, I love you, goodnight!”  Xie Lian wiggled back until his back rested against Hua Cheng’s chest.  A pair of cool arms wrapped around him and pulled him back just a little bit further. Xie Lian was really almost asleep as it was.  But awake for just long enough to hear, “Goodnight, beloved,” before he drifted off.

[lazyrunawayphilosopher]

Hualian moments in revised version(part 1):- (you can read it from this thread by @nanareads27 here. They are doing a reading thread and it is easy to follow) (Some scenes are the same as the unrevised version so they have been left out here)

Hua Cheng's introduction in the Ghost Bridegroom Arc is intact. When Xie Lian first saw San Lang he thought that this was mature for his age as if he has endless knowledge but he also had a certain playfulness to him. He would laugh and clap when something funny comes up. When Xie Lian told him about Puqi shrine , he asked whether there would be a lot of food to eat. To Xie Lian he seemed kind of innocent.

Xie Lian San Lang looking at the cursed shackle on Xie Lian's neck and Xie Lian hid it with his collar.

Ok so things are adding up really well in the revised version.

When Xie Lian said he wasn't missing anything except devotees , San Lang told him that he is also missing a statue. So Xie Lian started drawing a portrait of himself. San Lang watched him draw and asked "Is that the Crown Prince Pleasing Gods?" Xie Lian asked,"You know him?" San Lang: "A little bit. But from what I see, you know him quite well Xie Lian: To be honest, not really. (In the unrevised version I did wonder why Xie Lian didn't ask San Lang how he drew Xie Lian's portrait that vividly, so this part makes much more sense in the revised version)

San Lang has spoken of a lots of Gods and Ghosts and didn't hold back on praise or insults either so Xie Lian was curious was San Lang would say about him. Xie Lian: No matter how much you appreciate or like a person. There is no way you can always be good to that person, be nice to them no matter what happens to them

San Lang: Why not? If not, doesn't that mean that their liking wasn't that big of a deal in the first place? Xie Lian: Are you telling me that you can only like and dislike someone? That there is no other attitudes besides these two?

San Lang: Why not? Correct is correct, incorrect is incorrect. Love is love, hate is hate. Why can't it be clear and open like this?

Like in the unrevised vers Xie Lian thought of him as naive.

Upon seeing the second cursed shackle San Lang suddenly spoke: "I don't wanna talk about this anymore"

Xie Lian: Why?

San Lang: Cause I don't want to

Xie Lian was taken aback for a moment before he smiled, "Then let's talk about something else"

"Since Gege has helped me with my hair, why don't I help Gege as well?"

Xie Lian held on his head and stepped away, "No need, I can do it myself!"

"But there are guests waiting for Gege, it wouldn't be alright for them to see you like this"

[tklpilled]

also hua cheng and the lian guy with hua chekcing up on him?

hua cheng doesn't visit puqi shrine as often anymore; now, xie lian tends to spend his days at paradise manor, though he's always a bit nervous to leave the others alone for too long. when hua cheng does come to the village, though, he has to admit it's rather entertaining.

qi rong pales as he enters, snatching up the child clinging to him and storming off to the area farthest from hua cheng, grumbling about stupid fucking xie lian and his stupid fucking boyfriend. hua cheng stifles a laugh.

"san lang!" exclaims a familiar voice, and comfort immediately washes over hua cheng as xie lian rushes to him. it's quickly overcome with concern, however, as soon as he sees the various cuts and scrapes on xie lian's face.

hua cheng's immediate reaction is to glance at qi rong, but xie lian quickly waves to get his attention. "san lang, don't worry! i only fell, really, that's all!"

hua cheng sighs fondly. "gege needs to be more careful," he says, offering his arm out. xie lian is quick to take it.

in paradise manor, hua cheng sits xie lian on the bed and begins examining his face. the wounds are closed and the blood has long since dried, but hua cheng still begins to wipe them clean. xie lian closes his eyes and lets him.

"is gege hurt anywhere else?" hua cheng asks, looking over the other man.

"just my hands, a bit," says xie lian, holding them out for hua cheng to see. "really, it's nothing to worry about—"

hua cheng takes one of xie lian's hands in his own, rubbing a thumb over his palm; it's not much besides barely-there scratches.

xie lian shudders as hua cheng traces a finger along his hand, making the ghost king pause. "is gege alright?"

"yes, i'm fine!" xie lian quickly reassures. "san lang just tickled me, you see…"

"his highness is ticklish?" asks hua cheng, suddenly very interested.

xie lian blushes, scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment. "a-a bit, i suppose…"

hua cheng reaches out, pausing a few centimetres away from xie lian. "is this alright?"

"everything is alright with san lang," xie lian says.

so hua cheng closes the distance, wriggling his fingers gently but apparently still ticklish enough to send xie lian into a frenzy of giggles. he presses a kiss to xie lian's grinning lips. "gege has a pretty laugh," he says, not relenting in his attack.

"s-sahahan lang!" xie lian protests, cheeks reddening. hua cheng only kisses him again in response.

[hulijingemperor2]

Meng shi: *having tea with A-Yao* A-Yao, darling, how's your harem going?

Yao: interesting. But fine, A-niang. I love them a lot

Meng Shi: *strokes head* marvelous.

But A-Yao, I feel like I should inspect the harem to see if everyone is treating you right!

You're my flesh and blood, the emperor of Hulijings, you also run the Jianghu. Hence you deserve the best treatment.

After all, I'm their mother-in-law.

Yao: *holds her hand affectionately* yes, yes you certainly are. Go ahead A-niang.

Meng shi: great. *kisses him on his forehead* don't worry Yao'er. I'll set then straight.

Well they aren't straight, aren't they. In other words, I'll deal with them.

Yao'er, where's your big bro? He will tell me who's bullying you.

Yao: A-niang, you don't need to ask Zish. *laughing* don't worry. Everything is fine.

Meng Shi: you can't hide anything from me, Yao'er. But that's Ok. I got this.

Yao: *smile*

Meng Shi: Sisi, can you announce to A-Yao's harem members that I'm visiting them tomorrow

And yes, mention that I'm coming over for tea.

Sisi: will do, Huanghou jiejie.

Yao: *sips tea* what will happen if they fail your evaluation and displeases you?

Meng shi: then they'll have to leave and rectify their mistake of mistreating you.

~~~~

At night, around 9:30 p.m.

Su she: *sleeping.*

*then wakes up when he felt a cold arm wrap around his waste*

Su she: *looks down* Xuanyu!!!!

Mo xuanyu: shhhh. It's ok to do this because I love Yao gege.

Xue yang: *hovering over him* little simp, why are you in bed so early. We were looking for you!

Su she: it's the old Lan curse.

I still feel sleepy around these times.

Mo xuanyu: poor you.

*sits up* team dimple, we have an urgent meeting.

Xue yang: our boss queen is drilling Jiggy's harem!

Mo xuanyu: *cries* what if we get eliminated!

And how can you sleep so soundly at night!

Su she: yes, I was worrying to, but then I said that we'll be fine. Huangdi loves us a lot.

Su she: I checked my Huangdi shrine then went to bed.

But remember, she's just like our A-Yao.

Mo xuanyu: that's true.

Xue yang: but we can't lose to Lan lips.

Su she: right

Mo xuanyu: what if she break up team dimple.

Xue yang: shanshan is right about her being a female Jiggy tho. I don't think she'll break us up.

Mo xuanyu: let's make an oath for Yao gege. That whoever remains, will continue to love him

Xue yang: *cuts himself* promise!!!

Mo xuanyu: *does the same* mhm.

Su she: for my huangdi, yes. *cuts himself*

~~~

Next day!

Su she: let's go meet our empress boss.

Mo xuanyu: yea.

Xue yang: so we can't make out with Jiggy before?

Mo xuanyu: it will tamper with the results.

Su she: yea, we should be on our best behavior.

Rusong: *confronting them with a notepad and a writing brush* hi team dimple.

Xue yang: Song'er?

Su she: can you help us?!

Rusong: sorry uncle Su, I can't help. And you have 9:30

Su she: 9:30?

Rusong: I'm Nainai's secretary for today.

Mo xuanyu: that's kinda cute, Dianxia.

Xue yang: how did you become her secretary.

Rusong: oh come on, who else would. And can A-Die do that? He's the emperor team D.

Now listen to the schedule *clears throat*

At 6, she has tea and takes a bath,

At 6:30 she has breakfast with A-Die and fam.

Drilling starts at 8:30

8: 30 is Lan Huan, 9:30 are you guys, 10:30 is Jiang Wanyin and 11:30 are the Nies.

So it's Lan, Dimple, Jiang and Nie in that order.

Su she: thanks a lot, Song'er.

Xue yang: at least you're cute.

Su she: where's Huangdi.

Rusong: imperial court meeting.

Do you think that he'll go on a Dongying vacation while his simps burn in Jing Manor.

He'll only do that to the Nies, remember.

Su she: ah you have a point.

Mo xuanyu: aww he's so sweet.

Xue yang: and super hot.

Rusong: anyways. Goodluck team D.

Byee!

Xue yang how much is your grandma paying you?

Rusong: nothing. Well yea she gave me some pocket money, but I don't want anything. I'll do anything if she asks.

Mo xuanyu: *hugs* you're such a sweetheart.

Rusong: thank you!! I got to go guys. I have to be neutral.

~~

Huan hall 📍

Xichen: *pours tea for Meng Shi* nice to have you over, Miss Meng.

Meng shi: thank you Lan gui fei.

Xichen: *chuckles* why are you so formal, call me Huan or Xichen.

Meng shi: you don't make the rules.

Xichen: yes Ma'am.

Meng Shi: *sips tea* ah. Did you make this?

Xichen: yep.

Meng Shi: refreshing.

Your guqin music is beautiful.

Xichen: aw thank you, Miss Meng.

And you're also excellent in the Qin. A-Yao truly learnt from the best.

Meng Shi: *smile* mhm. I taught him everything, and he learns from observance.

Xichen: really talented.

Meng shi: yes. So how much do you love my A-Yao. And what did you do to prove it?

Xichen: I love him a lot, Miss Meng.

I also saved him from Dage's wrath.

Meng Shi: very sweet. Now what did he do to my son?!

Xichen: at times he would get angry with A-Yao, which resorted to violence and. Don't worry, Dage is a nice person. He just has an anger issue.

Dage once pushed A-Yao down the stairs.

Xichen: but now they have a bitter sweet relationship. A-Yao loves to get on his nerves.

Meng shi: awww. As A-Yao should. My Yao'er needs entertainment.

Xichen: that's right.

Meng Shi: how dare he pushed my baby down the stairs!

Xichen: please, don't be upset. And A-Yao is safe with me.

Meng Shi: You're really well mannered. And care for Yao'er a lot.

Xichen: thank you, and yes I do.

Meng Shi: you're not icy and stoney right? Yao'er loves soft, loving, rebellious, sweet and funny people.

He has no room for some grumpy guy who thinks he's an ascetic.

Xichen: rest assured, Miss Meng, I'll make A-Yao happy, and I made him happy.

Meng shi: alright. I believe you. And i know your mom.

Xichen: yes.

Meng Shi: anything about Song'er? Our future Huangdi?

Xichen: I love Song'er a lot. And would care for him. I was his private tutor in the cloud recesses.

Meng shi: ah waw.

Very sweet of you.

Xichen: *smile*

Meng shi: well I must go. I got team dimple.

Xichen: thanks for coming over, Miss Meng. Please come again, to have some tea or chat.

Meng Shi: sure. Once I'm pleased with you.

Xichen: as you wish.

~~

Team dimple: *sitting and waiting*

Xue yang: should I offer her tongue tea?

Su she: no!!! Anyways xuanyu made the tea.

Mo xuanyu: yea. Here it is.

Xue yang: I made her some fried tofu.

Jiggy's face would light up when we give it to him.

Mo xuanyu: it's loved by hulijings.

Su she: I ordered some sweets for her cuz she looks like she has a sweet tooth.

Meng Shi: *entering* team dimple.

Su she: welcome. Have a seat, empress.

Meng shi: definitely.

Xue yang: would you like some tofu?

Meng Shi: awww, of course I do.

Mo xuanyu: make yourself comfortable and enjoy our presentation.

Meng shi: oh my!

Mo xuanyu: Jiggy is super hot.

Sms and xy: super hot.

Mo xuanyu: and we love A-Yao. We're his ride or die.

Meng shi: ah, I see. *eats*

Su she: I have a Yao shrine.

Xue yang: drew NSFW Jiggies more than once.

Mo xuanyu: we have a whole entire encyclopedia of Yao gege facts, habits and rituals. Along with a few fanfics.

Also we have sketches of his dimples cuz we love them. And surprise surprise, we're Team Dimple.

Xue yang: I will kill and defame for him.

Su she: I'll die for him and with him.

Mo xuanyu: if he rejects me then I won't have a reason to live.

Meng Shi: hey hey hey. You're team dimple, not the suicide squad. Anyways I'm moved by your love for Yao'er. You three are so adorable. Forever be team D, ok.

Team Dimple: thank you, empress!!!

Su she: *bows* we'll never let you down.

Xue yang: we love our hot boss! And I think he should take over the world.

Mo xuanyu: we never disappoint.

Meng shi: aww. Now tell me about A-Song. You guys can't just love my A-Yao and not take care of his son as well. Even though he's Dianxia.

Mo xuanyu: we have a really close bond.

Su she: yea, we spoil our little Dianxia.

Meng Shi: aww you call him little Dianxia too. Omg. That's adorable.

Xue yang: he's also mini boss Dianxia.

Meng shi: yes. He definitely is.

Keep shining team dimple

Mo xuanyu: sure we will. Thank you empress. And you look fab.

Meng Shi: thank you. My sweet team dimple, I got to go to lotus pier. *rolls eyes*

Xue yang: what happened to you, haha.

Meng Shi: Madam Yu is one of Madam Jin's goons, I mean friends.

I don't like them. But I'm sorry for Jiang cheng's parents tragic death though.

Let's just hope that Jiang cheng isn't like his mom. I can't handle that attitude.

Su she: he's a lot like her. But a good sect leader.

Meng shi: I see.

Anyways, I'm leaving now. Bye team D!

*exits*

Team Dimple: *jumping up and down with excitement.* yasss!!!! Yas yas!!!!

~

Lotus pier 📍.

Sisi: *helping her out of the caravan*

Meng Shi: *opens fan*

Jiang cheng: greetings Miss Meng.

Meng Shi: hi Jiang gui fei.

Jiang cheng: *chokes* gui fei!! Anyways, come in, Miss Meng.

Meng Shi: thank you darling. (Joking) I will admire the lotuses a next time.

Jiang cheng: *offers her tea*

Would you like some lotus root and rib soup as well? I tried to cook it like my Jiejie.

Meng shi: awww that's lovely!

Thank you very must Jiang gui fei.

Jiang cheng: *serves her*

Meng shi: nice.

Now tell me, about A-Yao.

Jiang cheng: raises my pressure. And now him and Zixuan are treating me like their concubine.

Meng Shi: cuz you are.

Jiang cheng: *sighs*

Meng Shi: so you're a cook? Do you cook for my A-Yao? He doesn't eat leftover food.

Jiang cheng: actually, I haven't cooked for him. And why would I?

Meng Shi: *gasps* omg. Gui fei, you should pamper Yao'er a little.

And you shouldn't be so rough and grumpy.

So you two raise Jinling together?

Jiang cheng: yea.

Meng Shi: delightful. But what about Song'er? What did you give to him?

Jiang cheng: nothing actually.....I rarely interact with him.

Meng Shi: that's bad.

Nonetheless, I'll forgive you....for now.

You need some work.

Jiang cheng: as you say, Miss Meng.

Meng Shi: and give something to Song'er.

Jiang cheng: sure.

Now tell me how am I supposed to pamper that diva son of yours.

Meng Shi: maybe show him a little appreciation. Or get him a gift.

Also I think you should leave Xichen alone.

Jiang cheng: what did I do with Zewu Jun?!!!

Meng Shi: people keep shipping you with him. Xichen is A-Yao's.

Jiang cheng: rest assured. I'm married to huaisang, Yao and Zixuan. I'm occupied.

Meng shi: a harem member can't have their own harem! But I'll dismiss you since it's approved by Huangdi.

Lunch was lovely, Jiang gui fei. I got to go.

Jiang cheng: please come again.

Meng shi: certainly.

~~~

Qinghe 📍

Meng Shi: Nie gui fei, little Nie gui fei. *opens fan*

Mingjue: Meng Yao, why are you dressed as a woman! Are you here to harass me again.

Meng Shi: insolent!!

I'm A-Yao's mom!

Mingjue: oh my goodness!! Forgive me Huanghou!!

I forget that you were coming over.

Huaisang: Meng Shi?? What are you doing here? Are you a ghost?

Meng Shi: do I look like a ghost.

Huaisang: I, I thought you were dead.

Mingjue: HUAISANG!!!!!

Meng Shi: do you want me dead?

That's treason. You can't just wish the death of an empress.

*sigh* children these days.

Mingjue: (she speaks just like that Meng Yao) Huaisang, behave.

Huaisang: sorry dage.

But how did you become an empress? I'm confused.

Meng Shi: well, for some reason my son is the emperor of Hulijings, and my successor. So it just......happened.

Huaisang: ah, that's cute.

Meng Shi: Nie gui fei!!

Both: which one, empress?

Meng shi: the one with the mustache.

Mingjue: yes empress.

Meng Shi: bend down.

Mingjue: *stoopes*

Meng shi: more.

Mingjue: mn.

Meng Shi: a little more. I'm not a tall person. Have you seen Yao'er.

Mingjue: makes sense. *stoopes more*

Meng Shi: *grabs his ear and twists it*

Mingjue: ouch ouch ouch ouch. Miss Meng!

Meng Shi: what did you say to my son?!!! He's the son of a what?!!

Mingjue: *shocked* he deserved it.

Meng Shi: ohhhh really! Just because he didn't agree with you, you pushed him down the stairs! What if I push you!

Mingjue: no no, you don't need to. And Yao is a menace.

Meng Shi: don't you have respect for me!

Mingjue: 100% empress.

Meng Shi: say it! Yao'er is the son of a what???

Mingjue: I'm not saying anything.

Meng shi: say it, darling. I don't bite!

Mingjue: I don't know what you're talking about!

Meng Shi: *flings*

Mingjue: *falls on the floor*

Huaisang: dage!!

Mingjue: how is she so strong?

Meng Shi: because I'm the goddess of Fox spirits!

Huaisang: huanghou, I know dage is hot headed at times but please forgive him.

Also we have a fox spirit infestation in Qinghe. Can you please help us

Meng Shi: why should I help?! You two have troubled their Huangdi, so they're right to invade you.

Mingjue: *sighs* you have a point. Would you like some tea?

Meng Shi: no thank you, Nies.

Your evaluation is over.

Huaisang: what's the result?

Meng Shi: I'll keep an eye on you two unruly Nies.

[runabout-river]

Jujutsu Kaisen predictions and thoughts about the upcoming fights.

First of all, Gege is quite unpredictable in what he writes and draws so some of these might just come off as wishful thinking by an uneducated worm (me) when looking back.

The Toji comparisons will keep going in the fight against Sukuna, not only from a meta perspective but also by Gojo himself. Gojo is going to use Toji as an anchor point to reach Megumi, something that Sukuna couldn't prepare for because Megumi has no memories of his father

Megumi is going to use his complete Domain expansion but only after Sukuna transforms his body into his own image. The resulting fight would be visually more interesting that way

(Maybe) Sukuna gets temporally repressed by Megumi or even completely removed but Megumi's time in the darkness and in evil changed him and he's not himself anymore. He might go through his own cursification process

Megumi's ninth shikigami is going to be a tiger, which will tie back to Yuji's nickname in school. Sukuna won't use it against Gojo but Megumi will when he has his body back.

An interesting theory I read: Sukuna's flame arrow is actually the cursed technique reversal of Uraume's ice technique. Sukuna's Shrine technique can store other people's techniques without killing them which would make it possible that Sukuna would leave Megumi's body without the possession becoming meaningless. Additional theory: Sukuna gains new techniques by (partly) eating other sorcerers.

The meta reason why Yuji gained two face scars is because Gege planned on removing his eye slits. To still have his face be remarkable, Yuji needed something new on it.

What kind of predictions and theories do you all have?