#Xie Lian worships his husband too

[onioe]

Feng Xin loved Xie Lian, who wouldn’t? When he first met his prince, they were hardly teenagers, and the feeling that wrapped itself around his heart was not yet love, but admiration. Only a year younger than his bodyguard, and the prince already showed his truly, blinding colors. He was something Feng Xin thought was worth following.

The prince was clearly spoiled, but hadn’t all royalty been? They know nothing else but riches, and yet-his prince showed true compassion for those considered beneath him. As they grew older, that fluttering feeling only expanded, but now he knew what it was. Each passing smile, each time they shared a bed because- “the bed is too big, Feng Xin, I don’t like being alone at night” -made these emotions solidified. His prince had true morals, had goals that he believed he could accomplish and set out to do just that. Brilliant, his prince was. Someone to look up too. Just shy of his adult years, Feng Xin had fallen in love with the prince he swore to protect.

<>

Mu Qing loved Xie Lian. How could anyone love the spoiled prince? When he first met the prince, he was fourteen, the prince only a year older and followed by some lap dog Mu Qing could care less about. He had been assigned as his personal assistant; to dress and help bathe him, style him for everyday wear, do his cleaning. Being a servant to the prince was bad enough, but he also had to deal with the sharp tongue of the puppy that hovered over royalty.

No matter how picky the prince was with his food, no matter how he thought it improper to wear the same robes more than once, Mu Qing couldn’t help his cheeks reddening every time he made eye contact with the handsome prince. While spoiled, he was also mischievous. When the dog became overbearing, he’d ask Mu Qing to sneak around the castle, just for giggles. The three were often seen hip to hip as they aged, becoming respectable young men. Mu Qing heart twisted with ugly jealousy when he saw Feng Xin and the prince exchange secret looks and he finds himself unsure who he’d rather be at the moment, or why. The Prince looks at him the same way, and that jealousy is tampered out. He’d fallen in love with the Prince he was made to serve.

<>

Hua Cheng loved Xie Lian. Whoever dared to speak ill of him was mysteriously missing from the face of the earth. When he first met his prince, he had saved the dirty child’s life. The only one to look at him with genuine concern, genuine affection, never lifting a finger to hurt him. His prince had protected him, given him a reason to live. When he first gave himself to his god, it had been purely devotion. Only his god could save such an ugly creature and not think twice about it. Only his god could continue to watch and protect over the monster who sheltered in his old shrines, to feed him his offerings, to protect him from the rain with an umbrella.

No matter how many times his god fell, he came back stronger. Every battle, every wound, every trap set for his god was met head on, whether he was fearful or not. His god graced him with his presence and Hua Cheng could never pay it back, but he tried. He dies proudly for his prince, with the upmost honor to his god. He’s forged into powerful ghost, pushing his body to the limits each passing decade to simply become strong enough to protect his god, the only person deserving of this world. His god shouldn’t need to suffer any longer, Hua Cheng loves his god far too much to let his cruel world continue to sink its teeth into his God’s pure heart. He’d falling in love with the god who gave his life meaning.

<>

Feng Xin had left his prince. He’d like to say he never looked back, that he respected his highness’s wishes and disappeared, but that simply wasn’t true. He loved the prince, and his prince had showed that love back ten fold. Cultivation did not stop Feng Xin from courting his prince, having enjoyed the years of fluttering faces and shy comments. He had even falling for the loud-mouthed brat that did nothing but complain in the face of all, as if nothing ever satisfied him. His prince simply adored both of them, and Feng Xin could live with it, and he had.

He left after the light in his prince’s eyes finally burned out, when he finished tossing rice at Mu Qing, when he finished breaking down in his room. He hoped in a few days he’d come back, he’d come back and finally talk to his prince and comfort him. Something was wrong, maybe he needed time to open up. Yet, he returned to the small cottage torn down with no one in sight. Feng Xin had been tossed away and forgotten, and he hurt terribly.

<>

Mu Qing left the prince. He did it for his mother, and he had no room in his heart for regrets. He couldn’t continue this way, couldn’t they see that? Couldn’t Feng Xin and the prince see that this life was getting them no where? His heart was fighting with his brain for days. He loved them both; he loved the prince and he loved that lap dog that chose to now hover over him aswell. They would understand, Mu Qing had his mother to think of, they would understand.

He left his tears stinging his eyes, refusing to let them fall. Feng Xin dared to insult him? To belittle him while Xie Lian accepted it like it would be the last time he saw him! He couldn’t continue busking, he couldn’t continue nearly starving every night, sneaking away to the village to care for his family. They misunderstood him, and Mu Qing can’t spare the time to defend himself and his decisions. He ascended not long after, pride flooding his chest. He can help, he can find a way to help them both. But that, too, was denied. He watched as the prince begged him to believe him before racing down the mountain. Mu Qing had to think of the future. If he had defended the prince, the other gods would cast him away, and he’d be useless. He gave up when he felt rice being tossed at him by the man he loved, screaming in his face. They treat him like filth under their shoes, and he doesn’t look back as he felt.

<>

Hua Cheng lost his god. He would never regret giving his undead life for a second time if it meant keeping his god out of harms way, but he lost him entirely. The young soldier, a ghost flame, a wrath, all in the name of his prince. He didn’t leave his side, not one moment. He stayed while he was humiliated, while he was stumbling drunk, while a deviled sword plowed into immortal flesh. He stayed while his God cursed the world, cursed the kingdom of Yong’an. He stayed, and he served as he should. He was his God’s most devoted follower. Turning that terrible sword and carving into his own flesh was a sacrifice he wished he could make ten times over, the only regret was to see the devastating look in his prince’s eyes. His god should never mourn his loss, he will be back.

Eight centuries left Hua Cheng with another regret that day. One sacrifice lost his god. Even as thousands of butterflies killed themselves in search of his highness, for any trace of his existence left in the world. He feared the worse; was he dying, bleeding out? Was he fighting many wars, internal and external? Was his god all alone, starving and humiliated? Living so long left many chances to get killed or worse. He god will never bare the scars of his suffering on his skin, but his brain will remember. Eight centuries of searching, of being separated. His god ascended a third time, because his god was simply that amazing. He approached the mountain, leaving the past behind him and staring into his future.

<>

Xie Lian was both loved and hated. Adored and envied. A god and a scrap collector. He’s loved for many years and thanked the heavens that some were worth remembering. He remembered his friends; Xie Lian believed them to still be friends, he hopes when they meet again, they’ll forgive his past. While those old feelings have long past, he appreciates the love he had, even if it was only for a fleeting moment. His long life has left him alone most centuries, hurt and desperate. He ascended a third time in his sleep, and he feels himself sheepish. Were Feng Xin and Mu Qing still waiting on their fallen prince, their disgrace of a god? Would they shun him, perhaps they’d forgotten their past together, not that Xie Lian could blame them, who would want to remember him?

But they did welcome him-sort of. Mu Qing was cold, but Fu Yao acted as a younger version of him; so playful and full of energy. Feng Xin was hesitant around him, but Nan Feng was fussy and defensive, making the pair argue. Xie Lian never let on he knew; why would he? His friends were back, bickering, but lively. He relished in the nostalgia, soaking up these moments before they slipped from his fingers, as life does with all good things.

San Lang was a welcomed change to his life. The ghost king, ironically, was full of life and wonder. He managed to shut down Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s arguing, supply information where it’s needed and asked for, spends time to truly listen to Xie Lian talk. It’s been so long since Xie Lian spoke to someone as attentive as his ghost king. He knew who the young man was the moment he hoped into the ox cart, but why ruin it? He quite liked Hua Cheng, and with his luck, it won’t last. He wants to make it last. He wants Mu Qing and Feng Xin to bicker inside the shrine while San Lang praised his cooking. He wants his fleeting moments of happiness to stretch for days-years-centuries. The scrap collector tries not to ask much of the heavens, but he silently pleads for this.

Xie Lian has loved before, coming in many different forms. He still loves his friends, far differently than his youth. Xie Lian loves his San Lang, far more passionately than he had anyone else. Every bone in his body craves his-now husband, to cherish him has he’d been cherished, to worship him has he’d been worshiped, to give him all of himself. And he does. He gives everything he has to offer, and his San Lang is quick to return it. He reunites with his old friends, makes plenty of new ones. That empty spot in his heart now overflowing with affection after eight hundred years. He never wants to get used to this, he never wants to rid of it.

Xie Lian loves everyone, everyone loves Xie Lian.

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

(Un)disclosed

Based off this post I made yesterday about Hua Cheng collecting Xie Lian smut throughout the centuries. Enjoy!

Warnings: suggestive content, long post

...the ornate, white robe slid down the prince's shoulders like water, the gold embroidered silk pooling at his feet in a glittering heap. He looked up at the commoner, a coy look in his eyes as he gauged the other's reaction. His skin, perfectly stretched over his form, bore no markings or imperfections, flawless just like the other had expected it to be. His neck and the tops of his shoulders turned a very light pink, just like the apples of his cheeks.

It was a sight equal parts beautiful as it was arousing, so overwhelming that the commoner fell to their knees as if in worship. "Your Highness..." they spoke, voice reverent, eyes glinting with adoration as they stared up at their prince. "I don't deserve to look at you like this, you're-"

The prince's hand came to cup their face, looking down at them with gentleness and a subtle hint of something dark and hungry in his eyes. "Earn it then."

"How, Your Highness?"

The prince carded a hand through their hair and took one step closer. "You know how."

"I don't, my prince, I know nothing." The commoner whined, so willing to please their voice shook. "Please, won't Your Highness teach this lowly one?"

"Open your mouth."

Xie Lian shut the small book with such a powerful thud that the brittle pages nearly clapped between the old, hard covers. His face burned with shame, fingers trembling as he placed the offending item back on the shelf he had taken it from, all but shoving it into position.

Xie Lian had never read such a shameful text before - granted, erotic art and writing never interested him and so he never looked at any of it, especially considering the requirements of his cultivation path - but to think the first ever he would lay eyes upon would be one of himself was far too ironic!

He should have known not to snoop around Paradise Manor when Hua Cheng was not there - but he became antsy in the ghost king's absence and even a little lonely, so what was he to do but try to explore the nooks and crannies of his husband's abode?

But though he had started off thinking he might find peculiar items, explicit stories of himself definitely exceeded all of his expectations.

It was likely Hua Cheng had stored that book away to ensure no such inappropriate and perverse stories circulated to soil Xie Lian's reputation further - of course whoever had to have written such things did it to make fun of Xie Lian, most likely after his fall, turning his image into one of a salacious lover rather than an ascetic god for the sake of mockery.

With a sigh, Xie Lian calmed hid shaking hands and reached for a second book, hoping to find solace in another story that would be as fascinating and enrapturing as the many pieces of literature Hua Cheng kept in the Manor's main library.

Opening another small book, this time a red one, Xie Lian flipped through the pages until he reached tge one where the book's spine had broken. That page must have been read often!

"Your Highness, this humble one is-"

"Silence." The prince's authoritative voice rang through the main hall of the palace. "Have I allowed you to speak at all?"

Their eyes widened and they swallowed dryly, looking up at Xie Lian with tearful eyes. The kind, gentle smile and soft gaze had been replaced with a sharp, cold look, the very picture of authority and respect a crown prince should be. His features did not look any less regal, though, even anger and disdain fitting his handsome face.

"N-no, Your Highness..." they replied at last, voice quivering with fear. "Please punish me... I've wronged you too much, my prince, I've been disobedient and audacious..."

A small, barely there smile pulled at the prince's lips, a dangerous look in his eyes.

"What punishment would be fit for the likes of you, then?" He asked, voice almost playful had it not been so dark.

"Kill me, Your Highness..." their voice came, small and fearful. "I deserve to die..."

"It would be a waste, though." The prince quickly intervened, taking slow, small strides around the other. "A waste of a good servant, and a waste of a good body."

Their eyes widened, following the young royal's movements until they could no longer turn their head, Xie Lian now standing behind them.

"I have decided on your punishment." He spoke, tone low, so close that his lips nearly touched the other's ear. "And you will take it - and like it."

Xie Lian dropped the red book to the floor with a small yelp, so embarrassed he felt like he could have burst in flames. Had his people truly seen him in such a shameful way?! Had it been lust and desire that he instilled in their hearts rather than righteousness and grace?!

Xie Lian couldn't possibly remember of any instance where he had behaved suggestively as a young crown prince, not to mention he had never shared a bed with anybody until he married his now husband, Hua Cheng. Why would people come up with such terrible stories about him if they had no root in reality? And to think they could be so vastly different... he had been portrayed as wanton but gentle in the first one, only to be turned into a depraved royal in the second! Had he truly instilled such fantasies?

With a defeated sigh, Xie Lian sat on the small chair beside the reading table in the corner of the room, folding his arms on it to lay his head down and hide his burning cheeks. Could he be considering himself grateful that Hua Cheng had locked all of these away or even more ashamed thinking perhaps Hua Cheng had read them?

Xie Lian hoped the ghost king hadn't... he did respect Xie Lian greatly, but Xie Lian knew what kind of perversions his beloved could conjure in their bed (and other places, some more creative than others!)... could he have read all of these terrible stories himself?

Xie Lian felt even more flustered at that thought, and lifted his head from the table, trying to stir his attention elsewhere. His eyes fell upon another small book, an incospicuous black one with a red tassel bookmark halfway in it.

Hua Cheng had definitely begun reading that one, so Xie Lian hoped it was a normal book this time and not another pornographic depiction of the crown prince of Xianle taking someone to bed more or less gently.

The creature had to have been some kind of ghost, a powerful thing wielding a sort of dark energy that acted as both its limbs and life force. Whatever had willed it into existence must have been angry and resentful, the dark forest reverberating with growls and haunting moans as it skittered among the trees like a feral beast.

The young prince did not have the time to react this time, though, and he failed to dodge the many winding limbs stretching towards him - and so, despite his valiant efforts, his arms were bound above his head, pulled taught, and his legs, though kicking, had been spread apart and held in place by the creature's tentacles. This way, his spine bowed forward, arching against the merciless ghost's hold, writhing incessantly in an attempt to escape.

He put his whole strength into every attempt to free his limbs, thrashing like a fly caught in a spider's web, but all he managed to do was tire himself out, breathing heavily as sweat glistened down his body, soaking the remaining tatters of his clothes and making them stick slightily to his skin.

His guan had long been lost in the fight, and so his long hair flowed down his back nearly to his knees, further sticking to the sweat dripping down his back and making him overheat even more.

When it had become apparent to him that struggling was futile, Xie Lian tried calling out for help - but the beast had lured him too deep into the forest for anybody to hear, and so he had given that up quickly as well.

There was no more time to think, his heartbeat picking up as he felt two of those ghostly limbs suddenly caress his neck, one wrapping around it whilst the other slid up and down his chest, tearing the material of his robe.

But when Xie Lian tried to struggle, the limb around his neck tightened until breath could no longer fill his lungs, so he stilled, watching with wide eyes as the tentacle tore at his clothing, leaving him bare.

It wasn't until two other limbs slid up his thighs that the prince realized what was going to happen to him, one of them wrapping around his-

"Gege?"

Hua Cheng's soft voice tore Xie Lian's attention from the story and he immediately fumbled to close the book, his shaking fingers barely managing not to drop it.

"S-S-San Lang!" He shakily replied, feeling as if he had been caught doing something unmentionable. "What are you..." he cleared his throat, realizing he sounded high-pitched, "What are you doing here? You're back early!"

"I am not...?" The ghost king spoke, a controlled expression on his face as he continued, "It is past midnight."

"Ah. I must've not noticed..." came the sheepish response. "I've been...uh...reading..."

"I see..."

A long stretch of silence followed, neither of the two daring to say anything or even gaze at one another for more than a few seconds. It seemed that they both shared an understanding of what they should have been addressing but neither had the courage to speak up.

It was Hua Cheng that did, though, when the quiet became unbearable.

"Gege, I'm sorry..." his expression became ashamed, saddened even. "I understand if you find me repulsive now-"

"San Lang, did I not tell you I could never find you repulsive?" Xie Lian spoke, his voice soft, "I just wish to understand. What are these books? Why have you been collecting them?"

Hua Cheng swallowed, feeling every bit as mortified as Xie Lian did, even though his demeanour didn't betray much.

"Gege knows I have loved him for over eight centuries but I have not had the honor to stand by his side until recently. Despite this, my love for you never faltered - it grew and developed to what you know it to be today. This also means I have lusted after you as well."

Which, in truth, Xie Lian was not exactly surprised about. It was a given, after all, and it wasn't as though they didn't have sex nearly every night - all that desire had to have come from the same place the love did.

"So... I have found a...niche of writers that created these... erotic stories about his highness, the crown prince of Xianle, and...I have kept them for my own...use."

"Use?" Xie Lian quickly parroted, feeling a strange heat pool in his stomach.

"Yes. I am sure gege knows what I mean..."

Xie Lian's eyes drifted towards the black book and the red tassel that lay in it. "Is that one your favorite?"

"One of them." Came the strained reply, Hua Cheng's voice betraying a feeling of both vulnerability and excitement.

"I see." Xie Lian looked up the tall shelf, stretching nearly to the ceiling, and he couldn't suppress a small, muschevous smile as he leaned against the table on his palm, toying with the ring on his necklace with the other. "Then, would San Lang wish to share his other favorites with me, then?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

[fullmetalpotterhead]

Head empty only thought is how Hua Cheng had over 800+ years of spoiling his god to make up for and I just know Xie Lian is the most pampered husband in existence after they married

They both spoil each other rotten it’s atrocious (how dare they make my heart squeeze).

HC’s idea of a good day is XL doing whatever he wants while HC follows him. AND we hear in chapter 244 that XL has already spoiled HC rotten and taught him to be comfortable being sly. You just know this ghost has got a big head about it.

And the problem is HC is over here like “getting kisses whenever I want, I am so spoiled” and XL is over here like “getting more kisses than I could imagine, San Lang spoils me”. Or “Gege cooking just for me 😍”/“San Lang eating my food and giving feedback no matter how poisonous it is 🥰”. Or “my god let’s me worship him openly”/“San Lang doesn’t hide his devotion no matter what state I’m in”. Or “oh my god constant contact, my touch starved self is being spoiled”x2. IN OTHER WORDS THEY HAVE A LOT OF OVERLAPPING THINGS WHERE THEY ARE BOTH CONVINCED THEY ARE THE ONE GETTING THE BETTER DEAL HERE.

HC’S IDEA OF BEING SPOILED AND GETTING AWAY WITH THINGS LOOKS A WHOLE LOT LIKE PAMPERING XL HALF OF THE TIME TOO god damn service sub.

Anyways TLDR: they’re both insufferably pampered and I’m so happy for them

[mdzs-trash]

Apologies in advance for my Qi Rong ramblings 🥲🙏

So more suggestions to QR not actually being insane; he said awful things to Xie Lian about his parents and home, then lay in wait for XL to visit his parents' tomb! I'm sorry, but there is no way he could be considered insane after making such a calculated move.

I'm not saying he's on the same level as Hua Cheng with his plans, but he's still very careful with what insults to use in order to get an intended reaction.

As much as HC hates the idea (though is probably still very much aware), QR does actually know XL enough to spin his feelings around to hurt him. He has spent just as long as HC thinking about XL, though as an opposition, his thoughts have been on how best to humiliate and hurt XL. I mean, he's hurt too, he watched his whole family get murdered or exiled or (in his mind) kept as a pet in the new Yong'an court. Not to mention the person he admired, idolized, and worshipped, was the cause of it all (again, in his mind).

He's angry, and sad, and confused, and so so hurt. So he uses everything he has in order to bring everything and everyone down to his level, to feel as worthless and helpless as he does.

Calling back to a post made by @149panda149 (I loved your thoughts on that post btw!) in which I was specifically very interested in the parallel between Bai Wuxiang and Qi Rong, where they are both attached to Xie Lian through obsession and hatred; I think in Qi Rong's case it is definitely far more personal (how could it not be? They are family), and even potentially closer to Hua Cheng's feelings (obviously not the same!). And I would hesitantly put the thought forward that Qi Rong's reason for not passing on is the same as Hua Cheng's; an unyielding obsession with his Dianxia, two sides of that same coin if you will.

I personally would have loved to see this parallel drawn between them more obviously in the novel, but alas, there wasn't much to go on with Qi Rong's character. Not to mention the potential LANDMINES worth of issues with the implication of XL's cousin having the same attachment to him as his husband! (Though that... 'concept'... wouldn't be a first for MXTX to tackle, I'm lookin at you Jin Guangyao 😠📸)

But regardless! I think there is definitely huge potential for this idea, and I sincerely wish there was more context behind Qi Rong as a character.

Alright! End of ramble! I apologise for my Qi Rong brain rot, he latched on and is refusing to get off! The needy bitch!!

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF Season 1 the Recap!

Basically, I recap the First Season of TGCF with my reactions, before my Season 2 binge watch!

Ep 1

-Don’t go out there… don’t go out there… don’t go out there… don’t go out there… *Bride gets snatched* Okay, maybe you should’ve gone out there.

-Right after XL ascends, Lan Hai and Qing Tao then go, “Huh, Who is that?”  Then everybody yells at them, “PRINCE XIE LIAN!”

-So much Property Damage…

-Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

-Fu Yao, *Is sarcastic and rolls his eyes* Basically me: He’s just like me fr!!!

-Hehehehehehe Dick joke XD

-Sees Bride!XL: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’m Sorry XD!

-Yeah right a few alterations, she totally fixed his make up calling it.

-*Sees Bridesmaids NF and FY like* W H E E E Z E XD XD XD XD

-So that’s how he was able to last longer than the previous bride

-Pass me the Aux cord!  You better not be playing mainstream garbage! *Turns on One Flower and One Sword and vibes like there’s no tomorrow*!

-I now pronounce you both husband and husband!  You may now kiss the gro- I mean, bride!  

Ep 2

-Honey, He looks a little too good looking to be the Ghost groom

-That temple looks abandoned, and the animation camera for walking inside

-There’s the ugly mob

-Hehe Xie Lian’s aggressive kindness

-When the mob scooched away from Bride!Lian I freaking lost it XDXDXDXD

-And Nan Feng and Fu Yao inch away instead of defending him!�� 

W H E E Z E!

-The fact they both agreed to not explain anything XD!

-Xiao Ying is a real friend

-And hurting the injured is a real low for the mob

-They have enraged the ghost groom

-KO!  Flawless victory!

-Zombie brides!

Ep 3

-Didn’t know it a zombie apocalypse happened in Ancient Feudal China (I need to brush up on my history)

-Welp, now they’re grateful 

-Wait a minute, he was an acrobat???  Xie Lian Pre 3 ascension life spinoff when??? (That’ll prolly never happen)

-Man here comes the Bride Pun count: 3

-Now that is an Azula level breakdown

-They are not merciful with the body count in this whole series

-Woah saved by literal divine intervention

-Geez, Pei Ming this is why we don’t Ghost our Exes, Pun Count: 4

-Man, Xuan Ji, maybe you should’ve heard of the phrase, “Plenty of Fish in the sea”

-The way Xie Lian blinked when he realized he was still in the wedding dress XD!

-Restoring faith in Ming Guang

-Oh no Trauma

Ep 4

-He’s so distraught he couldn’t follow

-The telepathic matrix, is basically the world’s first discord server

-Thank you Ling Wen

-Aw he likes Hua Cheng’s name!

-That explains the fall of Xianle and the Moldy Face Plague

-Let’s be honest, Bai Wuxiang is totally responsible for Covid-19

-Woah Hua Cheng has made his mark on Heaven

-Aww he thinks the Butterflies are beautiful!

-Honestly, smart move Mu Qing and Feng Xin

-Oh she is so burnt out

-Yeah, who was the Prince of Xianle anyway?

-WHY IS EVERYBODY’S EYELINER GAME SO ON POINT?!?!?!?!

Ep 5

-The way he blew off that maple leaf

-Oooh that subtle hinting later on and symbolism with Xie Lian

-The way he moved in closer *fangirls like no tomorrow*

-I freaking love the instrumental version of Hong Jue

-Is he touched starved?  He is touch starved

-I love that when San Lang scared the Ghosts shitless they ended up running like no tomorrow, Ghost 1: Book it guys our lives depend on it!  Ghost 2:  But we’re already dead! Ghost 1:  Well it’s just an expression!

-And there was only one bed.  Oh my gods there was only one bed!!!

-Aw he caught him staring

-I believe you Ox cart man

-Heck with how popular TGCF is right now, Xie Lian would be worshipped today by fans like us

-His luck did rub off on you and you should take it all Xie Lian

-Welp time to go start the next arc

Ep 6

-Woah, that old man is traumatized

-Of course being a martial god, he has experience in combat.  Have you seen him in a sword dual at Yinian bridge? (Subtle Phineas and Ferb quote)

-Yep called it, and the gong noise when the door opened!

-“How did we get out here in the middle of the ocean???”

-Awww look at San Lang’s emo hoodie!

-You know what’s better than one evil Daoist?  Two evil Daoists!

-And he drank the whole thing like a boss

-Now Nan Feng’s acting like an NPC from a fantasy video game

-The woman in the teal cloak saw him

-He’s touched starved again!

-Best chemistry ever!

-And after Rouye grabs San Lang and Xie Lian says, “I didn’t mean San Lang”. Rouye goes: “Really? Ok!”  And then lets him go, that’s just the hypothetical dialogue I’ve got for the silk band

Ep 7

-It’s official!  Xie Lian is shorter than San Lang people! 

-I’ve heard of a close knit unit but this is just insane!

-There’s so many people

-Ooooohhh That poor poor general

-SO MANY COBRAS!

-Oh no and 4’s an unlucky number in China

-He is sucking the venom out like a G!  Get yourself a man like San Lang people!

-You know we’re all thinking what Xie Lian’s thinking about how he’s going to clean San Lang’s bloodied lips (I’ll let you share your answers in the comment section)

-And Fu Yao’s stuck with merchant sitting

-Really lovely desert travel music!

-Yeah he does know an awful lot

-Uh oh the woman in the black cloak spotted them

Ep 8

-Thank you San Lang for protecting your man like a champ!

-Ooooh cool more Ban Yue lore!

-Ooooh his poor, poor head

-And San Lang’s expression, is worried if he hurt him, but it worked!

-Yeah but our faces don’t stick out of the ground like a fresh tater!

-Aw no they’re gonna need sacrifices

-Zhao’s fight response kicked in

-Eeenie meanie meinie that kid (probably Kemo)

-“Sully not thine honor on innocent blood” That almost sounded like a bible quote…?

-Dude Xie Lian was royalty

-Trust fall!  (You’ll see next ep peeps!)

-Oh and Xie Lian’s scream!  Kind of needed more raw emotion though

Ep 9

-He’s gonna jump into the pit, he’s jumping into the pit, he jumped into the

-Xie Lian’s like: Well I am going down there, but I won’t go down alone!

-The pit’s entrance is sealed!

-Trust fall!  TRUST FALL!  

-He touched his throat!

-There’s your answer Xie Lian

-Dance fight!  Dance fight!

-You’re just gonna excuse the mass murder San Lang committed in the pit?????

-Let me just find somewhere that isn’t covered in blood

-Oh yeah you’re grateful for San Lang carrying you

-The faces they made when he called them out for jumping into the pit XD Xie Lian’s eyes are wide and blank while San Lan has a cat face! XDXDXDXDXD

-She came down!

Ep 10

-She saw Xie Lian and San Lang

-So many fallen Ban Yue soldiers

-Hi Fu Yao

-I wasn’t kidding when I said Fu Yao isn’t great at crowd control

-Thank you Fu Yao

-She’s holding his hand and he’s patting her head my freaking heart!!!! 

-Oh No! Vomit trigger warning for this episode people

-Xie Lian raised her more than her Yong’An father did (and to some extent her late mother)

-It was still a good choice after all Xie Lian

-Take it easy with the ‘Bad Cop’ routine Fu Yao

-Oh no a scorpion snake

-Well that’s bad

Ep 11

-Aiaigasa!  It’s Aiaigasa again folks AAAAAHHH!!!!

-Scorpion tailed cobras why’d they have to be Scorpion tailed Cobras?!?!?!?!?

-That explains the sandstorm

-Ooooh Pei Xiu army backstory

-Ugh Classist general

-No Ban Yue!!!!  She was so young!!! T - T

-Yeah where will Xie Lian go from here?

-Oooh Yizhen got name dropped too!

-Uncle Jiang is cured!

-And the way he’s running away from the duo XDXDXD!

-Here’s why Fu Yao left early, as they healed Uncle Jiang he contacted Nan Feng through the telepathic array and Fu Yao’s reason is:  Come on, you know how horrifying his highness’ cooking can be.  This is just my theory, and I’d love to hear your possible ones in the comments!

-And the way Hua Cheng moved in closer and just preferred to be called ‘San Lang’ my freaking heart!!!

Ep 12

-We are back in Puqi village folks

-I freaking love how Xie Lian says ‘The Crimson Rain Sought Flower’ Howard Wang’s voice could act as my new sleeping aid

-Oh yeah San Lang does treasure you dude

-Ban Yue deserves all the head pats!!!!

-Ban Yue, I think you should keep living despite all the mistakes you’ve made… other than that I also don’t know the answer like Xie Lian

-Aww Xie Lian will love him no matter if he’s hideous or a monster he really does have the best standards!

-Awwww He’s hot when he’s mad!

-Another Reason why Hualian works so well is that San Lang also Respects!  Xie Lian’s!  Boundaries! (Yep still not getting involved with the Helluva Boss drama folks)

-It’s official!  That looks like an engagement ring people!

-Dude pass me the Aux cord!  Ya better not be playing mainstream garbage *Puts on Hong Jue at full blast and vibes like no tomorrow!*

-It’s like they’re running towards each other AAAAAHHH!!!

-Welp, see you guys later for Season 2!

Season 2! Here I come!!!!

[xueyuverse]

Toy boy of a God

One-shot | 🔞 NSFW!

Everyone knows how much Hua Cheng loves to worship his god, whether in bed, on the altar or on the floor, when both are particularly anxious or too involved, it’s natural for Hua Cheng to fill his god with so much fervent passion to the point of making him weak and a mess of needy moans and whimpers, begging in desperation for more.

However, everyone should know that such devotion is not one-sided. When Hua Cheng's god takes control, he is ruthless, and Hua Cheng is too selfish not to ask for more.

Xie Lian loves having his husband destroyed by his touches. While Hua Cheng's worship is made to make Xie Lian submit out of exhaustion, Xie Lian's is made to take control, dominate and punish. He is not affectionate and his touches are not delicate.

Hua Cheng is tied up and beaten, his mouth is opened to receive dick, tongue and spit, his legs are spread or his dick is used until worn out, he is often kept alone in bed for hours until Xie Lian returns and uses it again him as he sees fit.

The most devout servant and the most feared calamity of heaven and earth being demoted to a beautiful toy boy by his own god. His paradise is his ecstasy.

You can read this on X too 😊

[truly-morgan]

[Kinktober 2021: Body Worship (18+)]

HuaLian | Heaven Official’s Blessing 03-10-2021

Day 3: P̷e̷t̷ ̷P̷l̷a̷y̷ / [Body Worship] / B̷u̷k̷k̷a̷k̷e̷

Hua Cheng will always worship his god. But sometimes Xie Lian notices a drop in his husband's self-confidence and decides that it is his turn to do some worshipping.

====

Hua cheng was looking playfully at his husband working on tying him up to the bed so Xie Lian could do whatever he wanted to do. It was rare for the heavenly god to be the one to really make any specific demands that were a bit more outside of what they usually do.

Plus, he trusted xl wholeheartedly, he already gave him his life to do what he wished for with, and this was just adding more trust into his husband. “I didn't expect for gege to ask the tie me up~~” he teased as xl was finishing with his work, clearly making sure it was not too tight (as if it could actually harm him). He was happy with the blush it gained him and the little kiss he received.

“San Lang remembers what to say if he doesn't like what I am doing and wants to stop?” asked xl. 

“Nothing gege does will ever be too much for me" hc smiled, only to reply more seriously when he sees xl looking a bit helpless, “yes I remember," he says softly.

With that xl went back to finishing taking off hc‘s robes, which were already half taken off to tie his hands to the bed. Hc watched him with amused eyes, seeing how careful xl managed to be with his clothes, finger gently caressing over his skin.

Then came the time for xl to take off his robes, letting hc clearly enjoy the view, not without blushing at the intense gaze on him. It was as if hc had never seen him like this before!!

Then he crawled over hc naked form body, kissing him lovingly, not as passionate as it sometimes was, but filled with love. But hc was ready to take everything his god would give him, from the most burning passion to the sweetest of love.

After that he was a bit curious as he watched the heavenly god sit back, straddling his waist, keeping him from moving. “What does gege have in mind for me tonight," he asks with a smile.

“I think san lang needs a reminder of how beautiful and wonderful he is” replied xl with a fond smile on his lips. 

“No one can be more beautiful and wonderful than gege, I cannot compare” hc replied.

the god didn’t reply, instead, xl was already getting to work, going to kiss his fingers and left palm. “San lang is really beautiful, he has pretty hands who are strong and skilled,” he said, hc chuckling a bit at the implication behind the words.

Then xl kissed up his arm all the way to his shoulder, finger gently caressing the skin too, “Strong arm always ready to keep me tightly against you and protect me”.

His lips travelled to where hc heart should be, leaving a trail of kisses and little hickeys. “This right here is filled with all the love san lang as for me,” he says, before his mouth went to tease a nipple, smiling when it did gain him a reaction from the ghost king. He kept teasing him like this for a bit longer before continuing. 

He made his way down, kissing his belly. “A wonderful belly who is always happy to eat whatever I make” he commented as he passed against it.

He felt hc hips buck up a bit, yet he avoided his growing erection, instead slowly kissing down his tight, his knee, his calve all the way up to the side of his foot. His eyes met with hc one, seeing how troubled the man seemed to be yet never protested against his word for once.

“Strong and beautiful legs who are always there to take you back to me wherever I am,” he says, fingers just as gently caressing the skin as he did since he started, teasing more sensitive parts of his skin.

Xl loved seeing him like this, it was not something he would usually see than a beautifully blushing ghost king. Sure, he may not be blushing a lot, but it was a change from the hc who was usually not the one getting in such a state.

“Dianxia” hc called out to him, unsure what to do with his husband's ministration to prove he was “beautiful”. Xl simply hummed against his skin, continuing with his task of worshipping his beautiful body the same way hc would usually do to him sometimes. He then kissed his way back to where his cock was standing hard.

Xl did pause when he got there, looking suddenly a bit more flustered as he said “And a beautiful... that always manages to make me feel wonderful”, he says while blushing, kissing his way to the tip, starting to suck on it.

Of course, hc had to be shameless enough to praise xl on how well he was doing to pleasure him, thanking him for the attempt “But I really cannot compare to you”.

Xl let go of the cock in his mouth with a slight pout, going back to straddling his hips, letting himself sit down a bit yet not taking him in, only grinding against the ghost king. “gege please” hc asked, hips trying to get more friction only for xl to lift up a bit instead.

“What are the sacred words?” xl asked 

Hc looked at him helplessly, knowing very well what cl wanted yet not wanting to say it. He knew the god was doing all he could to change his opinion of himself (“work in progress” xl would say, “little by little”). And hc couldn’t really get himself to believe it. But...

The look in xl eyes as he looked at him. It was as if he was indeed seeing the most beautiful and wonderful person on earth right now. And he knew xl was always honest with him and he knew these feelings were genuine.

“San lang is... good-looking and nice” he finally said, feeling something warm in him when he saw xl smile soften. It was not what he wanted exactly, but it was already a lot better than usual!

“Not only good looking and nice, stunning, beautiful, marvellous, wonderful” xl whispered to him as a bent down to attack his face with little kisses before he was cut off by a quiet moan from finally letting hc enter him.

And xl went on like this as he rode hc, listing all the good things he saw in hc. He could do it until hc finally genuinely agreed with him!

Ah, but he knew it wouldn’t be tonight and after a couple of rounds, he finally untied hc (who had actually nearly ripped apart his binding). Hc quickly hugged xl close to him, stopping his attack of praise as he kissed him deeply. Xl was satisfied by hc not arguing against his truth. He was already planning to do this again in the future.

====

(dunno if this is how you write body worship (*/ω＼) I just wanted to change up what I usually see with them)

Original - AO3

[citronverveine]

"Hua Cheng is one who has truly separated his devotion from his romantic love for Xie Lian"

I really disagree with this.

If anything, I think by the end of the novel, Hua Cheng has actually learned how to reconcile these two aspects of his love for Xie Lian. Honestly the first thing that came to my mind after reading this was the simple fact that they have sex on an altar built for Xie Lian, but without a statue, effectively making Xie Lian the statue being worshipped through sex, love, and physical pleasure. This example alone shows how desire and devotion are not entirely separate in their relationship, but rather intertwined.

I totally get the point that Hua Cheng's romantic love expands once he has found Xie Lian again, but I don't think it can be wholly independant from his religious love.

devotion/worship of a god and love of a person are different.

Yes, worship of a god and love of a person are different - to us. Because gods aren't people. But Xie Lian is a person, he's human, and this is what TGCF is about, this is what Hua Cheng understands about him and why his devotion is so different from other believers. Hua Cheng loves and worships Xie Lian as a person first and foremost. He sees Xie Lian as a god regardless of whether Xie Lian actually has the status of a god or not, because the one he worships is a person, and he treats him as such. This is what every character gets wrong about Xie Lian because they either idealize him or deprecate him based on what they think a god is. Xie Lian is just Xie Lian, and Hua Cheng accepts him as such, both romantically and religiously.

Sure, "religious love is not something that expects reciprocation," and I too believe Hua Cheng could have been content watching from the sidelines should Xie Lian wish so, but there is a reason he reaches out after finding him. There's a reason why he leads Xie Lian through Mount Yujun in what looks strikingly like a wedding procession, there's a reason he joins him on the oxcart on Zhongyuan. He wants to try to get closer, always with the goal to help, but also always with the hope to stay. And this is actually what book 1 is about - we see hualian get used to each other, learn about each other, until Hua Cheng sees that Xie Lian accepts him and starts being bolder. He beckons Xie Lian over in the Gambling Den, invites him to Paradise Manor, offers to gift him his entire armory. He doesn't dare hope Xie Lian feel the same, but he really wants to (ie when he asks Xie Lian if he came to Ghost City to see him, then dismisses his question by saying he's happy regardless). Book 3 begins after that and this is where the real wooing begins.

Although his romantic feelings only develop further once his devotion is already well established, I don't think it makes sense to say they're separate from his devotion. You point out yourself that his sexual awakening with the Land of the Tender was traumatic, and that he realizes "[his] devotion to [his] god has an edge of desire". This clearly shows that from the beginning, both were muddled. His desire and his respect are contradictory, and he struggles with this particularly. Maybe this is why you came to think separating the two would make sense for him. But TGCF's story is about coming whole and making peace with the multitudes a person can contain. Xie Lian reconciles with his mind and body through Hua Cheng's unconditional love, Hua Cheng reconciles his worship and desire through Xie Lian's unconditional acceptance.

it's Hua Cheng's ritual, and whether they are husbands, whether they had rough and enjoyable sex the night before, Hua Cheng won't slack on his religious love just because he gets to share romantic love with his husband and god.

This is a personal headcanon so I don't really mind it, but it just doesn't make sense to me that Hua Cheng would rather worship a statue than the god in flesh he has in front of him. I genuinely think Hua Cheng has had enough of statues in 800 years.

-

As a whole, I don't think it makes sense to separate Hua Cheng's love into categories. I don't think his love is something that can be clearly cut between either romantic or devotional. Hua Cheng's love is so complex, encompassing, and intense. His beloved is his god and his god is his beloved. He cannot love Xie Lian The God and Xie Lian The Person separately because he is aware and fundamentally understands that they are the same person.

Hua Cheng's Very Different Loves

There is often a fundamental misunderstanding of Hua Cheng's love for Xie Lian. The biggest of them was Mu Qing and Feng Xin's assumption at seeing the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods.

They see Hua Cheng as obsessive, dangerous. And given the history with Bai Wuxian, yeah, not entirely in the wrong for that assumption.

It's hard to understand that Hua Cheng is one who has truly separated his devotion from his romantic love for Xie Lian. Because devotion/worship of a god and love of a person are different.

At least until now, the devout and obsessive level of worship that Hua Cheng exhibits is the first type. The type of a religious devotee. And that cave, that's what we see. Hua Cheng did not make the sculptures and the paintings for Xie Lian exactly, he didn't do it with a plan to bring Xie Lian there and ask for praise, he did it because Xie Lian was his totem, the very thing that could center him even at times of extreme suffering to pull through. Religious love is not something that expects reciprocation, it's not something that requires anything of the subject of worship except their existence. And the Hua Cheng of the past 800 years poured his obsessive love into this type of love, the love that he does not have any expectations for.

We know that Hua Cheng also felt the other type of love. His sexual awakening was downright traumatic. Seriously, imagine being fourteen, and having to defend your beloved god from sex demons who are forcing you to realize that your devotion to your god has an edge of desire, all while said god is stabbing himself to keep from acting on the extreme discomfort of sexual urges forced on him by those same damn sex demons. No wonder Hua Cheng is so absolutely freaked out and a little disgusted about harboring that type of love for Xie Lian.

When Hua Cheng finally finds Xie Lian again after 800 years, I fundamentally believe that Hua Cheng would have been content with an existence of watching over and protecting his god from the sidelines. His devotion mattering more than that sliver of self-loathing desire that would never be erased.

The story we got to read though, the one that makes TGCF so special is the way that the other love grows between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. They enjoy each other's company, enjoy teasing and talking, enjoy the little touches that they share. When Hua Cheng talks about his beloved, he speaks of his romantic love and winning over that person. He speaks of it shyly, because he knows it is something that has to be shared and has to grow naturally. It's what makes their love story so very human, because Hua Cheng treated his religious love and his desirous love as completely separate from each other. And the best part? Xie Lian knows this, understands this, has no doubt about this.

It means that the scene in the cave, where both Feng Xin and Mu Qing mistook Hua Cheng's obsessive devotion for obsessive desire, Xie Lian recognizes correctly.

And Xie Lian reciprocates those romantic feelings.

I like to picture those days that Xie Lian wakes up and finds the other side of his bed empty, then wanders to the Thousand Lights Temple to see Hua Cheng there changing the single white flower in his god's hands, then bowing his head and saying a prayer. Xie Lian rolls his eyes, because well, he's right there, but it's Hua Cheng's ritual, and whether they are husbands, whether they had rough and enjoyable sex the night before, Hua Cheng won't slack on his religious love just because he gets to share romantic love with his husband and god.

[fixaidea]

More headcanons!

So. I wrote about how I think Xie Lian sometimes falls into a depressive spiral - it’s more or less inevitable, what with everything he’s been through. The first few times it happened he didn’t yet know how bad it could get, nor had any idea how to combat it, so it got to the point where his body shut down around him.

Over the centuries he got better at recognising the early signs and at managing it, but never completely recovered - nor did love magically, instantly heal him.

So say, a decade or so post-canon another depressive spell hits him. It’s better this time though, because he’s not facing it alone. Hua Cheng even goes as far as cooperating with Feng Xin and Mu Qing to make sure he’s as close to all right as he gets and he recoveres easier this time.

...Aaand then a summons comes. For whatever reason every single god is needed for a conference up in Heaven - hell, even Yushi Huang must go. But Xie Lian is at his lowest, putting him through that sort of thing right now would just be pure, pointless, unproductive torture.

Never fear though, Hua Cheng is quick to suggest a solution: the two of them are already worshipped together, and hey, thechnically he’d also ascended, he just never took up his status!

So as the Great Martial Hall is slowly filling up with deities, in walks Hua Cheng himself, hair up, outfit for once heavier on white than red, carrying both Ruoye and E’ming, nose so far up in the air it’s in danger of grazing the ceiling.

His face is an unreadable mask... Mostly because he has literally no idea what to do with it. He can’t look too benevolent, lest this worthless rubble think he doesn’t hold every single one of them in bottomless contempt, but he also can’t look too hostile. After all, he’s here to stand in for his beloved husband, not to start trouble!

Trouble does occour though, because of course it does, but he at least can proudly say he had no hand in it.

[wiildcardd]

guiltscorched: xie lian 

  in all his centuries spent wandering this earth, has anything ever stirred him quite so profoundly as the touch of his beloved? ( and not just a touch at that, no  ―  his san lang has never done things by halves, and breaches the distance between them with an eternity’s worth of reverence, every kiss a sweet echo of his devotion. how is one to endure such heart-wrenching love without growing so greedy for it, so addicted to it? )

xie lian is all-too-aware of the rosy flush heating his cheeks, growing brighter with each kiss to grace his skin. his lashes flutter, ever-so-easily affected, eyes gone heavy-lidded with enjoyment. his lips part as if he’d dearly like to chase more affection: more, and more, and more. how shameless he’s become!

❝but i want to be more forward,❞  he murmurs, lifting a hand and resting the palm against his beloved’s cheek.  ❝centuries of habits aren’t so easy to break.❞  after all, how long has he gone untouched? how many years did he while away in solitude, alone except for ruoye and the occasional pat on the shoulder from some stranger he’d exchanged scraps with? in all that time, he’d barely acknowledged the existence of his own body’s needs: far too accustomed to cultivating in manners that denied any such thing. but oh, the hunger that’s built beneath his skin now that he knows what it is to be touched …   

he clears his throat, shifting his hand to find a gentle grip upon san lang’s chin and tip his head up for a feather-light kiss upon the lips. even such a tiny act sets off flutters in his heart, as if those spirit butterflies had taken up residence there.

❝but you deserve all the adoration i can possibly heap upon you. you know that, don’t you, my love?❞ 

❝ should you require my undying and unfettered affection, you need only ask it my beloved. ❞ 

a gently hand moves to guide stray locks that had fallen from the beautifully shaped ears that the divine one had. there was no choice for san lang when it came to matters surrounding the neediness of his husband and partner for life. not that it was a bad thing, hua cheng would always put down whatever he was working on to provide for the needs of his beloved as any good significant other would do. the rosy cheeks of his lover catches his attention though, a smirk forming ‘pon gentle visage as he places worshipping kisses all over. 

he starts along the jawline, trailing upwards with each press of soft lips against pampered and well-kept skin. from cheek, to forehead, nose and eventually lips, arms loop beneath the arms of the snow white royalty before him as he pulls them closer, chests flushed as their lip lock continued. each motion was greeted with the familiar sensation of wet appendage within his mouth as it deepened between the two, free hand cupping cheek to keep them tied together until at last, he pulls back.  ❝ everytime we touch, i feel a deep sensation within me to spoil you at every turn and occasion. do you know how much you affect me? even when we are this close, i have a yearning to claim you... ❞

his words spilled forth as he breathed, graceful in tone with an insinuation of desire as crimson hues gazed deeply into gentler eyes.  ❝ tell me... what shall we do today now that you’ve halted my lessons in the arts of writing? it’s quite a nice day out is it not? perhaps a walk along the lake or through the forests would do us good? unless of course you wish to spend it in here to meditate, ❞ the mention of meditation makes the ghost shudder, how droll and boring it was to sit around and watch... inner focus? inner languor.

❝ either way, i will follow your lead, wherever you wish and want to do. ❞

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

What I couldn't say the first time

Inspired by a Reddit post I cannot find anymore where this one man said that every time his wife takes off her wedding ring to do chores, he takes it and proposes to her again

Hua Cheng noticed it the moment he walked past the doors of Puqi Shrine, his eye attracted to it almost as if by instinct. The small establishment, though a far cry from its original appearance, still maintained its modest, homely appearance - and so it was easy for the item to catch the ghost king's attention as it laid onto the offerings table.

Hanging at the end of a silver chain, a diamond ring gleamed into the faint candlelight, gently reflecting the glimmering sparks of the flames. The item had been carefully laid down so that the chain would not tangle or the ring roll away, placed in the middle of the table almost like it was an offering itself.

In a sense, it had been.

It had been for sure.

The shrine was quiet, the smell of incense weaving a thin veil of smoke around as shadows danced on the wooden walls. It felt somewhat nostalgic to be the only one inside an otherwise silent, modest place of worship for his god - but now, he was not so much in a temple as he was in a home, and his god had become far more than his divine figure of worship.

The thought alone made him crack a smile.

In the adjacent room, he could hear the distant sounds of Xie Lian finishing his bath. Hua Cheng felt only a little bit disappointed he had showed up a bit too late to join in - but the moment he saw the piece of jewelry lay onto the altar table, he figured that was what his beloved had been doing without it on his person.

No matter how often Hua Cheng reassured him neither the ring, nor the chain were made of anything that could be easily broken or lost, Xie Lian insisted to treat them with the utmost care - and that meant avoiding any possible water damage.

It was a bit ridiculous to think something as trivial as water could possibly harm the two enchanted items, but it did make Hua Cheng's heart, unmoving as it was as a ghost, flutter to be cherished to this extent by his beloved.

Which was why he did not panic the moment he saw them laying on the table and not on his husband's chest - like he did the first time. It was an amusing memory to think of at the moment, but at the time, Hua Cheng had thought he would be dying a fourth time when he walked into their home only to see the jewelry discarded and no Xie Lian around.

He had all but flown into a panic looking for the man who, upon hearing the commotion, had thought somebody broke into the shrine and nearly knocked himself out jumping out of the bath, sword in hand, still dripping water.

Now, Hua Cheng simply decided to wait for Xie Lian to emerge from the bath, picking up the necklace as he heard the door opening.

"San Lang." Came the soft, happy voice of his beloved, and Hua Cheng felt an immeasurable warmth bloom in his chest at the sound, his gaze softening at the sight of Xie Lian.

"Gege."

"You're a bit late, I just finished up."

Hua Cheng couldn't help a laugh, "There is still time."

Xie Lian laughed as well, a familiar heat climbing up his cheeks that hot water could not have excused. The sight had Hua Cheng feel more alive than anything in the many centuries that counted his life and his deaths - and so, he took two steps forward to close the distance between them, but made no further moves.

It made him laugh again how confused Xie Lian seemed upon not receiving any sort of affection despite the closeness. He looked a bit like an overly eager puppy, and it was infinitely adorable - but Hua Cheng had a plan and so he couldn't let himself be enticed.

"Your Highness, you're missing something." he said, his voice halfway between playful and serious.

Xie Lian blinked up at him, looking over himself for a moment. It was only when his attention snapped to the table and he didn't see the necklace that his eyes widened, "It was just over there, I took it off before I bathed..."

Dread would have settled into his heart immediately had he not suddenly watched as Hua Cheng carefully placed the necklace around his neck himself, his movements gentle and reverent.

"Don't scare me like that again..." Xie Lian breathed out, fingers grasping at the ring, "I really thought I lost it..."

"That could never happen, Your Highness. I told you before, you can't lose it and you cannot lose me. I will always come back to you."

A soft smile lifted the corners of Xie Lian's lips, serene, loving. "I hope I'll always be here for you to come back to."

--

"Why didn't you give this to me yourself back then?" Xie Lian asked as he toyed with the diamond ring hanging around his neck, head laying on Hua Cheng's chest. "You just left it for me to find."

"...I was nervous." he admitted quietly, looking away with embarrassment. "I did not know how to bring it up and it would have been...suspicious."

"San Lang, you were suspicious from the start." Xie Lian laughed, the indignant expression on his husband's face particularly funny to him.

"Did gege figure out who I was this early on?"

"Well, there are so many ghost kings using silver butterflies as weapons, famously wearing red clothing and being especially uncomfortable for heavenly officials to speak of."

Xie Lian couldn't help laughing more at the look on Hua Cheng's face, his own expression delving into a soft, amused one. He placed a strand of Xie Lian's hair behind his ear with reverent care.

"Though I could not bring myself to give you my ashes directly the first time... I knew you'd understand anyway."

"You have always had so much faith in me, San Lang."

Hua Cheng could not help a smile, full of love and devotion all the same, "How could I not?"

[maryniss]

the stars will die and will be reborn (and i will still love you)

inspired by this gorgeous art right here, seriously it s lovely 

Hua Cheng was getting dizzy and he fisted his hands into Xie Lian’s shirt, trying to control himself, to not fall over from where he sat on the back of his husband. It ended up as an accident, a teasing accident, may we say, but not Hua Cheng was feeling like the one who was getting teased.

“And I saw this beautiful glass bird, it was so colorful and fragile, San Lang! And of course I went and asked how much was it? And do you know what the merchant told me?”

Hua Cheng had a very hard time figuring out exactly what Xie Lian was saying, his entire mind and his entire body, his entire being was concentrated on the way Xie Lian easily lifted himself up again and then down, up and down.

Ok, it was stupid, a little bit, it really was. Hua Cheng didn’t really know what was going on through his head when he asked Xie Lian if he thought he could do push-ups with Hua Cheng sitting on his back. Xie Lian then cocked an eyebrow and pulled his long hair in a bun, only two streaks of hair left to hang loosely around his face. He discarded his outer robe and smiled at Hua Cheng and only said “For sure I can.”

Hua Cheng should have known that it was not going to be good for him. But, what do they say, love makes you do foolish things? Well, then Hua Cheng was the utmost lovesick, betraying himself like that.

He closed his eyes and he took a deep breath. His mind was racing in places he should try to keep closed. But, then, oh, that only made him think more, about how strong Xie Lian’s arms were, about how he could so easily pin Hua Cheng and never let go, about, about, about…

“…and the merchant said ‘Do you know what kind of bird this is? Brought from Ghost City, it has magic properties! You should know that its price is totally correct. I won’t make you a discount, no matter how long you beg of me too.’ And do you know what I said, San Lang?”

Hua Cheng gulped and shook his head. “What, gege?”

He congratulated himself for forming an entire sentence (actually two words, but who counted…? Eight letters, he managed to say eight latter without stuttering or drooling all over, wasn’t that something he should reward himself for?)

“…and bargained for half an hour! Even gods are easier to negotiate than merchants! And I managed to get a discount in the end!” It was a mistake to look. Hua Cheng should have just kept his eyes closed.

“And, wait, have I told you?” Xie Lian lifted one of his arms in the air, making small gestures as he was talking and Hua Cheng felt like dying. Again. Seriously, to die thrice for this man wasn’t enough?

For Hua Cheng it felt like it wasn’t.

His body shivered and he could no longer stand it. He swept down so quickly that Xie Lian barely noticed there was no one sitting on his back anymore and when he lowered himself their lips crashed together.

Xie Lian made a surprised sound but he didn’t pull back. He only closed his eyes and kissed further, gently, teasing and Hua Cheng could feel the upward curve of his lover’s lips.

“Was I really that boring?” asked Xie Lian once their lips parted enough for him to still feel the Ghost King’s breath on his skin. Hua Cheng eye darkened and he shook his head. The tip of his ears was red, and Xie Lian bent his head down and kissed it.

“Gege… could never, ah, bore me.” Hua Cheng took a sharp breath as Xie Lian kissed his way further down, under his ear, to the line of his jaw, and down to his neck, hot kissed on his cold skin, gold butterflies that flew over his head and lit up a flame in his eyes and soul.

It then dawned to him. That he had this man forever, for him. He could be kissed by this man forever, he could kiss and worship this man forever and ever and forever until his lips got tired of kissing, until they…

“San Lang.” Xie Lian breathed gently over Hua Cheng’s throat. “Speak the truth.” And this time, Hua Cheng just grinned and one of his hands went up and pulled at the elastic that was holding Xie Lian’s hair into place, dark locks falling and covering their faces like a curtain, hiding them form the world that feared their love.

“You will never find a more honest person than me, I swear.” Xie Lian, at this, laughed whole-heartedly and rolled next to Hua Cheng, intertwining their fingers together. Hua Cheng brought his beloved hand to his lips and kissed it.

“San Lang, I am not boring you now, but what about the future? What if…” Xie Lian gulped and squeezed Hua Cheng’s hand. Hua Cheng squeezed back. “What if you’ll get tired of me?” Hua Cheng, at this, he felt a mix of feeling pooling down in his gut anger and something else he could not really tell the origin of.

“Don’t you worry, gege, about that. I’ve waited for you for 800 years. I will never get tired of waiting for you, so even if you ever feel fit to distance yourself from me, I will accept it. I am your most devoted believer.” He looked into his husband’s eyes; crimson universes into golden ones; an explosion of colors and emotions.  “Believe in me, too.”

And he closed his lips around his beloved ones. It was like the first time they’ve done this and Hua Cheng knew he would never get tired, could never get tired. Xie Lian made a soft sound, like he always does when they kiss and Hua Cheng dared to open his mouth more and lick a little at the other’s lips.

It was like stars were exploding and were born again, were born anew. Such a feeling, to create again and again and to destroy and to rebuild was something Hua Cheng got to experience every day.

“I believe in you, San Lang.”

How could he get bored of love?

[pinepickled]

Hello Pine! I hope things are going well. If you're still accepting asks for the Fanfic Ask game, I have a few. C,D,K,S,T and X? You don't have to answer them all if you don't want to.

Thank you for the ask Shy! And I never feel bad about answering these, so don't worry! They're super fun~

C: what character do you identify with most?

Hmm. I identify in part with many characters, but one sole character who I identify with the most just doesn't exist, I'm afraid. I identify with Mammon for his simultaneous stress reliever role in his family and how ostracized he is. I identify with Rei, from 3 Gatsu No Lion (March Comes In Like A Lion) for his quiet participation in his own life, trudging in an endless march with no reprieve in sight and pain wherever he turns. I identify with Natsume from Natsume Yuujinchoh for his need to hide the ugly, misunderstood parts of his life, even from those who live that very same life and seek to help him, or seek to drag him along the path they walked.

D: is there a song or Playlist you associate with a fic?

I dont listen to worded music when I write 🤣 I usually watch TV or have a lofi beat in the background. I'd say Monochrome Kiss is the closest I've come to listening to a song while writing, and it's a banger.

The song:

The fic it helped me write:

K: what's the angstiest plot you've ever come up with?

Aha, so many. One I currently have the first two chapters written for and I'm just procrastinating on publishing is a dark one for sure. It's a/b/o bc that's just how I roll, and the protagonist has to reckon with the fact that he is constantly at the mercy of Alphas more powerful than him, not because of his own gender as an Omega, but because of the shackles put on him as a consequence of his desire to help people. He needs to abandon his ideals of self sufficiency that arose from the abuse he endured trying to save his kingdom, and rely on the people that society has demanded he rely on from the beginning. It's like?? A double full-circle, I guess. He starts out wanting to help people and being able to ask for help to do so, while also being pressured to give up his ideals and become the good mate he's supposedly supposed to be. In the middle of this circle, he gets brutally beaten into giving up his ideals and is forced to live with the person who ripped this part of his soul out, but as time goes on he begins to sympathize with that man. The man eventually let's him go, but not before he has thoroughly given up his dreams of helping people, deeming them stupid and childish, and has lost all capability to ask for help when he is in pain or danger. Hundreds of years pass, the second love interest (first one being the man that slaughtered his dreams) comes into play, and he regresses/moves forward to relying on the people who hurt him for the power they lend to him out of good will to help people once more. He cannot help people without relying on these people, he cannot rely on these people without crushing his own mental structure again to fit into this mold. He snaps because of this, losing all ability to be upset at his situation, and happily indulges in the privileges of the people he is submissive to. It's a happy ending by all other means, but the journey to get there was long and brutal. Did he win? Depends on how you look at it.

(It should be up on ao3 after Kakashi Bingo and Whoregumi)

Then there's my personal story, a novel I'm writing in hopes of getting it done for NaNoWriMo. My MC, Clyde, has severe anxiety and paranoia. He cannot function without using his husband, Kai, as a crutch- but Kai dies in a freak accident. Clyde, unable to function in the city he currently lives in without Kai, goes back to his home country. The home country isn't very religious in general, as their religion does not really call for much worship and such outside of simply knowing the legends, but Clyde comes across one of their religious symbols: a suit of armor known to drive it's wearer insane yet gifting great power in return. The more unstable your mental state when first putting it on, the more power you gain in return. It immediately latches onto Clyde, and the other suits of armor deem him too dangerous to live. It's really just a chase story. Clyde is being chased by his husband's corrupted spirit, the other suits of armor, and the looming mind break. He wants to live... but he doesn't. Not without his husband, not like this, but he has no other choice because whether these spirits chasing him are the product of the death of his husband or a prank on Kai's part, Clyde can't tell. All he knows is Kai didn't die, and Clyde can't die until he finds him and gives him a solid punch to the face for doing this. It's dark on the sole premise that Clyde's mental space goes down, down, down, and it doesn't really get better till the finale. If you can call it better.

S: any fandom tropes you can't resist?

~SO breaks your heart so you fuck their dad~

T: any fandom tropes you can't stand?

Taking characters wronged by the narrative and excusing their behavior by imagining a world where they didn't rebel. Take Sasuke for example: his entire clan was ostracized, the jobs they could get regulated to police work only so the village would hate them, their children stolen and brainwashed into the military, their precious eyes ripped out to further the village heads power, and then the entire clan was genocided by one brainwashed teenager from their own clan, whom they refused to fight against due to his age and the fact he was from the clan. These are all reasons for the sole survivor, Sasuke, to be upset, yes?

Yet time and time again I see AUs where people "fix it" by "making Sasuke a good guy" and having him live peacefully in the village that killed his people. Like. Fuck off. Sasuke, despite what shitlords like to say, is not the antagonist of Naruto. He is a companion to Naruto, the one that says "you have been wronged. Be angry. Don't hate me, join me."

But kishi doesn't know how to write for shit so that plot was lost very early on.

X: a character you enjoy making suffer:

Uh, let's see

Mammon, Lucifer, Xie Lian, Kaeya, Toji, Kakashi, and Natsume.

Thank you again for the asks Shy!

[bowsie22]

MXTX Collection

Summary: Hua Cheng always misses his husband when they’re seperated.

“It is unbecoming for the God of the Dead, the King of the Underworld to mope.”

“I am not moping.”

Yin Yu sighed, gesturing to untouched meal in front of his friend.

“This is your favourite meal and you haven’t touched it! Normally it would be gone in seconds.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You haven’t been hungry since Xie Lian left.”

Hua Cheng pouted, poking at the food in front of him.

“I miss him.”

Everyone missed Xie Lian. The God of Spring always made the Underworld warmer and their King was happier when his husband was with him. Yin Yu couldn’t help but look at the dead flowers scattered around the large dining room. Xie Lian would not be happy. Before he left, he made Yin Yu promise to keep them alive, keep a part of him in the Underworld. He had failed his King and his King’s Consort.

“You know that Xie Lan would not be happy with you starving yourself.”

His King grunted, finally starting to eat. Yin Yu watched him, knowing what was wrong, but not knowing what to say.

“You know that it’s not your fault? And that Xie Lian would choose you again in a heartbeat, yes?”

“Hm.”

Only three more months of his friend being a moody little so and so. Only three more months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had been married for five years. It wasn’t a normal beginning to a relationship. Hua Cheng followed Xie Lian around the Upperworld for weeks, having to be dragged back by Yin Yu to carry out his duties. But Hua Cheng, like most, underestimated Xie Lian’s intelligence, only noticing his pretty face.

He stood in the shadows, coiling them around himself. Hua Cheng watched the God of Spring and Flowers work, bringing life back to the world. Life that Hua Cheng would soon destroy. What was he thinking? That a God of Life would ever want him?

“Hua Cheng? Do you plan on watching me or actually doing something?”

The god squeaked, tripping out of the shadows, landing in front of the other man. He turned onto his back, grinning up at Xie Lian. He was so beautiful, haloed by sunlight, flowers in his hair, gentle smile on his face.

“Good morning Gege.”

“Good morning Hua Cheng. Any reason you’ve been following me for the past few weeks?”

What could he say that wouldn’t sound incredibly creepy? That he followed the other man because he thought Xie Lian was beautiful? That he wanted to take him to the Underworld and worship him? That he wanted Xie Lian to sit on a throne beside him?

“You’re speaking out loud.”

What?

“Yes, you’re saying everything out loud. But I am open to those ideas.”

Xie Lian bent down, helping the other stand up. He brushed the dirt from Hua Cheng’s robes, hands lingering on the strong shoulders.

“So, to the Underworld then?”

To say the other gods were displeased was an understatement. It took Xie Lian defending his husband to be in front of all the gods for them to calm down. And even then, it was touch and go.

“We need you here Xie Lian!”

Xie Lian knelt in front of Jun Wu, the leader of the Gods.

“You only need me for Spring. The other seasons are taken care of by my friends.”

He gestured to Feng Xin, Mu Qing and Shi Qingxuan, who nodded, more than happy to help their friend.

“I refuse. You will spend your days up here where you belong.”

Xie Lian smiled his gentle smile. For some reason, Jun Wu felt scared of that smile.

“But the food of the Underworld has passed my lips. Half a pomegranate. Now, tell me wise leader, what shall we do about that?”

Jun Wu had no choice but to allow Xie Lian return to the Underworld. During the Winter and Autumn, when Mu Qing and Feng Xin were hard at work, Xie Lian stayed with his husband.

The Underworld was different when he was there. Trees with silver leaves flourished, dark flowers grew over the land and air was lighter. Hua Cheng was happier than Yin Yu had ever seen him, and less people were punished. It was better.

Which was why Yin Yu, along with everyone else in the Underworld, counted the days until Xie Lian’s return. Without his husband by his side, Hua Cheng changed. He was sadder, withdrawn. The God became convinced that Xie Lian would never return. Yin Yu would never tell anyone, but it broke his heart seeing his closest friend like that.

“Why would he come back?”

Hua Cheng lay in his bed, where he had been for the past six days. He hadn’t left the bed since Xie Lian had left. Instead, he buried himself in Xie Lian’s side of the bed, refusing to move. Yin Yu stopped in his attempt to pull the older man out of the bed, panting.

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“Because he’s gonna find someone better. Anyone. Who wouldn’t be better than the god of the dead? I mean, I rule the darkest realm, the coldest realm. I’m too ugly, too cold and mean for him.”

“Then why did he marry you?”

“He felt sorry for me? That asshole Mu Qing bet him to do it?”

“Do you honestly think Xie Lian that cruel?”

Hua Cheng buried his face in the pillow, deciding to ignore Yin Yu.

“You’re being ridiculous. You are loved. We love you, your husband loves you. Even if it takes all of eternity, we will convince you of that.”

It had not been a fun conversation when Xie Liang returned. The couple hid themselves in Hua Cheng’s office for a day. They left the office with red rimmed eyes, arms wrapped around each other. Since then, Hua Cheng’s self-confidence was slowly improving. But he dipped when Xie Lian left, becoming sadder. Crossing another day off on his calendar, Yin Yu sighed. One more week and then Xie Lian returned. One more week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hua Cheng jumped out of the bed. Today was the first day of Autumn which mean Xie Lian was returning. Dressing quickly, he rushed towards the entrance to the Underworld. Already he could see flowers return to his lands. Xie Lian was back!

“San Lang, there you are.”

“My heart, you have returned!”

Laughing, Xie Lian leapt into his husband’s arms, trusting the other to catch him. Hua Cheng swung him around, pressing a kiss to his mouth, ignoring the flowers that grew in their hair. The two laughed through the kiss, delighted to be together again.

“My heart, I have missed you!”

“And I have missed you dearest.”

They returned to their rooms, Hua Cheng carrying Xie Lian in his arms. Along the way they passed Yin Yu who bowed to the royal couple, before running from the palace. He did not need to hear another reunion between the two.

After two days, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian emerged from their bedroom. Watching the two giggle together over breakfast, Yin Yu couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face. Sure, they could be sickening sometimes, but Hua Cheng was never happier than when he was with Xie Lian. And what else could he want for his friend after centuries of loneliness and sadness? Hua Cheng had some well-deserved joy in his life. And Yin Yu knew the god could give his life to protect it. As would Xie Lian. Remembering the received from Jun Wu that morning, Yin Yu laughed. Let him try to split the couple, he’d soon see why Hue Cheng was so feared. Yin Yu looked forward to it.

[chisie12]

Friends and Butterflies, An After Ending - Part 2

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20490521/chapters/48666302

TAKE THIS NEXT PART! There’s fluff still, but this one has some angst to it. And hurt, and comfort. 

“Please protect my family.”

~~*~~*~~

Ever since Xie Lian had fallen out of the abyss, with only one believer in the world, life had been relatively peaceful and blissful, especially more so when he was proposed to a month ago.

Furthermore, recently around the same time, he began receiving a prayer, once every day at dusk.

“Please protect my family.”

He’d trace the prayer back to Ghost City’s QianDeng Temple every dusk and every time, he’d put the prayer aside.

It wasn’t because he didn’t care of his believer, but he put two and two together and figured it might have been Hua Cheng who prayed, so he never fully inspected the prayer. This was because said demon himself would be out whenever dusk rolled around and since Xie Lian would be his husband in two weeks, that’ll make him ‘family’, right? So taking care of himself was the best way to protect his family.

Which then reminded him of an important matter that Xie Lian had to do. Cleaning the table of the calligraphy papers and ink, he stood up and walked out Paradise Manor alone.

Next stop: Mount TaiCang.

~~*~~*~~

The milky speckles twinkled and pulsed above the Great Hall. His shadow flickered and danced under the faux starlight as he made his way down to the crypt at the very back. The solemn gaze in his eyes darkened at the sight of the two coffins. He quietly threw away the dried, shriveled fruits and cleaned the plates before placing new fresh ones atop it.

There was a soft thud as his knees hit the floor, and he bowed his head low in respect. “I deeply apologise for not visiting you sooner, father, mother.”

He resignedly lowered his head further at the silence, the floor cool against his forehead. What had he been hoping? That they’d respond?

But they couldn’t. He knew they couldn’t.

But he had to tell. Wanted to tell.

He stared at the floor, observing every contour and cracks from the passing of time, a heavy burden in his chest. Would they accept? Would they be happy with his decision? But he wished for them to know, even if he doesn’t receive their blessings for being such a worthless son.

Were they even proud of him? Would they ever be?

“F-Father, mother.” The fear and anxiety was hard and sharp in his throat, like a sword slashing at the words that he wished to utter, the pressure building and weighing upon him as though the Heavens were sitting on his shoulders. His fingers curled and tightened, nails scrapping against the floor in tiny shocks of pain. His eyes slowly closed, his body curling up smaller as he tried to calm his breathing. He could do it, right? Just a few words. Get it out, let them know – No… What if he disappointed his parents even more?

A small blush of red appeared in his sight, blurry and faint. When his gaze refocused, he noticed the red string that was tied around his finger, the perfect bow still untainted by a speck of dust despite being in such a dusty chamber. He made a mental note to start sweeping the place and warmth then tingled in his senses, filling up his heart. It’s as if he could hear Hua Cheng’s voice reminding him in his mind: Don’t worry.

And then he felt the pressure lift significantly, his muscles visibly relaxing. He sighed, though a small, tender smile was carved upon his lips. With a surge of confidence, of affection and support, the words that were stuck in his throat finally released themselves.

“Father, mother. I’m getting married to San Lang.”

The dam broke, waves of feelings started rushing out of his lungs, filling the silent chamber in a blissful yet somber tone. It felt physically warm, wet, but his mind had already gone astray.

“San Lang is a great guy! He’s been silently protecting me all these years and he’s always treated me very well. H-He… saw me at my worst and he’s still here. I was always scared that if he found out that I'm not the same person he worshipped, he’ll leave. But he’s still here. He’s still here… Father, mother, I really love him. I don’t know what I’d do without him. I – I get scared when he’s not around. I’m scared he’ll disappear from me one day. I believe he’ll always come b-back but… I don’t want him to ever go… I want to always be by his side. Looking at the same direction together…”

A silence filled the chamber. The air was stale, dusty, and it served to only magnify the fear in his heart.

“Ah… What will I do with you, ge ge.”

A pale slender hand, as cold as ice yet possessed an inexplicable touch of warmth, gently covered his eyes before he was suddenly pulled into a tender embrace. A sigh of contentment breathed upon his ears, flushing it red and hot.

“I’m not leaving you. So, please don’t cry?”

Xie Lian’s chest jumped at the short sob when he finally realised the thick streams of tears that cascaded down his cheeks. He sobbed again, wheezing through his lips because of the blockage in his nose. Had he really been afraid? Although he believed that this man – demon – would always come back for him, the thought that one day, just one day, that he would never return really brought an inexplicable wave of anguish.

Was this a blessing of the mortals? That they could part together in life with love by their side?

“S-San Lang!”

The sobs and tears came down harder. Did Hua Cheng hear every word that he said?

“Ge ge… your highness.”

Another hand snaked up his cheek, the thumb gently wiping the tears away while the hand from before stayed shielding his eyes.

“You wouldn’t want your parents to think that I'm bullying you now, would you?”

The teasing tone in his warm voice stole wet chuckles from his lips. He breathed in sharply, the sob cut short as he tried to smile. “No, I wouldn’t,” Xie Lian said.

Hua Cheng hummed in encouragement and Xie Lian sat obediently in his embrace as the hands wiped at the tears staining his cheeks.

“Let’s greet your parents properly, together.”

“Mm.”

Xie Lian rubbed at his face with his sleeves as Hua Cheng took the spot beside him.

They bowed simultaneously.

“Uncle, auntie. I'm San Lang.”

There was a pause, a slight hesitation of uncertainty. Xie Lian wondered if he was nervous, afraid of the same things that he was afraid of as well.

The slightest feeling of a touch against his finger caught his attention, warm like a brief kiss of a butterfly atop the flower. Hua Cheng glanced down and saw Xie Lian’s pinky finger stretched out to softly touch his, a small gesture silent support, but when he looked up, his husband-to-be was still looking at the coffins. A smile stubbornly tugged at his frown and he turned back to the front.

His voice was filled with a conviction that Xie Lian was familiar with, an unparalleled confidence and pride that only the Supreme Demon could wield. Yet those words he painted with his tongue called forth a fire to brush against his fair skin, to submit himself in utter satisfaction.

“Thank you for bringing Xie Lian into the world, for allowing San Lang to meet him. I promise you that I'll cherish and protect him always. He’s the greatest blessing that Heaven could give.

I vow that for all my life… in all my lifetimes, the one I’ll always love is Xie Lian.”

~~*~~*~~

 “You know, San Lang? I think I'll cook dinner tonight,” Xie Lian said as they walked hand in hand down the bamboo groves towards Ghost City.

They chose to walk back home instead of using the dices for the sun was bright, its heat greedily absorbed by the fluffy clouds that covered the blue sky. They’ve already journeyed for over a week, relishing in the short holiday they’ve given themselves.

“Someone’s in a good mood today,” Hua Cheng chuckled. “Should I always profess my love for you everyday? I really want to eat your cooking but you don’t cook so often.”

“That’s cause everything in Ghost City isn’t exactly edible. And I don’t want you to go out of your way to buy mortal ingredients.”

Laughter tickled his ears when Hua Cheng bent down to nuzzle at Xie Lian’s neck. “I would if you wanted them. It’s not like I'm personally going to go too.”

Xie Lian’s reply was cut short when something rolled down the hill of the bamboo grove, knocking him squarely at the back of his knees. He screamed in panic when gravity began to pull him back but large hands steadied his footing.

“Ge ge, are you alright?”

Xie Lian nodded with a slight daze. They both turned towards the bundle on the ground, curled and trembling in old rags dotted in holes, but he kept a tight hold on the bundle of cut bamboo in his arms. The small child, covered in cuts and dried blood, shook his head and slowly righted himself. His body was sickly thin, skin almost a pallid colour and he was already panting from just that action itself.

“Are you alright?”

Xie Lian’s voice was slow and gentle. He bent down to check on the child. The child blinked up at him before his mouth stretched into a beaming, sheepish smile. “Thank you, Bai ge ge! I'm okay. I just accidentally tripped on the way down. I'll be off now! I can’t keep pa waiting for so long or he’ll worry! Thank you! Bye!”

“W-Wait –!”

Before he could even get another word in, the boy had already stood up and continued running down the hill. Xie Lian sighed, a helpless smile playing on his lips. That child had spoken exceptionally fast and it seemed like he could run exceptionally fast as well despite his frail appearance.

“Do you think he’ll be fine?”

“I'm sure he will be, ge ge. He’s a strong boy. There’s also a village not far from here. He should be from there.”

Xie Lian nodded. However, just as they took a few steps forward in comfortable silence, a sharp scream filled with anguish and terror pierced the skies, shattering the peace that fell over them. The couple bolted down the hill following the sound and entered Panda Village. They briskly walked towards the group of people huddled together in front of a dilapidated house. They weaved through the crowd to see the same child from before kneeling beside a man by the door, sticks of bamboo strewn at the side. His wrinkled face was contorted in pain, tanned skin with an odd bluish tint sleek with sweat, but none of the villagers made a move to go forward, watching the scene unfold in a somber tone.

“That A-Shao ah… really pitiful. He’s already lost his mother and brother. His father’s also dying…”

“Don’t say such things! Old man Huang isn’t dead yet!”

“Who’s gonna take care of A-Shao now?”

“…I can’t do it. I already don’t earn enough for myself.”

“Same here…”

“Me too…”

Hua Cheng held Xie Lian back by the shoulder, bristling anger tremoring through his fingertips. The dip between his eyebrows, flames dancing in those soft eyes, and even clad in white, Hua Cheng fought to keep a straight face despite thinking that his lover looked very much like an angry bunny.

Xie Lian glanced at the taller man beside him, somehow finding it that he didn’t find it serious.

“Ge ge, do you wish for me to kill them?” Hua Cheng jokingly asked in his private communication with both eyebrows raised, his tone seemingly having misunderstood the glance.

“No, no. I didn’t mean that! San Laaang.” Xie Lian’s anger dissipated slightly as he dragged out his name in a slight whine.

“Alright, I'll stop teasing you,” Hua Cheng chuckled lowly and turned to the unconscious man. “Don’t worry. The man’s not dead yet. He’s probably going to soon though, in the next few days.”

Xie Lian’s smile instantly dropped at the second half. “What is it?”

“Some kind of injury. His skin is a little blue. I think he’s in quite a bad shape.”

They silently turned back towards Shao Qing and his father.

“Pa! Pa, please don’t leave me. I already brought the bamboo sticks for you!” the child cried, shaking his father’s limp body roughly. His tears fell faster, face blanching white when he received naught a response. “You said you were getting better. Pa! Pa!”

A shadow suddenly loomed overhead and Shao Qing tilted his head back. Xie Lian jumped in fright when more tears flowed out of those round chocolate orbs, snot dribbling out of his little button nose.

“Bai ge ge! Help me. Please. My dad’s not feeling well. Please, help him!”

“Bai ge ge? They know the kid?”

“Oh no, we better go away… who knows if the kid will bring more misfortune –”

“Who are you to say that!?”

An enraged roar bellowed through their ears, loud and rumbling like a thundering storm. The villagers jumped like frightened cats hissing in the alley, staring back at a fuming Xie Lian. All the short pent up anger came out faster than the magma that overflowed in Mount Tonglu and just as destructive.

“How can you say that about a child! He’s still young and innocent! No child is actually the bearer of misfortune! All of you are just ignorant –”

A hand slipped around his waist; a familiar act, a familiar chest, and Xie Lian’s words were eaten. A thumb rubbed at the curve soothingly in circles, a low voice murmured near his ear.

“Thank you, ge ge. But it’s all right.”

Xie Lian’s chest still heaved up and down with heavy pants, the unbridled anger still boiling on high heat flushing his cheeks a delicious red.

“If you keep blushing like that, I might have to eat you up on the spot.”

It was like a switch turning off the flames. The fury subsided immediately yet the dark seductive whisper promising a pleasurable moment brought the heat to rush upon his cheeks, colouring them deeper. Xie Lian lowered his head while biting his lower lip. He quickly turned back to crouch beside Shao Qing, leaving Hua Cheng to guard the door.

“What do you know?” A villager grumbled under his breath. “Ever since that child was born, all he’s brought was disaster!”

“Oh, really?” Hua Cheng asked nonchalantly as he leaned against the doorframe with an arm stretched out to block the door when Xie Lian bolted up to rush out in a fit of rage. At Hua Cheng’s signal, he glared at the villagers before dropping back down next to the boy.

It wasn't like he was protecting Xie Lian from the villagers; He's protecting them from him.

Like a gunshot marking the start of the race, the villagers began shouting.

“Yeah! He killed his mother when he was born!”

“Then he killed his older brother!”

“Then Old Man Huang had to make a new house cause he burned the old one!”

Hua Cheng nodded apathetically, though the smile remained to entertain them. “And so?”

“He'll just bring disaster to us all!”

“When Old Man Huang dies, I hope he di –”

The young villager’s words died in his throat when his head was thrown backwards at the sudden force hitting him. He stumbled on unsteady feet before dropping onto the ground in shock and confusion while those around him started to rebel. In his hand was a rock hard, half eaten steamed bun.

“Don’t you fucking dare finish that.”

The noisy villagers quietened down, frightened pale by the killing intent suffocating them. Hua Cheng’s eyebrows were raised in a pleasant surprise while he turned to look back at Xie Lian. His voice before had been dark and low, clear with a clear murderous aura, but Hua Cheng was more impressed at the fact that his highness swore.

“Telling a child to go and die, all you lowlife scums can go to hell instead,” Xie Lian’s tone turned sharp like the sword he wielded, slicing through their conscience mercilessly. Without a glance back, he turned to Old Man Huang to continue checking his condition properly.

Hua Cheng stared at his lover, inwardly groaning at the arousal growing in his pants.

‘Fuck, that was hot,’ came to his mind.

The villagers’ dissent fell upon deaf ears as his mind was filled with images of devouring the sweet bunny on the spot, to hear those pleasurable cries and moans fill his ears, to see that face flush in pure ecstasy –

“Are you alright, Hong ge ge?”

The soft voice jolted him out of his reverie. Glancing back, Hua Cheng looked at Huang Shao, noticing the paused onslaught of tears, yet more were threatening to fall were pooling at the corner of his eyes, the fingers tightly clenched by his sides, but he still gave him a smile full of gapped teeth while stubbornly holding back the tears. One of his heartstrings was plucked, a low hum vibrating through his body at the sight.

“Mm, I'm okay. Help Bai ge ge. Don't worry about me.” Hua Cheng returned the smile with one full of warmth and Huang Shao nodded seriously.

He returned his attention to the grumbling villagers who jumped at his sudden change into a frosty expression.

The two parties fell into silence, a tense showdown of stares and unwillingness to retreat. Hua Cheng contemplated his choices; to kill or not to kill? Killing was definitely out of the question cause his bunny might just bite him, even if that thought was definitely welcomed, while not killing didn't seem fun, didn’t seem to satiate… the odd desire for bloodlust. He wanted all of their heads to roll, to vent his anger out on these scum that would… oh.

Could it?

His mind played with the idea, flipping it over and over like a pancake. And his feelings seemed to have leaned more towards one side, probably an aftereffect of taking care of the Heavenly brats. He remembered how Xie Lian looked, having a baby in his embrace, looking so at ease and content…

Xie Lian probably did want a child, didn’t he?

Was he being selfish when he requested to not have babies? With a sigh, Hua Cheng broke the deadlock with a glance backwards at his lover who was smiling gently and hugging the boy as they checked over the father.

Perhaps he should have asked for Xie Lian’s thoughts beforehand?

His mind was made up, conscience clear and heart sure.

Hua Cheng looked at the villagers, with his chin slightly tiled upwards and a dark eye staring them down. He crossed a leg over the other as he rested a hand on his hip.

“If you don’t want them, we’ll take them.”

Just as his lips kissed those words, part of his shimmering anger and bloodlust did indeed melt away. It wasn’t that he wanted to be a saviour to those in need; he was no saint. But something about that boy, sickly and frail, cursed as unlucky, yet trying to be strong rose a sense of… a desire to protect; Protect someone other than Xie Lian.

That thought made his heart feel warm.

“A-Shao, right?” Xie Lian’s soft, gentle voice broke the stunned atmosphere. At the boy’s nod, he continued, “Do you want to come live with us? We’ll take care of you and your father.”

“Really? You will take care of pa?” Huang Shao’s face lit up and Xie Lian used his sleeves to dry those tears.

Xie Lian’s heart ached at his question. It wasn’t “take care of us” but rather “take care of father”, and he wondered what else did he go through.

“Of course. If you don’t mind where we stay,” Xie Lian replied, rubbing his head gently.

“Anywhere is better than here! Please take us away!” Huang Shao cried out, stubbornly wiping at the tears away with an arm while he clutched his father’s shirt with the other.

“Then quickly pack up what you need. We’ll help carry your father,” Xie Lian instructed before standing up.

Warm fingers crept upon Hua Cheng’s sleeves and slipped into his tightly curled hands hidden in the crook of his arms, slowly prying them loose before massaging at the tense muscles. It was at that moment that Hua Cheng realised he had been afraid; Afraid of being rejected by the boy, afraid of upsetting Xie Lian at making a decision without his opinion, afraid that he overstepped his boundaries.

But then he saw tender affection in Xie Lian’s warm gaze, the love twinkling like silver stars and he visibly relaxed, his fingers moving to hold his hand. “I’ve already tried stabilising Old Man Huang’s body with some medicine and he’s currently unconscious, but I don’t know how long more he has to live.”

Hua Cheng nodded in understanding and kissed his forehead, praising him for a job well done. They turned to the crowd.

“What are you waiting for? An invitation?” Xie Lian glared at the villagers, having no qualms at being rude. His bottom line was crossed twice today by the same crowd and he felt no need to be benevolent towards those that bullied the young and weak.

“That… Old Man Shuang was the one that usually creates the books made from bamboo in the village. And he was in charge of fixing the bamboo rafts that we use for fishing,” an elderly man said when he walked through the throng. He had a head full of white hair and a walking stick made from bamboo, carrying an air of authority. “You can’t take him away. He’s too important.”

“If he’s so important, why didn’t you take care of him better!” Xie Lian felt truly incensed now. “It just sounds to me that you're taking advantage of him.”

“He was the only one who knew the craft,” the elderly man said calmly.

Xie Lian bit back his words when Hua Cheng squeezed his hand and quietly took a step back. The elderly man took this as a sign of submission and smiled proudly.

“If I understood this tight, this means that none of you know how to craft using bamboo?” Hua Cheng inquired.

“That’s right.”

“Which means that all of you are practically useless despite being a village that lives so near a bamboo grove. Not only are you useless, you’re also lazy.”

“Now,” the elderly man frowned, “You can’t say that. Old Man Huang is the best at the craft. We aren’t.”

Soft thudding of footsteps stopped beside him and Hua Cheng noticed that Huang Shao was already done packing. The drawstring bag hanging on his thin waist wasn’t filled with much and the bamboo sticks were already neatly tied and strapped on his back. Xie Lian had Old Man Huang’s arm around his shoulders and he looked at Hua Cheng with a resolute gaze.

Smilingly, Hua Cheng turned back and said in a taunting tone, “Oh, my apologies. I clearly remembered you saying that none of you know how to craft using bamboo. Since you do know, then it isn't an issue to take a sick man and a child away. Now that's settled, let's go.”

“You'll regret taking that unlucky bastard with you!” the elderly screamed, knocking his walking stick on the ground in frustration when he realised he lost.

Xie Lian supported the limp man effortlessly while he walked through the crowd under heated glares, but he kept his head held high as Hua Cheng protected him by his side.

The man in crimson let out a confused gasp when a small bony hand slipped into his and he looked down to see Huang Shao’s hopeful gaze shining up at him.

“Thank you, Hong ge ge.”

Hua Cheng lightly squeezed his hand and smiled, feeling a warm soft sensation tease his heart. “It's alright. A-Shao can live properly with his pa from now on, okay?”

“Mm!” He nodded happily.

The group walked until they were out of Panda Village and Xie Lian shot the place one last glare before walking forward.

“What Panda Village... Not even friendly like pandas. Such a disgrace,” he grumbled under his breath, causing Hua Cheng to laugh while he picked up Old Man Huang’s other arm and slung it over his own shoulder.

The couple had discussed it privately before that they should probably try to not scare the mortals by travelling with the dices, not to mention that the city they’re going to wasn’t exactly… normal.

They walked in silence for a while, taking many breaks in between for Huang Shao to recover. Grass crunched beneath their feet, a cool spring breeze caressing their skin under the sun, and soon, they would be upon Ghost City.

“A-Shao, are you afraid of ghosts?” Hua Cheng questioned when they stopped for a quick break.

Huang Shao shook his head.

“You’re not? Why?”

“Because Qing-ge became a ghost and Qing-ge is a kind person! So, I’m not scared of ghosts.” He blinked at them once, twice before continuing. “Pa said when people never wake up, they become ghosts!”

Both Xie Lian and Hua Cheng turned towards him inquisitively, and Huang Shao began to explain. Roughly around a month ago, his brother Huang Qing and him were collecting bamboo in the nearby bamboo grove when a group of boys from the village came.

“They started scolding us and calling us stupid and poor, and we were fine cause that’s what happens everyday! But Qing-ge got really angry when one of the boys started pushing A-Shao. Qing-ge was always strong! He was always strong...” Huang Shao’s voice grew quiet, his fingers tightening their grip around the bamboo water container while his body shook. “A-Shao really wished he was stronger, then I could have helped Qing-ge. Qing-ge pushed them back and told A-Shao to run, but I didn’t want to leave him alone. A-Shao tried to hit them but they were bigger and stronger.”

Xie Lian tugged the boy and wrapped him in his arms, patting his back as he frowned at the wetness soaking into his robes. Huang Shao raised his hands to clutch tightly at the older man, the tears free flowing as though he was finally allowed to let loose the suppressed anguish and anger killing him inside.

“They killed him. They killed Qing-ge when he was trying to save A-Shao.”

Their frowns deepened when the boy shook harder, his voice growing hoarse from the cries screaming into the Heavens. He couldn’t forget the scene, not when Huang Qing stood in front of him after blocking the barrage of stones thrown their way. They tried to run, slipping and sliding in the bamboo groves that were wet after the morning rain. “Father said you should never have been born! You’re an unlucky bastard!” were the words he last heard before Huang Qing pushed him aside.

And his older brother being impaled with the bamboo they cut the last thing he saw.

Huang Shao screamed at the memory, his fingers digging deep into Xie Lian’s skin. Xie Lian shook his head when Hua Cheng came over to pry the boy away and he could only sit and watch warily at the scene.

After a short moment, Xie Lian waved his hand for him to come over and he did, only to have the same hand reach out for his head and let it rest against his other shoulder, patting his hair affectionately.

It was as though Xie Lian was trying to comfort him too.

“A-Shao misses Qing-ge!” Huang Shao wailed, burying his head further into the crinkled, snot-laced robes. “I miss him!”

Hua Cheng laid a hand over Xie Lian’s that suddenly tensed. He looked up and he felt his heart ache at the unshed angry tears glimmering in those soft orbs.

“A-Shao wish A-Shao was never born! Then he would still be alive! And pa wouldn’t be sick. And ma would still be alive!”

“A-Shao!” Hua Cheng bolted to sit upright as Xie Lian lightly reprimanded the boy, pulling him away to look at his face but Huang Shao hid his face and cried harder. “A-Shao! Listen to me. Don’t think that, okay? It’s a blessing that you were born into this world! There’s so many beautiful things for you to see!”

But all his words fell on deaf words.

Xie Lian squeezed his eyes at the hysterical crying that filled the air, the emotional pain flowing from the boy’s every pore. From his mouth came a cry, so different from before, so raw that Xie Lian felt his own eyes suddenly pricked with tears.

“Why was A-Shao even born... A-Shao killed ma... A-Shao even killed Qing-ge...”

Then came a whisper audible enough over the cries.

“If you don’t know how to live on, then live for your brother.”

Hua Cheng frowned at Huang Shao, a pale finger reaching out to catch a tear; warm, sorrowful. “I have no answer to your question. But if you don’t know the reason why you were born, then make your brother that meaning, and use him as the reason to live.”

The atmosphere fell deathly silent but Hua Cheng was not perturbed by it in the slightest. Xie Lian was hit with a wave of nostalgia when he heard those words, embarrassment and pride welling up within, for were they not the same thing he told Hua Cheng many years ago?

Huang Shao sniffled at the words so different from what he’s been told before, looking at Hua Cheng with tear stained cheeks but no new tears fell.

“I... was someone born under the Star of Solitude,” Hua Cheng began. “Do you know what that means?” At Huang Shao’s shake of the head, he explained, “It means that I will only bring bad luck and break things to everyone around me. Evil always follows me around.”

“But Hong ge ge is such a nice person!” Huang Shao interjected in panic.

“Hong ge ge is happy that A-Shao thinks so,” Hua Cheng looked at the pair of hands hold onto two of his fingers, and an inexplicable feeling aroused in his heart. The hands were so small, so fragile.

He caressed Huang Shao’s head with a smile. “But the kingdom’s greatest fortune teller was the one that told me that. But you know who saved me?”

“Who?” By now, Huang Shao had completely stopped crying, reduced to only sniffles and puffy eyes.

Hua Cheng pointed at Xie Lian with a proud grin, only to have the subject in question flush red in embarrassment. Hua Cheng tugged at the arms covering his face and pulled him over. “Bai ge ge here told me the same thing I told you. And it looks like I grew up nicely, didn’t I?”

Huang Shao nodded his head thoughtfully.

“See? Don’t listen to what the crazy villagers said. Just think about your brother. He’ll be sad if you don’t live properly.”

Then, Huang Shao took in the words earnestly. “A-Shao… A-Shao will live for my brother. A-Shao don't want to make him sad.”

“That’s a good boy.”

Hua Cheng hesitated for a moment, locking a gaze of uncertainty with Xie Lian’s encouraging one, before nervously opening his arms. Huang Shao sniffled, watching him cautiously, and the man stiffened. His arms began to falter, inching slowly down when a small forced knocked onto his chest, thin arms wounding around his waist. Huang Shao quietly sobbed the rest of his anguish in his embrace.

Xie Lian watched the scene unfold with tender eyes, smiling when shaky hands raised to slowly pat at the back before settling to rub circles upon it. His eyes twinkled when Hua Cheng looked up with a proud smile, as if to say: “Look, ge ge! I'm comforting a child!”, and with a thumbs up, he nodded in agreement.

Leaving the two to their little bubble, Xie Lian then went to check on Old Man Huang whose face was no longer contorted in pain. His temperature and heart rate was normal, but he couldn’t really judge on the extent of internal injuries the man’s suffered all these years.

“A-Shao, are you hungry?”

Xie Lian’s ears perked up at Hua Cheng’s voice, quiet yet timid, as if the man was still slightly nervous when it came to dealing with children. When there came no response, he glanced backwards to check, only to quickly turn away after a short moment to stifle his laughter. The Supreme Demon, feared by many but feared no one, was being done in by a child! Hua Cheng’s smile had twitched at the silence, but as it relented, the smile dropped into one of panic and horror. His hands hovered above Huang Shao, unsure if to pull him away or to keep hugging him, or was the boy unwell? He was quite sickly after all!

Hua Cheng had sent a distress signal to Xie Lian with his eyes, but his lover had quickly glanced away. He saw the telltale signs of his suppressed laughter; of the slender shoulder shaking with bubbling giggles, where his head was lowered in an attempt to hide his grin and the exposed neck flushing a blushing pink.

‘Ge!’ He cried out mentally.

As though hearing his plea, Xie Lian turned around with a grin stretched from ear to ear, playful mirth dancing in his eyes. Hua Cheng repeatedly flicked his gaze down onto the silent boy, a silent plea for help and Xie Lian gestured for him to hug him and pat the back before asking the question again.

Hua Cheng obediently followed his instructions, keeping his touch light and delicate. “A-Shao, are you hungry?”

Huang Shao tightened his grip as his shoulders started to tremble.

Despite the panic rising, Hua Cheng tried to mimic what Xie Lian would do. With a hand patting Huang Shao’s back, Hua Cheng tried to gently pull him away. “A-Shao, it’s okay. Don’t be scared. Are you not hungry? If you’re not, then we don’t have to eat.”

Huang Shao let himself be pulled away while he kept shaking his head. “No, no… Hong ge ge… can… A-Shao really… tell you what he wants?”

Seeing the wary smile paired with a sparkling hope in his eyes, Hua Cheng’s smile grew. “Of course. Just tell us what you want.”

“Then…” Huang Shao glanced at his father. “Could we eat braised chicken feet when pa wakes up? He loves eating that.”

“Definitely! What about you?”

“A-Shao… is okay. As long as pa is happy. A-Shao can share with him.”

“A-Shao is such a good boy,” Xie Lian sighed wistfully. “I hope my son can grow up as good as you.”

Huang Shao shook his head. “No… it's better if he's like Qing-ge. Strong and kind.”

Xie Lian picked up Old Man Huang with Hua Cheng’s help and said, “If you want to, we’d like to know more about your brother.”

Huang Shao slipped his hand into Hua Cheng’s as they continued on their way to Ghost City. “Qing-ge was the best! He’s always smiling and was so strong! He could pick up this much bamboo when we were six!” He gestured with his hands while he described, one still holding onto Hua Cheng’s. “I could only pick up this little. And he was good at cooking porridge! I loved his sweet potato porridge the most!”

Apparently, Huang Shao and Huang Qing were twins, the former the younger twin. In their case, the younger twin had been born a lot smaller and with a weaker constitution. They did everything together and helped Old Man Huang with the bamboo business every day, totally inseparable. He was currently seven years old, yet he looked no more than five because of his body.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian tacitly agreed to not bring up the topic of the mother, allowing Huang Shao to go on about his brother until they reached Ghost City. It was already near dusk.

At the sight of the bustling city, the boy’s widened his eyes in excitement, taking in the various pedestrians that occupied the streets. There were some in masks of different emotions and those without were even more bizarre; small heads with large bodies, some skinny like the bamboo sticks he collected for his father, and they were not all human-looking!

“Is that a rug?” Huang Shao asked innocently.

Beneath the throng of people was a shimmery white that crawled across the street.

Hua Cheng shook his head, answering, “Nope, that’s also a ghost.”

The boy gasped in awe, unafraid as they walked through the crowd.

“Chengzu! Chengzu’s back!”

“His highness is back too!”

“Who’s the man and kid with them?”

“Food? Sacrifice?”

“Entertainment?”

“A present for us, maybe?”

As the ghosts grew rowdier with their assumptions, the brave boy scooted nearer to Hua Cheng, his grip extremely tight on the pale hand. With a low chuckle, Ghost City’s Lord reassured him, “Don’t listen to them. They’re just speaking nonsense.”

Xie Lian chuckled alongside him, when a voice echoed in his mind.

“Please protect my family.”

Hua Cheng let out a sound of confusion when his lover halted in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”

Furrowing his eyebrows, Xie Lian stared at Hua Cheng. “I… just received a prayer.”

“Isn’t that good?” Hua Cheng beamed.

“Yes… but I always thought it was you.”

He proceeded to explain the happenings that he’s experienced over the past month and his thoughts on the matter. Hua Cheng was overjoyed at the new believer as well, but also grew worried because the content of his prayer was important. They hurried to Paradise Manor and set the Huang family in a room before Xie Lian quickly left for QianDeng temple.

Upon reaching the temple hall, the smell of incense wafted into his senses yet there was no one in sight. Pulling out the prayer, he carefully looked it over.

Huang Qing, age 7.

Please protect my family.

Huang Qing? Xie Lian pondered. Wasn’t that the name of Huang Shao’s older twin?

He rushed back to Paradise Manor, aware of a gaze constantly following him, however he caught onto nothing but a silver shimmer fading at every corner he looked. Having no time to dwell on this stalker, he entered the Huang family’s room to see Hua Cheng checking Old Man Huang’s body thoroughly. Huang Shao was standing at the foot of the bed, curious and worried. Seeing him come in, Hua Cheng dropped the robe and reassured Huang Shao that everything was alright before walking out with Xie Lian in tow.

“What’d you find out?” Hua Cheng asked once the door clicked shut.

“The prayer is from Huang Qing, as in A-Shao’s Qing-ge,” Xie Lian explained. “It would seem like when he died, he ended up at Ghost City?”

“And started praying to you because of the QianDeng temple,” Hua Cheng finished. “If he’s that driven to always pray everyday, it would make sense with what I found on Old Man Huang’s body.”

“What is it?” Xie Lian grew more worried.  

“He’s been beaten. A lot. I found at least ten older injuries and five fresh ones on his body. Some off his bones weren’t set right when they healed, but I think the worst one is the broken ribs.” With a sigh, Hua Cheng frowned and couldn’t help glancing at the closed door. “I can’t tell if his lungs are punctured or not. Whatever medicine you gave him just now helped stabilise his condition, but we’re no doctors. I don't know how I can help anymore.”

“If it was like that, didn't that mean he was abused back in the village? By who?” Xie Lian asked.

But who else could they think of except for that old man?

A murderous aura densely filled the hallway. A tall young man, as pale as the freshest snow, coloured bloody by his crimson robes smiled a smile so wide, yet his lips were thinly stretched as a blazing fury gleamed dangerously in his gaze. As though sensing the bloodlust, E-Ming’s eye started to dart around and tremble in excitement. Beside him stood a shorter man, clad in the purest of white, but his expression was icy like the winter plains. A sharp sword aura danced in the previously warm eyes as the smile faded away, his fists clenched tight enough to draw blood.

“I want to murder him,” Xie Lian bit out through gritted teeth. It wasn't difficult to put two and two together, especially when the words the elderly man said was the exact same as what the child bully had said to Huang twins.

“Let me do it, ge ge. You’re a Heavenly Official. You can’t attack mortals. I'll ask Yin Yu to look after them.”

“What’s another rule broken? It won’t be the first time I broke one,” Xie Lian grumbled under his breath as they turned to leave. Even if they don’t kill that old man, they (ahem, they meaning Hua Cheng) could at least take control of the village to prevent similar future happenings, right?

Was it because they shared a similar fate that the Supreme Demon felt compelled to obtain some sort of justice?

…

It’s probably just revenge actually.

As the duo was halfway down the hallway, atmosphere heavy with the desire for blood, the Huang family’s door was swung open.

“Pa’s awake! Hong ge ge! Bai ge ge!” Huang Shao called as he ran to catch up with them, tugging on their hands when he reached. “Come! Come in. A-Shao wants you to meet him!”

The murderous aura instantly dissipated at the first sign of his voice, flipping the tense heavy atmosphere and turned it light, jovial. They followed him back inside the room and saw Old Man Huang sitting on the bed with a gentle smile.

“I… don’t know where I am?” Old Man Huang chuckled nervously, cautiously watching the new pair that walked in. Waking up to a foreign ceiling, a foreign bed… Panic flooded his mind. His throat tightened, ribs heaving as if bound by rusty iron chains. A mocking musical of fears spun in his head, phantom silhouettes whose grins of scorn and ridicule flooded his ears, and a scream crawled up his throat when a small bony hand reached out to hold his shaking one. The familiar warmth halted the fears in place and his vision refocused to see his son watching him from the side.

“Pa! This is Hong ge ge and Bai ge ge! They let us stay with them! We’re in… uh, Paradise Manor! Everyone here is friendly!” Huang Shao gushed, running forward to his side.

“Yes, yes. Indeed,” Old Man Huang nodded happily until the words were properly processed in his mind. “P-Paradise Manor? Are you sure?”

“Yeah! The ghosts all called them ‘Chengzhu’ and ‘Your highness’!”

If he was suspecting before, that just affirmed it. Pulling his son away from the silent pair, Old Man Huang stared them down and said flatly, “What is it that you want?”

“Nothing actually,” Xie Lian stepped forward with a smile. “We just couldn’t stand by and watch you be bullied by the village.”

Old Man Huang was hesitant but Huang Shao immediately got into explaining everything that happened. After that, he visibly relaxed and gave in. They exchanged a few words when the old man told his son to go out and play with Xie Lian. Taking the clue, the Heavenly Official brought the child out so that the adults could talk.

“You saw my condition?” Old Man Huang started. At Hua Cheng’s nod, he continued, “I know myself how bad it is. I won't be able to live much longer. But when I do go, could you take care of A-Shao for me?”

“We will,” Hua Cheng solemnly agreed. “But how did you get the injury? It's nothing new, is it?”

He laughed bitterly at the demon’s question. “The damn village head. That's why.”

Hua Cheng’s expression fell a few degrees.

Apparently, the village head was jealous of Old Man Huang for marrying the most beautiful girl in the village, but she had already rejected him from early on, having only ever loved Old Man Huang. Life wasn’t easy as money was scarce and she hadn’t been able to conceive a child even after decades. When one day, she found out she was pregnant! They had been so ecstatic, only for the happiness to double because she gave birth to twins, but none of the villagers were experienced in delivering twins and she eventually died frim blood loss. Old Man Huang was worried for Huang Shao too, because he was born extremely tiny and frail. Who knew, after her death, the village head would start giving them troubles?

“I thought beating me up would be enough… but I didn't know they were abusing my children too. A-Qing… A-Qing even died at his son’s hands… monsters. They're all monsters,” Old Man Huang cried into his hands. “I know you could probably get revenge but could I request for you not to? The village is not worth your time at all. Please… please just take care of my A-Shao.”

Hua Cheng pressed his lips into a thin line, teeth grinding in fury, but he couldn't ignore the dying man's wish. “I will.”

Old Man Huang smiled sadly and descended into sleep.

That night, the couple ate a simple dinner with the Huang family. Old Man Huang cried silently as he ate into the braised chicken feet, warm and appreciative emotions overflowing from his eyes while Huang Shao stared at the sweet potato porridge in utter bafflement.

“It probably won't taste the same as how your brother makes it but I hope you will like it,” Hua Cheng scooped a small bowl for the gaping boy.

Huang Shao snapped up to look at him with tears collecting in his eyes before slowly reaching out for the bowl. He used the porcelain spoon to cut a chunk off the soft orange vegetable and brought some to his lips. He blew gently at the warm porridge, little puffs of air making the steam dance while old memories resurfaced, the reminiscing love warming his insides. His brother would serve him a small bowl of sweet potato porridge like this too, and it even looked the same. When he ate the first bite, seeing the phantom smile of his brother beside Hua Cheng’s, the first teardrop fell. His nose grew stuffy but he hurriedly wolfed down the porridge as the tears streamed down harder.

He'll live for his brother. He'll make his brother happy.

  ~~*~~*~~

 That night…

“Can we adopt A-Shao?”

Snuggled deep into the blankets, Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng who, in a rare moment, held a solemn expression. “Of course we can if you want to. I'll be happy too as well. A-Shao is a good boy.”

Hua Cheng delicately kissed his hair with an appreciative hum. “Did you agree to not having a baby for me?”

“Yeah, I did.” Xie Lian absentmindedly traced the contours of his lover’s naked chest. “It's fine if we don't have any because we're already a family without one. I’m pretty content as things are now. And I believe that our relationship is the one that'll come first before the babies because without our love as a foundation, the baby wouldn't have existed.” His arms wound around the chest as he nuzzled into the skin. “I'm also partly afraid that I won't be a good father. I don't want my child to not get along with me…” ‘Like my dad and I’, we're the words he left unsaid.

“I understand why you'd be scared but with the things that's been happening lately, I am 200% sure you'll be a great father.”

Xie Lian giggled when Hua Cheng flipped over to hover above him. Pulling the man down for a kiss, he wrapped his legs around his waist and pulled him down. “With you by my side, I believe everything will be fine.”

  ~~*~~*~~

 Ghost City was bustling the very next day as the colour red began to slowly paint the city like a wave of roses. Lanterns hung by the doorways, accompanied by long strips of red cloth that dangled across the beams and all the ghosts were merry while they brightened up the place.

Until someone screamed that Paradise Manor caught on fire.

Xie Lian who had been walking through the streets to find Shao Qing had his mouth agape at the news. Was the manor attractive to fire spirits somehow!?

Rushing back, he saw Hua Cheng standing before Huang Shao with his arms crossed by the scorched kitchen and he caught the faints words of “…tried cooking” from the boy.

“What happened,” he asked when he neared them.

With an amused chuckle, Hua Cheng pecked his cheek and explained, “Huang Shao wanted to try and cook lunch for us when he accidentally burnt the kitchen. It would seem our future son has a knack at burning kitchens!”

The teary eyed boy paled, a dark shadow of memories jeering at him from within, and he hid his face behind his hands. Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh too. Bending down to face him at eye level, he said, “A-Shao ah, don’t worry about it. We can leave the cooking to Hong ge ge. Bai ge ge can’t cook either!”

Huang Shao looked up slightly. “Y-You’re not angry at A-Shao?” His voice was extremely soft, trembling and thick with fear. The emotion had clouded his mind, the ingrained instincts of self-blame rising in his throat and leaking through his nose. “B-But A-Shao destroyed the kitchen. I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt my pa!” He lunged forward and gripped onto Xie Lian’s sleeves, the frightened tears falling. “I’m sorry! A-Shao was a bad boy! I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to –!”

His words stopped there, as though an ugly realization reared its head and bared its fangs. With wide eyes, he released the sleeves and scrambled back on unsteady feet until his back hit the wall and he immediately curled up into a ball. Skinny arms were raised above his head as he repeatedly cried out, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have touched you. Please don’t hurt pa. Just hit me instead!”

Xie Lian was struck dumb at the sight. His fingers resting upon his bent knees twitched, once, twice, before they curled tightly. His expression maintained its friendly smile as to not further frighten the poor boy but he could feel the inky wave of dark murderous desire crawling up his spine from behind courtesy of his lover.

“A-Shao…” he softly called out but it only made the boy curl in tighter.

A cold hand on Xie Lian’s shoulder made him look up to see Hua Cheng’s fierce expression. “Let me try.”

Hua Cheng crouched in front of the crying boy as a silver butterfly materialized itself and landed gracefully on his fingers, its wings softly caressing the tear stained cheeks. At the cool icy touch on his skin, Huang Shao apprehensively lifted his head and blinked at the translucent insect. Realising it got his attention, the butterfly leaned forward and began nuzzling his cheek as though it was trying to give it as many kisses as possible. His tears involuntarily stopped as a giggle escaped his clutches. Distracted by the butterfly, he jumped when a similar icy finger poked at his forehead.

“Do you not like Hong ge ge anymore?” Hua Cheng asked. The killing intent dropped from his voice, leaving only a wronged tone that was paired with a pout.

“I do like! I do like Hong ge ge,” Huang Shao bent forward to latch onto the red sleeves and more tears spilled. “Please don’t hate A-Shao.”

“I don’t hate A-Shao at all. But Hong ge ge and Bai ge ge are sad because A-Shao is crying,” Hua Cheng dipped his head slightly. “We don’t like seeing A-Shao cry.”

The boy immediately wiped his face with his hands and put on the brightest smile ever. “A-Shao isn’t crying! See! I’m smiling!”

Hua Cheng made a gesture of looking up to see his face before the pout was stretched into a grin. “A-Shao really is the best when he smiles!” He opened up his arms and the boy dove right into his embrace. “Next time A-Shao wants to cook, can you call Hong ge ge or Bai ge ge to join? It’s more fun if we cook together!”  

The boy merely nodded his head obediently.

Hua Cheng turned his head back to smile proudly at Xie Lian, only to furrow his eyebrows in confusion. Chanting out the private communicate password, he directly spoke with his frowning lover.

“What’s wrong?”

“Those butterflies of yours are a cheat,” Xie Lian huffed and pouted with his arms crossed.

A teasing smile curled onto those kissable lips, one side higher than the other. “Why? Does ge ge want a hug too?”

“Of course!” he whined.

“Then come over.”

Xie Lian let out a confused sound. He then noticed Hua Cheng’s outstretched hand, his eyes travelling the tender affection in his gaze before dropping and catching sight of the puffy innocent, expectant eyes of the child who was buried into an embrace he was so familiar with. Not standing on ceremony, Xie Lian laughed and joined in.

If this was his life from now on, how perfect would it be?

He was going to marry the man that he loved in two more days and they were possibly getting a son as an addition to their family.

…He was going to stop there because who knew if he’d jinx his own wedding with what he was going to say.

(Though Hua Cheng’s luck would have probably neutralized it!)

  ~~*~~*~~

The night before the wedding, both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian were called to the Huang family’s room. Old Man Huang was sitting by the table, the fatigue hidden behind a bright grin and a straight back. Huang Shao was obediently sitting next to him while eating another bowl of sweet potato porridge.

“I apologise for not going out and visiting your city, my lord,” Old Man Huang said after he served them tea against Xie Lian’s protests. “It sounds like a nice city from what A-Shao told me. He’s also told me that your wedding will be soon?”

Xie Lian eagerly nodded his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yeah! It’s tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow?” Old Man Huang was taken aback before he let out a relieved sigh. “Thank Heavens I finished this in time!” From his sleeve, he brought out a small unadorned bamboo box and set it before the engaged couple. “I know it’s not much but these were all I had with me in the past few days… and I wanted to thank you for everything. I hope this gift is enough.”

Xie Lian picked up the box and opened it, seeing a red silk lining the insides where a couple of rings laid within. They had a smooth surface and a thin grove carved along the center.

At this moment, Old Man Huang spoke once more, “With how poor I was, this was the only valuable gift I could present to my wife. I made them from the bamboo A-Shao brought. I noticed that you have a red string tied on your finger, so I carved out a grove for you if you ever felt like combining them together.” Then he grew flustered, bandaged hands tainted with fresh blood waving frantically before him. “I don’t mean that you have to wear it! It’s a very poor thing. Aiya, I feel embarrassed giving you such a gift for your wedding…”

“No, no. Uncle Huang, it’s a lovely gift,” Xie Lian leaned across to help Old Man Huang straighten himself. “We love it, truly.”

“Thank you,” Hua Cheng added before turning back to stroke the rings with a lift of his lips.

Old Man Huang smiled, relieved and happy, yet there was the slightest trace of bitter regret in the folds of his wrinkles. “I’m honoured that you do. I wish you a long and blessed marriage.”

That night, dinner was again lively and enjoyable as they ate. They were served braised chicken feet, sweet potato porridge with many other assorted dishes. There was laughter and smiles, a blessing that they could attain in life.

Xie Lian wished he had committed that moment into memory; It was absolutely picture perfect.

  ~~*~~*~~

 The entire Ghost City was covered entirely in red with dashes of pink to highlight its beauty on the day of the wedding. Lilies and orchids lined the streets, their sweet scent completely filling up the air for the breeze to proudly saunter around.

‘I’ll love only him.’

His warm eyes hidden behind the curtain of his bangs spoke of a beautiful soul, content and at bliss as he lowered his head to bow to the Heavens above, the place he had once dreamed for once upon a time. When he looked up, he turned towards his soon-to-be husband, delicate lips smiling at the peaceful joy reflected in his one eye. Their red wedding robes adorned with golden trimmings stood out against the flowering backdrop of spring as they shifted back towards the center of the golden pagoda where an ancestral plate was set up. Golden dragons curled around their hair that were neatly tied for the occasion, simple yet enchanting.

‘Father, mother…’ Xie Lian called in his mind, a little wistful and a little hopeful. ‘Will you agree to my choice for a partner?’ He secretly glanced at Hua Cheng who was still bowed as he was. ‘I sincerely hope for your blessings. Thank you for taking care of me and giving me this chance.’

They straightened their backs simultaneously as they remained kneeling when a breeze blew. The plum blossoms that lined the perimeter of the garden broke off their roots and happily danced in the wind, creating a blushing snowy scenery for those that attended the wedding held right by the QianDeng temple.

Once more, the couple shifted until they faced each other. Sharing tender smiles, they bowed low, their hearts soaring high in the skies as they completed the wedding traditions, officially becoming husbands. Heartfelt cheers erupted amidst the crowd as screams of “Congratulations, Chengzhu/Your Highness!” filled the air.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian stood up from their spots, their faces stretched into wide, glowing smiles like the full blooms that carpeted the grass around them. Their hands were tightly clasped, their eyes locked in a silent declaration of love.

I love you.

They walked down the pagoda, smiles widening even more at the crowd that had gathered. Just for today, both Heavenly Officials and ghosts were standing shoulder to shoulder to witness the communion of the couple, and at the very front, Huang Shao was cheering loudly and jumping excitedly. Seeing him, Xie Lian chuckled and waved, his laughter growing louder when Huang Shao fervently waved back and Mu Qing admonished him gently at the side; The general couldn’t help himself but mother the child who was so frail and small despite being seven already.

The couple walked through the crowd, accepting their congratulations and gifts while basking in the pride of being married. All kinds of gifts were given, from more child-bearing pills to ornamental jades and gold.

However, there was one face that the married couple couldn’t find no matter what.

“Where’s your pa, A-Shao?” Xie Lian asked after crouching down.

Huang Shao blinked. “Pa said he will come soon. He will be late because he was very sleepy.”

Xie Lian frowned. Even though he knew Ghost City was safe, he didn’t feel right to have a small child walking alone on such a day where he could easily get lost! “Who did you come with then?”

Huang Shao pointed with a finger on each hand at both Mu Qing and Feng Xin. “A-Shao came with these two uncles. They were fighting on the road when A-Shao saw them! Then A-Shao found out they were coming for Hong ge ge and Bai ge ge’s wedding, so we came together.”

Xie Lian’s heart melted at the proud smile on the small boy’s face and praised him for being a smart child. At least that would explain why Mu Qing was with him and with him around, Xie Lian wouldn’t have to worry as much anymore.

Whether Mu Qing liked it or not, he still had a knack for taking care of children – unless he was a baby too.

Feng Xin spluttered, “Why am I an uncle!?”

Huang Shao blinked his eyes with a trace of slight confusion and innocence. He replied, “You look older than Bai ge ge.”

Mu Qing smartly stayed quiet and just kept a watchful eye on him while Feng Xin spiraled down into incoherent squawking as he suppressed his swearing.

Everyone congregated near the tables for the banquet as they feasted away. The crowds were split down the middle; On one side the Heavenly Officials and the other, the ghosts, for clearly the different tastebuds. However, Xie Lian noticed He Xuan sitting with Shi Qing Xuan near the Heavenly Officials as he inhaled every rare delicacy served there.

“Can’t even decently eat,” Mu Qing muttered with a roll of his eyes as he ate the meat with an air of arrogance and slight elegance to his movements.

He Xuan’s head snapped up, a challenging taunt in his dark, empty gaze as he snarled. “Of course you’d say that, pretty boy. You’re so skinny, I thought you were a woman!”

Mu Qing froze at his comment, his insult. Placing his chopsticks on the table, he turned towards the demon with a full heated glare. “Only someone as blind as you will see me as a woman!”

“…you would look pretty good as one though, Mu-xiong,” Shi Qing Xuan thought out loud with his chopsticks resting against his lips. “You should try, Mu-xiong! I’d like to see!”

Mu Qing’s eye twitched in annoyance as he slowly shifted his glare from the smug demon to the man by his side. There were no words he could use, not when anything more would result in a brawl. The irritation brewed in his blood, swirling like a giggling, taunting ghost.

A smile slowly crept onto his face and He Xuan felt a certain dread wash over him.

There was a sudden cloud of smoke in the blink of an eye that sent those near it into a coughing fit as they waved it away. When it gradually cleared, from beneath the smoke, bit by bit, it revealed a beautiful forehead curtained by shimmering silver locks, a pair of enchanting dark grey eyes that coquettishly winked atop a coy smile painted a seductive red, her long delicately curled eyelashes gently fluttering with the movement. The smoke cleared some more, this time revealing a slender neck that dipped into silk robes of a deep azure blue, lined with bright silver trimmings that was tightened around the small waist with a navy sash, which simply highlighted the full curves that she possessed.

“How do I look?” The woman gently asked, her voice soft spoken and timbre.

He Xuan’s jaw went slack at the transformation, just like every other Heavenly Official at the table. They had a hard time processing it and some were feeling their bodies heat up at the sight, some going hard. Feng Xin on the other side blinked once and slow, his mind crashing with “What the fuck!? Mu Qing!?”.

Shi Qing Xuan gasped in adoration. “A beauty!! Absolute beauty!”

Hearing that bubbly voice, He Xuan crashed back into reality, scoffing as he did with an eye roll. “Ugly.”

“You have shit tastes then,” Mu Qing immediately retorted before anyone could get a word in, returning that eye roll with one of his own as he crossed his slender arms below his chest that held a pair of tall peaks.

“Idiot.”

“Imbecile.”

“Asshole.”

“Alright, alright. Let’s not fight. There’s so much food! Let’s keep eating,” Shi Qing Xuan quickly interjected before the pair could continue their argument, dropping more meat onto He Xuan’s plate before doing the same for Mu Qing.

However, before he could lean over to do so, He Xuan stopped him. “Let me. Don’t overexert yourself. Eat first.”

Shi Qing Xuan was taken aback for a moment before he smiled and obediently sat back down and continued eating.

Feng Xin’s stunned state fell away slowly, his stare narrowing into a glare when he noticed the demon kindly take some meat and vegetables and placed them in Mu Qing’s bowl. He was gritting his teeth when a small hand tugged at his sleeve. Turning to look, Huang Shao was staring at him intently.

“Uncle, can A-Shao change places with you?”

A vein throbbed on his temple as the man smiled and nodded his head. “Of course.”

And so, they exchanged seats.

Feng Xin felt an iron taste of blood in his mouth as he raged. ‘Why is Mu Qing still a woman!? Change back! Fucking change back!’

“So pretty! How did ge ge do that!” Huang Shao asked excitedly.

And the man nearly spat out the blood when the blood raged like the tumultuous storm. ‘Why is he ‘ge ge’ but I’m an uncle!?’

…

Near the center of the banquet, hidden away in their own little bubble…

Xie Lian sat with Hua Cheng at the same desk in the center of the gathering; The connecting point for both sides. Under the desk, he reached his left hand over onto Hua Cheng’s lap and smiled when the demon held it with his own left hand. Lifting the spoon to his lips, he delicately drank the soup as he watched the bustling excitement surrounding them, before gazing at Hua Cheng once more.

The long eyelashes shielding his eye was lightly curled, the tips kissing the highs of the pale cheek. His warm eyes trailed down to trace the sharp jawline where addictive lips curled devilishly charming while he ate. He watched the lips pucker slowly and the tongue peeked out to lick at the bottom lip where a dash of sauce had stained it. A thumb was raised to wipe at the corner, bit by bit in a slow seduction.  

“San Lang, there’s still a grain of rice on your lips,” Xie Lian said, unknowing that his voice was thick with emotion.

“Really? Where?” Was Hua Cheng’s soft reply as he turned his head towards him, but Xie Lian’s gaze could only focus on those lips.

Xie Lian leaned forward, a hand lifted to wipe at the indeed present single grain of rice when the handsome face mirrored his actions. Before he could properly register what happened, Hua Cheng’s face was already mere inches from his.

“Where is it?” His usual teasing tone was gone, replaced by a deep husky voice that tugged at the feral desires within him, pawing and inviting him in for a pleasurable moment.

Xie Lian’s eyes were locked fully onto the grain and he felt his mouth go dry. There was a temptress’ call, beckoning to near it. Closer and closer… his eyes fluttered to a close as his lips affectionately kissed at the corner of Hua Cheng’s lips, where the rice had been. His tongue licked at the grain, lips lingering for a while longer upon the cold skin before he parted.

Did the weather suddenly turn warmer or was it just him?

“Mm, thank you, ge ge,” Hua Cheng whispered. He turned his head slightly to kiss at his cheeks that were as red as the wedding robes they wore.

“Y-You’re welcome.”

Xie Lian quickly sat back down on his seat and quietly continued eating his food while Hua Cheng chuckled.

The event lasted until dusk, when the Heavenly Officials had to finally return because of the piles of work that were growing on their tables. It was at such a moment that they wished they were as carefree as Xie Lian was! They all bid their goodbyes and the married couple returned to Paradise Manor with each of Huang Shao’s hands in theirs. They hadn’t spotted hide nor hair of Old Man Huang, and they were growing worried.

“Please protect my family.”

The same prayer came again, but Xie Lian frowned, feeling the guilt weigh heavier than before. A cruel reminder of his failed task. They hurried to the room.

The room was eerily silent as the door was pushed open, the creak exceptionally loud in their ears. They walked through to the bedroom but there was nothing to greet them except for an emptiness. Their brains stuttered for a moment, short circuiting and forced to pause while the realization sunk in, words leaving without a look back.

The fragile glass shattered when a terrified shriek punctured their minds. Wild eyed and blood draining from his face, Huang Shao ran towards the bed where a body laid motionless.

“Pa! Pa!”

As the child shook the body and cried for his father, both Xie Lian and Hua Cheng knew that the old man would never move again. Not when his skin was deathly white, totally drained of blood, the peaceful smile permanently carved upon his wrinkled, rigid cold skin. The child’s cries grew louder, each cry a knife stabbing repeatedly into their hearts, deeper and merciless in drawing blood and unshed tears.

“You said you were getting better!” Huang Shao screamed. “You’ve never lied to A-Shao. Pa! Wake up, please! Look! Hong ge ge and Bai ge ge are here too. They’re married! And they came to see you!”

Hua Cheng slipped his fingers to interlace with Xie Lian’s, his thumb rubbing at the skin. They shared a knowing glance, their celebratory mood dampened. They understood that Old Man Huang knew that last night was his… last night. It was no wonder he requested to eat his favourite braised chicken feet, that he gave his gifts yesterday instead of today at the wedding.

‘Old man… even if you wanted to avoid such a taboo for my wedding, we’ll still have to break a traditional belief,’ Hua Cheng sighed resignedly. ‘We’re giving you a proper funeral.’

Huang Shao’s cries gradually grew softer, his hopes growing dimmer and dimmer when his father didn’t reply or respond. “Please don’t leave A-Shao too…”

“Was A-Shao a bad boy? I promise I’ll behave. A-Shao won’t even try cook dinner for pa anymore so I don’t destroy the kitchen…”

“Does pa not want A-Shao anymore…”

Xie Lian squeezed his eyes shut when Huang Shao screamed at Hua Cheng for taking his father away. His heart jumped into his throat, the warm tears prickling and relentless. He tilted his head up, forcing the tears back and knelt down beside the child, watching him swat at Hua Cheng with his arms, pushing and screaming for the man to go away, that his father is alright, he’s perfectly healthy, that he’s just sleeping! Go! Go away!

“Stay away from my pa!!”

As though that screech was his final struggle, Huang Shao dropped to his knees, the thump echoing in the muted room and Xie Lian reached out to lightly tug for him to enter his hug. Huang Shao complied obediently, which made Xie Lian’s heart ache more. It was like Huang Shao had just completely given up, like he knew his father was truly gone… just like his mother and brother before him.

“A-Shao…”

What could Xie Lian probably say in this situation? He didn’t know.

Hua Cheng frowned as he locked gazes with his husband. What could he possibly say too?

  ~~*~~*~~

That night was dead. The birds stayed away, the insects went quiet. Under an old plum blossom stood two men and a child dressed in plain white robes. A marked grave was right by the tree, its soil freshly dug and filled.

It was taboo for a newly wedded couple to attend a funeral, but what else could they have done in that situation? Huang Shao was only seven with no other family in the world; There was no way in Hell they'd make him go through this alone.

After the final respect was given, Huang Shao crouched by the grave, his fingers blankly stroking the soil.

“Pa…”

At this moment, there was a heavy gaze that settled upon Xie Lian’s figure while he watched over the child. Turning around, he sharply observed his surroundings, his feet shifting so Huang Shao was positioned safely between him and Hua Cheng. Alerted by his husband’s actions, Hua Cheng drooped into a ready stance as well.

This might be his city but there were things even he could not control.

They remained silent as they rose their vigilance. The trees ruffled with the wind and Hua Cheng pulled Huang Shao back when the latter tried to peek out. After a few more tense moments, a silvery silhouette walked out of the cluster of trees. His steps were careful and measured, eyes warily observing the men before him.

Xie Lian stared at the ghost, feeling an odd feeling arise. His narrowed eyes widened, slowly bit by bit, when the light gradually illuminated its face; Round eyes with an adorable button nose.

A nervous expression had been settled upon its features, turning into one of shock and fluster when it recognised Xie Lian. “C-Crown Prince Xian Le?”

“Huang Qing?” The man in question perked up, his guess having been half confirmed, but before the ghost could affirm, a small white figure rushed out from behind him.

“Qing-ge!”

Huang Qing looked at the boy running towards him, his expression curved into smiles and relief, “A-di!”

Yet, just as they were about to embrace, the boy slipped right through, his vision filled with an expanse of silver before they returned to the dull colour of the night. A cold pale hand wound around his waist before he kissed the grass, silently and deftly picking him up and settling him right on his feet. Huang Shao was still reeling from the shock, his eyes wide and unresponsive, mouth agape like a fish.

It was a full five seconds before the boy finally registered what happened. Twisting in Hua Cheng’s arms, he looked at his forlorn brother with teary eyes. “Qing-ge! Why can’t I hug you?”

“I… I…”

Huang Qing looked down at his hands, his face contorted into unresigned bitterness, a hatred for what he’s become sprouting in his heart. Never since his death did he think it bad for he’s saved his brother, and he had found himself here suddenly at Ghost City. It was a lively place filled with other ghosts too, yet he was also different – a ghost without a physical form, but he accepted it anyway. And one day, he found the famous QianDeng temple that everyone was talking about, hearing stories of the God that was worshipped there.

And so he prayed for the first time ever in his life. Lit the incense and prayed every dusk for his family to be protected, for them to be safe because he was no longer there.

A God should help, right?

As the seed of hatred germinated in his heart, he whipped his head around to glare at Xie Lian who had kneeled beside them. If this was the God he prayed to, why was his father buried in the ground? Dead?

“Qing-ge…” Huang Shao cried. “Pa… pa didn’t wake up. But Qing-ge is here, so pa should be around, right? Pa said if someone died, they become ghosts! And Qing-ge is a ghost. So he must be here, right?”

Huang Qing’s thoughts had gone astray, only to be brought back to the present by his younger brother’s hopeful cries. He glanced up to look at the man with the eyepatch; the City Lord of Ghost City, but even the man was silent.

“What happened, A-di?” Huang Qing whispered.

And Huang Shao began to tell the tale of what happened, from the village head physically abusing their father to the couple bringing them away.

Xie Lian kept quiet the entire time, the guilt eating away at his insides. His incompetence was magnified in his mind, the blades piercing deep into him and every word of mockery and cackle of scorn filled his mind. He couldn’t move, couldn’t hear another thing.

‘I’m useless. I’m useless. I’m useless!’

‘Just some trash that couldn’t even fulfill one prayer!’

‘Trash! You’re always going to be worthless!’

‘You’re a disappointment.’

His knees were stiff, knocking together as he lost control of his limbs, the insecurity and hatred ripping at him little by little. His eyes squeezed together, a warmth gathering behind the eyelids while he tried to cover his ears, but the voices kept coming, louder and louder.

‘You’ll never be a good husband! Can’t even cook!’

‘You’re never going to be a good father! You’ll kill your children!’

“No no no. I won’t…” His voice was barely audible even in the silence, a very faint mutter under his breath as a feeble attempt in defend himself.

He didn’t hear the faint crunching of grass or feel the presence of someone staring at him, until a small hand patted his arm, jerking him out of the abyss. The jeers dimmed in his mind, the sound now incessant critters in the back as his focus was upon the innocence standing before him.

“Bai ge ge…” Huang Shao sniffled while he leaned forward. Xie Lian closed his eyes when the little fingers rubbed at the tears before he wiped them on his clothes with a pout. After that he held onto Xie Lian’s arm, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. “Hugs can make you feel better. Everyone always gives me hugs when A-Shao cry. Can A-Shao give you a hug?”

With trembling lips, Xie Lian dropped onto the ground, his bottom pricked by the grass, and he opened his arms. He couldn’t find it in himself to smile, not this time. His heart was wounded, his mind broken and he truly wished to cry. Why was he so useless? Why was he so careless? If only he asked Hua Cheng about the prayer early on, if only he did things properly from the start, then Old Man Huang wouldn’t have died, Huang Qing would still be alive.

Why did he ascend if all he was going to bring was more misfortune? More deaths?

As the boy clambered into his lap, he felt thin arms wrap themselves around his neck, the face resting in the crook of his neck. His heart jumped when he heard the sniffle, his arms instantly hugging the boy back.

“Pa is never coming back, is he?” Huang Shao asked softly.

Xie Lian shifted his gaze onto Hua Cheng, the mournful frowns a mirror of each other. Hugging Huang Shao closer, Xie Lian could only whisper an agreement, that Old Man Huang decided to leave to Heaven so he could properly protect him and his brother more. But each word seemed to knife at his heart, each lie more agonizing than the one before.

Huang Shao tightened his hold, burying his face deeper into the embrace. “It’s okay. At least no one will hurt pa ever again. And Qing-ge is here! A-Shao… A-Shao thinks… A-Shao will be okay.”

Hua Cheng watched the scene unfold with a sad smile. He had nudged for Huang Shao to go over when he saw his husband derail into a mental madness, the blank agonised gaze extremely clear for him to decipher, and he felt a certain pride he never did before once the child complied, going over and pulled the man he loved back to reality like a little light at the end of the tunnel. He then turned to Huang Qing who was also watching them, just as silent as Old Man Huang’s grave.

“Do you regret?” Hua Cheng murmured gently.

Huang Qing opened his mouth but not a sound escaped. He dropped his head, casting a shadow over his eyes. Hua Cheng waited patiently.

“Yes,” came the reply a while later. “I regret not being stronger. I couldn’t protect my family.”

A smile curled on one side of the demon’s lips. “If I told you there’s a way to get a physical body, what would you do?”

Huang Qing’s head snapped up, a feverish emotion in his gaze. “I want to know!”

“Under one condition.”

“Anything as long as I can do it!”

Hua Cheng chuckled, the sound lifting the tense atmosphere. “It’s simple. A-Shao’s becoming our son since Old Man Huang passed but it would be nice if his brother wanted to join the family too.”

Huang Qing blinked his eyes in slight confusion and utterly innocent. The action was so similar to Huang Shao that the demon laughed again. Twins, they were twins after all!

“You mean… You want to be my father?” Huang Qing gulped, his feet taking a subconscious step forward. Someone to take care of them, to protect them and support them. It would give him the chance to be with his brother too, that they wouldn’t have to separate again.

“He will be too,” Hua Cheng gestured at Xie Lian with his chin.

Huang Qing paused, frowning.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Hua Cheng’s voice lowered. “But it’s not his fault that Old Man Huang died. He did try and protect your family. A-Shao is here, isn’t he?”

“It was that old dog the village head’s fault, wasn’t it?”

Hua Cheng raised a brow at the sudden chilly tone in those words, impressed and amazed at the slight killing intent that seeped out of his form. “If I said yes, what would you do?”

“Kill him.”

This time, his laughter pulled Xie Lian and Huang Shao out of their reverie, the pleased sound a stark contrast to the gloom. “A-Qing ah, I like you already. Won’t you accept?”

Xie Lian and Huang Shao tilted their heads in confusion.

“I’ll accept only if you help me,” Huang Qing retorted.

Hua Cheng grinned, his canines bared and he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear as he said nonchalantly. “Why not? His highness and I were already going to do something about it. The more the merrier.”

“Then I accept,” Huang Qing pursed his lips.

“Huh?” The other two were still confused and Hua Cheng turned his head with the same grin.

“A-Shao, would you like to join our family?”

Xie Lian immediately caught on but the child in his arms was still confused. “What?”

“Would you like to be our son?” Hua Cheng patiently repeated.  

“Yes!/What!?” Huang Shao and Huang Qing respectively exclaimed at the same time.

“You said A-di was your son, that’s why I accepted!” Huang Qing argued.

“Ah,” Hua Cheng leaned back, “No. I didn’t say that. I said he was becoming our son.” Seeing the ghost boy opening his mouth, he hurriedly cut in, “You can’t take it back. The both of you are our sons now!”

At the last words, Huang Shao’s face brightened. “Qing-ge! Isn’t this nice?”

Huang Qing groaned at the smile, feeling his defenses crumble like sand in the wind. “…maybe.”

Xie Lian chuckled and turned towards his smug husband. “Did you… just trick A-Qing?”

Hua Cheng dramatically gasped like a woman wrongfully accused. “I did not,” he punctuated each word. “I just helped him make the right decision.”

Seeing the smile on that devilishly handsome face, Xie Lian couldn’t help but ask, “But I don’t want to force him if he doesn’t want to.”

Hua Cheng softened and said seriously, “He wants it. He just doesn’t know how to show it.”

Following his gesture at the twins, Xie Lian saw them deep in discussion as they finally caught up with each other. One quiet and one chatty, and he felt his heart melt at the loving gaze in Huang Qing’s eyes while his twin talked the night away.

His brother was his world, wasn’t he?

“You just wanted to skip the baby phase, didn’t you?” Xie Lian murmured as he nuzzled Hua Cheng’s neck, leaning into his embrace.

“Nope,” Hua Cheng shamelessly said. “After this, babies don’t sound so bad after all. I'm sure it’ll be good.”

“Because they’re your kids?” Xie Lian huffed, though the smile remained plastered on his face.

“Nah, it’s because they’re our kids.”

Xie Lian squeezed Hua Cheng’s hands at his words. He thought he couldn’t love the man anymore, but it seemed like he’d fall for him harder and harder each time.

They watched the children talk and play for a while longer before standing up.

“Alright, it’s already late. It’s time for bed,” Xie Lian said, bending down to pick A-Shao up.

“What?” the boy cried. “No! I don’t want to sleep!”

“If you don’t sleep, you’re not going to grow big and strong like A-Qing,” Hua Cheng casually commented as Xie Lian struggled to hold onto the boy, which instantly made him obedient.

With a pout, Huang Shao submitted himself to them, but not without saying, “Only if I get to sleep with Qing-ge.”

“You negotiating brats,” Hua Cheng affectionately sighed before he gave in, “Fine.”

The night in Ghost City ended peacefully henceforth.

 But that very midnight…

A silver wraith butterfly perched atop the open window. Sensing its presence, his eyes opened to glance at it before looking back at his sleeping brother. Seeing his steady rise and fall of his breaths, Huang Qing lightly smiled and carefully slid out of bed. He tried not to jar the blanket too much and he sighed in quiet relief once his feet touched the floor. Tucking Huang Shao in, he froze when his brother groaned and turned onto his side, but relaxed when the sandman pulled him back into slumber.

He followed the butterfly out the room, his actions silent and smooth in the shadows. When he landed, two men stepped out of the shadows, one in a beautiful red and the other in plain white.

“You’re pretty good,” Xie Lian remarked. “Did you practice martial arts before?”

Huang Qing nodded curtly. “Yes.”

Xie Lian sighed at the cold response.

“We can see if he’s good with a sword later, ge ge,” Hua Cheng added thoughtfully before saying in glee, “But now, let’s teach you how to ghost people!”

Huang Qing rubbed his hands together with an evil giggle, eyes sparkling in excitement, and Xie Lian couldn’t help chuckling at the sight. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought them as actual father and son!

  ~~*~~*~~

 It began as an eerie whisper, sharp and distant that crept closer in the night until it whispered just right by his ear. The village head squeezed his eyes shut, tried to steady his trembling body but there was a silver glow behind those eyelids that flickered and danced. Something not human. Goosebumps crawled under his skin, his breathing hitching in his throat when the voice sounded nearer, ominous, revenging.

“You… have caused the death… of my father, my brother! A family of murderers… A family of murderers!!”

The shrill scream shocked even the Heavens as the forest rumbled and its inhabitants scattered away. The village head screamed when it screamed, fear and panic planting deeply into his mind. Ghost. A ghost!!

“Murdererrrr!” it screeched again and the village watched in horror as it flew wildly and unrestrained in his room. “MURDERERRR”

The village head frantically scrambled out of his bed but the blanket seemed to have gained a conscience as it tangled and locked onto his limbs, sending him tumbling onto the floor.

“Father! Are you okay!” a young boy’s voice echoed muffled behind the door.

A cold sensation washed over his old mind that was ringing with the screams of the ghost. His eyes followed his every movement. The dread settling in deeper like a splinter buried under his skin as recognition dawned on his pale face. The large round eyes that were once so beautiful, the cute button nose that would flush pink in excitement; How could he forget even if it was twisted so sinisterly!?

They looked exactly like their mother!!

“Ahhhhhhh!!” A scream ripped itself from his throat, dry and hard as the air left his lungs, and he immediately bolted for the door.

The door swung open, an inch away from slamming into his son’s face but he paid it no heed, immediately running out of the haunted house.

“Father!”

…

“Murdererrrrrs! Murdererrrrs!”

Finally taking a good look at the apparition flying towards him, the village head’s son let out a high pitched scream and ran after his father like a headless chicken, crashing and stumbling into furniture before he actually made it outside where a swarm of people were already gathering.

Yet with his eyes staring at the ghost, he slammed right into someone. They both shrieked as they were sent hurtling onto the ground, and it was at this moment the ghost flew out with its eyes rolled back and dark mouth suddenly quiet when it stopped by the scene of the crime.

“M-Murder…”

The village head’s son turned his head slowly to look at the groaning person beneath him, eyes wide with fear. His heart leapt in his throat at the growing pool of crimson blood seeping out of his white clothes, but it was the knife embedded deeply into his stomach that caught his full attention. Steel glinted in his gaze, mocking and laughing at his miserable expense.

“W-Why…” The man groaned out painfully. Coughing out blood, the hands at the knife grew slack and fell to his side, limp and lifeless.

As if on cue, the ghost screeched “Murder!!” once again and circled around the stunned crowd, where the village head was trembling with a blanched face.

A warm drop dripped onto his skin. With shaky fingers, he touched his face and stared aghast at the sight of blood. It was only a second later that the place began to rain down heavily with blood.

“Curse of the deaaaad,” the ghost sang and followed after the running villagers as the crowd screamed and dispersed in panic. “A village of murderers…! None of you shall be spaaaared…!!”

“No, no! I don’t want to live here anymore!”

“Ahhh! Let’s get away!”

“Haunted! The entire village is haunted!”

Out from the shadows opened up a red umbrella. The man in red walked towards the fallen man, bleeding and lying motionless on the ground, and he tilted the umbrella over his face before a single drop of blood could touch the dead man’s face.

The once bustling village grew silent, save for the ghost ooh-ing in the sky. The villagers all left, except for two. Beneath the umbrella’s shadow, the village head could only watch a black silhouette tilt his head sideways, the smile white and creepy, large and sharp that took up half the shadowed face.

“A murderer?” The umbrella man inquired, his voice deep and husky.

“No, no! I’m not!”

The head tilted even more, his tone flat. “But your son killed my husband.”

“No! He’s not my son!”

“Father!!”

“Go away! You’re not my son! Cursed brat! Go away!”

The umbrella man watched the scene dully, their screaming reminding him of frightened chickens before slaughter. With a simple wave of his hand, their tongues were cut off. Blood flowed into their throats as they gurgled and choked on the thick liquid, tears and snot of despair and fear vividly carved upon their faces.

“Take this as a warning.” The voice sent shivers down their spines. “Or it won’t be the last time you see me.”

Bending down to pick up his husband with his free arm, he leisurely walked out of the village with the umbrella still above his head, and the ghost trailed behind with quieter cries of “murderers”. The village head and his son watched the group leave, a darkness befalling.

Before long, the same darkness consumed them.

  ~~*~~*~~  

“That was fun!” Xie Lian laughed heartily when they were far away from the village. He removed the knife and the smashed tomatoes from his robes and tossed them onto the grass.

“Yeah! I want to do it again!” Huang Qing flipped in the air, transforming back into a small boy and landed on the ground.

Hua Cheng smiled and lightly bopped his older son on the head. “There’s plenty of chances in the future. It’s already late. Let’s go.”

Huang Qing beamed at him, latching onto his hand. Xie Lian’s smile dropped when his other hand paused hesitantly just as he was about to hold his hand. Inwardly sighing, Xie Lian dropped his hand back to his side and walked forward first.

‘It’ll take some time before he would open up… I did fail in fulfilling the prayer…’

Even if he was sour because his own (adopted) wouldn’t want to hold his hand…

Huang Qing stared at the drooped shoulders and hunched back, feeling slightly guilty at the sight. He looked up at his demon father who gestured towards the sulking man with his gaze, as if to enquire, “Do you really not want to hold his hand?”

The boy looked back at his other father. “He looks like a depressed bunny,” he couldn’t help but mutter.

Hua Cheng chuckled at the comparison. “A depressed bunny because his son hates him.”

Huang Qing’s eyes flew open. “Who said I hate him!”

“Then, why wouldn’t you hold his hand?” Hua Cheng challenged with a cheeky grin.

…

Xie Lian sighed at the cold. He kicked at a rock, watching it tumble away as he continued to berate at himself, only to jump when a small hand slipped into his. Following the arm, he blinked at Huang Qing who scowled and looked away.

“My hand is cold! Warm it for me,” the boy huffed with a slight scowl.

A slow smile bloomed in Xie Lian’s face and he nodded, “Alright!”

He wouldn’t ever mention that ghosts can’t feel cold either.

“Let’s go home.”

[annaisu]

MXTober Index

For each day, six people have three sentences centered around whatever each word invokes for them. The same word can, and often does, result in wildly different results for different people. All words were inspired by MXTX's 3 amazing series, but the characters only come from one: The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System.

Shen Qingqiu (Shen Yuan), Luo Binghe, Shen Jiu, Yue Qingyuan, Shang Qinghua, and Luo Bingge (The original Luo Binghe). Though there's no set time these pieces pull from, and it's normally somewhat self-evident when they are if it matters, the characters generally pull from these times:

Shen Qingqiu - Post Meng-Mo, Pre-Abyss - The Disciple Days Luo Binghe - Disciple Days or Post SQQ's Sacrifice Shen Jiu - After becoming head disciple, but before the fever (Warning, this one's normally pretty bitter!) Yue Qingyuan - Pre-fever Shang Qinghua - Before being revealed as traitor Luo Bingge - A nebulous time pretty well into his rule - no crossover extra, and he's slightly softer bc I'm privately working on a PIDW au that really influences how I see him. Not to say that he isn't a ruthless demon lord, but that's not really the aspects of him I focus on.

Link to the post (The person who first inspired the word of the day) - and a bonus sentence!

Day 1 - Scars (Luo Binghe) - No matter the trials he'd suffered through, the only scars he allowed to linger on his skin were the ones gifted to him by the person he admired most (even when it hurt).

Day 2 - Silk (Xie Lian) - Silk, born of life, born of death - forever by his side, in both penance and protection.

Day 3 - Blood (Hua Cheng) - He was known not only for the blood that spilled from the heavens as he walked by, but by how he stopped to shelter a flower.

Day 4 - Trust (Wangxian) - To follow by his side was the best choice he ever made; he could trust him to always go the right way, no matter the difficulties.

Day 5 - Love (Everybody) - To live, to die, to mourn, to adore - there was nothing that was too much to face in the name of love.

Day 6 - Death (Shen Qingqiu) - The first time he faced death, there was only rage in his heart; the second, guilt, and the third, love.

Day 7 - Friend (Shang Qinghua, fanon) - He knew that his best friend would never admit to what they were, but it was the truth - somehow, this author and his greatest critic had become each other's closest friend.

Day 8 - Trapped (Xie Lian) - LET ME OUT LET ME OUT LET ME OUT LET ME OUT LET ME OUT LET ME OUT OH GOD PLEASE LET-

Day 9 - Power (Hua Cheng) - Every spec of power, every grain of gold; he gathered it all, and hoped that one day, he could share it with his beloved.

Day 10 - Sword (Xie Lian) - When he saw the armory, he nearly spun around with glee as he darted from sword to sword, from one weapon to the next, and almost without thought he began to speak of the tales belonging to them all.

Day 11 - Music (Lan Wangji) - To most Lans, music was almost another language; heartbreak, joy, solemnity, tranquility, inquiry... he spoke them all, and hoped that one day the one he loved would understand.

Day 12 - Loss (Wei Wuxian) - His mother, his father, his childhood, his home, his core, whatever innocence he had left, his place, his family, his sister, his new family, his life, his death - he smiled, through the loss of it all.

Day 13 - Resentment (Wei Wuxian) - For all the energy that he used, there was no resentment in his heart.

Day 14 - Ghost (Hua Cheng) - He could never be upset at becoming a ghost, because it meant that he could become even stronger in aid of his god.

Day 15 -Prayer (Hualian) - He smiled as he listened, feeling the warmth of worship as he headed home to his praying husband.

Day 16 - Faith (Hua Cheng) - They asked him how he stayed fast for eight-hundred years; he asked them if they truly thought he had so little faith in his god.

Day 17 - Story (Shang Qinghua) - Really, when all was said and done... he quite liked what his story had somehow become!

Day 18 - Rules (Lan Wangji) - He lived his life by a set of rules that guided his every action; it was comforting, to know there was something to help him keep along the straight path.

Day 19 - Ribbon (Wei Wuxian) - He really, really couldn't help it - he really wanted to tug on that forbidden ribbon, its ends dancing tantalizingly in the wind above silk-smooth hair!

Day 20 - Hunger (Wei Wuxian) - When a person is hungry enough, they'll eat anything (and yet, what he hungered for the most was love).

Day 21 - Lust (Lan Wangji) - He was so utterly furious with the ridiculous boy - how dare he make him feel such- such- no!

Day 22 - Patience (Xie Lian) - He smiled, closing his eyes, and waited patiently (he might be a slow learner, but he'd had far too many years to learn).

Day 23 - Devotion (Hua Cheng) - His heart sang of devotion, his mouth spoke of praise; his hands created worship, and he would love for all his days.

Day 24 - Longing (Hua Cheng) - Every year that passed without word of his Highness increased the longing in his heart; every moment that he wasn't by his side was a punishment for his failures.

Day 25 - Suffering (Xie Lian) - Ah, could it really be called suffering, when he knew his San Lang was with him?

Day 26 - Sacrifice (Wei Wuxian) - The cultivation world would always demand a sacrificial lamb; he'd sacrificed so much already, so what else was new?

Day 27 - Edge (Luo Binghe) - He knew that, beyond the edge of the abyss, he'd crossed beyond the edge of many things - but if it could ever bring his Shizun back to him, it would all be worth e v e r y t h i n g.

Day 28 - Pain (Xie Lian) - If you went through enough pain, it eventually stop hurting quite so much! (he lied)

Day 29 - Insanity (Luo Binghe) - He didn't understand - he couldn't understand, and it was driving him into insanity - first he beat him, then he loved him, then he threw him to his death, then he sacrificed himself - he'd only ever wanted-

Day 30 - Tears (Shen Qingqiu) - Why was his face so - he reached up to touch, and was startled to find tears still falling from his own eyes.

Day 31 - Acceptance (Shen Qingiu) - In the end, it didn't matter; he accepted his disciple, accepted his love, and looked forward to their future together.